Burkina Faso's military government has said it foiled a "major plot" to overthrow junta leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré, with the army alleging the plotters were based in neighbouring Ivory Coast.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the coup attempt
was led by current and former soldiers working with "terrorist
leaders". The intention was to attack the presidential palace last week,
he added.
The aim of the plan was to "sow total chaos, and
place the country under the supervision of an international organisation",
Sana said on state television on Monday.
It is the latest of several claims of attempts to remove
the junta leader who seized power in 2022 amid increasing militant attacks.
Burkina Faso, like its Sahel neighbours, has been
battling armed jihadist groups, with an estimated 40% of the country under
their control.
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Despite promises by Capt Traoré's military government to
improve security and even seeking new security partnerships with Russia, the
situation remains dire with frequent attacks from insurgents.
The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world
combined
In this latest coup attempt, which happened last week but
details of which have only just been released, Sana said the plotters attempted
to use Burkinabe religious and traditional leaders to sway army officers into
backing the plan.
