In a rather peculiar turn of events, Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has pulled a surprise move by giving the boot to the prime minister and dissolving the entire government, as confirmed by the presidency’s secretary general, Aboudramane Cisse, on Friday.
The intriguing twist? Well, there’s no official explanation for this unexpected shuffle. It seems the President simply woke up and decided, “Let’s change things up a bit”.
Cisse, acting as the bearer of this puzzling news, did manage to muster some appreciation for the outgoing Prime Minister Patrick Achi and the government team, acknowledging their dedication to the nation in recent years.
But fear not, for this isn’t the end of the story. Achi and his crew will continue to hold the fort temporarily until a fresh prime minister and government are selected, adding a layer of suspense to the unfolding drama.
This curious episode isn’t entirely unheard of in Ivory Coast, where presidents have a knack for pulling unexpected governmental maneuvers out of their political hats. Case in point: Achi had resigned along with his government back in April last year, responding to Ouattara’s plan to trim down his cabinet by cutting ministerial positions. Yet, just a week later, he found himself back in the prime minister’s seat.
As the nation looks ahead to the presidential election slated for 2025, the big question remains unanswered: Will Ouattara, who secured re-election in 2020, throw his hat in the ring once more? The suspense continues in Ivory Coast’s political theater.