Burkina Faso's President Sacks Defense Minister

OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO - Burkina Faso's President Roch Kabore has dismissed the country's defense minister in the wake of widespread protests Saturday against insecurity.

Cherif Sy had been defense minister since the country's conflict with domestic terror groups started in 2015. His replacement is the president himself, along with a minister delegate, Colonel Major Aimé Simpore, who has been appointed to assist. At the beginning of June, Burkina Faso saw its worst terrorist attack on civilians since the conflict with armed groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State started. At least 138 people were killed in the village of Solhan. The attack triggered a wave of protests against insecurity that swept the country last weekend. Sy's departure was one of the protesters' major demands.