Africa

Home page

Africa

Liberian president dissolves cabinet

04 November 2010 22:10 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dissolved her cabinet ahead of next year’s presidential election, her office says, APA reports quoting Press TV.

President Sirleraf made the announcement during an emergency cabinet meeting held at the foreign ministry on Wednesday night.

"The reason for demanding their mass administrative leave is that this administration is entering a critical stretch and this would afford her the opportunity to start with a fresh slate going forward," according to a statement published on the website of the Liberian president.

"Until such time when they are asked to return or their successors have been appointed, [and] designated deputies are authorized to act in their stead," added the statement.

"The president further announced that a cabinet restructuring will be made in the shortest possible time and that several ministers could be reappointed."

The presidential statement also noted that she may exercise the same strategy in other government agencies.

Sirleaf was elected as the African continent’s first female president in October 2005, when Liberia held its first postwar elections.

The 72-year-old Liberian leader is seeking re-election in January 2011, despite initially vowing to step down after one term in office.
The West African nation is rebuilding its economy following civil wars between 1989 and 2003.

An estimated 250,000 people lost their lives in clashes that devastated most of country’s infrastructure.