In just over two years, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has reshaped Burkina Faso’s political and economic landscape while drawing global attention for both his reforms and repression. Taking power in 2022 through a coup that ousted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, Traoré framed his leadership as a response to the growing jihadist threat and leadership failures in the Sahel.
Since then, his government has distanced itself from traditional Western powers. French forces were expelled, and Burkina Faso rejected International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans. The country also exited the regional economic bloc ECOWAS alongside Mali and Niger, citing neocolonial influences.
What progress has Traoré made?
Despite facing reported coup attempts and assassination threats, Traoré’s administration has pursued economic and industrial development. Two tomato processing plants have opened to reduce dependency on imports, and in early 2025, Burkina Faso unveiled its first fully electric vehicle, ITAOUA, built by local engineers.
There are claims that top government salaries have been cut by 30% while civil servants received a 50% raise. Traoré also reportedly refused a presidential salary. However, independent verification of these figures remains limited. Even so, the World Bank projected a 5.5% GDP growth in 2024, with the country’s economy valued at $21.9 billion.
What challenges and concerns remain?
While Traoré enjoys support in some circles, his government faces growing criticism for press restrictions and human rights violations. According to Human Rights Watch, three journalists were abducted in March 2025, and over a dozen foreign media outlets have been banned. The Media Foundation for West Africa accuses the regime of stifling free speech.
Burkina Faso’s security crisis has only deepened. U.S. Africa Command General Michael Langley called the country the “epicentre of global terrorism.” Islamist insurgents control nearly half the country. Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, claims responsibility for 280 attacks in the first half of 2025 alone, double the number from 2024.
One of the worst incidents occurred in October 2024, when at least 200 civilians were killed after residents were allegedly forced to dig their trenches before being attacked by armed militants. In May 2025, JNIM claimed another assault killed 200 soldiers, although government sources dispute the figure.
The Norwegian Refugee Council now labels Burkina Faso’s situation as “the world’s most neglected crisis,” citing a collapse of international counterterrorism support and weakening regional leadership. As the country balances reform and repression, the true legacy of Captain Traoré remains uncertain.
By Yockshard Enyendi