This Video Does Not Show Burkina Faso's President After the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit
The Claim
A video shows how people receive Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traoré with a euphoric welcome in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, upon his return from Russia.
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Following the Russia-Africa summit, social media users circulated a video purporting to show how people received Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traoré.
A user tweeted, "Nationwide celebration: The leader of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, was greeted by several thousand fellow citizens when he returned from the Russia-Africa summit During the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the leader of Burkina Faso emphasized that his people support Russia's special military operation in Ukraine."
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the widely circulated video and found the claim to be misleading.
A thorough reverse image search revealed the video making the rounds to be older than claimed.
The Video of Ibrahim Traoré’s Warm Welcoming Dates Back to 2022
Contrary to the claim, the video was not shot following the recent Africa-Russia summit.
The video dates back to October 2, 2022, and it shows celebrations in the streets of Ouagadougou at the moment when military leader Ibrahim Traoré assumed power after the military coup that took place in Burkina Faso at that time.
Media outlets published the video in reports about "the new self-proclaimed leader of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, parades in the streets of Ouagadougou."
Burkina Faso's Capt Ibrahim Traoré has emerged as the latest military officer to stage a coup in one of France's former colonies in West Africa. On September 30, he ousted his former comrade, Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba, alleging that Damiba had failed to deliver on his promise of quelling the ongoing Islamist insurgency that has been plaguing Burkina Faso since 2015.
Who Is Captain Ibrahim Traoré?
Born in 1988, the 34-year-old Captain Ibrahim Traoré has become the youngest head of state in Africa. He joins the ranks of two other coup leaders: Guinea's Col Mamady Doumbouya, born in 1981, and Mali's Col Assimi Goïta, born in 1983.
Captain Traoré expressed that he understands that he is younger than most government officials, but the circumstances left them with no choice. With weak democratic institutions and a history of military dominance in Burkina Faso, Captain Traoré took power with a promise to enhance security in a nation gripped by fear due to militants. This marks the second coup in Burkina Faso within nine months and highlights the ongoing challenges faced in the region.
President Ibrahim Traore’s Speech at the Russia-Africa Summit
During the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré accused African leaders of "beggary." He expressed his generation's bewilderment at how Africa, despite its abundant resources, has become the world's poorest continent.
He thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for providing free grain to African countries and emphasized the need for Africa to achieve food self-sufficiency by the next summit.
In response, Senegalese President Macky Sall contested Traore's statement, asserting that African leaders did not come to beg. Instead, they aim for cooperation based on equal conditions between countries, regardless of the location of the summit. Sall highlighted the continent's focus on tackling terrorism and promoting development as their primary tasks for every generation.
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