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Côte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara has appointed his brother, Téné Birahima Ouattara, as vice prime minister following a cabinet reshuffle announced on Friday.
Téné Birahima Ouattara, who has served as defence minister, will keep that portfolio while taking on the newly created role of vice prime minister, according to an official communiqué.
“The new government has 34 ministers, including a deputy prime minister, minister of defense, and four deputy ministers,” the communiqué said, adding that the decree was signed by President Ouattara and made public on January 23, 2026, in Abidjan.
The majority of senior ministers kept their jobs, indicating continuity rather than significant change. The reshuffle saw the entry of five new figures, three ministers and two deputy ministers, while four ministers left the cabinet.
Among the new appointments, Yacouba Hien Sié was named Minister of Infrastructure and Road Maintenance, Djibril Ouattara became Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, and Abou Bamba was appointed Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition.
Two new deputy ministers were also appointed: Jean-Louis Moulot, in charge of Technical Education under the Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Technical Education, and Bernard Kini Comoé, in charge of Food Production under the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production.
Four ministers exited the government, including Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, former Minister of State for Agriculture; Léon Kacou Houadja Adom, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Bouaké Fofana, former Minister of Water, Sanitation and Public Health; and Tchagba Laurent, former Minister of Water and Forests.
All six women from the previous government retained cabinet positions, though some were reassigned. The former Minister of Economy, Planning and Development was promoted to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Mariatou Koné, previously Minister of National Education and Literacy, was appointed Minister in charge of State Assets and Public Enterprises.
Several ministers also changed portfolios, including appointments to education, agriculture, water resources, urban planning, trade and planning.
N’Guessan Koffi is now Minister of National Education, Literacy and Technical Training, while Bruno Nabagné Koné was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production.
Amédé Koffi Kouakou now heads the Ministry of Water Resources, Sanitation and Public Health, and Moussa Sanogo was named Minister of Urban Planning, Housing and Living Environment.
Jacques Assahoré Konan was appointed Minister of Water and Forests, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté became Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, and Souleymane Diarrassouba was named Minister of Planning and Development. Adjé Silas Metch, formerly a delegate minister in charge of sports, is now Minister of Sports.
Deputy ministers Célestin Séreh Doh and Adama Dosso retained their positions in the ministries of Transport and Maritime Affairs and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, respectively.
The reshuffle follows Ouattara’s re-election in October and his party’s victory in the December legislative elections, which secured a parliamentary majority.
The first cabinet meeting of the new government, chaired by Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan, the statement said.
