Home Communiqués des ministres Communique from the Council of Ministers of Wednesday 17 September 2025

Communique from the Council of Ministers of Wednesday 17 September 2025

On Wednesday 17 September 2025, a Council of Ministers was held from 11:00 to 13:00, at the Palais de la Présidence de la République in Abidjan, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic, Head of State.

The deliberations of the Council focused on the following points:

A/-General measures,

B/-Individual measures

C/-Communications

D/-Miscellaneous

A/- GENERAL MEASURES

DRAFT LAW

Ministry of Trade and Industry ;

The Council adopted a draft law guiding the national policy for the promotion and development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Intermediate-Sized Enterprises (ISEs).

In accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS SME Charter, the WAEMU Directives on SMEs and the OHADA Uniform Act on General Commercial Law concerning the status of entrepreneurs, this bill aims to strengthen the institutional framework for coordinating, financing and promoting SMEs and ISEs.

The new provisions introduce a harmonised definition of SMEs and SMIs, determine a set of specific advantages reserved for national companies, and extend local content to all projects and initiatives supported by public funding or public-private partnerships.

In addition, it provides for a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating national SME policy and a support fund for SMEs and SMIs, so as to consolidate the public support ecosystem for SMEs and ensure the country’s economic sovereignty.

DRAFT DECREES

The Council has adopted a decree on the creation, composition, powers and functioning of the Committee for Monitoring the Application of Anti-Corruption Conventions in force in Côte d’Ivoire.

The decree establishes a new body to replace the Committee for the Coordination of Actions relating to the Mechanism for the Review of the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which was set up in 2018, called the “Committee for the Follow-up of the Implementation of Conventions, Agreements and Protocols for Preventing and Combating Corruption”.

In addition to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Monitoring Committee’s remit extends to all actions resulting from the implementation of Conventions, Agreements and Protocols on preventing and combating corruption signed and ratified by our country.

The Council adopted a decree amending decree no. 2022-349 of1 June 2022 determining the powers, organisation and operation of the Agency for the Management and Recovery of Criminal Assets, as amended by decrees no. 2022-982 of 21 December 2022 and no. 2024-582 of 26 June 2024.

The purpose of this decree is to enhance transparency and prevent risks relating to the management of financial flows within the Agency.

To this end, it readjusts AGRAC’s organisation chart in line with the significant growth in the Agency’s financial and accounting activities.

The Council adopted six (06) decrees, each granting a mining exploration licence:

These exploration licences are issued in accordance with the required technical and environmental conditions. They are valid for four (04) years.

The Council adopted a decree amending decree no. 2019-366 of 24 April 2019 granting a mining licence to the company “PERSEUS YAOURE SARL” in the department of Bouaflé.

This decree amends the mining process and production profile as initially planned, to take into account the discovery, in the continuity of mineralisation at depth, of additional mineral resources estimated at 15.5 tonnes of gold, following intensive exploration work within the perimeter of the mining licence.

The new mining process adopted combines both the open-pit mining method and the more complex underground ore extraction method.

As a result, the production profile, which initially lasted eleven (11) years, has been extended by six (06) years, giving the mining licence a validity of seventeen (17) years.

The Council adopted a decree ratifying the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Government of the Portuguese Republic on defence cooperation, signed in Lisbon on 22 April 2019.

The ratification of this agreement is part of the action undertaken by the Government to guard against the growing security threats on the continent, particularly in West Africa and, where necessary, provide a coordinated response to organised cross-border crime.

It covers, among other things, the training and further training of military personnel, logistical support and military equipment, the exchange of intelligence and military expertise, maritime safety and security, the fight against cybercrime and the development of cyberdefence.

The Council adopted a decree ratifying Convention n°122 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Employment Policy, adopted on 09 July 1964, in Geneva, Switzerland.

This Convention establishes the guiding principles of an active employment policy based on equal opportunities and non-discrimination.

