Thierry Tanoh more than ever under Toungara's thumb

摘要

Head of State Alassane Ouattara has asked his minister of oil, energy and development of renewable energies Thierry Tanoh to transfer all permit applications to the president's office. This decision is sure to delight Tanoh's predecessor Adama Toungara, now special advisor to the president. Toungara, along with former budget minister Abdourahmane Cisse, will now handle all permit requests. Ouattara��s decision is in all likelihood due to growing complaints from several oil groups against Tanoh��s handling of permit requests since his arrival at the ministry. The minister has also not yet been able to appoint any of his own choices to positions within the sector. For instance, Toungara��s younger brother, Mamadou Latif Toungara (audio-visual producer by training), has been named chairman of Petro-Sea Logistics, a subsidiary of the Petroci group and Belgian��s Sea-Invest, without Tanoh having any say in the matter. Toungara��s men, the likes of Narcisse Koffi N��Dri, former chief of staff for Toungara, has retained his posting. So has Amidou Traore, managing director of powerful state-owned firm CI-Energies, as has Ibrahima Diaby, managing director of Petroci.