At least 25 people were killed and 31 injured in a crash involving a coach and a minibus in Ivory Coast, the transport minister announced late Thursday. "All measures have been taken to determine the exact causes of the tragedy, as well as where responsibility lies," Amadou Kone said in a statement, adding the accident happened about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from financial capital Abidjan on Wednesday.

At least 25 people were killed and 31 injured in a crash involving a coach and a minibus in Ivory Coast, the transport minister announced late Thursday. "All measures have been taken to determine the exact causes of the tragedy, as well as where responsibility lies," Amadou Kone said in a statement, adding the accident happened about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from financial capital Abidjan on Wednesday. He urged Ivorians to be careful on the roads ahead of the Muslim festival of Tabaski -- known elsewhere as Eid al-Adha -- which normally sees an increase in traffic right in the middle of the rainy season. Also read | South Africa violence: Death toll rises to 117 as government deploys more troops Traffic accidents are common and often deadly in the West African country, with many vehicles and roads poorly maintained. Crashes are also frequently down to driver error -- the practice of buying a licence from corrupt examiners is widespread. In late April, authorities temporarily suspended driving test examiners and replaced them with police officers, to better fight "corruption and fraud". The move followed an accident in the country's north that killed 20 and injured around 40 people. Also on Wednesday, at least four people died in another traffic accident in Abidjan.

25 dead in Ivory Coast coach and minibus crash

At least two soldiers and a police officer were killed Saturday when their vehicle hit an explosive device in northeast Ivory Coast near the border with Burkina Faso, a security source told AFP.

At least two soldiers and a police officer were killed Saturday when their vehicle hit an explosive device in northeast Ivory Coast near the border with Burkina Faso, a security source told AFP. "The explosion also left three wounded," the source said. It comes a week after another attack by suspected jihadists killed an Ivorian soldier in Tougbo town a few kilometres from the border. It also comes just two days after Ivory Coast and France inaugurated a counter-terrorism academy near Abidjan intended to ramp up the Sahel region's ability to counter a widespread jihadist threat. Security experts have warned that the area's bloody jihadist insurgency could spread southwards to countries on the Gulf of Guinea. It was the fourth attack in the West African region in just over two months. Also Read | Thousands protest far-right ideas in France The latest spate of assaults dating back to March, when dozens of suspected Islamists killed three members of the Ivorian security forces in a twin raid on army positions near the border with Burkina. "Three terrorists" were killed and four were arrested, the army said. These attacks have been blamed on jihadists who are active in Burkina Faso, as well as neighbouring Mali and Niger. The Sahel insurgency sprang up in northern Mali in 2012 before advancing into Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015. Ivory Coast was first hit in a jihadist attack in March 2016, when 19 people died in a raid on Grand-Bassam, a seaside resort near Abidjan. In June 2020, 14 soldiers were killed in an attack on Kafolo. "Northern Ivory Coast along the border with Burkina Faso is coming under the heel of jihadist groups. This region constitutes an important security aspect for the Ivorian state," Ivorian anti-terrorism expert Lassina Diarra told AFP recently. On Thursday Ivorian Prime Minister Patrick Achi and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian attended the formal inauguration of the International Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism just outside Abidjan. Ivorian Defence Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara said the academy would be "a focal point of regional competence in the anti-terror fight to benefit the stability of our states and the security of our populations." Former colonial power France already plays a strategic role in the region with a 5,100-strong military presence at the head of Operation Barkhane. But French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced a troop drawdown and a new international task force, promising "a profound transformation of our military presence in the Sahel".

Police officer, two soldiers killed in Ivory Coast IED blast

Ivory Coast voted on Saturday in a legislative election, with President Alassane Ouattara`s allies facing a combined challenge from opposition parties led by two of his predecessors.

The poll comes only months after Ouattara won a third term in an election marred by unrest that killed at least 85 people, the country`s worst violence since a 2010-2011 civil war.

After boycotting the presidential election in October to protest Ouattara`s decision to seek a third term, the parties of former presidents Henri Konan Bedie and Laurent Gbagbo are fielding parliamentary candidates on joint lists.

Clear control of parliament by Ouattara`s Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) would strengthen his hand to pursue an agenda based on attracting investment to the world`s top cocoa producer.

"The fact that all major parties are participating in this election is a development that confirms the democratic momentum in our country," Ouattara said after casting his own ballot.

Turnout appeared light in the early hours of voting. Polls close at 1800 GMT and final results are due on Sunday.

"We are voting for peace. We don`t want any more endless debates between Ivorians," said Aïcha Coulibaly, a hairdresser, who wore an RHDP t-shirt as she voted in Abobo, a Ouattara stronghold of the commercial capital Abidjan.

The opposition is under pressure to show it remains relevant after over a decade of political dominance by Ouattara, who came to power after defeating the incumbent Gbagbo in the 2010 election and then prevailing in the civil war that followed.

Gbagbo`s faction of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) is participating in a national election for the first time since he was ousted in 2011 and sent to the International Criminal Court to face war crimes charges. He was acquitted in 2019.

"I am happy to participate in this vote. Since 2010, I hadn`t voted," said retiree Alfred Balli after casting his ballot in Yopougoun, a Gbagbo stronghold of Abidjan.

