Burkina Faso Government Claims to Thwart Assassination Plot Against Ibrahim Traoré
The military government of Burkina Faso announced it intercepted a sophisticated attempt to assassinate the nation’s leader, Capt Ibrahim Traoré. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana stated in a national broadcast that the operation was disrupted in its final stages.
The plot reportedly involved a plan to kill the head of state and subsequently attack other major institutions and civilian figures. Authorities allege the conspiracy was led by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba, the officer who was himself deposed by Traoré in September 2022.
The security minister claimed that intelligence services uncovered a leaked video of the plotters discussing methods to kill the president, including explosives or close-range attacks, scheduled for the night of Saturday, January 3.
The government further alleged that the operation received foreign backing, specifically 70 million CFA francs delivered from Ivory Coast. While investigations are ongoing and several arrests have been made, neither Lt Col Damiba nor the Ivorian government has commented on the accusations.
