Ibrahim Traoré, the President of Burkina Faso, has said that his country will hold elections only when it is confident about its security, emphasizing that people should avoid treating democracy as a perfect solution, as it also has its downsides.
President Traoré made these remarks on Thursday, April 2, 2026, during a media interview.
The head of state was asked about when presidential elections-previously promised to citizens shortly after he came to power, would take place.
He stated that elections would be conducted once security is restored, noting that the army is still engaged in fighting terrorist groups.
He said: “People should forget about these ideas of democracy; we must speak the truth: democracy is not ours.”
Referring to Libya, which was attacked by Western countries leading to the removal of Muammar Gaddafi in an effort to introduce democracy, President Traoré suggested that democracy can also have negative consequences.
He added: “Democracy can kill.”
Ibrahim Traoré came to power in September 2022 following a coup d’état. He had promised that presidential elections would be held in 2024, but they have not yet taken place.
