Thousands of people flooded the streets of Ouagadougou on Wednesday, waving flags, holding up signs, and chanting in support of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s transitional president. It wasn’t just a rally—it felt like a defining moment. The crowd gathered in front of the national assembly and Independence Square, voicing a shared desire for sovereignty, security, and change.
Traoré, who came to power in a coup in September 2022, has positioned himself as a strongman leader determined to steer Burkina Faso out of years of instability caused by jihadist insurgencies. His supporters see him as a symbol of resistance against foreign interference and a new hope in a country that has seen two coups in less than a year.
Many at the rally expressed frustration with the country’s past leadership and ongoing security issues in rural areas, but also a growing belief that Traoré represents a break from the status quo. One protester, draped in the national flag, said, “We are behind him because he’s the only one standing up for us. He talks about real independence—not just political, but economic and military too.
