Burkina Faso’s transitional President Ibrahim Traoré has urged citizens to “forget democracy” as it was not a viable system for his country.
In an interview shown on the state owned RTB channel, Traoré insisted the “pillars of democracy” were not made for Burkina Faso. “It has to walk its own path,” Traoré declared. His comments follow months of increasing use of military power in his administration.
Traoré himself took over as part of a military coup against another military-ruled government in September 2022. Opposition voices have since been marginalized as the critics say the political space is shrinking. The authorities had earlier in 2025 dissolved the electoral commission which plays a critical role in organizing democratic elections.
Months later in February 2026 the military-backed parliament banned political parties from operating. Although most party activities were already banned following the 2022 coup, it was seen as a confirmation of the termination of political opposition in the country
UN urged the Burkinabe authorities to immediately lift the ban on political parties and halt “repression of political life“. However, the military government continued to defend the choice of path, saying its actions were aimed at restoring security to the nation which has been plagued by a protracted terrorist threat.
These latest comments by the transitional President, Ibrahim Burkina Faso’s Traoré Tells Citizens to “Forget Democracy”, are among the starkest admissions that his regime is turning its back on democracy since taking office.
