By Enyichukwu Enemanna
President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara on Friday reshuffled his cabinet, retaining most senior ministers in their various offices, but appointed his brother, who is currently serving as Defence Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara, to the newly created office of Deputy Prime Minister, a statement by the President’s office says.
He is to run the office alongside his defence ministry. The reshuffle came two days after Ouattara reappointed Robert Beugre Mambe as Prime Minister.
While most key portfolios of his 35-member cabinet remained unchanged, the reshuffle elevates the younger Ouattara within the government hierarchy.
Vagondo Diomande retained the Interior and Security Ministry post, Sansam Kambile remained justice minister, while Adama Coulibaly retained the budget portfolio.
Niale Kaba was however moved from the Planning Ministry to head the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
It follows the re-election of Ouattara in October amidst mass disqualification of opposition candidates and his party’s victory in December’s parliamentary elections, securing majority of the legislative seats.
Ouattara, 84, a former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, has led the country since 2011 and has said that he intends to prepare the ground for a new generation of political leaders during his tenure.
The changes come as Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, seeks to build on nearly 15 years of sustained economic growth that has made it among the region’s fastest-growing economies.
