Ibrahim Traoré a New Progressive Hero?
Africa has long yearned for a progressive hero in the mold of Nkrumah, Sankara, or Mandela. This yearning may explain why many young Africans have quickly embraced Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso as such a figure. Their enthusiasm is largely driven by a surge of social media content, mostly produced by Russian propaganda outfits, portraying Traoré as an anti-imperialist savior. Unfortunately, many of these videos are poorly made and factually incorrect, yet they have found a receptive audience eager for a new champion.
A closer look reveals that much of the propaganda surrounding Traoré is fiction. A viral video showing a large residential complex supposedly built under his leadership was actually filmed in Algeria. Claims of massive infrastructure development, rejections of IMF loans, and a supposed snub of a U.S. visit are all fabricated. Yet these myths are designed to evoke the spirit of Thomas Sankara, positioning Traoré as a visionary leader opposing Western imperialism.
In reality, Burkina Faso is facing a crisis. Since 2015, jihadist violence spilling over from Mali and Niger has devastated the country. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, it is now the most terrorism-impacted nation in the world. Much of its territory is controlled by militants, and the press and civil society have been silenced. Dissenters are reportedly sent to the front lines, facing death at the hands of terrorists.
The appeal of Traoré and other junta leaders stems partly from justified anger at France’s long-standing neo-colonial influence in Francophone Africa. Since 1990, most coups in sub-Saharan Africa have occurred in French-speaking countries, often with French involvement. The anti-French rhetoric of the current Sahelian juntas echoes deep frustrations with this legacy of exploitation and interference.
French colonialism established extractive institutions and retained influence through economic tools like the CFA franc, defense agreements, and political support for pro-French regimes. Even after independence, France continued to manipulate political outcomes in Africa to serve its interests, often propping up corrupt and authoritarian leaders. This reality has fueled resentment and laid the groundwork for the recent coups.
Into this vacuum stepped Russia, and more specifically, the late Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. He exploited African frustrations with France to insert Russia as an alternative power, using sophisticated social media manipulation. His strategy involved painting France as the root of terrorism in the Sahel and positioning Russia as the liberator, effectively replacing one neo-colonial power with another.
The campaign succeeded through platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok, creating an illusion of French collaboration with terrorists. These fake narratives were repeated so often that they shaped public opinion. Wagner’s disinformation machine used troll farms and proxy organizations to bombard Francophone Africa with misleading content, steadily turning the tide against France.
Social media influencers such as Nathalie Yamb, Kemi Seba, and Franklin Nyamsi emerged as champions of this movement. Some are suspected to be on Wagner’s payroll and have used platforms like the Russia-Africa summits to push pro-Russian messages. Over time, they successfully conflated legitimate anti-French sentiment with blind support for Russia and military regimes.
This manipulation has encouraged a dangerous belief: that military coups and dictatorships are acceptable pathways to progress. Many young Africans, lacking firsthand experience with the brutalities of military rule, have been swept up in this myth. The glorification of juntas as redeemers is one of the most troubling outcomes of this propaganda wave.
While it’s commendable that the juntas expelled French influence, they must not be mistaken for genuine liberators. Captain Ibrahim Traoré cannot be a hero when his narrative is built on lies and when he suppresses his own people. True heroes uplift and free their societies — they do not rely on disinformation or fear to rule.
