Many people online have expressed concern for the safety of Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré, whom the government says has been the target of five covert regime-change operations and regime-change attempts since the 36-year-old and the military successfully ousted a Western-backed leader to set the country on a revolutionary path.
In December 2022, authorities arrested a senior army officer, Emmanuel Zoungrana, for an attempted coup d’état. Authorities also arrested multiple soldiers in August 2023, September 2023 and January 2024 for plotting to k*ll Traoré. Most recently, on 6 August 2024, Traoré unveiled an elaborate destabilisation plan organised between actors in neighbouring West African countries and locals within Burkina Faso, including ousted President Paul-Henri Damiba, in collaboration with imperialist powers.
Mali and Niger, fellow members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation, face similar threats. Leaders from both countries have denounced French support for t*rrorist organisations, and the European Union has sanctioned both countries. The United States has also sanctioned members of Mali’s government.
Sources:
https://www.aa.com.tr/fr/afrique/burkina-faso-un-officier-supérieur-de-l-armée-arrêté-pour-tentative-de-coup-d-etat-parquet-militaire/2775290
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzCHxyrwr5A
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1645