A close look at Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traore

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/AfricanHub_/status/1894004677496230340

[Ravenlocke]

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On this day 1966, Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and a leading figure in African independence, was overthrown in a CIA-backed coup while on a state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam.

While he was abroad, the military and police, backed by the CIA, carried out the coup, citing economic mismanagement and authoritarian rule. The National Liberation Council (NLC) took control, immediately reversing many of Nkrumah’s socialist and pan-African policies.

https://x.com/WestAfricaWeek/status/1894046728409465077

[Ravenlocke]

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🛑🇧🇫- IB Traore, IB Traore, IB Traore is what they are singing. See children praising him, though he is not there and their love is real.

The imperialists think that it’s some of us who are the strong supporters of
@CapitaineIb226
. No! They are wrong!

I keep telling you that most of the people in Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 who love this young man are the villagers, not those living in big cities like Ouagadougou or Bobo Dioulasso.

Why? Because, they saw the difference and saw how he has restored them their homes and lands that were occupied by terrorists.

https://x.com/marcus_herve/status/1894823749406597159

[Ravenlocke]

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WORLD CAN LEARN FROM BURKINA FASO'S PRISON REFORM

Burkina Faso is catching international attention for what is perhaps one of the most progressive approaches to criminal justice.

Prisoners in Burkina Faso's open-air Baporo Prison are learning to grow vegetables and grains for their nourishment and livestock-rearing skills to prepare them for the workforce in the agriculture-based economy.

Unlike traditionally exploitative prison labour seen around the world, these prisoners are not mass-producing items for large companies. Instead, they only sell excess crops.

The prison holds no more than 44 people out of the 8,800 detained nationwide. According to World Prison Brief, Burkina Faso's prison rate is 39 people out of every 100,000. Meanwhile, the UN reports the average global imprisonment rate is 144 detainees out of 100,000.

The government of assassinated President Thomas Sankara (1949-87) first developed the concept in 1986. Now, President Ibrahim Traoré, whom many see as a 'Sankarist,' is revitalising it.

Credit:
@rtburkina
/
@faso7_BF
/
@sigbf

https://x.com/african_stream/status/1894579049470591484

[Ravenlocke]

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African leaders must ask themselves, are we serving the few or the many.

Why must we import 90% of our pharmaceutical needs whilst our competent scientists sits idly by?

Why must our hospital be left to rott, whilst leaders send their families overseas.

If poor Burkina Faso can build pharmaceutical industry and 55 local and mobile hospital units, what's stopping other African leaders that are much more richer than Burkina Faso, from doing the same?.

https://x.com/cecild84/status/1898740694086210016

[Ravenlocke]

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🛑🇧🇫- For International Women’s Day,
@CapitaineIb226
made an unannounced visit on Thursday, March 6th, 2025, to the market gardening site of a women's cooperative in Zongo, a village located in the rural commune of Loumbila.

He encouraged these courageous women who represent, in his eyes, the symbol of resilience and the fight for emancipation.
For a big surprise, it is one. Arriving on the morning of March 6th, 2025 at their irrigated perimeter, the thirty women who operated this market gardening production area in the village of Zongo had no idea that they were going to have a distinguished visitor.

Captain came unannounced to encourage these women and through them, all the women of Burkina Faso who work tirelessly in agricultural production. And this visit is timely since it is linked to the theme of International Women's Day 2025, “Security and humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso: what strategies to promote women's agricultural entrepreneurship?”

Traore who has made the emancipation of Burkinabe women a priority, praised the work done and directly collected the concerns of these women involved in market gardening, an activity that allows these “Amazons” to take charge of themselves and provide for the needs of their families.

Their concerns, expressed to the Head of State, revolve around access to land, insufficient water resources, and straying animals. Despite everything, these women produce onions, green beans and eggplants on 3.6 hectares, with an overall annual yield of 85 tonnes.

By talking with these agricultural entrepreneurs, the President took the opportunity to deliver a message to all women in Burkina Faso.

“March 8 is the celebration of International Women's Day; but I think we should dedicate every day to women. Although we should celebrate this day more in the sense of women's emancipation.

Agricultural production is today an area that we strongly encourage, as well as transformation. And who better than women to carry this entrepreneurship and help transform everything we produce on a local scale?

I think that through the emancipation of women, families will be better off and our country will be better off. So, the message to all women in Burkina Faso and around the world is an encouragement to continue fighting,” he said.

For Captain, Burkinabe women in general are “fighters and resilient women.” He made a commitment with the government to continue to support them in their quest for emancipation.

“I support you in your emancipatory struggle. I am speaking to the female agricultural producer, in rural or peri-urban areas, the main actor in her own development and with whom any other woman should identify for her bravery,” he said.

The President of the Zongo Women's Cooperative, Elise OUÉDRAOGO, was delighted with this visit by Captain. “We were honored by this visit from the Head of State. And every woman should be with us. The President was able to appreciate our activities on this site. He will help us. We thank him for this visit. We are really happy", she said.

https://x.com/marcus_herve/status/1898574427580752223

https://x.com/cecild84/status/1898473465780265438

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/cecild84/status/1898043181263937965

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A bit of background on the Ghanaian Tema Port, which has been purchased by Burkina Faso.

