In a surprising turn of events, Burkina Faso witnessed a rally like no other in its capital, Ouagadougou, on Friday. This time, the crowd wasn’t out in protest against military rule, but rather in support of the ruling junta. Yes, you read that right – people actually rallied to back the folks who took over the country in a coup a year ago.
Now, you might be scratching your head and wondering if this is sheer ignorance or simply a case of folks being a few history lessons short. After all, celebrating a military coup isn’t your everyday party theme, right?
But there they were, supporters flocking to the Place de la Nation, waving their Burkinabe flags high. Some even held signs with pictures of the country’s young military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, like he’s the latest celebrity heartthrob.
Captain Traore, the man of the hour, grabbed power on September 30 last year, booting out the leader of another coup who had done the same thing just eight months prior. These coups might sound like a soap opera, but for many citizens fed up with escalating insecurity and a government that seemed more disappointing than a rainy day at the beach, these rebellions were like a breath of fresh air.
But here’s where it gets spicy: Western countries were not amused. They watched as their influence dwindled, and democracy in the Sahel region of West Africa took a nosedive. It’s like they were saying, “Guys, didn’t we agree on the whole democracy thing?”
Burkina Faso, hanging out with its pals Mali and Niger, has been battling an Islamist insurgency that’s left thousands dead and millions displaced. And guess what? All three of them now have military officers at the helm, courtesy of a “takeover by force” trend that’s been happening since 2020. Move over, democracy!
Now, picture this: a lady named Sadia Ouangraoua, who was at the rally, shouting her lungs out, “We salute Captain Ibrahim Traore, the President of Burkina Faso, for his efforts to bring sovereignty back to the country. We are with him with all our heart day and night.” Talk about dedication!
Oh, and as if the party wasn’t wild enough, a few days before this rally, the junta claimed they’d thwarted a coup attempt against them. It’s like Burkina Faso has a coup buffet going on.
Captain Traore, the 35-year-old star of the show, has been making headlines for his anti-French speeches and pan-Africanist stance. He kicked French troops out and even gave French media a run for their money. Tensions between Burkina Faso and its former colonizer, France, have been heating up faster than a pot of soup on a stovetop.
So, let’s just leave Burkina Faso to their unique celebration. After all, who needs a boring old democracy party when you can have a coup rally, right?
