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Is Europe still truly ruling in Africa, and what is Ibrahim Traoré's role in Africa in this context?
Africa is still at war; the question arises,
but with whom?? And is Ibrahim Traore a hero or a villain? Additionally, the question arises as to why Ibrahim Traore is doing all this. The matter to think about is that if he has enough money to live happily with his family, then why this passion, this courage, and at such a young age? Furthermore, it is also a matter to consider whether the people of Africa, any African country, will support Ibrahim Traore or not. Before this, why is Ibrahim Traore waging war against larger countries with all this passion and courage for his people? What is the reason for this?
Before this, we need to understand Africa's culture, its lifestyle, its climate, its resources—meaning what can be found within Africa, such as diamonds, gold, etc. However, we must take a complete overview of Africa, so let’s start."
A BRIEF HISTORICAL REVIEW OF AFRICA
ANCIENT TIMES
According to archaeological evidence, places like East Africa and Kenya are considered the origin of Homo sapiens, which existed around 2.5 or 2.1 million years ago. This area is known as the Cradle of Humankind. In Egypt, civilization, meaning culture, started around 3100 or 300 BC. The Pharaohs built pyramids and sphinx monuments; it is considered one of the oldest civilizations, which already existed along the Nile River. In North Africa, the Phoenicians and Greeks established colonies around 1000 BC, such as Carthage (Tunisia), which was defeated in 146 BC or 145 BC, and North Africa was taken under their control. During this time, kingdoms such as Nubia (Sudan) and Aksum (Ethiopia) were established in Sub-Saharan Africa."Established their own empire and created their own culture. In a similar way, Aksum embraced Christianity in the 4th century. Note that I am sharing my thoughts; I have done a lot of research but could not find any information other than forced note-taking. Also, when Muslims came into existence, there were several wars during that period where Muslims conquered North Africa and took their share. This era was around the 7th century when Islam united the Berber tribes. During this period, Muslims strengthened trade routes like the Trans-Saharan trade, establishing a continuous trade of gold and salt
West Africa: Ghana Empire 300-1100 AD
Mali Empire. 1230-1600 AD and Songhai Empire
1460-1591 AD achieved its original power through a very prominent person, who we learn about in many books, who was a Muslim and a noble person named Mansa Musa (Musa)
1312 to 1337 is considered the most wealthy individual of that time. This is a very big topic that we will discuss separately because its history is on a different level.
Timbuktu became a major center of learning.
East Africa: The Swahili Coast participated in Indian Ocean trade, where many countries conducted business, including Arabs, Indians, and Persians. At that time, it was considered the largest empire, and ports like Zanzibar became famous. The South Bantu migration brought agriculture and iron working to South Africa."That in that era, Great Zimbabwe (11th-15th century) established its original powerful strength, then later, in the period between 1500 and 1900, the Portuguese began to conquer by creating small settlements. In the 15th century, the Portuguese started to seize coastal areas (like Angola and Mozambique). During that same century, the era of slavery began, which subjected the local people to severe oppression that I can't even describe. Many Africans fell into the slave trade, where they were sent from
Africa to America for slavery. At least 10 to 12 million people were sent from Africa to America solely for slavery. Just think about a country or an empire that is so wealthy and has everything that people need, yet Europe come in and do all this to those people, meaning oppressing them, killing them, raping, or enslaving them, so much that I can't even express. But it is also necessary to say that all this was happening, but there was another conspiracy being plotted, which was arranged in Berlin regarding how to loot those people."And the people there do not even know that Europe countries divided Africa among themselves in the 1880s at the Berlin Conference. Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy considered Africa their own piece to be divided like a piece of meat; this was in the year 1880, and after this, oppression increased significantly. In 1870, 10% of Africa was under their control, and by 1914 it had become 90%. But it is not that the people of Africa did nothing; they bravely fought wars. Only Ethiopia and Liberia remained free. Then, King Leopold II of Belgium created a massacre in the Congo Free State. Britain governed South Africa and Nigeria, France governed Algeria and West Africa, and Germany governed Tanzania. Resources such as gold, diamonds, and rubber
were plundered. Resistance: Samori Toure (West Africa), Menelik II (Ethiopia), and Zulu leader Shaka fought for their people."