Ghana's Tema Port is among the Top Ten Largest Sea Ports in Africa. It had a TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) of 1 million in 2019.

It is located in South Eastern Ghana, along the Gulf of Guinea.

https://x.com/cecild84/status/1898089408781599138

[Ravenlocke]

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In the year 2024, Ghana imported mangoes worth GH¢96million from Burkina Faso , according to Ghana Statistical Service Trade Report. That is over $6 million.

Ghana imports of Tomatoes, fresh or chilled was $169.26K and quantity 139,709Kg. Ghana imported Tomatoes, fresh or chilled from Burkina Faso ($85.80K , 107,824 Kg), Netherlands ($59.45K , 3,096 Kg), Morocco ($14.18K , 26,650 Kg), Switzerland ($2.55K , 245 Kg), France ($2.33K , 231 Kg).

Well over half of those imported tomatoes came from Faso, but Ghana was paying far less to Burkina Faso per kilo, than how much it paid to France, Switzerland, Morocco or Netherlands.

This sets out the case for intra African trade, and goes to show the worth of the AES to West Africa's Economy and food security.

https://x.com/cecild84/status/1898736024026566697

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/Africarevolt/status/1902046476861067584

[Ravenlocke]

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Burkina Faso's President, Ibrahim Traore, has declined an offer from Saudi Arabia to build 200 mosques in his country. Instead, Traore suggested that Saudi Arabia invest in schools, hospitals, or businesses that would create jobs for the Burkinabe people ¹.

Traore's reasoning is that Burkina Faso already has many empty mosques, and what the country really needs is development and progress. He emphasized that his country has suffered a lot and needs to move forward and regain its independence in all aspects.

This decision reflects Traore's vision for Burkina Faso's development, which prioritizes education, healthcare, and economic growth. Under his leadership, the country is shifting its focus towards sustainable development and inclusive governance.

https://x.com/cecild84/status/1902275066064220474

https://x.com/AfricanHub_/status/1902367477708845386

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/AfricanHub_/status/1903147032321114180

[Ravenlocke]

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Emmanuel Macron: "We need to strenghten our friendship with Captain Ibrahim Traore, President of Burkina Faso, as we convince him to allow our Military bases in his country"

Ibrahim Traore: "But you're already friends with USA, Britain, Brazil, Canada. Do you have any Military bases in those countries?"

https://x.com/AfricanHub_/status/1904227088963412440

[Ravenlocke]

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Air France suspended flights to Burkina Faso and declared it a "red zone" country.

After a few months, they reversed their decision and reached out to the Burkina Faso government, expressing their desire to resume flights.

In response, President Captain Traore said to them if Air France wished to resume operations, they must first announce to the world that Burkina Faso is now a "green zone" and among the safest countries in the world, just as they had previously announced to the world and labeled it a "red zone."

Your thoughts on this

https://x.com/AfricanHub_/status/1903850804315869378

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/Its_ereko/status/1906486660520419395

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/Its_ereko/status/1906677779850047559

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/cecild84/status/1897750809728758213

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/Its_ereko/status/1906626281891840453

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Ravenlocke (here)
https://x.com/Its_ereko/status/1906677779850047559

This is 90% off-topic on this thread (and Traore's comments are important and in no way inappropriate or incorrect) — but I just wanted to add this note of interest from my own personal experience.

About 20 years ago I visited Botswana, which borders South Africa and Namibia:



Before it became an independent nation in 1966, it was called Bechuanaland, one of the very many British African colonies whose names barely anyone can remember. It was so poor and desolate that the British could do nothing with it, and so they were relieved to get it off their hands.

But almost immediately after independence, huge amounts of diamonds were discovered in the desert. Almost overnight, Botswana became very rich. And the government — unusually for Africa, I do have to say — (a) was not corrupt, and (b) very wisely and efficiently invested all their new wealth in the country's infrastructure.

So when I went there, I was amazed and impressed. The whole country was gorgeous, and I found myself thinking: Wow, what a beautiful place, I'd really quite like to live here.

I saw no poverty, many people had cellphones even back then, the roads were all in great shape, the stores and market stalls all had wonderful inexpensive produce and everything else one might ever need, and I was told that the healthcare and education systems were all flourishing. Everyone I met was happy, healthy and friendly. It was an eye-opening experience.

[Ravenlocke]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by Ravenlocke (here)
https://x.com/Its_ereko/status/1906677779850047559

This is 90% off-topic on this thread (and Traore's comments are important and in no way inappropriate or incorrect) — but I just wanted to add this note of interest from my own personal experience.

About 20 years ago I visited Botswana, which borders South Africa and Namibia:



Before it became an independent nation in 1966, it was called Bechuanaland, one of the very many British African colonies whose names barely anyone can remember. It was so poor and desolate that the British could do nothing with it, and so they were relieved to get it off their hands.

But almost immediately after independence, huge amounts of diamonds were discovered in the desert. Almost overnight, Botswana became very rich. And the government — unusually for Africa, I do have to say — (a) was not corrupt, and (b) very wisely and efficiently invested all their new wealth in the country's infrastructure.

