Home Communiqués des ministres COMMUNIQUE OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH 2025

COMMUNIQUE OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH 2025

On Wednesday 12 March 2025, a Council of Ministers was held from 11:00 to 13:30, 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 DECREES

The Council adopted a decree on the creation, remit, organisation and operation of the Ecole Nationale de Formation des Personnels Pénitentiaires.

The Ecole Nationale de Formation des Personnels Pénitentiaires (ENAFOPP) is a vocational training structure, created in the form of a National Public Establishment of an administrative nature, entirely autonomous and independent of the Institut National de Formation Judiciaire (INFJ), formerly responsible for training prison staff. This National Public Vocational Training Establishment is designed to be fully adapted to the teaching and assessment conditions specific to the various categories of prison staff.

ENAFOPP will be based in Dimbokro, in the capital of the District of Lakes, in the N’Zi region, with the task of recruiting and providing initial and in-service training for prison staff.

The Council has adopted a decree amending decree no. 2021-873 of 15 December 2021 on the powers, composition and operation of Public Procurement Units.

This decree reorganises the procedure for recruiting and appointing the heads of public procurement units. In particular, it introduces competition by invitation to tender for the recruitment of unit heads, and the rotation of unit heads in post, for periods of three (03) years, in the various ministerial departments, with a view to further enhancing the efficiency of the national public procurement system.

The Council adopted a decree ratifying the loan agreement concluded on 28 November 2024 between the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire for a total amount of one hundred and eighty-three million six hundred and fifty thousand (183,650,000 AED) Emirates Dirhams, i.e. approximately thirty-one billion two hundred and fifty-nine million one hundred and fifty-two thousand (31,259,152,000) CFA francs, to finance the first phase of the programme to build 25,000 social housing units in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The aim of the project is to improve living conditions in major cities, particularly Abidjan, by building social and low-cost housing for vulnerable and low-income households.

In the first phase, 6,424 homes will be built as part of the emergency programme, with the aim of completing 25,000 homes in a number of Abidjan’s communes.

The Council adopted a decree ratifying loan contract n°BMZ-No.2023 68 637, concluded on 17 December 2024, between Kreditanstalt Für Wiederaufbau (KFW) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for a total amount of sixty million (60 000 000) Euros, i.e. thirty-nine billion three hundred and fifty-seven million four hundred and twenty thousand (39 357 420 000) CFA francs, with a view to financing the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme: Continuation of the Eastern Dorsal.

This project is part of the construction of the 400 kV Dorsale de l’Est (Eastern Dorsal), which involves the construction of four (04) 400 kV substations linked by a 541 km line. This line will run from Anyama substation to the future Ferkessédougou 2 substation, via the future Daoukro substation and the existing Sérébou substation.

Ultimately, the Eastern Dorsal will not only ensure the evacuation of thermal production from Greater Abidjan to the interior of the country and the evacuation of production from solar power plants planned in the north and east of the country, but also reduce production costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and guarantee an optimal level of exports to hinterland countries while preserving the stability of the network.

The Council adopted a decree ratifying the loan and implementation contract BMZ-N° 2022 65 007, for a total amount of twenty-five million (25 000 000) Euros, i.e. sixteen billion three hundred and ninety-eight million nine hundred and twenty-five thousand (16 398 925 000) CFA francs, concluded on 20 December 2024, between Kreditanstalt Für Wiederaufbau (KFW) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for the financing of the Société de Garantie des Crédits à l’appui des PME ivoiriennes.

The financing, which is the subject of this agreement, will make it possible to support the Société de Garantie des Crédits aux PME (SGPME) and provide it with sufficient financial power to grant more portfolio guarantees to financial institutions, so as to facilitate and increase the granting of credit to SMEs.

This support also includes helping the SGPME and the financial institutions to implement efficient IT systems and environmental and social training.

The Council adopted a decree declaring as being in the public interest the plot of land forming lot no. 2 of block 1 of the development known as “Lycée Technique Résidentiel Nord”, which is the subject of land title 209.218 of the Cocody land registry.

This plot of land is located on the outskirts of the Centre Sportif, Culturel et des TIC Ivoiro-Coréen Alassane Ouattara (CSCTICAO) and is intended to house additional sports facilities, including an athletes’ training centre, an Olympic swimming pool and a cultural exhibition area for hosting sports competitions and socio-cultural activities.

