Burkina Faso: Minister of Defense sacked, President Damiba replaces him

General Aimé Barthélémy Simporé, Minister of Defense, was sacked on Monday, September 12, 2022. © OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP

Text by: Vincent Dublange Follow

2 mins

The Burkinabè president dismisses the Minister of Defence.

We learned it by two decrees read Monday, September 12 in the evening on national television.

Barthélémy Simporé is thanked and it is the transition president, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba who recovers the portfolio.

This is the first reshuffle since the appointment of the transitional government in March.

It acknowledges the lack of improvement in the security situation.

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Some 40% of Burkinabe territory is beyond state control.

The attacks have multiplied in recent days.

Again on Monday, two soldiers lost their lives in an attack described as "

 " against a military detachment in the province of Oudalan, ten assailants were killed, according to the army.

Last week, 35 civilians died after a bomb

as their convoy passed between Djibo and Bourzanga.

This was, moreover, General Simporé's last speech.

The now ex-Minister of Defense then spoke of “ 

”.

One could see there an admission of powerlessness.

In any case, President Damiba has decided.

The head of the junta in Ouagadougou nevertheless drew up a rather positive assessment of the anti-jihadist struggle a few days ago.

But his remarks made during a trip to Dori, capital of the Sahel region, were quickly tarnished by the reality on the ground.

At the end of August, the populations of the Sahel had demonstrated to denounce what they call " 

".

The president of the transition has apparently drawn the consequences.

He is now also Minister of Defence.

At his side, Colonel-Major Silas Keïta is Minister Delegate and promoted to Brigadier General.

Barthélémy Simporé, a minister of the Kaboré era

Colonel-Major Simporé was appointed Minister Delegate for Defense at the end of June 2021 by the then President, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.

He had been promoted to brigadier general and then minister of defense in October of the same year.

At the time of the January 2022 military putsch, Barthélémy Simporé was in contact with certain mutineers.

He spoke on Sunday to say that everything was under control.

Initially, he was placed under arrest, before returning to the transitional government announced in early March 2022. He then became Minister of State for Defense and Veterans Affairs.

Before his appointment in 2021 by deposed President Kaboré, he headed the National Center for Strategic Studies in Burkina Faso.

►Also read: In Niger, the fight against terrorism at the heart of the visit of the Burkinabe transitional president

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