Burkina’s junta chief accuses France and neighbors of conspiring to destabilize the country

On July 11, 2024, Burkina junta chief Ibrahim Traoré claimed that there was an "operations center in Abidjan" aimed at destabilizing Burkina Faso and accused "two French bases in Benin" of training and equipping terrorists. He said he would provide evidence of these accusations soon. Traoré clarified that his criticism is directed at the leaders of Côte d'Ivoire and Benin, not their citizens, and he asserted that the French bases in Benin are facilitating terrorist activities against Burkina Faso.