Ivory Coast’s Ouattara names confidant Patrick Achi as PM

Patrick Achi served as interim prime minister after his predecessor Hamed Bakayoko was hospitalised with cancer.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara named a close confidant, Patrick Achi, as prime minister on Friday, following the death of the West African country’s second premier in less than eight months. Achi, Ouattara’s former chief of staff, has served as interim prime minister since Hamed Bakayoko, 56, was hospitalised this month with cancer. Bakayoko died on March 10. Achi’s nomination was announced in a brief statement by Ouattara’s current chief of staff, Fidel Sarassoro.