IVORY COAST: As peace returns to the streets of commercial capital, shops and markets open for business

Record ID: 181984

  • Title: IVORY COAST: As peace returns to the streets of commercial capital, shops and markets open for business
  • Date: 16th April 2011
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (APRIL 15, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROSUMA SUPERMARKET INTERIOR WITH PEOPLE SHOPPING TROLLEY OF SHOPPING MOVING IN STORE VARIOUS OF SHOPPERS AT CHECKOUT QUEUE AT CHECKOUT VARIOUS OF SHOPPERS COUNTING MONEY TO PAY AT CHECKOUT (SOUNDBITE) (French) PROSUMA SUPERMARKET MANAGER, CHRISTOPHE AYI, SAYING: "We have begun to get supplies. We are waiting now for a delivery today, but yesterday we got a delivery and I think that things will get better and better." VARIOUS OF LOCAL MARKET WITH WOMEN BUYING VEGETABLES AND FOOD (SOUNDBITE) (French) MARKET STALL OWNER, CLAUDINE N'GUESSAN KOFFI, SAYING: "Today as you can see things are a bit better than usual because normally we would not be able to get out and find merchandise in the market, but today, God has blessed us, we went out and we were able to get some things to come here and sell. The prices are a little higher than usual because the market has not had its usual supplies. That's coming (back) little by little, but it is not the normal (level)." VARIOUS OF MEAT STALL AND SHOPPERS BUYING MEAT ABIDJAN RESIDENT WALKING IN THE MARKET WITH CARS DRIVING IN THE BACKGROUND FISH STALL WITH WOMEN SELLING AND BUYING PRODUCE VARIOUS OF WOMAN WRAPPING SALAD LEAVES AND PUTTING THEM IN A BAG (SOUNDBITE) (French) SHOPPER, FLORENCE N'GUESSAN, SAYING: "By the grace of God it is beginning to come back and we are seeing everything in the market, onions, tomatoes, fish, meat. Everything is beginning to come back." VARIOUS OF STREETS WITH CARS DRIVING ALONG ROAD AND PEOPLE WALKING
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAMTSDBLOX062GJNIYZAZ2CV4T
  • Story Text: With the power struggle between Ivory Coast's two presidential claimants over, residents of Abidjan are able to go out and buy food - a sign that life in the commercial capital is gradually returning to normal.
    During the ten days of intense fighting between supporters of Laurent Gbagbo and the internationally-recognised election winner, Alassane Ouattara, supplies of food as well as water and electricity were cut sporadically.
    On Friday (April 15), shops were trying to cope with the demand as people began venturing out to pick up basic supplies.
    "We have begun to get supplies. We are waiting now for a delivery today, but yesterday we got a delivery and I think that things will get better and better, said Christoph Ayi, Prosuma supermarket manager.
    In November 2010, Ouattara won 54 percent of votes in the presidential election according to United Nations-certified results, but Gbagbo rejected the outcome, claiming fraud in pro-Ouattara constituencies in the north.
    After the United Nations and French troops attacked Gbagbo's heavy artillery supplies, the country's former president surrendered ending the conflict and enabling supplies of goods to get into the city.
    This local market, which only days ago was empty of traders and resembled a war zone, is making a comeback.
    "Today as you can see things are a bit better than usual because normally we would not be able to get out and find merchandise in the market, but today, God has blessed us, we went out and we were able to get some things to come here and sell. The prices are a little higher than usual because the market has not had its usual supplies. That's coming (back) little by little, but it is not the normal (level)," said stall owner Claudine N'Guessan Koffi.
    Over 1,500 people were killed in Ivory Coast during the recent conflict and Ouattara has promised that Gbagbo as well as certain members of his government will face prosecution.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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