Ibrahim Traore Seeks A New Path For Burkina Faso

 

Ibrahim Traore wants Burkina Faso to have a more dynamic and impactful role in African affairs. The young leader seems similar to Thomas Sankara. A Pan-Africanist revival could be underway. Countries such as Mali and Niger are also taking a different approach to foreign policy and the affairs of Africa. The Alliance of Sahel states was formed to counter ECOWAS. Simultaneously, measures have been taken to remove French military encroachment and fight terrorist organizations. The AES is the reaction to neocolonial imperialism and armed groups. Traore does have an anti-imperialist political position. However, his economic stances are not well known. Traore does see poverty and the exploitation of the nation as an injustice. Yet, he has never expressed any Marxist or socialist ideas. Burkina Faso now has a leader that is growing in popularity. The reason has to do with genuine change to the political system. The youth in particular desire new leadership. The majority of African leaders are much older. Ibrahim Traore is one of the youngest heads of state in the world. Burkina Faso is going to be the more significant partner in the Alliance of Sahel states. Leaving ECOWAS demonstrates a shift. Burkina Faso is asserting its national sovereignty and being more active in the West African  region. Burkina Faso could also be more involved in the African Union. Overtime, this revived Pan-African sentiment could spread to other parts of the continent.       

Ibrahim Traore Praises The Russian Federation (2023)

 

Ibrahim Traore praised the Russian Federation. in 2023. During a speech at the Russia-Africa Summit he recognized that Russia and Burkina Faso have a common struggle. The West continues to promote neocolonialism in various parts of the world. Russia found itself in the same situation with NATO expansion during the 2000s. Russians and Africans gave their lives to stop fascism in Europe during World War II. After the war, the Soviet Union provided aid to national liberation movements. This was helpful in the fight against white minority ruled regimes in Southern Africa. Traore mentions this history of collaboration, which explains why more African countries have a more favorable view of Russia. Burkina Faso at one time had a revolutionary socialist leader Thomas Sankara. Ibrahim Traore almost seems like a 2020s version of  the former leader of Burkina Faso. Traore's laudation of the Russian Federation makes sense when viewed in a wider historical context. Burkina Faso and Russia are being brought closer together due to the poor diplomatic relations with France. 

Mali, Burkina Faso , And Niger Form An Alliance

 

A major change is coming to the Sahel region. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are forming a closer alliance. The new alliance will encompass both security and economic agreements. The security security for three countries remains a concern. Terrorist organizations, interference from France, and ECOWAS possibly doing military operations against these governments are the concerns. The Alliance of Sahel States is going into effect. The pact is designed to bring stability to a region in turmoil for 13 years. The Liptako-Gourma region  is where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger's borders meet. The area has been a place in which multiple armed groups are active. The current condition in the Sahel was blowback from the Arab Spring in North Africa and NATO's attack on Libya. France used the disorder to further its influence in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The alliance between these three nations is also going to be economic. A new currency is in the process of being developed  among military governments. The intent appears to be to break away from a currency connected to the euro. The West African CFA franc in use in the region is a symbol of dependency of France. The policies suggested are establishing a joint stabilization fund and creation of an investment bank. All three countries also want to further development efforts. The success of this new alliance depends on the leaders, proper coordination, and the defeat of external enemies. The new alliance has a potential to be a competitor to ECOWAS, if the new currency spreads through out the continent. 

Ibrahim Traore Explains The Importance of The Youth

 

President Ibrahim Traore recognizes the importance of Burkina Faso's youth. Having them employed and developing future leaders will ensure the country's survival. The youth of Africa might be disillusioned with unresponsive governments and unstable societies. The threats posed by neo-colonial imperialism and terrorist organizations are obstacles. Burkina Faso is a major exporter of gold. This should make  the country prosperous, but years after the death of Thomas Sankara left its economy in disarray. President Ibrahim Traore wants to reverse this and  the youth have to be the driving force. What this means is challenging France's exploitation of  Burkina Faso's resources. This is not a change for one African country. President Ibrahim Traore wants to see African economies become more powerful. Burkina Faso might be seeing a revolutionary  change in political thought. The youth should not seek to go to Europe. Developing Burkina Faso to what it should be is what President Traore desires the most. Modernization and more technology will make Burkina Faso economically secure and preserve its independence. 

