In Burkina Faso, junta leader and transitional president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has appointed his prime minister, Albert Ouédraogo. Two days later, the latter chose his government. A government far from unanimous.
The leader of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR), Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, was sworn in as president of Burkina Faso on Wednesday. Two days later, he named his new Prime Minister. Albert Ouédraogo, an unknown academician, in turn shared his choices for the composition of the government.
And the least we can say is that the Burkinabés remain unsatisfied. Indeed, if the choice of Ouédraogo already seemed inexplicable, if not by his friendship with a relative of the head of the junta, the names of the future members of the government question.
Former executives of Roch Kaboré… and Compaoré
Among the members of the future government, there are three soldiers, including the former defense minister of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Aimé Barthélémy Simporé. The latter will be appointed Minister of State in addition to keeping his portfolio. The soldier, however, was on a good streak during the term of the ousted president. Except that his appointment is considered by observers as a step back.
Other names of future ministers surprise. Like that of Barthélémy Kere, the former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission, who will become the Minister of Justice. But also Yero Boly, the former Minister of Defense of… Blaise Compaoré. Boly will be Minister of State in charge of National Reconciliation and Social Cohesion. A position which, in Burkinabé law and protocol, is above that of the Minister of the Interior.
The Interior portfolio, meanwhile, will go to the former Secretary General of Defense under Roch Kaboré, Omer Bationo.
It should be remembered that, if the returns of several Kaboré ministers are disturbing, it is mainly because the deposed president was himself affiliated with the former dictator of Burkina Faso, the assassin of Thomas Sankara, Blaise Compaoré. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré had indeed been Prime Minister of Compaoré and was allied with many friends of the dictator, before turning against them.
What doesn't help either is that, Compaoré's trial, Kafando, Diendéré and their co-defendants for the murder of Sankara, is currently at a standstill.
Whitewash Sankara's assassins or declare the junta illegal
Defense lawyers for those accused of Sanakara's assassination appealed to the Constitutional Council on March 3. Lawyer Olivier Somé believes that, "if the attack on state security has become legal (charge of the coup d'etat in Burkina Faso), I do not see why our clients are being prosecuted".
Indeed, the same Constitutional Council had, the day before, validated the investiture of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba to the presidency. This makes it difficult for the body at the head of the judiciary to claim any exception. Certainly, the last putsch is legal according to a decision of the Constitutional Council.
But it's not just about legality. In the eyes of the people, seeing the trial of the assassins of Thomas Sankara stopped with the risk that the Court clears the accused would be unacceptable. Worse, the return to responsibilities of members of Roch Kaboré's security is surprising.
Was it not for his security failure that the democratically elected Roch Kaboré was dismissed and imprisoned? Wasn't it for strong security governance that the Burkinabés demanded after the coup d'etat at the end of January?
The Constitutional Council risks having only two choices in the future, according to a specialist in politics in Burkina Faso: "Whitewash Sankara's assassins or declare the ruling junta illegal".