Ivory Coast soldiers end mutiny after deal

AFP, BOUAKÉ, Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast soldiers on Sunday ended a two-day mutiny in the second city Bouake and other key areas after reaching a deal on their demands for pay rises, housing and faster promotion.
“There has been no firing since Saturday night,” a local journalist in Bouake said. “Traffic has resumed this morning and the shops have reopened.”
One of the leaders of the mutiny in the world’s top cocoa producer said he was “happy with the turn of events” after soldiers returned to their barracks.
“All we are asking is for the president to be attentive to the living conditions of soldiers,” he said on condition of anonymity.
The west African country was rocked by two days of unrest after soldiers seized control of Bouake’s streets early Friday, firing rocket-launchers and terrifying residents, in a mutiny that spread to other cities including the economic capital Abidjan.
In Abidjan—a bustling seaport that is home to the presidency and parliament—national television reported that shots had been fired at the Akouedo barracks in the east of the city on Saturday.
The soldiers had detained Defence Minister Alain Richard Donwahi for two hours on Saturday in a tense standoff over their demands, firing Kalashnikovs and heavy weapons around the home of a senior local official where Donwahi was meeting with the soldiers’ representatives.
On Sunday, Abidjan’s central Plateau area where several government offices and leading businesses are located, was calm.
“Life is back to normal,” a resident said.
The same was true for the northern city of Korhogo and Man in the west. A Man resident, who identified himself as Jean, said: “The soldiers have returned to their barracks.”
President Alassane Ouattara announced on Saturday evening that an agreement had been reached.
In a brief televised address he said it took into account “the demands relating to bonuses and improving the living conditions of soldiers”.
“Having given my agreement, I ask all soldiers to go back to their barracks to allow decisions to be carried out calmly,” he added, without giving details of the accord. Donwahi, who returned to Abidjan on Saturday night, said all bonus arrears would be paid.

Ivory Coast soldiers end mutiny after deal

AFP, BOUAK, Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast soldiers on Sunday ended a two-day mutiny in the second city Bouake and other key areas after reaching a deal on their demands for pay rises, housing and faster promotion. There has been no firing since Saturday night, a local journalist in Bouake said. Traffic has resumed this morning and the shops have reopened. One of the leaders of the mutiny in the worlds top cocoa producer said he was happy with the turn of events after soldiers returned to their barracks. All we are asking is for the president to be attentive to the living conditions of soldiers, he said on condition of anonymity. The west African country was rocked by two days of unrest after soldiers seized control of Bouakes streets early Friday, firing rocket-launchers and terrifying residents, in a mutiny that spread to other cities including the economic capital Abidjan. In Abidjana bustling seaport that is home to the presidency and parliamentnational television reported that shots had been fired at the Akouedo barracks in the east of the city on Saturday. The soldiers had detained Defence Minister Alain Richard Donwahi for two hours on Saturday in a tense standoff over their demands, firing Kalashnikovs and heavy weapons around the home of a senior local official where Donwahi was meeting with the soldiers representatives. On Sunday, Abidjans central Plateau area where several government offices and leading businesses are located, was calm. Life is back to normal, a resident said. The same was true for the northern city of Korhogo and Man in the west. A Man resident, who identified himself as Jean, said: The soldiers have returned to their barracks. President Alassane Ouattara announced on Saturday evening that an agreement had been reached. In a brief televised address he said it took into account the demands relating to bonuses and improving the living conditions of soldiers. Having given my agreement, I ask all soldiers to go back to their barracks to allow decisions to be carried out calmly, he added, without giving details of the accord. Donwahi, who returned to Abidjan on Saturday night, said all bonus arrears would be paid.