Burkina Faso’s younger revolutionary chief, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has all of the sudden develop into one of many greatest political points on the earth, particularly in Africa, trending recurrently on social media and more and more turning into a logo of resistance on the continent.
If the Western political institution and their sockpuppet, echo-chamber media is to be believed, Traoré is a tyrannical, gold-thieving warlord clinging to energy in Burkina Faso, and working that Western African nation into the bottom.
Most Africans, nevertheless, notably the youth on the continent, see the charismatic, clever, articulate and unapologetically African nationalist 37-year-old chief fairly in a different way – extra like an African David standing as much as the previous colonial Goliath.
BURKINA FASO’S TWO COUPS (2022)
In 2022, Burkina Faso (previously often known as Higher Volta) underwent two army coups.
Each had been primarily pushed by the nation’s deteriorating safety scenario and widespread dissatisfaction with the federal government’s lack of ability to deal with the jihadist insurgency.
For years previous to the 2022 coups, Burkina Faso was affected by jihadist terror teams (that largely shaped after the US-backed overthrow of Libya’s Gaddafi), with violent assaults on army personnel and civilians turning into more and more frequent.
The safety disaster worsened considerably within the nation, with over 1 500 violent occasions and three 800 fatalities projected in 2022, forcing roughly 2 million individuals to flee their properties.
THE DAMIBA-LED FIRST COUP (JAN ’22)
In January 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba led a coup partly fueled by the federal government’s lack of ability to comprise the rising jihadist menace.
Nevertheless, Damiba’s rule was additionally marked by ineffectiveness in addressing the safety disaster, resulting in additional instability and frustration among the many army and inhabitants.
In the meantime, the individuals of Burkina Faso had grown uninterested in being poor in one of the crucial resource-rich areas on earth, uninterested in French and American affect, and uninterested in their corrupt leaders who dutifully took orders from Paris and Washington.
THE TRAORÉ-LED SECOND COUP (SEP ’22)
The nationwide discontent led to a second coup in September that very same yr, this one led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Born in Bondokuy, western Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré studied geology on the College of Ouagadougou earlier than becoming a member of the military in 2010. He gained frontline expertise preventing jihadist teams within the nation’s north and later served within the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. By 2020, he had risen to Captain and led an artillery unit stationed in Kaya.
His rising frustration with the ruling junta’s lack of ability to stem rebel violence led to Traoré spearheading the coup in opposition to interim president Damiba.
In October 2022, Traoré was sworn in as interim president, pledging to revive safety and nationwide sovereignty.
The worldwide neighborhood expressed concern over the coup, with the Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union suspending Burkina Faso’s membership and imposing sanctions.
TRAORÉ’S LEADERSHIP AND POLICIES
Since taking energy, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has confronted important challenges, together with a deteriorating safety scenario and financial instability. Regardless of this, Traoré’s management in Burkina Faso has been marked by important initiatives geared toward bettering the lives of its residents.
Whereas his rise to energy was unconventional, his dedication and notable strides in offering free training and healthcare has resonated deeply with the Burkinabé individuals and contributed to the general well-being of the inhabitants.
The West, notably France, has been vocal in its criticism of Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s management.
Burkina Faso is wealthy in pure assets, together with gold, which has been a major contributor to the nation’s financial system. Some articles, analysts and commentators have identified that maybe France’s pursuits within the area’s assets could also be a consider its criticism of Captain Traoré’s management.
However there are different potential causes…
WHY THE WEST, PARTICULARLY FRANCE, HATES TRAORÉ
In January 2023, Burkina Faso put France’s army within the nation on discover, giving them one month to vacate the African state. In September that yr, the nation expelled a French army attache for ‘subversive actions’. In April 2024 they expelled one other 3 French diplomats for the very same factor.
Traoré’s determination to expel French troops from Burkina Faso and search different safety partnerships has been perceived as a problem to France’s ongoing affect within the area.
On the similar time, Captain Traoré’s authorities has sought to strengthen ties with different nations, together with Russia, which has been a major participant within the area. This has solely additional angered Western colonial, imperial powers who, for hundreds of years, have laid declare to the assets of Burkina Faso – and different international locations on the continent.
The US, by way of AFRICOM Common, Michael Langley, additionally just lately accused Traoré and his Junta “regime” of stealing the nation’s gold for private acquire – with out offering proof.
(By the way, if you happen to want a reminder of precisely what AFRICOM and their sprawling community of army bases are doing on the African continent, watch this.)
Since late 2022, the Western political institution and their media stenographers have been pushing the narrative that the Traoré-led coup has resulted in additional instability and uncertainty in Burkina Faso.
The individuals of Burkina Faso, the whole Sahel area, and certainly many of the continent…beg to vary.
TRAORÉ’S POPULARITY ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
Captain Traoré’s anti-colonial sentiments, his dedication to social welfare and his general defiant and refreshingly unorthodox management type – which emphasizes self-reliance and willpower – has seen his recognition soar on the African continent, notably the Sahel area.
His authorities’s determination to expel French troops and search different safety partnerships has been seen as a daring transfer in the direction of asserting Burkina Faso’s sovereignty. His introduction of free training and healthcare initiatives has resonated with many Africans.
In an interview with analyst and commentator Kim Iversen in Might, journalist-filmmaker-activist (and former marketing campaign advisor to RFK Jr), Theo Wilson, mentioned his current journey to the Sahel the place he noticed, firsthand, the affect Traoré casts over the area.
Wilson described how he met with locals and recorded testimonies immediately from the individuals residing below Traoré’s management. Virtually all of them appeared to adore the younger Captain.
