Burkina Faso’s Military Leader Captain Traore Sacks Prime Minister, Dissolves Government

Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has dismissed Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela and dissolved the government, according to a presidential decree issued Friday.

The decree provided no explanation for the move but stated that the dissolved government’s members would “continue ongoing business until a new government is formed.” Kyelem de Tambela, appointed prime minister in October 2022 following Traore’s coup, had survived three cabinet reshuffles before his sudden removal.

“The prime minister’s official functions are terminated,” the decree announced, leaving the public speculating about the reasons behind the decision.

Burkina Faso has been mired in political instability since January 2022, when Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba ousted then-President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Damiba was subsequently overthrown by Traore eight months later. The country also continues to battle escalating jihadist violence, which has killed over 26,000 people and displaced nearly two million since 2015.

Under Traore, Burkina Faso has distanced itself from former colonial power France, aligning more closely with Russia. Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore recently stated that Russia’s partnership “better suits” the country’s needs.

Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger—also under military rule—formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September, marking a significant shift in regional alliances. The trio, facing shared jihadist threats, severed ties with France and exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing its alleged bias toward Paris.

The Sahel region has faced relentless violence since Islamist insurgencies began in Mali in 2012, spreading to Burkina Faso and Niger. In response, Burkina Faso has welcomed Russian military instructors to bolster its fight against jihadist groups.