Thousands of Burkinabè citizens rallied in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, voicing strong support for transitional President Captain Ibrahim Traoré in the wake of allegations by a top U.S. military official and recent claims of a foiled coup attempt. The mass demonstration, marked by chanting, placards, whistles, and national flags, was triggered by remarks made earlier this month by U.S. AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley, who accused Traoré’s junta of diverting Burkina Faso’s gold resources for personal gain rather than national benefit.
Protesters rejected the claims as foreign interference. “The general is a liar,” said popular Burkinabè musician Ocibi Joan, addressing the crowd. “We own our resources, we use them, and we sell them to whomever we want.” Demonstrator Haroun Sawadogo invoked the memory of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara, vowing that “what happened in 1987 will not happen again. If they want to eliminate Captain Traoré, they must eliminate the people first.”
The rally came just days after the government claimed to have thwarted a coup plot involving current and former soldiers allegedly collaborating with terrorist groups. Authorities stated that the plan aimed to destabilize the regime and place Burkina Faso under international supervision.
The event also saw the participation of high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, who declared, “The time has come to never again kneel before the world,” urging the Sahel region to pursue full sovereignty.
The protest marks the largest show of public support since Traoré seized power in a September 2022 coup, amid mounting tensions with Western powers and the country’s shift toward alliances with Russia and other non-Western partners.
