OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Burkina Faso’s ruling military government claimed Monday that it has thwarted a major coup attempt aimed at ousting junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, just days after authorities arrested several military officers accused of plotting to destabilize the regime.
According to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, the government intercepted communications between a senior Burkinabé military officer and jihadist leaders that revealed a coordinated plan to storm the presidential palace and depose Traoré on April 16. Sana made the announcement during a nationally televised address on state broadcaster RTB.
He said the foiled coup involved both active and former members of the armed forces, as well as terrorist elements, in what he described as an unprecedented internal and external threat to national sovereignty.
Among the named conspirators is Captain René David Ouédraogo, who allegedly played a key role in orchestrating the plot. Authorities say Ouédraogo is currently on the run and remains at large. Sana added that the scheme’s objective was to “sow total chaos” and bring the West African nation under the influence of a foreign organization, though he did not specify which.
This latest coup attempt marks the second such plot in under a year targeting Captain Traoré, who rose to power in a 2022 coup that unseated Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. The junta had already claimed to have dismantled another destabilization effort in September 2024.
Despite pledges to restore stability and combat terrorism, Traoré’s military leadership continues to face threats from both internal dissenters and jihadist insurgents. According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, Burkina Faso recorded the highest number of terrorism-related deaths worldwide in 2024, with 1,532 fatalities.
Government forces have struggled to regain control over territory in the north and east, where insurgent groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State maintain a strong presence. As of early 2025, approximately 40% of Burkina Faso remains under jihadist control.
Sana further alleged that key figures involved in the coup conspiracy are currently operating from Ivory Coast, reviving tensions between the two neighboring countries. Ivorian officials have not responded to the accusations.
In September 2024, Burkina Faso’s junta similarly accused Ivory Coast of harboring exiled coup plotters, raising diplomatic concerns across the region.
The latest allegations come amid a sweeping security crackdown. Last week, authorities detained multiple members of the military, including several officers, on suspicion of planning subversive activities against the state. Sana did not disclose the total number of arrests or provide details about their legal status.
Under Captain Traoré, Burkina Faso has increasingly distanced itself from traditional Western partners and sought support from Russia in its counterterrorism strategy. The country exited the French-led G5 Sahel alliance in 2023 and has formed closer ties with Mali and Niger, fellow military-led neighbors who have also turned toward Moscow for security cooperation.
Despite these shifts, Burkina Faso’s security situation remains precarious, and Traoré’s hold on power appears increasingly vulnerable to both armed insurgency and internal political rivalry.
