Audio By Carbonatix
Ivory Coast Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan resigned and dissolved the government on Monday, a move that had been expected following elections last month but which was delayed two days by an army mutiny.
Duncan had been expected to stand down on Saturday but held off after dissident soldiers took over army bases in cities across the West African country on Friday demanding bonus payments.
It took 48 hours to reach the deal to quell the revolt in an army that is made up of government troops and former rebels and riven with divisions.
"I have tendered my resignation and that of the government," he said after a meeting with President Alassane Ouattara.
President Alassane Ouattara kept hold of his majority in the Dec. 18 parliamentary polls. However, legislative elections are usually followed by a change of government as a matter of procedure.
Ouattara is expected to name a new prime minister later on Monday evening.
Earlier, Guillaume Soro was re-elected as president of the National Assembly with 95 percent of the votes cast by deputies.
Soro led a rebellion that controlled the northern half of the country for years starting in 2002. He later served as prime minister between 2007 and 2012.
The government's dissolution paves the way for the implementation of measures contained in a new constitution.
Ivory Coast is French-speaking West Africa's largest and most prosperous economy, as well as the world's leading grower of cocoa. In 2011 it emerged from a spate of short wars and a protracted crisis lasting nearly a decade to retake its place as the economic engine of the region.
Ouattara signed a new constitution that had been approved by referendum into law in November, casting it as the way to ensure peace is maintained in Ivory Coast.
It modifies clauses in the old constitution that lay behind the conflict, especially concerning nationality requirements for presidential candidates.
Though largely resolved, the aftermath of the conflict has left the government hostage to an ill-disciplined and factionalised military, and Ouattara's inability to reign it in threatens to undermine its economic success.
Latest Stories
-
Sylvester Mensah urges Latenu FM to promote trade, export opportunities in Ga
1 minute -
Ga language under threat of decline as children shy away from speaking it – Sylvester Mensah
6 minutes -
‘Let every Ga child you raise know the Ga language and story’ – Sylvester Mensah
13 minutes -
‘We are not deterred’ – Ablakwa responds to backlash over South Africa evacuation
14 minutes -
NCA announces major voice and data disruption across Northern Ghana due to fibre cuts
56 minutes -
Photos: Housing solutions take centre stage at Day 2 of the 3rd Republic Bank-JoyNews Habitat Fair
1 hour -
Video: Immunity should be exercised without creating classism – Inusah Fuseini on cocaine bust
2 hours -
Ghana Air Force passes out 293 recruits after six months of intensive training
2 hours -
EOCO vrs Baffour Awuah: EOCO should have secured warrant before arrest attempt at court – Inusah Fuseini
2 hours -
Triple fibre cuts disrupt telecom services across Northern, Oti regions – Sam George
2 hours -
Politicisation could undermine parliamentary probe into cocaine seizures – Dr Osae-Kwapong
2 hours -
EOCO chases MP: Can Section 41 cure lacuna in EOCO Act? – Inusah Fuseini asks
2 hours -
GNFS, GWL inspect fire hydrants in Ministries enclave; 23 found faulty
2 hours -
Gov’t directs release of 50,000 bags of grain to ECOWAS
3 hours -
Ghana, Germany deepen cooperation on railways, labour mobility
3 hours