Ibrahim Traoré Most Not Be Killed Julius Malema Warning the West not to Kill Captain Ibrahim Traore.

Ibrahim Traoré (born 14 March 1988) is a Burkinabé military officer and politician. He has served as the interim President of Burkina Faso since 2022.

Traoré took control of Burkina Faso in September 2022, ousting interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba in a coup d’état.^[5] At age 37, he is presently the second-youngest head of state in the world.^[6] During his tenure, Traoré has sought to distance the country from its former colonial power, France, and played an instrumental role in founding the Alliance of Sahel States

Early life

Ibrahim Traoré was born in Kéra, Bondokuy, Mouhoun Province, on 14 March 1988.^[2][7][8] After receiving his primary education in Bondokuy, he attended a high school in Bobo-Dioulasso. There, he was known as being “quiet.” He was also recognized as “very talented.”^[9] From 2006,^[9] he studied geology at the University of Ouagadougou.^[2] He was part of the Association of Muslim Students^[9][10] and the Marxist Association nationale des étudiants du Burkina (ANEB). In the latter, he rose to delegate and became known for defending his classmates in disputes.^[2] He graduated from the university with honors.^[9]

Military career

Traoré joined the Army of Burkina Faso in 2009,^[9] and graduated from the Georges-Namoano Military Academy.^[2] He was sent to Morocco for anti-air training. Later, he was transferred to an infantry unit in Kaya in northern Burkina Faso.^[9] Promoted to lieutenant in 2014, Traoré joined MINUSMA, a United Nations peacekeeping force involved in the Mali War. In 2018, he was cited as one of the MINUSMA soldiers. They “showed courage” during major rebel attacks in the Tombouctou Region.^[9] He later returned to Burkina Faso where he assisted in operations against the escalating jihadist insurgency.^[9] Traoré fought at Djibo,^[2] in the “Otapuanu offensive” of 2019, and several other counter-insurgency operations in the country’s north.^[9]

He was promoted to captain in 2020.^[10]^[9] Traoré later said that he became disillusioned with his country’s leadership around this time. He saw the widespread lack of equipment for Burkinabe soldiers. At the same time, politicians were handing out “suitcases of money” for bribery. He gradually became the spokesman for soldiers stationed in the north who were frustrated over their government.^[2]

Rise to power

Traoré was part of the group of army officers. They supported the January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d’état. The group brought the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration military junta to power.^[5]^[4] From March 2022, he served as the head of an artillery regiment in Kaya.^[9]^[4] Whether he was ever linked to the “Cobra” special forces, a counterterrorist unit founded in 2019, is disputed. According to the BBC, Al Jazeera, and Die Tageszeitung, he was part of the unit at some point.^[10]^[3]^[11] Still, news magazine Jeune Afrique stated that he was never linked with the “Cobras”.^[4]

Many supporters of the January coup became dissatisfied with the performance of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. The junta’s leader was unable to manage the jihadist insurgency. Traoré later said that he and other officers had tried to get Damiba to “refocus” on the rebellion. Still, they eventually decided to overthrow him. Damiba’s ambitions were diverting away from what they set out to do.^[5] The dissatisfaction about the situation was highest among younger officers who fought against the rebels at the frontlines.^[12] Moreover, there were delays in pay for the “Cobra” troops.^[10]

When the plotters launched their coup on 30 September, Traoré still held the rank of Captain.^[5] The operation was carried out with support of the “Cobra” unit.^[3]^[12] In the direct aftermath of the coup, Traoré became the new head. This position was of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration.^[12] On 6 October, he became Interim President. He took the role of “Head of State, Supreme Head of the Armed Forces”.^[1] He initially promised to hold democratic elections in July 2024.^[13]

Presidency

Consolidation of power

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As president, Traoré has maintained his enigmatic behavior. He has also continued the very formal demeanor for which he was known before rising to power. He has kept a tight control on his communication while carefully trying to show himself primarily as a war leader. His presidency has also seen an increase of pro-government propaganda in Burkinabe traditional media and social media. Politically, Le Monde journalist Sophie Douce described Traoré as influenced by Marxism and pan-Africanism.^[2]

In April 2023, he declared a “general mobilisation” of the population. This was to support the military. Rebel forces continued to increase the rate of their attacks.^[14] Traoré publicly pledged to reconquer all rebel-held areas. He stated that there would be no negotiations until the insurgency had been greatly weakened.^[2] In the next month, Traoré questioned the planned restoration of democracy for 2024. He stated that elections could not be held unless the insurgents were pushed back. The security situation needed to be improved.^[15]

On 26 September of the same year, dissatisfied elements of the military unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow Traoré.^[16] National consultations occurred on 25 and 26 May 2024. They aimed to discuss the future of the transition in Burkina Faso. While participants included civil society representatives, most political parties boycotted the consultations. The result was the extension of Traoré’s mandate for an extra five years. This decision also allows him to contest the next presidential elections.^[17]^[18]^[19]

On 6 December 2024, Traoré dissolved his government and removed de Tambèla as prime minister.^[20]

Gold and general mining sector developments

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In November 2023, Burkina Faso’s Council of Ministers approved the construction of the country’s first gold refinery. This marked a significant development in Burkina Faso’s gold sector, aiming to capitalize on the nation’s growing gold mining industry. Traoré seeks to gain more control over its gold resources by refining gold domestically rather than exporting unrefined materials. This would increase government revenue and economic benefits from the gold sector. The refinery is set to create 100 new jobs. It will also create 5000 new indirect jobs. The refinery will produce roughly 400 kg of gold daily.^[21]

In February 2024, Traoré ordered the suspension of the issuance of export permits for small-scale private gold production. This move is reportedly aimed at tackling illicit trade. Illicit trade consists of smuggling gold abroad, avoiding taxes and regulations. The goal is to clean up the artisanal gold sector. This suspension aims to crack down on such activities. It seeks to make certain that exported gold is properly documented. The goal is for it to contribute to government revenue. The government hopes this suspension will create a more formal and accountable system for exporting small-scale produced gold.^[22]^[23]

Foreign relations shift from France to Russia

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In February 2023, Traoré’s government expelled from Burkina Faso the French forces assisting in fighting the local insurgency.^[24] He later declared that his nation wanted to “look at other horizons.” Burkina Faso seeks “win-win partnerships.” This supports the diversification of Burkina Faso’s international partnerships. Shortly after, Traoré’s government expressed support for a federation with Mali and both invited Guinea. All three countries are under military leadership. If they were to become a union, they would be the largest country ruled by a military junta.^[25] To replace French military support, Traoré forged closer ties to Turkey and Russia.^[2]

According to Reuters and The New York Times, Traoré was suspected of having a connection with the Wagner Group. This suspicion arose because he expressed anti-French and pro-Russian views.^[26]^[27] As Traoré entered Ouagadougou, the nation’s capital, supporters cheered, some waving Russian flags.^[26] The Government of Ghana publicly alleged that Traoré began collaborating with the Wagner Group following the coup. He enlisted the mercenaries against the jihadist rebels.^[13] Traoré denied this, stating that “our Wagner are the VDP”, referencing the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland.^[25]^[15]

On 29 July 2023, after the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit, Traoré said that the people of his country support Russia. He communicated that a decision had been made to reopen the Russian embassy. The embassy was closed in 1992.^[28] Le Monde reported in May 2023 that the Traoré regime seems to favor using its own forces. The regime prefers this for now. They are focusing on their own strength in the fight against the jihadists. They have not asked Wagner’s Russians for help.^[29]

Russian troops, including the Wagner Group, were eventually deployed in Burkina Faso in January 2024.^[30]