Empires don’t abdicate softly. Armies withdraw, banners come down, but lips remain. For more than a half-century since formal independence, Burkina Faso was a large swath of francophone Africa—maintained French as an official language. It was the language of court, school and the state. Now, with President Ibrahim Traoré (the second youngest head of state in the world), this colonial baggage has been intentionally scrubbed off. French has been reduced to a “working language” while Mooré, Dioula, Fulfulde, Bissa and other native languages achieve official status.
This is not simply a technical correction. It is a work of cultural recuperation that announces that the architecture of colonialism has to be dismantled not only around armies and treaties but around the very language that structures everyday life. With this act alone, Burkina Faso has changed the dynamics of power between institutional structures and native identity.
The European Perspective: Inherent Dependency
References
- Africa Ongo, “Burkina Faso Prioritizes Self-Reliance by Removing French as Official Language” (2025).
- Africanews, “Burkina Abandons French as an Official Language” (2023).
- Washington Post, “Burkina Faso Turns to Russia as It Pushes Out French Influence” (2025).
- El País, “The Military Junta of Burkina Faso Uses Culture to Forge a New National and Pan-African Narrative” (2025).
- AP News, “Sahel States Form Alliance After Quitting ECOWAS” (2025).
- Bartanews Magazine, “Burkina Faso’s Bold Transformation Under Ibrahim Traoré” (2025).
- Financial Times, “Burkina Faso’s Path Raises Concerns on Authoritarian Drift” (2025).
All the views and opinions expressed are those of the author. Image Credit: PRESIDENCE DU FASO
About the Author
Jaiee Ashtekar holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Mumbai. She holds a post-graduate diploma in international relations from the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom (UK). She has done projects titled “Kashmir through Political Perception” and “Water issues between India and Pakistan.”
