Ivory Coast: Gunmen attack military bases in Abidjan and Korhogo July 15

Event

Media sources reported gunfire at two military bases in Abidjan and Korhogo in the early hours of Saturday, July 15. Residents in Abidjan said that shooting started in the former United Nations camp at around 01:00 (local time) and ended at approximately 03:00. In Korhogo, three soldiers were killed and another three wounded in fighting that also took place early in the morning. According to media reports, the situation has returned to normal in both cities.

Context

The cause of the gunfire remains unclear. Tensions between demobilized rebels and the government continues to be high. On July 9, the former rebels erected roadblocks leading into the city of Bouaké. The ex-rebels were demanding the payment of XOF 18 million (USD 30,120) per person for unpaid salaries and bonuses from 2007 to 2012.

The most recent soldier mutiny over unpaid bonuses began on May 12, with disgruntled soldiers firing shots into the air in Bouaké and taking control of the national military headquarters and the Defense Ministry in Abidjan. At least 20 people were reportedly injured and one killed in associated violence during the five-day long mutiny. On May 16, an agreement between the mutineers and the government was reached, putting an end to the violence. Soldiers launched an earlier mutiny on January 6 over low wages and unpaid bonuses supposedly owed to the soldiers after the 2010-2011 post-electoral crisis. Calm was temporarily restored after an agreement between mutineers and the government was reached on January 7.

The Ivory Coast experienced a drawn-out political crisis from 2002 to 2011. Since 2011, around 6800 former fighters throughout the country have been demobilized.

Advice

Individuals present in the country are advised to keep abreast of the situation, to remain vigilant, and to adhere to instructions issued by local authorities or their home governments.

On a separate 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).