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ANALYSIS: With Traore, Burkina Faso can get governance right, achieve developmental aspirations

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Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré

The challenge will be translating Burkina Faso’s rich mineral resources and promising economy into stability and development.

At 36, Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré is the world’s youngest president, in stark contrast to Africa’s average leader age of 63. He took office in September 2022 after overthrowing Paul-Henri Damiba, who had ousted former president Roch Kaboré earlier that year.

The foundations of the country’s coup administration have been rocky. Last week, the military government survived another apparent coup attempt; one among several since Mr Traoré, an army captain, came to power.

In his inaugural statement, Mr Traoré said Burkina Faso faced an emergency, citing crises in security, defence, healthcare, social action and infrastructure. He pledged to combat terrorism and adhere to the transition timetable agreed with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which aimed to restore democratic rule by 1 July 2024.

However, Burkina Faso has since withdrawn from ECOWAS, forming instead the Alliance of Sahel States with Mali and Niger – countries also run by post-coup administrations. Under Burkina Faso’s new transition plan, Mr Traoré may remain in his position until at least 2029.

His popularity has soared since his ascension to power. At President John Mahama’s inauguration in Ghana on 7 January, Mr Traoré received the loudest applause of all 21 African heads of state. This showed not only his popularity but the trend of tolerance for military rule in Africa, especially among the youth.

Afrobarometer reports that almost two-thirds of Burkinabé believe the army should intervene when leaders abuse their power. Likewise, 66 per cent accept military rule, up from 24 per cent in 2012. The fact that the survey was conducted at a time when the country was under military rule portrays a general acceptance of the regime.

However, Mr Traoré’s popularity goes beyond acceptance of military rule. He has embarked on radical reforms that resonate with many Burkinabé. These include reversing his predecessor’s salary increase for government officials while he remainson his military captain earnings.

As part of efforts to take ownership of mineral resources, Mr Traoré has nationalised two gold mines and stopped exporting unrefined gold to Europe, instead inaugurating a national gold refinery expected to process 150 tonnes annually.

Other significant achievements include establishing the National Support Center for Artisanal Cotton Processing, building a new airport, and considerable agricultural investment.

While these are noble attempts to industrialise Burkina Faso, the country must not fall into the usual traps of inefficiencies, corruption and mismanagement that characterise most African state-owned enterprises.

Further, Mr Traoré has rejected financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, insisting the country can develop without the West’s loans and conditionalities. For some, this is a demonstration of Africans handling their own affairs. For the youth, Mr Traoré’s regime is a chance to show what young people can achieve. But for most ordinary Burkinabé, the priority is simply improving their daily living conditions.

At a time of increasing global uncertainty and a decline in international aid, Africa must strive for self-reliance and control of its resources. Like many African countries, Burkina Faso is blessed with natural resources that, if properly managed, could transform citizens’ lives.

The country has mineral resources and produces substantial quantities of gold, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphate and limestone. It also has reserves of diamonds, bauxite, nickel and vanadium, most of which remain largely unexploited.

The country has made gains. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (in market exchange rate) increased from $3.2 billion in 1990 to $18.3 billion in 2023, and extreme poverty declined from 83 per cent to 27.7 per cent in the same period. But significant challenges remain.

According to the 2023/2024 Human Development Report, Burkina Faso is classified as having low human development and is ranked 185th out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index. Itplaced 149th out of 167 countries on the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Index, and on the Multidimensional Poverty Index, 64.5 per cent of the population is multidimensionally poor.

However, the economy holds significant promise. Recent research by the Institute for Security Studies’ African Futures and Innovation team shows that Burkina Faso’s economy could grow at an average rate of 8 per cent from 2025 to 2043.

This would translate into an additional GDP per capita of $1,120 above a business-as-usual forecast – and reduce income poverty to only 2.6 per cent of the population. This means an extra 2.4 million Burkinabés could be lifted out of poverty by 2043.

The study identified governance reforms as critical to unlocking the country’s development potential. Indeed, good governance could raise GDP per capita by an extra $240 above a business-as-usual forecast, lifting 500,000 additional Burkinabé out of extreme poverty.

For this, Mr Traoré must lead the country in overcoming political instability, violent extremism and weak institutions. Institutional and structural reforms are needed to enhance security, accountability, public sector efficiency and governance inclusion.

The immediate priority is addressing terrorism, which resulted in the loss of about 40 per cent of the country’s territory, undermining the state’s authority and ability to deliver public services, as thousands of schools and health facilities are closed in those areas. The UN Refugee Agency estimates that over two million people are internally displaced, and those needing humanitarian assistance increased by 35 per cent between 2022 and 2023.