The Council adopted a decree declaring the public utility of the plots of land allocated to the extension of the 50 MWp solar power plant and associated infrastructure, located at BINGUEBOUGOU, in the department of Korhogo.

In November 2016, the State signed a public service concession agreement with Société Korhogo Solaire for the construction of a solar power plant with an electricity generation capacity of 25 MWp, connected to the electricity grid at Binguébougou.

As part of the project to extend the solar power plant’s generating capacity from 25 MWp to 50 MWp, this decree incorporates two (02) plots of land with a combined surface area of 40 ha, adjacent to the power plant’s rights of way, into the State domain.

This area is intended to house the electrical infrastructure for the extension of the Binguébougou Solar Power Plant.

In addition, holders of customary rights, definitive title deeds to the rights of way for the various projects, tenants or their successors will receive compensation in accordance with the regulations in force. Consequently, any transaction, any new construction, even precarious, and any type of work likely to modify the state of the soil on these sites are prohibited.

The Council adopted a decree on the transfer of State assets to the State company called Port Autonome de San Pedro, abbreviated to PASP.

In 1994, with funding from the Government of Japan’s official development assistance, the State built various infrastructures and equipment making up the fishing port of San Pedro, operated by PASP, without a prior deed formalising the transfer of ownership.

This decree, which regularises the situation, transfers full ownership of the fishing port assets to PASP, in the form of an investment grant, with a view to harmonising and clarifying PASP’s financial statements.

These assets include, in particular, infrastructure designed to accommodate fishing boats and facilities dedicated to the conservation and marketing of fishery products.

The Council adopted five (05) decrees, each recognising an Interprofessional Agricultural Organisation:

Faced with the global challenges of sustainability, food safety and competitiveness, the institutionalisation of these inter-professional organisations aims to strengthen dialogue between the various players in the different animal and fisheries sectors concerned, and to coordinate their efforts, with a view to optimising the collective management of the challenges and defending the country’s environmental and socio-economic interests.

The Council adopted a decree creating the voluntary nature reserve “Eden de l’Agnéby-Tiassa”.

The “Eden de l’Agnéby-Tiassa” voluntary nature reserve, covering an area of around 49 ha, is located in the Agneby-Tiassa region, at Rubino, in the rural area of the village of Allany. This new protected area is home to endemic West African species of flora and exceptional species of fauna that will stimulate scientific research and boost the socio-economic development of the locality through new activities such as ecotourism.

In application of law n°2002-102 of 11 February 2002 relating to the creation, management and financing of national parks and nature reserves, the “Eden De l’Agnéby-Tiassa” voluntary nature reserve is part of the national network of voluntary nature reserves set up to conserve the dynamic balance and specific potential of the country’s various ecosystems.

The Council adopted a decree setting out the remit, organisation and operation of the Digital Start-up Labelling Committee.

Established by law no. 2023-901 of 23 November 2023 on the promotion of digital start-ups in Côte d’Ivoire, the Labelling Committee is responsible for validating and monitoring the Digital Start-up Label.

This decree specifies the powers of the Labelling Committee and determines its composition, as well as the procedures for granting and withdrawing the Digital Startup Label.

The Council adopted a decree suspending the export of waste and scrap of used lead batteries and accumulators.

This decree suspends the export of waste and scrap from used lead batteries and accumulators for a period of ten (10) years.

Following the suspension of the export of ferrous scrap and by-products, as well as aluminium scrap and waste, this measure is intended to guarantee a regular supply of these raw materials to local recycling and processing units, and to ensure the sustainability of Côte d’Ivoire’s booming metal industry.

The Council adopted a decree laying down the procedures for the recovery of contributions due under the general basic Universal Health Coverage scheme by persons liable for the entrepreneur’s local tax.

This decree sets the amount of the contributions and institutes a deduction mechanism at source for their collection, with a view to mobilising more resources to ensure effective and continuous care for the population thanks to the CMU.

The amount of the monthly contributions payable under the general basic CMU scheme by persons subject to the entrepreneur’s communal tax is set at 1,000 CFA francs. These contributions are collected by the local authorities at the time of payment of the tax and are paid to the IPS-CNAM.

