Alassane Ouattara's brother, Téné Birahima, should in all likelihood be appointed Minister of Defense in the government which will be announced in the coming hours.
Appointed to the Interim Ministry of Defense on March 10, the younger brother of Alassane Ouattara knows a dazzling fate. Téné Birahima Ouattara, called “Photocopie” for his resemblance to the Ivorian head of state, has little experience in high state functions. Deputy, then mayor of Kong, Téné Birahima Ouattara was finally appointed Minister of Presidential Affairs, a position tailor-made for him, before taking Hamed Bakayoko's place after the latter's death.
A position he should keep during the upcoming reshuffle. Highly strategic. The brother of "ADO" continues his meteoric rise, he who already has control over the Ivorian intelligence services. After the death of Hamed Bakayoko, who had taken over the Prime Minister, Defense and the Interior, Côte d'Ivoire seems to have found its new strong man.
"Côte d'Ivoire has hit rock bottom"
According to our information, Téné Birahima Ouattara had in any case, if his brother had not presented himself to his own succession, to obtain a key position. It is indeed said behind the scenes of Ivorian power that Amadou Gon Coulibaly, whose health was fragile, should indeed place Téné Birahima Ouattara in a good position to ward off a possible death. The Ivorian Prime Minister finally died before he could be the RHDP candidate.
Whatever, Alassane Ouattara has decided to place his brother in a good position in the government hierarchy. Even if it means, once again, to wipe your feet on the Constitution. Because by appointing Téné Birahima interim Minister of Defense at the same time as Patrick Achi at the Prime Minister, Ouattara forgot that the President of the Republic appointed the ministers "on the proposal of the Prime Minister", accuses Geoffroy Julien Kouao, author of the book " Ivory Coast: A Democracy Without Democrats? ".
While he should be confirmed as Minister of Defense, Téné Birahima Ouattara risks crystallizing criticism in the coming weeks. “Are we going to fall silent in the face of the establishment of an Ouattara dynasty? "Asks the political activist close to Guillaume Soro, Jules Brou, who believes that" with this appointment, the Ivory Coast has really hit rock bottom.
Téné Birahima, designated successor of Alassane?
If nothing prevents Alassane Ouattara from appointing his brother to the Defense, the question of the legitimacy of Téné Birahima arises. Its role too. Ouattara brother is in fact regularly accused of being the thinking head of "microbes", those death squads who do not hesitate to perpetrate violence during demonstrations hostile to power. In 2019, the president of Rassemblement du peuple de Côte d'Ivoire (RPCI-AC) Christian Vabé requested the resignation of Téné Birahima Ouattara from his post of presidential affairs officer, accusing him of being the sponsor of the "microbes". .
While he should be appointed Minister of Defense in the coming hours, is Téné Birahima Ouattara starting his campaign for 2025? If his brother Alassane decides not to run for another term, "Photocopy" could be the man for the job: the dolphins are less and less numerous, he is one of the most loyal of the Head of State and controls intelligence services. Ouattara could then leave office without risking being worried by a future revenge president.