Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the interim president of Burkina Faso, has rejected the idea that democracy is essential for a country’s development, stating that no country has achieved progress through democratic governance.

Speaking during a flag-raising ceremony at the Koulouba Palace, Traoré argued that it is difficult to identify any nation whose development can be credited to democracy as a system of government.

He called it false to believe that democracy has been the driving force behind any country’s growth.

“We are not in a democracy, we are in a popular, progressive revolution,” Traoré said, emphasizing that Burkina Faso operates under what he described as a “revolutionary” system rather than a democratic one.

He further explained that democracy has no place in the country’s current governance structure.

“If we have to say it loud and clear here, we are not in a democracy, we are in a popular, progressive revolution,” he stated.

“We must necessarily go through a revolution, and we are indeed in a revolution. So this question of democracy or libertinism of action or expression has no place.”

“As much as you think you are free to speak and act, the other is also free to speak and act, and there we end up with a society of disorder.”

Traoré also argued that no country has ever achieved development through democracy, saying, “It is impossible to name a country that has developed in democracy. Democracy is only the result.”

Traoré, who came to power after the September 2022 coup that ousted interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, further asserted that Burkina Faso’s path to development lies in revolution, not democracy.

Saudi Arabia has announced the temporary suspension of certain visa categories for citizens from 14 countries, including Nigeria, India, and Pakistan, as part of new travel restrictions ahead of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.

Reports indicate that, starting in April 2025, Saudi authorities will halt the issuance of Umrah, family visit, and business visas for citizens from the affected countries.

This ban will last until June, following the conclusion of the Hajj season.

However, officials clarified that the suspension does not apply to pilgrims who are properly registered for the Hajj.

Nigerians and others who have officially registered to perform the religious rites in Makkah and Madinah through the proper channels will still be allowed to enter the Kingdom.

The move is designed to address the growing issue of unauthorized individuals using Umrah or visit visas to participate in the Hajj without proper registration.

This has led to overcrowding and logistical challenges in previous years.

The suspension also comes in response to the tragic events of the 2024 Hajj, which saw thousands of lives lost due to overcrowding and extreme heat.

Starting from April 13, the issuance of visit visas for citizens from the affected countries will be halted.

Only those with approved Hajj registrations through designated authorities will be granted access during the pilgrimage period.

Countries Affected by the Visa Suspension:

India

Egypt

Pakistan

Indonesia

Iraq

Nigeria

Sudan

Jordan

Ethiopia

Tunisia

Yemen

Algeria

Bangladesh

Morocco

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, becoming the first foreign leader to personally request relief from the U.S tariffs that have disrupted global trade.

This will be Netanyahu’s second meeting with Trump since the U.S. president’s return to office in January.

In addition to discussing trade issues, Netanyahu plans to seek further support from the U.S. on Iran and the Gaza conflict, where a temporary U.S.-brokered ceasefire recently collapsed.

“We’re going to talk about trade, and we’re going to talk about the obvious subject,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, returning from a weekend in Florida.

“There’s a lot of things going on with the Middle East right now that have to be silenced.”

On Sunday night, after his arrival, Netanyahu held discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to his office.

He also met with Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, on Monday.

Netanyahu, arriving from Hungary, is primarily focused on persuading Trump to reverse or at least reduce the 17 percent tariff set to be imposed on Israeli imports.

Before leaving Budapest, Netanyahu said the discussions would cover a variety of topics, including “the tariff regime that has also been imposed on Israel.”

“I’m the first international leader, the first foreign leader who will meet with President Trump on a matter so crucial to Israel’s economy,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“I believe this reflects the special personal relationship and the unique bond between the United States and Israel, which is so vital at this time.”

In Budapest, Netanyahu met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who withdrew Hungary from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

The two leaders also spoke with Trump by phone on Thursday.

Analysts suggest that Netanyahu aims to secure an exemption from the tariffs for Israel.

“The urgency (of the visit) makes sense in terms of stopping it before it gets institutionalized,” said Jonathan Rynhold, head of political studies at Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv.

“Such an exemption would not only benefit Trump’s closest Middle East ally but also ‘please Republicans in Congress, whose voters care about Israel but are unwilling to confront Trump on this at this point,’” he added.

Israel had tried to circumvent the new tariffs by lifting all remaining Israeli duties on the one percent of U.S. goods still affected by them before Trump’s announcement.

However, Trump did not grant Israel an exemption, citing the trade deficit between the two countries, despite Israel being the top recipient of U.S. military aid.

In addition to trade, Netanyahu is expected to discuss the ongoing war with Hamas, the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, and the growing threat from Iran.

Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza on March 18, following the collapse of a ceasefire brokered.

U.S President Donald Trump has extended his crackdown on international students, revoking more visas from individuals at prominent American universities.

Institutions affected include UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and Stanford.

According to DailyMail, college officials are concerned that this new approach could deter foreign students from studying in the U.S and significantly reduce revenue generated from overseas tuition fees.

At Stanford University, four students and two recent graduates unexpectedly lost their legal status, as confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday.

At UCLA, at least nine international students were impacted by the visa revocations, according to reports from faculty and student groups shared with the Los Angeles Times on Saturday.

UC San Diego’s Chancellor Pradeep Khosla announced in a campus message that five students had their visas revoked.

He explained that the university received the notification “without warning.”

Khosla also mentioned that a sixth student was “detained at the border, denied entry, and deported to their home country.”

“The federal government has not explained the reasons behind these terminations. The students have been notified, and we are working directly with them to provide support,” Khosla wrote.

At UC Berkeley, a spokesperson described the situation as “fluid” and confirmed that at least six visas had been revoked.

Of those, four were for current undergraduate and graduate students, while two were for recent graduates.

UC Davis officials stated that visas for seven students and five recent graduates were revoked.

The university warned that this number could change, as no federal agents had yet entered the campus or taken anyone into custody.

A statement from the University of California system acknowledged that “several” campuses had international students whose visas were revoked but did not provide further details.

It emphasized that the university was “monitoring and assessing its implications for the UC community” and remained committed to supporting those affected.

In a statement, USC, home to over 17,000 international students—making it the largest foreign student population in California—declined to confirm whether any of its students were caught up in the visa revocation sweep.

“The university does not disclose information about the status of individual student visas,” a university spokesperson said.

These actions are part of a wider trend of visa cancellations that have affected campuses nationwide, catching many administrators by surprise.

Other universities that have confirmed visa revocations include the University of Kentucky, University of Oregon, and Ohio State University.