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Ivory Coast rebel troops agree huge pay deal ending tense standoff | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ivory Coast’s government and rebel troops have reached a final deal at talks in Bouake, government sources said late on Friday at the close of a tense day which saw outbreaks of gunfire at barracks across the country. | Ivory Coast’s government and rebel troops have reached a final deal at talks in Bouake, government sources said late on Friday at the close of a tense day which saw outbreaks of gunfire at barracks across the country. |
Soldiers in Bouake mutinied earlier this month, firing rocket-launchers and terrifying residents of Ivory Coast’s second largest city, while demanding bonuses, better pay and housing. | Soldiers in Bouake mutinied earlier this month, firing rocket-launchers and terrifying residents of Ivory Coast’s second largest city, while demanding bonuses, better pay and housing. |
The protests then spread to other cities, including the economic capital Abidjan, stoking security fears in the world’s top cocoa producer. | The protests then spread to other cities, including the economic capital Abidjan, stoking security fears in the world’s top cocoa producer. |
The mutiny saw president Alassane Ouattara order major changes in the top security ranks – the armed forces’ chief of staff, the senior commander of the national gendarmerie and the director-general of the police. | The mutiny saw president Alassane Ouattara order major changes in the top security ranks – the armed forces’ chief of staff, the senior commander of the national gendarmerie and the director-general of the police. |
“A deal has been reached in Bouake between the chief of staff, the defence minister and the (rebel) troops,” a source close to the presidency told AFP. | “A deal has been reached in Bouake between the chief of staff, the defence minister and the (rebel) troops,” a source close to the presidency told AFP. |
Several rebel soldiers confirmed that a deal had been struck, with one telling AFP: “We are pleased, we’ve reached an agreement”. | Several rebel soldiers confirmed that a deal had been struck, with one telling AFP: “We are pleased, we’ve reached an agreement”. |
“The troops have agreed to return to their barracks, and for this reason gunfire has halted in Bouake,” a local official said. He said the mutineers had managed to obtain a bonus of about $US8,000 each. | “The troops have agreed to return to their barracks, and for this reason gunfire has halted in Bouake,” a local official said. He said the mutineers had managed to obtain a bonus of about $US8,000 each. |
While an initial deal had been reached almost a week ago, talks on implementing the agreement only began Friday and tensions were high with rebel troops taking up positions on the roads into Bouake and firing into the air. | While an initial deal had been reached almost a week ago, talks on implementing the agreement only began Friday and tensions were high with rebel troops taking up positions on the roads into Bouake and firing into the air. |
Regular gunfire was heard throughout the day, including at Akouedo, the biggest barracks in the capital Abidjan and at Odienne in the northwest and Bondoukou in the east. | Regular gunfire was heard throughout the day, including at Akouedo, the biggest barracks in the capital Abidjan and at Odienne in the northwest and Bondoukou in the east. |
There were fears before the deal was struck that the defence minister could be taken hostage and a general mutiny unleased. However, he left the talks unharmed. | There were fears before the deal was struck that the defence minister could be taken hostage and a general mutiny unleased. However, he left the talks unharmed. |
One source said the soldiers had originally been demanding a raise of $16,000 each, a significant amount given that many Ivorians earn about $160 a month. | One source said the soldiers had originally been demanding a raise of $16,000 each, a significant amount given that many Ivorians earn about $160 a month. |
It remains to be seen how the government will finance its promise of the agreed $8,000 bonus. | It remains to be seen how the government will finance its promise of the agreed $8,000 bonus. |
In more problems for the government, Ivorian state employees were also on strike this week protesting against pension cuts and a plan to raise the retirement age. | In more problems for the government, Ivorian state employees were also on strike this week protesting against pension cuts and a plan to raise the retirement age. |
Bouake, which is home to 1.5 million people, was the cradle of a rebellion which erupted in 2002 in a failed attempt to oust then-president Laurent Gbagbo. | Bouake, which is home to 1.5 million people, was the cradle of a rebellion which erupted in 2002 in a failed attempt to oust then-president Laurent Gbagbo. |
The revolt sliced the former French colony into the rebel-held north and the government-controlled south and triggered years of unrest. | The revolt sliced the former French colony into the rebel-held north and the government-controlled south and triggered years of unrest. |
Twelve years later, a similar dispute over pay by rebels-turned-soldiers erupted in Bouake which spread to Abidjan and briefly brought the country to a standstill. The government then agreed to a deal that provided amnesty for the mutineers and a financial settlement. | Twelve years later, a similar dispute over pay by rebels-turned-soldiers erupted in Bouake which spread to Abidjan and briefly brought the country to a standstill. The government then agreed to a deal that provided amnesty for the mutineers and a financial settlement. |
The Ivorian army, which consists of about 22,000 soldiers, includes many former rebels who were integrated into the armed forces after years of conflict. | The Ivorian army, which consists of about 22,000 soldiers, includes many former rebels who were integrated into the armed forces after years of conflict. |
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