In a dramatic turn of events, Burkina Faso's military leadership has announced the foiling of a "major coup plot" aimed at overthrowing the regime of Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The military distinguishes that the alleged conspiracy involved operatives located in neighboring Ivory Coast, raising significant concerns about regional stability.

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana detailed that the thwarted coup attempt was orchestrated by a collaboration of active and former military personnel, who were reportedly in league with "terrorist leaders." The intention behind the coup was to initiate an assault on the presidential palace that occurred last week, resulting in the government's recent revelations.

Sana articulated on state television, revealing that the coup's objectives were to "sow total chaos" within Burkina Faso, with sinister aspirations of placing the country under the oversight of an international body. This announcement marks the latest in a series of claims regarding plots to dethrone Traoré, a leader who assumed power in 2022 amidst escalating assaults by extremist groups.

The Sahel region, where Burkina Faso is located, has endured a relentless battle against armed jihadist factions, with estimates indicating that approximately 40% of the nation remains under their control. Despite assurances from Captain Traoré's military government to enhance national security and forge new alliances—most notably with Russia—the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, with frequent insurgent attacks disrupting civilian life.

Sana disclosed that the coup plotters had attempted to manipulate Burkinabe religious and traditional leaders to gain the support of military officers. He explained that the coup's conspirators intended to execute their plan on April 16, 2025, when a group of soldiers, linked to Burkina Faso's adversaries, aimed to storm the presidency.

"The masterminds behind the plot are based in Ivory Coast," Sana claimed, specifically implicating two former military officers believed to be orchestrating the conspiracy. Their actions allegedly entailed conveying sensitive information to terrorist organizations to escalate assaults on both military and civilian targets while inciting unrest against the current authorities.

In the aftermath of the thwarted coup, several military personnel—including two officers—were arrested for their involvement in attempts to destabilize the government, as confirmed by security sources to the AFP news agency.

The Ivorian government has yet to respond to allegations of harboring the coup plotters, although the Burkinabe junta frequently accuses its southern neighbor of providing support to exiled opponents. This latest revelation arrives just months after Burkina Faso claimed to have disrupted another "destabilization" plot aimed at the junta last November.

In a significant geopolitical shift, Burkina Faso, alongside fellow military-led nations Mali and Niger, has distanced itself from the West African bloc, Ecowas, to forge a new alliance aimed at addressing shared security concerns. These countries have also severed ties with former colonial power France and, in a strategic pivot, are embracing closer relations with Russia.