In Côte d’Ivoire, the president Alassane Ouattara has just reshuffled his cabinet. The main new development is the creation of a complete communication directorate which the president has handed over to his niece, Masséré Touré. There was up until now a president’s communications unit led by Masséré Touré heading the written press, and Amadou Coulibaly managing television and radio. Both communication sections are now combined in this directorate led by Masséré Touré. Amadou Coulibaly has been appointed to the Foreign Intelligence Services.

The newly promoted head was previously with the French group Jeune Afrique where she worked for Difcom, the communication and advertising department. In addition to being the niece of the president, Masséré Touré is the spouse of minister of Post and ICT, Bruno Koné. The new director of presidential communications is also special adviser to the president. The young woman is viewed as a staunch follower of Alassane Ouattara whom she supported during his rise to power in the aftermath of the post-electoral crisis of 2011.

Masséré Touré was expected to be appointed chief of the Office of the Head of State, but she remains within communications where the next target is the campaign bid of Alassane Ouattara for the election scheduled in October. She has a certain level of experience, having been part of the team that led Ouattara to power in the midst of a crisis.

Masséré Touré has been compared to Claude Chirac, communication adviser, who stood by Jacques Chirac, her father, for a long period of his political career which was crowned by his election as president of the French Republic.