A day before a large-scale demonstration in support of President Ibrahim Traoré, outspoken pan-African activist and anti-imperialist Kemi Seba issued a fiery statement backing the Burkinabè leader, warning Western powers against any attempt to undermine his government.
In a passionate Facebook post on Tuesday, Seba, the founder of the Urgences Panafricanistes movement, further described Traoré as a symbol of a rising generation of African leaders unwilling to bow to foreign influence.
“Let the Western elite understand this once and for all: whoever attacks one of us attacks all of us,” Seba wrote. “Anyone who wishes harm to our brother Ibrahim Traoré will have to get through us first.”
The statement comes as citizens across Ouagadougou and other Burkinabè cities prepare to take to the streets in a show of solidarity with Traoré, whose presidency has become a focal point for anti-imperialist sentiment in West Africa. Seba’s warning adds a new dimension to the growing regional resistance against what many perceive as continued neocolonial interference, particularly from France and the United States.
“Our generation is united,” Seba declared. “No one will be able to harm one of us without triggering unlimited reactions in response.”
A Symbol of Sovereignty
Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has championed a sovereignty-first agenda, distancing Burkina Faso from former colonial powers and aligning more closely with other Sahelian military governments. His refusal to yield to Western diplomatic pressure and his severing of military ties with France have made him a polarizing figure internationally — but a celebrated one among nationalist and pan-Africanist circles.
The support from Kemi Seba, who has long criticized French influence in its former African colonies, is consistent with a broader ideological alignment. Seba has notably reinterpreted Burkina Faso’s revolutionary motto, declaring:
“The Burkinabè saying ‘La Patrie ou la mort, nous vaincrons’ (Fatherland or death, we shall overcome) is now an African creed: ‘Free Africa or death, we shall overcome.’”
International Scrutiny and Domestic Popularity
The timing of Kemi Seba’s declaration is significant. It follows recent comments by U.S. AFRICOM commander General Michael Langley, who accused Traoré of diverting gold resources to fund private security initiatives. The remarks, which many Africans saw as emblematic of neocolonial arrogance, led to outrage and defiant responses across the region.
“Langley’s comments reflect an enduring mindset that Africa must be supervised and corrected by external powers,” Kingsley Sheteh, a Cameroonian expert in international political economy, said earlier this month. “Such narratives continue to undermine the principle of sovereign equality.”
Meanwhile, Traoré’s government rejected the accusations, framing them as a continuation of imperialist tactics aimed at delegitimising African leadership. Political scientist Dr Emilienne Bih from Yaoundé added:
“African nations are asserting a form of sovereignty that rejects the old patron-client models. External powers must now choose between genuine partnership or increasing irrelevance.”
A Regional Shift
The demonstration planned for Wednesday is not just about Traoré; it signals a wider transformation in West Africa’s political culture. Alongside Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso has formed the Alliance of Sahel States. This is a bloc seeking mutual defence and economic cooperation, largely independent of Western influence.
The growing popular mobilisation and ideological reinforcement from figures like Seba suggest that these movements are not isolated phenomena but part of a coordinated shift in African political consciousness.
“Africa is no longer a passive theatre of global competition,” said Sheteh. “It is an active player demanding a new conversation about power, respect, and future development.”
