Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, on Monday, April 28, 2025, accused Ivory Coast of being involved in plots aimed at destabilizing his country.
During a televised interview lasting just over an hour and twenty minutes, he claimed that the masterminds behind these operations, as well as those behind previous attempts, are currently based in Ivory Coast, which he said is providing them with “shelter and support.”
According to Ouédraogo, these actions are being coordinated from within Ivory Coast, with the complicity of individuals he accuses of having direct ties to terrorist groups operating in Burkina Faso. He also accused them of undermining the morale of the fighting forces and betraying their homeland.
Despite the gravity of his accusations, the Prime Minister made a point to distinguish between the Ivorian people and the leaders or individuals allegedly involved in these plots. He emphasized the deep historical, cultural, and familial ties between the peoples of Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, asserting that it is nearly impossible to separate the two. He stressed that the Ivorian population is not to blame and is itself a victim of imperialist influences.
Furthermore, Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo placed these tensions within a broader context, stating that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are engaged in a common struggle for true independence and liberation from imperialist domination. He expressed regret that the Ivorian people are “held hostage” by this system and called for the unity of African peoples in the fight for sovereignty and dignity.