Profile: Ivory Coast's new PM

By James Copnall
BBC, Abidjan

Charles Konan Banny is best known to Ivorians as the governor of the Central Bank of West African states (BCEAO) the job he leaves to become prime minister.

It is not yet clear how Konan Banny will share power with President Gbagbo

Mr Konan Banny has a reputation as a brilliant technocrat.

It may also be an impression he holds himself: the banker once harangued a press conference I attended, as he said journalists were slow to acknowledge the brilliant work both the central bank and he had carried out.

If that suggests a man who is sure of his abilities, he has the CV to back it up.

Mr Konan Banny studied in France, and within a couple of years after leaving university he was the secretary general of the InterAfrican Coffee Organisation, based in Paris.

In 1976 he joined the BCEAO, the organisation which, among other things, looks after the CFA franc.

By 1994 he had been named the bank's governor.

Independence

The 63-year-old banker was once a member of the PDCI party, and his family is one that is considered one of the PDCI's most important.

The PDCI, once the ruling party, is now in opposition.

But the opposition press has also speculated in recent months that Mr Konan Banny has moved closer to President Laurent Gbagbo.

All sides have accepted him in his new role however.

Mr Konan Banny seems to have a degree of independence that few Ivorians possess in these troubled times.

Clubs of supporters urging the father of four to run for president sprang up this year.

But Mr Konan Banny will have to put his political ambitions on hold for a bit, as he will not be allowed to stand in the 2006 elections.

His new job is both crucial and difficult.

As prime minister he will be responsible for disarming the New Forces rebels and the militias who support Mr Gbagbo and he then has to take the country to free and fair elections.

His mandate runs until the end of October, and the UN say he will have all the necessary powers.

These are vague, however, and it remains to be seen how Prime Minister Konan Banny and Mr Gbagbo will share power.

But the international community, and a good number of Ivorians, seem delighted to have found a strong-willed and capable man who has as good a chance as any of achieving what appear near impossible objectives.