Burkina Faso foils major coup plot orchestrated from Ivory Coast
- Burkina Faso's military government reported foiling a plot to attack the presidential palace that involved soldiers in collaboration with terrorist leaders.
- The coup attempt was reportedly orchestrated from Ivory Coast with the alleged involvement of former army officers.
- This incident underscores ongoing instability in Burkina Faso as the country grapples with increasing militant violence.
Burkina Faso's military government has reported that it successfully foiled a significant plot to overthrow the junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The authorities revealed that the plotters were allegedly located in neighboring Ivory Coast and included both current and former military personnel. According to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, the plotters had links to terrorist leaders and intended to launch an attack on the presidential palace last week, with the aim of creating chaos and placing the nation under international oversight. This latest coup attempt is part of a broader trend of instability in Burkina Faso, a country that has been grappling with increasing militant violence, which has resulted in approximately 40% of its territory coming under the control of armed extremist groups. The current military government has vowed to restore security and has sought assistance from Russia. However, despite these efforts, violent insurgent attacks continue to plague the nation and have led to the arrest of several military personnel suspected of attempting to destabilize the government. Investigations into this coup plot revealed that the conspiracy was planned to culminate on April 16, 2025, initiated by a group of soldiers allegedly financed by Burkina Faso's external adversaries, mainly targeting the junta and its leadership. Minister Sana claimed that the coup actors intended to manipulate local religious and community leaders in an effort to recruit support from the army. The sustained challenges to Burkina Faso's leadership escalate concerns about external influences and internal dissent. The Burkinabe military regime recently accused Ivory Coast of harboring individuals who support opposition forces seeking to destabilize the current government. In light of ongoing threats, Burkina Faso has distanced itself from the regional bloc Ecowas and has aligned itself with other military-led nations like Mali and Niger, creating a new coalition while also severing its ties with former colonial power France.