Friday, May 2, 2025 — WafricNews

In Lagos, Kehinde Sanni, a local auto body repairman, has never set foot outside Nigeria. Yet, he speaks of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the military leader of Burkina Faso, with admiration. "Nigeria needs someone like Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso. He’s doing well for his country," Sanni remarked.

Sanni's sentiments echo a growing trend among Nigerians, influenced by a surge of viral videos, memes, and social media posts that portray Traoré as a bold reformer challenging Western powers and restoring his nation's dignity. These narratives often lack verifiable evidence and are part of a broader disinformation campaign.

Traoré's ascent to power in September 2022, following a coup amid rising anti-French sentiments in the Sahel region, has garnered support from neighboring countries like Mali and Niger. These nations have distanced themselves from France, opting instead for closer ties with Russia. In March, the foreign ministers of these three countries convened in Moscow, marking the inaugural talks of their newly-formed Alliance of Sahel States.

While some critics accuse Traoré's government of suppressing freedom of expression, others on social media elevate him as a symbol of resistance. Nigerian actress and politician Hilda Dokubo lauded Traoré, stating, "Ibrahim Traoré is all the proof Nigerians need to know that a country takes the shape of its leadership."

Experts caution that this admiration poses risks to Nigeria's national security and democratic stability. Malik Samuel, a senior researcher at Good Governance Africa, warns that such sentiments normalize military intervention as a political solution and invite foreign ideological interference.

The allure of Traoré's leadership resonates with Nigerians grappling with economic hardships. Claims that he is transforming Burkina Faso into an economic powerhouse find a receptive audience. Analyst Ikemesit Effiong notes that Traoré's appeal is bolstered by his youth, defiance, and openness to Russian cooperation, particularly through security outfits linked to the Wagner Group, now rebranded as the Africa Corps.

However, many of the narratives circulating online are misleading. For instance, a video purportedly showcasing a massive low-cost high-rise residential block built under Traoré's leadership was debunked; the construction site was actually in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria. Similarly, a video from Ivory Coast falsely claimed that Traoré had announced a drop in cement prices during an inauguration.

Analysts suggest that these disinformation campaigns are part of a broader Russian strategy in Africa, leveraging social media to influence public opinion, bolster the image of military regimes, and portray Moscow as a more respectful alternative to Western powers. Philip Obaji, a Nigerian journalist, indicates that such content is often produced by Russian propaganda units and disseminated through intermediaries to influencers for online dissemination.

Since the last coup in the region in July 2023 in Niger, Russian flags have become fixtures at pro-junta rallies. At least 90 people flying the same flag were arrested in northern Nigeria during a protest against economic hardship in August 2024.

Contrary to the stable and thriving image portrayed online, Burkina Faso is entangled in a spiral of violence stemming from neighboring Mali and Niger. Since 2015, regular attacks by armed jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have claimed tens of thousands of lives. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 ranks Burkina Faso as the country most impacted by terrorism for the second consecutive year.

Dissenting voices, including journalists, have been silenced, detained, or abducted in the name of combating jihadists. Maixent Some, an exiled Burkinabe financial analyst monitoring Africa-linked disinformation on social media, criticized Traoré's leadership and was declared wanted by the junta in April.

As disinformation continues to shape perceptions, the true state of affairs in Burkina Faso remains obscured, leaving Nigerians to navigate a complex web of narratives influenced by external forces.



By WafricNews Desk.