3 yıl önce

Patrick Achi appointed Ivory Coast's new interim PM

President Alassane Ouattara has named his chief of staff Patrick Achi as interim prime minister, the government says in a statement, replacing Hamed Bakayoko, who is in France for medical checks.

Reuters

In this September 4, 2019 file photo, Patrick Achi speaks during the announcement of the new government at the presidential palace in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has named his close confidant and chief of staff Patrick Achi as interim prime minister in place of Hamed Bakayoko, who is absent due health reasons.

Bakayoko was flown to France on February 18 for medical checks.

The government said in a statement on Friday that Ouattara had met Bakayoko during a visit in France last week, and given the state of the minister's health, it was recommended that he should stay longer in hospital.

Bakayoko, a close ally of Ouattara, was appointed as prime minister in July 2020 following the sudden death of his predecessor Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who had been handpicked by Ouattara to succeed him.

He also held the defence ministry portfolio.

A presidency statement said that Tene Birahima Ouattara, the president's brother, was handed the defence portfolio.