Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in Burkina Faso (a landlocked West African nation under severe jihadist pressure) in a 2022 coup, has moved to entrench his rule even as earlier commitments to a democratic transition remain unfulfilled. Styling himself a revolutionary figure, Traoré has increasingly centralised authority while the country's security crisis and humanitarian situation continue to deteriorate. The consolidation raises fresh concerns about the prospects for civilian governance across the Sahel, a region that has seen a wave of military takeovers in recent years.