Ivory Coast government reaches deal to end army mutiny

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara on Saturday confirmed that a deal had been reached with disgruntled soldiers to end a two-day revolt.

The revolt had spread unrest across the West African nation.

The government he said had agreed to take into account the soldiers’ demands concerning bonus payments and working conditions.

#prci:Le Chef de l'Etat a regagné Abidjan après avoir pris part à la cérémonie d'investiture du Président élu du #Ghana NAkufoAddo pic.twitter.com/40GBzUUW9z

— Presidenceci (Presidenceci) January 7, 2017

The disturbances started in Bouake, the country’s second largest city, and spread to the commercial capital, Abidjan, where soldiers took over the army headquarters.

#prci:Début du Conseil des Ministres extraordinaire sur la situation sécuritaire pic.twitter.com/Z4Fs8SqFhl

— Presidenceci (@Presidenceci) January 7, 2017

“I have given instructions to the Minister of Defence to meet a delegation sent by the soldiers in Bouake. Having marked my agreement, I would like to repeat that this way of making demands is not appropriate. Indeed it tarnishes the image of our country after all our efforts in economic development and diplomatic re-positioning.

“Having marked my agreement, I call on all the soldiers to go back to their barracks in order to allow for these decisions to be executed calmly,” he said.

The country’s defence minister was detained in the process but has since been released.

This incident followed a similar situation two years ago where soldiers barricaded major roads in the country, demanding owed back pay.

A situation that is being watched closely, it is feared it may degenerate into the 2002 to 2011 political crisis that rocked the country.

#prci: Déclaration du Président de la République à l'issue du Conseil des Ministres extraordinaire sur la sécurité.https://t.co/uLcMV8XF0I

— Presidenceci (@Presidenceci) January 8, 2017