Burkina Faso: Jacob Zuma as a guest star in Traoré's "new sovereignist horizon"

Jacob Zuma's arrival in Ouagadougou was no coincidence. A guest of honor at the invitation of military leader Ibrahim Traoré, the former South African president landed in Burkina Faso, a country striving for greater autonomy and a pan-Africanist stance. But behind the smiles and symbolism lay significant diplomatic and geopolitical stakes.
This visit, marked by a "reverse Françafrique," raises as many hopes as questions. A symbolic arrival under high tension

The former South African president set foot in Ouagadougou this Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in what is officially presented as "support for pan-Africanist initiatives and the sovereign choices of Burkina Faso".

Traoré, for his part, has positioned himself as a herald of breaking with traditional patterns of cooperation: distancing himself from France, undeclared rapprochement with Moscow or Ankara, promotion of a South-South dialogue.

Zuma, for his part, is far from being a mere courtesy guest: his image, his trajectory in particular in the post-apartheid era and his current shift between judicial crisis and quest for influence make him a significant symbolic asset.

The strategic choice: between sovereignty and showcasing Africa

Burkina Faso is pursuing a policy increasingly marked by demands for autonomy. Traoré calls for active Pan-Africanism and alliances outside the traditional "Francophone West" framework. Zuma's support fits perfectly within this logic.

By inviting a controversial but respected figure from South Africa, Traoré is sending several signals:

• a message to Western elites: Burkina Faso no longer intends to be dependent.

• a seduction towards the continent: here is a resolute country, which no longer docilely follows external injunctions.

• A staged event: this visit serves both domestic and international purposes. It creates a spectacle, it forges national legitimacy and even a personal myth around the head of the transition.
  But in the shadow of this showcase, several blind spots persist: security is not guaranteed, respect for rights is more than questionable, and the economy remains vulnerable.

The risks behind the lightbulb of the big night

Jacob Zuma's presence in Ouagadougou has all the hallmarks of a public relations stunt, but it is not immune to criticism.

Zuma himself is in a complicated position: caught in legal troubles in his country, some will see his arrival as a "revenge" or an ally of a power with little regard for justice.

Burkina Faso is embarking on a bold but perilous path. The rhetoric of sovereignty is not enough: the fight against the jihadist insurgency is intensifying, and the economic situation is fragile. While Traoré may claim to be the heir of Thomas Sankara, the relationship between rhetoric and reality remains complex.

Finally, this type of visit could further widen the gap with former Western partners. By choosing to support another African country, namely Zuma, Ouagadougou is asserting its break with the past. But this break comes at a cost—political, economic, or diplomatic.
In short: the star is there, the stage is set. But the play guarantees neither stability nor development. And the image of a new "model Burkina Faso" could quickly collide with harsh reality.