Cote d’Ivoire President elevates defence minister brother to new vice prime minister role
President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire has reshuffled his cabinet, promoting his younger brother, Tene Birahima Ouattara, to the newly created position of Vice Prime Minister while retaining him as Minister of Defence.
The changes, announced on Friday, leave most senior ministers in their posts, signalling policy stability following President Ouattara’s re-election in October and his party’s decisive victory in the December legislative elections, which secured a clear parliamentary majority.
By elevating Tene Birahima Ouattara within the government hierarchy, the president has strengthened the role of one of his closest allies at a time when the administration is consolidating its political authority. The defence minister has been a key figure in the government and is widely regarded as influential within the ruling establishment.
Despite the creation of the vice prime ministerial post, the reshuffle did not significantly alter the balance of power within the cabinet, with key economic and strategic portfolios remaining in familiar hands. Analysts say the limited scope of the changes reflects a desire to preserve institutional continuity after a successful electoral cycle.
President Ouattara, 84, a former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, has been in power since 2011 and has repeatedly indicated his intention to use his tenure to lay the groundwork for a new generation of political leaders. The latest cabinet adjustments appear designed to stabilise governance while that longer-term transition is prepared.
The reshuffle comes as Cote d’Ivoire seeks to sustain nearly 15 years of robust economic growth that has positioned the country as one of West Africa’s fastest-growing economies. As the world’s largest cocoa producer, the country continues to rely heavily on agricultural exports, while pursuing diversification to strengthen resilience and attract further investment.
With political dominance reinforced and economic momentum largely intact, the new cabinet line-up suggests an administration focused on continuity, consolidation and careful succession planning rather than dramatic change.
