Ibrahim Traoré was born on March 14, 1988, in Kéra, Bondokuy, Mouhoun Province, Burkina Faso. He completed his primary education in Bondokuy before attending high school in Bobo-Dioulasso, where teachers and classmates described him as quiet yet intelligent.

In 2006, Traoré enrolled at the University of Ouagadougou, where he studied geology. During his university years, he actively participated in student movements, joining both the Association of Muslim Students and the Marxist Association Nationale des Étudiants du Burkina (ANEB). Within ANEB, he advocated for student rights. After completing his studies, he graduated with honors.

Military Career and Early Service

In 2009, Traoré joined the Burkina Faso Army and later graduated from the Georges-Namoano Military Academy. The military assigned him to Morocco for anti-aircraft training before deploying him to an infantry unit in Kaya, in northern Burkina Faso.

By 2014, he had earned a promotion to lieutenant and deployed to Mali as part of MINUSMA, the United Nations peacekeeping mission. During his service, he participated in operations in the Tombouctou Region in 2018, where reports praised his actions during rebel attacks.

After returning to Burkina Faso, he took part in counterterrorism operations against insurgent groups in the country’s north. He played a role in the “Otapuanu offensive” of 2019, among other missions.

In 2020, Traoré achieved the rank of captain. Around this time, he grew increasingly critical of the government’s handling of security issues, particularly the inadequate supply of resources to soldiers fighting extremist groups.

The January 2022 Coup and Military Junta

In January 2022, increasing instability in Burkina Faso led to a military coup that removed President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré from office. Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba led the coup and established the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) military junta. Traoré and other officers supported the coup, hoping it would strengthen national security.

However, as security conditions worsened, dissatisfaction grew among both soldiers and civilians.

September 2022 Coup and Rise to Power

On September 30, 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traoré and a group of officers, with the support of members of the “Cobra” special forces unit, removed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba from power.

Frustration over the ongoing security crisis fueled the coup, as many in the military believed that Damiba had failed to address the country’s growing insurgency problem. The new military leadership suspended the constitution, dissolved the government, and closed the country’s borders.

On October 6, 2022, authorities officially declared Traoré Burkina Faso’s interim president, placing him in charge of the MPSR.

At 34 years old, he became the youngest president in the world at the time and the second youngest head of state after Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir.

Presidency and Consolidation of Power

Since taking office, Traoré has maintained a formal and strategic public image, positioning himself as a war leader. He has controlled communication carefully while strengthening pro-government messaging in traditional and social media.

Security and Military Strategy

• In April 2023, he declared a “general mobilization” of the population to support the military.
• He pledged to reconquer rebel-held areas and refused to negotiate with insurgents.
• In September 2023, an attempted coup by some military officers failed.

Political and Governance Reforms

• In May 2024, national consultations extended Traoré’s mandate by five years and allowed him to run in future elections.
• On December 6, 2024, he dissolved his government and removed Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla.

Economic Policies: Gold and Mining Sector

Burkina Faso has a significant gold mining industry, and Traoré has taken steps to increase government control over gold resources:

• November 2023: The government approved the construction of Burkina Faso’s first gold refinery to process gold domestically instead of exporting unrefined material.
• February 2024: Traoré suspended gold export permits for small-scale mining to combat illegal gold smuggling and increase tax revenues.

Foreign Relations: Shift from France to Russia

Under Traoré, Burkina Faso has moved away from France, its former colonial ruler, and strengthened relations with Russia:

• February 2023: His government expelled French forces from Burkina Faso.
• He advocated for “win-win partnerships” and sought military cooperation with Russia and Turkey.
• Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea—three military-led states—proposed forming a federation.

Relations with the Wagner Group

Western governments, including Ghana, alleged that Traoré engaged Russian Wagner Group mercenaries for security operations. However, Traoré denied these claims, stating that “our Wagner are the VDP” (Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland).

• July 2023: Traoré reopened the Russian Embassy in Burkina Faso, which had been closed since 1992.
• January 2024: Reports confirmed that Russian military personnel, including Wagner troops, had been deployed in Burkina Faso.

Other Policies

• July 2024: His government proposed criminalizing homosexuality, a move that still requires parliamentary approval.

Public Response and Criticism

Traoré’s leadership has sparked both support and criticism.

Supporters argue that:

• He has taken a strong stance on national sovereignty and self-reliance.
• His policies focus on improving security and military effectiveness.
• His realignment of international relations reduces dependence on former colonial powers.

Critics, however, express concerns about:

• The suspension of democratic processes and uncertainty over a return to civilian rule.
• Restrictions on press freedom and political opposition.
• The potential long-term effects of closer ties with Russia.

Future Prospects and Political Transition

Traoré has pledged to hold elections and transition to civilian rule. However, uncertainty remains about whether the government will follow through with the plan.

Several factors will shape his leadership, including:

• The effectiveness of military operations in stabilizing the country.
• Economic and political reforms that could influence long-term stability.
• Burkina Faso’s role in regional and international diplomacy.

Conclusion

Ibrahim Traoré’s rise to power reflects Burkina Faso’s ongoing security and political challenges. As a young military leader, he must navigate both domestic and international pressures. His actions in the coming months will determine whether Burkina Faso moves toward stability or faces further unrest.