Cote d’Ivoire mutinous soldiers have withdrawn from the streets of the second city Bouake.
This is after the president announced a deal on their demands for better pay and other benefits. Resident in Bouke and other towns, where the revolt had spread, say the calm has returned to the streets.
The mutiny began in Bouake early on Friday with soldiers firing rocket-launchers. On Saturday soldiers took over the army headquarters in Abidjan.
President Alassane Ouattara went on national TV on Saturday night to announce a deal.
“I confirm that I have agreed to take into account the demands of the soldiers over bonuses and better working conditions,” he said. At the same time he criticised the rebellion.
Aside from better pay, the agreement is reported to include an amnesty for the mutineers.
Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi – who had gone to Bouake to negotiate with the protesters – was held for two hours there late on Saturday.
The mutiny raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Cote d’Ivoire’s 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.
Susan Mwongeli reports.
