Three years have passed since Captain Ibrahim Traoré assumed power in Burkina Faso through a military coup, arguing that the former administration had failed to shield the nation from relentless jihadist insurgencies. At the time, he pledged swift action to restore security and peace across the country.
Since then, the military has been reinforced with additional weapons and logistical support, while thousands of civilian Volunteers have been mobilized to assist in combat efforts. Yet, despite these measures, the security situation has remained dire. Armed groups continue to dominate vast territories, and violence shows no signs of abating.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reports that the country experienced as many militant attacks in 2023 and 2024 as in previous years, but with far deadlier consequences. In just two years, nearly 16,000 people have lost their lives to extremist violence, underscoring the staggering toll on Burkinabé communities.
Beyond the battlefield, civil liberties have deteriorated significantly. Human rights organizations have documented an increase in arbitrary detentions, along with growing restrictions on political parties, trade unions, and the press. These developments reflect a tightening grip on dissent and a concerning erosion of democratic freedoms.
Today, Burkina Faso has overtaken all other nations to become the country most affected by terrorism worldwide—a grim distinction that highlights the failure of early assurances of peace.
Nevertheless, Traoré’s standing among many Burkinabé has strengthened. His sweeping reforms and uncompromising rhetoric against both domestic and foreign interference have resonated with segments of the population, fueling a rise in his popularity even as insecurity and repression deepen.
