Burkina Faso’s President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has appointed a cabinet minister to take over the running of the ministry from him as the country battles to contain the spread of Islamist militant violence.
The president appointed Jean Claude Bouda, formerly youth minister, to take up the defence portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle announced on Monday.
Kabore had held the post himself, a move that had been criticized by some of the country’s politicians who wanted him to delegate responsibility.
Burkina Faso is struggling to stem the overflow of Islamist militancy from neighbouring Mali.
The militants have staged numerous attacks near the country’s northern border with Mali, including one in December that killed a dozen members of the army’s special anti-terrorist group.
Simon Compaore, who had served as minister of territorial administration, was named minister of state for security in the reshuffle.
