Burkina Faso: How Ibrahim Traoré has transformed the country in four years
September 30, 2026, marks a historic turning point: four years after coming to power, Captain Ibrahim Traoré can take stock of a profound transformation of Burkina Faso. “In 4 years, the country is doing better,” declared the President of Faso on September 27, 2026, listing tangible advances in security, the economy, and national sovereignty.
The security record is unequivocal: 74.53% of the national territory is now under the control of the Defense and Security Forces, compared with less than 60% in 2022. Entire localities have been recaptured, allowing displaced populations to return and economic activities to resume.
The strengthening of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) and cooperation within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) were decisive in this dynamic.
On the economic front, the indicators are green. Thanks to the Patriotic Support Fund (FSP), nearly 500 billion CFA francs were mobilized between 2023 and 2025 to finance structuring projects.
The nationalization of five gold mines and the creation of the National Mining Resources Exploitation Company (SONASP) made it possible to repatriate substantial revenues, contributing to the repayment of more than 2 billion dollars of external debt.
The growth of public revenue and the fight against fraud have cleaned up the business environment.
Roads have been rehabilitated, bridges built, and schools and health facilities developed in several localities.
The Faso Mêbo program, the revival of industrial production, and the development of local value chains (cotton, tomato, textile) reflect a desire for endogenous development. In the commune of Yargo, for example, populations welcome the normalization of primary schools, high schools, and the construction of new health centers.
The break with the former colonial power, the rapprochement with Russia, and strengthened engagement within the AES have redefined the place of Burkina Faso on the international stage.
At the UN, on September 28, 2026, the country asserted its “profound transformation” guided by a revolutionary vision.
Cédric KABORE
