Advisory – Burkina Faso Foils Coup Plot (23 April 2025)

Advisory – Burkina Faso Foils Coup Plot (23 April 2025)

Summary

On 21 April 2025, Burkina Faso’s military government announced that it had foiled what it termed a “major plot” to overthrow junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, with the army alleging that the coup plotters were based in neighbouring Ivory Coast. According to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, the coup attempt was led by current and former soldiers working with “terrorist leaders,” adding that the intention was to attack the presidential palace last week. Speaking on state television on Monday 21 April, Sana disclosed that the aim of the plan was to “sow total chaos, and place the country under the supervision of an international organization.” The Ivory Coast has yet to comment on the claims, though tensions between the two countries have been on the rise in recent months.

Background

Reports, which first emerged on Monday 21 April, indicate that the coup had been planned for Wednesday 16 April. Reports indicate that several communications between a Burkinabé Armed Forces officer and terrorist leaders were intercepted, according to Sana, who disclosed that the investigation subsequently revealed “a major conspiracy” against the West African country. According to Sana, the coup plotters attempted to use Burkinabé religious and traditional leaders in a bid to sway army officers into backing the plan. Sana disclosed that “the manoeuvre was to culminate, according to the terrorist plotters’ plan, on Wednesday 16 April, 2025, in an assault on the presidency of (Burkina) Faso by a group of soldiers recruited by the nation’s enemies.” He went on to say that “the brains outside the country are all located in Ivory Coast, as he named in particular two former army officers believed to be behind the plot. Officer Abdramane Barry, serving in the military justice battalion, has been accused of providing sensitive information “to terrorists.” According to Sana, this information concerned the positions of the internal security forces, the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP), and military operations “in order to intensify the attacks,” with the aim of sparking a revolt against Burkinabé authorities.

Security sources have reported that last week, several military personnel, including two officers, were arrested for planning to “destabilise” the Burkinabé government. Others however remain on the run and are presumed to be in Côte d’Ivoire. Sana claimed on Monday that “all the masterminds who have fled the country have been identified in Côte d’Ivoire, including Abdramane Barry, and the plot is actively continuing from their operations centre in Abidjan.”

Ivorian authorities have so far not commented on the allegations that it hosted the plotters, though the Burkinabé junta has previously blamed Ivory Coast of supporting its opponents in exile. Additionally, the latest allegations of a coup come just months after Ouagadougou said that it had thwarted another “destabilization” plot against the junta last November.

Advisory

Tensions in Burkina Faso are likely to remain elevated over the coming days as additional information pertaining to the coup plot comes to light. Security is likely to remain elevated on the ground, particularly in Ouagadougou and in and around sensitive locations including the airport, government buildings and embassies, and the presidential palace. Should the security situation deteriorate, or additional threats emerge, travel into and out of the country could be temporarily suspended. This includes the closure of borders and an interruption of operations at the main airport in Ouagadougou. There currently is an elevated risk of further fractures within the Burkinabé army and the gendarmerie, which may become apparent in the coming days and weeks. Any fractures within these entities could impact morale. On the ground, terrorist organizations operating in Burkina Faso could use the current situation to their advantage by launching attacks and raids on various locations. This may include targeting fixed positions, including within the capital city, as well as carrying out ambushes on supply convoys. This situation could also lead to an elevated risk of kidnap particularly of expats and Westerners operating in the country. Since the beginning of this year, expat kidnappings have taken place in Agadez, Niger, highlighting that the threat of kidnap remains significant in the wider West African region, including in Burkina Faso. Terrorist organizations operating in this wider region continue to have the capabilities and drive to target foreigners for kidnap, and the networks for moving and command and control remain entwined regionally across the AES states and beyond. In the event that the overall security conditions in Burkina Faso deteriorate further, or if there is a major event including a terrorist attack, it is not expected that government forces will be necessarily cohesive in their initial response. Additionally, western agencies and diplomatic missions are unlikely to have any meaningful influence in an early response.

Those currently operating in Burkina Faso, including mining companies and NGOs, are advised to keep up to date to the evolving situation. Companies should account for personnel and are advised to review their internal and international travel for the coming days. Any companies who are using host nation forces in direct support are advised to review tasking needs and to be able to quickly adapt and respond to interruptions of available forces. In the event of a further deterioration of the security situation, including any major terrorist attacks, those operating in Burkina Faso are advised to self-secure and adjust their operational tempos accordingly to the uncertainty that may play out in the coming days. Within the capital Ouagadougou, demonstrations in support of the junta and against could occur in the coming days. Such protests could turn violent with little warning and those operating in the capital and in other major cities across the country are advised to avoid them. While these perils are not new, and those operating in Burkina Faso have had a continuous hazard to mitigate and adapt to, it remains to be seen whether conditions on the ground will ease in the coming days and calm will be restored or if any residual problems arise.