Coup bid foiled against Burkina Faso’s President Traore, says security minister

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso / ISTANBUL

Burkina Faso’s government said late Tuesday that it thwarted an alleged coup attempt against President Capt. Ibrahim Traore, accusing Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the former transitional president, of orchestrating the plot.

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana told national television RTB that the plot, which had been planned for late Saturday, was foiled “thanks to the professionalism of the intelligence services.”

He said the plan involved a series of targeted assassinations of military and civilian officials, starting with an attempt to kill Traore, either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence.

“After this action, there was to follow an operation to put the drone base out of service, and a ground military intervention by external forces,” he added.

Sana said authorities would name only the main suspect for confidentiality reasons, identifying him as Damiba, whom he said was responsible for planning the operation, raising funds and recruiting both civilians and soldiers.

He added that soldiers involved in the plot were tasked with recruiting other troops and forming operational cells, while civilians were to mobilize supporters to back the takeover after the military action.

“We will make available to the media the confession videos taken from the hearings of some key actors,” he said.

The minister said investigations and arrests were ongoing, and all those involved would face the prosecutor and the “full force of the law.”

He reassured the public that the situation was under control, urging them to remain calm.

On Saturday, social media posts about a plot to destabilize Burkina Faso’s institutions prompted people to take to the streets to help stop it.

Amid worsening security, Traore seized power on Sept. 30, 2022, ousting Damiba, who had overthrown President Roch Marc Christian Kabore just eight months before.