Fact-Check: Misleading Claims about Burkina Faso’s Military Ruler Traoré Launching Conglomerate

A viral video falsely claims that Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso launched a tech conglomerate. PRNigeria’s fact-check confirmed these claims are based on AI-generated content with no credible sources supporting the narrative. Additionally, while some initiatives for local production exist, the specific conglomerate described in the video has not been established. The conclusion drawn is that the claims are false, highlighting the significance of verifying information before acceptance.

In recent days, a viral video has emerged on social media, notably on TikTok, asserting that Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of Burkina Faso’s military junta, has successfully launched an African conglomerate focusing on aircraft, vehicles, and smartphones. This video features a broadcaster who claims that this endeavor is set to propel Burkina Faso into a technological and manufacturing leader, causing significant backlash from prominent global figures such as Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

The purported conglomerate, named Traoré Tech, allegedly plans to produce Burki-Air—a domestically manufactured aircraft, Faso Motors—an electric and fuel vehicle brand, and Sahel Phone—a high-performance smartphone shielded from Western technological influence. The report attributes several ambitious statements to Traoré, stating, “For too long, Africa has been a consumer, not a creator. Today, we take back control of our industry, our resources, and our future.”

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who took power after a coup in September 2022, is noted as one of the youngest state leaders globally. Prior to his leadership, his military training in Morocco focused on anti-aircraft warfare, although his later assignments involved infantry. Despite the claims surrounding the launch, PRNigeria conducted a comprehensive fact-check to establish their validity.

The fact-check team employed a reverse image search that traced the video’s emergence to early Monday. Further investigations revealed a lack of corroboration from reliable news outlets or official government channels in Burkina Faso. Additionally, attempts to access official government websites resulted in error messages, indicating no such announcement was made.

PRNigeria’s team also conducted a metadata analysis on the video, revealing signs of digital manipulation and possible AI generation. These techniques uncovered discrepancies, verifying that the viral footage had likely been altered. Although there is an existing report about the introduction of Burkina Faso’s first homegrown electric vehicle, the ITAOUA, no evidence suggests that Traoré has initiated a conglomerate as claimed.

In summation, PRNigeria’s investigation concludes that, while Traoré is actively pursuing initiatives for industrial growth in Burkina Faso, there exists no credible evidence to support claims regarding his establishment of an aircraft, electric vehicle, or smartphone manufacturing empire. The assertions circulating primarily stem from AI-generated content, leading to the determination that the claim is false.

The investigation conducted by PRNigeria clearly indicates that the assertions regarding Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s launch of a conglomerate for aircraft, vehicles, and smartphones are baseless. The analysis of the viral video identified it as AI-generated, lacking any credible confirmation from reliable sources. Therefore, the claims remain unsubstantiated, reinforcing the need for careful consideration of information disseminated on social media.

Original Source: prnigeria.com