Capt Ibrahim Traoré, the military ruler of Burkina Faso, has declared that democracy “kills” and urged citizens to “forget” the system, during an interview aired on state television. Traoré, who seized power in a 2023 coup, initially pledged to restore democratic governance by July 2024 but announced a five-year extension of junta rule just two months before the deadline.
The 38-year-old leader criticised political parties as divisive and incompatible with what he describes as the revolutionary project, dissolving them entirely. He did not detail an alternative system but emphasised sovereignty, patriotism, revolutionary mobilisation, and the involvement of traditional leaders and grassroots structures.
Traoré cited Libya under Muammar Gaddafi as a cautionary example, claiming that Western-led democracy elsewhere is “always accompanied by bloodshed.” He has gained popularity among some pan-Africanists for his criticism of Western influence, while suppressing dissent at home, including opposition, media, and civil society. Reports indicate that over 1,800 civilians have been killed since Traoré took power, with two-thirds of deaths attributed to the military and allied militias.
Like Burkina Faso’s junta-led neighbours Mali and Niger, Traoré’s government has distanced itself from Western military partners, turning instead to Russia for assistance against Islamist insurgents, though violence persists.
