Captain Ibrahim Traoré

 Captain Ibrahim Traoré has been the interim leader of Burkina Faso since the coup d'état in September 2022 that ousted interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. At 36 years old, Traoré is currently the world's youngest serving president.

Early Life and Education

Born on March 14, 1988, in Kéra, Bondokuy, Mouhoun Province, Traoré completed his primary education in Bondokuy and attended high school in Bobo-Dioulasso, where he was recognized as a quiet and talented student. In 2006, he enrolled at the University of Ouagadougou to study geology.

 During his time there, he was active in the Association of Muslim Students and the Marxist-oriented Association Nationale des Étudiants du Burkina (ANEB), eventually becoming a delegate known for advocating on behalf of his peers. He graduated with honors.

Military Career

Traoré joined the Burkina Faso Army in 2009 and graduated from the Georges-Namoano Military Academy. He received anti-aircraft training in Morocco before being assigned to an infantry unit in Kaya, northern Burkina Faso.

 Promoted to lieutenant in 2014, he participated in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), where he was commended for his bravery during significant rebel attacks in the Tombouctou Region in 2018. Upon returning to Burkina Faso, Traoré took part in various counter-insurgency operations against jihadist groups, including the "Otapuanu offensive" in 2019. He was promoted to captain in 2020.

Rise to Power

Disillusioned by the government's handling of the jihadist insurgency and the inadequate equipment provided to soldiers, Traoré became the spokesperson for discontented troops in the north

 On September 30, 2022, he led a faction of junior officers in a coup that deposed interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had himself seized power in a coup earlier that year. Traoré was subsequently declared president and head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), the ruling military junta.

Governance and Challenges

Since assuming power, Traoré's administration has faced significant challenges, particularly in addressing the escalating jihadist violence that has plagued Burkina Faso since 2015. 

Despite initial promises to improve security, the situation has deteriorated, with extremist attacks leading to over 2 million displaced persons. In May 2024, the junta extended the transition period to civilian rule by five years, with the new 60-month transition period taking effect from July 2, 2024. The charter also allows Traoré to run for president when the elections take place.

Regional Alliances

In response to the growing extremist threat, Burkina Faso, along with neighboring junta-led nations Niger and Mali, announced the deployment of a joint force comprising 5,000 troops. This initiative aims to enhance regional security through coordinated air, land, and intelligence operations

The collaboration reflects a shift away from traditional Western alliances, as these countries have also withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and formed their own Alliance of Sahel States.

Human Rights Concerns

Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the junta's tactics under Traoré's leadership. Reports indicate that the government is considering reinstating the death penalty, which was abolished in 2018. The proposal to bring back capital punishment will be discussed by the government and could be incorporated into a new criminal code.