Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traore accused African leaders of turning Africa into a begging continent that over dependents on Western Countries. 

He banned Uranium exports to France and the United States after strengthening relations with Russia.

Furthermore, he kicked out French troops from his country and joined forces with Niger and Mali who have also cut ties with the two countries.

During the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 28, the Burkina Faso President accused African leaders of begging too much. 

Traore, 35, who came to power in a coup and became the world’s youngest leader, thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending free grain to African countries and expressed that Africa should become self-sufficient in food by the next summit.

“My generation does not understand this: how can Africa, which has so much wealth, become the poorest continent in the world today? And why African leaders travel the world to beg,” he said.

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While responding to Traore’s remarks at the summit, several African leaders clarified why they travel around the world. 

“African leaders did not come here to beg. Our task is to solve the problem of terrorism that has ravaged our continent and to ensure the development of the continent,” Senegalese President Macky Sall said. 

“We are working for cooperation based on equal conditions between the countries. We say the same thing in St. Petersburg or in Washington,” he added.

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Who is Ibrahim Traore

Born in 1988, Ibrahim Traoré was part of the group of army officers that supported the January 2022 Burkina Faso Coup and brought the patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration Military junta to power.

He became president after the military toppled Paul-Henri Sandigo Dami.

Traoré declared himself the new head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration Military and assumed the position of Interim President.

At the same time, he promised to hold democratic elections in July 2024.

In February 2023, Traoré’s government expelled the French forces from Burkina Faso. 

“We really want to look at other horizons, because we want win-win partnerships,” Traore said.

Early life of Ibrahim Traoré

After receiving his primary education in Bondokuy, he attended a high school in Bobo-Dioulasso where he was “quiet” and “very talented”. 

From 2006, he studied at the University of Ouagadougou where he was part of the Association of Muslim Students, graduating with honors.

Consequently, 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.

He was then 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.