More than 2,000 Cote d’Ivoire soldiers have accepted voluntary retirement in the government’s plan to cut costs and bring under control a force that last year launched two mutinies.
Government spokesman Bruno Kone said after a cabinet meeting on Thursday that the voluntary retirement by the 2,168 soldiers will help to conform to “accepted standards”, partly by reducing the ratio of non-commissioned officers to lower ranks.
Meanwhile, the army has been placed on high alert following concerns that some troops may restart mutinies with some soldiers saying they were left out of a deal following the protests in 2017 over payments they were promised for backing President Alassane Ouattara in 2011 after former leader Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept an election defeat.
According to a report on the Bloomberg, the country’s army chief Sekou Toure has told commanders to be vigilant about fresh mutinies until May 18 and to “arrest any soldier disturbing public order,”
The note, seen by Bloomberg, was sent on Tuesday to senior staff of the army, gendarmerie, police and elite military units, some soldiers sent text messages to police and military staff to gather Wednesday in the commercial capital, Abidjan, and make their grievances known.
The army spokesman Etienne Otchelio wouldn’t comment on the note but emphasized that the military always takes rumours about mutiny seriously.
A new mutiny will constitute “shameful behaviors” and commanders should reinforce security at weapon stores, the presidency and other security points, according to the note. Forces will conduct more vehicle patrols in major cities and intensify intelligence gathering, said Toure.
Security sources estimate that there are more than 25,000 troops in Cote d’Ivoire which has a population of about 24 million.
The country suffered successive waves of army mutinies last year that damaged its reputation among investors and forced the government to agree to costly pay rises.
Late last year Ivory Coast cut its armed forces by about 1,000 troops. The latest group includes three officers, 1,460 non-commissioned officers and 705 regular foot soldiers, Kone told reporters.
