On 26 September 2023, dissidents of the Burkina Faso Armed Forces attempted to overthrow the ruling military junta led by Ibrahim Traoré, which came to power a year earlier.
In a previous coup in January 2022, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba overthrew the government of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré due to the Burkinabé government's inability to suppress the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso, which had begun in 2019 and saw jihadists make gains across the country in late 2021.
Sekou Ouedraogo was removed from head of the National Intelligence Services of Burkina Faso, and Seydou Ouattara was appointed to the role.
[6] Soldiers and officers were angered over the death of Zanga Moumouni Traore, a VDP commander who was killed while fighting jihadists near Bobo-Dioulasso as he did not have enough equipment.
[15] Two other officers, including Sekou Ouedraogo, former director of the National Intelligence Services of Burkina Faso who was fired on September 13, were said to be in hiding.