Ivory Coast president vows 'more efficient government', reappoints PM
Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara promised "a new departure" for French-speaking Africa's largest economy on January 6 as he started to reshuffle the government following his landslide re-election last October.
Ouattara, who won a second five-year term with nearly 84% of the vote, reappointed Daniel Kablan Duncan as prime minister and called for greater unity within the government.
"We have started a new mandate that must mark a new departure in the direction of state affairs," Ouattara said at a meeting attended by journalists. "The objective is to establish a more unified government so that it can be more efficient."
Earlier on January 6 the government had handed in its resignation. A senior official said ministers would be named over the coming week.
Ouattara has promised to reduce poverty, promote ethnic and political reconciliation, write a new constitution and share the benefits of an economic boom more widely following nearly a decade of crisis that culminated in a civil war in 2011..
Ivory Coast is the world's top cocoa grower but many say they have not shared in wealth generated by economic growth rates of around 9% in each of the past three years.
While more jobs are available and the minimum salary has increased, the cost of living remains high.