Ivory Coast's Ouattara dissolves govt
2012-11-14 14:40
Abidjan - Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara dissolved his Cabinet on Wednesday, officials said, in a sudden and surprising turn of events, suggesting instability at the heart of a country still struggling to get back on its feet after a near-civil war.
Reached by telephone, presidential spokesperson Kady Traore confirmed that Ouattara had dissolved his government, but gave no reason for the development. She said the decision was announced during the Wednesday morning council of ministers.
Ouattara came to power in a deeply divisive 2010 election. He won the presidential run-off, but longtime ruler Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede, and used the army to hold on to power. It took United Nations airstrikes to finally release Gbagbo's grip on power.
He was arrested inside the bunker he had created beneath the presidential residence, and is now at The Hague, awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity.
Accusations
Ouattara was seen as the darling of the international community, but his rule has been checkered with accusations that he has not been fair in his dealings with members of Gbagbo's party.
Dozens of Gbagbo associates are still under house arrest awaiting trial, but not a single member of Ouattara's party has been credibly investigated.
Human rights groups have published voluminous reports, detailing extensive abuse by the former Force Nouvelle, a rebel group based in the country's north which allied itself with Ouattara and helped him seize back power.
For the past few months, suspected allies of Gbagbo have led increasingly brazen attacks on military positions in Ivory Coast, including in Abidjan.
