Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – May 13, 2025
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s 37-year-old military leader, is capturing global attention as a self-styled pan-Africanist, drawing both fervent admiration and sharp criticism as he steers the West African nation through a transformative yet turbulent period. A BBC report published on May 12, 2025, highlights Traoré’s growing international appeal, particularly among African youth, for his bold anti-imperialist stance and economic reforms, even as his regime faces accusations of authoritarianism and struggles with a persistent jihadist insurgency.
Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has positioned himself as a modern-day Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary Burkinabè leader assassinated in 1987. His rhetoric, railing against Western imperialism and neo-colonialism, resonates deeply across the continent. At a recent rally in Ghana for the inauguration of President John Mahama on January 7, 2025, Traoré was greeted with a celebrity-like welcome, a moment that underscored his rising stature as a pan-Africanist figure. Smaller solidarity protests in cities like Accra, London, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, following a massive pro-junta rally in Ouagadougou on April 30, 2025, further illustrate his global reach. However, online narratives have been amplified by AI-generated images and deepfake audio tracks—some depicting fictional protests in Nairobi and New York, and others featuring pop stars like Rihanna praising Traoré—blurring the line between genuine support and digital propaganda.
Under Traoré’s leadership, Burkina Faso has undergone significant shifts. The junta has severed ties with former colonial power France, expelling French diplomats in 2023, and pivoted toward a strong alliance with Russia, which includes the deployment of a Russian paramilitary brigade. Traoré’s government has also pursued left-wing economic policies, creating the state mining corporation SOPAMIB to reclaim control of resources like gold from foreign companies. In April 2025, a new industrial mining license was granted to Russia’s Nordgold, a move that has been welcomed by many Burkinabè who see Russia as a preferable partner to Western powers. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in an early April 2025 statement, noted “commendable progress” in Burkina Faso’s economy, projecting robust growth in 2025 despite a challenging security environment, thanks to increased domestic revenue and spending on education, health, and social protection.
Infrastructure development is another focus, with Traoré’s administration constructing new roads and upgrading existing ones. The Ouagadougou-Donsin Airport, a state-of-the-art facility expected to handle one million passengers annually, is slated for completion this year, symbolizing Burkina Faso’s push for self-reliance. Traoré’s rejection of a Saudi offer to build 200 mosques in 2025, stating the country already has enough, further burnishes his image as a leader prioritizing national interests over foreign influence.
Yet, Traoré’s rule is not without controversy. Critics, including some foreign journalists, accuse him of stifling dissent, with reports of activists and journalists being arrested or forcibly drafted into combat against jihadists. A post on X from
@AfricanHub_ on May 11, 2025, quoted a foreign journalist lamenting Traoré’s intolerance for criticism, reflecting concerns about shrinking civic space. The Council on Foreign Relations, in a May 5, 2025, article, went further, labeling Traoré a “tyrant” and a symbol of Africa’s authoritarian resurgence, arguing that his consolidation of power—evident in his dismissal of the prime minister and government in December 2024—undermines democratic principles.
Security remains a pressing challenge. Despite Traoré’s promises to curb the jihadist violence that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions over the past decade, attacks persist. The junta’s response has been heavy-handed, with reports of extrajudicial arrests and forced conscription of civilians, including judges and journalists, into frontline combat. On April 22, 2025, Burkina Faso’s Security Minister Mahamadou Sana claimed the government had foiled a “major plot” to overthrow Traoré, allegedly orchestrated from neighboring Ivory Coast, a country Traoré has repeatedly accused of harboring his enemies. The plot, which involved an assault on the presidency planned for April 16, 2025, highlights the fragility of Traoré’s grip on power.
Traoré’s international alliances have also stirred tensions. His alignment with Russia has drawn criticism from Western powers, with U.S. Africa Command chief General Michael Langley accusing Traoré of prioritizing personal protection over public welfare, a claim that prompted a massive pro-junta rally in Ouagadougou on April 30, 2025. South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemned Langley’s remarks as evidence of Western interference, a sentiment echoed by many of Traoré’s supporters who see him as a bulwark against neo-colonialism.
For many Africans, Traoré represents a bold vision of sovereignty and resistance; for others, he is a cautionary tale of authoritarian overreach. With jihadist threats unabated and regional tensions simmering, Traoré’s ability to balance his pan-Africanist ideals with the practical demands of governance will determine whether his legacy mirrors that of Sankara—or takes a darker turn.
See Also: Military Intervention in Niger, Declaration of War Against Us – Burkina Faso and Mali