As a result of his endeavors to bring about tangible change for Burkina Faso, President Ibrahim Traoré claims he has been the target of death threats.
However, he has publicly stated that he is willing to die protecting his countrymen.
Efforts to combat neocolonialism have been ongoing since President Traoré took office in September 2022.
Additionally, President Traoré has established himself as a staunch supporter of Burkina Faso’s autonomy from outside interference.
He has prioritised self-sufficiency, strengthened ties with other African states, and distanced Burkina Faso from France.
However, President Traoré expressed his fear that he might meet the same fate as other young African leaders who sought to improve their continent, comparing himself to Gaddafi and Thomas Sankara. I will not be afraid and I will not feel remorse for giving my life for my country, Traoré declared.
Go back to 1987 when Sankara was assassinated and 2011 when Gaddafi was deposed and killed.
Without a shadow of a doubt, President Traoré is encountering opposition to his initiatives from quarters within and without.
In spite of the dangers, his leadership has sparked uprisings in nations such as Mali and Niger, among others, because people there want more independence and say over their own destiny.
There is widespread sympathy for President Traoré in West Africa and abroad because many Africans see him as a symbol of defiance against neocolonial rule
