Ibrahim Traoré is Burkina Faso's transitional leader who came to power through a military coup in September 2022⁠⁠. Born in 1988, he rose from a rural background to become a military officer, graduating from the University of Ouagadougou in 2009⁠⁠.

Key aspects of his leadership include:

Making security the top priority, particularly fighting jihadist insurgency that has displaced over 2 million people⁠⁠​

Implementing nationalist economic policies, including creating a state-owned mining company and requiring foreign mining firms to give 15% stake to Burkina Faso⁠⁠​

Shifting diplomatic ties away from France towards Russia, including joining a new alliance with Mali and Niger

While initially promising to return to civilian rule by 2024, he extended the transition period by five years in May 2024, citing ongoing security concerns⁠⁠. Despite criticism about democracy, he maintains relatively high approval ratings, especially in rural areas⁠⁠, presenting himself as a revolutionary leader fighting for Burkinabé interests.