Yéro Boly

Who is Yéro Boly?

Yéro Boly is a Burkinabé politician. First appointed to the government of Burkina Faso in 1995, he has been Minister of Defense since 2004.

Boly was born in Komki-Ipala, located in Kadiogo Province. He attended the National School of Administration and was then a sub-prefect from 1978 to 1980. He again attended the National School of Administration from 1980 to 1983, studying to become a civil administrator. After holding administrative roles from 1984 to 1986, he was Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire from 1986 to 1988, then Ambassador to Libya from 1988 to 1995. Subsequently he served in the government as Minister of Territorial Administration and Security from 1995 to 2000 and was Director of the Cabinet of the President from 2000 to 2004.

Shortly after the state prosecutor said that General Kouame Lougue, the Minister of Defense, had been questioned regarding a 2003 coup plot, Lougue was dismissed and Boly, who was described in the media as "a trusted civilian aide" of President Blaise Compaoré, was appointed to succeed him as Minister of Defense on 17 January 2004. In response to alleged violation of Burkinabé airspace by Ivorian military aircraft, Boly warned in July 2004 that the Burkinabé military would "shoot every plane violating our airspace".