Burkina Faso's Interim President Michel Kafando reshuffled government to strengthen his political power three months before the West African nation is set to hold general elections, dpa reported. Kafando took control over the defence ministry late on Sunday evening, taking the position away from prime minister Yacouba Isaac Zida. The president also appointed himself security minister. Zida's right hand man, Colonel Auguste Denise Barry, until now security and interior minister, was replaced by former environmental general secretary Youssouf Ouattara, who is not a member of a military and regarded as more neutral than Barry. Kafando was chosen interim president last October, following the ousting from the presidency of Blaise Compaore.