"Ethiopia defeated Italy in the Adwa battle in 1896, which shows how much oppression has occurred within Africa that is regrettable. However, this is not the only concern; we will eventually find out whether this humanity is true or some beasts. But such people are even lower and more contemptible than animals, who perpetrate such oppression. I have noted in my other article whether we are more dangerous than animals, that is, we humans are more cruel and tyrannical than animals because animals do not possess what we humans have: the ability to think, consciousness, and intellect, which animals do not have. Yet despite this, humans still oppress other humans and illegally seize their rights, which is a matter worth contemplating. However, since we are discussing Africa, we should first know what the countries of Europe have plundered, that is, what they have taken or stolen from Africa.
What was looted?
Britain, France, Belgium, and Germany plundered valuable items such as gold, rubber, and ivory, and devastated the jungles of Congo for rubber, coercing local people into forced labor. If a worker did not meet their quotas, such as being late for work, they were punished, and even if someone fell ill, they were still required to work; otherwise, people were killed. If tasks like gold extraction were not completed, their hands and feet were cut off. Such cruelty was inflicted by Belgium's King Leopold II, who employed Africans in the Congo Free State like slaves for rubber and ivory."Between the years 1885-1908, according to estimates, more than 10 or 12 million people had lost their lives due to this oppression. If anyone denied it, as in saying I will not work or I will not be a slave, or even attempted to rebel, they would be killed or their children would be imprisoned. This was a very severe atrocity. Let me tell you that there is a series about this, particularly focused on black people, called 'The Roots'. It is a very historical series that should be watched at least once. Regarding its devastation: In the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, Europe countries divided Africa among themselves like a cake, without asking the African people. This brought 90% of Africa under their control, and local communities were removed from their own lands; their villages were burned, and many lives were devastated.
What impact did it have on culture and religion?
"Indeed, if there has been oppression on the people of Africa for a long time, it is evident that there has been an effect on their culture and religion. Thinking correctly, let us now discuss culture and religion. Now, whether Christian missionaries suppressed local religions and forcibly spread Christianity, as it was forbidden to speak African languages in schools, and attempts were made to make the local people forget their own culture while trying to eliminate traditions. It is also important to note that traditions and civilization are not the same word, but they can be similar to some extent. The people of Africa were compelled to forget their languages, which were a part of their identity and culture; we can also say that there were attempts to erase their civilization."And when African tribes like the Herero and Nama (Namibia) fought against Germany from 1904 to 1908, genocide was committed against them, with 90,000 or 70,000 Herero people dying. After this, France killed 1.5 to 1.8 million people in Algeria from 1830 to 1962, meaning they were murdered without reason. When locals fought for freedom, many died from starvation, and poverty led to famine in some areas. During work, when people would leave due to illness or hunger, others were forced to take their places. At times, diseases spread in many areas, such as smallpox and measles, causing people to die. In terms of count, millions died from smallpox and measles. The reason was that African people had no treatment for such diseases.The question also arises whether African people did anything for their freedom. The answer is yes, they did everything that every human should do for their country and their people. Wars were fought and victories were achieved, such as after World War II in the 20th century: in the 1940s and 1950s, independence movements started. Under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, Algeria gained its independence from France in 1962, and in South Africa, they freed themselves from apartheid from 1948 to 1994. The original meaning of apartheid is to create "separation" or "racial discrimination" among people. It refers to a policy or system in which people are separated based on their race, color, or ethnicity, and are treated differently. This term is particularly associated with the system in South Africa that lasted from 1948 to 1994, where there was strict discrimination between white and black people, and against this."Nelson Mandela also fought and in 1994 received freedom. Some brave leaders like Julius Nyerere (Tanzania) and Kwame Nkrumah worked for African unity. Today's Africa is still plagued by poverty, civil wars, and corruption, and there are still some heroes who are fighting for their rights and their people's freedom. Many heroes have sacrificed their lives for their people and fought for their freedom, which should not be forgotten. Africa, with 54 countries, is a major player in the UN and is participating in climate change and trade. If these heroes had not fought for their people's freedom, today these 54 countries would not exist, which is a significant matter. This was oppression and a small means of slavery that I have written about. Now we come to the question of what this colonialism is and what name does this affliction have. Was it solely France's hand in this or the whole of Europe’s? If I say that only France's hand was involved in colonialism, then that is incorrect; the whole of Europe was involved. So let's talk a bit about colonialism and its historical role.
