Ivory Coast President Appoints Brother as Vice Prime Minister

The President of Côte d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara has appointed his younger brother, Téné Birahima Ouattara, as the country’s newly created role of vice prime minister, which he will hold alongside the portfolio of minister of defence, following a cabinet reshuffle announced on Friday, 23 January 2026.

The appointment comes as part of a cabinet reshuffle that saw most senior ministers retain their positions, highlighting continuity in government leadership.

The newly created vice prime minister role elevates Téné Birahima within the executive hierarchy but does not change the overall balance of power in the cabinet.

The new vice prime minister role elevates Téné Birahima Ouattara within the executive hierarchy. However, it does not significantly alter the balance of power within the cabinet.

President Ouattara, who was re-elected in October 2025 with nearly 90% of the vote, has led Ivory Coast since 2011.

He claims his intention is to use his current term to prepare the ground for a new generation of political leaders.

However, critics of the country’s general election in December in which Ouattara’s ruling RHDP party won nearly 80 percent of the seats in parliament have criticized the process as highly rigged, raising concerns about democratic processes in the country.

At 84 years old, Ouattara continues to face challenges in balancing political stability, governance continuity, and calls for broader democratic reforms.

Prime Minister Robert Beugre Mambe remains in post, while former premier Patrick Achi was moved to become the speaker of parliament, and 84-year-old Vice-President Tiemoko Meyliet Kone has continued in his position.

The appointment of a close family member to such a senior leadership position have drawn intense scrutiny both domestically and internationally.