Right now, Burkina Faso sits again on the frontlines against U.S./western imperialism.
Prior to 2022, Burkina Faso was completely under the control of French neocolonial rule and oppression. The Burkinabe government — previously under the rule of Paul-Henri Damiba, a high-ranking officer of the Burkinabe military — allowed France to plunder the country for natural resources, including gold and uranium.
Under France’s “supervision” the military was not allowed to procure weapons to defend the country from attacks. Burkina Faso had to borrow weapons and ammunition from neighboring countries in order to respond to attacks by groups like the Nusra Front and Islamic State.
As a result, response times exceeded 72 hours before a counterattack could be mounted to defend the villages and people of Burkina Faso. France would also dictate if and when the Burkinabe military could respond and defend its territory.
This humiliating pattern of neocolonial domination was broken in September 2022 when Field Artillery Captain Ibrahim Traoré led a military coup ousting Damiba and many other French-backed officers and politicians. After the ousting of these puppet figures, Ibrahim Traoré and the new revolutionary government of Burkina Faso set out to erase all remnants of French rule.
They nationalized the country’s gold mines and set up its own gold refineries. Ibrahim Traoré personally ensured that education and health care for all people of Burkina Faso were accessible. The government also modernized the country’s infrastructure.
From modernizing the Thomas Sankara International Airport in Ouagadougou to paving fresh roads and purchasing state-of-the-art agricultural and medical machinery and equipment, the revolutionary government has invested the country’s newfound wealth back into the people.
These great strides were met with an outpouring of love from not only the people of Burkina Faso, but the greater community of the Black diaspora.
However, the West has not sat idly. U.S. General Michael Langley, the head of AFRICOM, declared Ibrahim Traoré a threat to the people of Burkina Faso. Langley lied, saying Traoré was using the country’s wealth for himself. The lie is meant to justify the schemes meant to create instability in Burkina Faso.
There have been multiple coups and assassination attempts against Ibrahim Traoré. Most recently, the intelligence services uncovered and foiled a coup attempt that was meant to take place on April 16. The coup was organized by current and former members of the Burkinabe military and government alongside the Islamic extremists whom the West backs.
After the coup was foiled, the government accelerated the necessary steps to reach a long-lasting, self-sustaining national defense industry. They have built factories to produce all forms of military hardware. These improvements in national defense have shortened response times to attacks to 18 hours at most.
Also, following the failed coup, the people of Burkina Faso took to the streets on April 30 to show massive support for Ibrahim Traore and the revolutionary government.
Burkina Faso has also gone about creating stronger alliances with its Sahel neighbors, namely creating the Alliance of Sahel States with Mali and Niger. Ibrahim Traoré has made it his mission to, in his own words, “finish what Thomas Sankara started.”
The Russian government has taken steps to aid in the defense of Burkina Faso and its new government, with the countries entering into mutual aid pacts and Russian military assets deployed to help defend government officials and buildings.
Ibrahim Traoré is a guiding light to all revolutionaries and a true leader for the Global South and Black people everywhere.
Power to Ibrahim Traoré and the Revolutionary government!
Rest in Power Thomas Sankara!
Long live the people of Burkina Faso!
Long live International Solidarity!
source: Struggle La Lucha