Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré has argued that democracy has not resulted in development for any nation, challenging widely held global norms.
PUNCH
Burkina Faso’s President, Ibrahim Traoré, has claimed that no country in the world has developed under a democratic system, challenging conventional global views on governance. Speaking in a televised interview, Traoré said, “No country has developed through democracy. There is no such thing. There is no country that has developed under democracy. Go and look everywhere.”
The military leader, who came to power through a coup in 2022, argued that the model imposed on African countries fails to consider their unique historical and cultural contexts. Traoré also emphasized the need for systems that prioritize national sovereignty and pragmatic leadership over foreign expectations.
His comments come amid a wave of military takeovers across West Africa, where leaders cite corruption, insecurity, and external interference as justifications. Critics, however, warn that abandoning democracy may lead to authoritarianism and human rights abuses.