Image of Ibrahim Traore: Source: Reuters
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Claim: A Facebook user, Grace Harriet Konyen, claimed that the International Criminal Police Organisation INTERPOL had issued an arrest warrant for Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Verdict: False. A check on INTERPOL’s official X account shows no such announcement, and DUBAWA’s findings reveal that INTERPOL cannot issue arrest warrants but only “Red Notices.”
Full Text
In recent months, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has attracted significant attention across social media platforms. Barely two years after seizing power, he has established himself as a dominant figure. His rising popularity has been fueled by a deliberate publicity campaign that portrays him as an “African saviour.”
However, this reputation is questionable, as many of the stories surrounding him appear fabricated. DUBAWA has previously conducted multiple fact-checks, as documented here, here, here, and here, and published in-depth reports that expose these misleading narratives.
One of the most recent examples emerged on Sept. 6, 2025, when a Facebook user, Grace Harriet Konyen, claimed that INTERPOL had issued an arrest warrant for Burkina Faso’s President, Ibrahim Traoré. The post contained a nine-minute video with the caption: “INTERPOL Issues Arr£st Warrant for Ibrahim Traoré – But It Instantly Backfir£s…The EU are doing Everything possible to take down Captain Ibrahim Traore…”
By Sept. 12, 2025, the post had gone viral, generating over 134,000 views, 7,800 likes, and 1,100 comments. The majority of reactions dismissed the idea of an arrest and instead expressed strong support for Traoré.
For instance, Zee Mkhaliphi commented, “Salute my President! They think they’re smart. Africa shall not bow.”
Another user, SanJo LovingLife Brooks, wrote, “Behind President Traore because he’s the truth and nothing but the truth. God is so good! And may he continue to bless and keep you safe, Amen.” Similarly, Beenzu Haakantu added, “No sense arresting him for what. Long live Ibrahim, the best African president.”
This is not the first time such claims have circulated online. In May, DUBAWA fact-checked a similar allegation that General Michael E. Langley, the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), had issued an arrest warrant for Traoré. That report turned out to be false.
DUBAWA decided to fact-check the Sept. 6, 2025, claim because Traoré is a controversial figure, and his arrest claims could potentially trigger tension.
Verification
We went through INTERPOL’s official X handle (@INTERPOL_HQ) and found no such notice. Furthermore, DUBAWA’s findings confirmed that INTERPOL does not issue arrest warrants. Instead, it issues what is known as a “Red Notice,” which serves as a request to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition. Still, it does not carry the legal weight of an arrest warrant.
DUBAWA analysed the nine-minute, 43-second video using Attestiv, an Application that utilizes AI and tamper-proofing technology to verify the authenticity of photos, videos, and documents. The analysis revealed that the video is a 47% deepfake screenshot of the result from Attestiv.
What does Red Notice mean?
According to information published on INTERPOL’s official website, a Red Notice serves as a request to police authorities worldwide to help trace and provisionally detain a person while awaiting extradition, surrender, or related legal procedures. It is not the same as an international arrest warrant.
The notice is issued at the request of a member country or an international tribunal, and each member nation decides, based on its own legal framework, whether or not to act on it. Most Red Notices are circulated strictly for use within law enforcement. However, in cases where public assistance is needed to track down a suspect or when the person is considered a potential threat to public safety, extracts of the notice may be made publicly available.
Conclusion
The viral Facebook post alleging that INTERPOL issued an arrest warrant for Captain Ibrahim Traoré is false. Verification shows that no such warrant exists, and INTERPOL itself does not have the authority to issue arrest warrants; it only circulates Red Notices at the request of member states.
