Burkina Faso Junta Appoints Journalist-Turned-Politician as New Prime Minister
Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo steps into leadership amidst political upheaval and security challenges
- Former communications minister and state TV director appointed by junta leader Ibrahim Traore
- No reasons given for the sudden removal of ex-Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela
- Burkina Faso faces ongoing extremist violence and postponed elections until 2029
A day after unexpectedly dissolving the government, Burkina Faso’s military junta has named Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo as the new prime minister.
Ouedraogo, a former communications minister and spokesperson for the previous administration, was appointed by military leader Ibrahim Traore through a presidential decree broadcast on state television. A seasoned journalist, Ouedraogo previously served as editor-in-chief and later as director of the national state television.
No explanation was provided for the removal of former Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela, who had served since Traore seized power in September 2022 after ousting Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.
Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, has faced mounting challenges from extremist violence and growing instability. The junta has struggled to control nearly half of the country, which remains under the influence of jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
In addition to postponing elections initially planned for 2024 to 2029, the junta has distanced itself from former Western and regional allies, including ECOWAS. It has instead joined Mali and Niger in forming the Alliance of Sahel States, a coalition aimed at combating insurgency in the region.
The leadership reshuffle underscores the ongoing challenges the junta faces in governing a nation grappling with insecurity, displacement, and political uncertainty.
