The Republic of the Congo’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso cleared the decks Thursday with the office announcement of the resignation of the government ahead of crucial talks with the International Monetary Fund.

Prime Minister Clement Mouamba’s government had presented its resignation on Wednesday, said a statement from the president’s office. The announcement came two weeks after the ruling party’s comfortable election win in legislative elections but as the country struggles to overcome an economic crisis.

In a speech Monday on the 57th anniversary of the country’s independence, Sassou Nguesso acknowledged the problems facing the country. “These difficulties started out as financial. Today, they have spread into the economic and general areas,” he added.

The public debt of the small central African country of 4.5 million people represents 117 percent of its GDP, according to the IMF. The IMF recently accused Brazzaville of having hidden part of its debt from the organization by claiming it was 77 percent of national output.

Part of the oil-rich country’s troubles has been caused by the fall in the price of oil on world markets. The country’s opposition blamed the outgoing government for the crisis. Jean Itadi, one of the leaders of the opposition, was holding a press conference as news broke of the government’s resignation. Denouncing the government’s incompetence, he told AFP, “If we had well managed our resources, we wouldn’t be here.”

(Source: AFP)