Following a worldwide outpouring of support for Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader, thousands of people gathered outside the US Embassy in Vauxhall on Thursday, sending chants of “Hands off Ibrahim Traoré!” reverberating through the streets of London.
From Liberia to the centre of Britain, from Ouagadougou to Accra, a bold message was unmistakable: Africa opposes colonial meddling. The demonstrations were a revolt against the neocolonial hold that has stifled the Sahel for decades, not just about one man, The Voice reports.
Signs against neo-colonial meddling were carried by protesters walking in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Namibia, Somalia, Kenya, Jamaica, Ghana, Great Britain, and France, among other nations.
Burkina Faso is fighting a “war of independence,” not only a war against terrorism, according to Traoré, who is widely regarded as a revolutionary leader and the emblem of a new Pan-African period. Speaking at the opening of a cement facility in Ziniaré, he criticised what he described as “imperialist logic” and urged people to support the cause of national sovereignty.
AFRICOM Commander Michael Langley’s divisive remarks at a recent Senate hearing served as one of the catalysts for the protests. Many people denounced Langley’s comments regarding Burkina Faso’s government as being deceptive and contemptuous. Since then, the criticism has contributed to a global upsurge of support for Traoré and his anti-imperialist agenda.
The Confederation of Sahel States (CSS), a new regional alliance made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, shares Traoré’s vision for national sovereignty as their primary goal. He has said that the CSS is open to any African countries that are dedicated to independence, sovereignty, and complete freedom from foreign rule, even if they are leaving ECOWAS.
Recall that the military of Burkina Faso stopped another coup attempt on April 21. This was the 20th attempt against Captain Traoré since he came to power. It was described by the administration as an attempt to “sow chaos” and undo the country’s independent course.
A coordinated attack by foreign powers fearful of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which consists of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger and whose departure of French forces caused a seismic shift in West Africa, is what observers see to be an even darker pattern.
The global support for Ibrahim Traoré and Burkina Faso’s struggle for sovereignty is inspiring. It’s clear that this movement is about more than just one leader—it’s a rallying cry against neo-colonialism and foreign interference. The demonstrations across Africa and beyond show that people are uniting for a common cause: true independence. Traoré’s vision of a Pan-African alliance through the CSS is ambitious and promises a new era of self-determination. However, it makes me wonder how this will impact relations with ECOWAS and other global powers. Do you think this movement can sustain its momentum, or will external pressures weaken it over time? It’s crucial to keep the focus on the real enemy—imperialism—but what steps can be taken to ensure this doesn’t devolve into more coups or instability? Let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture here.