B/- INDIVIDUAL MEASURES

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

The Council has adopted a decree appointing Mr BOGUI Eric Yapo, Ambassador,2nd echelon, Matricule 252.155-H, as Consul General of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in Guangzhou, China.

The Council also approved the appointment of two (02) Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire:

C/- COMMUNICATIONS

The Council adopted a communication on the establishment of the Côte d’Ivoire-CERFAM Prize for Excellence in Nutrition and Food Security in Africa.

The institution of this honorary distinction was adopted at the 37th AU Summit, on the proposal of Côte d’Ivoire, not only to mark and enhance the achievements of the President of the Republic, in his capacity as AU Champion for the 2022 Year of Nutrition, but also to accelerate the efforts of CERFAM and associated institutions, with a view to achieving nutrition and food security objectives by 2030.

The aim of this Excellence Award is to honour living individuals, institutions, public or private bodies and non-governmental organisations that are active and that, through concrete actions, are making a significant contribution to reducing malnutrition and hunger in Africa.

The Prix d’Excellence Côte d’Ivoire-CERFAM for Nutrition and Food Security in Africa will be awarded every two (02) years, starting in 2027, for a sum of 100 million CFA francs divided between a maximum of one (01), two (02) or three (03) winners.

The Council adopted a communication on Côte d’Ivoire’s participation in the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris on 27 and 28 March 2025.

A high-level delegation led by the Vice-President of the Republic will take part in this major international conference dedicated to the adoption of new commitments, following those made in Tokyo, to eliminate malnutrition in all its forms by 2030.

The Vice-President will co-chair the summit alongside the President of the French Republic and the Secretary General of the United Nations.

As a prelude to this meeting, the Council validated the commitments to be made by our country and registered in the Paris N4G Compact.

The Council adopted a communication on the situation of SODEFOR and recommendations for its restructuring.

Since 2018, SODEFOR has presented an unbalanced financial situation characterised by insufficient financial profitability combined with an increase in operating expenses.

Therefore, on the proposal of the SODEFOR Interministerial Restructuring Committee set up in 2023, the Council has adopted a financial restructuring plan to revitalise this state-owned company in the long term, given its strategic contribution to the rehabilitation of the national forest cover.

This restructuring plan is essentially structured around the cancellation of SODEFOR’s debt to the State and the implementation of an appropriate economic model, in line with the control of its operating costs, in order to restore the company’s financial equilibrium and release substantial resources to ensure optimal financing of its reforestation mission.

The Council adopted a communication on the implementation of the Social Safety Net Programme up to the end of December 2024.

The Social Safety Net Programme was designed to support the poorest targeted vulnerable households, with quarterly financial assistance of 36,000 CFA francs over a period of three (03) years, and various support measures to promote their social inclusion.

From 2017 to 2024, 457,000 beneficiary households were reached in all 31 regions of the country. In 2024, 230,000 active households will continue to receive cash transfers, following the gradual withdrawal of 227,000 households at the end of their three (03) years of benefit.

The total cost of transfers redistributed to beneficiary households from 2017 to December 2024 amounts to 156 billion CFA francs. This amount includes 141.3 billion CFA francs in direct transfers and 14.6 billion CFA francs as exit subsidies to households.

In addition to the quarterly allowances, the Social Safety Net Programme offers coaching on essential family practices, family budget management and the promotion of income-generating activities (IGAs) to strengthen the human capital and productivity of beneficiary households.

The support provided by Civil Service social workers, backed up by community workers, has been particularly marked by the enthusiasm shown by local people for setting up Associations de Valorisation de l’Entraide Communautaire (AVEC).

Between 2018 and 2024, 5,200 AVECs were set up and were able to mobilise and redistribute 2.7 billion francs for income-generating activities, following 26,499 training sessions to set up AVECs and create IGAs.

Also, for 2025, the Government intends to continue allocating cash transfers and providing support to the 230,000 beneficiary households that are active today, while targeting 70,000 new households as part of the extension of coverage from 457,000 to more than 527,000 households in accordance with the guidelines of the President of the Republic.

D- MISCELLANEOUS

The next Council of Ministers meeting will be held on Wednesday 09 April 2025 in Abidjan.

Abidjan, Wednesday 12 March 2025
Mr Amadou COULIBALY

Minister of Communication,

Government Spokesman

porteparolat@communication.gouv.ci