Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of Burkina Faso, has raised alarm over the type of education some Burkinabè students are getting in Saudi Arabia. He said that out of about 1,000 students there, around 800 are studying Sharia and Islamic law instead of useful trades like engineering, science, or technology.
Traoré made the statement in a recent speech, reported widely between 16 and 19 July 2026. He stressed that no religion is bigger than the country. “I am a Muslim, but everyone in Burkina Faso has the right to practise their own religion. There will never be Sharia law in this country,” he said.Watch Video Here
He questioned why the students left Burkina Faso without government knowledge to study Sharia. “They want to learn this Sharia to come and apply it in which country?” Traoré asked. He made it clear that Burkina Faso needs people who can build the nation with practical skills, not more religious extremism.
The captain warned that the government will bring the students back home. Those who refuse may have their Burkinabè citizenship revoked. He also said he will talk directly with the Saudi embassy about this matter.
