PRESIDENT TRAORE TELLS STUDENTS TO STUDY SCIENCE

From 9-11 May 2025, President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso visited Moscow, Russia, for the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over N*zi Germany. While in Moscow, President Traoré met with Burkinabé and other African students completing their degrees in Russia. For Traoré, this was the perfect opportunity to encourage the students to increase their scientific knowledge and bring skills back to Burkina Faso that will further the country's security and defence.

In this video, Traoré explains that Burkina Faso lacks certain chemicals necessary to transform cotton into gunpowder and explosives. It is no secret that the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation, which Burkina Faso belongs to, is seeking to develop a local weapons industry. Traore's fellow AES President Assimi Goïta declared in January,

"The process of equipping the armed and security forces will be perfected in 2025 with the establishment of a military industry. We are actively working on the installation of the armaments factory with units for the assembly of individual and collective weapons, the assembly of light tactical vehicles, and the manufacture of ammunition and explosives for civilian use."

It is clear that the AES presidents want to become more self-sufficient in their capacity to defend the region.

Video Credit: Viory