Government under President Roch Kaboré
On 29.12.2015 was Roch Marc Christian Kaboré as the new president of Burkina Faso in his office introduced. One day later, Salif Diallo († August 19, 2017) was elected President of Parliament. Paul Kaba Thieba has been appointed new Prime Minister by the President. The new cabinet was composed of 25 ministers and four state secretaries.
The beginning of the government under President Kaboré was overshadowed by questions of security. In particular, jihadist attacks of previously unknown proportions in the country as well as the continuation of street attacks and the reactions of the population to them gave rise to this.
Security measures against attacks by Islamist terrorism have been strengthened.
An uncontrollable vigilante group by the name of Koglwéogo, who installed a judiciary alongside the state organs, comes into violent conflict with the judiciary. [ Video ]
In his assessment of the first 100 days, the President again called for dialogue and highlighted the creation of a constitutional commission and a high council for national reconciliation and unity. He also pointed to advances in health care, the school sector (1,000 new classes) and water supply.
The Balai Citoyen citizens’ movement has criticized President Roch Kaboré for not clarifying the independence of the judiciary. Instead of respecting the separation of powers, his style rather continues the old tradition of the ruling head of state.
Health care measures for pregnant women and young children and approaches to employment policy were welcomed.
In the presidential elections in November 2020, after a peaceful election campaign, President Kaboré was confirmed in office with almost 58% of the votes cast in the first ballot.
Transition period 2014-15
2014-2015: transitional government
On November 18, 2014, the diplomat Michel Kafando was sworn in as the new interim president.
His first task as head of government was Lieutenant Colonel Yacouba Issaca Zida, who had previously led a military interim government for two weeks. This seemed to have been coordinated with the transitional body that Kafando had appointed head of state. A transitional parliament CNT (Conseil National de la Transition) was convened. This consists of 90 members:
- 30 for the former opposition parties
- 10 for the former majority parties
- 25 for members of the military
- 25 for representatives of civil society.
25 ministerial offices were awarded on November 23, 2014. The president himself became foreign minister, the prime minister made himself defense minister. Four women and four soldiers belong to the new Council of Ministers. Adama Sagnon’s appointment as Minister of Culture met with violent protests. He was instrumental in closing the “Norbert Zongo Files” in 2007. After less than two days in office, he resigned as minister back. The Minister of Infrastructure, Moumouni Djiuguemde, also resigned after a few weeks. He was accused of not awarding construction contracts according to the current procedure.
All local governments in the country were ousted. When the directors of the state energy companies SONABEL and SONABHY were sidelined, a fight against corruption was initiated. On March 3rd, 2015 new anti-corruption laws were enacted.
The former majority party CDP was temporarily suspended because of illegal activities. A few weeks later, however, the CDP repositioned itself.
According to ezinereligion, the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso announced on 11/27/2014 to the extradition of former President Blaise Compaoré of Morocco demand to transfer him to justice. President Kafando gave the issue no priority and referred to a legally guaranteed amnesty for Blaise Compaoré. Compaoré moved on to Morocco three weeks after fleeing to Ivory Coast. He is now back in Ivory Coast.
From the beginning, the transitional government has particularly emphasized the investigation of the attacks on Thomas Sankara and Norbert Zongo. The government supported the exhumation of his remains for legal clarification of the assassination attempt on Thomas Sankara.
Reforms were also promised. In addition to political, economic and institutional reforms, a constitutional reform was also under discussion, which would restrict the executive rights of the president and create a new balance of power by involving traditional dignitaries.
New elections for parliament and president have been announced for October 11, 2015. The potential candidates were numerously over-represented, including many military officials and old colleagues from Blaise Compaoré.
Four months after the overthrow of the government, dissatisfaction spread as economic conditions had not improved, but in some cases worsened. Protests and strikes over non-payment, high prices or layoffs became more frequent.
Military coup on September 16, 2015
Machinations of the presidential guard
The way it dealt with the Presidential Guard increasingly became a stress test for the transitional government. The elite unit Régiment de Sécurité Présidentielle (RSP), which was once created to protect the ousted President Blaise Compaoré, called for the Prime Minister’s resignation because it disagreed with his personnel decisions and claimed bonus payments. Prime Minister Zida had to seek asylum from the Mossikönig at short notice. On February 7, 2015, there were mass demonstrations for the dissolution of the RSP unit, which movements of civil society had called for.
In early July 2015, the old regiment of the president tried for the third time, using firearms, to force the dismissal of the Prime Minister and Defense Minister Isaac Zida, who had emerged from their ranks. Supporters of Blaise Compaoré as well as the former majority party CDP supported the RSP with their demands.
The citizens ‘movement “balai citoyen” (= “citizens’ broom”) as well as the umbrella organization of civil society (OSC) and parties uncompromisingly supported the prime minister and the transitional government and against an ominous alliance RSP-CDP that wanted to destabilize the transitional government and restore the old regime.
On July 8th, President Kafando made a speech to the nation and called the ” Council of Wise Men ” to meet with the. To ease the situation, to maintain social peace, for the cohesion of the army and for the further peaceful transition To deal with the matter, to talk to the individual parties and to make suggestions for overcoming the crisis. (The Council of Wise Men in Burkina Faso consists of traditional and religious dignitaries and is only convened in exceptional cases to save the nation. It formulated a transitional charter in November 2014 after the overthrow of Blaise Compaoré.) After consultations with the wise men, President Kafando made a decision on July 16 that Prime Minister Zida remains in office, but leaves the Ministry of Defense to him.