Bedie`s Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) dominated national politics from the 1940s until he was overthrown as president in 1999. It backed Ouattara for years but split with him in 2018.

Ivory Coast voted on Saturday in a legislative election, with President Alassane Ouattara`s allies facing a combined challenge from opposition parties led by two of his predecessors.

Ivory Coast voted on Saturday in a legislative election, with President Alassane Ouattara`s allies facing a combined challenge from opposition parties led by two of his predecessors. The poll comes only months after Ouattara won a third term in an election marred by unrest that killed at least 85 people, the country`s worst violence since a 2010-2011 civil war. After boycotting the presidential election in October to protest Ouattara`s decision to seek a third term, the parties of former presidents Henri Konan Bedie and Laurent Gbagbo are fielding parliamentary candidates on joint lists. Clear control of parliament by Ouattara`s Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) would strengthen his hand to pursue an agenda based on attracting investment to the world`s top cocoa producer. "The fact that all major parties are participating in this election is a development that confirms the democratic momentum in our country," Ouattara said after casting his own ballot. Turnout appeared light in the early hours of voting. Polls close at 1800 GMT and final results are due on Sunday. "We are voting for peace. We don`t want any more endless debates between Ivorians," said Aïcha Coulibaly, a hairdresser, who wore an RHDP t-shirt as she voted in Abobo, a Ouattara stronghold of the commercial capital Abidjan. The opposition is under pressure to show it remains relevant after over a decade of political dominance by Ouattara, who came to power after defeating the incumbent Gbagbo in the 2010 election and then prevailing in the civil war that followed. Gbagbo`s faction of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) is participating in a national election for the first time since he was ousted in 2011 and sent to the International Criminal Court to face war crimes charges. He was acquitted in 2019. "I am happy to participate in this vote. Since 2010, I hadn`t voted," said retiree Alfred Balli after casting his ballot in Yopougoun, a Gbagbo stronghold of Abidjan. Bedie`s Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) dominated national politics from the 1940s until he was overthrown as president in 1999. It backed Ouattara for years but split with him in 2018.

Ivory Coast votes for parliament as Ouattara opponents join forces

Ivory Coast will lift a suspension imposed this week on cocoa sustainability schemes run by Hershey after the U.S.-based chocolate maker committed to paying a premium aimed at combating poverty among farmers.

Ivorian and Ghanaian cocoa regulators on Monday suspended the schemes, alleging Hershey was sourcing large volumes of physical cocoa on the ICE futures exchange to avoid paying the so-called living income differential (LID).

Hershey, makers of such popular candy items as Hershey chocolate bars, Hershey’s Kisses and Kit Kat, said it was fully participating in the LID and would continue to do so.

Ivorian regulator, the Coffee and Cocoa council (CCC), has since held a video meeting with Hershey representatives in which it promised to lift the suspension, a letter dated Dec. 4 from the CCC to Hershey and seen by Reuters shows.

The move “follows your definitive commitment to pay the LID”, the letter, whose authenticity was verified by a CCC spokesperson, said.

“Our sustainability programs complement and strengthen our shared efforts to positively impact cocoa-growing communities,” Hershey said, adding it recognised the importance of the LID.

The schemes certify cocoa as sustainably sourced - meaning its production is free of environmental and human rights abuses, such as using child labour or being grown in a protected forest.

This allows companies to market their chocolate as ethical and charge a premium for it.

Ghana’s cocoa industry regulator, Cocobod, has not yet taken a decision on whether to lift the suspension, a spokesman said.

Ivory Coast and Ghana, which produce two-thirds of the world’s cocoa, introduced a $400 a tonne LID on cocoa sales for the 2020/21 season, but have since struggled to sell their beans as chocolate demand has been hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Ivory Coast will lift a suspension imposed this week on cocoa sustainability schemes run by Hershey after the U.S.-based chocolate maker committed to paying a premium aimed at combating poverty among farmers.

Ivory Coast will lift a suspension imposed this week on cocoa sustainability schemes run by Hershey after the U.S.-based chocolate maker committed to paying a premium aimed at combating poverty among farmers. Ivorian and Ghanaian cocoa regulators on Monday suspended the schemes, alleging Hershey was sourcing large volumes of physical cocoa on the ICE futures exchange to avoid paying the so-called living income differential (LID). Hershey, makers of such popular candy items as Hershey chocolate bars, Hershey’s Kisses and Kit Kat, said it was fully participating in the LID and would continue to do so. Ivorian regulator, the Coffee and Cocoa council (CCC), has since held a video meeting with Hershey representatives in which it promised to lift the suspension, a letter dated Dec. 4 from the CCC to Hershey and seen by Reuters shows. The move “follows your definitive commitment to pay the LID”, the letter, whose authenticity was verified by a CCC spokesperson, said. “Our sustainability programs complement and strengthen our shared efforts to positively impact cocoa-growing communities,” Hershey said, adding it recognised the importance of the LID. The schemes certify cocoa as sustainably sourced - meaning its production is free of environmental and human rights abuses, such as using child labour or being grown in a protected forest. This allows companies to market their chocolate as ethical and charge a premium for it. Ghana’s cocoa industry regulator, Cocobod, has not yet taken a decision on whether to lift the suspension, a spokesman said. Ivory Coast and Ghana, which produce two-thirds of the world’s cocoa, introduced a $400 a tonne LID on cocoa sales for the 2020/21 season, but have since struggled to sell their beans as chocolate demand has been hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Ivory Coast lifts suspension of Hershey cocoa sustainability schemes

Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s prime minister and its ruling party’s candidate for the October presidential election, has died, President Alassane Ouattara said on Wednesday.

"The nation was in mourning over Coulibaly's death on Wednesday afternoon, which occurred shortly after he attended a cabinet meeting in the Presidential Palace,” President Alassane Ouattara said in a statement.

Gon Coulibaly, 61, was handpicked as Ivory Coast’s ruling RHDP party’s candidate in March for October's presidential election.

The death of Gon Coulibaly, 61, who had had heart surgery in 2012 and had just returned from cardiac examinations in France, is likely to set off a scramble within the ruling RHDP party to replace him as its presidential candidate.

There is no clear-cut replacement for him in an election widely considered a test of stability for the world’s top cocoa producer.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s prime minister and its ruling party’s candidate for the October presidential election, has died, President Alassane Ouattara said on Wednesday.

Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s prime minister and its ruling party’s candidate for the October presidential election, has died, President Alassane Ouattara said on Wednesday. "The nation was in mourning over Coulibaly's death on Wednesday afternoon, which occurred shortly after he attended a cabinet meeting in the Presidential Palace,” President Alassane Ouattara said in a statement. Gon Coulibaly, 61, was handpicked as Ivory Coast’s ruling RHDP party’s candidate in March for October's presidential election. The death of Gon Coulibaly, 61, who had had heart surgery in 2012 and had just returned from cardiac examinations in France, is likely to set off a scramble within the ruling RHDP party to replace him as its presidential candidate. There is no clear-cut replacement for him in an election widely considered a test of stability for the world’s top cocoa producer. (With inputs from agencies)

Ivory Coast’s Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly dies at 61

It was a rare moment of collective joy for young Ivorian Loraine Grea who celebrated her 24th birthday on Wednesday (May 20) in Abidjan with a small group of friends who all came in person. President Alas sane Ouattara eased the restrictions imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19 by allowing for the re-opening of restaurants, bars and open air eateries known as maquis.

Virus fears are still eating away at Abidjan's diners

WION Global Round-up: Ivanka Trump announces investment for women in Ivory Coast and other stories

WION Global Round-up: Ivanka Trump announces investment for women in Ivory Coast

"Drones have become my passion," says Noursely Doumbia, who holds a degree in electronics and is currently learning to pilot drones as part of a pioneering programme in Ivory Coast`s economic capital Abidjan. The training is being offered at a new "drone academy" which has been set up by the Ivorian Electricity Company (CIE) in order to revolutionise the inspection of its infrastructure and ultimately to reduce costs. Although common in Europe, the use of drones is still in its infancy in West Africa although the commercial market for unmanned aircraft is expanding. The aim is for CIE -- which is majority-owned by France`s Eranove Group, a key provider of water and electricity in West Africa -- to train around 20 local pilots to inspect its high-voltage lines which criss-cross the country, stretching more than 25,000 kilometres (15,500 miles). "We have a lot of problems with vegetation, we need to clear it all the time and it`s difficult because it`s all across the whole country," explains Benjamin Mathon, a pilot who is in charge of CIE`s drone and youth training programme. Dirt tracks that are impassable following heavy rain, widespread areas of lush tropical vegetation and a patchy road network often conspire to make access to electricity pylons difficult in a country which covers 322,000 square kilometres (124,000 square miles) -- nearly two-thirds the area of France. After overflying an area with a drone equipped with cameras and thermal and laser sensors, "we use artificial intelligence programmes which analyse the images for any defects, a rusty bolt on a pylon, a damaged cable," explains Mathon."The drone allows us to analyse a large number of lines in a short space of time, across great distances," he says. Not only do students learn how to fly drones, as well as how to assemble and repair them, but are they also trained to use different software packages for analysing the images and resulting data, as well as geolocalisation and mapping. "This is a major technological leap forward for CIE" and its 4,500 employees, says CIE Director General Dominique Kakou. The drones enable CIE to "to inspect our infrastructure and ensure its safety in a much more pinpointed way, and also to optimise our costs and expenses," he says. Before now, all inspections were done by helicopter or by teams on the ground, Mathon explains. "Using helicopters is expensive, and on foot, you have to send out teams to areas which can be difficult to reach, which can create problems."The financial savings are undeniable: the cost of purchasing a helicopter is around 500,000 euros, with each one hour flight costing another 1,200 euros. A drone, however, costs between 2,000 and 100,000 euros to buy, its upkeep is simple and flight costs are negligible. The company is hoping to improve its quality of service by reducing the average length of power outages -- which are still relatively frequent in parts of the country -- for its 1.3 million customers in Ivory Coast. And it hopes to do the same for its customer base in neighbouring Ghana, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali. Since 2011, following a decade of political and military crisis, Ivory Coast has invested heavily in rebuilding its electricity grid, with the authorities planning to plough another 16 billion euros into the sector by 2030. "The electricity sector is evolving very fast, we must adopt new technologies and innovation," said Kakou who says the company has already invested in electronic payment schemes and solar energy.But the drone academy is not just serving the electricity sector: it is open to any business in West Africa which could benefit from the technology, from farming to mining, says Paul Ginies, director of the Centre for Electrical Professions, CIE`s training division. "These new professions provide a way in for young people," he says. "I`m sure that young Africans are going to grab hold of this and surprise us by developing applications which we have not thought of. It`s their generation." Alice Kouadio, another trainee pilot from the first group of students, has no doubt. "The world is a drone, it`s the promise of tomorrow."

The training is being offered at a new "drone academy" which has been set up by the Ivorian Electricity Company (CIE) in order to revolutionise the inspection of its infrastructure and ultimately to reduce costs

"Drones have become my passion," says Noursely Doumbia, who holds a degree in electronics and is currently learning to pilot drones as part of a pioneering programme in Ivory Coast`s economic capital Abidjan. The training is being offered at a new "drone academy" which has been set up by the Ivorian Electricity Company (CIE) in order to revolutionise the inspection of its infrastructure and ultimately to reduce costs. Although common in Europe, the use of drones is still in its infancy in West Africa although the commercial market for unmanned aircraft is expanding. The aim is for CIE -- which is majority-owned by France`s Eranove Group, a key provider of water and electricity in West Africa -- to train around 20 local pilots to inspect its high-voltage lines which criss-cross the country, stretching more than 25,000 kilometres (15,500 miles). "We have a lot of problems with vegetation, we need to clear it all the time and it`s difficult because it`s all across the whole country," explains Benjamin Mathon, a pilot who is in charge of CIE`s drone and youth training programme. Dirt tracks that are impassable following heavy rain, widespread areas of lush tropical vegetation and a patchy road network often conspire to make access to electricity pylons difficult in a country which covers 322,000 square kilometres (124,000 square miles) -- nearly two-thirds the area of France. After overflying an area with a drone equipped with cameras and thermal and laser sensors, "we use artificial intelligence programmes which analyse the images for any defects, a rusty bolt on a pylon, a damaged cable," explains Mathon."The drone allows us to analyse a large number of lines in a short space of time, across great distances," he says. Not only do students learn how to fly drones, as well as how to assemble and repair them, but are they also trained to use different software packages for analysing the images and resulting data, as well as geolocalisation and mapping. "This is a major technological leap forward for CIE" and its 4,500 employees, says CIE Director General Dominique Kakou. The drones enable CIE to "to inspect our infrastructure and ensure its safety in a much more pinpointed way, and also to optimise our costs and expenses," he says. Before now, all inspections were done by helicopter or by teams on the ground, Mathon explains. "Using helicopters is expensive, and on foot, you have to send out teams to areas which can be difficult to reach, which can create problems."The financial savings are undeniable: the cost of purchasing a helicopter is around 500,000 euros, with each one hour flight costing another 1,200 euros. A drone, however, costs between 2,000 and 100,000 euros to buy, its upkeep is simple and flight costs are negligible. The company is hoping to improve its quality of service by reducing the average length of power outages -- which are still relatively frequent in parts of the country -- for its 1.3 million customers in Ivory Coast. And it hopes to do the same for its customer base in neighbouring Ghana, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali. Since 2011, following a decade of political and military crisis, Ivory Coast has invested heavily in rebuilding its electricity grid, with the authorities planning to plough another 16 billion euros into the sector by 2030. "The electricity sector is evolving very fast, we must adopt new technologies and innovation," said Kakou who says the company has already invested in electronic payment schemes and solar energy.But the drone academy is not just serving the electricity sector: it is open to any business in West Africa which could benefit from the technology, from farming to mining, says Paul Ginies, director of the Centre for Electrical Professions, CIE`s training division. "These new professions provide a way in for young people," he says. "I`m sure that young Africans are going to grab hold of this and surprise us by developing applications which we have not thought of. It`s their generation." Alice Kouadio, another trainee pilot from the first group of students, has no doubt. "The world is a drone, it`s the promise of tomorrow."

In Ivory Coast, 'drone academy' offers youth the chance to soar

The heart-rending photo went round the world in 2015, showing an eight-year-old boy from Ivory Coast crammed into a suitcase that was found at a Spanish border crossing.

His father goes on trial Tuesday in Ceuta, a Spanish overseas territory in northern Morocco which migrants from Africa regularly try to reach by scaling high border fences, hiding behind car dashboards or in bus chassis.

Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison term for Ali Ouattara for facilitating his son&#39;s illegal entry into Europe and endangering the child&#39;s life.

&quot;I&#39;m going to this trial with a lot of confidence because I&#39;m not a human trafficker,&quot; Ouattara, 45, told AFP.

On May 7, 2015, Spanish police noticed a young Moroccan woman dragging what looked like a heavy suitcase across the border with Ceuta.

When they put the suitcase through an X-ray machine they were shocked to see the silhouette of a child curled up in foetal position.

&quot;My name is Adou,&quot; the boy told them in French after they extricated him from the suitcase, according to Spanish journalist Nicolas Castellano, who wrote a book about the story.

Paid traffickers 5,000&nbsp;euros

The desperate smuggling attempt was a first in Ceuta.

But only three months later, a 27-year-old Moroccan died of asphyxiation inside a suitcase placed in the trunk of a car on a ferry linking Melilla, another Spanish territory in Morocco, to southern Spain.

Adou was soon reunited with his mother, and his father, who had been waiting for his son on the Spanish side of the border, was arrested shortly after the police discovery.

Ouattara said he was &quot;misled&quot; by the traffickers who charged him 5,000 euros ($6,200) and did not tell him his son would be hidden in a suitcase.

The traffickers had initially promised to fly the boy from the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan to Madrid but then told him they would instead travel via Ceuta by car, he said.

&quot;For us, it was crucial for the child to come, we couldn&#39;t live without him, we couldn&#39;t stop thinking about him,&quot; Ouattara said.

A former philosophy and French teacher in Abidjan, Ouattara arrived illegally in Spain in 2006, making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean aboard a boat.

He eventually got a stable job and home in the Canary Islands, and was able to bring his wife and daughter over legally.

But Spanish authorities refused four times to let him bring over his son too.

&quot;I was earning more than 1,300 euros in a launderette but they said it wasn&#39;t enough&quot; for the entire family to live, he says.

His wife, daughter and Adou are now living in France, but Ali is still in Spain as he is barred from leaving the country pending the trial.

Adou is expected to return to Ceuta for the trial.

Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison term for Ali Ouattara for facilitating his son's illegal entry into Europe and endangering the child's life

The heart-rending photo went round the world in 2015, showing an eight-year-old boy from Ivory Coast crammed into a suitcase that was found at a Spanish border crossing. His father goes on trial Tuesday in Ceuta, a Spanish overseas territory in northern Morocco which migrants from Africa regularly try to reach by scaling high border fences, hiding behind car dashboards or in bus chassis. Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison term for Ali Ouattara for facilitating his son's illegal entry into Europe and endangering the child's life. "I'm going to this trial with a lot of confidence because I'm not a human trafficker," Ouattara, 45, told AFP. On May 7, 2015, Spanish police noticed a young Moroccan woman dragging what looked like a heavy suitcase across the border with Ceuta. When they put the suitcase through an X-ray machine they were shocked to see the silhouette of a child curled up in foetal position. "My name is Adou," the boy told them in French after they extricated him from the suitcase, according to Spanish journalist Nicolas Castellano, who wrote a book about the story. Paid traffickers 5,000 euros The desperate smuggling attempt was a first in Ceuta. But only three months later, a 27-year-old Moroccan died of asphyxiation inside a suitcase placed in the trunk of a car on a ferry linking Melilla, another Spanish territory in Morocco, to southern Spain. Adou was soon reunited with his mother, and his father, who had been waiting for his son on the Spanish side of the border, was arrested shortly after the police discovery. Ouattara said he was "misled" by the traffickers who charged him 5,000 euros ($6,200) and did not tell him his son would be hidden in a suitcase. The traffickers had initially promised to fly the boy from the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan to Madrid but then told him they would instead travel via Ceuta by car, he said. "For us, it was crucial for the child to come, we couldn't live without him, we couldn't stop thinking about him," Ouattara said. A former philosophy and French teacher in Abidjan, Ouattara arrived illegally in Spain in 2006, making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean aboard a boat. He eventually got a stable job and home in the Canary Islands, and was able to bring his wife and daughter over legally. But Spanish authorities refused four times to let him bring over his son too. "I was earning more than 1,300 euros in a launderette but they said it wasn't enough" for the entire family to live, he says. His wife, daughter and Adou are now living in France, but Ali is still in Spain as he is barred from leaving the country pending the trial. Adou is expected to return to Ceuta for the trial.

Father of boy smuggled into Spain in suitcase on trial

Gunfire rocked cities in Ivory Coast on Monday as a mutiny by disgruntled soldiers gathered pace in defiance of government action against a revolt that threatens the country&#39;s rapid emergence from a civil war.

The troops who rebelled over delayed bonus payments controlled the second city Bouake, and heavy gunfire also hit San Pedro, a crucial port for exports of cocoa.

Ivory Coast is the world&#39;s largest producer and London cocoa futures climbed to a five-week high due to the unrest as businesses in the sector closed.

&quot;The mutineers are in San Pedro. They are everywhere. There is heavy gunfire. Everyone is closing shop and heading home,&quot; said a cocoa exporter based in the city. Three other residents confirmed the gunfire.

Authorities will maintain a firm line with the mutiny, government spokesman Bruno Kone said. While there was no negotiations under way with the soldiers &quot;discussions were continuing&quot; and a military operation against them was ongoing.

The head of the army said on Sunday troops were being sent to Bouake to &quot;re-establish order&quot; but a Reuters team travelling from the capital Yamoussoukro towards the city, saw only a handful of loyalist military vehicles.

Most of the large column of troops spotted on Sunday evening appeared to have withdrawn, suggesting any government operation was not yet fully under way.

More than 200 commercial trucks were stranded on the roadside after mutinous soldiers sealed off the southern entrance to Bouake, on Monday, Reuters witnesses said.

Sporadic gunfire was heard overnight in Bouake as well as at military camps in the commercial capital Abidjan. Shooting in both cities intensified before dawn.

&quot;There was heavy shooting at the northern entrance to the city and in the city centre. It&#39;s calmed a bit but we&#39;re still hearing gunfire,&quot; said one Bouake resident. Other residents confirmed the shooting.

The four-day-old revolt exposes divides in a society that emerged from a decade of political turmoil and a civil war in 2011 to become one of the world&#39;s fastest growing economies under President Alassane Ouattara.

The government promised bonus payments to the soldiers after a mutiny in January but not they were not fully paid after a collapse in the price of cocoa, Ivory Coast&#39;s main export, caused a revenue crunch.

The issue triggered a wave of mutinies that has exposed the lack of unity in a military assembled from former rebel and loyalist combatants.

In signs of the economic impact of the crisis, the banking association, the APBEF, ordered all banks to remain closed on Monday and many businesses at the port in Abidjan from which cocoa is exported were also closed.

Data from Tradeweb showed that Ivory Coast dollar bonds maturing in 2024 fell 0.8 cents in price to a three-week low while the 2028 issue lost 1.2 cents to hit its lowest level in 10 days due to the unrest.

Heavy shooting was also heard in Daloa, a hub for western cocoa growing regions.

&quot;All businesses are closed here in Daloa. The banks are closed and so are the cocoa buying businesses,&quot; said Aka Marcel, a farmer cooperative manager in Daloa. The soldiers are in the streets on foot and on motorbikes. They&#39;re shooting in the air.&quot;

A spokesman for the mutiny denied that any clashes occurred in Bouake and said the renegade soldiers were firing in the air to dissuade any advance on the city.

On Sunday, the group&#39;s leaders rejected the army&#39;s demand that they disarm and surrender.

&quot;We can no longer turn back,&quot; said their spokesman Sergeant Seydou Kone. &quot;We don&#39;t know what will happen to us, so we just want our money so we can start a new life. But we can&#39;t give up now that we&#39;ve reached this point.&quot;

The 8,400 mutineers, most of them former rebels who said they were promised bonuses for fighting to bring Ouattara to power, received 5 million CFA francs ($8,400) each to end the January uprising, with more to come.

But the government has struggled to pay the outstanding bonuses of an extra 7 million CFA francs each. A spokesman for the group said on Thursday they had dropped demands for the remaining money. This was rejected by other soldiers, sparking the revolt.

An Abidjan resident said soldiers came out of the largest military camp and erected barricades early on Monday, blocking traffic along one of the city&#39;s eastern thoroughfares.

Several schools near the camp did not open and the Abidjan-based African Development Bank, which employs several thousand people - many of them international staff - told its employees to stay home.

(Reuters)

The troops who rebelled over delayed bonus payments controlled the second city Bouake, and heavy gunfire also hit San Pedro, a crucial port for exports of cocoa

Gunfire rocked cities in Ivory Coast on Monday as a mutiny by disgruntled soldiers gathered pace in defiance of government action against a revolt that threatens the country's rapid emergence from a civil war. The troops who rebelled over delayed bonus payments controlled the second city Bouake, and heavy gunfire also hit San Pedro, a crucial port for exports of cocoa. Ivory Coast is the world's largest producer and London cocoa futures climbed to a five-week high due to the unrest as businesses in the sector closed. "The mutineers are in San Pedro. They are everywhere. There is heavy gunfire. Everyone is closing shop and heading home," said a cocoa exporter based in the city. Three other residents confirmed the gunfire. Authorities will maintain a firm line with the mutiny, government spokesman Bruno Kone said. While there was no negotiations under way with the soldiers "discussions were continuing" and a military operation against them was ongoing. The head of the army said on Sunday troops were being sent to Bouake to "re-establish order" but a Reuters team travelling from the capital Yamoussoukro towards the city, saw only a handful of loyalist military vehicles. Most of the large column of troops spotted on Sunday evening appeared to have withdrawn, suggesting any government operation was not yet fully under way. More than 200 commercial trucks were stranded on the roadside after mutinous soldiers sealed off the southern entrance to Bouake, on Monday, Reuters witnesses said. Sporadic gunfire was heard overnight in Bouake as well as at military camps in the commercial capital Abidjan. Shooting in both cities intensified before dawn. "There was heavy shooting at the northern entrance to the city and in the city centre. It's calmed a bit but we're still hearing gunfire," said one Bouake resident. Other residents confirmed the shooting. The four-day-old revolt exposes divides in a society that emerged from a decade of political turmoil and a civil war in 2011 to become one of the world's fastest growing economies under President Alassane Ouattara. The government promised bonus payments to the soldiers after a mutiny in January but not they were not fully paid after a collapse in the price of cocoa, Ivory Coast's main export, caused a revenue crunch. The issue triggered a wave of mutinies that has exposed the lack of unity in a military assembled from former rebel and loyalist combatants. In signs of the economic impact of the crisis, the banking association, the APBEF, ordered all banks to remain closed on Monday and many businesses at the port in Abidjan from which cocoa is exported were also closed. Data from Tradeweb showed that Ivory Coast dollar bonds maturing in 2024 fell 0.8 cents in price to a three-week low while the 2028 issue lost 1.2 cents to hit its lowest level in 10 days due to the unrest. Heavy shooting was also heard in Daloa, a hub for western cocoa growing regions. "All businesses are closed here in Daloa. The banks are closed and so are the cocoa buying businesses," said Aka Marcel, a farmer cooperative manager in Daloa. The soldiers are in the streets on foot and on motorbikes. They're shooting in the air." A spokesman for the mutiny denied that any clashes occurred in Bouake and said the renegade soldiers were firing in the air to dissuade any advance on the city. On Sunday, the group's leaders rejected the army's demand that they disarm and surrender. "We can no longer turn back," said their spokesman Sergeant Seydou Kone. "We don't know what will happen to us, so we just want our money so we can start a new life. But we can't give up now that we've reached this point." The 8,400 mutineers, most of them former rebels who said they were promised bonuses for fighting to bring Ouattara to power, received 5 million CFA francs ($8,400) each to end the January uprising, with more to come. But the government has struggled to pay the outstanding bonuses of an extra 7 million CFA francs each. A spokesman for the group said on Thursday they had dropped demands for the remaining money. This was rejected by other soldiers, sparking the revolt. An Abidjan resident said soldiers came out of the largest military camp and erected barricades early on Monday, blocking traffic along one of the city's eastern thoroughfares. Several schools near the camp did not open and the Abidjan-based African Development Bank, which employs several thousand people - many of them international staff - told its employees to stay home. (Reuters)

