Ibrahim Traoré facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ibrahim Traoré
|
|
|---|---|
.png)
Traoré in 2023
|
|
| Interim President of Burkina Faso | |
| Assumed office 6 October 2022 |
|
| Prime Minister |
|
| Preceded by | Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba |
| 2nd President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration | |
| Assumed office 30 September 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1988 Kéra, Burkina Faso |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Military officer, politician |
| Nickname | "IB" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Burkina Faso |
| Branch | Burkina Faso Army |
| Service years | 2009–present |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | "Cobra" special forces unit (disputed) |
| Conflicts |
|
Ibrahim Traoré (born on 14 March 1988) is a military officer and politician from Burkina Faso. He has been the interim President of Burkina Faso since 2022. Traoré took control of Burkina Faso in September 2022. He removed the previous interim president, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, in a military takeover.
At 37 years old, he is one of the youngest leaders in the world. During his time as president, Traoré has worked to make his country more independent from France. France was once Burkina Faso's colonial ruler. He also helped create the Alliance of Sahel States.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ibrahim Traoré was born in Kéra, Bondokuy, Burkina Faso, on 14 March 1988. He went to primary school in Bondokuy. Later, he attended high school in Bobo-Dioulasso, which is the second-largest city in Burkina Faso. People who knew him described him as "quiet" and "very talented."
Starting in 2006, he studied geology at the University of Ouagadougou. He was part of the Association of Muslim Students. He also joined the Marxist National Association of Students of Burkina Faso (ANEB). In ANEB, he became a student representative. He was known for standing up for his classmates. He finished university with high marks.
Military Career
Traoré joined the Army of Burkina Faso in 2009. He graduated from the Georges-Namoano Military Academy. He then went to Morocco for training in anti-aircraft defense. After that, he was sent to an infantry unit in Kaya, a town in northern Burkina Faso.
In 2014, he was promoted to lieutenant. Traoré joined MINUSMA. This was a United Nations peacekeeping group working in the Mali War. In 2018, he was recognized for his bravery during major attacks by rebels in the Tombouctou Region.
He later returned to Burkina Faso. There, he helped fight against the growing jihadist insurgency. Traoré fought in Djibo and in the "Otapuanu offensive" in 2019. He also took part in other operations against rebels in the north of the country.
He became a captain in 2020. Traoré later shared that he became unhappy with his country's leaders around this time. He saw that Burkinabe soldiers lacked equipment. Meanwhile, he felt politicians were using money for bribes. He slowly became a voice for soldiers in the north. These soldiers were frustrated with their government.
Rise to Power
Traoré was one of the army officers who supported the January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état. This coup brought the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration military government to power. From March 2022, he led an artillery group in Kaya.
It is debated whether he was part of the "Cobra" special forces unit. This unit was formed in 2019 to fight terrorism. Some news sources like the BBC and Al Jazeera reported he was part of it. However, Jeune Afrique magazine stated he was never with the "Cobras."
Many who supported the January coup became unhappy with Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. He was the leader of the military government. They felt he was not doing enough to stop the jihadist attacks. Traoré later said that he and other officers tried to get Damiba to focus more on the rebellion. But they decided to remove him because they felt his goals were changing. Younger officers fighting on the front lines were especially unhappy. Also, the "Cobra" troops faced delays in their pay.
When the officers launched their coup on 30 September 2022, Traoré was still a Captain. The "Cobra" unit helped with the operation. After the coup, Traoré was chosen as the new head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration. On 6 October, he also became the interim President. He was named "Head of State, Supreme Head of the Armed Forces." He first promised to hold democratic elections in July 2024.
Presidency
Strengthening Power
As president, Traoré has remained private and formal. He controls his public messages carefully. He tries to present himself mainly as a war leader. During his presidency, there has been more pro-government information in traditional and social media in Burkina Faso. A journalist from Le Monde described Traoré as being influenced by Marxism and pan-Africanism.
In early 2023, Traoré questioned if elections could be held in 2024. He said elections could not happen until the rebels were pushed back and security improved. This went against a promise he made in October 2022. He had promised to honor Damiba's pledge to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This pledge was to return to civilian rule in two years.
