Career Timeline of Ibrahim Traoré: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ibrahim Traoré made an impact.

Ibrahim Traoré is a Burkinabé military officer and politician serving as the interim President of Burkina Faso since seizing power in a September 2022 coup against Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. At 37, he is among the world's youngest heads of state. Traoré's leadership is marked by efforts to diminish French influence and spearhead the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2009: Joined the Army of Burkina Faso

In 2009, Ibrahim Traoré joined the Army of Burkina Faso and graduated from the Georges-Namoano Military Academy.

2014: Promoted to lieutenant and joined MINUSMA

In 2014, Traoré was promoted to lieutenant and joined MINUSMA, a United Nations peacekeeping force involved in the Mali War.

2019: Fought at Djibo in the Otapuanu offensive

In 2019, Ibrahim Traoré fought at Djibo, in the "Otapuanu offensive", and participated in several other counter-insurgency operations in the country's north.

2019: Founded of the Cobra special forces (disputed)

In 2019, the "Cobra" special forces, a counterterrorist unit, was founded. Whether Ibrahim Traoré was associated with the "Cobra" special forces is disputed.

2020: Promoted to captain

In 2020, Ibrahim Traoré was promoted to captain in the Army of Burkina Faso. During this time, he became disillusioned with the country's leadership due to the lack of equipment for soldiers and alleged bribery among politicians.

January 2022: Supported the Burkina Faso coup d'état

In January 2022, Ibrahim Traoré was part of the group of army officers that supported the Burkina Faso coup d'état, which brought the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration military junta to power.

March 2022: Served as head of an artillery regiment

From March 2022, Ibrahim Traoré served as the head of an artillery regiment in Kaya.

September 2022: Took control of Burkina Faso in a coup d'état

In September 2022, Ibrahim Traoré took control of Burkina Faso in a coup d'état, ousting interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

February 2023: Expelled French forces from Burkina Faso

In February 2023, Ibrahim Traoré's government expelled French forces assisting in fighting the local insurgency. He then declared the nation wanted to "look at other horizons" and supported the diversification of international partnerships, as well as supporting a federation with Mali and Guinea.

April 2023: Declared a "general mobilisation"

In April 2023, Ibrahim Traoré declared a "general mobilisation" of the population to support the military, as rebel forces continued to increase their attacks.

May 2023: Favored the use of his own forces

According to Le Monde newspaper in May 2023, "the Traoré regime seems, for the time being, to be favouring the use of its own forces in the fight against the jihadists" and has not asked Wagner's Russians for help.

July 2023: Expressed support for Russia and decided to reopen the Russian embassy

On 29 July 2023, following the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit, Ibrahim Traoré said that the people of his country support Russia and communicated that a decision had been made to reopen the Russian embassy, which was closed in 1992.

November 2023: Approved construction of the country's first gold refinery

In November 2023, Burkina Faso's Council of Ministers approved the construction of the country's first gold refinery, aiming to capitalize on the nation's growing gold mining industry. The refinery is set to create 100 new jobs and 5000 new indirect jobs, with the refinery producing roughly 400 kg of gold daily.

January 2024: Russian troops deployed in Burkina Faso

In January 2024, Russian troops, including the Wagner Group, were eventually deployed in Burkina Faso.

February 2024: Suspended the issuance of export permits for small-scale private gold production

In February 2024, Ibrahim Traoré ordered the suspension of the issuance of export permits for small-scale private gold production to tackle illicit trade and clean up the artisanal gold sector.

May 2024: Extension of Traoré's mandate

On 25 and 26 May 2024, national consultations were held to discuss the future of the transition in Burkina Faso, resulting in the extension of Traoré's mandate for an additional five years and allowing him to contest the next presidential elections.

July 2024: Initially promised to hold democratic elections

In the direct aftermath of the coup, Traoré was chosen as the new head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration. On 6 October, he also assumed the position of Interim President as "Head of State, Supreme Head of the Armed Forces". He initially promised to hold democratic elections in July 2024.

December 2024: Dissolved his government and removed de Tambèla as prime minister

On 6 December 2024, Ibrahim Traoré dissolved his government and removed de Tambèla as prime minister.

2024: Questioned the planned restoration of democracy

In May 2023, Ibrahim Traoré questioned the planned restoration of democracy for 2024, stating that elections could not be held unless the insurgents were pushed back and the security situation had improved.