Sitha Maliwa
Many believe the protests against Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré, held in Paris this week, were not a spontaneous act of dissent, but rather a coordinated attempt backed or staged by France to undermine a leader increasingly seen as a threat to Western influence in West Africa.
In footage that quickly went viral, hundreds of demonstrators, allegedly from the Burkinabè diaspora, marched through the streets of Paris calling for Traoré’s resignation and arrest. Clad in red ribbons symbolising resistance and holding placards denouncing authoritarianism, the protesters accused the 36-year-old leader of clinging to power through undemocratic means. But behind the chants and signs, many in Africa and beyond are raising a critical question: Who is really behind this protest – and why now?
The timing and location of the protest have fuelled widespread speculation across social media and Pan-African networks. Critics argue that the demonstrations bear the hallmarks of foreign orchestration, specifically by France, Burkina Faso’s former colonial ruler, with a long history of interference in the region.
“France has lost military, economic, and political ground in Burkina Faso under Traoré’s leadership,” said Abdoul Karim Kaboré, a Pan-African activist based in Bamako. “These protests look less like a grassroots movement and more like a desperate strategy to destabilise a sovereign nation asserting its independence.”
Traoré, who took power in 2022 following a coup, has positioned himself as a symbol of African sovereignty. He has pushed out French troops, criticised foreign NGOs, and shifted alliances toward regional partners and non-Western powers. For many, that bold stance is exactly why he’s now facing public backlash, manufactured or not.
While some demonstrators in Paris may genuinely oppose Traoré’s leadership, especially following his proposed extension of power until 2029, others within the Burkinabè diaspora and across Africa are not convinced of the protest’s authenticity.
Online, hashtags like #FranceHandsOffBurkina and #TraoréResiste have trended alongside footage of the protest, with many calling it a “puppet show” orchestrated to discredit a leader who has challenged the status quo.
“There are legitimate criticisms to be made of any leader,” said Mariam Zongo, a Burkinabè journalist. “But it’s also naive to ignore the geopolitical context. Whenever a leader tries to break away from Western control, there’s always a sudden ‘grassroots protest’ in Europe. We’ve seen this pattern before.”
The president remains a polarising figure. To his supporters, he’s a revolutionary voice of the new Africa, young, fearless, and defiant of neocolonialism. To his critics, he’s a military strongman consolidating power while using anti-Western rhetoric as a smokescreen.
Still, even among those who are skeptical of his rule, there is discomfort with the idea of Franceor any external actor, playing a role in determining Burkina Faso’s political future.
“Real democracy cannot be shaped in the streets of Paris under foreign banners,” Zongo added. “It must be decided by the people living in Burkina Faso, on Burkinabè soil.”
The unfolding situation in Paris echoes recent unrest and regime changes in Mali, Niger, and Guinea – countries that have also distanced themselves from French influence, only to face international criticism and pressure shortly after.
As Burkina Faso forges a new path under Traoré, the Paris protests, regardless of their authenticity, highlight a deeper struggle: one between African self-determination and the lingering grip of foreign powers.
Whether the protest was an organic act of diaspora dissent or a strategic display meant to sway public opinion, one thing is clear: Traoré’s leadership is not only reshaping Burkina Faso but also challenging the very architecture of post-colonial influence in Africa. – @NewsSA_Online
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