Ibrahim Traore, the military head of Burkina Faso, has instructed the public to “forget” the concept of democracy, arriving just three months after his administration abolished all political factions within the West African state.
During an extensive broadcast on state media on Thursday, Traore argued that democracy was unsuitable for the nation, asserting that it “is not for us”. He characterised the system as “slavery” and claimed it “kills,” citing Libya as a primary example where foreign attempts to install democratic governance resulted in failure and conflict, reports Al Jazeera.
These comments represent a definitive departure from the initial pledges made by Traore after he seized control in September 2022.
Following the military takeover that removed the democratically elected President Roch Marc Kabore, Traore had first scheduled a return to the polls for 2024. However, he later withdrew this commitment, stating that elections would be deferred until national security was fully restored.
The administration has moved aggressively to dismantle democratic structures. In July 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission was dissolved on the grounds of being too expensive. This was followed in January by a decree that scrapped more than 100 political parties and confiscated their assets.
Analysts have also raised alarms regarding the suppression of the media and the legal profession; opposition figures, prosecutors, and journalists have reportedly been forcibly conscribed to serve on the front lines of the country’s conflict.
Regionally, Burkina Faso has shifted its alliances, exiting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last January alongside Mali and Niger to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The nation has evicted French military forces and replaced them with Russian paramilitary assistance to combat al-Qaeda and ISIL-linked groups.
Despite the government’s focus on military solutions, internal security has deteriorated significantly. Data from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies reveals that fatalities have tripled to 17,775 since Traore took power.
The majority of those killed are civilians, with many deaths linked to government forces and state-aligned militias.