Historical Timeline of French Colonialism in Africa17th Century
France took its first step in Africa through small trading posts established in places like Senegal.
In the 1650s, this marked the beginning of the slave trade and commerce. In the 1930s, France invaded Algeria, which was its first major undertaking to create an African colony. This was a turning point in French colonialism. From the 1880s to the 1900s, during the scramble for Africa, France expanded its colonies in West and Central Africa, and during the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, Africa was divided among Europe powers, with France receiving a large portion, including Guinea, Ivory Coast, Chad, and Gabon. Let's go in a bit more detail about the role of the French here, but we need to understand what 'Fea' is.
In fact, 'Fea' refers to French Equatorial Africa. French Equatorial Africa was a colonial federation by France that was established in 1910 and included four territories: Gabon, Middle Congo, now the Republic of Congo, and Ubangi-Shari, now the Central African Republic. This federation ended in 1958 when these regions began to move towards independence. France administered these areas together."But each region had its own administrative structure. Guinea and Ivory Coast were not part of French Equatorial Africa; both these regions were part of French West Africa, which was a separate colonial federation of France. French West Africa included Guinea, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania. West Africa and French Equatorial Africa had two different administrative structures, and each country had its own characteristics. French West Africa gained independence in 1958.
During the French colonial period, Guinea faced economic exploitation, especially in the agriculture and minerals sectors, while Ivory Coast was part of French West Africa and gained independence in 1960. Yamoussoukro, formerly Abidjan, was economically important for France because it was a major center for the production of cocoa and coffee. French Equatorial Africa fought for its independence in 1960 as well, and Djibouti and Chad were considered underdeveloped regions but had strategic importance for France due to their geographical position. They also gained independence in 1960. Well, there are countries and regions like this elsewhere.
"Those who have achieved freedom through their own struggle show us that these people have faced many difficulties for their rights and freedom, and because of many sacrifices, they are now free and have their own state. It is only because of this possibility that all this happened. The more you delve into it, the more you will find, because the countries of Europe took control of all of Africa, whether East, West, South, or North, solely for their own benefit in order to exploit or steal. This is like someone breaking into your house despite your refusal, causing trouble for your family and stealing all necessary things. What would you do in that situation? You would fight to protect your family to ensure they are not harmed, no matter where you go. This is the same; it's just a difference in perspective.
"But this is also something to think about: Did the people of Africa feel the impact of the countries that gained independence from Europe? The answer is yes, the impact is still there. Just as after World War II, the colonial system weakened, today all these countries are free; despite this, France’s influence and power can still be seen in their economic and political systems, especially in Francophone countries. But brother, where is Ibrahim Traore in this? And what is his role in today’s era? This is a brief yet very important history of Ibrahim Traore.
Who is Ibrahim Traoré and why is he doing this? What benefits will he gain from it?
