Burkina Faso Holds Rally to Mark Traore Coup Anniversary

Thousands of supporters of Burkina Faso’s military government gathered overnight in the capital, Ouagadougou, and other parts of the country to mark the fourth anniversary of the coup that brought Captain Ibrahim Traore to power.

The rally, organised at the initiative of the junta, began at 6 pm on Wednesday and was described by organisers as a vigil celebrating Traore’s “Popular Progressive Revolution”.

The 38-year-old military leader seized power in a September 2022 coup and has since presented himself as a Pan-African figure opposing Western influence on the continent.

The anniversary events were broadcast on state television and continued into the night, with concerts featuring artists praising the military government and its record in power. Many participants carried posters bearing Traore’s image.

When he assumed power, Traore pledged to end the terrorist violence that has affected Burkina Faso since 2015, promising to restore security within months.

However, the country continues to experience terrorist attacks despite government claims of progress against armed groups and increased military cooperation with Russia following the coup.

Traore’s government has also faced criticism over restrictions on freedoms and the treatment of critics, while the security situation remains difficult to assess independently because of the constraints on reporting and scrutiny under the military government.

The anniversary rally comes as Burkina Faso continues to grapple with a prolonged security crisis alongside the junta’s efforts to consolidate its political and military control.