Burkina Faso’s military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a September 2022 coup, has declared that citizens should “forget about democracy,” claiming that “democracy k+lls.”
Traoré’s remarks during a roundtable with journalists, aired on state television, signal his intention to rule for the long term, despite his government initially committing to elections in 2024.
Asked about elections, Traoré said his administration is focused on other priorities, stating: “People need to forget about the issue of democracy. We have to tell the truth. Democracy isn’t for us.” He cited Libya as an example where outsiders tried to “impose democracy” and insisted that it led to harm.
Since taking power, Traoré’s government has dissolved all political parties, after previously suspending political activities. Before the coup, Burkina Faso had over 100 registered parties, with 15 represented in parliament following the 2020 general election.
