Having previously been in exile in Côte d'Ivoire, Touré, who was considered a "reform-minded technocrat", was appointed as Prime Minister by President Lansana Conté[REF] on 9 July 1996, becoming Guinea's first Prime Minister since 1984.
Touré's appointment, which followed a coup attempt in February 1996, was characterized as part of an effort by Conté to pursue reforms.