Burkina Faso’s defense and security forces have reportedly thwarted a coup attempt on the night of January 3, 2026. Authorities have arrested several suspects allegedly linked to former interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, according to emerging reports from regional news outlets. This incident adds another layer to the ongoing political instability within the West African nation. The plot, uncovered just days into the new year, led to the swift arrest of multiple individuals. Among those apprehended is an alleged mastermind, described as a known associate of Damiba, who himself briefly held power in Burkina Faso in 2022 before being ousted by the current leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Timely intelligence played a crucial role in allowing authorities to act decisively and prevent the execution of the alleged plan. What is the alleged mastermind’s connection to former interim President Damiba? Reports indicate that the arrested mastermind is described as a known associate of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who previously ruled Burkina Faso in 2022 before his removal from power. According to various regional outlets, the plotters were reportedly comprised of both military personnel and civilians. Their alleged objective was to seize key institutions within the capital city, Ouagadougou. Security forces responded with remarkable speed, apprehending the suspects before they could implement their plan. Evidence reportedly found on the mastermind’s phone after his arrest has been described as incriminating, leading the government to commend the operation as a success for vigilance. In the aftermath of the foiled attempt, hundreds of supporters of Captain Traoré, often referred to as the Wayignans, mobilized in Ouagadougou. Demonstrations took place throughout the night of January 3 and into January 4, with participants occupying roundabouts and public squares. They expressed their commitment to forming a popular front against any efforts to destabilize the current government. The Sahel Solidarity Campaign Network (SaS-CaN), a pan-African advocacy group, issued a statement on January 4 condemning what they termed the latest effort to overthrow Burkina Faso’s government. The organization suggested that the incident involved foreign mercenaries and was orchestrated by Damiba. However, these specific claims have not yet been independently verified by major news organizations. The absence of immediate reporting from major international news organizations such as the BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera on this alleged January 3, 2026 coup attempt, coupled with a lack of a formal statement from Burkina Faso’s official government channels as of January 5, has raised questions. These include queries about the true scale and nature of the reported incident, especially considering a documented history of fabricated or exaggerated coup claims circulating on social media concerning Burkina Faso throughout 2025. A fact-checking report published by Dubawa on January 3, 2026, highlighted numerous instances of false coup-related claims that gained significant traction in the previous year. These included a sophisticated deepfake video in June that falsely claimed to depict a military attaché exposing a coup plot, and a video from Cameroon dated 2014 that was wrongly presented as footage of demonstrations supporting Traoré following an alleged coup attempt in April 2025. Burkina Faso has experienced considerable political turmoil since 2022. In January 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Damiba led a coup that overthrew the elected President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, citing security failures against jihadist insurgents. Damiba’s tenure was brief, lasting only eight months before Captain Traoré, then 34 years old, initiated a second coup in September 2022, also referencing similar security concerns. Since assuming power, Traoré has pursued a foreign policy that increasingly distances Burkina Faso from France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He has overseen the expulsion of French troops and has fostered closer ties with Russia, Turkey, and China. Traoré was also a key figure in the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a confederation formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which officially withdrew from ECOWAS in 2024. Under Captain Traoré’s leadership, there have been documented actions described by human rights organizations as a crackdown on freedom of the press and political opposition. This has included reports of unlawful conscription of critics, journalists, activists, prosecutors, and judges. This reported January 2026 incident is not the first time coup attempts have surfaced during Traoré’s time in leadership. In September 2023, dissatisfied elements within the military made an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow him. In December 2022, Traoré publicly acknowledged being the target of a coup attempt, stating he was aware of the perpetrators but chose dialogue over arrests. In April 2025, several army officers were arrested amidst rumors of a coup, with Burkinabe authorities at that time accusing Côte d’Ivoire of harboring coup plotters, an accusation that Ivorian officials denied. Following those arrests, thousands gathered in Ouagadougou to show support for Traoré. The situation in Burkina Faso remains fragile, marked by ongoing jihadist insurgency and internal military divisions. Armed groups continue to control significant territory, regularly launching attacks against civilians and security forces. Security has reportedly been intensified in Ouagadougou as investigations into the alleged January 3 incident continue. Authorities have not yet provided details on the number of suspects arrested, their specific identities beyond the alleged mastermind’s connection to Damiba, or the charges they might face. The lack of official government communication and the absence of widespread international media coverage highlight the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the full details and scope of this reported event. Observers are urging for transparency and due process in any potential prosecutions. As 2026 progresses, Burkina Faso faces a precarious political and security landscape, with its military government contending with both external jihadist threats and reported internal challenges to its authority. The country has not held elections since Traoré’s ascent to power, and he has expressed doubts about the feasibility of elections until security conditions significantly improve.
