Ivory Coast’s Ouattara replaces top jobs in new government

Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara changed several key posts in the government of French-speaking West Africa’s largest economy on Tuesday in a cabinet shake-up that follows his re-election in a landslide poll victory last year.

Ouattara, who won a second five-year term with nearly 84 percent of the vote in October, dissolved the government last week, vowing to name a more unified, efficient team.

In a news conference, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, a senior official with the presidency, announced that Albert Toikeusse Mabri, formerly planning minister, had replaced Charles Diby Koffi as foreign minister.

Sansan Kambile, previously the government’s secretary general, will serve as justice minister, replacing Mamadou Gnenema Coulibaly.

The defence and finance portfolios will continue to be held by Ouattara and Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan.

However, the important deputy minister posts were changed, with the head of Ouattara’s national security council Alain-Richard Donwahi replacing Paul Koffi Koffi at defence. Adama Kone, previously head of the treasury, takes over from Niale Kaba as Duncan’s deputy finance minister.

Thierry Tanoh, who served as CEO of Togo-based pan-African lender Ecobank until he was ousted in 2014, will serve as Ouattara’s deputy finance minister.