₦airaland Forum

‘I’ll take you down without a second thought’ – Burkina Faso’s Traore warns challengers

Ibrahim Traore, the head of Burkina Faso’s military junta, sought last week to stamp out speculation of a power struggle at the highest levels of government, warning he intended to remain the west African country’s only leader.

The prolonged absence of two influential junta figures has fuelled rumours of a tussle within the military government, which came to power in a coup in September 2022.

“There can’t be two captains on one ship,” the authoritarian Traore told community leaders in Ouahigouya, northern Burkina, on Thursday.

“Everyone who works with me knows how I operate,” the 38-year-old captain continued.

“If anyone screws up, I’ll take you down without a second thought. There are no strongmen around me,” he threatened.

The speculation of infighting focuses on the junta’s second- and third-in-command — Oumarou Yabre, one of the most influential figures in Burkina’s security apparatus, and Farouk Azaria Sorgho, junta spokesman and commander of a powerful Rapid Intervention Battalion.

Yabre — who heads the intelligence services and National Security Council, and is considered to be Burkina’s second-in-command — has not been seen in public since late May.

A number of observers reported apparent tensions between Traore and Yabre as far back as 2023. These were swiftly and publicly denied by both.

A security official, requesting anonymity, told AFP Yabre had stopped going to his office at the National Intelligence Agency and the security detail assigned to his home has been cut substantially.

[b]“He didn’t appear at the traditional flag-raising ceremony at the presidency, which he usually attends, or at the recent ceremony at the presidential palace to promote three senior officers to general,” [/b]another security official noted.


Yabre’s entourage says several of his close associates have been abducted or arrested, including Islamic preacher Ishaq Kindo, who had criticised a bill regulating religious freedoms.

“This man is fundamentally bad,” Traore said of Kindo on Thursday. “He thought he was powerful because he created an Islamic police force in 2019.”

Two officials close to Yabre were removed from their posts by presidential decree on June 17 — one the CEO of the National Hydrocarbons Company, the other a ministerial advisor for youth affairs.

Sorgho, the regime’s high-profile third-in-command, has not appeared publicly since mid-May.

He commands Rapid Intervention Battalion No 4, stationed in Ouagadougou, and is spokesman for KORAG, a body Traore set up to define and implement the junta’s “strategic vision”.

As such, he has become central to cleaning up public administration, denouncing cases of financial misconduct and meting out harsh punishments.

Since mid-May, Battalion No 4 has been run by Sorgho’s deputy and security officials allege the commander has been “abducted” by Traore associates.

His father, Adama Luc Sorgho, the junta’s infrastructure minister until last year, was arrested and then “abducted” by armed men, his entourage says.

Security operations have intensified in the capital over the past two months.

Roads that had been closed for years have been reopened so traffic can be rerouted away from the presidential palace, where security checkpoints have been set up, local residents reported.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/ill-take-you-down-without-a-second-thought-burkina-fasos-traore-warns-challengers

Hmmmmmmmm

Xxxxxxxxxxx

I just read an article on aljazeera where dey were condemning Traore for banning radical islam.
How do people not know that aljazeera is the official news channel for every terrorist group world wide?
They were even trying to blame Israel for the ban on the radical islamist groups.

I am not suprised. Na so these military leaders dey always end up. Most of them might last longer and later convert to civilian president. ..A civil war will break out. Na just sponsors Yabre loyalist go dey wait for now.

This boy won't let go till they burst his head

Four years after, he is still in power with no thought of making room for democracy. Once an African leader tastes power, he will want to hold in to it like Gollum never wanting to let go of Sauron's ring till he died 😏

My crush does he have a wife??

The Jihadists are pained because of his earlier statement against islam and Arabs, How can Saudi be sponsoring Burkinas citizens for sharia studies neglecting science nd Engineering

Our very own Hardman Abacha do pass this one........But las las, Na ontop one Lagos girl he die put while in active service, he experienced power failure and kpaii.


Na woman they will use poison u like Abacha

Very funny

Pride before fall

For those calling for military regime, I hope you can read clearly now what happens during a military junta

Even making free comments abusing as you wish aren’t tolerated

Ambitions - death sentence, as he clearly spelt it out

😀😀😀😀

take them down ASAP !

na them deh jubilate when you seized power .

FRANCE HAS FOUND A CRACK TO BE EXPLOITED.

Good one Traore, keep it up.

LeeSmart:
I just read an article on aljazeera where dey were condemning Traore for banning radical islam.
How do people not know that aljazeera is the official news channel for every terrorist group world wide?
They were even trying to blame Israel for the ban on the radical islamist groups.

