(Ecofin Agency) - Simon-Pierre Boussim (pictured) is no longer Burkina Faso’s mining minister. He has been removed from this position and the government after a reshuffle last December 17, replaced by Yacouba Zabre.

This move comes at a time when the country seeks to improve its gold production following a decline of 14% in 2022. The government's response to this poor performance included a change earlier this year in the mining royalty rate levied on gold production, to take account of changes in the price of the metal. The construction of a local gold refinery has also been launched, with commissioning scheduled for the end of 2024. Burkina Faso's mining sector is a pillar of the national economy, contributing 16% to GDP and over 80% to exports, according to the latest EITI figures.

Following this reshuffle, other ministerial portfolios underwent changes, such as that of Foreign Affairs, now held by Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, and that of National Education, now headed by Sosthène Dingara, former Secretary General of the government.