In a dramatic and unexpected moment of defiance, a 13-year-old boy armed with nothing but a slingshot has captured global attention after reportedly downing a French military drone during a protest in Burkina Faso.
Aliou Sawadogo, now dubbed “Burkina Faso’s No. 1 sniper” on social media, is being hailed as a national hero after using a handheld slingshot to shoot down the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying above a mass demonstration against French military presence in the West African country.
The drone, believed to be part of ongoing French surveillance operations in the region, was circling over a crowd of protesters when the teenager took aim. According to witnesses, cheers erupted when the aircraft spiraled out of the sky and crashed to the ground. Furious demonstrators reportedly tore the UAV apart, chanting slogans demanding an end to foreign interference.
Footage of Aliou standing triumphantly beside the wreckage quickly went viral, sparking an outpouring of support and admiration across West Africa and beyond. “This boy has more courage than most adults,” one viral post read. “He symbolizes the will of the people.”
The incident comes amid rising tensions between Burkina Faso and its former colonial ruler. Just last week, protesters in the northern city of Kaya blocked a French military convoy en route to Niger, demanding the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops.
This surge in nationalist sentiment follows one of the deadliest attacks in the country’s recent history, where more than 50 people — including 49 gendarmes — were killed in the north during an assault by Islamist insurgents linked to Daesh.
Burkina Faso lies at the heart of a volatile region plagued by extremist violence. Its borders with Mali and Niger have become hotbeds of terrorist activity, placing immense pressure on local security forces and drawing in international military interventions.
Aliou’s unlikely feat, however, has become a powerful symbol of grassroots resistance. “He didn’t just hit a drone,” one protester told local media. “He struck a blow to foreign domination.”
