Rumours of a military coup swirled in Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday, 21st May, 2025, fuelling political tension across the nation. Photo: Courtesy.
By Adonis Byemelwa
In Africa today, the silence of peace is too often drowned out by the crackle of gunfire and the murmur of political tension. From the scarred plains of South Sudan to Khartoum’s crumbling institutions, from the insurgent-hit Sahel to recent rumours of upheaval in Ivory Coast, it’s clear the continent’s foundations remain unsettled. Even where bullets don’t fly, uncertainty does.
On Wednesday,21, May 2025 at the University of Dar es Salaam, a gathering of minds came together under the banner of the African Renaissance. Hosted by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and backed by former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, the symposium drew deep reflections.
Thabo Mbeki, never one to sugar-coat Africa’s dilemmas, issued a blunt challenge: the African Union must act, not react, when conflict takes root. His voice was calm, but the urgency was unmistakable.
And how could it not be? In Abidjan, whispers of a coup spiralled into chaos before the truth caught up. Elsewhere, millions live beneath the weight of uncertainty, clinging to hope while governments falter. But amid the instability, there are signs of resilience—journalists holding the line against misinformation, citizens demanding better, young leaders calling for sovereignty and reform.
This call to action could not be timelier. Across the continent, rumours of coups, military takeovers, and institutional breakdowns have become alarmingly commonplace. In an age where social media amplifies fear and misinformation at lightning speed, the fragility of many African states is being laid bare. The situation in Côte d’Ivoire this week exemplifies this new reality.
As President Alassane Ouattara chaired a council of ministers meeting in Abidjan, false rumours of a military coup surged through social platforms, triggering widespread panic. An X user falsely claimed that Ouattara had been killed and the military had seized control. The claim spread rapidly, supported by fabricated reports of internet disruptions and unverified deaths of high-ranking military officials.
Yet, the truth painted a very different picture. The Ivorian presidency swiftly released a statement, complete with images showing Ouattara and his ministers in session, resolute and unshaken. Journalists on the ground, including Christelle Kouamé, dismissed the rumours as baseless.
Kouamé, a respected voice within the National Union of Journalists of Côte d’Ivoire, reaffirmed the country’s stability and debunked the falsehoods about internet outages. “People do what they want with the internet,” she remarked with exasperation, “but it is thanks to the internet that I speak to you.”
These events are not isolated. They mirror a broader regional trend where trust in civilian governments is eroding, democratic institutions are fraying, and military coups are once again entering the political lexicon.
Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea have all experienced recent military takeovers. Each case has left citizens questioning the viability of constitutional rule and seeking answers in strongmen who promise order over democracy. The African continent is at a crossroads.
One such strongman is Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who, at 36, is currently the world’s youngest president. Traoré ascended to power in September 2022 after a cascade of coups within a single year.
He entered the presidency pledging transformation amid crises in national security, infrastructure, and governance. Within months, Traoré faced multiple coup attempts against his administration, but his popularity among the youth has only grown.
His rise reflects a generational shift in political sentiment. At President John Mahama’s recent inauguration in Ghana, Traoré was the most applauded head of state among his peers, a potent symbol of shifting perceptions.
For many, especially younger Africans, he represents more than just a military figure; he embodies a chance for self-determination and systemic reform. Indeed, nearly two-thirds of Burkinabé surveyed by Afrobarometer now support military rule under conditions of civilian government failure – a stark contrast to attitudes a decade ago.
But adoration does not absolve responsibility. Traoré has embarked on a wave of radical reforms, rejecting Western financial assistance and aiming to reclaim national ownership of natural resources. His government has nationalised two gold mines, halted the export of unrefined gold to Europe, and launched a national gold refinery with the capacity to process 150 tonnes annually. He also reversed salary increases for government officials, choosing instead to maintain his military captain earnings.
Such symbolic actions carry weight, but Burkina Faso’s trajectory depends on more than optics. The country’s economy has made strides, growing from a GDP of US$3.2 billion in 1990 to US$18.3 billion in 2023.
Extreme poverty has fallen dramatically, yet structural challenges persist. With over 60% of the population classified as multidimensionally poor and more than two million people internally displaced due to conflict, the promise of progress feels fragile. The real test for Traoré lies in delivering meaningful change to the average Burkinabé.
According to projections by the Institute for Security Studies, Burkina Faso could experience sustained economic growth averaging 8% annually from 2025 to 2043. This would raise GDP per capita by over US$1,000 and potentially lift 2.4 million citizens out of poverty. But this hinges on governance reform.
Without robust institutions, the spectres of corruption and inefficiency will undermine even the most ambitious development plans. Effective governance could add another US$240 to GDP per capita and rescue an additional half million people from extreme poverty.
That is where Traoré’s leadership will be most consequential. He must do more than rally crowds and nationalise mines. He must address terrorism that has led to the state losing control of 40% of its territory.
He must reopen the thousands of schools and health facilities closed due to insecurity. And he must transition the country back to constitutional rule, not just to appease international observers but to provide legitimacy and stability for long-term investment and development.
The stakes are high. Africa’s future rests not only in its abundant natural resources but in its capacity for self-reinvention. Thabo Mbeki’s call to address the challenges in Sudan and the Sahel is a reminder that peace is not a passive state; it is an active process requiring leadership, integrity, and commitment.
The African Union must be more than a bystander. It must become a force for conflict resolution, guided not by the vested interests of member states but by the aspirations of African people.
And this means investing in the kind of leadership that sees beyond personal gain – leadership that is prepared to empower local communities, enhance public sector efficiency, and hold itself accountable.
The continent has had charismatic figures before, from Jerry Rawlings in Ghana to Thomas Sankara in Burkina Faso. Their legacies are reminders that good intentions must be married to systems that outlive their architects.
Traoré has a rare opportunity to etch his name not only in the history books but in the lives of ordinary Burkinabé. If he can resist the temptations of power and focus on building institutions rather than personal empires, he might defy the fate of many military rulers who started as revolutionaries but ended in disillusionment.
Africa stands at a delicate crossroads. In Côte d’Ivoire, a false coup rumour ignited chaos, illustrating how easily trust can break down. In Burkina Faso, Captain Traoré’s bold reforms present hope, yet the spectre of instability still looms. At the University of Dar es Salaam, Thabo Mbeki’s appeal was clear: peace must be built, not waited for. The continent’s future depends on leaders who choose integrity over impulse, and systems that serve people, not power. Genuine progress demands more than slogans; it requires listening, learning, and leading with purpose. Africa’s narrative is still being written—its next chapter must be shaped by courage and clarity.