COTONOU — Modeste Yirbehowre Somé has been appointed the new resident representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Cotonou, Benin, according to a recent announcement from the institution. An experienced economist, Somé brings a wealth of international and academic experience to his new role in Benin.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Somé holds a doctorate from the University of Montreal and an engineering statistician-economist diploma from the National School of Statistics and Applied Economics in Abidjan. His previous assignments at the IMF included work on Mali and Morocco, and a stint in the Asia and Pacific department. Before joining the IMF in 2018, he taught economics at the University of Johannesburg and served at the World Bank. The native of Dissin (Ioba) is expected to arrive in Cotonou in September 2024.