Democracy “kills” and the people of Burkina Faso must “forget” it, the country’s military ruler has said in an interview aired on state television.
Capt Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a coup three years ago, suggested most Africans do not want the system of democracy and that Burkina Faso had its own, alternative approach, without giving details.
Traoré initially pledged to restore democratic rule to the West African country by July 2024, but two months before this deadline, the junta announced it would extend its rule for another five years.
Two months ago, the authorities announced a ban on all political parties as part of a plan to “rebuild the state”.
In Thursday night’s interview, 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 said.
Libya was ruled autocratically for four decades by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who oversaw a brutal regime while also providing Libyans with subsided housing, free education and free healthcare.
He was killed during a rebellion assisted by Western military intervention. The north African country has since failed in its mission to establish a democracy and is instead split between two rival administrations.
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