'It's not for us', Burkina junta chief says country must 'forget' democracy

Burkina Faso's junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, stated that the country must 'forget' about democracy during a national television interview. Since his coup in September 2022, Traore has suppressed dissenting voices, dissolved the electoral commission, and all political parties. He claimed that the country is not ready for elections and extended the democratic transition period by five years, allowing the junta to remain in power amid ongoing jihadist violence.