Ratification of this convention will bring national employment policies more into line with international standards and stimulate economic growth.

The Council adopted a decree on the Code of Professional Duties for Architects.

Pursuant to Law No. 2018-868 of 18 November 2018 on the architectural profession, this decree defines the rules of professional conduct applicable to architects in their relations with clients, colleagues and the National Order of Architects.

It also sets out the rules governing architects’ remuneration and the rules specific to each of the ways in which architects practise their profession, whether as individuals, in associations or companies, or as employees.

The Council adopted a decree on the organisation of health transport by land, air and sea.

As part of the hospital reform initiated by the government to strengthen the healthcare system and respond efficiently to the health needs of the population, this decree regulates, for the first time in Côte d’Ivoire, air and sea medical transport, in line with the growing development of the related national infrastructures.

It determines the technical characteristics of the materials and equipment required, the skills and components of the crews and the terms and conditions for the authorisation of the structures concerned to carry out land, air and sea medical transport activities.

The Council adopted two (02) decrees approving two (02) Public-Private Partnership Contracts:

To meet the growing demand for drinking water in Bouaké and San Pedro, the government has entrusted a private partner with the construction of two drinking water production plants in Bouaké and San Pedro.

These two (02) decrees separately approve the two (02) agreements signed with SIEE for the operation and maintenance of the two (02) plants, in accordance with current regulations on Public-Private Partnership Contracts.

The Council adopted a decree amending decree no. 2022-76 of 26 January 2022 instituting a system of monitoring, traceability and tax verification of tobacco products.

This amending decree reorganises the monitoring, traceability and tax verification process for tobacco products.

It also updates certain concepts to ensure that the system is fully operational for manufacturers and importers of tobacco products.

The Council adopted a decree changing the name of the Côte d’Ivoire National Cinema Office and setting out the remit, organisation and operation of Côte d’Ivoire Cinéma (ONAC-CI).

The decree changes the name of ONAC-CI to Côte d’Ivoire Cinéma.

This change of name is intended to reinforce the mission of promoting and developing Ivorian cinema entrusted to this public establishment and, above all, to highlight Côte d’Ivoire as a destination for film shoots and cinematographic events.

B/- INDIVIDUAL MEASURES

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Living Abroad;

The Council adopted two (02) decrees appointing two (02) Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, within the framework of multiple accreditations, abroad.

The following are thus appointed

C/- COMMUNICATIONS

The Council heard a report on Côte d’Ivoire’s participation in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), from 20 to 22 August 2025, in Yokohama, Japan.

A high-level delegation led by the Prime Minister took part in this important meeting between Japan, Africa and development partners. The 9th TICAD highlighted the solidarity between Japan and Africa, and the need to build a partnership based on sustainable solutions.

During his speech, the Prime Minister recalled, on behalf of the President of the Republic, that peace and security are essential conditions for Africa’s economic and social development. He reaffirmed the Government’s determination to combine development efforts with the promotion of a culture of peace, and to meet the basic social needs of the population, under the aegis of the Head of State.

To this end, several partnership agreements in the infrastructure, human resources, education, industry and agriculture sectors have been signed between Japan and Côte d’Ivoire.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Prime Minister held talks with the Prime Minister of Japan, and met with several other high-ranking figures from international political and financial institutions, to discuss opportunities for cooperation in the transfer of technology and skills, and the financing of strategic infrastructure tailored to our country’s needs.

The Council adopted a communication relating to the 2023 report on the state of transformation of the public service in Côte d’Ivoire.

The 2023 edition of the report essentially maps the public service transformation initiatives undertaken by the various ministries, institutions of the Republic and various public structures to support the transformation of the public service. It lists the various initiatives and their authors, and classifies and evaluates them.

