The West African country of Burkina Faso has announced that a plot to assassinate the military leader of the country, Capt Ibrahim Traore, has been averted.

The military officer overthrown by Traoré in September 2022, the security minister, said on a late-night broadcast that the sophisticated plan had been hatched by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba.

“This operation was intercepted in its last hours by the intelligence services. They were to assassinate the head of state and then attack other strategic institutions, such as civilian faces,” which Mahamadou Sana claimed, and he claimed they had been funded by the neighbouring Ivory Coast.

Both Col Damiba and the Ivory Coast have made no comment.

Capt Traoré, who took control of power, has had at least two coup attempts, as well as dealing with increasing jihadist violence, which has rendered millions homeless.

Nevertheless, even with these obstacles and his authoritarian reputation, the 37-year-old military figure still enjoys a huge popular following and has amassed a fanbase throughout the continent as a result of his pan-Africanist ideology and Western influence-bashing.

The security minister revealed that authorities found a leaked video in which the plotters were discussing their plans.

They were caught on camera purporting to discuss their plans of assassinating the president either at close range or by planting explosives at his home immediately after 23:00 local time on Saturday, 3 January.

Then, they were supposed to attack other high-ranking military and civilian leaders.

Damiba had gathered an army of soldiers and non-military allies, had received foreign financial aid – the largest amount being 70m CFA francs ($125,000; £92,000), but sent to the Ivory Coast, and intended to disable the base launching the drones of the country before foreign troops could respond, Sana alleged.

“We are undertaking continuous searches, and we have already apprehended some. These people will soon be taken to justice,” the minister said on national television.

Sana claimed the situation was controlled and asked the citizens to avoid being fooled, due to naivety, and to avoid falling into dangerous plans.

It is not clear how many people have been arrested.

There are local and international critics who have described Capt Traoré as being authoritarian, and his government is seen to suppress dissent, which includes arbitrary arrests of military personnel and the press.

This is not the first occasion that the junta has blamed foreign intervention for its matters towards the Ivory Coast.

These ongoing internal power politics will increase the tensions in the region.

Col Damiba was the leader of Burkina Faso from January to September 2022, who took over the leadership of an elected government.

Having been ousted, he went into exile in the adjacent Togo, and in a message posted on social media, he wished his successor all the best.