ABIDJAN – Cote d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister Guillaume Kigbafori Soro today rendered his resignation along with his cabinet to President Alassane Ouattara saying his election as a parliamentary member meant he could no longer exercise the powers of the executive branch.
“My election as a member of parliament does not allow me to continue in the executive (branch),” he told reporters here after a cabinet meeting. “After some reflection, I have decided to hand in my resignation and that of my government,” he added. According to insiders, a new national assembly consisting of over 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 defense 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.
The power struggle triggered a month-long conflict which ended last April with Gbagbo’s capture. Soro was reappointed soon after Ouattara took the oath of office in May.
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