Ibrahim Traoré

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Ibrahim Traoré made history as the world's youngest serving head of state at age 34, a record that drew global attention. He has been recognized on Time's 100 Next list in 2023 as a rising star, and ranked #3 on Jeune Afrique's 100 Most Influential Africans that same year. His co-founding of the Alliance of Sahel States represents a significant shift in regional geopolitics, and he has received the highest state honors from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The Pan-African Youth Union awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 for his role in promoting African sovereignty.

AwardsTraoré has received several military decorations, including the National Defense Medal (Bronze) for MINUSMA service and the Cross of Military Valor for counterterrorism operations. As head of state, he automatically received the Grand Cross of the National Order of Burkina Faso and serves as Grand Master of the Order of the Stallion. Internationally, he has been awarded the National Order of Merit of Niger, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Republic of Mali, and the inaugural Order of the Sahel from the Alliance of Sahel States.

Honours & Distinctions

Time 100 Next

Time Magazine·2023

Listed as one of the world's rising stars

Africa's Most Influential Person of the Year

African Leadership Magazine·2023

Awarded for pan-African leadership

Lifetime Achievement Award

Pan-African Youth Union·2024

For contributions to national sovereignty and youth empowerment

Key to the City of Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou City Council·2022

Awarded upon assumption of presidency

Honorary Doctorate

Université de Ouagadougou·2023

For contributions to national sovereignty

Guinness World Record - Youngest Serving Head of State

Guinness World Records·2022

Held the record from September 2022 to 2024

Rankings & Lists

#Included

Time 100 Next

Time Magazine·2023

#12

Forbes Africa's 50 Most Powerful Africans

Forbes Africa·2023

Jeune Afrique's 100 Most Influential Africans

Jeune Afrique·2023

Bloomberg's 50 Most Influential People in Africa

Bloomberg·2024

The Africa Report's Power List

The Africa Report·2024

Magazine Covers

Time (International Edition)

2022-10-24

The Youngest Leader: Ibrahim Traoré and the New Face of Africa

Jeune Afrique

2022-11-01

Le Capitaine qui a Conquis le Pouvoir

The Africa Report

2022-12-01

Burkina's New Strongman

African Leadership Magazine

2023-01-01

The Pan-Africanist President

Le Monde Afrique

2023-03-01

Traoré: La Rupture

Foreign Policy

2023-09-01

The Sahel's New Axis: Traoré, Goïta, Tchiani

Bloomberg Businessweek (Africa edition)

2024-01-01

The Anti-Western General

Records & Feats

Youngest serving head of state (2022-2024)

Historic First·2022

At age 34, Traoré became the world's youngest head of state upon taking office in September 2022, a record he held until surpassed by others.