By Ibrahim Traoré, a 37-year-old military captain, emerged as Burkina Faso’s interim president following a coup on September 30, 2022, the second coup in the country that year. He ousted Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba, who had himself seized power just eight months earlier, citing Damiba’s failure to curb the growing Islamist insurgency that has plagued Burkina Faso since 2015.
Traoré, previously a leader of the anti-jihadist Cobra unit in the north, positioned himself as a staunch nationalist and revolutionary, drawing comparisons to Burkina Faso’s iconic former leader Thomas Sankara, who championed pan-Africanism and anti-imperialism before his assassination in 1987.
Traoré’s rise to power came at a time of profound instability in Burkina Faso. The country has been battered by an Islamist insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS), which has killed thousands, displaced over two million people (as of early 2025), and left roughly 40% of the country’s territory outside government control.
Frequent attacks on civilians, soldiers, and infrastructure—such as the 2023 massacre in Karma, where over 100 civilians were killed, or the August 2024 Barasalogho massacre, where an estimated 600 people died—have deepened public frustration with successive governments’ inability to restore security. Traoré capitalized on this discontent, promising to prioritize security, reduce foreign influence, and empower local militias like the Koglweogo to combat insurgents.
The Assassination Plot: A Test of Loyalty and a Sign of External Threats
The X post highlights a pivotal moment in Traoré’s leadership: an international plot to assassinate him, thwarted by the loyalty of his right-hand man. According to the post, this individual was offered $41 million to carry out the assassination but instead exposed the plot and turned the money over to Traoré. The follow-up post by @fanti_boy notes that the foreign plotters behind the scheme have been arrested, though no specific details about their identities or affiliations are provided in the post itself.
This incident aligns with broader patterns of instability in Burkina Faso, as detailed in the web search results. On April 22, 2025, just days before the X post, the Burkina Faso military announced it had foiled a “major” coup plot allegedly orchestrated from neighboring Ivory Coast.
The plot reportedly involved an assault on the presidency planned for April 16, 2025, led by a group of soldiers recruited by “the nation’s enemies.” While it’s unclear if this coup attempt is directly linked to the assassination plot described in the X post, the timing suggests a concentrated effort to destabilize Traoré’s regime during this period.
The loyalty of Traoré’s right-hand man in rejecting the $41 million bribe is a powerful symbol in the context of Burkina Faso’s political climate. It reflects Traoré’s ability to inspire loyalty among key allies, a critical asset for a junta leader facing both internal dissent and external threats. The phrase “Loyalty is priceless. And Africa is awake,” from @fanti_boy’s follow-up post, resonates with a broader narrative of African resistance to foreign interference, a recurring theme in Traoré’s rhetoric and policies.
Geopolitical Context: Foreign Interference and Shifting Alliances
The assassination plot and the coup attempt from Ivory Coast point to the complex web of foreign interests surrounding Burkina Faso and the Sahel region. Historically, Burkina Faso has been a focal point of French influence, as part of France’s former colonial empire in West Africa.
However, Traoré’s regime has openly rejected this legacy, accusing France of supporting his predecessor Damiba (a claim that sparked violent protests outside the French embassy in Ouagadougou in 2022) and seeking to reduce French military and economic presence in the country.
Under Traoré, Burkina Faso has pivoted toward new security partnerships, notably with Russia. This shift mirrors similar moves by Mali and Niger, where military juntas have also sought Russian assistance—often in the form of Wagner Group mercenaries (though Traoré has denied their involvement in Burkina Faso)—to combat jihadist insurgents.
The web search results highlight this trend: Mali’s Transitional President Assimi Goita has faced regime change attempts since aligning with Russia, and Niger has invited Russian investors into its uranium industry after severing ties with French company Orano.
These developments have heightened tensions with France and the United States, who, according to Black Agenda Report, have sought to undermine the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a bloc formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in 2023 to counter Western influence and regional bodies like Ecowas.
