Burkina Faso’s President Roch Kabore has sacked the country’s defense minister in the amid widespread protests against insecurity.
Cherif Sy had been defense minister since the country’s conflict with domestic terror groups started in 2015. His successor is the president himself, along with a minister delegate, Colonel Major Aimé Simpore, who has been appointed to assist.
At the beginning of June, Burkina Faso witnessed its worst terrorist attack on civilians since the conflict with armed groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State started. At least 138 people were killed in the village of Solhan.
The attack triggered a wave of protests against insecurity that swept the country last weekend. Sy’s departure was one of the protesters’ major demands.
Sy was dismissed Wednesday, as was Security Minister Ousséni Compaoré, who was replaced with Maxim Kone, a foreign affairs deputy.
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