Conclusion: Exemplary Leader Par Excellence
Here was a young military officer who was deeply concerned about and caring for his troops and their families. He went out of his way to ensure that the widows and children of his comrades received the pensions and benefits owed to them.
In several cases, when he discovered that the rightful widows and children were being denied their pensions, he took it upon himself to write and pressure the relevant authorities to address the mistakes. In one case, he organised a donation drive to help a widow who had been swindled out of her rightful dues. When he found out that this donation had also been misappropriated, he organised a second donation drive, ensuring that this time the funds were personally handed over to the widow.
It was this concerned attitude and willingness to go the extra mile that strengthened the loyalty and bond between him and his comrades.
Note: Just last month, he introduced a programme to support war widows and their children. Ten per cent of government jobs were set aside for widows with degrees or master's qualifications. Others were encouraged to study or were provided with support for training, for starting businesses, or for expanding existing ones. Their children were granted scholarships to further their studies. Additional support, such as house improvements, motorbikes for easier mobility, sewing machines, and even shelves in National Supermarkets to sell their products at minimal or no cost, was provided.
He was also very passionate about addressing poverty and poor living conditions, the high corruption rate, poor management, and the lack of will among politicians to uplift the country and its people.
This eventually led him to take power, driven by a genuine desire to improve the situation. It was never about power or the desire to live a rich, luxurious life. He was more than happy to remain in the army.
It was most fortunate for Burkina Faso and its people that he heard the "clarion" call and acted on it. The results were unbelievable and spectacularly impressive. His achievements speak for themselves.
He has already won the hearts and loyalty of his people. Even if he were to give up his presidency now, he would already have become a legend and hero—not only to the Burkinabe people but also throughout Africa and the world. For he is a rare and exceptional leader who appears infrequently on the world stage. It is truly an honour to have him among us during our lifetime.
How do the people view him? They see him as a humble and determined leader, working tirelessly for the people and the country. He disdains the authority, wealth, and pomp that power and position bring.
Two stories best illustrate his character and how the people respond to him:
He was not a leader who remained in the palace and acted solely on intelligence and news brought to him. He made it a point to visit the very outskirts of the country and even the shanty towns in major cities, both with his convoy of security guards and alone, with only a personal assistant.
He would dine in simple restaurants, observe, and meet with ordinary people, talk to them, listen to their grievances, and even visit their humble homes to share their simple meals or have a drink. All the while, he would ask questions, discuss their problems, and take notes for further action.
It was not a mere symbolic or propaganda move. He acted upon his discoveries immediately. As a result, government aid was pumped into these areas. Wells were dug, and water supplies were connected to homes. Electricity, using solar panels, was installed. He pushed for a greater supply of medicines to be sent to small clinics. While the medicines were not high-end at the beginning, they nonetheless helped save many lives.
He also encouraged the community and the government to set up libraries, community halls, clean up the shanties, and provide tuition and scholarships for those in need.
This intervention by the president gave the people hope, pride, and a sense that they were no longer alone. They were no longer "invisible" or nameless. They were now recognised and looked up to as people with a will, a purpose, and skills. It boosted their self-awareness and gave them a dignity and sense of community that they had lost and had now regained.
The effect was tremendous, as the community began to come together and aim to improve their status and well-being.
During one such private and unplanned visit to a shanty town, President Ibrahim Traoré discovered his long-lost adopted brother, living on the streets, impoverished, weak, and hungry after a fire had destroyed his business.
Immediately, he brought him home, arranged for doctors to care for him, and ensured his recovery.
During his stay, the two of them talked about old times, shared memories, and discussed his brother's sad experiences and hopes for the future.
This led to two wonderful initiatives. The first was that Ibrahim Traoré saw his brother's determination and hopes for the country. His brother wanted to rebound on his own rather than use his sibling's position and power to get ahead. Captain Ibrahim Traoré was very impressed with his brother’s attitude and decided to help him without showing any favouritism. He helped him attend classes on running, managing, and creating a successful children's home for discarded, abused, and poor children. His brother became the deputy head of this facility. The ideas introduced by him were very positive, and the children—especially the abused ones—responded to him with trust and love. His school soon became a model for many others in different areas.
This union with his long-lost brother also led to the establishment of an even greater initiative: the Family Reunification Organisation, under the Presidential Initiative. The aim was to track and reunite family members separated or lost due to war, famine, migration, or other causes.
The spirit of this movement spread across the country, not only through government-organised centres but also through communities taking up the cause and coordinating with these centres. The programme’s success was so heartening that more than 5,000 families were reunited within months of its launch.
As President Ibrahim Traoré proclaimed, "It is more important for families to be united, as this will help the nation to grow and prosper. People matter." This sentiment has won the hearts and souls of the people.
The people's reaction was equally touching and speaks highly of him. They said, "He did not come as a president and issue commands or tell us what the government would provide for us. He came and talked to us as one of us, under the tree. He listened to our problems, asked us what we needed, heard our wants and aspirations, took notes, made no promises, and left. We did not expect anything to come of these visits. To our surprise, he came back with his people, talked more with us, even invited our people to his office, and then set in motion many projects that truly benefitted us. But that was not all. He followed up on the progress and visited us several times to get our feedback and see for himself how the projects were progressing.
It was not the projects or money that mattered to us; it was much more than that. He gave us hope and dignity. He was a 'brother' who walked with us and was there for us. We cannot fail him."
These sentiments, expressed both collectively and individually by many citizens of Burkina Faso, speak highly of this humble, caring, and concerned president. This same admiration, respect, and love for him have been expressed by citizens of several countries, who wish that Captain Ibrahim Traoré were their own president or prime minister.
Doesn't this foreign praise define and enhance the high standards and character of Captain Ibrahim Traoré's leadership? This is why I have titled my articles about him as: Exemplary Leader Par Excellence.
While pondering the question of who I would identify as the most exemplary world leader, my initial choices were narrowed down to Prime Minister Modi of India, President Putin of Russia, President Xi of China, and President Orban of Hungary. All of them had many positive qualities supporting their leadership.
Then, to my surprise, I read about Captain Ibrahim Traoré and followed up on his work. As he was taking the world by storm through his daring policies, his people-oriented projects, and the positive results that were pouring in, I was won over completely. He became my choice for first place in leadership, for leading a nation, and for being a leader worthy of honest respect and admiration.
What do you think of him? For more information, you can tune in to "Intervlog," "African News," and many other outlets from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, etc., that speak highly of him and critically of their own leaders. Some even do so at the risk of arrest and imprisonment. Doesn't that speak volumes about how deeply he is loved and honoured by his own people and others?
© Vijaya Ratnam
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