Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro resigns
Ivory Coast Prime Minister Guillaume Soro and his cabinet have tendered their resignation three months after parliamentary election was held in the West African nation.
"My election as Member of Parliament does not allow me to continue in the executive," Soro said in a live address on state-owned television in Abidjan on Thursday.
Soro is leader of the former New Forces rebels that sided with Ouattara during the 2010 violent presidential election standoff with former President Laurent Gbagbo which claimed some 3,000 lives. Backed by French troops, his rebels eventually captured Gbagbo in April last year.
"After some reflection, I have decided to hand in my resignation and that of my government." he added.
But Soro’s resignation did not come as a surprise to many, according to WADR Ivory Coast correspondent Suy Kahofi, who said Soro’s departure was an avenue for President Alassane Ouattara to keep a campaign promise.
Ouattara had pledged to appoint a prime minister from the former ruling Ivory Coast Democratic Party (PDCI) of Henri Konan Bedie, which backed him in the second round of the 2010 presidential election against ex-president Laurent Gbagbo.
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