The head of the Burkinabe junta calls for democracy to be “forgotten”

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s military leader since the 2022 coup, has stated that democracy is not suited to the country and should be “forgotten”. In an interview broadcast on state television, he claimed that this political system was a source of division and violence, adding that the people of Burkina Faso must follow a different path, though he did not specify what form this would take.

Initially, the junta had pledged to restore a democratic regime by July 2024. But as that deadline approached, it extended its mandate by five years. In January, the authorities also banned all political parties as part of a project aimed at “rebuilding the state”. Traoré regards these parties as dangerous and incompatible with his revolutionary ambitions.

The junta leader is part of a broader narrative, criticising Western influence and asserting that attempts to impose democracy in Africa have often led to conflict. He cites Libya in particular as an example, a country plunged into instability since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

On the security front, the situation remains worrying. Burkina Faso has been grappling with a persistent jihadist insurgency for a decade. Despite a rapprochement with Russia and a break with Western partners, the violence continues. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 1,800 civilians have been killed since 2023, the majority of whom are attributed to government forces and their allies. BBC

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