OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO — Authorities in Burkina Faso say they have thwarted a new coup attempt amid heightened political tensions in the West African nation. The alleged plot was uncovered late on Saturday night, January 3, 2026, and disrupted before it could be carried out, according to official sources. The announcement comes at a time of mounting instability and recurrent challenges to the authority of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the country’s transitional president.
In a televised address, Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the conspiracy involved a coordinated effort to violently overthrow the government through targeted assassinations and strikes against strategic military and civilian targets. The principal objective, he said, was to assassinate Captain Traoré, either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence, and then move quickly to seize control of key institutions.
Sana alleged that Lieutenant Colonol Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the former transitional president ousted by Traoré in the 2022 coup, was the mastermind behind the plot. Damiba, now living in Togo, was accused of recruiting operatives, raising funds and coordinating both military and civilian collaborators to execute the plan. Authorities claim the operation received financial backing — including funds allegedly routed from neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire.
“This was a serious attempt to destabilise our nation,” Sana said. “Thanks to the professionalism of our intelligence services, this plot was intercepted in its final stages. All involved will be held to account,” he added, promising that interrogations and arrests are ongoing.
While the January 2026 disclosure has drawn the greatest international attention, Burkina Faso has reported multiple failed coups and alleged assassination plans against Traoré since he took power in September 2022. Officials in Ouagadougou have described this as a persistent threat to national stability.
One of the most prominent earlier incidents occurred on April 16, 2025, when the military government announced it had foiled a “major coup attempt” involving current and former soldiers as well as elements allegedly linked to Islamist militants. Authorities said plotters had planned to storm the presidential palace and “sow total chaos” before seizing power. Among those named was Captain René David Ouédraogo, who remains at large.
In September 2023, only months after Traoré assumed leadership, Burkina Faso’s intelligence and security services said they had thwarted a coup attempt set for September 26. Security officials claimed that the scheme involved army officers and others seeking to depose Traoré’s junta. Several suspects were arrested in connection with the plot, but details on leadership and motives were limited at the time.
In January 2024, authorities again reported that they had disrupted a network of serving and retired military personnel, along with civilians, who were allegedly planning to destabilise the government. Government spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo said that the coordinated effort was neutralised before it could gain momentum and that arrests had been made.
These events — spanning more than three separate foiled interventions — underscore the chronic instability in Burkina Faso’s political landscape since Traoré’s takeover. Supporters of the current government argue that the repeated disruption of plots demonstrates robust intelligence capabilities and the loyalty of key security apparatuses. However, critics contend that publicising ongoing coup threats can also be a mechanism for consolidating military authority and silencing political opposition.
Traoré’s Path to Power and Recurring Threats
Captain Ibrahim Traoré rose to prominence after leading a coup on September 30, 2022, which ousted then-leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Damiba had himself seized power earlier that year, adding to a lineage of military interventions in Burkina Faso.
Since Traoré’s ascension, the country has remained within West Africa’s so-called “coup belt,” a region marked by frequent military takeovers and contested civil-military relations. The recurring allegations of plots against Traoré reflect not only internal fracturing within Burkina Faso’s armed forces but also broader regional tensions and geopolitical contestations. Analysts note that governments facing entrenched insurgencies and external pressures are more susceptible to internal dissent reaching levels that trigger coup plotting.
The government’s frequent references to alleged external support or interference — including funding sources across neighbouring countries — have further complicated Burkina Faso’s diplomatic relations. Such accusations have at times strained ties with countries like Côte d’Ivoire and intensified debates over foreign influence in Sahel security dynamics.
Domestic Reactions and International Concerns
Within Burkina Faso, the public response to repeated coup announcements has been mixed. In April 2025, for example, thousands of people rallied in Ouagadougou in support of the military government after an alleged plot was announced, showcasing popular backing among segments of the population.
However, human rights organisations and international observers have raised alarms about the erosion of democratic norms and the militarisation of governance. They caution that persistent instability, coupled with jihadist insurgencies that control large swathes of the country, complicates efforts to establish lasting peace and political legitimacy.
On the international front, regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and foreign governments continue to monitor Burkina Faso’s political trajectory closely. Frequent coup scares pose broader implications for regional stability, particularly as neighbouring nations grapple with their own security and governance challenges.
For Captain Traoré, the repeated disruption of coup and assassination plots has become a defining feature of his tenure. Whether these claims reflect genuine threats, foiled conspiracies, or political narrative strategies, they highlight deep structural vulnerabilities within Burkina Faso’s state institutions and governance systems.
As investigations continue into the January 2026 plot, analysts say the government’s handling of the allegations — transparency in legal proceedings, credible evidence sharing and adherence to rule of law — will be critical in shaping both domestic confidence and international engagement.
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