African state’s military ruler changes prime minister
Burkina Faso’s interim president has fired Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela and dissolved his government, without providing a reason
Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Ibrahim Traore, has appointed a new prime minister for the West African nation after dismissing the previous officeholder, Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela, and dissolving the government.
In a presidential decree read on state television on Saturday, Captain Traore named Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo as Tambela’s replacement. Prior to his appointment, the new prime minister had been Burkina Faso’s communications minister and spokesperson for the former cabinet.
The Burkinabe transitional leader fired Tambela late last week without providing a reason. He had been appointed interim premier shortly after the coup in the landlocked state in September 2022.
On Sunday, the former prime minister congratulated his successor, describing his appointment as the “beginning of a new chapter” for the Sahel nation, which has endured a decade-long jihadist insurgency.
“I am confident that your passion, integrity, and dedication will be invaluable assets to our people. Know that you have my full support in this new responsibility,” Tambela wrote on X.
The move comes just weeks after neighboring Mali’s interim leader, Assimi Goita, sacked his prime minister, Choguel Kokalla Maiga, and replaced him with government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga (no relation). Choguel Maiga was dismissed just days after criticizing the military authorities for delaying the country’s transition to civilian rule following back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.
Goita had promised to hold elections in February 2024, but in September last year, he announced a decision to postpone the votes due to “technical reasons.” Burkina Faso had also planned to organize an election in July 2024 to return the country to democratic rule. In May, the president extended the transition term for an additional five years.
The two former French colonies, as well as ally Niger, overthrew their civilian governments in response to alleged failures to combat escalating attacks by extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State in the Sahel. Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou have all severed defense ties with longtime Western partners, including France and the US, whose troops had been involved in counterterrorism missions in the region. The three African countries have signed security agreements with Russia, which they have hailed as a preferred partner.
