Burkina Faso’s Economic Revolution: How Ibrahim Traoré Defied Colonial Exploitation and IMF Orthodoxy
The Colonial Chains: CFA Franc and Exploitation For decades, Burkina Faso’s gold-rich soil bled wealth into French coffers. As part of the CFA franc zone, 50% of its exports were siphoned to France, leaving one of the world’s poorest nations trapped in dependency. Children mined gold for foreign profit, while structural adjustment programs (SAPs) imposed by the IMF and World Bank privatized resources, slashed public spending, and prioritized raw material exports—a cycle dubbed “Colonial Economy 2.0.” Ibrahim Traoré: The Military Captain Who Rewrote the Rules In 2022, 34-year-old military captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power amid crises. Rejecting a 76,000presidentialsalary,hekepthis76,000presidentialsalary,hekepthis583/month captain’s pay, signaling a philosophy of “leadership through service, not extraction.” His bold moves: Nationalized Gold Mines: Ended foreign control, built Burkina Faso’s first gold refinery (150 tons/year), and banned raw gold exports. Rejected IMF Loans: Avoided debt traps by prioritizing self-reliance and curbing corruption. Infrastructure Revolution: Purchased 900+ construction vehicles, […]
