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The Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) Tiémoko Meyliet Koné is now the vice-president of Côte d’Ivoire. He was appointed by President Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday (18th April). Significantly, the president has retained Patrick Achi to the premier’s post
The Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) Tiémoko Meyliet Koné is now the vice-president of Côte d’Ivoire. He was appointed by President Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday (18th April). Significantly, the president has retained Patrick Achi in the premier’s post.
Mr. Koné is an economist and technocrat and headed the central bank since 2011. The position of vice president has been vacant since Daniel Kablan Duncan resigned on July 8, 2020, the day Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died.
He also served between 2007 and 2011, as Director of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet as Minister of Construction, Urban Planning, and Housing. He also served as Special Adviser to the President of the Republic, in charge of economic and monetary issues.
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The 80-year-old leader made the announcement during an address to parliament. Patrick Achi has been reappointed as Ivory Coast’s prime minister. Kone’s appointment as vice president, a position that has been vacant since 2020, many speculate Ouattara has him in mind as a potential successor. Former Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died suddenly in July 2020. Without choosing his successor, Ouattara ran for election again and won a third term in November that year. As the head of the West African regional central bank BCEAO, Kone was known for his deft handling and management of the CFA franc currency, which is used by eight countries.
Ouattara came to power in 2011 following an election the previous year. The election sparked a conflict when the defeated incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to concede. Ouattara ran for a third term as president which the opposition parties said violated the constitution. The constitution limits presidential terms to two. Ouattara maintained that the approval of a new constitution in 2016 allowed him to restart his mandate. His third term will be over in 2025 only.