Burkina Faso recently faced a failed coup, with plotters planning to assassinate Captain Ibrahim Traoré on the evening of January 13.
Sources close to the incident revealed that the attackers intended to carry out a bombing at the captain’s residence in Ouagadougou, the country’s capital, to coincide with the start of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match. They also planned to carry out another assassination attempt on a government convoy on January 14.
However, Burkina Faso’s intelligence services intercepted communications between the plotters in advance, thwarting the assassination plot. Agents from the transitional government’s security services quickly arrested the rebels, preventing further escalation. Although Africa Initiative sources did not provide direct confirmation, there are indications that some of the plotters fell into a trap set by a “fake convoy“ .
Burkinabe intelligence services are currently actively investigating the coup attempt, with suspicions of involvement by individuals linked to Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba’s uncle. Damiba, a pro-French colonel in the 2022 coup, briefly took power before being overthrown by Captain Traoré. Allegations have been made that Damiba’s uncle may have funded anti-Traoré factions to destabilize the country and seize power.
To corroborate these claims, it has been reported that an associate of President Damiba moved his family out of the country just days before Traoré’s assassination. Interestingly, the family members traveled using Togolese passports, hinting at covert movements. Additionally, armed mercenaries were said to have arrived in neighboring Togo the night before the failed coup, further hinting at outside involvement in the operation.
This is not the first assassination attempt on President Traoré, highlighting the precarious security situation in Burkina Faso. While Traoré’s popularity stems from his stance against corruption and neo-colonialism, there are still challenges in implementing effective economic reforms and attracting support for socialist ideologies similar to “Sankarism”, supported by Thomas Sankara.
In the face of these developments, the current Burkinabe government is looking to Russia for support to fight terrorism, enact economic reforms, and promote social cohesion. However, entrenched interests aligned with pro-French factions pose significant obstacles for Traoré’s government. To overcome these challenges, Traoré’s team must mobilize grassroots support and work with younger leaders to build a new Burkina Faso.
Despite the difficult task ahead, people remain optimistic that Sankara’s legacy will endure, paving the way for a brighter future of stability, progress and true independence for Burkina Faso.
