Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — January 7, 2026: Burkina Faso’s government has announced that it successfully foiled a planned assassination attempt and new coup bid targeting its military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, officials said late Tuesday.
What the Government Says Happened
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana told national television that intelligence services intercepted the alleged plot before it could be carried out, uncovering details of a coordinated plan to *kill Capt. Traoré and destabilise key institutions.
According to the minister:
The operation was scheduled for the night of January 3.
Plotters considered two methods to eliminate Traoré, a direct armed attack or planting explosives at his residence.
After the assassination, they allegedly planned coordinated strikes on other military and civilian leaders.
There were also plans to disable the country’s drone base to hamper defensive responses.
Who Is Accused
The government has accused Lieutenant‑Colonel Paul‑Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the former military leader ousted by Traoré in 2022, of masterminding the plot. Sana says he was responsible for planning, raising funds, and mobilising participants.
Officials have also accused funding and external support from neighbouring Ivory Coast, claiming about 70 million CFA francs (roughly$125,000) was provided though no evidence has been publicly presented and neither Damiba nor Ivorian authorities have commented.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
Authorities say arrests have begun and investigations are ongoing to identify all individuals involved. The government has pledged that everyone implicated will be brought before prosecutors and face justice.
Security has been heightened around key institutions, and border monitoring increased particularly along the frontier with Ivory Coast.
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Context: Persistent Instability
Traoré, one of Africa’s youngest leaders, came to power in September 2022 after overthrowing Damiba. Since then, Burkina Faso has faced significant political turbulence and security challenges, including repeated alleged coup plots and persistent jihadist insurgency that has displaced millions.
This development marks the latest claimed plot in a long period of instability, coming amid ongoing efforts by the government to maintain control and counter insurgent threats.