So when I went there, I was amazed and impressed. The whole country was gorgeous, and I found myself thinking: Wow, what a beautiful place, I'd really quite like to live here.

I saw no poverty, many people had cellphones even back then, the roads were all in great shape, the stores and market stalls all had wonderful inexpensive produce and everything else one might ever need, and I was told that the healthcare and education systems were all flourishing. Everyone I met was happy, healthy and friendly. It was an eye-opening experience.

But if the following is true…, Africa as a whole, is still not the richest country in the world..and Botswana’s wealth is still dependent on deals/contracts with foreign corporations.
Overall Africa is rich in resources but these resources have to be mined and extracted but most is done by foreign companies that exploit the country.
Am I incorrect?


https://x.com/africansinnews/status/1625428548579217409

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President of Botswana, Duma Boko, says De Beers decision to sell its stake as a diamond mining giant in Botswana will receive priority. Boko says Botswana cannot only rely on the diamond industry to grow its economy. Catch the full #Exclusive interview with SABC News international editor Sophie Mokwena on
@MorningLiveSABC
tomorrow morning at 6:30. #sabcnews

https://x.com/SABCNews/status/1855659159343313211

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Huge diamond in Botswana is second-largest ever found

Canadian company Lucara Diamond has announced the discovery of a 2,492-carat gemstone, one of the largest ever mined on Earth

https://on.rt.com/cx8n

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1826700869108465945

https://www.rt.com/news/602951-huge-...thed-botswana/

Huge African diamond is second-largest ever found
Canadian company Lucara Diamond has announced the discovery of a 2,492-carat gemstone, one of the largest ever mined on Earth

Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond has claimed that it has found the second-largest diamond ever discovered on Earth. In a statement on its official website on Wednesday, the company reported that the gemstone weighs in at an exceptional 2,492 carats.

The diamond is said to have been found in Lucara’s Karowe Diamond Mine in the southern African nation of Botswana. It was detected and recovered using the company’s Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray Transmission (XRT) technology, which it has been using since 2017 to identify and preserve large, high-value diamonds.

“We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond. This find not only showcases the remarkable potential of our Karowe Mine, but also upholds our strategic investment in cutting-edge XRT technology. The ability to recover such a massive, high-quality stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach to diamond recovery,” Lucara President and CEO William Lamb said in a statement.

Previously, the same company had also mined the 1,758-carat Sewelo diamond in 2019 and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona in 2015 at the same mine.

The record for the largest diamond ever mined still belongs to the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond which was discovered in 1902 in South Africa and was later cut into over 100 stones, including the 530.5-carat Cullinan I, the largest clear-cut diamond in the world. The stone has since been mounted on the head of the Sceptre with the Cross of the Crown Jewels of England.


https://x.com/K24Tv/status/1863865935666274423

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DIAMOND DEAL FINALISED

Botswana and De Beers have finalised a significant 10-year diamond sales agreement, with a possible five-year extension.

This deal revises the share of Botswana's state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) in the joint venture Debswana. ODC's share will initially increase to 30% of Debswana’s output and reach 40% by the end of the decade. The agreement also extends Debswana's mining licenses until 2054.

Negotiations began in 2018 but only gained traction under President Duma Boko, who emphasised its importance for job creation and economic stability.

Despite a previous contraction in Botswana's economy due to falling diamond prices and changing market dynamics, the government anticipates recovery driven by an improving global diamond market... https://tinyurl.com/5xrs7e66

(Pictured - Botswana Minister of Mineral and Energy, Bogolo Kenewendo)

https://x.com/BuzinessX/status/1894632233119490183

https://x.com/GondaiMutongi/status/1804830599334469646

https://x.com/AfricaFactsZone/status...28985398751448

In Botswana, citizens get free land, free healthcare and free education.

University students receive $154 in allowances monthly.

It has low debt.

It has Africa's best Police.

It is an upper middle income country.

It has Africa's highest credit rating.

It is a safe country.

https://x.com/AfricaFactsZone/status...98031372824577

This is according to the IMF

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According to the International Monetary Fund, as of February 2025, Seychelles, Mauritius, Gabon, Egypt, and Botswana are the top richest countries in Africa, which was measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita based on purchasing power parity.

These countries thrive on tourism, financial services, and strategic investments. Other African countries can learn from these countries' economic strategies by prioritising infrastructure development and diversification.

#oluseunonasoga #Richestcountries #africa

https://x.com/OnasogaOluseun/status/1905550649586032797

Back to Topic

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/dana916/status/1907914265484472451

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🇷🇺🇧🇫In a stunning geopolitical twist, Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré has been personally invited by Vladimir Putin to stand beside him during Russia’s 80th Victory Day Parade in Moscow—an honor reserved for the most trusted allies of the Kremlin. From his military uniform appearance in St. Petersburg, to requesting a nuclear plant for Burkina Faso—and getting it—Traoré has emerged as Africa’s boldest voice on the world stage. This invitation, confirmed by Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov via PRAVDA, signals a new chapter in Africa–Russia relations.

https://x.com/cecild84/status/1907914679449481586