The military president of Burkina Faso Captain Ibrahim Traore appreciated the support shown by Burkinabe during the April 30 rally to shun imperialism.

Thousands of people rallied in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou on Wednesday in support of the military junta after an alleged coup attempt and comments by an American official criticizing the junta leader.

Last week, the West African country’s military government said it foiled a “major plot” to overthrow junta leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore, with the army alleging the plotters were based in neighboring Ivory Coast.

Earlier this month, Gen. Michael Langley, the head of U.S. military in Africa, accused Traore during a U.S. Senate committee hearing of using Burkina Faso’s gold reserves to benefit the junta at the expense of the population.

Crowds of protesters gathered at the Place de la Revolution in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, chanting “Long live Captain Traore!” with some holding banners showing a photo of Gen. Langley with the word “slave” written on his head with red marker. Others waved Burkina Faso and Russia’s flag, a close ally of the West African country.

Captain Traore in an appreciation statement wrote on X: “I would like to express my gratitude to all the peace-loving, freedom-loving patriots and pan-Africanists who rallied around the world on Wednesday April 30, 2025 to support our commitment and our vision for a new Burkina Faso and a new Africa, free from imperialism and neo-colonialism.

“Your active solidarity and this demonstration of sympathy strenghtens our conviction that the fight we are waging for a fairer and more equitable world is justified.

“We will never bend our backs in the face of adversity; we will stand firm until our peoples are truly emancipated. With you, we are certain that victory over the forces of evil is at hand.

“Together, in solidarity, we will defeat imperialism and neo-colonialism for a free, dignified and sovereign Africa.” He added.

 Burkina Faso, along with its neighbors Niger and Mali, has for over a decade battled an insurgency fought by jihadi groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas severed military ties with longstanding Western partners such as the U.S. and France, and turned to Russia for military support.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger created their own security partnership, known as the Alliance of Sahel States, in 2023.

Following a September 2022 coup, Capt. Ibrahim Traore was named the transitional president of Burkina Faso and promised to bring security and prosperity to the West African nation, capturing the hearts and minds of many young people in his country and around the world.

Photo credit:X|@CaptaineIb226

By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth