ABIDJAN – Cote d’Ivoire’s Defence Minister Paul Koffi has called on protesting soldiers to return to the barracks in the interest of law and order in the country.
Koffi made the call in an address on national television network, RTI and monitored by the West African Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
NAN reports that scores of soldiers serving under the Republican Force of Cote d’Ivoire (FRCI) took to the streets in several cities of the country demanding better welfare and pay package.
Koffi announced that the Government was working out modalities to pay arrears of salaries and other welfare packages owed the soldiers.
He urged the citizenry to go about their normal duties, saying that the government was handling the situation with utmost vigour.
NAN recalls that FRCI, established by President Alasanne Ouattara, is mainly made up of rebels who fought on his side during the post-election conflict that rocked the country.
Local newspapers reported that the protest began in Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire’s second largest city and spread to Bondoukou, Abengourou and Abobo, an Abidjan sub-urban settlement.
According to the media, the soldiers blocked major roads in the cities, forcing shops and offices to shut down.
“We want our money; we are here to demand our rights. We will be here for two days and we will paralyse activities in the cities.
“If nothing happens till the third day, we will be forced to attack public institutions such as banks and government offices’’, the protesters were quoted as saying. (NAN)
