While our previous analysis examined the domestic implications of Traoré’s rule, this companion piece explores the broader geopolitical forces that complicate the sovereignty debate in the Sahel.
Ibrahim Traoré’s military rule in Burkina Faso has drawn intense scrutiny; the forces shaping his leadership cannot be understood in isolation. Beneath the headlines of democratic backsliding lies a more entrenched reality: the enduring influence of Western economic, military, and political levers that have constrained Burkina Faso’s ability to chart an independent path. What may appear as an autocratic turn inward is, in fact, a response to decades of externally shaped vulnerabilities.
Western media narratives often portray Traoré as the face of militarised populism, casting his government as an outlier in West Africa’s democratic fabric. Yet this framing downplays the depth of external interference that has long shaped Burkina Faso’s domestic stability. From the spillover of arms after Libya’s collapse to France’s contested military footprint in the Sahel, the country has been a testing ground for foreign counter-terrorism strategies and economic conditionalities. Understanding Burkina Faso’s present political posture requires examining how these legacies interact with its internal security and governance challenges.
The West’s Invisible Hand In Ouagadougou
Burkina Faso’s modern political economy remains deeply marked by its colonial and post-colonial ties to France. The CFA franc monetary system, dependent trade relationships, and opaque mining concessions, particularly in gold extraction, have granted Paris disproportionate influence over the country’s decision-making. Even after France’s formal military withdrawal in 2023, residual influence has endured through intelligence-sharing agreements, the presence of private military contractors, and aid packages tied to policy concessions.
Burkina Faso – French Economic Influence (2023)
This map illustrates the key dimensions of France’s lingering footprint in Burkina Faso despite its 2023 military withdrawal. The CFA franc, still pegged to the euro and guaranteed by the French Treasury, anchors the country’s monetary system. Gold mining concessions, many operated by French or French-linked companies, dominate the economic landscape. Former French military installations, though vacated, retain strategic relevance through intelligence-sharing, private contractor activity, and logistical agreements—demonstrating that influence can persist without a standing army.
As investigative journalist Alain Foka notes,
“France may have vacated the barracks, but its shadow still sits in the command room.” In Burkina Faso, this “shadow” manifests not only in security arrangements but also in the macroeconomic constraints that limit fiscal sovereignty.
Terrorism: A Burkina Faso Reality And A Western Justification
By 2023, Burkina Faso had become the global epicentre of terrorism-related deaths, accounting for more than a quarter of the world’s total, according to the Global Terrorism Index. While jihadist insurgencies in the north and east are genuine threats, their persistence has also served as the primary rationale for sustained foreign involvement.
“It’s not that terrorism is manufactured, but it is often instrumentalised,”
Says Dr. Ebrima Sall, former Executive Secretary of CODESRIA. For Burkina Faso, counter-terrorism partnerships have frequently come with strategic strings attached, locking the country into a security dependency cycle where intervention begets more intervention, often sidelining local conflict resolution traditions.
From French Ties To Multipolar Strategies
Burkina Faso’s decision to deepen ties with Russia and, to a lesser extent, Turkey, has been framed in much of the Western press as a dangerous gamble. Yet in Ouagadougou, these partnerships are viewed as an attempt to diversify security guarantees after years of unmet promises from Western allies. The deployment of Wagner-linked operatives is not simply ideological alignment; it reflects a pragmatic search for military support without the political conditions that often accompany Western aid.
Between 2022 and 2025, Burkina Faso’s geopolitical alignments shifted dramatically, reflecting a recalibration of its foreign policy and security dependencies.
- France’s influence, long dominant due to colonial ties, military presence, and the CFA franc, saw a sharp decline after the 2023 withdrawal of French troops. While residual influence persists through economic and intelligence channels, its share of strategic sway has dropped significantly.
- Russia’s role expanded rapidly, bolstered by security agreements and the deployment of Wagner-linked operatives. This rise reflects Ouagadougou’s search for military partnerships without Western political conditionalities.
- Turkey’s engagement increased modestly, primarily through arms sales, infrastructure deals, and educational exchange programmes, positioning Ankara as a niche but growing player.
- The United States maintained a relatively steady but secondary presence, focused on counter-terrorism training, intelligence sharing, and humanitarian aid, though its influence remains constrained by policy frictions over governance.
This evolution underscores Burkina Faso’s pivot toward a multipolar security and economic strategy, driven by both pragmatic needs and political symbolism. The shift is not just about replacing one partner with another, but about reducing overreliance on any single power, even if that diversification carries its risks.
As Professor Horace Campbell of the University of Ghana observes, “When a former colony seeks partners outside the traditional West, it’s often painted as erratic or dangerous. But this is the logic of a multipolar world unfolding especially in countries like Burkina Faso, where past partnerships have failed to deliver security.”
Information Warfare With Burkina Faso At The Centre
The battle for narrative control is as relevant to Burkina Faso as any military front. International headlines have fixated on Traoré’s age, military fatigues, and social media presence, but have paid less attention to how Western-backed think tanks, donor-funded media, and advocacy NGOs have influenced perceptions of his government abroad.
This narrative shaping is not neutral. While the Traoré administration has curtailed press freedoms and delayed elections, Western scrutiny is selective; countries with deeper repression but more substantial Western alignment often escape comparable criticism. Reports from the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies suggest that information operations, including some funded by U.S. agencies, have worked to amplify opposition voices in Burkina Faso’s political space.
Historical Memory As Political Capital
Traoré frequently invokes the revolutionary legacy of Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s former leader, whose assassination in 1987 remains a touchstone of national consciousness. This historical reference is more than symbolic; it serves as a rallying point for domestic legitimacy and as a reminder of the risks of confronting entrenched foreign interests.
In today’s environment, however, the tools of control have evolved. Burkina Faso’s sovereignty battles are now waged not only in the political arena but also in monetary policy, cyber surveillance, drone warfare, and the conditions embedded in international financing agreements.
Regional Ripple Effects Through A Burkina Faso Lens
The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) uniting Burkina Faso with Mali and Niger marks a break with ECOWAS orthodoxy. For Burkina Faso, this move is less about abandoning regionalism and more about seeking an alignment that prioritises security autonomy over externally enforced democratic timelines.
This realignment has implications for investors, aid agencies, and regional stability. Burkina Faso’s policymakers now face the challenge of sustaining security cooperation within AES while mitigating the economic and diplomatic isolation that follows from such a rupture.
Burkina Faso’s current trajectory is not merely a slide into militarised governance; it is a recalibration shaped by historical grievances, immediate security pressures, and a determination to loosen the grip of foreign tutelage. The country’s choices are constrained, but not predetermined. Whether these shifts lead to greater sovereignty or more profound isolation will depend on how adeptly Burkina Faso can navigate between resisting interference and securing the partnerships it still needs.
