Ivory Coast: Gunshots reported in Abidjan and Bouaké May 15 /update 3

Event

Gunshots were reported in the capital Abidjan and in the city of Bouaké on the morning of Monday, May 15, including at the Akouedo and Galieni military camps in Abidjan. The incidents have resulted in the closure of nearby streets and both areas should be avoided until the situation stabilizes. According to local sources, access to Abidjan’s Plateau district is currently disrupted. The French Embassy has issued a security message advising its nationals to be highly vigilant in the two affected cities and to strictly avoid the areas surrounding all military camps. Moreover, the embassy advises against travel by road to from Bouaké, due to roadblocks on the highways leading to the city.

The French Embassy has also announced that the Blaise Pascal and Jacques Prévert French schools will be closed on Monday.

On Sunday, May 14, five individuals were reportedly shot and injured when renegade soldiers attempted to break up a demonstration in Bouaké, organized to show opposition to the ongoing military revolt. Mutinying soldiers also reportedly attacked the headquarters of the RDR party (led by President Alassane Ouattara). On the same day, in the country’s fourth-largest city Korhogo, popular resistance to the mutiny was also palpable; here protesting individuals were also dispersed by mutineers who fired shots into the air, hitting several people. 

A loyalist military operation is reportedly ongoing to disarm disgruntled soldiers; on Sunday, May 14, a convoy of loyalist troops was reportedly heading towards Bouaké.

Further tensions, including violent clashes between groups of soldiers, are increasingly likely in Bouaké and other affected cities in the coming hours and days.

Context

This most recent soldier mutiny began on Friday, May 12, with disgruntled soldiers taking control of the national military headquarters and the Defense Ministry in Abidjan. After tense negotiations on Friday, the rebelling soldiers withdrew from the buildings and barricades erected throughout the city were dismantled. Later in the day a spokesman for the soldiers issued an apology for to President Ouattara. However, protesting soldiers claimed that the spokesman did not represent them and the mutiny continued across the country with incidents taking place in Abidjan, Korhogo, Daloa, Man, and Bondoukou May 13-14.

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 restored after an agreement between mutineers and the government was reached on January 7. Nevertheless, the situation remained volatile in the days and weeks after the agreement. 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 Bouaké and other areas where unrest is ongoing are advised to avoid unnecessary 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 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). 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.