Soldiers have sealed off access to the Côte d’Ivoire’s second largest city, Bouaké, as a revolt over a pay dispute with government continues.
Those involved in the protest which has brought the city to a standstill have been warned of harsh punishment, but one of the uprising’s leaders told the Reuters that they are “ready to fight” if attacked.
Sergeant Seydou Koné said that they were not willing to negotiate with anyone.
The unrest began in Bouaké on Thursday before quickly spreading after a national television broadcast a ceremony in which a spokesman for the over 8,000 soldiers announced that they had dropped their pay demands. The spread followed a style similar to that of the mutiny in January by the same group that “paralysed” parts of the country, a protest that the spokesman also apologised for.
The conflict in January forced the government into paying the group around $8,000 each in bonuses to end the rebellion.
The soldiers were due to receive a further payment this month, but the mutineers are unhappy that they were not consulted ahead of Thursday’s televised announcement.
By Friday morning the soldiers started firing ammunition into the air, and surrounded the military headquarters in Abidjan. After that, they sealed off all roads leading into Odienne.
The majority of the mutineers are ex-rebel fighters who helped bring President Alassane Ouattara to power during the country’s civil war.
Three of the former rebels were wounded on Saturday after the soldiers opened fire in Bouaké to stop them staging their own protest, Sergeant Koné said.
Residents of Bouaké have said that shops remained closed on Saturday as the soldiers, wearing balaclavas, patrolled the streets in stolen cars.
Koné also said that the mutineers were active in the commercial capital Abidjan and the towns of Korhogo, Daloa, Man and Bondoukou. A Korhogo resident confirmed gunfire in the town and said access to the military camp had been blocked – there were also reports of injuries after shooting.
“President Ouattara wants to stand firm. He wants to show to these mutineers, to the soldiers, to people in the Côte d’Ivoire and to foreign investors that he’s in charge of the armed forces,” Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque said.
The President added that there are only two options for the rebellious troops: “either return to the barracks or face action from the government”.
Reuters Update
At least five people were wounded by gunfire during protests against an army mutiny in Bouake, on Sunday, according to a witness.
The witness saw five people being treated for gunshots at Bouake’s main hospital following an attempt by city residents to stage a protest march. Two other protesters, who had been beaten, were also being treated.
