Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has dismissed his Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela and dissolved the entire government.
The resignation of the head of government and his cabinet was announced in a decree signed by the junta leader on Friday.
The decree did not specify why the prime minister was dismissed, but said members of the dissolved government will continue to serve until a new cabinet is appointed.
Tambela, a civilian, was appointed prime minister in 2022, shortly after Ibrahim Traoré seized power in a coup.
His resignation comes just weeks after another civilian prime minister, Choguel Maïga, was dismissed in neighboring Mali by coup leader General Assimi Goïta.
It remains unclear whether Captain Traoré will emulate his Malian counterpart by appointing a military official as prime minister to maintain the junta’s grip on power.
Burkina Faso, like its neighbors in the Sahel, continues to face security threats from jihadist groups.
Despite promises from the military to improve security, the situation remains dire, with frequent insurgent attacks.
There are concerns that junta leaders in the Sahel are trying to extend their hold on power by delaying elections aimed at returning their country to civilian rule.
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