Ibrahim Traore;

An officer with the rank of captain, led a lightning coup on September 30, 2022, in Burkina Faso, accompanied by a group of junior military personnel, and announced his intention to defeat armed movements, fight corruption and review relations with France.

Birth and upbringing

Traore was born in 1988 in the town of Bondouki in the Mohoum governorate, northwest of the capital, Ouagadougou, to a Muslim family from the Dioula tribe.


Study and training

Troare began his educational career in the rural municipality of "Bondoki", where he completed his primary and secondary education.

Then he moved to Bobo Dioulasso, the economic capital and the second largest city in Burkina Faso, where he studied high school until he obtained a high school diploma in the Natural Sciences Division in 2006.

Then he studied at the University of "Joseph Key Zerbo" in Ouagadougou and obtained a bachelor's degree in geology.

In 2010, he joined the Military Academy "George Namuno" and graduated in 2012 with the rank of second lieutenant.


Functions and Responsibilities

After graduating with the rank of second lieutenant, he worked in the first military district in Kaya province between 2012 and 2014, and in 2014 he was promoted to first lieutenant.

In 2019, he participated in the "pull-fire" operation launched by the army in Burkina Faso in the eastern and northeastern regions against armed groups in the country, and was promoted to captain in 2020.

In January 2022, he participated in the overthrow of the regime of elected civilian President Roc Kabore, and became a member of a military committee that ruled the country under the leadership of Colonel Paul Henry Sandaugo Damiba, calling itself the "National Society for Salvation and Reform."

On October 30, 2022, Ibrahim Traore ousted Dambia and declared himself the country's new president.


Military and political experience

When Traore left his village for the economic capital to study at the secondary level, he joined the ranks of the Association of Burkina Faso Muslim Pupils and Students, but there is no information available about any early political orientation of the man.

Although his military experience is very short, his name has emerged among the strong military, as reports indicate that he is a strong fighter, and played a pivotal role in the army's operations against militants linked to Al-Qaeda. His comrades in arms say that he is brave, although he is reclusive and secretive.

In addition to his membership in the military council that overthrew the civilian president, Traoré commanded an artillery corps stationed in the northern town of Kaya, and this corps is described as very strong and professional.

From here Traore drew his influence in Burkina Faso, and when it seemed to him that things were not improving on various levels, he did not find any trouble in overthrowing Dambia after disturbances and military moves that did not take more than a day.

Traore came to power in exceptional and sensitive circumstances in Burkina Faso, the Sahel and even in Africa in general.

Internally, Burkina Faso has lost control of more than 40% of its territory to armed movements and groups that carry out bombings and killings on a continuous basis.

At the regional level, the coup in Burkina Faso coincided with the escalation of the Russian role in Africa and the decline of French hegemony in the continent.


Russia's ally

In statement No. 1, broadcast on Burkina Faso's official television, Troare declared that he had come as "the savior of the country" after the security, administrative and political deterioration it is witnessing, and he also committed himself to fighting what he called "terrorist and armed groups".

Many Western reports say that Traore is a strong ally of Russia, and during a lengthy statement to Radio France International on October 3, 2022, he said that his country has a military contract with Russia and uses its equipment extensively.

The Russian military group Wagner was quick to describe Traore as a "brave and righteous son" of Burkina Faso, stressing its readiness to work with him.

The founder of the group said in a post on social media that the coup of Traoré and his comrades was "necessary", and that they "did it only for the good of their people".

With regard to France, Traore affirmed that his country has a relationship and partnership with Paris, which requires the public interest to review some aspects and improve others.

Although he suspended the constitution and froze the work of parties and civil society organizations, Captain Ibrahim Traore sent messages of reassurance to the interior and to ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), which condemned the coup.

He has confirmed that he does not want to remain in power, and will work to return to the constitutional path.