Is democracy the utmost good in Burkina Faso?

By Nfor Hanson Nchanji

Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore has extended his rule until the end of 2029, several local media have confirmed. This means that the leader of the military junta will have five more years to rule.

At the end of his rule, a civilian leader is expected to take over, according to the resolutions of the national dialogue.

The junta believes that to bring back the lost glories of the West African nation, they need to manage the country with iron hands. To the Western world, this is discrediting democracy but to many Burkinabes, this is the right thing to do.

Since he took over power in 2022 after being frustrated with the way Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba who led the country from January to September 2022, the youngest African president has succeeded in quashing at least 7 assassination attempts.

Major decisions taken by the junta

For close to two years, the junta has made a shift from the Western bloc to joining the Russians. A diplomatic move that also aligns with neighbors such as Niger and Mali. In January 2024, these three countries announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, stating that the West African Bloc was a threat to its members. This decision was taken as a response to threats from ECOWAS to invade Niger which staged a coup on July 26, 2023, overthrowing the civilian regime of Mohamed Bazoum. Analysis: Response to Niger coup by Mali, Burkina Reveals Disdain for France, West – Cameroon News Agency

The regime of the 35-year-old handled the French file with a rigorous stance. After expelling French troops from the country, he abolished a post-independence double tax treaty that required French companies to pay taxes in France and not in Burkina Faso where they operate. This was seen as a victory as many wondered how a company would pay taxes to another country while operating in another country. This can never happen if it was a Burkinabe-owned company operating in France.

Apart from these, he also rejected loans from the IMF, abolished French, as an official language, said he would continue to receive his salary as Captain, established an agreement with Russia to build a nuclear plant, created a regional flight company, military, and banking system, among others.

Between democracy and good governance

Many people have the notion that democracy is the utmost good in any country, but I find this conflicting in the sense that what many democratically elected leaders have done can barely be compared to the reshaping of the country’s vision through military coups, such coups are often attributed to failures by democratically elected leaders to meet the expectations of the people. While I cannot categorically state that military coups are more beneficial than having a democratically elected president because we all must encourage democracy, I also want to highlight the point that people do not care if they have a democratic government or junta; they just want to change their standard of living.

In the Burkinabe case, the country has experienced instability from Jihadists in the north, and then military coups, among others. The government needs effective leadership, which many see as a competition with the ideal of democracy.

What can you prioritize; a democratic government infested with perceived corruption or inefficiency or good leadership, stability, and development? Public opinion for now in Burkina Faso goes for stability and growth. Their immediate concerns such as poverty, unemployment, and access to basic services might take precedence over democratic governance. A government that can effectively address these issues might be seen as more legitimate, regardless of its democratic credentials.

The international community often promotes democracy as a universal good, but local contexts might demand different governance approaches. Balancing external pressure and internal needs is a challenge for many Burkinabe leaders.

Sahelian nations are resolute in ousting the West

Surely, this decision by Burkina Faso will inspire his Malian and Nigerien counterparts, Assimi Goita and Abdouramane Tchiani, respectively.

In 2020, Assimi Goita was part of a coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita but he would still lead another coup in May 2021 when the Army accused the interim leader, Bah N’daw, and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. This was Mali’s second coup in one; but also the second in 9 years. In 2012 when Mali experienced a military coup, the stability of the region came under threat with France sending a peacekeeping force in 2013. Since then the West has held a grip on the Sahelian nation.

Also Read Niger: Population validate military coup, says France is history – Cameroon News Agency

But When Goita came to power, he dismissed the French and sent them packing from Mali. Their only hopes were Burkina Faso and Niger but these countries also sent the parking in successive coups in 2022 and 2023, res[pectively.

By extending their stay in and pushing away a possible return to democracy, these Sahelian nations have succeeded in keeping the West at a long distance. France, the former colonial power is criticized for “speaking with water in the mouth” by reacting differently to the coups across their former trust territories. For example, they remain quickly collaborated with the coup leaders in Chad and Gabon while strongly condemning those in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. Chad’s leader who recently won the country’s presidential elections, Mahamat Idris Derby Itno, took over power when his father died, without being elected. Gabon’s junta leader also took over power from his cousin, Ali Bongo, without any major reactions from the West.

So, as far as these coups will jeopardize the interest of the West, they are bad!

I will however also want to emphasize that during research carried out in Mali, in my concluding statements after interviewing 20 respondents, I said that Mali has remained poor because of internal and external factors, and according to the interviewees, the internal factors play a great role.

It is true that the West as diplomacy demands is there to protect their interests but who is safeguarding these interests for the benefit of the West? The leaders and a few ELites were blamed for always putting their interests first, siphoning money, and engaging in corrupt practices among others. Until good governance returns, with the rule of law, and the constitution, the people will suffer consequences of the actions of a few.