The members of the Ivorian government held a council of ministers under the leadership of President Alassane Ouattara on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. During this meeting, several points were discussed. Below, you will find a summary of the decisions made.
Communiqué from the Council of Ministers
On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, a Council of Ministers was held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic, Head of State.
The agenda for this meeting included the following points:
A/ General Measures
Bills
Decrees
B/ Individual Measures
C/ Communication
D/ Miscellaneous
A/– GENERAL MEASURES
BILL
Under the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage;
The Council adopted two bills:
a bill on the code of ethics and practice of the nursing profession;
a bill on the code of ethics and practice of the midwife and midwifery profession.
These two (02) bills complement the law n°2022-794 of October 13, 2022, which establishes the National Order of Nurses in Côte d’Ivoire, and the law n°2014-133 of March 24, 2014, which establishes the National Order of Midwives and Midwifery Professionals in Côte d’Ivoire. These different measures aim to introduce a more demanding and responsible professional practice in the fields of nursing, midwifery, and obstetrics. These bills outline the rights and responsibilities towards patients, the conditions for practice, and define the authorized acts and care.
DECREES
1- Under the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad;
The Council adopted a decree amending decree n° 2001-365 of June 27, 2001, which establishes an Interministerial Committee to monitor the implementation of international human rights instruments, as amended by decree n° 2017-303 of May 17, 2017.
This amending decree increases the number of members of the Committee, adding the Ministries specifically concerned with new human rights issues, and strengthens its coordination role regarding the preparation of initial and periodic summary reports of the State of Côte d’Ivoire to the competent bodies of human rights treaties to which our country is a party. It also provides for the replacement procedures for Committee members in case of vacancy, in order to maintain the dynamism and responsiveness of the Committee.
2- Under the Ministry of Finance and Budget, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the Ministry of the Interior and Security;
The Council adopted two decrees:
the first decree concerns the legal framework for games operated by the National Lottery of Côte d’Ivoire (LONACI).
In accordance with the law n°2020-480 of May 27, 2020, which establishes the legal framework for games of chance in Côte d’Ivoire, this decree grants LONACI exclusive rights to organize and operate games on the physical network and a segment of the virtual network, including all kinds of lotteries, horse betting, sports betting, and betting on virtual sports and events. This decree determines the modalities for organizing, operating, and monitoring the games operated by this majority state-financed company. Consequently, the organization and operation of the prohibited games, related to the authorized games, are forbidden throughout the national territory to any operator other than LONACI.
the second decree concerns the legal framework for games of chance subject to authorization.
The aforementioned law n°2020-480 of May 27, 2020, which establishes the legal framework for games of chance in Côte d’Ivoire, defines two (02) categories of games subject to the authorization regime: advertising or promotional lotteries and lotteries for charitable purposes, promotion of the arts, or cultural actions. For each category of games subject to authorization, this decree specifies the modalities for issuing, renewing, and withdrawing authorization, as well as the amount, conditions, and modalities of payment of the financial counterparts of the authorized games owed to the State. In addition, it confers the authority to issue authorizations to the Regulation Authority for Games of Chance, unlike the previous provisions that conferred this power jointly to the Minister responsible for Territorial Administration and the Minister responsible for Economy and Finance.
3- Under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, and the Ministry of Finance and Budget;
The Council adopted two decrees:
the first decree ratifies Loan Agreement n° 15473P, in the amount of seventy million (70,000,000) Euros, equivalent to forty-five billion nine hundred sixteen million nine hundred ninety thousand (45,916,990,000) CFA francs, concluded on September 4, 2023, between the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for the financing of the Support Program for Economic and Social Reforms – Phase III (PARES III).
This budget support program aims to consolidate and deepen the achievements of the two previous phases (PARES I and PARES II) by increasing public allocations for vulnerable social groups. In the same perspective, it foresees the reinforcement of the efficiency and transparency of public expenditure, in order to improve access of the target population to basic social services and promote their social inclusion.
the second decree ratifies the Counter-Indemnification Agreement, concluded on November 20, 2023, between the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, in relation to a loan financing of five hundred thirty-three million (533,000,000) Euros, equivalent to three hundred forty-nine billion six hundred twenty-five million eighty-one thousand (349,625,081,000) CFA francs, benefiting from a partial credit guarantee (GPC) from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The financing covered by this agreement will contribute to the implementation of the National Development Plan 2021-2025, particularly in its social and environmental aspects.
4- Under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, the Ministry of Finance and Budget, the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Digitalization;
The Council adopted two decrees:
a decree approving Framework Agreement n° CIV-1026, in the total amount of seventy million eight hundred thousand (70,800,000) euros, equivalent to forty-six billion four hundred forty-one million seven hundred forty-four thousand six hundred (46,441,744,600) CFA francs, concluded on May 12, 2023, between the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for the financing of the project to strengthen digital transformation and health security in healthcare services in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire;
A decree ratifying loan agreement No. CIV-1026 in the amount of nine million four hundred forty thousand (9,440,000) euros, equivalent to six billion one hundred ninety-two million two hundred thirty-four thousand eighty (6,192,234,080) CFA francs, concluded on May 12, 2023, between the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for the financing of the project to strengthen digital transformation and health security in healthcare services in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
The project aims to strengthen the healthcare system and digital management of major public health events. Specifically, it will ensure integrated care for chronic infections in the elderly, improve local governance of health action through greater involvement of local authorities, and significantly reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the project-covered regions.
