The Sahel region of Africa has been a crucible of political upheaval. Between August 2020 and July 2023, a quartet of nations—Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger—saw their governments overthrown by military officers, all claiming a mandate for radical, positive change. This wave of coups has not only shaken the foundations of African politics but has also been instrumental in the embarrassing expulsion of traditional Western powers from the continent.
What has emerged from this vacuum is a potent new alliance, a source of constant distress for Western leaders. At the heart of this geopolitical shift, particularly within the tiny, landlocked nation of Burkina Faso, stands a figure who has become a symbol of defiance and a source of sleepless nights for the West: Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Loved by young people across Africa, Traoré has made dramatic strides since seizing power, aiming to lift his people out of poverty and sever the crippling dependence on foreign aid. But his journey is a high-stakes battle. The US is openly hostile, and reports suggest a staggering 18 assassination attempts on his life since he became the leader of this small West African country.
How did a little-known soldier become one of the most feared African leaders of the 21st century—so much so that powerful global forces are actively scrambling to remove him? This is the story of Ibrahim Traoré, the man the West fears the most, and the revolutionary history that forged him.
A Legacy of Resistance: From Upper Volta to Burkina Faso
To truly grasp the significance of Traoré’s revolution, we must look back to the origins of the nation, once known as the Republic of Upper Volta.
In 1960, as a wave of independence swept across Africa, Upper Volta gained its freedom from France, a colonial power that had violently oppressed the region since the late 19th century. The joy of freedom was short-lived.
The Rise and Fall of the First Republic (1960-1966)
Maurice Yaméogo became the first president, but his efforts to consolidate power quickly led to an autocratic one-party state under the Voltaic Democratic Union. Crucially, his administration maintained a neo-colonial relationship with France, allowing French advisors to hold key roles in the military and civil administration. This reliance on the former colonial master, coupled with his lavish spending amidst widespread poverty and austerity measures, sparked massive public discontent.
By late 1965, nationwide strikes and demonstrations erupted. The chaos paved the way for the military’s first intervention: on January 3, 1966, the army, led by Lieutenant Colonel Sangoulé Lamizana, seized power. This first coup, initially welcomed by the weary citizens, suspended the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly.
The Revolutionary Spark: Thomas Sankara
Lamizana, seeking to rebuild the country, established the nation’s first military academy in Ouagadougou. Among the few selected graduates was a young man named Thomas Sankara, who would become central to the nation’s destiny.
During the late 1960s and 70s, Lamizana’s rule mirrored his predecessor’s, consolidating power under a military regime. Meanwhile, at the academy, Sankara was introduced to progressive and revolutionary ideas by his instructor, Adama Touré. Sankara’s intellectual curiosity led him to study global struggles against imperialism, neo-colonialism, and African liberation movements. Advanced military training in Madagascar would further solidify his revolutionary worldview.
Back in Ouagadougou, Lamizana’s attempts at limited democracy failed amid economic strain and political infighting, exacerbated by the severe Sahel drought of 1973. In 1974, he dismissed the civilian government, returning to full military rule.
The Road to Revolution (1980-1983)
Sankara returned in October 1973, brimming with ideas for national development. His talent and zeal for social change quickly brought him to the attention of the military elite.
After 14 years in power, Lamizana was overthrown on November 25, 1980, by Colonels Saye Zerbo and Gabriel Somé. Although initially refusing, Sankara reluctantly became the Minister of Information in September 1981. He immediately stood out, cycling to work and refusing the perks of office.
The regime’s hard stance against dissent frustrated Sankara. On April 12, 1982, in a dramatic and fiery public speech broadcast live, he resigned, criticizing the regime for serving the interests of the minority. This act earned him an immediate arrest, demotion, and exile.
The infighting continued until November 7, 1982, when Colonel Somé Yorian staged another coup, installing Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo as president. Sankara returned to power, reluctantly taking the post of Prime Minister.
