By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Burkina Faso’s military ruler has said his country must “forget” democracy because it “kills”, noting that the West African nation has its alternative but did not give further details.
Capt Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a coup three years ago, in an interview suggested that most Africans do not want the system of democracy.
Traoré initially pledged to restore democratic rule by July 2024, but two months before this deadline, the junta announced it would extend its rule for another five years.
In January, the authorities announced a ban on all political parties as part of a plan to “rebuild the state”.
In the interview on Thursday night, Traoré said: “People need to forget about the issue of democracy. Democracy is not for us.
“Look at Libya, this is an example close to us,” the 38-year-old leader, seen by young people as standing up to Western imperialism stated.
Libya was ruled autocratically for four decades by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who oversaw a brutal regime while also providing Libyans with subsidised housing, free education and free healthcare.
He was killed during a rebellion assisted by Western military intervention. The north African country has since failed to hold elections and is split between two rival administrations, along with numerous armed groups.
“Wherever they [Western powers] try to establish democracy in the world, it’s always accompanied by bloodshed,” Traoré said in his interview.
Traoré also addressed the dissolution of political parties, saying he considered them to be divisive, dangerous and incompatible with the revolutionary protect.
“The truth is, politics in Africa – or at least what we’ve experienced in Burkina – is that a real politician is someone who embodies every vice: a liar, a sycophant, a smooth-talker,” he said.
The junta leader did not propose an alternative system, but said: “We have our own approach. We’re not even trying to copy anyone else. We’re here to completely change the way things are done.”
He emphasised building a new system rooted in sovereignty, patriotism and revolutionary mobilisation, with traditional leaders and grassroots structures playing a central role.
In a wide-ranging interview, he also emphasised the importance of economic and military self-reliance, as well as hard work, saying that working six- or eight-hour days would not enable Burkina Faso to catch up with richer countries.
Burkina Faso, like its junta-led neighbours Mali and Niger, has moved away from working with Western countries, especially France, in its fight against Islamist militants, which have waged a decade-long insurgency in the region.
All three have instead turned towards Russia for military assistance.
