IVORY COAST: French troops secure Abidjan port at request of presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara

Record ID: 181618

  • Title: IVORY COAST: French troops secure Abidjan port at request of presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara
  • Date: 10th April 2011
  • Summary: ABIDJAN PORT, IVORY COAST (APRIL 9, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FRENCH TANK PATROLLING IN ABIDJAN PORT VARIOUS OF SHIPS IN PORT STATIONARY CONTAINER LIFT VARIOUS OF FRENCH SOLDIERS WALKING THROUGH PORT VARIOUS OF FRENCH SOLDIERS ON TANK IN PORT (SOUNDBITE) (French) CAPTAIN ROLLAND GIAMMEI, 12TH CURRASIER REGIMENT, LICORNE FORCE, SAYING: "On one hand we're here to respond at the request of incoming president Mr Ouattara. On the other hand, securing the zone of the port was done together with the accord of the gendarms who were here this morning, with whom we worked together, and equally with the personnel that up to now ensure the security of the port." VARIOUS OF PORT WITH CONTAINERS SEEN VARIOUS OF FRENCH LICORNE TANKS PATROLLING (SOUNDBITE) (French) CAPTAIN ROLLAND GIAMMEI, 12TH CURRASIER REGIMENT, LICORNE FORCE, SAYING: "My mission was to secure the area of the port, so that port traffic can start again. That's the gist of it. After that, how long will it take for that to start, that isn't up to me." FRENCH SOLDIERS WATCHING VARIOUS OF FISHING BOATS ON RIVER VARIOUS OF FRENCH TANKS IN PORT (SOUNDBITE) (French) CAPTAIN ROLLAND GIAMMEI, 12TH CURRASIER REGIMENT, LICORNE FORCE, SAYING: "The area is completely secured. On one hand I have several units in place, and who are assuring complete security of the area. On the other hand, even if we don't see them anymore, there are still the gendarms present, and equally civilian personnel here." VARIOUS OF AFTERMATH / DEBRIS ON STREETS IN ABIDJAN CITY CENTRE SEEN FROM FRENCH TANK ON PATROL
  • Embargoed: 25th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA59Y3AHR8QIA11EMN1AX0ZS7JY
  • Story Text: French troops secured the port of Abidjan on Saturday (April 9) at the request of Ivorian presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara, as fierce fighting over control of the country's main city continued.
    Ouattara has vowed to restore security and revive Ivory Coast's cocoa sector, the country's main economic engine, which has been paralysed by EU shipping restrictions since January.
    At his request, the European Union eased on Friday sanctions on four entities, including the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro.
    The unusually calm streets are littered with burnt cars, and a landscape of war presents at every corner after fighting raged fro over a week between forces loyal to Ouattara and those of incumbent Laurent Gbagbo.
    The French Licorne forces sent troops into the port which serves the world's biggest cocoa producers to secure it so that traffic can resume soon.
    "On one hand we're here to respond at the request of incoming president Mr Ouattara. On the other hand, securing the zone of the port was done together with the accord of the gendarms who were here this morning, with whom we worked together, and equally with the personnel that up to now ensure the security of the port," said Captain Rolland Giammei from the French Licorne force.
    Around 500,000 tonnes of cocoa are stored at the port of Abidjan and that of San Pedro, since January this year, following the EU sanctions imposed on the country at Ouattara's request.
    Ouattara wants to kickstart the economy by allowing the country to start exporting the cocoa to the cocoa-hungry American and European markets.
    "My mission was to secure the area of the port, so that port traffic can start again. That's the gist of it. After that, how long will it take for that to start, that isn't up to me," Captain Gimmei said.
    A week of fighting has turned Abidjan -- long known as the 'Paris of West Africa' - into a war zone, driving terrified residents to scramble to find food and water, with frequent power cuts and hospitals overwhelmed with wounded.
    "The area is completely secured. On one hand I have several units in place, and who are assuring complete security of the area. On the other hand, even if we don't see them anymore, there are still the gendarms present, and equally civilian personnel here, Gimmei said."
    But forces loyal to Gbagbo, besieged in Ivory Coast's main city, have retaken ground and are edging closer to where Ouattara is holed up, according to the United Nations.
    U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy told reporters on Friday that Gbagbo forces had used a lull in fighting for peace talks as a ruse to reinforce their positions.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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