However, ideological differences quickly created a rift. In May 1983, Sankara was arrested again. Sensing danger, his supporters, led by officers Blaise Compaoré and Jean-Baptiste Lingani, prepared for a decisive move.
On August 4, 1983, in a swift coup, Sankara became the head of state at the age of 33, announcing the dawn of a new revolutionary era.
Thomas Sankara: The Che of Africa
Under the National Council of the Revolution (CNR), Sankara immediately set out to transform the nation. In August 1984, he famously renamed the country from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso—the “Land of Incorruptible People.”
His reforms were radical and nation-defining:
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Self-Reliance and Social Justice: Massive campaigns for vaccination, literacy, and tree planting to combat desertification.
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Women’s Rights: Groundbreaking initiatives to advance the status of women.
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Anti-Corruption: Officials, including Sankara himself, were required to open their finances to public scrutiny, and luxury perks for the elite were cut.
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Economic Sovereignty: He focused heavily on agriculture, believing the nation must feed itself. His agricultural revolution led to a 75% increase in cereal production between 1983 and 1986.
Crucially, Sankara was deeply wary of foreign aid that came with strings attached, consistently refusing assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His powerful speeches against colonial powers and neo-colonial policies won him enemies on the international stage but adoration across Africa.
This stance, however, threatened traditional authorities, the local elite, and external powers, especially France and Ivory Coast. As foreign powers influenced his trusted allies, divisions emerged within the CNR.
On October 15, 1987, Blaise Compaoré staged a bloody coup d’etat. Sankara and at least 12 members of his council were brutally murdered, bringing a tragic end to the revolution and silencing Africa’s outspoken anti-imperialist voice.
A New Revolutionary is Born: Ibrahim Traoré
Five months after the assassination of Thomas Sankara, on March 14, 1988, Ibrahim Traoré was born.
Compaoré’s new regime systematically dismantled Sankara’s gains, restoring relations with France and neighboring Ivory Coast and cracking down on dissent. Compaoré quickly became a fixture of Africa’s long-ruling presidents, securing his rule through rigged elections and structural adjustment programs demanded by his foreign backers. Life for the average Burkinabè grew progressively worse.
The Path of the Soldier
Traoré began his military career in 2009, enlisting in the army and undergoing officer training. Graduating around 2012, he was sent for specialized anti-aircraft warfare instruction in Morocco before being assigned to the volatile northern region of Kaya.
While Traoré rose steadily, Compaoré’s rule finally collapsed.
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2011: Widespread unrest, including student protests and military mutinies over wages, exposed the cracks in Compaoré’s government.
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2014: Compaoré’s attempt to remove term limits sparked massive protests. On October 30, 2014, tens of thousands stormed and set the parliament ablaze. Compaoré resigned and fled the country, ending his 27-year rule.
In 2014, as his country struggled for a stable future, Traoré—now a lieutenant—joined the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, facing heavy combat against Islamic militants. After his UN stint, he returned to the frontlines of the escalating counter-insurgency operations in northern Burkina Faso.
By 2020, at the age of 32, Traoré achieved the rank of Captain. But with the promotion came a surging frustration: his country was collapsing under the weight of jihadist attacks, and frontline officers were chronically under-equipped while senior officials in the capital appeared corrupt and comfortable. Traoré emerged as an informal spokesman for young officers angered by the government’s ineffectiveness.
The Damiba Coup and Traoré’s Ascent
Following Compaoré’s fall, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was elected president, briefly marking a return to civilian rule. However, by 2021, public confidence plummeted as terrorist attacks continued to devastate the nation.
On January 21, 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba led a coup, ousting Kaboré. Captain Traoré supported this coup, known as the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR). Traoré was appointed commander of a field artillery regiment in Kaya, returning to the frontlines.
However, the security situation did not improve under Damiba’s junta. Younger officers, including Traoré, grew dissatisfied, believing Damiba’s ambitions were diverting from the original goal of defeating the insurgency. A breaking point came in September 2022 after a deadly ambush killed 11 soldiers and dozens of civilians.
