Burkina Faso Uncovers Plot to Overthrow Government, Arrests Key Conspirators

The operation, allegedly orchestrated by Burkinabe nationals living abroad in collaboration with foreign actors, was revealed following a detailed investigation.

The minister identified key figures involved, including former president Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, former ministers like General Djibril Bassolé, and other prominent individuals such as diplomats, former military officers, and foreign nationals. One of the notable foreign conspirators was reportedly a Nigerian journalist of Ivorian origin.

The Plot's Unfolding

According to the minister, the plan was meticulously crafted to sow chaos across the country. A precursor attack took place in Barsalogho, which left over 400 civilians dead. This attack was intended to create panic and destabilize the nation, paving the way for a larger coup. Terrorist groups were reportedly hired and trained to execute a series of coordinated attacks aimed at critical locations, including:

1. The Presidential Palace in Koulouba, Ouagadougou.
2. A military drone base to prevent the national army from mounting a response.
3. Several targets near the borders, notably in the Sapouy and Mangodara areas.

The plotters aimed to block any potential external reinforcements by attacking the airport and other key entry points.

Infiltration and Arrests

Burkinabe intelligence services uncovered crucial details after the arrest of two suspicious individuals at a checkpoint near Niamey. These individuals were linked to Commander Ahmed Kinda, a former head of the Special Forces Corps, who was later arrested while attempting to flee. Ahmed Kinda, who was believed to be undergoing training in Morocco, was identified as the head of operations for the destabilization plot.

The arrested individuals, including two terrorist leaders, exposed a network of conspirators both within and outside Burkina Faso. This network included former high-ranking government officials, military officers, and foreign accomplices who had been working together to undermine the stability of the country.

Key Individuals Implicated

Several Burkinabe figures, both in exile and within the country, were implicated in the plot:

• Aziz Dialo, a former mayor and MP of Dori, accused of collaborating with terrorist groups.
• Ousmane Moumouni Raouni Diallo, a former fighter with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS).
• Aziz Dabo, a former intelligence agent on the run.
• Abdoulaye Barry, accused of maintaining connections between Western powers, terrorists, and the military operatives involved in the plan.
• Serge Maturin, a Nigerian journalist of Ivorian origin, tasked with coordinating communication between the plotters.

Other high-profile figures mentioned in the investigation included General Djibril Yipéné Bassolé and Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Both were accused of leading the military aspects of the conspiracy, alongside other military officers and diplomats.

Terrorist Collaboration and Future Plans

The investigation revealed that the conspirators had signed contracts with terrorist groups to carry out the initial violent acts, targeting innocent civilians to create mass disarray.

They intended to follow up with a coup by seizing control of key institutions and infrastructure, including the presidential palace and military installations.

Burkinabe intelligence services also uncovered a future meeting scheduled to take place in Nigeria, aimed at refining the plot and recruiting additional terrorists and mercenaries. This meeting, set for September 27, 2024, would involve actors from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and other countries, furthering plans to destabilize the nation.

Government Response

Following the foiled plot, a special anti-terrorist operation was launched, neutralizing several terrorists and plotters involved in the plan. Commander Ahmed Kinda, along with other conspirators, was apprehended, and their equipment seized. Intelligence gathered from intercepted communications exposed further involvement from foreign intelligence services, particularly from Western powers.

Minister Sana concluded his address by warning the public about the severity of the situation and called on the families of those involved to dissuade them from continuing with their subversive actions. He emphasized that the Burkinabe government would take decisive action to prevent any attempts to destabilize the nation.

This revelation marks a significant moment in Burkina Faso's ongoing struggle with both internal political tensions and external terrorist threats, underscoring the complex interplay of national and international actors in the region's instability.