A Lesson for America from West Africa

From DW Africa:

Burkina Faso’s military leader, Ibrahim Traore, has said the country should “forget about democracy,” in one of his clearest signs yet that military rule could continue for years. Traore seized power in a coup in September 2022, overthrowing another junta that had itself taken control just nine months earlier. Since then, he has tightened his grip on power, suppressing opposition and banning political parties in January. He had initially promised a return to civilian rule, but later delayed elections, arguing that Burkina Faso remained too insecure because of ongoing Islamist insurgencies. Last year, the junta extended the transition period, allowing Traore to stay in office until 2029. His remarks suggest Burkina Faso is moving even further away from its earlier pledge to restore democratic governance.

The story above is an extremely common one in the developing world and illustrates a critically important point: once a democracy is lost, it’s almost impossible to recover.

America: Take Heed.