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Claim: A Facebook page, Sierra Gist TV, claimed that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has issued an arrest warrant for Burkina Faso’s transitional President, Ibrahim Traore.
Verdict: False! AFRICOM has no legal authority to issue an arrest warrant, and no credible source has confirmed such an action.
Full Text
On April 24, 2025, a viral post shared on Facebook by “Sierra Gist TV” claimed that the current Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Michael E. Langley, had issued an arrest warrant for Burkina Faso’s transitional President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The post further alleged that Captain Ibrahim Traoré was using his country’s gold reserve to protect himself, rather than enriching the country.
The post did not cite any official statement, news report, or verifiable source, yet it quickly garnered widespread significant attention on social media. This claim has since sparked controversy, with some users criticising Commander Langley’s actions. Other users also question its authenticity, with some sharing it on similar pages. This has triggered massive debate among users who are uncertain about its authenticity.
In addition, when the original claim was posted on “The Shukubly,” another Facebook platform, it sparked intense controversy among users, many of whom questioned the post’s credibility and demanded sources. Screenshots of this user’s scepticism are attached below.
Given the implications of such a warrant for international diplomacy, West African Regional stability, and U.S.–Africa relations, DUBAWA decided to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Verification
To assess the validity of this claim, DUBAWA reviewed the official AFRICOM website and found no official statement or press release confirming an arrest warrant against Ibrahim Traoré. As of publication, no statement, press release, media advisory, or publication referenced any warrant or legal pursuit against Captain Ibrahim Traore. The entire archive of the AFRICOM site confirms this silence.
AFRICOM is a U.S. Department of Defence military command tasked with military operations and security cooperation in Africa. It is not a law enforcement body and lacks legal jurisdiction to issue arrest warrants, especially against sovereign foreign leaders. AFRICOM’s operations are bound by statutory and constitutional oversight, particularly under Titles 10 and 50 of the United States Code. Accordingly, the ICC allows for the issuance of arrest warrants against heads of state, which typically fall under the jurisdiction of international judicial bodies, such as the ICC itself or domestic courts operating within established diplomatic and legal frameworks.
DUBAWA conducted cross-checks on reputable global news platforms such as BBC, CNN, REUTERS, and ALJAZEERA. None of these mainstream media outlets reported anything resembling the claim. The total absence of coverage on such a significant geopolitical development strongly indicates that the claim is false.
Conclusion
There is no evidence to support the claim that AFRICOM has issued an arrest warrant for Burkina Faso’s Transitional President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. AFRICOM does not have the legal authority to issue such warrants, and it does not advertise them on its official website. Therefore, since the claim lacks official backing and has not been reported by any credible global news source, the post is false.