The AES represents a significant realignment in the Sahel, as these three nations have broken away from Ecowas, the West African regional bloc traditionally aligned with Western interests, to pursue military-led unity. This move reflects a broader anti-imperialist sentiment, with Traoré and his counterparts framing their struggle as one of sovereignty against neo-colonial powers. However, it has also isolated them diplomatically, making them more vulnerable to external plots like the one described in the X post.
The Jihadist Insurgency: A Persistent Challenge
While Traoré’s leadership has been marked by bold geopolitical maneuvers, the jihadist insurgency remains an existential threat to Burkina Faso’s stability. The web search results paint a grim picture: armed violence in Burkina Faso increased by 174% in 2019 alone, with nearly 1,300 civilians killed and 860,000 displaced by that year. The situation has only worsened since Traoré took power.
High-profile attacks, such as the November 2021 assault on the gendarmerie in Inata (which killed 53 people, including four civilians) and the 2024 Barasalogho massacre, have eroded public confidence in the military’s ability to protect civilians.
Traoré’s strategy has been two-pronged: bolstering the military through new alliances (e.g., with Russia) and empowering civilian militias like the Koglweogo, a move formalized by Burkina Faso’s parliament in 2020. However, these militias have been controversial, often accused of human rights abuses and exacerbating communal tensions. Moreover, Traoré’s focus on military solutions has drawn criticism for neglecting governance and development, with some analysts arguing that the insurgency’s root causes—poverty, marginalization, and lack of state presence in rural areas—remain unaddressed.
Traoré’s Leadership Style and Public Perception
Traoré’s leadership style is a blend of military pragmatism and revolutionary idealism. Often seen in his signature red beret and camouflage uniform (as in the image accompanying the X post), he projects an image of a hands-on, no-nonsense leader committed to Burkina Faso’s sovereignty.
His rhetoric frequently invokes pan-Africanism and anti-imperialism, resonating with a population weary of foreign interference and domestic corruption. The loyalty displayed by his right-hand man in the assassination plot suggests that Traoré commands significant personal allegiance within his inner circle, a crucial factor in maintaining power amidst constant threats.
However, Traoré’s regime has not been without controversy. The suspension of French news outlet Jeune Afrique in 2023 for reporting on discontent within the armed forces indicates a clampdown on press freedom, a common tactic among military juntas. Additionally, while Traoré has promised elections to transition back to civilian rule, no clear timeline has been established as of April 2025, raising concerns about democratic backsliding.
Broader Implications: The Sahel’s Struggle for Sovereignty
The events described in the X post are emblematic of the broader struggle in the Sahel, where military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are attempting to redefine their nations’ trajectories in the face of jihadist violence, foreign interference, and regional instability.
The Alliance of Sahel States, while a bold experiment in regional cooperation, faces significant challenges: the insurgency shows no signs of abating, economic conditions are deteriorating (exacerbated by sanctions from Ecowas), and external powers continue to meddle in the region’s affairs.
Traoré’s survival of the assassination plot and the coup attempt from Ivory Coast may bolster his domestic support in the short term, reinforcing his image as a resilient leader standing up to foreign enemies. However, it also highlights the fragility of his position.
The Sahel remains a geopolitical chessboard, with France, the United States, Russia, and regional actors like Ivory Coast vying for influence. For Traoré and his allies in the AES, the path to stability and sovereignty is fraught with peril, requiring not only military victories but also political and economic reforms to address the root causes of unrest.
Conclusion
The X post about Ibrahim Traoré’s narrow escape from an assassination plot encapsulates the high-stakes drama of Burkina Faso’s current political moment. Traoré’s leadership, marked by a rejection of Western influence, a pivot to Russia, and a focus on military solutions, has made him a polarizing figure—both a hero to those who see him as a Sankara-esque revolutionary and a target for those who view his regime as a threat to their interests.
The loyalty of his right-hand man, the arrest of foreign plotters, and the broader context of coup attempts and jihadist violence underscore the immense challenges Traoré faces. As Burkina Faso and the Sahel navigate this turbulent period, the resilience of leaders like Traoré—and their ability to inspire loyalty and unity—will
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