News / Africa

Ivory Coast President Dissolves Government

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VOA News
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has dissolved his government, citing disagreements in the ruling coalition.

The president's chief of staff, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, read out the executive order to journalists in Abidjan Wednesday.

He said parts of the coalition voted against a bill that would modify the country's Marriage Act, exposing what he called a problem of parliamentary solidarity.

Coulibaly said the president is in contact with members of his RHDP alliance about forming a new government.

Ouattara took office in April 2011. He was elected president in 2010 but his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo refused to give up power, sparking a conflict that killed some 3,000 people.

Under Ouattara, Ivory Coast has enjoyed strong economic growth but is dealing with periodic deadly attacks on military targets. The outgoing government blamed the attacks on exiled Gbagbo supporters.

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