Ivory Coast President Names Brother as Vice Prime Minister in Major Cabinet Reshuffle

Ivory Coast President Names Brother as Vice Prime Minister in Major Cabinet Reshuffle.

On Friday, January 23, 2026, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara appointed his younger brother, Téné Birahima Ouattara, to the newly created position of Vice Prime Minister. The appointment was a centerpiece of a cabinet reshuffle dubbed “Mambé II,” occurring just two days after Robert Beugré Mambé was reappointed as Prime Minister following the ruling party’s landslide victory in the December legislative elections.

Téné Birahima Ouattara, often referred to by his nickname “Photocopy” due to his striking resemblance to the President, will serve in this elevated role while simultaneously retaining his influential portfolio as the Minister of Defense. This structural shift places the junior Ouattara at the apex of the government hierarchy, reinforcing the 84-year-old President’s grip on power as he begins his fourth term in office.

While the 35-member cabinet maintains a theme of continuity, the promotion of the President’s brother has intensified international speculation regarding the nation’s political succession. Most senior ministers, including Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné and Interior Minister Vagondo Diomandé, retained their posts, signaling a preference for stability amidst Ivory Coast’s robust economic growth.

However, the creation of the Vice Prime Minister post specifically for Téné Birahima Ouattara is viewed by political observers as a move to groom a trusted successor and consolidate authority within the Ouattara family.

Despite criticisms from opposition figures who have long accused the administration of nepotism, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) justifies the move as a necessary step to ensure security and administrative efficiency in West Africa’s most resilient economy.