Thousands of people demonstrated in support of Burkina Faso’s military government led by Captain Ibrahim Traore on Wednesday, just days after the authorities announced they had uncovered a “conspiracy” aimed at toppling the regime.
Protesters convened in Ouagadougou’s central square, displaying large posters of the junta leader alongside Burkinabe and Russian flags. They also carried signs with messages such as “Down with imperialism and its local allies” and “Full backing for President Ibrahim Traoré and the citizens of Burkina Faso.”
On April 21, the junta of the West African nation claimed to have foiled a “significant plot” orchestrated by masterminds from neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, resulting in the detention of several senior military officials.
Traore, who seized control in a coup in September 2022, has frequently accused Côte d’Ivoire of sheltering his adversaries, claims that the neighbouring country denies.
The National Coordination of the Civilian Vigil (CNAVC), a group of pro-junta civil society organisations, organised the protest.
“We, the peoples who cherish justice and independence, express our steadfast solidarity with the courageous struggle of the Burkinabe people for their liberation,” a spokesperson from CNAVC said.
Similar to its neighbours Niger and Mali, Burkina Faso under Traore has distanced itself from its former colonial power France and moved closer to Russia. All three of these Sahel nations have been grappling with violence from insurgents for the past decade.
The three countries led by juntas withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the start of the year, accusing the regional organisation of being subordinate to France, and have established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), initially formed as a defence pact in 2023 but now seeking deeper integration.