An X user, @africanhub_, has shared images of buses alongside a claim that the Ibrahim Traoré-led military government of Burkina Faso recently purchased a new set of 115 buses.
Three out of the four images show parked buses in green colour, while others were branded in yellow colour.
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The texts of the claim read thus:
“A total of 115 brand-new buses have just landed in Burkina Faso, following a directive by President Ibrahim Traoré to upgrade urban transportation nationwide.
This move is part of a broader strategy to nationalize public transit- aiming to reduce commuting costs, improve safety with professionally trained drivers, and generate sustainable employment for the people.
So far, 200 drivers have been hired, with more job openings expected soon.”
The post has garnered significant traction online with over 800,000 views, more than 24,000 likes, and over 4,800 reposts as of May 7, 2025.
Similarly, a Malawi-based blog also published a recent report on the claim. It was also found here and here on Facebook.
CLAIM
Images show new buses acquired by Ibrahim Traore-led military government in Burkina Faso.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING, as the images have been online since 2018.
When our fact-checker subjected the three images showing the new buses to a reverse image search using Google Lens, the results show media report from 2018 which revealed that the then Burkinabe government purchased 115 buses to ease mobility difficulty being experienced in the nation’s urban cities and among students.
The report noted that the over 115 buses were handed over to the beneficiaries by the then Burkinabe government at a ceremony held on February 2, 2018 at the headquarters of Sotraco company located in Ouagadougou.
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Also, our fact-checker sighted a video from the Youtube channel of Sotraco, showing the new buses and which dated back to over six years ago. One of the images was also seen here.
Further checks for media reports from credible platforms on the new buses yielded no result.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the images show new buses acquired by Ibrahim Traore-led military government in Burkina Faso is MISLEADING; the images have been online since 2018.