Na Today you just dey know that one. They are a pro-radical islamist , arab supremacist news outlet. They have been caught on numerous occasions spreading radical Arabisation ideas across Africa and in some cases the middle east and Europe

osuofia2:
The Jihadists are pained because of his earlier statement against islam and Arabs, How can Saudi be sponsoring Burkinas citizens for sharia studies neglecting science nd Engineering

Is like a third world country coming to Nigeria to study local language of Nigerians.

Well, i actually like this man
I only wish he can transit to democracy by becoming a civilian and run for the office of the president like El sisi of Egypt
E for better for am o
Dem go kill am o, na so e dey be o

Him never learn from the past military leaders, even if na still small boy, he suppose understand na

Adathelovergirl:
My crush does he have a wife??

Of course, you'd always wait until they are in positions of power and authority...and then comes the "wife card"....afterwards would come "We don't need men"! Utter confusion!

GOFRONT:
Our very own Hardman Abacha do pass this one........But las las, Na ontop one Lagos girl he die put while in active service, he experienced power failure and kpaii.


Na woman they will use poison u like Abacha

Wrong

CIA killed Abacha and murtala mohameed. US is very much interested in nigeria and do anything to secure their source of income.

He talks too much when he could partner with countries like iran, north korea, pakistan acquire nukes and some funds.

Thee
Pride
Before
A
Fall

LeeSmart:
I just read an article on aljazeera where dey were condemning Traore for banning radical islam.
How do people not know that aljazeera is the official news channel for every terrorist group world wide?
They were even trying to blame Israel for the ban on the radical islamist groups.

Who owns Al Jazeera? Do you know who owns and controls Al Jazeera? Do you know who gave luxurious Jet to Donald Trump and who Trump said they are good people? Please answer the question.

Well sofar the military junta is far better than our democrazee.

oz4real83:
Four years after, he is still in power with no thought of making room for democracy. Once an African leader tastes power, he will want to hold in to it like Gollum never wanting to let go of Sauron's ring till he died 😏

Really? Kim Jong Un since 2012 or Vladimir Putin since 1999.

GOFRONT:
Our very own Hardman Abacha do pass this one........But las las, Na ontop one Lagos girl he die put while in active service; he experienced power failure and kpaii.


Na woman they will use poison u like Abacha

Lies, which Lagos girl naso una go dey lie. There was a topic on Nairaland about the book written by a DSS top guy saying na igbo lady Abacha zoom last, his gf sister.

Kaczynski:
Wrong

CIA killed Abacha and murtala mohameed. US is very much interested in nigeria and do anything to secure their source of income.

Abacha sadly he was a good leader, Murtala deservedly because he was a murderous hateful psychopath

Esc2ctrl:
FRANCE HAS FOUND A CRACK TO BE EXPLOITED.

YOU GAT IT GBAM!

BUT NO BE FRANCE ALONE, OYIBO PLENTY FOR WEST WEY DE CHARGE ON DIS GUY HEAD O.

GUY MAN PRESIDO NEEDS TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL BKOS DE POT DON DE LEAK.

ANYWAY, WE'RE WATCHING!

oz4real83:
Four years after, he is still in power with no thought of making room for democracy. Once an African leader tastes power, he will want to hold in to it like Gollum never wanting to let go of Sauron's ring till he died 😏

Even democracy is yet to achieve for he has achieved for his pple within a short time.

Democracy kor.

I laugh in Japanese no one is indispensable... Just be a Good leader and know within your conscience you took the right decision. I know a lot of people will be dragging you and trying to please everyone can run you mad. Just do your best, plan your retirement after 8 years and hand over. Africa is not Russia, they don't need guns to kill you, just words.

Do anything to stay in power
Not the useless ones we have in Nigeria
They will call u a dictator, authoritarian, even label u as a pedophile, rapist
But only true Africans like nelson madela, Nkrumah, and those in Egypt knows u are best
God will keep u there and do your job
Not the useless ones will have in Nigeria that a car will call from France to help restore a government in Benin and then dey fear make USA nor interfere with their government
Don't forget he will be called a terrorists soon
Pbat and Colonia master na 5&6
Wen d world dey break from their colonial master, and useless financial system of the world to weaken the poor them still dey do yes sir
Yes sir to France

including Islamic preacher Ishaq Kindo, who had criticised a bill regulating religious freedoms.

“This man is fundamentally bad,” Traore said of Kindo on Thursday. “He thought he was powerful because he created an Islamic police force in 2019.”
You cant help but admire this man when he acts against radical Islam even though hes a Muslim. That means Traore arrested their burkina Sheik Gumi, or Sultan. Balls of steel. If nigerian leaders had half the balls of this man, terrorism would have died a long time ago.

You took someone down. Why do you think you cant be taken down?