To achieve this, it includes the construction of twenty-two (22) new Primary Contact Healthcare Facilities (PCHF), the construction of forty-eight (48) medical analysis laboratories, as well as the rehabilitation and expansion of infrastructure housing maternal, neonatal, and child health services in thirty-five (35) PCHFs in the three (03) health excellence hubs.
5- Under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Ivorians Abroad, in conjunction with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, the Ministry of Finance and Budget, and the Ministry of Equipment and Road Maintenance;
The Council has adopted a decree ratifying Framework Agreement No. CIV-1028 in the total amount of one hundred seventy-six million five hundred eighty thousand (176,580,000) euros, equivalent to one hundred fifteen billion eight hundred twenty-eight million eight hundred eighty-seven thousand sixty (115,828,887,060) CFA francs, concluded on May 12, 2023, between the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for the financing of the integration road construction project in the Montagnes District: Man-Kouibly and Guiglo-Taï, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
The integration road will be constructed in the two regions that make up the Montagnes District, namely the Cavally region for the Guiglo-Taï road, and the Tonkpi region for the Man-Kouibly road.
Ultimately, this project will strengthen socio-economic infrastructure in the Montagnes District, facilitate year-round access to various localities in the district, and stimulate the development of economic activities, particularly in the agricultural and mining sectors.
6- On behalf of the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Urbanism, in conjunction with the Ministry of the Interior and Security, the Ministry of Finance and Budget, the Ministry of Equipment and Road Maintenance, and the Ministry of Hydraulics, Sanitation, and Cleanliness;
The Council has adopted a decree approving the Urban Development Master Plan of Greater Yamoussoukro (SDUGY).
As part of the revitalization of the urban planning and management policy initiated by the Government in 2013, three (03) Urban Development Master Plans (SDU) and twenty-eight (28) Master Urban Plans (PUD) for regional capitals were developed and approved in 2016, including the SDUGY. However, at the time of its development, the SDUGY did not take into account certain recent parameters, including the vision of the capital city, the fourth school of the Institut National Polytechnique Félix HOUPHOUET BOIGNY (INP-HB), the triumphal road, and the Administrative and Political Zone (ZAP), which are essential to the District of Yamoussoukro. In addition, preliminary studies revealed that the 2016 SDU boundaries were exceeded by subdivisions. Therefore, the Government decided to revise the SDUGY before its original term. By integrating these new parameters, the new urbanization perimeter of the political capital, the subject of this decree, covers the city of Yamoussoukro and the satellite city of “Attiégouakro” which constitutes its extension in the east.
7- Under the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Urbanism, in conjunction with the Ministry of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production, the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Development, the Ministry of the Interior and Security, the Ministry of Finance and Budget, the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry;
The Council has adopted a decree declaring the public utility of the sites allocated for the construction of wholesale markets in Abidjan, Abengourou, and Daloa.
These three (03) large-scale markets planned on these sites are intended for the collection and preservation of food products, as well as the supply of food products to various markets in the country and the sub-region. In the long run, they will strengthen the culture and production of food products and improve the marketing conditions for these agricultural products in the national territory and the West African sub-region. The Government aims to significantly reduce the costs of marketing food products, meet the enormous consumption needs, and increase the income of rural stakeholders. This decree transfers the three (03) sites identified in Abidjan, Abengourou, and Daloa, to the state domain to house the wholesale markets. Holders of customary rights, definitive property titles on the project sites, tenants, or their heirs will receive compensation in accordance with the existing regulations. Consequently, any transaction, any new construction, even precarious, and any type of work that may modify the state of the land on these sites are prohibited.
8- Under the Ministry of Transport, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and Budget and the Ministry of Heritage, State Portfolio, and Public Enterprises;
The Council has adopted a communication on the progress of the project for Line 1 of the Abidjan Metro and a decree approving the modifications made to Amendment No. 2 of the Concession Agreement for Line 1 of the Abidjan Metro, concluded on July 23, 2015, between the State of Côte d’Ivoire and the Société de Transports Abidjanais sur Rail, abbreviated as STAR, as amended by Amendment No. 3 dated November 30, 2023.
9- Under the Ministry of Heritage, State Portfolio, and Public Enterprises, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and Budget and the Ministry of Transport;
The Council has adopted a decree approving the modifications made to Amendment No. 2 of the Concession Agreement for Line 1 of the Abidjan Metro and a decree authorizing the transfer of shares loan, which aims to lift the suspensive conditions and any remaining obstacles, for the acceleration of the main works of the project in mid-December 2023.
Line 1 of the Abidjan Metro, with a length of 37 km, will serve seven (07) municipalities in the Autonomous District of Abidjan, including Anyama, Abobo, Adjamé, Plateau, Treichville, Marcory, and Port Bouët, for the daily transportation of approximately 500,000 passengers. The project includes the construction of 18 stations and 24 art structures consisting of rail bridges and road bridges, pedestrian transparency walkways, as well as a viaduct crossing the Ebrié Lagoon dedicated to the Metro, adjacent to the Félix Houphouët Boigny Bridge, intended to connect the North section to the South section. The implementation of the project entrusted to the consortium of companies constituted by the Société de Transports Abidjanais sur Rail (STAR) has been significantly delayed due to certain suspensive conditions, including the release of project boundaries, the environmental and social action plan, and budgetary difficulties.