Gunfire rocks Ivory Coast cities as mutiny gathers pace

Armed men in uniform and in civilian clothes blocked the main highway leading north out of Ivory Coast&#39;s main city, Abidjan, on Monday forcing vehicles to turn back, witnesses said, as a nationwide army mutiny in its fourth day gathered pace.

Gunshots rang out early Monday in the Ivory Coast cities of Abidjan and Bouake amid a mutiny by ex-rebel soldiers demanding government bonuses, AFP journalists and witnesses said.

In Abidjan, gunfire was heard at two military camps in Akouedo in the east of the city, which together form the country&#39;s largest military barracks, a nearby resident said.

&nbsp;Ivory&nbsp;Coast&#39;s banking association, the APBEF, ordered all banks in the West African nation to remain closed on Monday amid worsening unrest linked to a four-day nationwide army mutiny.&nbsp;Shots were also heard from the Gallieni camp in the centre of the city.&nbsp;The African Development Bank advised its employees in Abidjan to stay at home as &quot;the security situation&quot; was &quot; not clear for the moment.&quot;

Sustained gunfire also rang out in the second-largest city of Bouake, where one person died on Sunday from bullet wounds.&nbsp;Access roads into Akouedo were closed, preventing residents from the east of Abidjan from entering the city, an AFP reporter said.

The armed forces chief of staff, General Sekou Toure, said in a statement Sunday that &quot;a military operation is underway to re-establish order&quot; and made a televised appeal to the disgruntled soldiers to return to barracks.

Under a deal negotiated with the government in January after a mutiny by the ex-rebels, they were to be paid bonuses of 18,000 euros each, with an initial payment of five million francs that month.

The remainder was to be paid starting this month, according to rebel sources.&nbsp;But the government has struggled to pay the soldiers the promised money.&nbsp;

In Bouake, the mutinous former rebels were in control late on Sunday and appeared determined to press on with their protest despite the threat of sanctions by military chiefs.

&quot;We want the money, that&#39;s all! There&#39;s nothing to discuss,&quot; said one of them.&nbsp; Bouake was the epicentre of the January mutiny, which triggered months of unrest.&nbsp;

The city served as rebel headquarters after a failed 2002 coup which split Ivory Coast in half and led to years of unrest.&nbsp;The world&#39;s top cocoa producer and former star French colony has since been slowly regaining its credentials as a West African powerhouse and a haven of peace and prosperity.&nbsp;

The current round of trouble began when on Thursday a soldier presented as a spokesman for some 8,400 former rebels said in a televised ceremony that they wished to apologise to President Alassane Ouattara for the mutiny and were giving up their demand for huge payouts.

But this seemed to be viewed with scepticism by many of the former fighters.&nbsp;&quot;We don&#39;t know if the delegates who were sent to Abidjan (for the ceremony) betrayed us, if they are corrupt or if they were taken hostage over there,&quot; said one mutineer in Bouake, Sergeant Yacouba Soro.&nbsp;

&quot;But we have not renounced, that&#39;s clear.&quot;

Ivory Coast has an army of around 22,000, but falling cocoa prices have severely crimped the government&#39;s finances.

Last year, the government unveiled an ambitious plan to modernise the military, part of which would involve the departure of several thousand men, particularly ex-rebels, who will not be replaced.

