Burkina Faso military leader Traore says ‘forget democracy’

Burkina Faso's military leader, Ibrahim Traore, stated that the population needs to "forget" about democracy, reversing earlier promises to restore the country to a democratic path. Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup, dissolved political parties three months prior and now claims democracy is unsuitable for Burkina Faso, citing Libya as a negative example. He argues that democracy leads to bloodshed and slavery. Traore initially promised elections in 2024 but later postponed them indefinitely, citing security concerns related to al-Qaeda and ISIL-linked groups. Despite the military government's efforts, Burkina Faso continues to face attacks and widespread displacement.

Burkina Faso's military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, stated that the country must abandon democracy, claiming it is divisive and unsuitable for Africa. Traoré, who took power in a coup three years ago, made the comments in a recent interview, arguing that democracy "kills." He cited Libya as an example of Western-imposed democracy leading to bloodshed. Traoré's junta previously extended its rule for five years and banned political parties as part of a plan to rebuild the state. He criticized politicians as embodying negative traits and emphasized building a new system rooted in sovereignty and patriotism, without specifying an alternative political structure.

Burkina Faso's military ruler, Ibrahim Traoré, declared that democracy is "not for us" in a recent interview, effectively halting the planned transition to democratic rule. Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has banned political parties and extended his rule until 2029. He justified this stance by criticizing democracy as destructive, while invoking the legacy of former leader Thomas Sankara. Despite Traoré's anti-Western rhetoric, he has struggled to contain a jihadist insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions since 2014. Human Rights Watch has accused the military, allied militias, and al-Qaida-linked groups of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the alleged ethnic cleansing of Fulani civilians. The government has denied accusations of abuses and banned Human Rights Watch and some international media outlets.

A Human Rights Watch report states that over 1,800 civilians have been killed in Burkina Faso since January 2023, following Ibrahim Traoré's seizure of power. The report, covering incidents up to August 2025, attributes 1,255 deaths to the military and allied militias, while the rest are blamed on Islamist militants. HRW alleges these acts may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, holding President Traoré and other leaders potentially liable. The report cites incidents like the December 2023 killings in Djibo, where over 400 civilians were allegedly killed by the military and allied militias. The report accuses all sides of war crimes, including attacks on civilians, pillaging, and forced displacement, and criticizes the junta for a lack of accountability and hindering reporting on the violence.