Ouattara moves to end reappointments beyond retirement age
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Connection Ivoirienne
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has reportedly decided to stop systematically reappointing senior civil servants who have exceeded the statutory retirement age. Jeune Afrique cites Eugène Aka Aouélé, Théophile Ahoua N’Doli and several administrative officials, while the Anadgi tax union supports the move.
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has decided to end the automatic reappointment of senior civil servants who have exceeded the statutory retirement age, Jeune Afrique reports in its Thursday 29 October edition, as quoted by Connection Ivoirienne. The measure is to apply at the end of 2026.
Ivorian law from 2012 sets the retirement age at 60 for employees in categories D to A, grade A3, and at 65 for categories A, grades A4 to A7. For magistrates, the limits set by the 2022 law range from 65 to 68. Those concerned include Eugène Aka Aouélé, president of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council (CESEC), aged 84, and Théophile Ahoua N’Doli, who has headed the General State Inspectorate since 2017.
The measure responds to a demand from trade unions at the Directorate General of Taxes, which have denounced the retention of retired employees and its impact on promotions. Michael Dougrou, secretary-general of the National Association of Directorate General of Taxes Employees (Anadgi), welcomed a “salutary announcement” and called on the president not to reverse his decision. In his view, the departures could free up senior posts and facilitate the advancement of young civil servants.
The announcement follows union mobilisation against the retention of retired employees, which the Ivorian tax union had publicly called for on 16 October.
