Guinea’s President Conde appoints economist Youla as new PM

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Monday 28 Dec 2015 - 10:01 Makkah mean time-17-3-1437 Mamady Youla (Pic: Bloomberg Business) Conakry (IINA) – Guinea's President Alpha Conde has announced the appointment of Economist Mamady Youla as the West African nation's new prime minister, confirming the government's commitment to growth and job creation, news agencies reported. Youla, 54, an economist who has worked for both the private and public sector firms, replaces Mohamed Said Fofana, who stepped down on Wednesday, according to a presidential decree issued Saturday. The new prime minister has been tasked with forming a government focused on job creation, improving the lives of young people and kickstarting an economic recovery in the low-income country, the government said in a statement. Youla has served as the chief executive of a bauxite and alumina development firm and has also worked for the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea. The fact that Youla has worked for private sector companies “sends a strong signal to national and international financial decision makers,” the statement said. President Conde, who was sworn in a week earlier, said one of his priorities for the coming five years is to stimulate job creation by developing the private sector through skills training and investment projects. Guinea’s main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo welcomed Youla’s nomination. “He's a brilliant chap who is very competent, especially in economics,” Diallo told AFP on Saturday. AB/IINA