Two (02) types of initiative were identified: digital initiatives and cultural initiatives. Out of 211 initiatives listed, 121 are digital initiatives, i.e. 57.34%, and 90 initiatives, i.e. 42.66%, are cultural initiatives. The Socio-cultural sector, the Sovereignty sector and the Growth-generating sector, according to the sectors of activity defined in the NDP 2021-2025, saw the greatest number of transformation initiatives, with rates of 39.34%, 32.70% and 23.22% respectively.

A nationwide awareness-raising campaign is planned to publicise these various initiatives to transform and modernise the public service, to make them better known, to bring them closer to their target audiences, and to encourage each player, particularly the user-customer, to promote their use.

The Council adopted a communication on the formulation of the new National Population Policy 2026-2036.

Since 2012, our country has returned to its tradition of planning and forward thinking, with a view to guaranteeing a better life for today’s population and, at the same time, ensuring a serene future for future generations, with the development and implementation of appropriate official initiatives, particularly in the health, education and employment sectors.

With this in mind, the 2015-2025 National Population Policy has contributed to a clear improvement in socio-demographic indicators. These convincing results have earned Côte d’Ivoire recognition and congratulations from other countries for implementing the commitments it has made, particularly in the context of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development.

The new Population Policy for the 2026-2036 decade, in line with that of the previous decade and the National Development Plan, will be developed around the issues of human capital, the demographic dividend and sustainable, inclusive and equitably shared economic growth.

The Council adopted a communication on the state of implementation of the State budget at the end of June 2025.

The implementation of the State budget at the end of the first half of 2025 is characterised by a satisfactory mobilisation of resources and a level of expenditure implementation globally contained within the forecasts.

At the end of June 2025, resources mobilised, excluding Special Treasury Accounts, totalled CFAF 8,243.5 billion against a forecast of CFAF 8,236 billion, representing a realisation rate of 100.1%. The resources realised include CFAF 3,649 billion in budget revenue and CFAF 4,594.5 billion in cash resources.

At the end of June 2025, overall expenditure was implemented to the tune of CFAF 7,862.2 billion against a forecast of CFAF 8,088.1 billion, representing an implementation rate of 97.2%. Investment expenditure, in particular, showed an implementation level of 1,717 billion CFA francs against a forecast of 1,838.3 billion CFA francs, i.e. an implementation rate of 93.4%. Expenditure on combating poverty and reducing social disparities, as well as specific social expenditure, amounted to XOF 1,978.0 billion and XOF 526.6 billion respectively at the end of June 2025, above the minimum targets of XOF 1,868.6 billion and XOF 490.6 billion respectively.

Efforts to mobilise resources, improve the absorption capacity of investment credits and control operating expenditure will continue in the second half of 2025, with a view to guaranteeing compliance with the commitments of the economic and financial programme agreed with the International Monetary Fund, as well as achieving the investment objectives of the National Development Plan.

The Council adopted a communication on the development and validation of the National Strategy for the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) 2025-2027.

Provided for in the National Development Plan, the National Strategy for the Social Solidarity Economy aims to make the SSE a lever for social inclusion, national solidarity, sustainable economic growth and intensification of the Government’s social action.

The development of the National Strategy for the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) 2025-2027 will focus on four (04) major areas, namely the creation of a legal and institutional framework conducive to the SSE, the promotion of SSE companies and organisations, the mobilisation of funding for the sector and the integration of the SSE into the education and vocational training systems.

D- MISCELLANEOUS

– The Council was informed of the triumphant return of our young basketball players from the U16 competition (FIBA U16 AfroBasket), held from 02 to 14 September 2025, in Rwanda.

The men’s team won the competition and were crowned African champions, while the women’s team were crowned African runners-up.

The two (02) teams, qualified for the U16 World Cup, will be received by the Prime Minister, Minister for Sport and the Living Environment, to receive the honours due to their respective performances.

– The next meeting of the Council of Ministers will be held on Wednesday,1 October 2025, in Abidjan.

Abidjan, Wednesday 17 September 2025
Mr Amadou COULIBALY

Minister for Communication, Government Spokesman