Cablegate: Cote D'ivoire: Soro Officially Prime Minister

VZCZCXRO7249
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #0361 0961403
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061403Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2808
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000361

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: SORO OFFICIALLY PRIME MINISTER

REF: A. ABIDJAN 340

B. ABIDJAN 333

1. (SBU) Ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro officially took
over the Premiership Wednesday, April 4 at a ceremony at the
Prime Minister's compound that included outgoing Prime
Minister Banny and most of his cabinet. Soro, who had been
named Prime Minister on March 29 by presidential decree, said
that he was "aware of the challenges that lie ahead, and
promised to work for the success of the Ouagadougou
agreement." Banny, who apparently will not be returning to
the West African Central Bank, BCEAO, called for a
resurrection of Cote d'Ivoire in final statements and cited
his work in restoring trust among Ivorians. He encouraged
Soro to bring the country to successful elections. Soro met
with President Gbagbo on Thursday, April 5 and the two are
said to have finalized the makeup of the new government.
Press reports say they have submitted the list to President
Compaore and the new government will be announced on April 6
or 7.

2. (SBU) COMMENT: Soro has his work cut out for him. By
declining to return to the BCEAO, Banny nay be signaling his
intention to run for President in the next election. END
COMMENT
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