In Burkina Faso, the government’s revolutionary discourse and pursuit of national sovereignty have generated considerable hopes and expectations among the population. But what do these political changes mean for people’s everyday lives, their opportunities for participation and their aspirations for a different future? Questions remain about the space for civil society and dissent, the prospects for social and economic transformation, and the extent to which the current political project can deliver on its promises. In this interview, we explore these dynamics, from the legacy of Thomas Sankara to the country’s changing regional and international alliances, with particular attention to the perspectives and concerns of the Burkinabè population.

West Africa is undergoing profound political and security transformations. Military coups, the erosion of democratic governance, the expansion of violent extremist groups and shifting geopolitical alliances are reshaping the region’s political landscape. What do these developments mean for the future of democracy, regional cooperation and peace?

In his keynote address at the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung West Africa’s conference “Political Crises in West Africa: Rethinking Strategies for Consolidating Democratic Gains”, held in Abidjan from 23 to 25 September 2026, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), examines the structural roots of the region’s interconnected crises and the implications of a changing regional and global order.

This publication presents an abridged version of his keynote address.