On September 30, 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, still a low-ranking officer, launched a second coup—Burkina Faso’s second military takeover in eight months. The action was swift and decisive. By the evening, Traoré announced the overthrow of Damiba’s government on television.
Less than a week later, at the age of 34, Ibrahim Traoré was formally sworn in as Burkina Faso’s transitional president.
The New Revolution: Traoré’s Challenge to the West
From day one, Traoré has consciously mirrored the persona of Thomas Sankara. He portrays himself as a wartime leader dedicated solely to the nation’s survival, often seen in his uniform and signature red beret.
A Commitment to Anti-Corruption and Sacrifice
Traoré has made profound symbolic gestures to distinguish himself from the self-enriching leaders of the past:
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He refused to take a higher military rank, choosing to remain a Captain in the army.
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He reportedly declined his presidential salary, signaling a rejection of profiting from his position.
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He frequently speaks out against imperialism and corruption, reinforcing his image as a pragmatic, disciplined leader.
The All-Hands-On-Deck Security Strategy
Restoring security has been the singular focus of his agenda. Within weeks of assuming office, he took the drastic step of announcing a nationwide campaign to recruit tens of thousands of civilian volunteers into auxiliary defense units, known as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP). The goal was a force of 50,000 local fighters to supplement the overstretched national army, demonstrating an “all hands on deck” approach to the war against extremism.
Traoré has publicly vowed to defeat the insurgency outrightly, rejecting negotiations until the jihadist groups are militarily weakened to a point where they cannot dictate terms.
Economic Sovereignty and The Gold Wars
Traoré’s moves toward economic resilience and anti-corruption directly challenge the interests of powerful foreign actors.
Burkina Faso is the 15th largest gold producer in the world. Interestingly, while France holds massive gold reserves, it has no active gold mines. Traoré’s key moves in this sector include:
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Domestic Processing: In November 2023, his cabinet approved the construction of the country’s first state-run gold refinery to process gold domestically, retaining more value and creating jobs rather than exporting all the raw ore.
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Crackdown on Smuggling: In February 2024, his government suspended the issuance of export permits for small-scale gold miners to crack down on illicit gold trade, which was siphoning wealth out of the country.
These measures to maximize state revenue and assert control over the nation’s most valuable resource have angered powerful global forces, chiefly the United States and France. This economic defiance is seen as a key reason for the alleged assassination attempts against him.
A New Geopolitical Realignment
Under Traoré, Burkina Faso has undergone a dramatic foreign policy shift, moving away from traditional Western partners and forging new alliances.
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Expulsion of France: Amidst a wave of anti-French sentiment, Traoré’s government formally requested the departure of French troops in January 2023. By February, all French military operations had ceased, and the French special forces contingent exited the country. The French ambassador was expelled, and French-backed media outlets were suspended, ending years of neo-colonial influence.
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The Alliance of Sahel States (AES): Regionally, Traoré forged an unprecedented strategic alliance with Mali (led by Assimi Goïta) and Niger (led by Abdourahamane Tiani), two neighboring countries also governed by juntas. In September 2023, the three states defied ECOWAS threats of military intervention against Niger, warning they would consider such an action a declaration of war on themselves. This culminated in their formal withdrawal from ECOWAS and the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States, a historic configuration aimed at mutual defense, security, and a rejection of foreign interference.
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The Russian Alignment: Russia has emerged as a key alternative security partner, viewed as a non-interfering ally in the security domain.
Traoré’s foreign policy is defined by a strong Pan-African nationalist streak, framing the nation’s struggle within the larger context of African sovereignty. This stance has earned him massive admiration across the continent, though it has isolated Burkina Faso diplomatically from traditional aid donors.
The world is watching Ibrahim Traoré closely. You may dislike his style of governance or the fact that it is a military regime, but for the people of Burkina Faso and Africans in general, he represents self-determination and the defiant spirit of a new generation. Like Sankara before him, he is actively reclaiming the nation’s destiny.
And that is why Captain Ibrahim Traoré is the man the West fears the most.