Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Ibrahim Traoré, has said the country should move away from discussions about democracy, insisting that the current priority is not elections or democratic processes.
Speaking in an interview on state television, Traoré stated that the focus should shift entirely, adding that democracy, in his view, is not suitable for the country at this time.
The captain came to power in September 2022 after ousting a previous junta leader, and his administration has since tightened control over political activities and public expression.
In recent developments, the military government scrapped the national electoral body and later dissolved all political parties, whose activities had already been suspended since the coup.
Although Burkina Faso initially outlined a transition back to civilian rule following the January 2022 coup, the timeline has been extended by five years, allowing the current leadership to remain in control longer than originally planned.
The country continues to battle a prolonged insurgency linked to extremist groups, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced many communities over the past decade.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has called on the authorities to restore political freedoms and reverse decisions affecting democratic institutions.
The junta has also taken a hard stance against Western influence, particularly distancing itself from France, while restricting several international media organisations and expelling some foreign journalists.
Source: AFP