“French Colonial Legacy”: Burkina Faso Bans Wigs from Courtrooms

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In a new initiative, Burkina Faso’s transitional president, Ibrahim Traoré, has taken a step to eliminate remnants of the country’s French colonial legacy.

Traoré has decided to ban judges from wearing wigs, a tradition inherited from the French judicial system and widely adopted by countries in the Sahel region.

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According to local media, the decision aims to break colonial traditions and adopt practices that better reflect Burkina Faso’s cultural heritage.

The wearing of wigs has been banned in all courts across Burkina Faso following the announcement. Colonial-style wigs are now prohibited, as confirmed by local authorities.

The Ministry of Justice in Burkina Faso welcomed the move, stating that it aims to modernize the judicial system in a way that aligns with the country’s cultural heritage. The measure is part of a broader effort to eliminate traces of colonialism, reaffirm Burkina Faso’s sovereignty, and provide the judicial system with an identity more consistent with African history and values.

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Analysts view this move as part of a broader desire to sever ties with symbols of the colonial past, marking a turning point in the country’s administrative reforms.

Tensions Between Traoré and Macron

Earlier this month, tensions flared between Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron criticized what he described as the “ingratitude” of some African leaders for failing to acknowledge France’s military intervention against terrorism in the Sahel. Traoré responded by accusing Macron of having “insulted all Africans.”

In his speech, Macron stated: “I think they forgot to thank us… It doesn’t matter, it will come with time. Ingratitude, as I know well, is a disease that does not affect humans.”

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In response, Traoré remarked: “Macron insulted all Africans… This is how he views Africa, this is how he sees Africans. In his eyes, we are not human beings.”

He added: “If we want to sever ties with these imperial powers, it’s simple: we must cancel the agreements. If we merely ask them to leave their (military) bases, we’ve achieved nothing.”

Deteriorating Relations with France

Relations between Burkina Faso and France have worsened since Traoré, 36, assumed power in September 2022.

In 2023, French troops withdrew from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. France has since begun reorganizing its military presence in Africa. However, countries such as Chad and Senegal have recently requested the withdrawal of French forces from their territories.

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Chad terminated its military cooperation agreement with France and demanded the departure of French troops by the end of January. Senegal also called for the closure of French military bases and the end of any foreign military presence, based on a timeline yet to be defined.

France must also gradually withdraw its forces from Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon, two countries with which it maintains relatively good relations.

Burkina Faso, along with its neighbors Mali, Niger, and Chad, continues to erase French colonial influence through various measures, including changes in educational materials, official language policies, and renaming public spaces.

On September 16, 2023, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, all governed by military regimes, announced the formation of the Sahel States Alliance to counter the influence of ECOWAS, an organization they view as manipulated by France, the former colonial power.

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