In mid-July, Burkina Faso’s leader, Ibrahim Traore, made a bold statement. He revealed that he had evidence of a secret plan to destabilize the country, and he pointed fingers at France. According to Traore, this plot was not just backed by France but also by its allies Benin and Côte d’Ivoire. The goal? To bring chaos to Burkina Faso and overthrow its government.
On a Monday evening, the country’s Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, confirmed that Burkina Faso had successfully stopped this dangerous plot. He explained that the plan involved several terrorist cells, each with its own mission.
Here’s how the plan was supposed to unfold:
- The First Attack: A group of 200 terrorists would launch a violent offensive starting on August 30. They planned to march toward Ouagadougou, the capital, and capture the presidential palace.
- Mercenary Strike: Another heavily armed group of mercenaries was assigned to destroy the air defense systems around the capital. This would leave the city vulnerable to outside attacks.
- Chaos from the South: A third unit of attackers, coming from Burkina Faso’s southern border, had orders to create chaos in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, the country’s second-largest city.
- Key Infrastructure Attacks: Other teams of fighters were to target crucial infrastructure, including the international airport. Their goal was to prevent any external forces from coming to the country’s aid.
According to the minister, the plan wasn’t just cooked up by terrorists. Former senior officials from Burkina Faso, along with foreign powers, civilians from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and even European mercenaries, were all involved in this conspiracy.
The list of alleged plotters was shocking and included some high-profile names, such as:
- Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, a former president of Burkina Faso
- Djibril Bassole and Alpha Barry, former ministers
- Newton Ahmed Barry, ex-president of the Independent National Electoral Commission
- Aziz Diallo, a former deputy mayor
- Military officials like Commander Johanny Compaore and Colonel Zalla
Sana also revealed that these conspirators had planned to secretly get their families out of the country before launching their operation. He urged those family members to convince the plotters to abandon their dangerous plans.
Recently, President Traore told the nation that his government had evidence of French military bases in Benin, just across the border, which were set up to target Burkina Faso. France, however, denied this accusation.
President Traore also warned mining companies from countries that refuse to sell military equipment to Burkina Faso. He threatened to take away their permits to operate, declaring, “You cannot exploit our resources and refuse to sell us equipment. We will exploit them ourselves.”
This threat is significant because Burkina Faso is rich in valuable resources like gold, zinc, copper, and more. Recently, a company called African Metallurgical and Mining Group began exploring a promising area for minerals.
In a broader context, Traore’s government has been strengthening its ties with Russia, especially in mining, signaling a shift in alliances as Burkina Faso looks to distance itself from Western influence. With tensions rising, the region is on edge, and the world is watching closely to see what happens next in this unfolding drama.
Meanwhile, Niger and Mali have cut ties with Ukraine, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups responsible for deadly attacks in their countries. This dramatic move comes as both nations, now led by military governments, move away from Western influence and seek closer ties with Russia. As Africa begins to carve out a new path toward independence and a stronger African Union, the Foreign Ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have taken a bold step. They have brought their accusations against Ukraine to the United Nations, claiming that Ukraine is openly backing terrorism in the Sahel region.
