Was Ibrahim Traore removed from power?

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Amarachi Onwuzulike

Claim: An X user claims that Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso’s military leader, has been removed from power.

Verdict: False. There is no evidence from credible news outlets or official statements to indicate that Traore has been removed. Recent events confirm he continues to carry out his duties as president and Head of State.

Full Text

Burkina Faso, which had operated under a democratic system for several years, experienced a major political shift in 2022 following a military takeover.

In September 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power after overthrowing interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, effectively placing the country under military rule.

Since assuming office, Traore’s leadership has been marked by several controversies, including insecurity stemming from jihadist attacks, strained relations with Western allies, and a growing influence of military governance over state affairs.

Amid these, an X user, @abdullahayofel, claimed Traore has been removed from power.

The post shared with a photograph of Traore reads, “BREAKING: Ibrahim Traore removed Obidiot eyes go blur.”

As of Dec. 17, 2025, the post had generated 482,000 views, 2,000 likes, 349 comments, 118 reposts, and 125 bookmarks.

There were different reactions in the comment section. Some users like @agboola_muraine expressed disbelief, asking, “Sha bi they said na him be the best president the country has ever produced? Why now?”

Others, such as @ogbeniAdugbo, appeared inquisitive, commenting, “Is this true? Are you serious?”

Meanwhile, several other users, including @fanyamambo254, dismissed the claim, stating, “This is a lie.”

Given the post’s engagement and its potential to mislead, DUBAWA decided to investigate the claim.

Verification

DUBAWA conducted a keyword search to determine whether Traore had been removed from power. Our checks found no evidence to support the claim.

No credible international or regional news outlets reported any change in leadership, and there has been no official announcement, military statement, or government communication indicating that Traoré was removed.

We also reviewed Traore’s official X account and found no indication that he had been removed from office.

His profile bio continues to list him as President of Burkina Faso and Head of State, confirming his ongoing leadership role.

The claim, made on Dec. 8, 2025, is contradicted by subsequent events, which confirm that Traore has continued to perform his public duties.

For instance, on Dec. 10, 2025, he received the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.

On the same day, he also handed over more than 200 pieces of heavy machinery to the Presidential Initiative Faso Mebo and the Military Engineering Corps to accelerate road construction and national development projects.

Also, Traore continues to be recognised in recent reports and official communications as the country’s interim president.