In Abidjan, the authorities announced on Tuesday, April 6, the new government headed by Prime Minister Patrick Achi. The new government team now includes 37 ministers.
Ivorians know the new team of Patrick Achi. And there are several new features: Kandia Camara has been appointed to Foreign Affairs, replacing Ally Coulibaly. She thus becomes number 2 in a team where the faithful of the late Amadou Gon Coulibaly are still numerous. Another Minister of State is the Minister of Defence, Téné Birahima Ouattara, the President’s brother, who has been confirmed in this post, where he had been acting for a month, shortly before the death of Hamed Bakayoko. The third Minister of State is the Minister of Agriculture, Kouassi Adjoumani, who keeps his seat. There is also no change in the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior or the Ministry of Water and Forests.
On the other hand, the academic Mariatou Koné replaces Kandia Camara at National Education. Eugène Aka Aouélé, the Minister of Health, leaves the place to Pierre Dimba, former head of Agéroute. Eugène Aka Aouélé has been appointed President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council. Thomas Camara, former director of the Ivorian refining company, has been appointed head of a ministry that includes oil, energy and mining.
Magistrate Epiphane Zoro Bi Ballo will be in charge of the Ministry for the promotion of good governance and the fight against corruption. Amadou Coulibaly, former head of the foreign intelligence service, becomes Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson in place of Sidi Touré, who takes over the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Resources. There is no opening to the opposition, but KKB, Bertin Kouadio Konan, remains Minister of Reconciliation.
The government has been rejuvenated and is less bloated than the previous one, with 37 ministers, compared to 41 previously. The number of secretaries of state has been reduced from seven to four.