On 26 September 2023, some military members tried to overthrow Traoré. This attempt was not successful. National meetings were held on 25 and 26 May 2024. They discussed the future of the government's transition. Civil society groups attended, but most political parties did not. The result was that Traoré's term was extended for five more years. He was also allowed to run in the next presidential elections.
On 6 December 2024, Traoré changed his government. He removed de Tambèla as prime minister. Later that month, the government pardoned 21 former military officers. These officers had been convicted before Traoré came to power. Their convictions were for their part in the 2015 Burkina Faso coup attempt.
In April 2025, Traoré's government announced it had stopped a planned coup. They accused the government of Côte d'Ivoire of supporting it.
Economic Policies
Natural Resources
In November 2023, Burkina Faso's government approved building the country's first gold refinery. This was a big step for Burkina Faso's gold industry. The goal is to get more control over its gold. By refining gold in the country, they aim to increase government income. The refinery is expected to create 100 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs. It is planned to produce about 400 kg of gold daily.
In February 2024, Traoré stopped issuing export permits for small-scale private gold production. This move aimed to fight illegal trade. Illegal trade involves smuggling gold out of the country and avoiding taxes. This suspension helps ensure that exported gold is properly recorded. It also helps make sure it contributes to government money. The government hopes this will create a more formal system for exporting gold.
In the first half of 2025, Burkina Faso increased its state control over foreign-owned mines. This is part of a bigger plan to control its own resources. On 29 April, Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo said the government would keep expanding control. This includes foreign-owned industrial mines. This followed a new mining law in 2024. A state-owned mining company, SOPAMIB, was also created. By then, SOPAMIB had taken control of two gold mines. These were Boungou and Wahgnion, previously owned by Endeavour Mining. These actions aimed to boost national income and use local skills. In 2024, state-controlled groups collected over 8 tonnes of gold. In the first three months of 2025, they collected more than 11 tonnes.
On 12 June 2025, a presidential order officially transferred five more gold mining assets to SOPAMIB. These included two operating mines and three exploration licenses. They came from companies like Endeavour Mining and Lilium. At that time, Burkina Faso was the fourth-largest gold producer in Africa.
Military Policies
The Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso has been a main focus for Traoré. In his first month in power, his government started a big recruitment drive. They aimed to recruit 50,000 people for the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) force. In April 2023, Traoré announced a "general mobilization" of the people. This was to support the military as rebel attacks increased. Traoré publicly promised to take back all rebel-held areas. He said there would be no talks until the insurgency was much weaker. In July 2023, his government added new taxes to raise money for the military. These included a 5% tax on phone and internet bills. There was also a 10% tax on TV channel subscriptions.
By February 2024, the number of deaths from Islamist violence had greatly increased since 2022.
Foreign Policies
Relations with African States
In February 2023, Traoré's government supported forming a union with Mali. They also invited Guinea to join. All three countries are led by their military. If they formed a union, it would be the largest country ruled by a military government. In July 2024, the three countries created the Alliance of Sahel States.
Moving Away from France
In February 2023, Traoré's government asked French forces to leave Burkina Faso. These forces had been helping fight the local insurgency. He then stated that his nation wanted to "look at other horizons." He said they wanted "win-win partnerships." This meant Burkina Faso wanted to work with many different countries. To replace French military support, Traoré built stronger ties with Turkey and Russia.
Moving Towards Russia
.jpg)
Some news sources, like Reuters and The New York Times, thought Traoré might have links with the Russian mercenary group Wagner Group. This was because he had expressed anti-French and pro-Russian views. When Traoré entered Ouagadougou, the capital city, his supporters cheered. Some waved Russian flags. The Government of Ghana publicly claimed that Traoré started working with the Wagner Group after the coup. They said he hired them to fight the jihadist rebels. Traoré denied this. He stated that "our Wagner are the VDP," referring to the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland.
On 29 July 2023, after the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit, Traoré said his people support Russia. He also announced a decision to reopen the Russian embassy. It had been closed since 1992. According to Le Monde newspaper in May 2023, "the Traoré regime seems, for the time being, to be favouring the use of its own forces in the fight against the jihadists." They also stated he had not asked Wagner's Russians for help.
However, Russian troops, including the Wagner Group, were deployed in Burkina Faso in January 2024.
Images for kids
-
Ibrahim Traoré with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia on 9 May 2025
See also
In Spanish: Ibrahim Traoré para niños
