And I am closely following a figure who is truly changing the game in African geopolitics: Captain Ibrahim Traoré, president of Burkina Faso at just 36 years old. This guy is literally a disruptor in real time.

What draws attention to Ibrahim Traoré is his background. Geologist by training, former artillery officer, he spent years in the conflict zones in the north of the country. Meanwhile, billions in international aid arrived, but the country kept falling apart. Foreign troops were there, but attacks only increased. The mineral riches? Being drained by foreign companies. That’s when you understand why he started questioning the entire system.

In September 2022, Traoré took a step that few dare to take: led a coup that ousted Paul-Henri Damiba from power. But this was not just a typical political move. It was a clear break with decades of Western domination over Africa. The context was one of widespread insecurity, discredit in the institutions supported by the West, and people seeking something different.

What Ibrahim Traoré did afterward was even bolder. Expelled French armed forces, ended historic military agreements that tied the country, revoked concessions from Western NGOs and media like RFI and France 24. He declared firmly: “Burkina Faso needs to be free.” It was not empty rhetoric.

The shift in foreign policy was radical. Traoré began seeking bilateral partnerships with Russia, China, and Iran. Not agreements that impose subordination, but relationships based on mutual interests. Russian Gazprom is already involved in exploring a newly discovered oil reserve. The plan? Burkina Faso not only extracts but refines and exports the derivatives. This is real economic sovereignty. China invests in infrastructure and technology, without aggressive military presence.

What impresses me about Ibrahim Traoré is his strategic clarity. While many African leaders accept the game of external powers, he is reshaping the rules. This may seem like just African politics, but it has global implications. The reconfiguration of alliances, natural resources, shifts in power — all of this will resonate in markets and in global geopolitics in the coming years.