President Alassane Ouattara of the Ivory Coast appointed Patrick Achi, his close confidant and chief of staff, as interim prime minister on Monday, replacing Hamed Bakayoko.
The presidency said in a statement that “State minister Patrick Achi will take over the functions of the prime minister and head of state in an interim capacity.”
Tene Birahima Ouattara, presidential affairs minister and the younger brother of President Ouattara, was appointed interim defence minister, also replacing Bakayoko in that position. Bakayoko, aged 56, travelled to France on February 18 for health-related reasons. Then he was transferred to a hospital in Germany, according to sources, without specifying exactly when.
Data source: Al Jazeera
