Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Ivory Coast hit by fresh protests in wake of mutiny

-

Angry protests erupted in several Ivory Coast cities on Monday, including in the economic capital Abidjan where retired soldiers barricaded a major highway as a teachers' strike kept schools closed.

The veterans threw up roadblocks on the main northbound highway in the morning, snarling traffic, as angry firemen blocked traffic to the east of the city.

Most of the city's secondary schools remained closed as teachers remained at home as part of a two-week civil service strike to demand better pay and pensions.

In the country's second city of Bouake hundreds of schoolchildren took to the streets, blocking traffic, in solidarity with the strikes.

"We urge our government to settle the teachers' demands so our classes can restart," said a student spokesman, Amadou Soto.

The strikes follow deadly protests across the country last week by security forces and troops that left four dead, shut down Abidjan port, one of Africa's biggest, and disrupted business in the world's top cocoa producer.

The angry troops appeared to be angling for a deal with the government along the lines of one struck with mutinous troops earlier this month that offered some soldiers large one-off lump sum payments.

Observers said Monday's protesters also appeared to be inspired by the mutineers.

Angry protests erupted in several Ivory Coast cities on Monday, including in the economic capital Abidjan where retired soldiers barricaded a major highway as a teachers’ strike kept schools closed.

The veterans threw up roadblocks on the main northbound highway in the morning, snarling traffic, as angry firemen blocked traffic to the east of the city.

Most of the city’s secondary schools remained closed as teachers remained at home as part of a two-week civil service strike to demand better pay and pensions.

In the country’s second city of Bouake hundreds of schoolchildren took to the streets, blocking traffic, in solidarity with the strikes.

“We urge our government to settle the teachers’ demands so our classes can restart,” said a student spokesman, Amadou Soto.

The strikes follow deadly protests across the country last week by security forces and troops that left four dead, shut down Abidjan port, one of Africa’s biggest, and disrupted business in the world’s top cocoa producer.

The angry troops appeared to be angling for a deal with the government along the lines of one struck with mutinous troops earlier this month that offered some soldiers large one-off lump sum payments.

Observers said Monday’s protesters also appeared to be inspired by the mutineers.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Business

Plans for a $70-billion project to build the world’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) data centre were unveiled today in Alberta.

Social Media

Exactly how dumb can you afford people to be? The bottom of the barrel is making noises already.

Business

Google on Monday showed off a new quantum computing chip that it said was a major breakthrough.

Tech & Science

There will continue to be an increase in the integration of AI in daily workflows and decision-making as AI increases in accuracy and efficiency.