Burkina Faso Foils Assassination Attempt on Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, Arrests Made – Junta
Security minister says plot by former leader Paul-Henri Damiba, allegedly funded from Ivory Coast, was intercepted in final hours before it could be carried out
- Burkina Faso’s junta says it has foiled a plot to assassinate Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, orchestrated by former leader Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba.
- The scheme allegedly involved both military and civilian collaborators, targeted other senior figures, and was funded from Ivory Coast
- Authorities have made several arrests, and investigations are ongoing to bring those involved to justice
Burkina Faso’s military government has announced that a sophisticated plan to assassinate the country’s leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, was thwarted, averting a potential national crisis.
According to the security minister, Mahamadou Sana, the plot was orchestrated by Lt. Col. Paul Henri Damiba, the former military ruler ousted by Traoré in September 2022. “Our intelligence services intercepted this operation in the final hours. They had planned to assassinate the head of state and then strike other key institutions, including civilian personalities,” Sana said in a late-night broadcast. He further alleged that the scheme was funded from neighbouring Ivory Coast.
Authorities reportedly uncovered a leaked video showing the plotters discussing how they intended to kill the president—either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence—just after 23:00 local time on Saturday, January 3. The plan allegedly extended to targeting senior military and civilian figures, disabling the country’s drone-launch base, and securing $125,000 in foreign funding to carry out the operation.
Sana said several arrests have been made, though the total number of suspects remains unclear. “We are carrying out ongoing investigations and these individuals will be brought to justice soon. Citizens should not be misled into dangerous schemes,” he warned.
Since assuming power, 37-year-old Capt. Traoré has survived at least two coup attempts and is grappling with rising jihadist violence that has displaced millions. Despite his authoritarian reputation, he retains strong popular support and has gained recognition across Africa for his pan-Africanist vision and criticism of Western influence.
Critics have accused Traoré’s government of suppressing dissent, including arbitrary arrests of military officers and media restrictions. This latest internal power struggle adds further strain to regional stability, particularly amid accusations of foreign interference from Ivory Coast—a claim the neighboring country has yet to comment on.
Lt. Col. Damiba, who led Burkina Faso from January to September 2022 before being ousted, currently resides in exile in Togo and has publicly wished his successor well.
