Burkina Faso: A new government formed two days after its dissolution

The head of the junta in power in Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, appointed a new government on Sunday “on the proposal of the Prime Minister” two days after dissolving it, according to a decree read on state television.

Captain Traoré dismissed Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla from office on Friday and dissolved the government, without providing any reason.

Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, former Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, a member of Ibrahim Traoré’s close circle, was appointed Prime Minister on Saturday.

Only three women on the team

Few changes in this new government of 24 members: Commander Pélagie Kabré replaces Nandy Somé at the Ministry of Humanitarian Action, whose mandate was marred by a case of embezzlement of 3 billion FCFA (around 4.2 million francs Swiss) intended to help people displaced by the conflict.

The Minister of Civil Service and Labor, Bassolma Bazié, is replaced by Mathias Traoré. At the Ministry of Defense, General Célestin Simporé succeeds General Kassoum Coulibaly.

Gilbert Ouédraogo, previously director of communications for the presidency of Faso, also joins the government as Minister of Communication, replacing Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, now Prime Minister.

This new team, like the previous one, has only three women. Most of the 24 ministers are civilians, in a regime whose power is almost exclusively held by the military.

Burkina has turned its back on France

Burkina Faso has been plunged into political instability since the beginning of 2022 when Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba seized power through a coup d’état against President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.

He was ousted in a second putsch eight months later, orchestrated by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, still in power.

With Mali and Niger, also led by military juntas, Burkina notably turned its back on France to form a confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Burkina is also facing numerous attacks from armed jihadist groups and nearly two million Burkinabè are displaced because of the conflict. This violence has caused more than 26,000 deaths in Burkina since 2015, civilians and soldiers, including more than 13,500 since the coup d’état of September 2022, according to the NGO Acled which lists victims of conflicts around the world.

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