A top public official said on Friday that Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has fired the nation’s prime minister and disbanded the government, marking yet another significant reorganisation in the West African country.
According to a statement from the presidency’s secretary-general, Abdourahmane Cissé, the president terminated the responsibilities of the prime minister, Patrick Achi, and the other members of the government after signing a decree.
Since 2020, Ivory Coast has had three prime ministers as it gets ready for elections in 2025.
Hamed Bakayoko was succeeded by Achi after his death from cancer in March 2021. Due to illness, Bakayoko’s predecessor had also passed away while in office.
“The president expresses his gratitude to Prime Minister Patrick Achi and to all members of the government for their commitment to serving the nation over the past years,” Cissé said. The outgoing officials will continue to function until later this month when a new government will be set up, he said.
After the Ivorian Senate convenes and elects a new president this month, Ouattara announced a ministerial change in September. The Senate meeting is anticipated to result in the formation of a new government.
Since the government’s most recent reorganization in April 2022, Achi has served as prime minister. He was initially appointed in March 2021, and in April of last year, he briefly quit after Ouattara declared his intention to reduce the size of the Cabinet.
