Burkina Faso’s military ruler Capt Ibrahim Traoré has just dismissed his Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela and dissolved the entire government.
The laying off of the head of government and his cabinet was announced in a decree signed by the junta leader on Friday, December 7, but the decree did not specify why the prime minister was dismissed. It did reveal, however, that members of the dissolved government will continue with their jobs until a new cabinet is appointed.
Tambela, a civilian, was appointed prime minister in 2022, shortly after Ibrahim Traoré seized power in a coup.
Tambela’s dismissal is coming barely weeks after another civilian prime minister, Choguel Maïga, was fired by coup leader General Assimi Goïta in neighbouring Mali.
It is still early to say if Capt Traoré will emulate his Malian counterpart by appointing a military official as prime minister to maintain the junta’s hold on power or not.
Burkina Faso, just like its Sahel neighbours, is still facing security threats from jihadist groups and despite promises by the military to improve security, the situation remains critical with regular attacks from insurgents.
Citizens have expressed their fears and concerns that junta leaders in the Sahel are attempting to prolong their stay in power by postponing elections meant to return their countries to civilian rule.
