Patrick Achi

Successor droppedAt the same time Ouattara has sidelined the man widely viewed as the best electoral bet for an RHDP succession presidential candidacy Patrick Achi...

This contest for prominence which has also involved the likes of former Prime Minister Patrick Achi Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara (nicknamed 'Photocopie' because of his striking resemblance to his brother the President) and even current Vice-President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné will only be resolved at the next party conference for which no date is set...

Prime Minister Patrick Achi should hold the southern region of La Mé and Housing and Urbanisation minister Bruno Koné should carry the day in Bagoué in the north...

He has reconfirmed Prime Minister Patrick Achi in post while modestly refreshing the ministerial team...

Whether he will do more depend on two things: the performance of other contenders such as Patrick Achi or Adama Bictogo; and a ruling on the age limit for the presidency which is to be made by Ouattara and the RHDP parliamentarians...

His prime minister Patrick Achi is a hard sell to old RDR members because he came to the party from the PDCI and Bictogo has a chequered past which does not endear him to them...

The official opening on 10 June gathered together French ambassador Jean-Christophe Belliard Ivorian Defence Minister and presidential younger brother Téné Birahima Ouattara and Prime Minister Patrick Achi...

Although competently succeeded in the premiership by Patrick Achi hitherto secretary-general of the presidency and an able technocrat Bakayoko's political savvy and capacity to reach out across partisan divides has not been replaced...

Days before his death he had been replaced as interim Prime Minister by Secretary-General of the Presidency Patrick Achi and as Defence Minister by Ouattara's brother Tene Birahima Ouattara (known as photocopie for his astonishing likeness to the President)...

Ouattara finally has mortally divided his party and the RHDP is now set to become factionalised between the potential frontrunners for its leadership: Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko party director Adama Bictogo and Secretary-General of the Presidency Patrick Achi...

Vice-President Daniel Kablan Duncan and presidency chief of staff Patrick Achi are seen as other potential RHDP candidates...