Traoré, Sankara’s legacy, and the fight against imperialism in West Africa

Since he came to power in September 2022, the leader of Burkina Faso’s military government, Ibrahim Traoré, has attracted attention all over the world.

Echoing Thomas Sankara, the leader of the Burkinabé Revolution of 1983-87, Traore has used radical anti-imperialist and pan-Africanist rhetoric, calling for a determined struggle for genuine sovereignty and development for the people of Africa.

In the Western media, Traoré is often portrayed as a brutal dictator, who is rapidly losing control of the situation. However, on social media, you can find a huge amount of support for Traoré and his programme. What is the reality?

In this talk, Josh Holroyd, leading member of the RCI, will discuss what has been achieved in Burkina Faso since Traoré came to power, and the way forward for the fight against imperialism in West Africa.