Powerful message of Burkina Faso president to African leaders
The leader of the military junta in Burkina Faso, who is the country’s transitional president, Ibrahim Traore sent a strong message to African leaders during the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
In a speech likened to that of former president, Thomas Sankara, the military leader urged African presidents to work for their population and not for imperialists.
“My generation of Africans said I should ask this question, ‘Why is Africa rich in natural resources yet, the people live in abject poverty.?”
he continued that now, Africans will no longer cross seas to die, but will hold leaders responsible for their misery.
“It is because of poverty that they are forced to cross the ocean to try to reach Europe. They die in the ocean. But in the near future, they won’t be going to the ocean, because they’ll be coming to our palaces in search of their daily bread.”
He called out European countries for their double standards, asking why they always describe African protesters and those who have carried arms to defend their nation as terrorists.
“It’s disappointing because in Europe, when people take up arms to defend their homeland, we call them patriots. Our grandfathers were deported to save Europe. It wasn’t with their consent, it was against their will. But on their return, we remember well that at Thiaroye, when they wanted to claim their basic rights, they were massacred. It doesn’t matter. When we, the people, decide to defend ourselves, we are called militias. But that’s not the problem.” He said in a statement.
The 35 year old who took over power on September 20, 2022, said some African heads of state, operate like the Western world, calling those fighting for their freedom, militias.
“The problem is to see African heads of state who bring nothing to these peoples who are fighting, but who sing the same songs as the imperialists, calling us militias, calling us men who don’t respect human rights. What human rights are we talking about? We take offence at this, and it’s shameful. We African heads of state must stop behaving like puppets who dance every time the imperialists pull the strings.”
Ibrahim Traore 2023
“Glory to our peoples, Dignity to our people, Victory to our people, Fatherland or death, we shall conquer” The young leader ended.
