Summary
The meteoric rise of Captain Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso has catalyzed the final collapse of French colonial influence across West Africa, triggering an unprecedented economic crisis that is literally shutting down French industry. At just 37 years old, Traoré has orchestrated the most successful anti-colonial revolution of the 21st century, backed by Russia's FSB elite forces and 700 North Korean commandos who protect him from 18 assassination attempts.
His systematic dismantling of French economic control, from nationalizing gold mines to expelling French troops, has cut France off from the $500 billion annual lifeline that kept its economy afloat. The result? French factories are closing at an alarming rate while Burkina Faso's GDP soared from $18.8 billion to $22.1 billion under his leadership.
This is the story of how one young military officer ended 79 years of French monetary colonialism and sent shockwaves through European industry.
Ibrahim Traoré: The Revolutionary Who Changed Everything
Born in rural Kéra in 1988, Ibrahim Traoré witnessed firsthand how French colonial exploitation drained his nation's gold, manganese, and cotton while the CFA franc system funneled wealth directly to Paris. After studying geology at the University of Ouagadougou, he joined the military in 2009, serving with distinction in UN peacekeeping missions in Mali.
But it was September 30, 2022 that changed everything. At just 34, Traoré led a lightning coup against the French-backed government, becoming the world's youngest head of state. His first act? Systematically dismantling every pillar of French control.