Ibrahim Traore was born on March 14, 1988, in the Bondokuy area of Burkina Faso, which is a small village. Ibrahim Traore received his early education in his village and then studied at a secondary school in Bobo Dioulasso, the second largest city in Burkina Faso. In 2006, he obtained his degree in Ouagadougou.Ibrahim Traore has obtained a degree in geology from Joseph Zerbo University."He passed there with his Honors and now let's move towards a military career.
In 2009, he joined the military of Burkina Faso and received his training from the Georges Namoano Military Academy. After becoming a lieutenant in 2014, he joined the peacekeeping force MINUSMA in Mali's jungles. In 2018, his bravery was recognized during the rebel attacks in the Tombouctou region, and in 2020 he was promoted to captain. He participated in operations against jihadist insurgency in the northern part of his country, such as the Djibo and Otapuanu offensive, which escalated in 2019. At the beginning of 2022, Ibrahim Traore led a coup alongside Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, which ousted President Roch Marc Kaboré; at that time, he was the head of the artillery regiment. Ibrahim Traore distanced himself from his colonial master France and promoted Pan-Africanism.
He helped establish the Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Mali and Niger. He nationalized gold mines and initiated a gold refinery to utilize the country's resources for its own benefit.
He rejected loans from the IMF and World Bank.
He initiated mobilization against jihadist insurgency and strengthened the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland. Now let's understand what this means.
Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland VDP
"In fact, there is a governmental organization within Burkina Faso in Africa, which was established after the apocalypse in 2020. Its main purpose was to arm and train the local population against terrorists and militants in their rural areas to protect their regions. VDP workers receive 14 days of training where they learn the use of firearms, human rights, and discipline. These individuals work for the protection of their villages and provide information in collaboration with security forces, or respond to opposing attacks. This organization serves as auxiliary support for Burkina Faso's security forces since the military there is facing a shortage of resources and manpower. Anyway, this is a small group known as Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP). Now, let's talk about Ibrahim Traore. His anti-imperialist stance and the comparison to the famous revolutionary Thomas Sankara are increasing his popularity, especially among the youth. On January 7, 2025, at the inauguration of the president of the GANA, he received the most applause, and Ibrahim Traore's passion for his people remains strong. However, there have been some individuals who have propagated allegations against Ibrahim Traore, but all these allegations and propaganda are failing before him. So far, there is little information about Ibrahim Traore's family, but in the region, Ibrahim Traore is a Muslim and belongs to the Mossi tribe. This is the matter of Ibrahim Traore's life. But what is his mission? Essentially, Ibrahim's goal is to advance his people and move his country forward; strengthening the economy is Ibrahim Traore's primary objective, and instilling awareness among his people is truly his goal. Let's understand this deeply."
The Mission of Ibrahim Traoré
Mission 1 Ibrahim Traore, who is the transitional president of Burkina Faso, aims to free Africa from the influence of colonial powers and to create a strong, self-reliant, and united continent. Ibrahim Traore's focus is that African countries control their own resources, economy, and destiny."
Mission 2 Anti-Colonialism and Sovereignty
Ibrahim Traore's greatest goal is to free Burkina Faso and Africa from western, particularly French control. He closed French military bases, expelled the French ambassador, and imposed bans on western media outlets like Radio France International and Voice of America. Ibrahim Traore believes that Africa should reclaim its political and economic freedom. This is a vision that represents a direct fight against colonial history."
Mission 3: Our own people should get work, not foreign people, and make our own currency."
Ibrahim Traore's goal is that his own people get work instead of foreign people.
Ibrahim Traore's plan is for Africa to take control of its resources and create a western financial system like the CFA; this is an essential part of economic independence.
Mission 4 Pan-African Unity
To bring together African countries and people politically, economically, and socially in order to achieve common goals, to free them from the effects of colonialism and neo-colonialism, and to ensure the political and economic independence of African countries, such as reducing poverty and unemployment through economic development, trade infrastructure, and economic integration, recognizing cultural identity, strengthening African culture, history, and heritage, establishing a strong African identity, and increasing the political and economic influence of African countries together in the world."
