Ivory Coast: Shots reported at military camps across the country May 12

Event

Emerging reports indicate that gunshots were heard at a military barracks in Ivory Coast's second city of Bouaké overnight May 11-12. Banks and shops are reportedly closed in the city as of Friday, May 12. Reports also indicate that violence has broken out in other cities, including at the Galieni military camp located in the Plateau district of the capital city Abidjan on Friday morning;  the area was reportedly under lockdown by soldiers. The cities of Odienné and Man are also affected. According to media sources, a meeting between soldiers and the government officials is scheduled to take place on Friday. Further tensions and related traffic disruptions are possible in the affected cities in the coming hours and days.

Context

These incidents come hours after national television broadcasted a ceremony in which a soldier appearing as a spokesman for 8400 former rebels, many of them based in Bouaké, said they wished to apologize to President Alassane Ouattara for the mutiny that occurred in January. The mutineers are reportedly unhappy with said spokesperson, who agreed to a deal with the president to drop demands for further bonus payments.

Soldiers launched a mutiny on January 6 over low wages and unpaid bonuses supposedly owed to the soldiers after the 2010-2011 post-electoral crisis. Calm was restored after an agreement between mutineers and the government was reached on January 7 but the situation remains volatile. Fresh shots were reportedly fired into the air on the night of January 11 and into the afternoon of January 12 in Bouaké.

A similar uprising occurred in 2014, when hundreds of soldiers blocked roads throughout the country demanding unpaid wages. The government ultimately reached a financial settlement with the soldiers.

Ivory Coast experienced a drawn-out political crisis from 2002 to 2011 but is now considered one of Africa's most promising economies, the largest in francophone West Africa. However, the country's military continues to suffer from large internal divisions stemming from long-standing animosities among current soldiers (opponents in previous conflicts) and a lack of reform.

Advice

Individuals present in Abidjan and other areas where unrest is ongoing are advised to avoid unnecessary long-distance movements, to be prepared to shelter in place for a period of several days should the situation deteriorate, to keep abreast of ongoing developments, and to follow any instructions issued by local authorities or their home governments.

On a more general note, due to tensions between ethnic groups and occasional outbreaks of deadly violence, some Western governments advise against nonessential travel to the southwestern border areas with Liberia (Bas-Sassandra, Haut-Sassandra, Dix-Huit Montagnes regions). Additionally, due to high crime rates in urban areas, visitors to Ivory Coast are advised to maintain a low profile at all times as criminals may target foreigners due to their perceived affluence. Be particularly vigilant after dusk and avoid traveling by foot at night. Be aware that criminals may be armed; do not resist in the event of an attempted robbery.