Fact-Check: Did Ibrahim Traoré Declare Free Education in Burkina Faso?
By Samuel Ogunsona
Claim: An X user ,Africa Hub was seen circulating online asserts that Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré has declared free education from nursery schools to university level here https://x.com/AfricanHub_/status/1907368009007595872?t=GTzs344KjCP1clY5WMUTew&s=19
Irohinoodua Verdict: FALSE
Photo: Tweet by Africa Hub
Background:
A similar claim was also made by another blog, hello vybes hellovybes.com/burkina-faso-p…
According to the blog Post on May 03, 2025, “Ibrahim Traore Declares Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 free Education country from Nursery School to the University level, this has create a big jubilation in Burkina Faso”
However, the claim has as of May 09, 2025, has generated over 48,000 views, 4,005 likes and reposted 857 times.
Verification
Ibrahim Traore is a Burkinabé military leader who is serving as the interim President of Burkina Faso since 2022. Traoré took control of Burkina Faso in September 2022, ousting interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba in a coup d’état.
According to news from credible source in 2007 before Traore took control in 2022,
Verification also shows that University Education in Burkina Faso is not free according to the Burkinabe Education Ministry website
At the time of this fact-check by Irohinoodua, the agency had not made such an announcement. education.gov.bf/accueil
Lack of Evidence
Irohinoodua found no credible news sources or press releases from Traoré’s administration or the Ministry of Education confirming the declaration of free education at all levels, including university.
Irohinoodua Conclusion
The claim that President Traoré has waived all school fees from primary to university is FALSE.
Burkina Faso’s existing free education policy applies to primary and secondary schools, but there’s no evidence to support the claim of expanded free education to university level.
