{"id":5988,"date":"2025-06-06T16:14:54","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/?p=5988"},"modified":"2026-03-12T17:02:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:02:31","slug":"pat-intervention-forging-a-new-pan-african-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/2025\/06\/06\/pat-intervention-forging-a-new-pan-african-path\/","title":{"rendered":"Forging a New Pan African path: Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traor\u00e9 and the Land of the Upright People"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PAT Intervention<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Forging a New Pan African path: Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traor\u00e9 and the Land of the Upright People<\/h1>\n\n\n
#Anti-Imperialism<\/a> #Political Power<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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“It’s not really terrorism, it’s imperialism. Their goal is to keep us in a state of permanent war so that we cannot develop, and they can continue to plunder our resources.”<\/em> – Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9, 10 May 202<\/em>5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since his ascension to power on 30 September 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9 has become a powerful symbol of Pan-Africanism and a stark contrast to the previous state of affairs in Burkina Faso. His leadership embodies unquestionable patriotism, committed sovereignty, and a clear vision for the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The emergence of Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9 and a similar style of leadership in the Sahel has reignited hope for Pan-Africanism and inspired the youth throughout Africa. This beacon of hope has triggered a desire among citizens across the continent regarding how their<\/em> countries should be governed. Indeed, due to his unwavering commitment and patriotism, Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9 has become a star, an inspiration, and a champion of anti-imperialism, posing a genuine threat to imperialism in Africa. He is forging a new path not just for post-colonial African nations, but for the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To mention a few examples: Under Traor\u00e9\u2019s leadership, the government of Burkina Faso is actively responding to the needs of the people in real time<\/em>, clearly demonstrating its ability to effectively solve people\u2019s problems. Under his leadership, French military forces have been expelled, and civilian-led Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland<\/em> now collaborate with the government and fraternal forces from Niger and Mali to combat terrorist groups, securing the nation through their efforts. The government has also nationalised gold reserves valued at USD 80 million, established a domestic gold refinery, and reduced public sector wages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under Traor\u00e9’s leadership, the government of Burkina Faso has initiated a bold effort toward self-reliance by launching an agricultural offensive. This has significantly increased agricultural production and led to a consistent GDP growth of 4-6%. These radical measures have not only boosted the economy but also instilled confidence in the material needs of the Burkinab\u00e9 people being met. In March this year, Burkina Faso inaugurated the first state-owned Faso Kosam-branded dairy factory, followed by more openings and further plans for increased domestic dairy production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These actions echo the political project of Burkina Faso\u2019s assassinated President Thomas Sankara (1984-87), under whose anti-imperialist leadership significant strides were made. Much like Traor\u00e9 today, Sankara insisted on self-reliance, agrarian reform, environmental protection, women’s rights, education, healthcare, and the establishment of committees to defend the revolution. Most famously, on 4 August 1984, Sankara renamed the country from the colonial and unimaginative Upper Volta to Burkina Faso – \u201cLand of the upright people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Sankara, Traor\u00e9\u2019s government is removing colonial symbols throughout the country. Judges\u2019 and lawyers\u2019 attire and school children’s uniforms are switching to locally produced fabrics and styles. While this is symbolic, it also conveys a direct and clear message of patriotic pride in one\u2019s country, culture, history, and heritage. Simultaneously, this initiative champions local textile production. As part of commemorating the 36th anniversary of Sankara’s assassination on 15 October 2023, Boulevard G\u00e9n\u00e9ral Charles De Gaulle in Ouagadougou was renamed Boulevard Thomas Sankara. More than a symbol, this action represents an effort to recover the collective memory of the valiant Burkinab\u00e9 people\u2019s history of resistance and revive Sankara’s legacy within the country\u2019s popular imagination.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many ways, the steps taken by Sankara and Traor\u00e9 lie at the heart of the goals and aspirations that drove the Burkinab\u00e8 people to fight for independence from French colonial rule. Independence, secured on 5 August 1960, was never meant to be reduced to \u2018flag independence\u2019. Although adopting a national anthem and flag were important steps, people were, to paraphrase Am\u00edlcar Cabral, fighting for concrete things; these concrete things are finally finding expression in the efforts of Traor\u00e9\u2019s government, following in the footsteps of Sankara. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one, least of all the \u2018upright people of Burkina Faso,\u2019 is willing to tolerate their status as the thirteenth poorest country in the world indefinitely. The popularity of Traor\u00e9\u2019s government must, in part, be understood as a product of the Burkinab\u00e9 people\u2019s intolerance for the poverty and drudgery imposed on them through decades of slavery, colonialism, and neocolonialism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brief look at life expectancy and infant mortality statistics illustrates this starkly: a child born in Burkina Faso is sixteen times more likely to die in its first year than a child born in France, and if they survive, they can expect a lifespan some twenty years shorter than their French counterpart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legacy of colonial plunder by France and other imperial powers has left deep scars. Even after independence, mechanisms such as the \u201cFran\u00e7afrique\u201d cooperation agreements perpetuated monetary, military, economic, and political dependence on France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The destabilisation of Libya by NATO in 2011 unleashed a wave of terrorist activity across the Sahel. Gaddafi\u2019s Libya had served as a buffer; once it fell, insecurity spread. Despite former French President Fran\u00e7ois Hollande\u2019s deployment of thousands of troops under Operation Barkhane, local soldiers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger grew frustrated\u2014often serving as cannon fodder\u2014while civilians suffered harassment from both terrorist and foreign troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many current Alliance of Sahel States (AES) leaders witnessed these abuses firsthand. Their commitment to sovereignty and development and a firm rejection of Western\u2014especially French\u2014interference stems from these experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burkina Faso has enacted some of the boldest reforms within the Alliance of Sahel States. The junta\u2019s policies are radical, and Traor\u00e9, a young and charismatic leader, enjoys widespread support at home and across Africa. Indeed, he may be the most popular African leader since Thomas Sankara. Similarly, the AES represents a significant Pan-African breakthrough\u2014a beacon of anti-imperialism and a renewed push for socialism in the tradition of  Ghana\u2019s Kwame Nkrumah. This underscores the crucial need for solidarity with the AES, as it embodies the shared aspirations of the African people for genuine freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For generations of African revolutionaries, the AES is not just a source of optimism but a beacon of hope. No AES leader has declared socialism as a final goal; instead, they have focused on building the necessary social foundations. The AES, and Burkina Faso specifically under Traor\u00e9, represents the weakest link in the chain of imperialism on the African continent, while also embodying the strongest representation of our people\u2019s aspirations for genuine freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against this backdrop, we are alarmed by the increasing number and sophistication of coup and assassination attempts targeting Burkina Faso\u2019s government. Most recently, a plot originating in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire was uncovered. This plot involved current and former soldiers working in coordination with “terrorist leaders.” The plot’s objective was to “sow total chaos, and place the country under the supervision of an international organisation.” The planned assault on the presidential palace was scheduled for 16 April, 2025. The government of Ouagadougou intercepted communications that revealed the plot details and was therefore able to foil it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These vast achievements inside Burkina and the growing inspiration not only in the Sahel Alliance but in the entire continent challenge the status quo of imperialism and puppet governments in Africa and elsewhere. Consequently, there have been numerous attempts to bring down Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9 to curtail the spread of Traore’s fire on the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must understand that despite all exemplary deeds and courageous patriotic actions, Traor\u00e9\u2019s revolution, like those throughout the AES, remains fragile; it is young and confronts immense challenges, including economic pressure, ongoing security concerns, and sabotage from imperialist powers and their sympathisers. Burkina Faso\u2019s government and people operate in a highly hostile environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What then should the posture of progressive forces be?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

