The renewed Ivorian Prime Minister, Patrick Achi, has appointed his new government. The latter did not ultimately change much from the previous one.
Téné Birahima Ouattara in Defense, Vagondo Diomandé in the Interior and Adama Coulibaly in Economy and Finance. A list of ministers that strangely resembles the Ivorian government that recently resigned. Reappointed to his post, Prime Minister Patrick Achi has just delivered the names that make up his government. And we are far from the announced rupture.
The first novelty - it was a desiderata of Alassane Ouattara, the head of state - is that there are only 32 ministers compared to 37 previously. It is first of all about sending a strong message to the Ivorian people by reducing the operating budget of the State. The Ivorian president also wants his "new" ministers to focus on social issues and security, two themes that will punctuate the next three years, as the presidential election looms in 2025.
But the expected revolution did not take place. First of all because Patrick Achi consulted with the head of state so as not to anger the faithful of the latter. From the brother of Alassane Ouattara to Kandia Camara, passing by Vagondo Diomandé and Kobenan Kouassi Ajoumani, all those close to "ADO" keep an important portfolio. The leaders of the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) were, unsurprisingly, privileged. Despite less tense relations with Henri Konan Bédié, Alassane Ouattara did not advocate opening up his government to the opposition.
Despite an almost status quo, some novelties should however be noted, to satisfy the curiosity of observers of Ivorian political life. Like the appointment of Laurent Tchagba, new Minister of Water and Forests, or Françoise Remarck at the Ministry of Culture.
The tight team will therefore not have too much trouble getting to work, as the government appointed yesterday is a continuation of the previous one. It is also this Thursday that the first Council of Ministers of the team of Patrick Achi takes place.