Burkina Faso names new Cabinet

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Burkina Faso’s President Roch Kabore unveiled a new Cabinet on Monday following last week’s resignation of the prime minister and his entire government.

Out of 25 Cabinet ministers, 10 are new entrants, while 18 incumbents were dropped, according to a decree late Monday. It is a leaner Cabinet compared to the 33-person outgoing Cabinet under former Prime Minister Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire.

It comes after Kabore on Friday appointed Lassina Zerbo, the former head of a top nuclear watchdog, as the new prime minister. He replaces Dabire, who resigned on Dec. 8.

Minister of Economy and Finance Rosine Sori-Coulibaly becomes Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Alpha Barry, while Lassane Kabore is the Minister for the Economy, Finance and Planning.

Gen. Aime Barthelemy Simpore is the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, while Charlemagne Ouedraogo is the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Welfare.

Kabore sacked his prime minister, Dabire, last Wednesday amid escalating insecurity that has killed thousands and led to street protests calling for his resignation.

The president’s office said Kabore had received a resignation letter from Dabire.

According to Burkina Faso law, the resignation of a prime minister requires the resignation of the entire government. But the outgoing government remains in a caretaker capacity until a new one is formed.