‘Traoré Or Nothing!’ – Burkina Faso Rallies Behind Military Leader Amid Tensions And Coup Fears

By Onja Baba, Nigeria

In a powerful show of loyalty and defiance, tens of thousands of Burkinabè citizens flooded the streets of Ouagadougou over the week, chanting “Traoré ou rien!” (“Traoré or nothing!”), affirming their allegiance to the country’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

The mass mobilization comes amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Africa, allegations of a foiled coup, and growing distrust of Western influence in the region.

Organized by youth-led civil society groups, the rally featured Burkinabè and Russian flags, anti-ECOWAS slogans, and calls for a “sovereign future” free from foreign intervention.

“Captain Traoré is our path to liberation. We will not be puppets to Paris or Washington,” said Aminata Kaboré, a schoolteacher at the rally.

The event doubled as a warning to ECOWAS and Western allies, with organizers calling for even larger demonstrations on April 30 to “condemn Western interference.”

This follows recent accusations from the U.S. General Michael Langley, who alleged that Burkina Faso had diverted gold reserves to fund non-transparent security deals, claims the junta denies.

The backdrop is tense. On April 22, the government announced it had foiled a “major coup plot” involving both military officers and terrorist collaborators.

Authorities claim the plotters aimed to overthrow Traoré and install an international trusteeship. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana named fugitive Captain René David Ouédraogo as a key conspirator.

In the days following, military camps were placed under surveillance, a cabinet meeting convened under tight security, and traditional leaders reported an unusual influx of concerned citizens and armed personnel.

Despite security concerns and ongoing jihadist violence, the IMF projects Burkina Faso’s economy to grow by 5.8% in 2025, with inflation holding at 2%. Supporters credit Traoré’s pivot from France to Russia and the Sahelian bloc AES (Alliance of Sahel States) for stabilizing the nation.

Still, critics warn of creeping authoritarianism and worsening human rights violations. “There’s a fine line between popular legitimacy and political overreach,” said Sophie Kiema, a journalist in Ouagadougou.