Burkina Faso’s Security Minister announced the successful prevention of a plot aimed at destabilizing the country. Learn more about the foiled attempt and the government’s response.

Burkina Faso’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana, stated during a national television broadcast on Monday evening that individuals based in Côte d’Ivoire have participated in subversive activities against Burkina Faso.

The minister specifically named 14 individuals accused of conspiring to destabilize the country, including opponents of the junta, the leader of the January 2022 coup, two former ministers, and two journalists. Additionally, unidentified conspirators were reported to include Western intelligence officials.

According to authorities, a complex three-phase scheme was orchestrated by certain Burkinabé civilians and military personnel residing abroad, who financed and trained armed groups to carry out attacks.

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Economic operators and civil society leaders were allegedly implicated in these destabilization efforts.

The second phase of the plan involved assaults on the presidential palace, a military drone base, and an airport, while the final phase targeted areas near the border with Côte d’Ivoire.

The security minister confirmed that these phases were successfully thwarted.

The initial phase of the alleged conspiracy was marked by a jihadist attack that resulted in the deaths of at least 100 individuals in central Burkina Faso last month.

The minister disclosed that several arrests were made in Niger, which led to the dismantling of a significant portion of the plot.

In response, the government initiated a special anti-terrorist operation aimed at neutralizing any remaining threats and has issued a warning that such destabilizing actions will not be tolerated.

Authorities have called upon the families of the alleged conspirators to report them and dissociate themselves from their “subversive activities.”