Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire — President Alassane Ouattara’s entire cabinet has stepped down following sweeping victories by his ruling RHDP party in December’s legislative vote, opening the way for a wholesale ministerial overhaul that officials say will begin within days.
The resignation, submitted on 07 January and accepted immediately by the presidency, is a routine post-election formality in Côte d’Ivoire but carries added resonance after Ouattara secured a third term in October amid opposition boycotts and the exclusion of two leading challengers. Local reports note that while the gesture is provided for under the constitution, full-cabinet departures have been rare since 2010, making the move a symbolic break with past practice.
A presidential communiqué thanked outgoing ministers for their service and asked them to handle day-to-day affairs until replacements are sworn in. No timeline was given, yet sources inside the presidential palace expect a leaner team that could include several technocrats under the age of 45, reflecting behind-the-scenes discussion on succession planning as the 82-year-old leader enters his new mandate. Ports, highways and power plants built during that period helped attract record foreign investment in cocoa, energy and logistics, although youth unemployment remains high and public debt has risen steadily.
Opposition leaders have so far made no official comment on the resignations. Civil society groups that criticised the electoral process reiterated calls for “inclusive governance,” but stopped short of rejecting the looming reshuffle.
The European Union and the regional central bank have both said they await the new line — up before assessing policy continuity.
Further details are expected once the presidency releases the amended list of ministers, which local media predict will occur before parliament reconvenes on 20 January.
