-IVORY COAST-ARMY/PROTESTS Ivory Coast government opens talks with disgruntled soldiers

Record ID: 182800

  • Title: -IVORY COAST-ARMY/PROTESTS Ivory Coast government opens talks with disgruntled soldiers
  • Date: 20th November 2014
  • Summary: WEST IVORY COAST (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MILITARY PATROLS IN THE WEST OF IVORY COAST
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1426CCD23CZ1F9A40W50WOXPA
  • Story Text: Ivory Coast's government opened negotiations with disgruntled soldiers on Wednesday (November 19), promising to pay back wages and overdue benefits to thousands of ex-rebels now serving in the army in a bid to quell unrest.
    The soldiers, who on Tuesday (November 18) erected barricades in the commercial capital Abidjan and the second city Bouake as well as in Korhogo, Odienne, and Daloa returned to barracks as they awaited the outcome of the meeting.
    However government officials and representatives for the protesters said the talks would stretch into Thursday.
    The world's top cocoa-producing state is still emerging from a decade of political upheaval and a 2011 civil war that saw French- and U.N.-backed rebels topple President Laurent Gbagbo after his refusal to accept an election defeat.
    The protesting troops were part of the New Forces rebellion that fought with U.N. and French backing to bring Gbagbo's rival current President Alassane Ouattara to power three years ago.
    "And we think that all soldiers who hear us are aware that we are not doing it in the direction of destroying the nation or that we oppose any policy whatsoever. Our problem is with the military and remains with the military," said Issiaka Ouattara, Navy Quartermaster, one of the soldiers' spokesmen.
    A portion belong to a group of 8,400 corporals who were due to begin receiving salaries from the government in 2009 under the terms of a peace deal.
    They only formally integrated the national armed forces after Gbagbo's fall in 2011, however, and are now demanding over two years of back wages and housing benefits along with promotions.
    "We have made significant progress, because here, regarding our lease, this is a concession. Regarding the delay on the lease is an concession. This also relates to our problem of rank is a concession," said Inza Diabate, a military spokesperson.
    Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko, speaking on national television late on Tuesday, said the government had agreed to the soldiers demands.
    But following Wednesday's talks, which included Bakayoko along with other government ministers, and the heads of the army and national security council, the soldiers said that the modalities for the payments were still being finalized.
    "This is the Ivorian nation, it's not only us that make up the nation. So the time where we're talking about the nation, the amount we are talking is colossal. And from this moment, there are the terms of payment that will engage. So we are in discussion to find a compromise," added Diabate.
    The negotiations did not involve another group of protesting soldiers who claimed they had been promised 5 million CFA francs ($9,564) to help drive Gbagbo from power.
    While the Tuesday's demonstrations remained largely calm and most of the soldiers were unarmed, they sharpened towards nightfall, with sporadic gunfire occurring in Bouake, Daloa and Korhogo.
    In Bouake, the rebels' former stronghold, they looted the city's central police station overnight and unsuccessfully attempted to break into the armoury.
    Interior Minister Bakayoko promised the protesters would not be punished.


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