Ibrahim Traoré
Ibrahim Traoré | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Traoré in 2022 | |
| Interim President of Burkina Faso | |
| Assumed office 6 October 2022[1] | |
| Prime Minister | Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla |
| Preceded by | Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba |
| President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration | |
| Assumed office 30 September 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1988 (age 35–36)[2] Bondokuy, Burkina Faso[3] |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Burkina Faso |
| Branch/service | Army of Burkina Faso |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | "Cobra" special forces unit[4] (disputed)[5] |
| Battles/wars | Mali War Islamist insurgency Burkinabé coup d'etats: |
Ibrahim Traoré (born 1988) is a Burkinabé military officer who has been the interim leader of Burkina Faso since the 30 September 2022 coup d'état which ousted interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.[6] At age 34, Traoré is the world's second youngest current serving state leader after Betssy Chávez of Peru.[7]
Biography
Ibrahim Traoré was born in Bondokuy, Mouhoun Province, in 1988.[2][3] After receiving his primary education in Bondokuy, he attended a high school in Bobo-Dioulasso where he became known as being "quiet" and "very talented".[2] From 2006, he studied at the University of Ouagadougou where he was part of the Association of Muslim Students.[2][8] He graduated from the university with honors.[2] Traoré joined the army of Burkina Faso in 2009, and quickly began to climb the ranks. He was sent to Morocco for anti-aircraft training before being transferred to an infantry unit in Kaya, a town in Burkina Faso's north.[2]
Promoted to lieutenant in 2014, Traoré joined MINUSMA, a United Nations peacekeeping force involved in the Mali War. In 2018, he was cited as one of the MINUSMA soldiers who "showed courage" during major rebel attacks in the Tombouctou Region.[2] He subsequently returned to Burkina Faso where he assisted in operations against the escalating jihadist insurgency. Traoré fought in the "Otapuanu offensive" of 2019 and several other counter-insurgency operations in the country's north.[2] He was promoted to captain in 2020.[8][2]
Traoré was part of the group of army officers that supported the January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état and brought the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration military junta to power.[6][5] From March 2022, he served as the head of an artillery regiment in Kaya.[2][5] Whether he was ever associated with the "Cobra" special forces, a counterterrorist unit founded in 2019, is disputed. According to several sources such as BBC, Al Jazeera, and Die Tageszeitung, he was part of the unit at some point.[8][4][9] However, news magazine Jeune Afrique stated that he was never associated with the "Cobras".[5]
Many supporters of the January coup became dissatisfied with the performance of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the junta's leader, regarding his inability to contain the jihadist insurgency. Traore later claimed that he and other officers had tried to get Damiba to "refocus" on the rebellion, but eventually opted to overthrow him as "his ambitions were diverting away from what we set out to do".[6] The dissatisfaction about the situation was highest among younger officers who fought against the rebels at the frontlines.[10] In addition, there were delays in pay for the "Cobra" troops.[8] When the plotters launched their coup on 30 September, Traore still held the rank of Captain.[6] The operation was carried out with support of the "Cobra" unit.[4][10] In the direct aftermath of the coup, Traore declared himself the new head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration.[10] On 6 October, he also assumed the position of Interim President as "Head of State, Supreme Head of the Armed Forces".[1]
Alleged association with Russia
Some suspect Traore of having a connection with Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group.[11] As Traore entered Ouagadougou, the nation's capital, supporters cheered, some waving Russian flags.[12]
References
- ^ a b "Traore officially appointed as president of Burkina Faso after coup". France24. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Izina mu makuru: Menya Capt Ibrahim Traoré wafashe ubutegetsi i Ouagadougou". BBC (in Kinyarwanda). 3 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ a b Portrait du nouveau Président du MPSR, le capitaine Ibrahim TRAORE (in French), Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina, 2 October 2022, retrieved 4 October 2022
- ^ a b c "Burkina Faso: Military officers remove President Damiba in a coup". www.aljazeera.com. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Burkina Faso: Ibrahim Traoré proclaimed President, Damiba ousted". The Africa Report. Jeune Afrique. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d Thiam Ndiaga; Anne Mimault (30 September 2022). "Burkina Faso army captain announces overthrow of military government". Reuters. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ Afp (6 October 2022). "At 34, Burkina's new junta chief Ibrahim Traore is world's youngest leader". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d Katrin Gänsler (1 October 2022). "Putsch in Burkina Faso: Ibrahim Traoré hat die Macht". Jeune Afrique (in German). Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ "Burkina Faso coup: Gunshots in capital and roads blocked". BBC. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Burkina : Ibrahim Traoré proclamé président, Damiba destitué". Jeune Afrique (in French). 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ Peltier, Elian (2 October 2022). "In Burkina Faso, the Man Who Once Led a Coup is Ousted by One". The New York Times.
- ^ McAllister, Edward (4 October 2022). "Who is Ibrahim Traore, the soldier behind Burkina Faso's latest coup?". Reuters.
 Republic of Upper Volta (1960–1984) | |
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| Burkina Faso (since 1984) | |
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