Burkina Faso Prime Minister Sacked as Government is Dissolved

In a major political shake-up, Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister has been sacked and the government dissolved, signaling a critical juncture for the country’s leadership and governance.

Burkina Faso’s military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, has removed the prime minister from office and dissolved the government, as stated in a presidential decree obtained by AFP on Friday.

Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela, the former prime minister, had led three consecutive governments and endured several reshuffles. Despite his removal from office, no official explanation has been provided. He became prime minister in October 2022 after a coup brought Ibrahim Traoré to power.

The decree declared that “the prime minister’s official functions are ended,” and noted that members of the disbanded government would continue to manage ongoing affairs until a new government is established.

Burkina Faso has experienced considerable turmoil following a coup in January 2022, during which Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba took control of the government. In under a year, Traoré deposed Damiba and assumed leadership of the ruling junta. Having previously ousted democratically elected President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Damiba currently lives in exile in neighboring Togo.

Under the present junta, Burkina Faso has emphasized reclaiming national sovereignty and often criticizes Western nations.

The country has allied itself with neighboring Mali and Niger, both currently under military junta rule due to a series of coups since 2020. In September, these three nations established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), breaking their ties with former colonial power France and orienting themselves towards Russia.

Burkina Faso, once a French colony until the mid-20th century, has experienced a significant decline in relations with Paris following the 2022 coup.