 For years he was leading member of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), briefly leading the party in an interim capacity in 2011 before quitting it.A Muslim and a native of the north of Côte d'Ivoire, Koulibaly was born at Azaguié-Gare and studied economics, becoming an economist and economics professor.Under the transitional military regime of Robert Guéï, Koulibaly served in the government as Minister of the Budget from 15 January 2000 to 18 May 2000, then as Minister of the Economy and Finances from 18 May 2000 to 25 October 2000.