Democracy Kills, Burkina Faso Must Forget It

Democracy kills and the people of Burkina Faso must forget it, the country’s military ruler has said in an interview aired on state television.

Capt Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a coup three years ago, suggested that most Africans do not want the system of democracy and that Burkina Faso had its own alternative approach, without giving details.

Traoré initially pledged to restore democratic rule to the West African country by July 2024, but two months before this deadline, the junta announced it would extend its rule for another five years.

In January, the authorities announced a ban on all political parties as part of a plan to “rebuild the state”.

In Thursday night’s interview, Traoré said: “People need to forget about the issue of democracy. Democracy is not for us.

“Look at Libya, this is an example close to us,” said the 38-year-old, who casts himself as a revolutionary leader standing up to Western imperialism.

“Wherever they [Western powers] try to establish democracy in the world, it’s always accompanied by bloodshed,” Traoré said in the interview.

Traoré also addressed the dissolution of political parties, saying he considered them to be divisive, dangerous and incompatible with the revolutionary protect.

“The truth is, politics in Africa – or at least what we’ve experienced in Burkina – is that a real politician is someone who embodies every vice: a liar, a sycophant, a smooth-talker,” he said.

The junta leader did not propose an alternative system, but said: “We have our own approach. We’re not even trying to copy anyone else. We’re here to completely change the way things are done.”

He emphasised building a new system rooted in sovereignty, patriotism and revolutionary mobilisation, with traditional leaders and grassroots structures playing a central role.

In a wide-ranging interview, he also emphasised the importance of economic and military self-reliance, as well as hard work, saying that working six- or eight-hour days would not enable Burkina Faso to catch up with richer countries.