Traore, Sankara's legacy and imperialism in West Africa

Since he came to power in September 2022, the leader of Burkina Faso’s military government, Ibrahim Traore, has attracted attention all over the world. Echoing Thomas Sankara, the leader of the Burkinabé Revolution of 1983-87, Traore has used radical anti-imperialist and pan-Africanist rhetoric, calling for a determined struggle for genuine sovereignty and development for the people of Africa.In the Western media, Traore is often portrayed as a brutal dictator, who is rapidly losing control of the situation. However, on social media, you can find a huge amount of support for Traore and his programme. What is the reality?In this talk, Josh Holroyd discuses what has been achieved in Burkina Faso since Traore came to power, and the way forward for the fight against imperialism in West Africa.