Brief Soldiers' Revolt in Ivory Coast Ends After President Intervenes
By VOA News January 07, 2017
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said Saturday that he had reached an agreement with rebellious soldiers to end a mutiny and had asked soldiers to return to their barracks.
The uprising began Friday night in the northern city of Bouake and spread quickly to several other northern and central towns. The protesters, many of whom were former rebels absorbed into the army following political turmoil in Ivory Coast five years ago, said they were owed wage increases and bonuses.
In Bouake, the country's second-largest city, mutinous soldiers broke into a military depot and stole rocket launchers and other weapons. They later raided police posts throughout the city and set up street barricades.
Gunfire also was reported in Abidjan, the country's largest city and commercial center. However, authorities said no one was seriously injured during the two-day revolt.
After Ouattara said he agreed to consider the soldiers' demands, calm appeared to have been restored.
"It's over," Sergeant Mamadou Kone, one of the rebels, told Reuters. "Some of our soldiers will remain in place to manage the security of shops and banks, but the majority of soldiers will return to barracks beginning tonight."
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