In a bold and impassioned speech, President Nebahem Traoré of Burkina Faso delivered a resolute message to Western powers: “We are not afraid, and we never will be.”

Invoking the legacies of African revolutionaries and highlighting the fear-based strategies used to suppress emerging leaders, Traoré cited figures like Thomas Sankara, Muammar Gaddafi, and Haiti’s Jovenel Moïse — all of whom faced violent deaths.

“They say Sankara tried, and he died. Gaddafi tried, and he died. Moïse tried, and he died. These stories are meant to intimidate us,” he said. “They use the images of imprisoned or silenced young leaders to sow fear and demand submission.”

Yet, Traoré insisted such scare tactics no longer work on the current generation. “They have misunderstood something vital. When we say, ‘Homeland or death, we shall overcome,’ it is not a mere slogan — it reflects our unwavering commitment.”

He emphasised that while past leaders may have yielded under pressure, a new chapter is unfolding — one marked by bravery, autonomy, and an unyielding stand against foreign interference.

His speech is widely interpreted as a call to action for other African nations to defend their sovereignty and embrace self-determination, regardless of the consequences.

A video that has surfaced online captures this moment.