Don’t support mutineers, Nigerian govt tells Ivorians

The federal government has told citizens of Ivory Coast to refrain from giving support to protesting soldiers.

Last week, aggrieved soldiers took to the streets of Abidjan and Bouake, the two major cities in the country, to mount pressure on the government to pay their bonuses.

The security personnel firied guns in the air and later sealed off roads, causing panic in a country still recovering from years of war.

In a statement on Wednesday, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo expressed “strong and unflinching support” for the government of President Allassane Ouattara.

Osinbajo also welcomed ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis.

“Nigeria wishes to condemn in strong terms the recent developments in Cote d’Ivoire in which a small fraction of the country’s armed forces mutinied against the government,” Osinbajo said in a statement signed by Laolu Akande, his spokesman.

“In this context, the federal government urges the parties to the crisis to exercise maximum restraint, remain calm and continue with dialogue and negotiations with the government of President Ouattara.

“Nigeria also urges the mutineers to return to their barracks and to refrain from any action capable of undermining the 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 statement said Osinbajo had been engaged in phone discussions with the Ivorian president and the president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who is also the current ECOWAS chairperson, seeking ways towards a peaceful resolution.