A military junta that promised elections after coups changed its mind: “We must tell the truth: democracy is not for us”

The leader of Burkina Faso's military junta, which seized power in a coup in September 2022, told reporters that “people must forget about democracy” and that “democracy kills”, the latest sign that he intends to rule for the long term.

The military government led by Ibrahim Traoré had originally pledged to hold elections in 2024. But a year after the coup, he said there would be no elections until the country — which has struggled for more than a decade to contain Islamist insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State — is safe enough for all citizens to vote.

Asked about the election at a roundtable with journalists broadcast live on state television Thursday night, Traoré said his administration was “focused on other challenges.”

“People must forget about the issue of democracy,” he declared. “We must tell the truth: democracy is not for us.”

Citing the example of Libya, where he said external actors tried to “impose democracy”, he added that “democracy kills”.

The military junta banned political parties

Traoré's government dissolved all political parties in January, after previously suspending political activities. Before the coup, the country had over 100 registered political parties, 15 of which were represented in parliament following the 2020 general election.

Neighboring Mali and Niger, also ruled by military regimes that came to power through coups, have also dissolved political parties.

Islamist insurgencies in all three countries have killed thousands and displaced millions over the past decade.

Human Rights Watch released a report just this Thursday, ahead of Colonel Ibrahim Traoré's comments on democracy, indicating that Burkina Faso's army and its allies have killed more than twice as many civilians as Islamist militants since 2023.

The government did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on the report.