Africa’s political landscape is witnessing a seismic shift, fuelled by the emergence of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, whose ascent to power through a coup d’état in September 2022 has ignited fervent debate across social media platforms. As young Africans turn to the online narrative surrounding Traoré, masterfully crafted by Russian propaganda efforts, questions arise about the authenticity of his hero’s journey.
Supporters of Traoré tout him as a champion against Western imperialism, positioning him as a beacon of hope for national rejuvenation. Viral videos, showcasing ambitious infrastructure projects and purported advancements in Burkina Faso under his leadership, flood social media feeds. Yet, a closer examination reveals that many of these claims are mere fabrications. One notable instance shows a low-cost residential complex attributed to Traoré’s regime that is, in reality, a component of a national project in Algeria. Furthermore, allegations surrounding Traoré’s supposed rejection of US state visits or loans from international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank have been exposed as elements of a broader disinformation campaign designed to forge his image as a “progressive leader” amid a backdrop of turmoil.
Scholar Ebenezer Obadare notes the mythological depiction of Traoré in the media, where he is lauded with grand descriptors such as “liberator” and “visionary.” While he commands considerable admiration, the stark reality is that Burkina Faso is in the grip of ongoing violence, inflicted by jihadist groups since 2015. Instead of the heralded pathways to socioeconomic enhancement, the nation has plunged deeper into instability. According to the Global Terrorism Index, Burkina Faso has been cited as the country most affected by terrorism for the second consecutive year.
The disparity between the propaganda propagated through social media and the harsh reality on the ground is growing more pronounced, while free media becomes increasingly stifled and dissenting voices are silenced. The historical context of these developments cannot be overlooked. Military regimes like Traoré’s have sprung from a surge of anti-French sentiment—a reaction deeply rooted in France’s colonial past, which many argue continues to influence the region’s socio-political fabric. Recent military leaders in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger are astutely leveraging this sentiment, intertwining anti-French rhetoric with gallant calls for liberation.
Yet, this surge of disinformation, particularly from Russian entities associated with the disbanded Wagner Group, highlights a worrying trend. Yevgeny Prigozhin’s strategies propagated a narrative that scapegoated France as the mastermind behind terrorism in the region. This provided Traoré and his ilk the narrative dominance required to craft a perception based less on effective governance and more on the exploitation of public discontent. In doing so, they present themselves as fresh alternatives to historically oppressive regimes without instituting any substantial structural reforms.
A cadre of social media influencers has emerged as critical contributors to this narrative manipulation, many aligned with the Wagner’s agenda. Figures like Nathalie Yamb and Kemi Seba have successfully merged the call for an end to French influence with the idealisation of Russian support, raising alarms that Africa’s quest for true autonomy may merely result in a transition from one form of neo-colonialism to another.
While military leaders’ initiatives to expel French forces may resonate positively with segments of the populace, the true measure of a hero lies not in crafting a veneer of virtue through deception nor in instilling fear in their constituents. The responsibility now rests upon African youth—whose experiences with military rule are limited—to critically evaluate the hero narrative surrounding Traoré, steering clear from the allure of oversimplified propaganda.
In a continent characterised by the legacies of transformative figures like Nkrumah and Mandela, Africa must cultivate leaders committed to truth rather than myth-making. As social media evolves into a battleground for competing narratives, fostering discernment and promoting informed discourse on governance becomes crucial for the continent’s future.