Burkina Faso's military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, has stated that democracy is not suitable for his nation, urging citizens to abandon the concept. Speaking on state media, Captain Traoré, who seized power in a September 2022 coup, asserted that people should "forget about" democracy, describing it as "not for us."

The 37-year-old leader characterized democracy as "false," linking it to violence and destruction. He questioned its legitimacy by associating it with acts such as the killing of children and women, the dropping of bombs, and the destruction of hospitals.

Captain Traoré's administration came to power after he toppled a previous military government. Since then, his regime has suppressed political opposition and outlawed political parties across the West African nation. A planned transition to democratic governance, initially scheduled for 2024, has been extended, with the ruling junta now indicating Captain Traoré's leadership will continue until 2029.

Captain Traoré's anti-French and anti-Western rhetoric has garnered support in some parts of Africa. However, his government has faced persistent challenges in curbing a jihadist insurgency that has plagued Burkina Faso since 2014, leading to thousands of fatalities.