The Economic Fighters League (EFL), a Pan-Africanist movement in Ghana, has thrown its full support behind Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the transitional leader of Burkina Faso, praising his efforts to dismantle long-standing colonial economic structures and reclaim national sovereignty.
In a passionate appearance on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, EFL’s Commander for Political Education, Amodani Gariba, described Traoré’s leadership as a modern-day revolution, not merely a military takeover.
“We like to think about what is happening in Burkina Faso under Captain Ibrahim Traoré as a revolution… a refreshing break from 60 years of economic control by foreign powers,” Gariba stated.
Gariba drew strong parallels between Burkina Faso’s current direction and the aspirations of Africa’s early post-independence leaders in the 1950s and ’60s, who sought to build truly independent, self-sufficient nations free from colonial domination.
According to the EFL, under Traoré’s leadership, Burkina Faso is transitioning from an “enemy-held zone” to a sovereign economic entity, particularly by challenging French economic influence, which has dominated the country for decades.
“We see him trying to rewrite the rules of economic relations between his country and France, another imperialist power,” Gariba noted.
The EFL commended Traoré’s bold steps to nationalise key sectors, including the country’s gold mining industry, and reinvest resources into local processing and industrial development. These moves, Gariba argued, are in line with the broader Pan-African goal of economic self-reliance and liberation from neo-colonial dependency.
“We are seeing him trying to nationalise mines and go into industrialization, all in line with our goal of Economic Freedom for Africa,” he said.
For the EFL, Traoré’s policies represent a significant and symbolic shift away from agreements signed post-independence that often ceded large portions of economic control to former colonial powers, especially France.
Gariba’s comments highlight a growing sentiment among Pan-Africanist thinkers and organisations that Africa’s political independence must be matched by economic liberation. He described Burkina Faso as a “contested zone,” where revolutionary change is being fought for in real-time.
“To us, this is refreshing. What he is doing in the long term is going to enure to the economic freedom of Burkina Faso.” Gariba said.
As political watchers continue to observe developments in Burkina Faso, the EFL’s vocal support adds another dimension to the Pan-African discourse around sovereignty, decolonisation, and economic justice on the continent.
