{"id":282908,"date":"2017-01-08T15:00:12","date_gmt":"2017-01-08T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=282908"},"modified":"2017-01-08T15:00:12","modified_gmt":"2017-01-08T15:00:12","slug":"calm-returns-to-ivory-coast-after-unrest-over-soldiers-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/01\/calm-returns-to-ivory-coast-after-unrest-over-soldiers-pay\/","title":{"rendered":"Calm returns to Ivory Coast after unrest over soldiers’ pay"},"content":{"rendered":"
A rebellion in Ivory Coast over soldiers’ pay appears to have passed.<\/p>\n
Residents and correspondents in the second city, Bouake, described calm on the streets – a day after troops briefly seized the defence minister.<\/p>\n
The rebellion had spread from there to other cities, including the commercial hub, Abidjan, but that city, too, is now quiet.<\/p>\n
A deal was struck between the mutinous soldiers and the government on Saturday, though details are scant.<\/p>\n
A correspondent for AFP news agency in Bouake said on Sunday that there had been no firing there since Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
“Traffic has resumed this morning and the shops have reopened.”<\/p>\n
Ivory Coast profile<\/strong><\/p>\n The mutiny began in Bouake early on Friday with soldiers firing rocket-launchers. On Saturday soldiers took over the army headquarters in Abidjan.<\/p>\n Protests also took place in the cities of Man, Daloa, Daoukro, Odienne and Korhogo.<\/p>\n President Alassane Ouattara went on national TV on Saturday night to announce a deal.<\/p>\n “I confirm that I have agreed to take into account the demands of the soldiers over bonuses and better working conditions,” he said. At the same time he criticised the rebellion.<\/p>\n Aside from better pay, the agreement is reported to include an amnesty for the mutineers.<\/p>\n Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi – who had gone to Bouake to negotiate with the protesters – was held for two hours there late on Saturday.<\/p>\n The mutiny raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast’s 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.<\/p>\n