Source : Sahel weather May 2025

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This month's headline event in Burkina Faso was the inauguration with great fanfare on 17 May of the Mausoleum marking the "recognition of the political legacy of the revolutionary leader" in homage to Thomas Sankara and his 12 companions. This symbolic date marks the start of the revolution triggered by the arrest of the man nicknamed the African Che Guevara, leader of popular protest and Prime Minister of the People's Salvation Council (CSP) in 1983. The leader of the junta seems to be more interested in strengthening his legitimacy than in rallying young people, and is multiplying references to Sankara in both his speeches and his actions.

The Senegalese Prime Minister celebrating Sankara: The beginnings of military cooperation against terrorism in the Sahel

Under the patronage of Captain Ibrahima Traoré, the ceremony was led by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo in the presence of his Senegalese counterpart who had travelled to attend this historic event. Ousmane Sonko, who never misses an opportunity to reaffirm his admiration for Thomas Sankara, is considered one of the rising figures of pan-Africanism. Taking advantage of the occasion in an interview with the national channel, he spoke of the possibility of collaboration and support for Burkina Faso, because, in his view, "it is illusory to think that the ordeal suffered by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will simply remain within the borders of these countries... no country in the sub-region will be spared by this gangrene, if it continues to spread across West Africa".

This event comes at a time when the country is facing unprecedented security pressure as a result of the persistent terrorist threat, particularly in recent weeks. Since taking office, Ibrahima Traoré has been committed to continuing Sankara's legacy in a context marked by an upsurge in terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso.

Resurgence of terrorist attacks

On the security front, the fight against terrorism has been intensifying in Burkina Faso for several months. This is evidenced by the major seizure of 900 motorbikes and 164 tricycles, as announced by the Ministry of Security on 23 May. According to Mahamadou Sana, this equipment was intended to finance terrorism in West Africa. He was keen to warn individuals who might attempt to take part in terrorist financing operations. Any natural or legal person involved in the financing of terrorism will face the full force of the law". For him, the time has come to crack down.

Meanwhile, the news in Burkina Faso continues to be dominated by the resurgence of terrorist attacks, with all the attendant human and material damage. In the north of the country, in Djibo, terrorist attacks attributed to the Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans (support group for Islam and Muslims) targeted a military base, a police station and the central market on 11 May. These attacks resulted in dozens of deaths and a large number of wounded in the ranks of the army and civilians, as well as volunteers for the defence of the homeland. This tragic act comes at a time when Ibrahim Traoré is visiting his counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow. These tragic events have put the people of Djibo and the surrounding area in a state of even greater fear in the face of the terrorist threat that has been raging in the area for several months. The area has been under a jihadist blockade for a long time. According to ACLED, 26,000 civilians and soldiers have died since the horrific attacks began in 2015. 

This alarming situation calls into question the effectiveness of the security system in the country of men of integrity. One day later, a terrorist attack of rare violence struck the country again. On 12 May in Diapaga (East), security sources reported this jihadist offensive, which caused serious material damage. According to a local resident, "the terrorists set fire to several public and private services before freeing the inmates of the prison and correctional facility". Most of the detainees were accused of terrorism. The attackers also ransacked public monuments and set fire to businesses and shops. It should be remembered that this area was the scene of a similar attack in which dozens of soldiers and civilian auxiliaries of the Burkina Faso army were killed. The authorities are working hard to track down these troublemakers.