Apollinaire J. Kyélem de Tambèla

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambèla (cropped).png

| office = interim Prime Minister of Burkina Faso

| status = Interim

| termstart = 21 October 2022

| termend = 6 December 2024https://burkina24.com/2024/12/06/burkina-faso-le-capitaine-ibrahim-traore-met-fin-aux-fonctions-du-premier-ministre-et-des-membres-du-gouvernement/

| predecessor = Albert Ouédraogo

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|06|11}}

| birth_place = Ganzourgou Province, French Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso)

| party = Independent

| caption = Kyélem in 2022

| succeeded = Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo

}}

Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla (born 11 June 1955) is a Burkinabe lawyer, pan-Africanist, writer and statesman, who served as the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from October 2022 until his firing by President Ibrahim Traoré in December 2024.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-21 |title=Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela nommé Premier ministre |url=https://burkina24.com/2022/10/21/apollinaire-joachim-kyelem-de-tambela-nomme-premier-ministre/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Burkina24 |language=fr-FR}}

Early life and education

Kyélem de Tambèla was born in Burkina Faso in 1955.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} After completing his early education in Burkina Faso, he went on to study in France, where he received his doctorate of law in 1986 from the University of Nice.{{Cite web |title=Apollinaire J. Kyélem de Tambèla |url=https://data.bnf.fr/12250396/apollinaire_j__kyelem_de_tambela/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=data.bnf.fr |language=fr}} He taught as a professor at the University of Ouagadougou and the National School of Administration and Magistrates (ENAM).

Political career

As a student in France in the 1980s, Tambèla founded a branch of the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) in Nice, Côte-d’Azur to defend and financially support the revolutionary struggle abroad waged by Thomas Sankara. During this period, he also organized with left-wing groups: The National Union of Students of France (UNEF) and the Union of Communist Students. Prior to entering politics, Tambèla built a career as a lawyer and later as a television personality. He gained popularity among the public due to his outspoken nature and strong criticism of governmental excesses.{{Cite web |author=Thomas Sankara Center for African Liberation and Unity |date=2023-03-02 |title=The Homeland or Death: Accomplishments of the Traoré Government in Burkina Faso |url=https://hoodcommunist.org/2023/03/02/the-homeland-or-death-accomplishments-of-the-traore-government-in-burkina-faso/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Hood Communist |language=en-US}}

On 21 October 2022, he was appointed interim prime minister by interim president Ibrahim Traoré.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Com Kyélem de Tambèla, Burkina Faso está se voltando para a França? |url=https://lejournaldelafrique.com/pt/com-kyelem-de-tambela-o-burkina-faso-se-volta-para-a-fran%C3%A7a/ |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Le Journal de l'Afrique |language=pt}} Shortly after his appointment, one of Prime Minister Kyélem de Tambèla’s first actions was to call for a reduction in the salaries of the president and various ministers. This was in alignment with the reforms of the Sankara government, which he had previously stated his commitment to by declaring, “I have already said that Burkina Faso cannot be developed outside the path set by Thomas Sankara."

Prime minister

In 2022, Kyélem de Tambèla was unexpectedly appointed as the prime minister of Burkina Faso by President Captain Ibrahim Traoré.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=With Kyélem de Tambèla, is Burkina Faso turning to France? |url=https://lejournaldelafrique.com/en/with-kyelem-de-tambela-does-burkina-faso-turn-to-france/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Le Journal de l'Afrique |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Burkina Faso: Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambèla, Captain Traoré's surprise prime minister |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/253271/burkina-faso-apollinaire-kyelem-de-tambela-captain-traores-surprise-prime-minister/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=The Africa Report.com |language=en}} Despite having neither a political party nor a political formation behind him, Kyélem de Tambèla accepted the role.

For his first foreign visit as prime minister, he traveled to Russia. The information leaked despite all precautions. He also visited recently Iran upon an invitation from Iran's first vice-president, Mohammad Mokhber. There, he met with Iranian foreign minister Ali Bagheri to discuss the enhancement of ties between Iran and Burkina Faso.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-23 |title=Iran deputy FM visits Burkina Faso |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/481198/Iran-deputy-FM-visits-Burkina-Faso |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}

His second foreign visit took him to neighboring Mali, a country similarly ruled by a military junta following the coup d'états in 2020 & 2021. During this visit, he suggested that the two countries form a 'federation'.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-02 |title=Burkina urges 'federation' with Mali for joint clout |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230202-burkina-urges-federation-with-mali-for-joint-clout |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=France 24 |language=en}} On 6 December 2024, he was removed as Prime Minister by Traoré.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=Burkina : Le Président Traoré met fin aux fonctions du Premier ministre Kyélem de Tambèla |url=https://www.minute.bf/burkina-le-president-traore-met-fin-aux-fonctions-du-premier-ministre-kyelem-de-tambela/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Minute.BF |language=fr}}

Personal life

Tambèla is also an author of books on the culture and politics of Burkina Faso, and is known nationwide for having been a presenter on the private television channel BF1 TV, on the programs Press Échos and 7 Infos. He was also responsible for programs on radio stations such as Rádio Liberté, Savane FM and Horizon FM. Details about Kyélem de Tambèla's personal life are limited. He is known for his polemicist personality. and is a supporter of Thomas Sankara.{{Cite web |title=Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla de passage à Lomé |url=https://togobreakingnews.info/apollinaire-joachim-kyelem-de-tambela-de-passage-a-lome/?print=print |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=togobreakingnews.info}}