Burkina Faso Leader Appoints New Premier Following Government Dissolution”

Burkina Faso’s leader reshuffles the political landscape by dissolving the government and naming a new prime minister. Explore the implications for the nation’s governance.

Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, formerly the communications minister and spokesperson for the previous government, has been appointed as the country’s new premier.

The announcement was made by military leader Ibrahim Traore through a presidential decree, which was read on state television on Saturday.

Ouedraogo, a journalist by profession and a close associate of Traore, previously served as the editor-in-chief before becoming the director of the nation’s state television.

No explanation was provided for the dismissal of former Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela, who had been appointed as interim premier shortly after Traore assumed power in September 2022.

The junta overthrew the military regime of Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba roughly eight months after it had orchestrated a coup to depose democratically elected President Roch Marc Kaboré.

The country is among several West African nations where the military has recently seized power, exploiting widespread dissatisfaction with previous democratically-elected governments over security concerns.

However, since the most recent coup, the military leaders in Burkina Faso have faced difficulties in resolving the country’s security issues—the very reason they claimed justified their seizure of power.

The country has been severely affected by an increasing number of attacks from extremists associated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

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In recent years, thousands have lost their lives and over two million individuals have been displaced, with half of them being children.

Analysts estimate that approximately 50% of Burkina Faso’s territory is still beyond the government’s control.

The country’s interim government has been operating under a constitution ratified by a national assembly comprised of military officers, civil society organizations, and traditional and religious leaders.

Facing pressure from the regional bloc ECOWAS, the junta established a target to hold an election in July 2024 with the aim of restoring democratic governance in the country.

However, in May it lengthened its transition period by an additional five years, equivalent to the duration of a single presidential term.

Burkina Faso, together with Niger and Mali—countries that have also undergone coups—has cut ties with its long-standing Western and regional allies. This includes their early exit from ECOWAS earlier this year.

The three nations have united to create the Alliance of Sahel States, working collectively to combat jihadi violence that initially erupted in northern Mali in 2012.