(WION with Agency inputs: AFP, Reuters)

The government has struggled to pay the soldiers which it promised in January leading to a state of mutiny in the army

Armed men in uniform and in civilian clothes blocked the main highway leading north out of Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, on Monday forcing vehicles to turn back, witnesses said, as a nationwide army mutiny in its fourth day gathered pace. Gunshots rang out early Monday in the Ivory Coast cities of Abidjan and Bouake amid a mutiny by ex-rebel soldiers demanding government bonuses, AFP journalists and witnesses said. In Abidjan, gunfire was heard at two military camps in Akouedo in the east of the city, which together form the country's largest military barracks, a nearby resident said. Ivory Coast's banking association, the APBEF, ordered all banks in the West African nation to remain closed on Monday amid worsening unrest linked to a four-day nationwide army mutiny. Shots were also heard from the Gallieni camp in the centre of the city. The African Development Bank advised its employees in Abidjan to stay at home as "the security situation" was " not clear for the moment." Sustained gunfire also rang out in the second-largest city of Bouake, where one person died on Sunday from bullet wounds. Access roads into Akouedo were closed, preventing residents from the east of Abidjan from entering the city, an AFP reporter said. The armed forces chief of staff, General Sekou Toure, said in a statement Sunday that "a military operation is underway to re-establish order" and made a televised appeal to the disgruntled soldiers to return to barracks. Under a deal negotiated with the government in January after a mutiny by the ex-rebels, they were to be paid bonuses of 18,000 euros each, with an initial payment of five million francs that month. The remainder was to be paid starting this month, according to rebel sources. But the government has struggled to pay the soldiers the promised money. In Bouake, the mutinous former rebels were in control late on Sunday and appeared determined to press on with their protest despite the threat of sanctions by military chiefs. "We want the money, that's all! There's nothing to discuss," said one of them. Bouake was the epicentre of the January mutiny, which triggered months of unrest. The city served as rebel headquarters after a failed 2002 coup which split Ivory Coast in half and led to years of unrest. The world's top cocoa producer and former star French colony has since been slowly regaining its credentials as a West African powerhouse and a haven of peace and prosperity. The current round of trouble began when on Thursday a soldier presented as a spokesman for some 8,400 former rebels said in a televised ceremony that they wished to apologise to President Alassane Ouattara for the mutiny and were giving up their demand for huge payouts. But this seemed to be viewed with scepticism by many of the former fighters. "We don't know if the delegates who were sent to Abidjan (for the ceremony) betrayed us, if they are corrupt or if they were taken hostage over there," said one mutineer in Bouake, Sergeant Yacouba Soro. "But we have not renounced, that's clear." Ivory Coast has an army of around 22,000, but falling cocoa prices have severely crimped the government's finances. Last year, the government unveiled an ambitious plan to modernise the military, part of which would involve the departure of several thousand men, particularly ex-rebels, who will not be replaced. (WION with Agency inputs: AFP, Reuters)

Ivory Coast on alert as army soldiers revolt

Ivory Coast&#39;s Yaya Toure has announced his decision to retire from international football on Tuesday. 
 
&quot;Writing this note was probably &#39;the most difficult match of my life&#39;,&quot; read a statement by him. 
 
&quot;After 14 years at the highest level, I`m sure this is the right time for me! The fact that I am 33 now, the intensity of training and the multitude of games are not the reasons why I am making this decision,&quot; Toure wrote. 
 
&quot;Football is everything to me and it gave me so much in my career that I no longer feel able to set myself new goals as a player with the Elephants of Ivory Coast.&quot; 
 
Captain of his national team, Toure made his debut in 2004. He has since then made 113 appearances for Ivory Coast. He captained his country to an Africa Cup of Nations win in 2015. The versatile African also helped his country finish runner-up in 2006 and 2012 editions of Africa Cup of Nations.&nbsp; 
 
The current Manchester City midfielder has been facing a tough time to get into Pep Guardiola&#39;s starting XI. 
 
Speaking some time after Toure announced his retirement, Guardiola said he could play for City only after he apologised to the team for comments made by his agent. 
 
Toure&#39;s manager Dimitri Seluk had said Guardiola should &quot;apologise&quot; to Toure if his team failed to win the championship this season. 
 
(WION)

The Ivory Coast midfielder helped his country win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015

Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure has announced his decision to retire from international football on Tuesday. "Writing this note was probably 'the most difficult match of my life'," read a statement by him. "After 14 years at the highest level, I`m sure this is the right time for me! The fact that I am 33 now, the intensity of training and the multitude of games are not the reasons why I am making this decision," Toure wrote. "Football is everything to me and it gave me so much in my career that I no longer feel able to set myself new goals as a player with the Elephants of Ivory Coast." Captain of his national team, Toure made his debut in 2004. He has since then made 113 appearances for Ivory Coast. He captained his country to an Africa Cup of Nations win in 2015. The versatile African also helped his country finish runner-up in 2006 and 2012 editions of Africa Cup of Nations. The current Manchester City midfielder has been facing a tough time to get into Pep Guardiola's starting XI. Speaking some time after Toure announced his retirement, Guardiola said he could play for City only after he apologised to the team for comments made by his agent. Toure's manager Dimitri Seluk had said Guardiola should "apologise" to Toure if his team failed to win the championship this season. (WION)

Yaya Toure announces retirement from international football

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