Ibrahim Traoré Belgrade Protest Image Sparks Online Debate

On May 1, 2025, an X post by @YamiakaJones featuring a large crowd in Belgrade, Serbia, stirred significant online discussion. The post claimed the gathering was in support of Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré, stating, “Not even in a history of humans the world rallied behind one person like this……long live Ibrahim Traore.” However, the image’s origin has been questioned, as it appears to match a protest in Belgrade from March 15, 2025, related to anti-corruption demonstrations.

See post:

The image in question captures a significant protest in Belgrade on March 15, 2025, as reported by Reuters. The demonstration, one of the largest in Serbia in decades, saw over 100,000 people gather to protest government corruption and negligence after 15 deaths in the Novi Sad railway station incident. Protesters, including students, teachers, and farmers, demanded accountability from President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration.

Read also: Captain Ibrahim Traoré: Africa’s Youngest Leader Challenges Western Influence

The event was marked by tensions, with riot police and Vučić supporters present, and was part of a broader wave of anti-corruption movements in Serbia, as detailed in a Wikipedia entry updated on April 30, 2025. In contrast, @YamiakaJones’s post framed the image as evidence of global support for Ibrahim Traoré, who has become a polarizing figure in African politics. Traoré, who assumed power in Burkina Faso following a 2022 coup, has been celebrated by some for his pan-Africanist and anti-imperialist rhetoric. On April 30, 2025, global solidarity rallies for Traoré were reported in cities like London and Ouagadougou, as noted in posts by @CapitaineIb226 and @chude__. However, there is no verified evidence that the Belgrade protest on March 15 was related to Traoré.

Read also: Burkina Faso’s Bold Path: Traoré’s Vision for Sovereignty and Self-Reliance

Ibrahim Traoré, born on March 14, 1988, is a Burkinabé military officer and the interim president of Burkina Faso since September 2022. He assumed power after a coup that ousted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, citing the government’s failure to address the jihadist insurgency. At 37, Traoré is one of the world’s youngest heads of state. On May 2, 2025, he has sought to distance Burkina Faso from its former colonial power, France, and has forged ties with Mali and Niger through the Alliance of Sahel States. His leadership has been marked by both support for his pan-Africanist ideals and criticism over security challenges, with over 60% of Burkina Faso outside government control, as reported by AP News on April 30, 2025.