“I can let you know the person’s shadow looms massive over the continent”, Wilson advised Iversen. “He’s additionally beloved in international locations that don’t have anything to do with Burkina Faso. To the younger individuals particularly, he embodies the management they’ve been crying out for.”
“They love him”, he added. “In reality, individuals within the area are asking how come their leaders aren’t extra like him”.
IS THE WEST GOING TO DEPOSE OR MURDER TRAORE (LIKE THE OTHERS?)
In a current analytical video about Ibrahim Traoré, comic and political/media commentator, Jimmy Dore reminded us of among the different African leaders who had been ultimately overthrown or murdered by the West, for merely wanting their individuals – and never solely Western firms – to learn from their nation’s wealth and assets;
Congo’s Patrice Lumumba (1961): Murdered by Belgium and the CIA (below orders from then US President Dwight Eisenhower) and his physique dissolved in sulfuric acid.
Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah (1966): Overthrown in a US/CIA-backed coup staged by the Ghana Armed Forces and Police Service whereas Nkrumah was visiting China, which ushered in an period of army rule.
Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara (1987): Murdered in a bloody army coup organised by Captain Blaise Compaoré and, in keeping with the Italian documentary African Shadows launched in 2009, was backed by US and French Secret Service and the CIA.
Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi (2011): Tortured and murdered by a NATO-backed terrorist mob (NTC), resulting in the collapse of Libya and the rise of jihadi terrorism within the area.
What do all these leaders have in widespread? What are they responsible of?
Wanting their individuals to learn from their nation’s assets, forward of Western company pursuits.
THE WEST DOESN’T WANT UNITY IN AFRICA, OR ANYWHERE
After reviewing that record of African leaders overthrown or murdered by the West, Jimmy Dore identified, “They’ve been doing this since endlessly. This isn’t new.”
He additionally mentioned, “The West, the WEF, NATO and america (authorities) don’t want us coming collectively. Not within the US, and never the international locations of Africa.”
He added, “They should maintain us preventing amongst one another…to allow them to management us.”
As of April 2025, President Ibrahim Traoré has reportedly survived no less than 19 assassination makes an attempt since assuming energy in 2022.
TRAORÉ’S POWERFUL, INSPIRING AND INDICTING SPEECHES
Maybe what the West fears essentially the most about Traoré isn’t his actions, however his phrases. As a result of each time the younger Captain stands as much as give a speech, he stuns the room into reverent silence with laborious, unvarnished truths in regards to the West’s centuries-old exploitation of Africa.
Notable extracts from a few of his speeches embody;
‘WHY IS AFRICA POOR?’
In late 2022, Traoré delivered a speech directed on the imperialist international locations which have colonised Africa for many years.
He mentioned, “I’m Ibrahim Traoré, and at this time I’m pulling off your masks.
Every single day of my life, I grew up along with your lies. As a toddler, I’d watch Africa on tv. At all times the identical pictures: youngsters with flies, dry lands, weapons…dying. That is Africa, they advised us. And we believed it. We had been ashamed of ourselves, of our personal individuals.
However then, I grew up. I learn, I researched, I questioned. And I understood that the Africa you confirmed us wasn’t actual, it was a lie. A script you had written for years.
And you continue to ask…why is Africa poor? No. The proper query is how was Africa saved poor whereas being so wealthy?
Right here’s your reply: Colonialism. It didn’t finish, it modified form.
You used to rule with the whip, now you rule with credit score.”
‘WHY DON’T THEY WANT US TO UNITE?’
In June 2025, on the Koulouba Palace in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Traoré addressed residents and leaders of the AES (Alliance des États du Sahel), a Confederation shaped between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
In his speech, Traoré emphasised the seriousness of the menace posed by imperial powers to the unity of the AES.
“Unity is difficult, particularly in Africa”, he mentioned. “It’s tough to unite, however it’s the answer. We should unite.
If I had been naive I’d ask myself, ‘Why do the imperialists not need this union?’ However I’m not naive. I do know why.
As a result of our nation is wealthy – wealthy in its individuals, wealthy in ethical values, however above all, wealthy in its land. And it’s these riches that others need.
‘AFRICA WILL NOT KNEEL’
Addressing the UN Common Meeting in Might this yr, Traoré mentioned;
“Africa isn’t a beggar, not a battlefield, not your experiment, your puppet, your warehouse of uncooked supplies. Africa is rising – to not kneel, however to face.
For many years, you despatched us help with one hand whereas extracting our lifeblood with the opposite. You construct wells in our villages whereas your firms drain our rivers.
Any longer, we are going to outline improvement on our personal phrases. Improvement that places youngsters in school rooms, not minerals on cargo ships. Improvement that respects the land, the individuals and the soul of a nation.
We’re a non secular individuals. Earlier than your cathedrals, our ancestors sang to the sky. Earlier than your missionaries, we knew the language of the rivers and the legal guidelines of the sacred forest.”
Addressing the youth of Africa immediately, Traoré mentioned, “You’re the cause we struggle. Be happy with your title, your land, your roots. The world might not applaud you now, however the future will converse your title in honour.”
Turning again to the colonial imperialists, Traoré advised them, “Africa isn’t asking for a seat at your desk, we’re constructing our personal desk – the place no little one eats final, the place no nation is silenced as a result of it lacks nuclear arms, the place justice isn’t filtered by way of the lens of race or historical past, however shared…as breath is shared.”
“That is our imaginative and prescient, that is our vow”, he added.
“Africa won’t kneel.”
WILL TRAORÉ LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BRING PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO HIS COUNTRY – AND THE REGION?
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