Burkina Faso has announced a minor government reshuffle, which was revealed on 12 January by the Secretary-General of the Government and Council of Ministers. Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo remains in office, leading a new cabinet of 22 ministers. The reshuffle records four departures, two new appointments, and several ministries have been renamed.
Among the changes, Roland Somda, Minister of Sports, Youth, and Employment, has been replaced by Annick Lydie Zingué Ouattara following Burkina Faso’s early exit from the African Cup of Nations in Morocco. Other departures include Luc Sorgho (Infrastructure), Roger Barro (Environment), and Boubacar Sawadogo (Secondary Education).
Several ministries have adopted new titles with revolutionary overtones. The Defence Ministry is now the Ministry of War and Patriotic Defence, still led by Major General Célestin Simporé. The Ministry of Public Service and Labour has become the Ministry of Servants of the People, while Housing and Urban Planning are combined under the Ministry of Construction of the Homeland.
No changes were made at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré retaining the post, although references to regional cooperation and Burkinabè abroad have been removed from the title. Similarly, Edasso Rodrigue Bayala remains Justice Minister but no longer oversees Human Rights. This reshuffle signals a symbolic rebranding of Burkina Faso’s government institutions while maintaining continuity in key leadership positions.