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Burkina Faso’s military leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré said citizens should "forget about the issue of democracy" and that "democracy isn't for us" during a roundtable interview aired on state TV, comments seen as signaling an intention to maintain long-term military rule.

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Burkina Faso’s military leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré said citizens should "forget about the issue of democracy" and that "democracy isn't for us" during a roundtable interview aired on state TV, comments seen as signaling an intention to maintain long-term military rule.

Traoré's government, which originally committed to holding elections in 2024, extended its transition period by five years. The military government also <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/burkina-faso-dissolves-all-political-parties-after-coup">dissolved the country's electoral commission and all political parties</a>, whose activities had been suspended since 2022.

Traoré's government, which originally committed to holding elections in 2024, extended its transition period by five years. The military government also dissolved the country's electoral commission and all political parties, whose activities had been suspended since 2022.

Before Traoré's coup, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament after the 2020 general election. Neighboring Mali and Niger, also under military rule, have similarly dissolved their political parties.

Before Traoré's coup, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament after the 2020 general election. Neighboring Mali and Niger, also under military rule, have similarly dissolved their political parties.

The United Nations has urged Burkina Faso to reverse its ban on political parties and halt the "repression of civic space." Since taking power, the interim government has banned or suspended numerous international media outlets and expelled some of their journalists.

The United Nations has urged Burkina Faso to reverse its ban on political parties and halt the "repression of civic space." Since taking power, the interim government has banned or suspended numerous international media outlets and expelled some of their journalists.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented 57 incidents between January 2023 and August 2025 in which at least 1,837 civilians were killed in the country. Of those deaths, approximately 1,255 were attributed to Burkina Faso's military and allied militias, with the remainder blamed on Islamist militants.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented 57 incidents between January 2023 and August 2025 in which at least 1,837 civilians were killed in the country. Of those deaths, approximately 1,255 were attributed to Burkina Faso's military and allied militias, with the remainder blamed on Islamist militants.

HRW found that Traoré and six senior military commanders could be considered liable for abuses and called on the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary examination into alleged war crimes "committed by all parties" since September 2022.

HRW found that Traoré and six senior military commanders could be considered liable for abuses and called on the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary examination into alleged war crimes "committed by all parties" since September 2022.

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Burkina Faso’s military leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré said citizens should "forget about the issue of democracy" and that "democracy isn’t for us" during a roundtable interview aired on state TV, comments seen as signaling an intention to maintain long-term military rule.

Burkina Faso’s military leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré said citizens should "forget about the issue of democracy" and that "democracy isn’t for us" during a roundtable interview aired on state TV, comments seen as signaling an intention to maintain long-term military rule.

HRW found that Traoré and six senior military commanders "may be liable as a matter of command responsibility for grave abuses" and called on the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary examination into alleged war crimes "committed by all parties" since September 2022.

HRW found that Traoré and six senior military commanders "may be liable as a matter of command responsibility for grave abuses" and called on the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary examination into alleged war crimes "committed by all parties" since September 2022.

Traoré’s approach reflects a hard reality: security and state control come first. Years of externally backed democratic frameworks failed to stop jihadist violence, showing democracy is no magic solution for peace or development and often a pretext for Western interference. Western governments invoke it selectively when it suits their interests, while tolerating instability Burkina Faso now seeks to defeat. Prioritizing security and sovereignty is therefore a prerequisite, not a rejection of progress.

Traoré’s approach reflects a hard reality: security and state control come first. Years of externally backed democratic frameworks failed to stop jihadist violence, showing democracy is no magic solution for peace or development and often a pretext for Western interference. Western governments invoke it selectively when it suits their interests, while tolerating instability Burkina Faso now seeks to defeat. Prioritizing security and sovereignty is therefore a prerequisite, not a rejection of progress.

Traoré’s junta isn’t just anti-democratic — it is actively targeting the people it claims to protect. Human Rights Watch found government forces killed over 1,200 civilians between January 2023 and August 2025, far more than the militant toll, including systematic attacks on Fulani communities that may amount to war crimes. This is not a security strategy but a sustained and escalating pattern of violence — a regime that is itself driving the crisis and further deepening the conflict it claims to fight.

Traoré’s junta isn’t just anti-democratic — it is actively targeting the people it claims to protect. Human Rights Watch found government forces killed over 1,200 civilians between January 2023 and August 2025, far more than the militant toll, including systematic attacks on Fulani communities that may amount to war crimes. This is not a security strategy but a sustained and escalating pattern of violence — a regime that is itself driving the crisis and further deepening the conflict it claims to fight.

There is a 15% chance that there will be a successful coup in Africa or Latin America before May 1, 2026, according to the etaculus prediction community.

There is a 15% chance that there will be a successful coup in Africa or Latin America before May 1, 2026, according to the etaculus prediction community.

West Africa: Coups, Jihadism and Geopolitical Competition

Burkina Faso: Military Leader Says Country Must 'Forget' Democracy

Alexandr Kryazhev/RIA Novosti/Pool/Anadolu/Getty Images

Burkina Faso: Military Leader Says Country Must 'Forget' Democracy

Burkina Faso

Africa

Traoré's approach reflects a hard reality — security and state control come first. Years of externally backed democratic frameworks failed to stop jihadist violence, showing democracy is no magic solution for peace or development and often a pretext for Western interference. Western governments invoke it selectively when it suits their interests, while tolerating the instability that Burkina Faso now seeks to defeat. Prioritizing security and sovereignty is therefore a prerequisite, not a rejection of progress.

Traoré's approach reflects a hard reality — security and state control come first. Years of externally backed democratic frameworks failed to stop jihadist violence, showing democracy is no magic solution for peace or development and often a pretext for Western interference. Western governments invoke it selectively when it suits their interests, while tolerating the instability that Burkina Faso now seeks to defeat. Prioritizing security and sovereignty is therefore a prerequisite, not a rejection of progress.

Traoré’s junta isn't just anti-democratic — it is actively targeting the people it claims to protect. Human Rights Watch found government forces killed over 1,200 civilians between January 2023 and August 2025, far more than the militant toll, including systematic attacks on Fulani communities that may amount to war crimes. This is not a security strategy but a sustained and escalating pattern of violence — a regime that is itself driving the crisis and further deepening the conflict it claims to fight.

Traoré’s junta isn't just anti-democratic — it is actively targeting the people it claims to protect. Human Rights Watch found government forces killed over 1,200 civilians between January 2023 and August 2025, far more than the militant toll, including systematic attacks on Fulani communities that may amount to war crimes. This is not a security strategy but a sustained and escalating pattern of violence — a regime that is itself driving the crisis and further deepening the conflict it claims to fight.

There is a 15% chance that there will be a successful coup in Africa or Latin America before May 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 15% chance that there will be a successful coup in Africa or Latin America before May 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Burkina Faso: Military Leader Says Country Must 'Forget' Democracy

Burkina Faso: Military Leader Says Country Must 'Forget' Democracy

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