Is Burkina Faso Set to Purchase Weapons From Russia?
On May 10, 2025, a Facebook user @NewsflashNaijaChronicles posted four pictures including one featuring the president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, and Vladimir Putin of Russia and three others showing armoured tanks. The post had the caption:
“Burkina Faso is reportedly gearing up to purchase weapons from Russia!
Citizens are allegedly asking President Ibrahim Traoré to reach out to President Putin and find out the cost of these powerful military equipments. 
What do you think about this daring move?
#IbrahimTraore #BurkinaFaso #russia #AfricaRising #selfreliance #revolution”
As of the time of filing this report, the post had gained over 3,700 likes, over 440 comments and about 200 shares.
VERIFICATION
To verify this claim, NV-A conducted a related keyword search and a verification of the pictures posted. Our search results came back with reports and articles detailing the timelines and relationship between the two countries.
Using image verification platforms like Yandex, we found different pictures of the two presidents and a Getty Image credit for the Putin and Traoré picture used in the claim stating that it was from a Gala concert held in Moscow on May 8, 2025 ahead of the Victory Day celebration in Russia. Image searches of the missile photos revealed that one of them was from the May 2015 Victory day military parade in Moscow while another one from the June 2020 Victory Day event.
Africa News reported in August 2023 that both countries have been in agreement to strengthen their defence ties, as the Burkina Faso military leaders have been seeking to diversify the country’s international allies, they also had another meeting in this regard in late 2024.
According to Trading Economics, Burkina Faso spent over $42,000 on importing arms and ammunition from Russia in 2023. Further search showed no reports from verified news platforms about Burkinabes asking their president to reach Putin to find out the costs of weapons and there are no related reports of plans to kickstart a national fundraising to buy weapons and ammunition in Burkina Faso.
CONCLUSION
The claim that Burkina Faso is gearing up to purchase weapons from Russia is FALSE. Although the two countries do have a relationship and Burkina Faso had purchased ammunition from them in 2023, no recent reports have been made about any purchases or plans to crowdfund for buying weapons and ammunition from Russia.
