A coup attempt was foiled in Burkina Faso by the military junta, with masterminds allegedly located in neighboring Ivory Coast.
Burkina Faso Junta Foils Coup Attempt in Ivory Coast
The military regime in Burkina Faso has announced that its intelligence service successfully thwarted a plot to overthrow the junta, which was allegedly planned and orchestrated from neighboring Ivory Coast.
A coup attempt is a sudden and often violent overthrow of a government by a small group of individuals, usually military personnel or politicians.
The term originates from the French word 'coup d'état,' meaning 'stroke of state.'
Throughout history, numerous countries have experienced coup attempts, with varying degrees of success.
According to a study by the International Crisis Group, between 1946 and 2019, there were over 600 recorded coups worldwide.
The motivations behind these attempts can range from power struggles to ideological differences.
Understanding the complexities surrounding coup attempts is crucial for analyzing their impact on global politics.
Masterminds Exposed
According to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, the masterminds behind the alleged coup attempt were located in Ivory Coast. Two former army officers, Major Joanny Compaore and Lieutenant Abdramane Barry, were specifically mentioned as being among the key figures involved in the plot.
Sana stated that a dozen other officers and non-commissioned officers, including Commander Ouedraogo Frederic, have been questioned in connection with the alleged coup attempt. The security minister claimed that the plan was to culminate in an assault on the presidency of Burkina Faso on April 16, 2025.
Repression Under Traore’s Leadership
The junta, led by Interim President Ibrahim Traore, has increasingly cracked down on people deemed hostile to its authority since taking power in September 2022. Kidnappings and extrajudicial arrests have become common under Traore‘s leadership, with a dozen military personnel arrested last week after being accused of planning to destabilize the government.
Ibrahim Traoré is a Malian politician who served as the President of Mali from August 2020 to June 2021. He rose to power after leading a military coup that ousted 'President Bah N'Daw' and Prime Minister 'Moctar Ouane'. Born in 1990, Traoré was a relatively young leader when he took office. His tenure was marked by controversy, including human rights abuses and the suspension of Mali's constitution.
Over the past year and more, the junta has questioned several dozen military officers who have all been accused of plotting to undermine ‘republican institutions.’ Traore had previously stated that a center of operations to destabilize Burkina Faso was located in Abidjan, Ivory Coast‘s largest city and economic hub.
Context of Violence in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has also experienced frequent Islamist violence since 2015, carried out by groups linked to the ‘Islamic State group’ or al-Qaeda. The violence has resulted in over 2 million people displaced and thousands killed.
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of West Africa.
It borders seven countries, including Mali to the west and Niger to the east.
The capital city is Ouagadougou, which has a population of over 2 million people.
Burkina Faso gained independence from France in 1960 and has since experienced periods of military rule and democratic governance.
The country has a diverse economy based on agriculture, mining, and services.
