Three serious incidents of unrest in the New Forces, a former rebel group in Côte d'Ivoire, occurred in June 2008. These incidents occurred in the midst of a disarmament process, according to which a portion of the New Forces fighters are to be integrated into the army, while the majority are to be given work on projects. The disarmament process is to be followed by a presidential election and a parliamentary election.
By late May, with the disarmament process continuing, 2,568 New Forces soldiers had been grouped in camps. As part of the process, each of the former rebels were planned to each receive 90,000 CFA francs per month for three months; the first of these monthly payments occurred in May.[1] The June payment was delayed by one week,[2] and on June 16, angry New Forces soldiers protested in Bouaké, demanding payment, disrupting the city, and seizing vehicles.[1] Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, who also leads the New Forces, sent a financial team on June 17 to make the payments. Although payments began to be made early on June 18,[2] another violent protest took place on the same day; New Forces soldiers reportedly fired into the air, attacked civilians, seized vehicles, set up barracades,[1] and looted shops. By evening on June 18, Bouaké was calm again, as security was increased through joint patrols of the New Forces and UN peacekeepers.[2]
New Forces fighters loyal to Zacharia Koné, a New Forces commander who was dismissed from his command in May 2008 for indiscipline, briefly mutinied in Vavoua and Seguela on June 28. They quickly surrendered; three civilians were reportedly killed, along with one of the mutineers. New Forces officials differed on whether the mutiny was caused by an issue with the disarmament payments or whether it was a result of Koné's dismissal.[3] New Forces spokesman Sidiki Konate said that the problems that caused the mutiny would be addressed and that the mutineers would be pardoned. An aide to Soro, Alain Lobognon, subsequently said on June 30 that the government did not have enough money to complete the disarmament and implementation of the peace agreement, complaining that the international community was not sending aid. According to Lobognon, "the peace process is in danger because the prime minister does not have the means to implement his policies", and he described the situation as a "crisis".[4]
References
- ^ a b c "Côte d'Ivoire: nouvelle manifestation d'ex-rebelles dans leur fief à Bouaké", AFP (L'Autre Quotidien, Cotonou, allAfrica.com), June 19, 2008 Template:Fr icon.
- ^ a b c "Côte d'Ivoire: retour au calme à Bouaké après la manifestation d'ex-rebelles", AFP (Gaboneco.com), June 19, 2008 Template:Fr icon.
- ^ "Former ICoast rebels in short-lived mutiny", AFP, June 28, 2008.
- ^ "ICoast peace process in jeopardy: senior official", AFP, June 30, 2008.