Burkina Faso’s President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré
Jihadist Attack: Burkina Faso president, Christian Kaboré doubles as Defence Minister
In a phase of jihadist attacks in parts of the country, Burkina Faso’s President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré has taken over as the country’s defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle announced on Wednesday.
The president will be assisted in the role by Col Maj Barthélémy Simporé, according to a presidential decree.
It comes three days after President Kaboré had asked the opposition to postpone its protests scheduled for July 3 and 4.
Opposition leaders said the protests are meant to pay tribute to victims of terrorism and to also denounce the government’s handling of jihadist violence in the country.
They had called for the resignation of Prime Minister Christophe Dabiré and Defense Minister Chériff Sy.
Suspected jihadists staged an attack in Solhan in the north-eastern region on 4 June in which more than 130 people were killed. It is considered to be the deadliest attack in Burkina Faso since April 2015.