Burkina Faso Demands The Withdraw of French Forces

Burkina Faso is about to make a major foreign policy change. The military government announced it wants French forces to leave the country in a month. The reason France claims it remains in the country is to combat terrorism. Even before the activity of terrorist organizations, France was interfering with Burkina Faso's internal affairs. The junta is not the only group demanding French withdraw. Demonstrations have been held by the public regrading French military intervention. France's objective is not to fight ISIS or Al-Qaeda inspired armed groups. The intention is to assert dominance in the Sahel region. The French intervention started with Mali in 2013 and then spread to surrounding countries. Chad and Niger have a similar problem of French military presence.  French abuses are going to be used as a means to strengthen the military leader Ibrahim Traore. The majority of the population does not want France to remain and supporting their removal would make the government more popular. Since 2014 France has waged Operation Barkhane to fight terrorist organizations. Prior to this Operation Serval was focused on Mali in particular. Mali's destabilization was the direct result of the regime change in Libya in 2011. France saw this as an opportunity to build a neo-colonial empire. A decade of conflict has made West Africa less secure. The violation of national sovereignty, rise of military regimes, French forces, and terrorist organizations have become serious threats to Burkina Faso. 

Paul Henri Damiba Deposed

 

Burkina Faso is becoming more unstable. Another coup has occurred, which forced Paul Henri Damiba to resign. Clinging to power would mean civil war. This is something Burkina Faso cannot withstand seeing as their is an insurgency. The armed groups are thought to be terrorist organizations. These forces are active in the north and east of Burkina Faso. Mediation efforts are underway to form a new government. The military will still have all of the power with Ibrahim Traore as head of state. The constitution remains suspended. If the constitution remains suspended, then there is no legal means of challenging the military regime. The transitional government no longer exists. By now, most observers can see that the military will be in power for sometime. The French embassy was attacked by protesters thinking they were giving aid to Damiba. France also has a military base in Burkina Faso. He was only in power for eight months and there is little information about his European connections. The coup appears to be an internal matter, not a foreign operation of regime change. The likely tools of regime change are armed groups that are associated with ISIS or al-Qaeda. A country going through a series of leaders shows a lack of stability. The lack of security and activity of terrorist organizations only gives the military regime justification for anti-democratic measures. Condemnation from the African Union and ECOWAS has not changed Burkina Faso's policy positions. Part of the agreement of Damiba's departure was that he will not be charged with crimes against the state.    

Blaise Compaore Has Been Charged With The Murder of Thomas Sankara

 

Compaore and Sankara in the 1980s 

Blaise Compaore has been sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia for the murder of Thomas Sankara. The revolutionary leader was killed in a 1987 coup. It was that coup in Burkina Faso that brought Compaore to power. Compaore was found guilty of attack on state security and cover-up of the murder according to the tribunal. This means that he can never return to Burkina Faso without being arrested. Compaore was deposed in 2014 by a coup. Ever since Burkina Faso has been working to get justice for the abuses of the 27 year regime. The problem is his exact location is still unknown. Blaise Compaore could still be in the Ivory Coast. The question remains if  the country in which he is in will extradite him. The murder of Thomas Sankara was not just a loss to Burinka Faso, but all of Africa. He was a leader that promoted  Pan-Africanism, anti-colonial politics, and Marxist thought. Thomas Sankara was able to ban female genital mutilation, polygamy, and was developing programs for poverty reduction. Sadly, he was assassinated and the political vision remains unfulfilled. Sankara's actions continue to inspire generations of African leaders. Most Burkinabe  remember him fondly and as a national hero. Blaise  Compaore might not be in Burkina Faso, but he will not be able to evade justice forever. This sends a message to other former authoritarian leaders that they will be held accountable for their crimes.  

Blaise Compaore Charged With The Murder of Thomas Sankara

 

The former president of Burkina Faso has been charged with murder. Campaore deposed the revolutionary Pan-Africanist leader Thomas Sankara in 1987. Campaore would remain in power until 2014, when he was removed by a mass uprising. Since then, he has lived in exile. Sources claim Blaise Compaore remains in Ivory Coast. There some indications that he wanted to make a return to the country. The country has in recent years undergone turbulence from insurgencies and terrorist organizations. The charges are complicity in the murder and undermining state security. Campaore was most likely more involved in the assassination than previously thought. The former president denies the charges and if he does return will fight them in court. Ivory Coast will not extradite him. Former authoritarian leaders have in the past avoided punishment for crimes in the past, However, some have convicted. Hissene Habre of Chad  was arrested in 2016. Blaise Campaore may be able to escape trial or prison. He has the benefit of protection. Unlike the ICC, which has questionable legitimacy this tribunal is the product of Africans. If Burkina Faso is to punish leaders it should be done under their legal system, not an international one. Blaise Campaore  although out of power still has relevance in the politics of Burkina Faso. His trial will allow for a tragic chapter in Burkina Faso's history to be closed.