Recently, I noticed one of the most interesting transformations in global geopolitics—and it’s happening in Africa. Ibrahim Traoré, the president of Burkina Faso, at 36 years old, is doing what seemed impossible just a few years ago.

This guy is not just a politician—he’s a geologist and a former artillery officer who has seen it all firsthand. He’s seen terrorism take over the Sahel, witnessed poverty, seen foreign troops everywhere, but nothing changes. And he started asking questions no one wanted to hear: why isn’t billions of aid solving the problems? Why do foreign troops only worsen instability? Why are Africa’s resources enriching everyone except Africans themselves?

In September 2022, Traoré truly made a change. A coup, the overthrow of a pro-Russian president—and now French troops are leaving, colonial military agreements are being terminated. It was bold. Western media and NGOs began to restrict, and President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso opened the doors to Russia, China, and Iran.

What’s next? Gazprom is helping develop the first oil fields, China is investing in infrastructure—without military bases or occupation. Burkina Faso has stopped asking; now it’s negotiating on equal footing. It’s a completely different approach.

I think many underestimate what’s happening here. This isn’t just a change of allies—it’s a change of model. Ibrahim Traoré shows that independence is possible, even if the whole world is against it. And this inspires the entire continent. When the president of Burkina Faso says “Burkina Faso must be free”—he’s not just speaking words, he’s taking action.

I believe that in the coming years, we will see this process spread further. A new Africa is truly rising, and President Ibrahim Traoré is leading this movement. This is one of the most significant geopolitical transformations of our time.