By Matthews Otalike
Burkina Faso’s military government, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has been a thorn in the side of Western powers since its rise to power in 2022. Under Traoré, the country has expelled French troops, pivoted toward Russia, and taken a fiercely independent stance against Neo-colonial influence.
Now, disturbing reports suggest that Western intelligence agencies, in collaboration with regional actors, are planning to destabilize and remove the junta. The begging question is: Why? And what would this mean for the Sahel’s struggle for true sovereignty?
The Junta’s Defiance: Why the West Wants Traoré Gone?
Since taking power, Traoré’s government has kicked out French forces, ending Paris’s decades-long military stranglehold.
Strengthened ties with Russia, welcoming Wagner (now Africa Corps) for security support.
Rejected ECOWAS’ pro-Western stance, aligning instead with Mali and Niger in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and
Nationalized key resources, threatening French uranium and gold interests.
For Western powers, particularly France and the United States, this is unacceptable as they consider a sovereign, anti-Western Burkina Faso a dangerous precedent for Africa.
The Covert Plan: How the West Could Strike.
Intelligence sources and past regime-change operations suggest several possible strategies such as funding and Arming “Rebel Groups”
Just as the U.S. and France backed jihadists in Syria (under the guise of “moderate rebels”), they could reactivate dormant insurgent cells in Burkina Faso.
Reports already indicate increased terrorist attacks in Ouagadougou; is it a coincidence, or a prelude to chaos?
ECOWAS as a Proxy Force.
After failing to invade Niger, ECOWAS, under Western pressure, could attempt a “peacekeeping” intervention, citing instability.
Senegal’s new pro-Western government might be pushed to lead such a mission.
Internal Sabotage: Assassination or Coup
France has a history of eliminating defiant African leaders. Those so eliminated include Thomas Sankara of the same Burkina Faso, Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, and Muamar Gaddafi of Libya.
Traoré narrowly survived an alleged coup attempt in September 2023, which could be considered a test run. Recently, there was a report of another botched coup plot in Burkina Faso.
Economic Strangulation.
Freezing state assets, as done to Mali and Niger. Sabotaging food and fuel supplies to trigger public unrest.
Matthews Otalike is the Publisher of Searchlight & Editor-in-Chief.
Share your thoughts on the story The Hidden War: Is The West Plotting To Remove Burkina Faso Military Junta? with Nigerian Kicker in the comments section.
