CHICAGO — August 14, 2026 — Members and supporters of the Center for Political Innovation (CPI) rallied outside the French Consulate in downtown Chicago on August 14, calling for French imperialism to keep its hands off Africa while expressing strong support for Burkina Faso leader Ibrahim Traoré and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
“Traoré is my hero!” said Gabby Hernandez. Dan Nowman of Los Angeles echoed her, emphasizing that the US government focuses on war and prisons while the AES invests in its people.
Demonstrators carried a large “Hands Off Ibrahim Traoré! Hands Off Africa!” banner and chanted “France Out of Africa!” Speakers praised the efforts of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to assert national sovereignty, control their natural resources and pursue independent economic development. Penny Arcos described the improvements in the conditions of women, and the expansion of agricultural projects. Speakers also emphasized that Ukraine is working against the AES, chanting “Ukraine out of Africa!” and supporting Russia’s role in helping defeat the terrorists.
The rally attracted a notably positive response from people passing through downtown Chicago. Many pedestrians stopped to listen and interact with protesters, filming them with their phones and approaching to ask questions about the AES. CPI founder Caleb Maupin described the reception in downtown Chicago near millennial park, in front of the building hosting the French Consulate: “The response that we are getting to our rally out here about Ibrahim Traoré is phenomenal…So many people giving us thumbs up. So many people applauding. So many people stopping to film us with their phones.”
Speakers also connected the struggle for economic independence in Africa with conditions facing working Americans, calling for greater investment in infrastructure, healthcare, housing and economic development rather than war. They repeatedly raised the CPI slogan:
