Burkina Faso Prime Minister, Paul Kaba Thieba, and his entire cabinet have resigned from office as confirmed in a statement released today.
Thieba, a former economist, who held the position of Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister since January 2016 when he was nominated by President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, confirmed the resignation in a televised statement.
Though no reason was given for the resignation, it was however gathered that recent high-profile disappearances of foreign nationals have led to direct calls for Mr Thieba’s resignation, as well as that of his defence and security ministers.
The government has faced mounting pressure over attacks by militants that have left dozens dead in recent months, including at the French embassy in the capital Ouagadougou, and a number of kidnappings of foreigners. Last week, parliament voted to extend for six months a state of emergency in several northern provinces near the border with Mali, where many of the jihadis besieging the country are based.
Reacting to the resignation, President Kabore who expressed his gratitude for their service, added that he hopes to form a new government soon.