By Agboola Aluko – GLiDE NEWS, Lagos | April 8, 2025
W hen Burkina Faso’s young military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, boldly declared that “no country has developed under democracy,” he didn’t just challenge political orthodoxy—he reignited one of Africa’s most contentious debates. Was it a justified critique of Western-style governance, or simply a veiled defense of authoritarianism? His statement, made during a national ceremony in Koulouba Palace, has since reverberated across the continent, calling into question Africa’s post-colonial pursuit of democracy as a pathway to prosperity.
Is democracy failing Africa—or is it African leaders who have failed democracy?
A Continent Caught in Political Theater
Africa’s democratic experience has too often been marred by identity politics, ethnic manipulation, and elite power struggles. In countries like Nigeria, elections are frequently reduced to regional contests rather than policy debates. The 2023 general elections in Nigeria, for instance, were plagued by deep divisions along ethnic and religious lines—North versus South, Christian versus Muslim, Yoruba versus Igbo. Rather than unifying the nation, elections have served to deepen fractures, leaving violence, distrust, and disillusionment in their wake.
Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007, Côte d’Ivoire’s bloody 2010 standoff, and similar crises in other African nations underscore a grim reality: in many instances, democracy has become a competition of tribes, not ideas. Instead of delivering on the promise of good governance, elections have provided cover for political actors to loot public funds, rig results, and perpetuate inequality.
Corruption: The Systemic Saboteur
While democratic structures exist across Africa, many operate as hollow shells, routinely compromised by corruption. Nigeria offers a stark case study. Despite its oil wealth, basic infrastructure remains abysmal, and millions live in poverty. In Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Nigeria ranked 145th out of 180 countries—a troubling indicator of persistent graft.
The 2015 “Dasukigate” scandal, involving the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion in arms procurement funds, remains emblematic of how deeply corruption undermines national development. Similar stories unfold across the continent: leaders win elections on promises of reform, only to entrench patronage systems that enrich a few while impoverishing the many.
In comparison, nations like China and Singapore—neither of which follow Western democratic models—have made staggering developmental progress. China has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty under a one-party system, while Singapore transformed from a resource-poor backwater into one of the world’s most prosperous nations, with strict anti-corruption measures and efficient governance.
Is Democracy the Problem or the Excuse?
Traoré’s claim—that no nation has developed through democracy—is factually debatable. Countries such as the United States, Germany, and Japan have achieved remarkable development while maintaining democratic systems. Even in Africa, Botswana stands out as a model of stability and relative economic success, with an estimated GDP per capita of $7,900 (IMF, 2023).
Yet Traoré’s broader critique resonates in contexts where democracy has become performative rather than transformative. Across many African nations, the importation of Western political systems has not produced the development dividends citizens hoped for. Instead, the institutions meant to ensure transparency and accountability have been hijacked by powerful elites who use them to legitimize personal gain.
Traoré’s own rise to power came amid accusations of corruption and ineffectiveness against his predecessor. His approach—rejecting Western economic prescriptions, nationalizing resources, and emphasizing infrastructure—echoes models seen in China and other rapidly developing states. While such moves raise alarms about authoritarianism, they also underscore a growing appetite for alternative pathways to development.
Nigeria: The Quintessential Paradox
Nigeria’s experience encapsulates the dilemma Traoré articulates. With vast oil reserves and a vibrant population, the country should be an economic powerhouse. Instead, it remains mired in poverty and insecurity. Politicians accused of embezzlement often face minimal consequences and, in some cases, return to political prominence.
Tribalism further complicates governance. The country’s three major ethnic blocs—Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo—often dominate political discourse, leaving national identity as a secondary concern. This fragmented system has allowed mediocrity and corruption to flourish under the guise of democracy.
Between Hope and Hubris: What Lies Ahead?
Traoré’s self-proclaimed “popular, progressive revolution” is as much a test of his leadership as it is a critique of democracy. His rejection of offers like Saudi Arabia’s mosque-building initiative in favor of tangible infrastructure projects signals a potentially pragmatic shift. But whether he can succeed where others have failed remains uncertain.
Africa has seen leaders rise with revolutionary zeal only to succumb to the same pitfalls they vowed to destroy. Ghana’s Jerry Rawlings and Burkina Faso’s own Thomas Sankara began with radical reform agendas—yet faced limitations imposed by internal dissent, external pressures, or the corruptibility of power itself.
The Verdict
Democracy, in its ideal form, offers mechanisms for accountability, inclusiveness, and citizen participation. But in much of Africa, it has not lived up to its promise—often because it has been manipulated, not because it is inherently flawed.
Captain Traoré’s statement forces an uncomfortable introspection. If democracy continues to be exploited rather than refined, if leaders continue to weaponize ethnicity and indulge corruption, then Africa must ask: is it democracy we’re practicing—or just another form of elite control?
The solution is not necessarily abandoning democracy, but reclaiming it—reforming it to reflect local realities, investing in civic education, strengthening institutions, and most importantly, demanding accountability from those in power.
Until then, Traoré’s words will continue to strike a chord—not because they are entirely true, but because they reflect a truth too many are afraid to admit.
Agboola Aluko is a senior political analyst and journalist based in Lagos. He writes for GLiDE NEWS.
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