Burkina Faso leader says elections will wait until security is restored

Ouagadougou, April 3, 2026 - Burkina Faso’s transitional president, Ibrahim Traoré, has said the country will only hold elections once national security is fully restored, stressing that democratic processes cannot succeed amid ongoing armed threats. Speaking in an interview on April 2, Traoré said that instability caused by terrorist groups remains the main obstacle to organizing elections, and argued that “fake democracy” could have harmful consequences if implemented under current conditions. He reiterated that governance priorities must focus on restoring peace and stability before a return to electoral politics. Traoré, who came to power following a coup in September 2022, had previously promised elections for 2024, but they have been postponed as security challenges persist. His remarks highlight ongoing debate in Burkina Faso over the timing of a return to constitutional rule while the country continues to face militant insurgencies.