Burkina Faso junta dissolves government and removes Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela, sparking questions about the nation’s political trajectory.
On Friday, the ruling military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, issued a presidential decree terminating the prime minister’s role and disbanding the government. Members of the dissolved cabinet will, however, continue to handle ongoing administrative tasks until a new government forms.
The situation follows a backdrop of political instability following a series of coups since 2022. Captain Traore rose to power in October 2022 after overthrowing Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had led the country for just over eight months after ousting the elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore. 
Political Instability Escalates as Burkina Faso Junta Dissolves Government
Burkina Faso, part of the Sahel region, has witnessed relentless turmoil over the past two years. The junta, under Captain Traore’s leadership, emphasizes national sovereignty while distancing itself from Western powers, particularly France.
In addition, the junta has aligned with Mali and Niger under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). These nations, also led by military regimes, have pivoted towards Russia after severing ties with France and withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore recently emphasized that cooperation with Russia better aligns with Burkina Faso’s interests than its historical ties to France.
Burkina Faso Junta Dissolves Government Amid Security Challenges
The ongoing jihadist insurgency remains a major challenge for Burkina Faso and its Sahelian neighbors.
This conflict, which began in northern Mali in 2012, has displaced over two million Burkinabes and claimed more than 26,000 lives, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
To combat these threats, Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, has turned to Moscow for military assistance. Russian instructors now train local forces, reflecting the junta’s effort to secure territorial control and reduce dependency on Western allies.
With alliances shifting and domestic tensions mounting, will this latest move pave the way for lasting governance reforms or deepen the existing crises?
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