The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has condemned in strong terms the recent mutiny against the democratically elected government in Cote D’Ivoire by some military officers.
In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Acting President, Laolu Akande, Acting President expressed “unflinching support for the Government of President Alhassane Ouattara and welcomes ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis”
The statement further “urges the mutineers to return to their barracks and refrain from any action capable of undermining peace, security and democracy in the country. The Federal government further urges the people of Cote D’Ivoire to remain steadfast in their support for the Government and to refrain from giving support to the mutineers in the overall interest of peace, tranquillity, good order and prosperity of the country”.
The recent uprising against Ouattara started when the government appeared to have reneged on an earlier agreement to pay each soldier 12 million CFA. The agreement was part of effort to resolve an earlier uprising in January this year. While the government has partly fulfilled its promise by paying 5 million CFA to each soldier, a recent announcement of government’s inability to pay the balance of 7 Million CFA fuelled the ongoing rebellion.
Even though the President Ouattara led government attributed its inability to fulfil its promise to the plunge in revenue occasioned by collapse in the global price of Cocoa, the mutinous soldiers have remained adamant.
Also speaking on behalf of ECOWAS, the Chair of the regional body, Sirleaf Johnson has admonished the soldiers to return to their barracks and resume further negotiations for their compensation.
