Changes within public institutions are common in the political life of a country. Recently, Burkina Faso experienced a significant reshuffle within its national gendarmerie. Lieutenant-Colonel Evrard Somda, who had held the position of chief of staff since February 2022, was dismissed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. He was replaced by Koagri Natama, former commander of the Kaya gendarmerie.
The decision to dismiss Lieutenant Colonel Somda comes in a context of suspicion of a coup d’état, with the arrest of several officers of the armed forces. Among them, the director of elite units and the second-in-command of the special intervention unit of the gendarmerie, all suspected of attempting to destabilize institutions.
The new chief of staff, Koagri Natama, has solid experience in the gendarmerie field. His curriculum includes training at the gendarmerie officers’ school in Melun, France, as well as a staff internship in Mauritania. Before his appointment, he held the position of advisor in charge of security issues to the president of the transitional legislative assembly.
In addition to this reshuffle within the gendarmerie, other appointments were made at the level of the logistics and equipment directorate at the general staff of the armies, the army and the national gendarmerie. .
These changes come as Burkina Faso faces numerous security challenges. Nearly half of its territory is outside the control of the government in place, which constitutes a major concern for the stability of the country.
The appointment of Koagri Natama as chief of staff of the national gendarmerie raises expectations about his ability to face these security challenges. His experience and solid training in the field of gendarmerie make him a leader potentially capable of strengthening the security and stability of Burkina Faso.
It remains to be seen how this new dynamic within the Burkinabè national gendarmerie will evolve and what concrete actions will be taken to address the security challenges that persist in the country. Time will tell whether these changes will bring positive results and contribute to the consolidation of peace and security in Burkina Faso.