2017 Ivory Coast mutinies
2017 Ivory Coast mutinies | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Army mutineers (mostly ex-New Forces rebels) | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Alassane Ouattara Alain-Richard Donwahi (POW)[3] Lt-Col Issiaka Ouattara (POW)[3] | Guillaume Soro (allegedly)[8][2] | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
c. 13,600 men[5] | c. 8,400 men[5] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
At least 3 | |||||||
At least eight civilians killed. |
A major mutiny broke out among the army of Ivory Coast in January 2017. The mutineers, mostly ex-Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire rebels who had been integrated into the armed forces in 2011, were motivated by grievances about their pay and living conditions. Seizing control of nine cities throughout the country, they pressured the government to accept their demands, whereupon the mutiny ended. Smaller mutinies erupted on 17 January and 7 February, and another large-scale second mutiny broke out in May 2017.
History
6-8 January
The revolt began around 2 a.m. on 6 January,
Most of the revolting soldiers were former members of the Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire, a rebel movement which had controlled the northern part of the country until the Second Ivorian Civil War, after which they had been integrated into the regular armed forces.[3] The outbreak of mutinies was also related to the power games at the head of the state: Guillaume Soro, the former spokesman of the rebellion, had just lost his position of second-to-the president man.[8]
By the next day, the revolt had spread to nine cities: Bouaké, Abidjan, Odienné, Korhogo, Man, Daloa, Toulépleu, Abobo, and Daoukro.[9][3] In Abidjan, the mutineers went on to take control of and then blockade the military headquarters including the defence ministry with makeshift barricades,[3] and also reportedly attacked a military base belonging to loyalist paratrooper commandos.[11] Fearing the violence could further escalate, Abidjan residents stocked up on food and water. Gunfire was also reported at Man and Bouaké.[12] Donwahi, along with Lt-Col Issiaka Ouattara, deputy commander of the loyalist Republican Guard, went to Bouaké in the early afternoon to negotiate with the rebelling soldiers.[3][13] They managed to reach a deal with the rebels, who promised to end the mutiny and return to their barracks in return for the promise of higher wages and bonuses. President Alassane Ouattara then went on to say on national television that an agreement had been reached, though criticized the soldiers for their actions: "I would like to say that this manner of making demands is not appropriate. It tarnishes the image of our country after all our efforts to revive the economy."[7][3]
Despite this, a large group of mutineers remained unsatisfied with the deal. These rebels consequently opened fire on the house where the negotiations took place, and declared that they wanted their bonuses to be paid immediately instead of in the following week. A standoff ensued, with the government representatives, including the defence minister, effectively held hostage for several hours. Early on 8 January, however, the mutineers released all hostages.[3]
Though the contents of the agreement were not published, the soldiers were reportedly promised higher salaries as well as an amnesty for all mutineers. On 9 January, president Ouattara relieved the heads of the army, police and paramilitary
Subsequent mutinies
On 17 January, new mutinies began in
May
On 8 May, hundreds of demobilized soldiers demanded the money and the civilian jobs they were promised in January. On 12 May, they were joined by the ex-mutineers that remained in the armed forces.[16] At least eight civilians protesting against the mutiny were shot in Bouaké and Korhogo. A demobilised mutineer was also killed on 14 May[17] but the Republican Guard soldiers were reluctant to fight their former colleagues. On May 14, a vast load of ammunitions was discovered in the house of a close relative of Guillaume Soro in Bouaké.[2] Guillaume Soro publicly condemned the rebels on 28 May, claiming that their mutiny was an "humiliation for us - the state, the president, myself and the institutions".[18]
Aftermath
The mutiny reduced investor confidence in the "Ivorian miracle", the economic prosperity that Ivory Coast displayed after the end of the Civil War.[8][2]
References
- ^ a b "Ivory Coast soldiers mutiny, taking several cities". Reuters. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d Tanguy, Berthemet (29 May 2017). "En Côte d'Ivoire, le lourd bilan politique des mutineries". Le Figaro.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Ivory Coast minister freed after troops mutiny deal". Al Jazeera. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Cyril Bensimon (6 January 2017). "En Côte d'Ivoire, coup de colère de militaires qui se sentent " lésés "". Le Monde. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "Ivory Coast mutiny: Soldiers agree deal with government". BBC. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ "Ivory Coast unrest: Calm reported after two-day mutiny". BBC. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Ivory Coast defence minister released by mutineers". The Guardian. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d Malagardis, Maria (18 January 2017). "Retour de crise en Côte-d'Ivoire ?". Libération (in French).
- ^ a b c d Ange Aboa; Loucoumane Coulibaly (6 January 2017). "Ivory Coast uprising by disgruntled soldiers spreads to other cities". Reuters. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "Soldiers launch mutinies in three Ivory Coast cities". Al Jazeera. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ "Ivory Coast defence minister freed by mutinous soldiers". BBC. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ Hilaire Zon (7 January 2017). "Ivory Coast President Says Deal Reached to End Army Mutiny". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ "Peace Declared in Ivory Coast After Soldiers' 2-Day Revolt". VOA. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ "Ivory Coast mutiny: President Ouattara dismisses security chiefs". BBC. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ "Côte d'Ivoire : nouvelles mutineries de soldats dans plusieurs villes, un mutin tué" (in French). 17 January 2017.
- ^ S2CID 148847550.
- ^ "Heavy gunfire in Ivory Coast as military tries to end mutiny". The Guardian. 15 May 2017.
- ^ Monnier, Olivier (29 May 2017). "Mutinies 'Humiliated' Ivory Coast, Parliament Speaker Soro Says".