Faith Nyasuguta
A week after an attempted coup shook Burkina Faso, tensions are still running high in the capital, Ouagadougou, especially among the armed forces.
According to local media, a meeting that was set for April 22 at the army’s general staff headquarters was first delayed and then completely cancelled after the invited officers did not turn up. This unexpected no-show has raised fresh fears about divisions within the military.
At the same time, Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported that crowds, including army personnel and relatives of missing civilians, were seen heading toward the Mogho Naaba palace, a traditional authority figure in Burkina Faso. This movement signals growing unease and confusion across the country.
Meanwhile, a cabinet meeting took place on April 24 under extremely tight security at the presidential palace. Sniffer dogs and helicopters patrolled the area, and military vehicles were placed at key locations, including the entrance of the General Baba Sy military camp in southern Ouagadougou.
Captain Ibrahim Traore’s government, which came to power through a previous coup, is now rallying supporters. Authorities have called for massive demonstrations on April 30 to back the regime and to protest what they call “Western interference,” particularly after U.S. General Michael Langley accused the Burkinabe authorities of diverting gold reserves to fund their own security efforts.
On April 22, Burkina Faso’s military leadership announced it had foiled a “major plot” to overthrow Traore. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the government uncovered the plan by intercepting secret communications between a top army officer and terrorist groups. Sana revealed that current and former soldiers, along with terrorists, were involved, highlighting Captain Rene David Ouedraogo as one of the key plotters. Ouedraogo is currently on the run.
The plotters allegedly planned to storm the presidential palace on April 16 to “create total chaos” and push the country under the control of an international organization, Sana explained.
Burkina Faso, along with neighboring Niger and Mali, has struggled for over a decade against brutal insurgencies led by Islamist groups tied to al-Qaida and the Islamic State. After military coups in all three countries, the ruling juntas expelled French forces and leaned on Russian mercenary units for security support. They have since formed the Alliance of Sahel States to strengthen their cooperation.
However, despite these alliances, analysts say the security situation has only worsened. Violence has soared, with record numbers of attacks and civilian casualties caused by both extremist militants and government forces.
The future remains uncertain as Burkina Faso tries to navigate through deep political cracks and growing instability.
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