IVORY COAST: French troops hand back control of Abidjan's international airport to Ivorian forces

Record ID: 181890

  • Title: IVORY COAST: French troops hand back control of Abidjan's international airport to Ivorian forces
  • Date: 19th April 2011
  • Summary: ABIDJAN AIRPORT, IVORY COAST (APRIL 18, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ABIDJAN AIRPORT WITH AIR FRANCE PLANE ON TARMAC VARIOUS OF FIRE TRUCK MOVING ON TARMAC VARIOUS OF CONTROL TOWER BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (French) COLONEL CHRISTOPHE GEGUILLAR, FRENCH AIR FORCE, SAYING: ''We know that there were very few controllers operating in the tower. We were worried that we would not be able to land our planes because there was definitely a lack of manpower, so we decided to land our planes and immediately take over the control room to guard and (to help) incoming planes - basically to ensure the continual flow of transport aircraft with the aim of ensuring national security.'' VARIOUS FRENCH SOLDIERS TALKING IN FRONT OF CONTROL TOWER PLANE TAXING ON TARMAC (SOUNDBITE) (French) MANAGER OF 'OPERATION ASECNA' (AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER) SIGUI KONE, SAYING: "Today, we take back possession of the service and we have checked everything and we believe that the essential (systems) have been preserved. So it is with great pleasure that we resume service. I can tell you that from today, all air navigation services of ASECNA are insured to the security level required according to international standards. Airlines, customers can be reassured that they can come to their airport. " VARIOUS OF FRENCH SOLDIERS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL WORKER SIGNING DOCUMENT (SOUNDBITE) (French) MANAGER OF 'OPERATION ASECNA' (AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER) SIGUI KONE SAYING: "I think that from the moment the business of providing civil air navigation was resumed, airline companies were reassured and will resume their normal operations." VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF CONTROL TOWER WITH CONTROLLERS ALREADY AT WORK VARIOUS OF PLANE TAKING OFF
  • Embargoed: 4th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAUP1DA46N8ZB7J3TIEX1FS6PL
  • Story Text: Ivory Coast's main international airport on the outskirts of Abidjan was back in the hands of the country's armed forces on Monday (April 18) as fighting in the West African state dies down.
    French soldiers backing the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast had taken the airport during heavy combat in Abidjan between fighters loyal to Laurent Gbagbo and those loyal to internationally-backed President Alassane Ouattara.
    Gbagbo was arrested last week.
    ''We know that there were very few controllers operating in the tower. We were worried that we would not be able to land our planes because there was definitely a lack of manpower, so we decided to land our planes and immediately take over the control room to guard and (to help) incoming planes - basically to ensure the continual flow of transport aircraft with the aim of ensuring national security,'' explained Colonel Christophe Geguillar from the French air force.
    For almost two weeks, no civilian flights came in to Abidjan, but now the airport is slowly returning to normal, though to date only Air France/KLM flights have returned to their daily schedule.
    While the departure terminal was full of passengers, the arrivals was all but empty as fears remain that Ivory Coast remains a volatile destination.
    The national civil aviation company ASECNA has taken over air traffic control once more and hope that this will help boost confidence.
    "Today, we take back possession of the service and we have checked everything and we believe that the essential (systems) have been preserved. So it is with great pleasure that we resume service. I can tell you that from today, all air navigation services of ASECNA are insured to the security level required according to international standards. Airlines, customers can be reassured that they can come to their airport," Sigui Kone, ASECNA's manager told Reuters.
    Ouattara's government has said it is hoping for a restart of port operations and banking activity in the coming days as authorities seek to revive the war-shattered economy -- once French West Africa's brightest.
    Ivory Coast is the world's top grower of cocoa and one of a handful of sub-Saharan African countries with a Eurobond.
    Gbagbo, who had led the nation since 2000, refused to cede power after losing a November election to Ouattara, sparking a power struggle that killed more than 1,500 people and displaced more than a million.
    The head of Gbagbo's political party called on Gbagbo supporters to lay down their guns amid efforts to disarm militias still active in parts of the country.
    Gbagbo is under house arrest in the country's north.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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