A military officer stands in front of Guinea and Russia flags, symbolizing international military relations and cooperation.
Burkina Faso’s military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, declared that citizens should “forget about democracy,” calling it “slavery” and claiming it “kills” in a recent state television interview. His remarks follow sweeping actions, including dissolving political parties, suspending elections, and dismantling key institutions since seizing power in 2022. While Traoré initially pledged a return to civilian rule, he now argues elections must wait until security improves in a country grappling with insurgencies linked to extremist groups. However, violence has surged since he came to power, with deaths rising sharply in recent years—many of them civilians. Traoré’s declaration points to the junta’s intention to wield absolute power without the threat of electoral accountability or political opposition. Meanwhile, citizens face the destruction of civil liberties. Even worse, Traoré’s outright rejection of democratic governance signals the permanent entrenchment of military dictatorships across the Sahel.
Al Jazeera