Mission 5 Anti-Insurgency
Burkina Faso is struggling with attacks from jihadi groups, and Ibrahim Traore has pledged to resolve this issue. He has implemented a general mobilization in which civilians have also been given arms training. However, the security situation is still difficult, and human rights groups claim that Burkinabe forces have caused civilian casualties; this is a challenging part of their mission."
"I kept writing to for 3 or 4 days, which is also my duty, but the more I wrote, the more I moved forward; there is no doubt about it. When writing, you get distracted; I don't know if that has happened to you, but it has happened to me. The feeling you get while writing is something different. Anyway, today Ibrahim Traore is a hero that the youth knows and wants to emulate. Today, Ibrahim Traore is being discussed all over Facebook, Instagram, and the entire internet; he is considered a hero across African countries, even like family. If you want to see real heroes, they are right in front of you. Real heroes raise their voices for their people and their countries. "In the film we see that Iron Man, Superman, Batman, etc., are only found in movies. But if you want to see the real heroes, they are Ibrahim, who has left everything behind, including his family, and is working only for his country and African countries. And then there is Nelson Mandela, who spent so many years of his life in jail without any reason, yet still raised his voice for his people—not just for black people, but also for white people. There are many such real heroes that we don't know about yet. But our misunderstanding is that we don't want to learn about them. We are busy in our lives and don’t even know what our purpose is."And the question also arises whether Ibrahim Traore is killed like a villain or wants to sacrifice himself for his people like a hero?
If you look at history, those who raised their voice for their country or their people have often been betrayed, killed, or labeled as spies, such as Patrice Lumumba (Democratic Republic of Congo). Lumumba fought for Congo's independence in 1960. He became the first prime minister, but the Belgian and Western powers saw him as a threat and conspired to kill him on January 17, 1961. He sacrificed his life for freedom. Amilcar Cabral (Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde) fought against Portuguese colonial rule and founded the African Party for Independence (PAIGC). He was killed by his own comrade on January 20, 1973, but because of him, independence was achieved in 1974. "Sylvanus Olympio Togo) Olympio Togo) Olympio worked for the independence of Togo and became the first president in 1960. He was assassinated on January 13, 1963, due to his opposition to foreign influence. After him, Eduardo Mondlane emerged in Mozambique. Mondlane led FRELIMO (Front for the Liberation of Mozambique) and fought against the Portuguese, but he was killed on February 3, 1969, by a parcel bomb. However, because of his efforts, Mozambique gained independence in 1975. Then came Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso). Sankara was actually referred to as Che Guevara of Africa; he fought against corruption and colonial influence from 1983 to 1987. On October 15, 1987, he was assassinated by his friend Blaise Compaoré. Nevertheless, his vision still persists among the African people."Dedan Kimathi of Kenya raised his voice against British rule and led the Mau Mau movement. But the same thing happened that has been happening for centuries; on February 18, 1957, the British executed him. However, his martyrdom became the foundation for Kenya's independence in 1963.
Samora Machel (Mozambique) fought in the freedom struggle with FRELIMO. After that, he became president in 1975, and on October 19, 1986, his plane crashed in South Africa, and he died. This could be an accident or a conspiracy. I have already said that those who fight for their country or their people are remembered. However, there are many such heroes about whom we do not know, and the sad thing is that we do not want to find out. But such heroes are remembered in the hearts, even if their names are not in the books. It doesn't matter; the sacrifices of these heroes have inspired today’s generation. However, their names often appear less in history books, and this is a sad thing
By the way, some famous person said
We went into Iraq, toppled Saddam like it was nothing, and now look at the mess we left behind
Another famous person has also said this.
A true warrior fights not for hatred, but for justice and truth.
Someone else has also written that
The punishment for treachery is given to those who cut the roots of the nation and strengthen the hands of the enemies of faith, even if they are rulers themselves.
Article by abdulhafeez
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