National Gendarmerie of Burkina Faso has a new commander

Kouagri Natama was appointed to the position after the nation’s interim head of state sacked his predecessor.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kouagri Natama has been selected as the new head of the National Gendarmerie by Ibrahim Traore, the country of Burkina Faso’s transitional government.

Lieutenant-Colonel Evrard Somda, his immediate predecessor, was fired on Wednesday.

The directive, which Traore signed, said, “Lieutenant-Colonel Major Natama Kouagri of the national armed forces has been appointed Chief of Staff of the national gendarmerie.”

Earlier this week, a countercoup attempt against the new government was thwarted by Burkinabe security agencies. Four cops were detained, two of whom apparently worked for the National Gendarmerie, according to local officials.

On September 30 of last year, a group of officers, including Traore, staged a military coup. Somda has held the position since February 2022 and had previously served as the national gendarmerie’s special units commander.

Elections will definitely take place the following year, according to the new leaders. Traore, however, revealed a plan to amend the constitution and extend the country’s transitional period in the wake of the most recent tragedy.

The priority is not on elections. Security is obviously the top issue, Traore said on September 29. He had previously stated on September 27 that he was “determined to lead the transition successfully despite adversity and various manoeuvres to stop our inexorable march towards sovereignty.”