Authorities in Burkina Faso have announced that they have thwarted a fresh coup attempt, underscoring the continued political volatility facing the West African nation. Officials said the alleged plot was uncovered late on Saturday night, January 3, before it could be executed, and that security forces remain on high alert.
The first reports emerged from a pro-government web television outlet citing security sources, before the government formally confirmed the incident. Officials said the situation is under control, though investigations are ongoing.
In a televised address, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, said the plan involved a coordinated effort to destabilise the country through a series of targeted assassinations. According to Sana, the operation was scheduled to begin at around 11:00 p.m. and was aimed at both civilian and military leaders.
He alleged that the plot included attempts to neutralise head of state Captain Ibrahim Traoré, either at close range or through an attack targeting his residence. “A plan was in place to destabilise the country through targeted assassinations,” Sana said, without providing further operational details.
The minister confirmed that arrests have already begun and warned that all individuals implicated in the alleged plot would be handed over to prosecutors to face legal proceedings. He also commended Burkina Faso’s intelligence services, crediting their vigilance and professionalism with preventing what he described as another serious threat to national stability.
The latest claims come amid heightened political tensions in Burkina Faso, which has experienced repeated upheavals in recent years. Captain Traoré came to power in 2022 after overthrowing Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, and since then the country has faced ongoing security challenges alongside recurrent reports of attempted coups.
While authorities insist the immediate threat has been neutralised, the incident highlights the fragile political environment in Burkina Faso and the persistent risks confronting its transitional leadership.
