President Ibrahim Traoré relaunched the national airline
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – May 2025
In a defining move that signals Burkina Faso’s growing drive for sovereignty and self-reliance, President Ibrahim Traoré has officially relaunched the country’s long-dormant national airline, Air Burkina. This bold step, taken in the early months of 2024, is not just about air travel—it’s about redefining a nation's future in the skies and beyond.
The relaunch comes amid sweeping efforts by the Traoré administration to regain control over strategic sectors of the economy, reinforce national pride, and assert a stronger role for Burkina Faso on the international stage. Once a symbol of national prestige but grounded by mismanagement and debt, Air Burkina is now being positioned as a flagship for economic resilience, regional integration, and foreign policy realignment.
"Everyone needs to get to work. The people of Burkina Faso have suffered too much. This has to stop," declared the President of Burkina Faso to Minute.bf.
Strategic Timing and Infrastructure Upgrades
The airline’s revival is accompanied by significant investment in transport infrastructure. Two major projects are central to this effort: the modernization of Bobo-Dioulasso Airport and the upcoming Ouagadougou-Donsin International Airport, slated to accommodate up to 3 million passengers annually by 2025. These upgrades are expected to dramatically increase domestic and international connectivity, enabling tourism, trade, and investment.
Economic Sovereignty in Focus
This aviation push is part of a broader policy shift under Traoré. His government has doubled down on economic sovereignty, recently launching SOPAMIB (Société de Participation Minière du Burkina), a state-run mining company meant to reduce foreign control over the nation's abundant gold resources. The goal is clear: maximize national revenues while securing long-term independence from Western economic structures.
This approach mirrors the pan-Africanist ideals of the legendary Thomas Sankara—Burkina Faso’s former revolutionary leader—whose legacy Traoré is frequently compared to by supporters across Africa.
Diplomatic Realignment: East Over West
The relaunch of Air Burkina also underscores Burkina Faso’s foreign policy pivot away from former colonial powers and toward non-Western allies. A notable example is the strengthening of ties with Russia. In 2024, Russia reopened its embassy in Ouagadougou after 31 years, signaling renewed diplomatic relations. Burkina Faso also deepened cooperation with Mali and Niger through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), focusing on joint security, anti-terrorism measures, and economic development.
President Traoré’s strategic embrace of multipolar diplomacy is seen by many as a bold rejection of neo-colonial influence and a call for a more autonomous and united Africa.
A New Symbol of National Confidence
The skies over Burkina Faso are once again painted in the colors of its national carrier—but this time, they carry a heavier message. Air Burkina has become a symbol of resistance, vision, and a refusal to accept limitations imposed from abroad.
In the words of one government official during the relaunch ceremony:
"This is not just about planes. It’s about reclaiming our dignity, our pride, and our place in the world."
Conclusion
Air Burkina’s comeback is a milestone in Burkina Faso’s transformation under Captain Ibrahim Traoré. With strategic partnerships, bold infrastructure development, and a clear vision of sovereignty, the country is no longer just trying to keep up—it’s charting its own flight path into the future.