Traoré: ‘God Is Angry With Black People for Refusing to Use Our Brains’

By Emmanuel Kwada

Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has reportedly urged Africans to take greater responsibility for their development, arguing that progress will not come from waiting for divine intervention.

Traoré was quoted as saying, “God is angry with Black people because we’ve refused to use our brains.”

He reportedly stressed that God would not come down from heaven to solve Africa’s problems, noting that humanity had been created with the ability to think, work and take action.

“God will not come down from heaven to help us. He created us with a brain and limbs so that we can be useful to ourselves, our community and country,” he said.

The remarks have drawn attention to the broader debate over African self-reliance, leadership, innovation and the continent’s responsibility for addressing its developmental challenges.

Traoré has frequently called for greater African sovereignty and reduced dependence on foreign powers, particularly in areas such as economic development, natural resources and security.

His latest comments similarly emphasise the need for Africans to harness their human capacity, institutions and resources to build stronger communities and nations.