While at university, Traoré became active in student politics, aligning with the Marxist Association Nationale des Étudiants du Burkina (ANEB), a group deeply committed to defending the rights of students and, by extension, the nation’s oppressed masses.
His introduction to Marxist ideology during this period profoundly shaped his worldview. He embraced Marxism’s critique of class struggle and inequality, recognizing the sharp divide between the country’s elite and the working poor. Traoré internalized the idea that the state should serve the people, not just the privileged few, and that true liberation could only come through the empowerment of Burkina Faso’s underclass. This belief became a cornerstone of his political philosophy, driving his focus on national self-reliance and policies that prioritize the needs of the country’s poor.
Traoré’s Marxist leanings also fostered a deep-seated suspicion of Western influence, which he viewed as a modern form of imperialism. Marxism’s critique of capitalism and foreign exploitation resonated with him, particularly in the context of Burkina Faso’s post-colonial struggles. For Traoré, the West – especially former colonial powers like France – represented the same forces that had historically exploited African nations and continued to meddle in their internal affairs. He became a vocal proponent of Pan-Africanism, advocating for Burkina Faso and the continent at large to reject dependency on Western powers and to instead forge independent paths rooted in self-sufficiency and regional solidarity. Traoré’s political ideology is deeply influenced by these Marxist principles, which underpin his calls for economic justice, sovereignty, and a government truly accountable to the people.
“Geology taught me about the earth,” he would later reflect, “but my true education was learning about the people who walk on it – about their struggles, their dreams, and the forces that try to keep them down.” These are the people that he remains fiercely committed to. They are his Northern Star.
