Cote d’Ivoire Cabinet and PM resign

ABIDJAN, Friday

Cote d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister Guillaume Kigbafori Soro on Thursday rendered his resignation along with his cabinet to President Alassane Ouattara.

“My election as a member of parliament does not allow me to continue in the executive (branch),” he told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

“After some reflection, I have decided to hand in my resignation and that of my government,” he added.

New parliament
According to insiders, a new national assembly consisting of more than 250 members is expected to be formed next Monday in the political capital of Yamoussoukro.

The 40-year-old Soro, who also served as the country’s defence minister, was elected to the national assembly in the legislative election last December.

He was appointed as prime minister by then President Laurent Gbagbo in 2007, but resigned after the controversial 2010 presidential election as both Gbagbo and Ouattara proclaimed victory and were sworn in.