1. We must recognise and confront the threats to Traor\u00e9, the AES, and its leaders. Despite the many contradictions (including the fact that no one can predict whether these revolutions will continue on a progressive path or revert to reactionary politics), it remains clear that a setback here could delay Africa\u2019s revolutionary prospects by decades.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. We should encourage the people of the AES\u2014especially Burkina Faso\u2014to defend their revolutions, as these are people\u2019s revolutions led by progressive military factions. They cannot be restricted by Western liberal armchair critiques of \u201cdemocracy.\u201d Their true measure must be the will of the people. As long as they have popular support, they must press on. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Those of us outside the Sahel (in mother Africa and throughout the world) must declare our unwavering solidarity with the governments that continue to adopt patriotic measures to reclaim political and economic sovereignty over their territories and natural resources. We are encouraged by the hundreds of thousands of people who took to the streets to defend Traor\u00e9 and the AES in the wake of the recent coup attempt, not only in Burkina Faso, but also in Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and beyond. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. We should use the pens and simple actions to show unwavering support for the revolutions in Burkina Faso and throughout the AES. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite extensive propaganda and hesitation among unfamiliar progressive forces, public sentiment in the Sahel remains steadfastly committed to sovereignty, security, and prosperity. Now is the time to heed the call of these governments and their peoples: a simple demand for non-interference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us build on the sentiment of Africa Liberation Day to unite with the popular and revolutionary forces in the Sahel in their struggle for complete sovereignty, total national liberation, and the broader goal of a unified and free Africa.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

May the decisive leadership, bravery, and courageous actions demonstrated by Traor\u00e9 and his comrades in the AES continue to teach us valuable lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long live patriotism, anti-imperialism, and Pan-Africanism!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In Solidarity,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pan Africanism Today Secretariat<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

June 5th, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let us build on the sentiment of Africa Liberation Day to unite with the popular and revolutionary forces in the Sahel in their struggle for complete sovereignty, total national liberation, and the broader goal of a unified and free Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5989,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[13,22],"class_list":["post-5988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-anti-imperialism","tag-political-power"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5988"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5988\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6896,"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5988\/revisions\/6896"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipa-aip.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}