Next should be building strong institutions and strengthening existing ones to improve public sector efficiency and combat corruption. Local governments must be empowered with the resources and capacity to implement development programmes tailored to communities’ needs.

In the medium term, the country must transition into constitutional rule to ensure the political stability and legitimacy needed to drive economic growth. This would also enhance investor confidence, allowing Burkina Faso to attract the foreign direct investment needed for its development. The African Union, civil society organisations and development partners should support the 60-month transition plan to ensure a smooth transition to democracy.

This is not the first time such a charismatic figure has emerged on Africa’s political scene. Many revolutionary leaders started the same way but later deviated from the course as they clung to power. In Ghana, 32-year-old Jerry Rawlings, nicknamed ‘Junior Jesus’, emerged in late 1979 in a bloody revolution to fight corruption and sanitise the country’s political system. But after 19 years in power, his legacy was mixed.

With a young, strong, charismatic leader, Burkina Faso has a chance to get its governance right and achieve its developmental aspirations. This could be a lasting legacy for Traoré’s regime.

Enoch Randy Aikins, Researcher, African Futures and Innovation, Institute for Security Studies (ISS)

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

Politics

Lagos LG Poll: You can only seek help from people you vote into power – Desmond Elliot

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The member representing Surulere 1 Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliott, has said it is not fair for individuals to seek government support without contributing to the democratic process through voting.
Elliot made this statement on Saturday shortly after he cast his vote at Onitolo Nusery/ Primary School, Unit 009, in Surulere, Lagos

Ekwutosblog reports that the Lagos State Government is conducting elections for chairmanship and councillorship positions across all 20 local government areas and 37 local development council areas.

“You can’t sit at home and later come to seek help from people who sacrificed to vote others into power,” he said.

The Nollywood star-turned politician described the turnout of the election as slightly low, expressing hope that more voters would show up as the day progressed.

According to him, local government elections should attract more participation than presidential polls due to their direct impact on daily life.

“Development begins at the grassroots level. With powers and revenue now devolved to local governments, this election holds significant importance.

“The outcome of this election will have a direct impact on the lives of citizens, making it crucial for voters to exercise their franchise wisely and elect leaders who will prioritise their needs and drive development in their areas,” he said.

He called for increased public discussion about the responsibilities of local governments, highlighting their critical role in primary healthcare, market management, and maintenance of inner roads.

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Bauchi gov accuses FG of discrimination against opposition-led states

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Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has expressed frustration over what he described as the Federal Government’s alleged discrimination against states governed by opposition parties.

This is as the governor alleged that his state has been sidelined in the distribution of financial interventions and grants.

Speaking at the opening of the State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Bauchi, the governor said, “The Federal Government has a lot of bias against states governed by opposition parties. Some states are receiving preferential treatment.”

The governor called on the Federal Government to adopt a fair and non-partisan approach in handling interventions, insisting that states should not be punished or rewarded based on their political affiliation.

Amid worsening financial challenges, Mohammed also cautioned cabinet members against unnecessary trips to Abuja or foreign countries, stressing the need to cut down the cost of governance.

“We must prudently manage our scarce resources. The financial pressure is high and we can’t afford wasteful spending,” he said.

On politics, the governor issued a stern warning: “It is not yet time for politicking. Let us focus on service delivery. Anyone eager to begin political campaigns should resign.”

He directed his commissioners to submit viable proposals for project execution, stating that unutilized funds would be redirected to sectors that need urgent attention.

“In the next couple of weeks, I’ll initiate a virement process to channel funds where they are most needed. We can’t sit back while critical sectors suffer,” he said.

Governor Bala Mohammed reaffirmed his commitment to delivering impactful governance till the end of his tenure.

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Nigerian senator defects to ADC

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Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe has officially defected from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

She revealed this during a chat with journalists in Abuja, saying her defection to ADC was planned and would soon be celebrated publicly.

Kingibe stated that she now fully belongs to ADC and intends to formally make her move public in a way that reflects her new political direction.

When asked if she was satisfied with the new party and the group she has joined, she said the party is still developing and growing, and she is ready to be part of that growth.

On concerns that her defection could affect her position in the Senate, the lawmaker pointed to the current situation in the Labour Party, claiming it is divided into two separate groups.

She said this division fits the condition that allows a politician to leave a party without losing their seat, based on the Nigerian constitution.

Kingibe explained that even the electoral commission received different sets of results and candidates from the two sides of the party.

She stressed that she would not have left Labour if the party was still united, but since it is now clearly divided, she believed she was free to join another party without breaking any rules.

She made her first appearance with ADC during the public launch of an opposition coalition event held in Abuja on July 2.

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