Traoré Rejects Democracy in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, has openly criticized democracy, saying the system “kills” and should be abandoned by the country. In an interview broadcast on state television, the 38-year-old leader argued that democracy is not suited to Burkina Faso or much of Africa. “People need to forget about the issue of democracy. Democracy is not for us,” he stated, without outlining a clear alternative model. Traoré, who took power in a 2022 coup, had initially promised a return to civilian rule by July 2024. However, the military government later extended its transition period by five years. In January, authorities also suspended all political parties, describing the move as part of efforts to rebuild the state. To support his argument, Traoré pointed to Libya, suggesting that attempts to impose democracy there led to instability and conflict. He claimed that Western-backed […]
