Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has declared that the country must abandon the idea of democracy, insisting that elections are not part of his government’s agenda. Speaking in a televised interview on Thursday, Traore said, “People need to forget about the issue of democracy. Democracy isn’t for us.”
Traore seized power in September 2022 after ousting another junta leader. Since then, his government has tightened control over political and civic space. The electoral commission was dissolved in 2025, and in February 2026, the junta-led parliament formally disbanded all political parties, which had already been suspended since 2022.
Burkina Faso had initially planned a transition to democratic rule following the first coup in January 2022, with elections scheduled for July 2024. However, the junta extended the transition period by five years, allowing Traore to remain in power until at least 2029. The country continues to face severe insecurity, with jihadist violence claiming thousands of lives over the past decade.
International bodies, including the United Nations, have urged the junta to reverse its decision to ban political parties and to end repression of civic freedoms. The military government has also banned or suspended several international media outlets and expelled journalists, further restricting access to independent information.
Traore’s stance reflects the junta’s hostility toward Western nations, particularly France, and its determination to consolidate military rule. Critics warn that the rejection of democratic governance risks deepening instability in a country already struggling with violence, poverty, and displacement.
