Burkina Faso’s defense and security forces thwarted an attempted coup on the night of January 3, 2026, and authorities reportedly arrested several suspects linked to former interim president Paul-Henri Sandago Damiba, according to local media reports and regional news outlets.
The plot, uncovered on January 3, led to the arrest of several suspects, including the alleged mastermind, a known associate of Damiba, who briefly ruled Burkina Faso in 2022 before being ousted by current leader Colonel Ibrahim Traore. According to Central News South Africa, the operation failed thanks to timely information that allowed authorities to act quickly.
The conspirators, including military and civilians, were reportedly preparing to seize key institutions in Ouagadougou, according to C360 TV and other regional broadcasters. Security forces acted quickly and arrested the suspects before the plan was carried out. Incriminating evidence reportedly emerged from the ringleader’s phone after his arrest, which the government is hailing as a victory for vigilance and strength.
Hundreds of Traore supporters, known as “waignans,” rallied in Ouagadougou after reports that the attempt had failed. From the night of January 3 to January 4, demonstrators occupied roundabouts and public squares, confirming their intention to form a popular barrier against any attempt to overthrow the government.
Pan-African advocacy group Sahel Solidarity Campaign Network (SaS-CaN) issued a statement on January 4 condemning the act, which it described as the latest attempt to overthrow the government of Burkina Faso. The organization characterized the incident as involving foreign mercenaries and being led by Damiba, but these claims have not been independently verified.
“This failed terrorist act was planned and carried out by foreign mercenaries and led by former head of state and disgraced dictator Paul-Henri Damiba,” the statement said, calling for a strong international response to the alleged foreign interference in the Sahel region.
However, major international news outlets such as the BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera have not reported on the alleged coup attempt on January 3, 2026, and Burkina Faso’s official government communications have not, as of January 5, issued an official statement detailing the incident, arrests, or casualties.
The lack of coverage from major news outlets raises questions about the scale and nature of reported events, especially given the documented history of false and exaggerated coup claims spread on social media regarding Burkina Faso throughout 2025.
A fact-finding report released by Dubawa on January 3, 2026 documents several fabricated claims related to the coup that were circulated in 2025, including an elaborate deepfake video from June that claimed military officers were exposing a coup plot, and a 2014 Cameroon video that was falsely presented as showing a demonstration in support of Traore after an alleged coup attempt in April 2025.
Burkina Faso has experienced significant political instability since 2022. In January 2022, Lt. Col. Damiba overthrew elected President Rok Marc Christian Kabore amid security failures against jihadist rebels. Mr Damiba’s rule lasted just eight months before Captain Traore, then 34, led a second coup in September 2022, citing similar security concerns.
Since taking power, Traore has increasingly distanced Burkina Faso from France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), expelled the French military and aligned Burkina Faso with Russia, Turkey and China. He played a major role in the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a coalition of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger that withdrew from ECOWAS in 2024.
Under Mr. Traore’s leadership, there has been a documented crackdown on press freedom and political opposition, including what human rights groups describe as the illegal conscription of commentators, journalists, activists, prosecutors, and judges.
There have also been reports of past coup attempts during Traore’s tenure. In September 2023, dissatisfied elements in the military attempted to overthrow him, but failed. In December 2022, Traore publicly acknowledged that he had been the target of an attempted coup, saying he knew the perpetrators but preferred dialogue rather than arrest.
In April 2025, several army officers were arrested amid rumors of a coup, and Burkina Faso authorities at the time accused Ivory Coast of harboring coup plotters, a claim denied by Ivorian officials. Following these arrests, thousands of people rallied in support of Traore in Ouagadougou.
The reported events of January 2026 added to Burkina Faso’s turbulent recent history, which has been marked by multiple changes of power, an ongoing jihadist insurgency, and fragmentation of the country’s armed forces. The country faces serious security challenges, with armed groups controlling significant territory and carrying out regular attacks on civilians and security forces.
Security has reportedly been stepped up in Ouagadougou as the investigation continues. Authorities have not disclosed the number of suspects arrested, the identities of the suspects other than those connected to the ringleader and Damiba, or the crimes they are facing.
The lack of official information from the government and the lack of coverage by major international media outlets suggests that uncertainty remains about the full details and scope of the reported January 3 incident. Observers are calling for transparency and due process in future prosecutions.
As 2026 begins, Burkina Faso remains in a fragile political and security situation, with the military regime facing both external jihadist threats and reported internal challenges to its authority. The country has not held elections since Traore took power, and he has questioned whether he will be able to hold them until security has significantly improved.
