Burkina Faso’s military government has announced the thwarting of yet another coup attempt-the fifth since Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in 2022-amid escalating tensions ahead of planned pro-regime demonstrations on April 30. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana revealed that the April 16 plot involved active and retired soldiers collaborating with jihadist leaders, aiming to storm the presidential palace and trigger nationwide chaos to place the country under foreign control.
Authorities traced the conspiracy to neighboring Ivory Coast, where alleged ringleaders-including fugitive officers like Captain René David Ouédraogo-reportedly coordinated attacks timed to coincide with jihadist assaults. The junta intercepted communications between military defectors and terrorist commanders, exposing plans to exploit religious leaders to recruit dissident troops.
The announcement has deepened mistrust in the volatile Sahel nation, where Traoré’s regime faces mounting pressure over worsening security. Despite expelling French forces and partnering with Russian mercenaries, jihadists control 40% of Burkina Faso, contributing to a record 1,532 terrorism-related deaths in 2024.
In response, the junta has tightened military camp security, deployed sniffer dogs at government meetings, and arrested at least four officers linked to the plot. Meanwhile, Ouagadougou braces for April 30 rallies called by Traoré’s supporters to condemn “Western interference,” particularly U.S. accusations of gold reserve mismanagement.
Strategic Shifts
Prime Minister Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambèla concurrently announced plans to nationalize additional foreign-owned mines, aiming to boost state revenue amid sanctions and dwindling international aid. This aligns with the junta’s pivot toward Russia and the Alliance of Sahel States, a security pact with Mali and Niger.As helicopters patrol the capital and families of missing civilians seek answers at traditional councils, Burkina Faso’s latest crisis underscores the fragility of military rule in a region plagued by coups and insurgencies.