Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo speaks after being acquitted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes, at his party's headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast June 17, 2021. REUTERS/Macline Hien
Tiemoko Meyliet Koné, governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) was on Tuesday appointed vice-president of Ivory Coast by President Alassane Ouattara in a possible clue to his succession plans.
The 80-year-old leader who made the announcement during an address to parliament described Koné as an “outstanding technocrat” and “brilliant economist”. Koné has headed the BCEAO since 2011.
He also served as Special Adviser to the President of the Republic in charge of economic and monetary issues.
Ouattara further reappointed Patrick Achi to his premier post, Senate President Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio subsequently told the joint session of both chambers of parliament.
After President Ouattara on Wednesday announced plans to reduce the size of the cabinet and re-shuffle the government, Achi submitted his resignation and that of his government, TOS NEWS reported.
The position of vice president has been vacant since Daniel Kablan Duncan resigned on July 8, 2020, the day Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died.
Rather than choosing someone else, Ouattara ran for election again and won a third term in November that year.
The next presidential election will be in 2025.
