TRAORÉ SCHOOLS RUTO ON DEMOCRACY

What should democracy mean in the African context?

We’ve juxtaposed two visions - the first, that of Kenya’s William Ruto, delivering a scripted condemnation of last July’s military coup against Niger’s Western-backed president; the second, that of Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré, speaking candidly from the heart on International Youth Day in August 2024.

Traoré rejects an imperialist version of democracy - crafted to serve a privileged few while leaving the majority in the lurch. Under this form, despite elections, policies are still forced on unwilling citizens. He insists that clinging on to this kind of democracy is tantamount, at best, to incompetence.

Traoré could well have been describing Ruto, who has faced accusations of ruthlessly suppressing demonstrations against IMF-backed tax increases and poor governance. Yet, Kenya is often hailed as a beacon of democracy in a tumultuous region. Ruto was the first African president since 2008 to be invited on a state visit to the US.

Many would argue that these ‘accolades’ haven’t translated into a better life for Kenyans. Meanwhile, Traoré, often labelled a putschist by Western mainstream media, is leading a revolutionary anti-imperialist movement in Burkina Faso that’s transforming the lives of the country’s citizens.

So, with their contrasting records, who truly grasps the essence of democracy and freedom?

Video credits:

RTB (Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina)

Citizen TV Kenya

Sources:

https://www.thedailyscrumnews.com/how-captain-traore-is-turning-burkina-faso-into-a-model-of-african-independence/

https://www.sidwaya.info/journee-internationale-de-la-jeunesse-le-capitaine-ibrahim-traore-appelle-la-jeunesse-africaine-a-lunion/

https://khrc.or.ke/press-release/ruto-must-take-responsibility-for-protests-gross-human-rights-violations/

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/how-kenya-police-cover-up-killings-anti-government-protesters-2025-01-06/

https://allafrica.com/stories/202501130299.html