Burkina Faso Military Ruler Tells Citizens to "Forget" Democracy, Bans All Political Parties

Burkina Faso's coup leader Ibrahim Traoré publicly called on citizens to reject democratic governance, declaring "We must tell the truth, democracy isn't for us." Having seized power in 2022 and broken a promise of elections by 2024, Traoré extended his rule through 2029, dissolved the electoral commission, and formally banned all political parties. Journalists and opposition figures have been forcibly conscripted and sent to fight armed groups on the front lines. The statement reflects an accelerating trend of anti-democratic consolidation across the Sahel military junta belt.