Ibrahim Traoré, the military leader of Burkina Faso: Democracy kills, we must forget about it

Ibrahim Traoré, the military leader of Burkina Faso, stated that democracy 'kills' and that the people should forget about this system, in an interview broadcast by state television. Traoré, who took power through a coup three years ago, suggested that the majority of Africans do not want democracy and that the country has an alternative approach. Although he initially committed to restoring the democratic regime by July 2024, he recently announced an extension of the regime for another five years, banning all political parties. In the interview, Traoré compared the situation in Burkina Faso to that in Libya, emphasizing that Western interventions in the name of democracy have led to violence. He criticized politicians, considering them liars and divisive, and proposed building a new system based on sovereignty and patriotism. Traoré has been accused of repressing dissent and taking drastic measures against the opposition, while Burkina Faso seeks military assistance from Russia in the context of the Islamist insurgency. A recent report indicated that over 1,800 civilians have been killed during his tenure, with most of the crimes attributed to the army and allied militias.