Burkina Faso thwarts major coup plot linked to terrorist offensive
Burkinabe intelligence services have uncovered a high-level conspiracy involving rogue military elements and exiled collaborators aiming to plunge the country into chaos, security sources revealed this week. The plot sought to overthrow institutions and force Burkina Faso under foreign control through a synchronized coup and terrorist attacks.
The Scheme
Planned for April 16, 2025, the operation involved:
- Infiltration: Active and former soldiers—including named officers like Compaoré Johany and Kaboré Constantin (now fugitives in Côte d’Ivoire)—planned a presidential palace assault.
- Terrorist diversion: Large-scale jihadist attacks were timed to overwhelm security forces during the coup attempt.
How It was foiled
Loyalist troops and Volunteers for Defense of the Homeland (VDP) tipped off intelligence agencies between April 10–15, enabling preemptive arrests in Ouagadougou. Key plotters fled to Abidjan, now a confirmed hub for the conspiracy.
Broader threat
The foiled plot exposes a hybrid war tactic: internal betrayal paired with external destabilization. Authorities urge public vigilance, emphasizing national unity as critical defense.
Why It matters
Burkina Faso, already battling jihadist insurgencies, now confronts enemy infiltration within its ranks. The government warns against fear-mongering as it pursues remaining conspirators.
Papa IBRAHIMA
