The village of Addah in Côte d'Ivoire's Jacqueville department has officially installed Roger Sangahi as its new chief, marking the end of a 12-year succession crisis. The installation ceremony took place on October 31, 2026, under the sponsorship of Minister of State for Public Service and Modernization of Administration, Anne Désirée Ouloto-Lamizana. Sangahi's appointment was made on August 19, 2026, following a consensus between the village's four main traditional families.
The new chief, born on January 1, 1964, in Jacqueville, is an agent commercial and son of Sangahi and Rosalie Badjo. The installation ceremony was attended by administrative, political, religious, and customary authorities, including Yopougon Bishop, Mgr Jean-Salomon Lezoutchié. According to Sepié Yessoh Narcisse, director-general of the National Administration School (ENA) and president of the organizing committee, this installation is particularly significant as it is the first such ceremony in Addah in over 50 years.
The 12-year succession crisis had negatively impacted the village's cohesion, management of local affairs, and investment implementation. The crisis, which began in 2014, had hindered the village's development. Roger Sangahi has prioritized reconciliation and unity, calling on the population to overcome divisions and rebuild trust. He emphasized that trust cannot be decreed on the day of a ceremony and outlined the village's priority needs.
The village's priority needs include access to potable water, extension of the electricity network, road paving, improvement of school and health infrastructure, and securing land against coastal erosion. Addah, located between the Ébrié lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, aims to develop its potential in artisanal fishing, cassava processing, beach tourism, and ecotourism. The new chief also called for greater consideration of the village in the benefits of oil and gas activities.
Minister Anne Désirée Ouloto-Lamizana urged Roger Sangahi to exercise his functions with impartiality, justice, and neutrality, and to make the chieftainship a mission in service to the community. She recommended that he preserve humility in the exercise of traditional authority and collaborate with the land chief. The minister also called on young people to respect authorities and avoid drugs and alcohol.
The minister promised to raise Addah's concerns with government authorities to facilitate access to state development projects. She emphasized that stability and peace are essential for local development. A representative of the Minister of Infrastructure and Road Maintenance mentioned several projects listed in the 2026-2030 National Development Plan, including the doubling of the Jacqueville bridge and the construction of an exchange.
The ceremony was also marked by the participation of a delegation from Kouassi Ndawa, a village in the Gontougo region twinned with Addah. The presence of this delegation illustrates the living together of populations from different regions of Côte d'Ivoire, according to Minister Anne Désirée Ouloto-Lamizana.
Key points
- Côte d'Ivoire's Addah village installs Roger Sangahi as new chief, ending 12-year succession crisis
- The new chief prioritizes reconciliation, unity, and development in the village
- Minister Anne Désirée Ouloto-Lamizana urges the new chief to exercise impartiality and prioritize community service
