Burkina Faso / Côte d’Ivoire: Has Téné Brahima Ouattara fallen into France’s trap to topple Ibrahim Traoré?
It all began after Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso, decided to denounce the colonial-era agreements between France and Burkina Faso. Enraged, France first ordered its local proxies, with the help of French journalists stationed in Ouagadougou—correspondents for certain media outlets—to use any means necessary to overthrow the MPSR 2 (Military Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration).
This was followed by various plots, including the fabrication of false videos depicting atrocities against civilians and children by Burkinabé soldiers. Coincidentally, after the expulsion of these French journalists from Burkina Faso, reports of such atrocities ceased.
THE INVOLVEMENT OF IVORIAN AUTHORITIES
According to our investigations within President Alassane Ouattara’s inner circle, some individuals are dissatisfied with the actions of certain figures who were manipulated by France for selfish and personal interests.
Initially, France instructed Ivorian authorities to host Burkinabe elites and military officers seeking to overthrow Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The first wave included former Foreign Minister Alpha Barry and Djibril Bassolé, among others, as well as some activists.
THE CREATION OF TWO BASES TO DESTABILIZE BURKINA FASO
The operational, strategic, and offensive base is managed from Côte d’Ivoire, led by the Ivorian Minister of Defense, the younger brother of President Alassane Ouattara, and the head of Ivorian intelligence, Vassiriki Traoré. On the Burkinabé side, Djibril Bassolé and Alpha Barry are key figures.
The second base focuses on offensive communication, directed from France by Newton Ahmed Barry, former head of the electoral commission, with networks extending from Abidjan to Germany and the United States.
FRANCE’S POWER DEAL
True to its tactics, France manipulated the Ivorian Minister of Defense, who was presented as the heir apparent to President Ouattara, despite having limited chances of reaching the highest office. The deal was clear: the head of Captain Ibrahim Traoré in exchange for France’s support in securing power, by force if necessary.
THE PLANS
With France’s official backing, an operations center was established. Officers and several individuals were recruited in Ouagadougou through Djibril Bassolé and Alpha Barry, operating from Côte d’Ivoire.
Among the notable recruits were Commander Ouédraogo Sékou, former Deputy Director-General of Burkinabé intelligence, now in exile in Côte d’Ivoire, and the former chief of staff of the national gendarmerie, arrested during a foiled coup attempt uncovered by Burkinabé intelligence.
This operations center, according to former Burkinabé Chief of Staff Évrard Somda, who is currently imprisoned in Ouagadougou, was coordinated by Ivorian intelligence chief Vassiriki Traoré, reporting to Ivorian Defense Minister Téné Brahima Ouattara.
On the Burkinabé side, the former Deputy Director-General of intelligence managed operations alongside Évrard Somda, the ex-chief of staff of the gendarmerie.
Évrard Somda revealed that French and Ivorian authorities were to choose between Commander Ouédraogo Sékou and himself to lead the country once the mission succeeded.
THE FUNDING
According to Évrard Somda, funding came from Côte d’Ivoire. A portion was managed between the Ivorian intelligence chief and the former Deputy Director-General of Burkinabé intelligence, as well as between Djibril Bassolé and certain individuals in Ouagadougou.
Contributions also came from some elites of the CDP (Congress for Democracy and Progress) and the MPP (People’s Movement for Progress).
FAILURE AND FRENCH BETRAYAL
After investing billions of francs without success—due to the effectiveness of Burkinabé intelligence led by Commander Oumarou Yabré, which led to the arrest of several officers and the exile of others to Côte d’Ivoire under Ivorian protection—France realized its plan had failed.
France had deployed 2,000 soldiers to Côte d’Ivoire under the pretext of intervening in Niger, but in reality, the final mission was to overthrow Captain Ibrahim Traoré. However, all key contacts were neutralized or arrested by Burkinabé authorities.
THE END OF THE POWER DEAL: SAVING FACE
France shifted gears. The promise to install a puppet regime through the destabilization of Burkina Faso had failed.
This was followed by French revelations about Ouattara’s regime, and French media outlets like France 24 gave platforms to his political opponents. A candidate, Tidjane Thiam, was presented as France’s preferred choice. This was blackmail.
Source: linfodusahel.com
Cédric KABORE
