Ibrahim Traore Says There Can Only Be One Leader in Military Government
Burkina Faso’s military leader Ibrahim Traore has moved to silence rumours of internal divisions within his government, warning that he will remain the country’s sole leader.
Speaking to community leaders in Ouahigouya in northern Burkina Faso, Traore said: “There can’t be two captains on one ship,” in an apparent message to anyone challenging his authority.
Rumours Grow Over Missing Officials
Speculation of a power struggle has increased following the prolonged absence of two senior figures in the military government, which took power after a coup in September 2022.
Traore’s deputy, Oumarou Yabre, is considered one of the most influential figures in Burkina Faso’s security system.
A security official said Yabre had stopped reporting to his office at the National Intelligence Agency and that security protection at his residence had been significantly reduced.
Senior Commander Also Reportedly Missing
Another key figure, Farouk Azaria Sorgho, commander of the powerful Rapid Intervention Battalion, has also not appeared publicly since mid-May.
Sorgho has played a major role in government efforts to tackle corruption and punish officials accused of financial misconduct.
Security officials claim he was “abducted” by individuals linked to Traore, although authorities have not confirmed the allegations.
Neither Yabre nor Sorgho has been seen in public for weeks, increasing speculation about possible tensions within the military leadership.
Traore Issues Warning to Potential Challengers
Traore, 38, warned that he would not tolerate anyone undermining his leadership.
“Everyone who works with me knows how I operate,” he said, adding that anyone who goes against his mission would face consequences.
The military leader insisted that all officials around him were working towards the same objectives and dismissed the idea of powerful figures operating independently within his government.
Security Tightens in Capital
Meanwhile, security operations have increased in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, over the past two months.
Residents say several roads that had been closed for years have reopened to redirect traffic away from the presidential palace, where additional security checkpoints have been established.
The developments come as Burkina Faso continues battling armed groups and political instability following successive military takeovers in the region.
