The model Burkina Faso and Traoré

The model Burkina Faso and Traoré

The slogan “Stop begging” in the speeches of Ibrahima Traoré, the president of Burkina Faso, reflects his call for African countries to abandon their dependence on development aid and take their destiny into their own hands. This slogan has become part of his broader rhetoric about the fight against neocolonialism, economic self-sufficiency, and sovereignty. Key points related to the idea of "Stop begging": A departure from the role of the “beggar.” Traoré criticizes the traditional model of Africa’s relationship with the West, in which African countries act as recipients of aid rather than as equal partners. He argues that this model perpetuates dependency and hinders development. In a speech, he said: “We have received French aid for 63 years, but our country has not developed. The end of this aid will not kill us; it will motivate us to work and to have faith in ourselves.” Burkina Faso has enough land, water and mineral resources to build a functioning self-sufficiency and export economy – especially through better irrigation, agricultural modernization and sustainable gold/manganese use. What is the situation in Burkina Faso today? Burkina Faso doesn't have to beg to survive, but it is not yet truly financially independent. Although the country possesses enormous mineral resources and is vigorously striving for economic self-sufficiency, official data confirms that it remains heavily dependent on foreign loans and development aid. The argument for "sufficient resources". Burkina Faso has the potential to be a wealthy country, primarily thanks to gold: Gold accounts for over 70% of exports, and production has almost doubled from 39 tonnes in 2016 to an estimated 100 tonnes annually today. The mining sector contributes 15.3% to government revenue and 15.1% to GDP. The government is combating tax fraud with a new digital tax system and has allocated local funds (approximately US$830 million) to support the military. This demonstrates its efforts to achieve economic independence. The reality of "asking for support". Despite its gold wealth, the country struggles to translate this wealth into general prosperity and stability: The GDP per capita is only about 764 US dollars per year, which means that the average citizen is very poor. Conflicts have plunged regions into crisis; international aid is currently preventing famine. Government debt has increased by 38.6% since 2021 (to approximately US$13.7 billion) to finance security and development. Major projects (roads, water supply, food security) are almost entirely financed by donors such as the World Bank and the United Nations. Should these funds dry up, the government could have difficulty paying its civil servants. So Burkina Faso is rich in raw materials (gold), but poor in revenue and security. The leadership has rejected begging as a means of obtaining aid and uses mining revenues to build infrastructure and tax systems. However, data shows that the country still relies on international partners to cover the costs of electricity and food. It is in a transitional phase, trying to use its resources to overcome its dependence. Accusations of manipulation against Western institutions. According to Traoré, organizations like the World Bank and the IMF serve more as instruments of control over developing countries than as instruments of support. He describes IMF loans as "modern slavery." Traoré urges African states to reject this "aid" because it is often tied to conditions that infringe on sovereignty. Economic independence through control over resources. Burkina Faso is one of Africa's largest gold producers, but for a long time, mining profits flowed abroad. Traoré nationalized key gold mines and built the country's first refinery to keep profits domestically. He also banned the export of raw gold and focused on domestic refining. These measures are intended to encourage African countries to stop begging for aid and to fully utilize their resources. Withdrawal of foreign military presence. Traoré withdrew French troops from the country, ended Operation Sabré, and closed foreign military bases. He argued this was necessary to guarantee sovereignty and independence in security matters. Instead, Burkina Faso began cooperating with other countries, such as Russia and Turkey. Formation of alternative alliances. In 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger founded the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to strengthen regional cooperation and reduce dependence on Western structures. This is a step towards creating independent mechanisms for security and economic cooperation. Traoré criticizes media outlets that spread neocolonial narratives. He condemns foreign media (such as RFI and France 24) which, in his view, shape Africans' perceptions of their own inferiority and dependence on the West. He calls for the development of independent media and media literacy so that Africans can consume information critically. The focus is on self-sufficiency in key areas. Traoré's policies include the development of agriculture (providing tractors and fertilizers to farmers), industry (construction of a tomato processing plant and a cotton processing center), education, and healthcare. The goal is to reduce dependence on imports and foreign technology. Context and meaning of the slogan The slogan “Stop begging” has become the symbol of a broader ideology that combines anti-imperialism, socialist ideas, and the desire for pan-African unity. Traoré positions himself as the successor to Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso who was assassinated in 1987. His rhetoric resonates with a segment of the African public that is disillusioned with traditional development models and seeks alternatives to Western influence. However, Traoré's approach has drawn criticism. He has been accused of authoritarianism, human rights violations, and dependence on countries like Russia, which some experts argue simply replaces one form of dependence with another. Furthermore, the refusal to cooperate with international financial institutions and Western partners poses economic risks, including high inflation and difficulties attracting investment. It should also be noted that Ibrahim Traoré has stated that Burkina Faso is not a democracy, but rather undergoing a revolution. The slogan “Stop begging” is therefore not just a slogan, but part of a comprehensive program for the transformation of Burkina Faso and, according to Traoré, the entire African continent, based on the principles of sovereignty, self-sufficiency and the rejection of neocolonial practices. Several African states are at least partially orienting themselves towards the political course and anti-Western approach of Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso, especially within the Sahel region. In no case is there yet an exact "copying" of his model, but there are demonstrable political and strategic borrowings. - Mali and Niger: Military regimes in both countries have taken similar steps to Traoré: They terminated military cooperation with France, strengthened ties with Russia, and withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). - Alliance of Sahel States (AES): Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger founded this defense and integration alliance in 2023, in which Traoré plays a central role; in the AES he formulates plans for a common Sahel currency and a more sovereign Sahel economy – a model that is being implemented in practice with Mali and Niger. - States that formally recognize Ibrahim Traoré: Reports indicate that several countries (e.g., India, Turkey, Cuba, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Luxembourg, Bangladesh) have recognized Traoré as the head of state of Burkina Faso, thus opposing the Western policy of isolation. - This diplomacy is interpreted in many analyses as a signal that parts of the Global South and other regions see Traoré's "sovereignty and anti-neocolonial course" as a political model, even if they do not have the same coup regimes. - Emphasis on Pan-Africanism and withdrawal from Western military and security structures. - Searching for new partners such as Russia and attempting to create its own currency and economic structures outside the traditional French CFA zone.