Burkina Faso’s Junta Prevents Major Coup Attempt, Arrests Suspects
Military Authorities Uncover Plot to Attack Presidency, Linking Conspirators to Ivory Coast
- Burkina Faso's military junta foiled a major coup plot targeting the presidency
- Authorities arrested several suspects
- The junta accused two former officers of orchestrating the plot from Ivory Coast
Burkina Faso’s military junta revealed on Monday that it had successfully foiled a significant coup attempt aimed at causing widespread chaos in the country.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana disclosed on national television that intelligence services had intercepted the plan, which involved an attack on the presidency by soldiers on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
The junta has pointed fingers at two former army officers, Major Joanny Compaore and Lieutenant Abdramane Barry, accusing them of orchestrating the plot from neighboring Ivory Coast.
This news follows the arrest of several military personnel last week, including two officers, on suspicions of attempting to destabilize the government.
Since the 2022 coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso has been under military rule, and the current leadership has accused Ivory Coast of sheltering opposition forces.
While Traore’s government has pledged to restore stability, it has faced criticism for its crackdown on dissent amidst rising kidnappings and arrests of perceived enemies. The country has also been fighting insurgent violence from IS and Al-Qaeda groups since 2015.
Traore had previously claimed that Ivory Coast was a “hub for destabilizing activities” aimed at Burkina Faso.
