Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has said the country must “forget” democracy, as his junta consolidates power amid a prolonged security crisis.

Traoré, who seized power in a September 2022 coup, made the remarks during an interview broadcast on state television on Thursday.

“We’re not even talking about elections, first of all. People need to forget about the issue of democracy. Democracy isn’t for us,” he said.

Since taking office after toppling a previous military regime, Traoré has overseen sweeping political changes, including the dissolution of the electoral commission and the banning of political parties, whose activities had already been suspended since 2022.

The country’s transition to civilian rule, initially scheduled to end in July 2024, was extended by five years, effectively allowing the junta to remain in power until at least 2029.

Burkina Faso has been battling a decade-long jihadist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, with the military government citing security concerns as justification for delaying democratic processes.

However, the developments have drawn international criticism. The United Nations has called on the junta to reverse its ban on political parties and halt what it described as the repression of civic space.

The Traoré-led government has also taken a hard stance against Western influence, particularly France, suspending or banning several international media outlets and expelling foreign journalists.

The latest comments are expected to heighten concerns over democratic backsliding in the West African nation, which has experienced repeated military takeovers in recent years.