Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara on Monday selected his close confidant and chief of staff Patrick Achi to be the interim prime minister of the country, replacing Hamed Bakayoko, who is suffering from health issues, reported France 24.
State minister Patrick Achi will take over the functions of the prime minister and head of government in an interim capacity,” the presidency said in a statement.
The 56-year-old Bakayoko, a close ally of Ouattara, was flown to France last month for medical checks. The nature of Bakayoko’s health issues has not been made public. He was appointed as prime minister in July 2020 following the sudden death of his predecessor Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who had been handpicked by Ouattara to succeed him. He also held the defence ministry portfolio.
Tene Birahima Ouattara, presidential affairs minister, and President Ouattara’s younger brother was appointed interim defence minister, also replacing Bakayoko in that position.
Achi’s appointment as Ivory Coast’s interim prime minister comes as the results of the legislative election held on Saturday are to be announced.
The ruling party won 58% of seats in the elections, results showed on Sunday.
The ruling party and the main opposition both claimed victory in the West African nation’s legislative elections.
“We have achieved our goal of securing around 60 percent of the seats,” Adama Bictogo, number two in the ruling RHDP party, declared.
He added that early trends from local election commissions showed that his party will emerge victorious with a comfortable majority.
The center-right Ivory Coast Democratic Party (PDCI) opposition party also claimed it had won Saturday’s legislative elections, alleging that preliminary results were riddled with irregularities.
During a news conference in the economic capital Abidjan on Sunday, top opposition party official Niamkey Koffi said his party is going to get around 128 seats with its allies in the 255-seat National Assembly.
