Burkina Faso accuses Ivory Coast of attempts to destabilize country

According to the country’s Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, these people recently paid terrorist groups to attack the presidential palace of Koulouba

A large-scale plot to undermine Burkina Faso’s security has been uncovered and thwarted, the country’s Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said on national television on Monday.

He said that Burkinabe civilians and servicemen living abroad, particularly in Ivory Coast, were trying to “destabilize Burkina Faso with the help of foreign powers.”

“We draw the attention of the Burkinabe public and the international community to the fact that persons residing in Ivory Coast have been involved in subversive activities against our country. Thanks to the constant surveillance of their activities, we have been able to thwart several attempts at destabilization,” the minister said. He also promised that “audio recordings of Burkina Faso businessmen and civilians involved in the destabilization plot will soon be made public.”

According to him, these people recently paid terrorist groups to attack the presidential palace of Koulouba, a military drone base, an airport, and to carry out attacks near Mangodara from neighbouring Ivory Coast.

Sana listed Burkina Faso’s former foreign ministers Djibrill Bassole and Alpha Barry, ex-Dori mayor Aziz Diallo, former Burkina Faso interim president Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, ex-head of the Independent National Electoral Commission Newton Ahmed Barry and others among the initiators of the plot and planned attacks.

The minister pointed out that all these people “were actively involved in subversion against Burkina Faso, in propaganda and destabilization operations.”.