00:00Captain Ibrahim Traore has now led Burkina Faso for four years, the same length of time
00:06Thomas Sankara was in power. Both came to power as young, red barrettes-wearing army captains,
00:12promising national sovereignty, pan-Africanism and greater economic independence. Sankara,
00:20who seized power in 1983, launched what he called a democratic and popular revolution,
00:26promising education, women's empowerment, self-reliance and local production. He was
00:33assassinated in 1987. Nearly four decades later, Traore says he is carrying Sankara's torch forward,
00:41but under very different conditions. His government has nationalized gold mines, promoted local
00:47industries and launched Faso Mebo, a major infrastructure program aimed at building roads
00:53and developing cities using local resources. But the biggest difference is security. Burkina Faso
01:00remains under pressure from jihadist groups, with large parts of the country affected by violence
01:05and some towns facing blockades. Traore has moved away from former colonial power France,
01:11strengthening ties with Russia and joining Mali and Niger in a new regional confederation.
