afrol News, 9 April - The Prime Minister of Côte d`Ivoire, Guillaume Soro, on Saturday disclosed the content of his newly-formed government. The list, which includes six new comers in a 32-member government, excludes nine cabinet members of the dissolved government of Charles Konan Banny. Six new comers have had their names on the new government of 32 officials, including four women.

Mr Soro, the former leader of Forces Nouvelles (FN) rebel group, was appointed by President Gbagbo after the two sides nailed their differences in a peace talk in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, on 4 March.

The naming of his government followed numerous consultations with political groups in the country. It also happened after he had a two-hour meeting with President Gbagbo on Friday evening.

The only elderly minister in Mr Soro’s new government, which takes the country to elections 10 months later, is Paul Antoine Bouabré, who was the Minister of Development in the previous government.

Other mandate of the new government includes disarming rebel fighters and also makes Ivorian documents accessible to those without it through an identification programme.

Prime Minister Soro said his new cabinet is expected to hold its first meeting on Saturday.

Since September 2002 when rebels loyal to Guillaume Soro’s group declared a war in the north and took control over the area Ivorians have been living in a state of instability. As a result, both the United Nations (UN) and France deployed their peacekeeping troops in a militarised zone (Zone of Confidence) that divides the country’s rebel-held north from its government-controlled south.

Some sections of the peace deal signed between Mr Gbagbo and Mr Soro entailed the withdrawal of international troops. And according to the Commander of the UN troops in Côte d`Ivoire, General Fernand Marcel Amoussou, with effect from 16 April this year, UN will start withdrawing its troops in the country.

France had earlier disclosed a partial withdrawal. French military officials confirmed to withdraw 500 of the country’s 3,500 troops in Côte d`Ivoire.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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