President Ibrahim Traore leads with courage, not fear

by Tiy Todd

Cowardice is another form of fear and slavery. When fear dominates, freedom fades. Explore more on Burkina Faso President Traore’s courageous leadership by watching a recent speech he delivered that is sweeping Africa and beyond: “Ibrahim Traore’s Historic Speech to African Youth.” He leads by example, not falling victim to social media distractions or monetary riches. Traore has been a driving force for the Burkinabe people.

Courage despite assassination attempts

Capt. Traore has survived over 20 assassination attempts. The most recent effort involved 119 conspirators. It was traced directly back to the past president, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba, who was overthrown for not upholding his word to the people.

The failed assassination attempt aimed to revert Burkina Faso to previous European and Western-aligned policies, clearly illustrating the dangers of regression. Such actions serve foreign interests, harming national progress. Such behavior has been reminiscent of historical tactics used against slaves in the Meritorious Manumission Act of 1710. This act rewarded slaves for snitching on other slaves who were planning a rebellion or escape. If the slaves told, they were offered freedom.

We ask ourselves, “In what ways can one achieve true individual freedom?” Freedom is collective. Alone, you lack protection and support. Collective unity ensures mutual protection and strength. We intentionally create division among ourselves; cowardice feeds fear and betrayal. Remember, we are human and make mistakes, but ego and pride complicate matters.

Even the youth in Burkina Faso understand the power of collective work. On March 24, 2025, 1,938 individuals volunteered for Combat Water and Forestry, graduating from the National School of Water and Forestry. This level of participation highlights the youth’s dedication to national freedom. Additionally, over 996 recruits recently joined the police force, further reinforcing national security.

True accountability requires courage, not cowardice.

Infrastructure and economic progress

Burkina Faso still moves forward under the leadership of President Traore. Roads and infrastructure projects are actively underway, including the recent purchase of 900 construction vehicles, which will improve access to remote areas and create jobs for Burkinabe citizens.

March 20, 2025, President Traore inaugurated a cement factory owned by Société Industrielle Sino Burkina de Ciments (CISINOB) in Laongo, a commune of Ziniaré in the Plateau-Central region. CISINOB is said to be able to produce 2,000 tons daily; the facility creates 110 permanent jobs and 300 seasonal positions. The company invested 26 billion CFA francs to open the factory. President Traore has facilitated meaningful business opportunities beneficial to the people and economy.

Military leadership and national security

As a military veteran, my respect for military-led nations, especially those in the Sahel region, runs deep. Individuals join the military for various reasons, fundamentally driven by love for their community and country. Seeing presidents in uniform symbolizes their commitment, reminding them daily of their mission to protect their people.

Maintaining focus on this mission, rather than distractions such as clothing, money or politics, is crucial and can be a challenge. Distractions can lead to cowardice, historically linked to betrayal. Ultimately, citizens suffer at the hands of traitors. We must remember our shared humanity, accepting responsibility for our mistakes courageously rather than in a cowardly way.

The Sahel Region and AES Alliance

Two other notable military-led countries in the Sahel region are Niger, under Général Abdourahamane Tiani, and Mali, led by Col. Assimi Goïta. These leaders prioritize their citizens’ safety and economic stability. Both countries boldly withdrew from ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES), emphasizing regional sovereignty, unity and resilience. Recently, Niger voted to maintain military leadership instead of returning to Western-influenced democratic representation.

President Traore: A leader from the heart

President Ibrahim Traore’s transparency and honesty have significantly increased global support. Since assuming office, he has fostered initiatives like the AES passport, enabling easier travel within Sahel states without restrictive visas — a critical step toward regional unity and freedom.

President Traore speaks genuinely, without prepared notes, consistently emphasizing security, unity and productivity. His recent French-language speech to the youth addressed mental conditioning, especially regarding social media distractions that negatively impact productivity and focus.

Burkina Faso: Land of inspiration

Burkina Faso’s inspirational progress exemplifies true leadership, putting its people, land and youth first. Witnessing such commitment motivates me to honor this nation through accurate reporting, prompting me to study French to deliver timely and precise updates.

Conclusion: Courage and unity, unapologetically

Cowardice means living as a slave in constant fear. It’s time to unapologetically move forward, boldly prioritizing the nation’s interests. Reject misinformation designed to undermine countries choosing independent paths from colonial frameworks.

This is why I’ve deliberately chosen to highlight only positive developments from Burkina Faso. Why? We must showcase the outstanding achievements possible when people work freely and independently. I choose to send positivity and love to my brothers and sisters across Africa.

As President Ibrahim Traore eloquently stated, “La poussière va se soulever” (“The dust will rise”). Indeed, the present is our moment to rise courageously and fearlessly. Once the dust has settled, we as a people across the African Diaspora will have connected and become greater than ever before.  

We have not forgotten our history, but learned from it.

We are stronger together! No matter what part of the world we are from, we are educated and able to teach each other. This is not the time to be selfish with our knowledge, but to come together and contribute to a Greater United Africa.

Remember, we share more commonalities than differences — just look at your skin color. That unity, rooted in collective freedom, remains steadfast and unwavering.

Tiy Todd is a student copy editor and writer for San Francisco Bay View. She is a junior at San Francisco State University, a military veteran and a Political Science major. She shares that interning at the SF Bay View is an honor because it gives her the chance to share international affairs, African liberation and the stories that in mainstream media are conveniently ignored or their significance watered down. You can contact Tiy at ttodd@sfsu.edu.

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