War-divided Ivory Coast’s armed forces said on Tuesday they had evidence a group of soldiers and civilians were plotting to assassinate the West African state’s president and several top military officials.
They said the planned coup, scheduled to take place between December 12 and 17, was masterminded by a militant for an unnamed political party, which was currently protecting the individual.
“For several weeks, officers, sub-officers and soldiers from the ranks of the Defense and Security Forces have been approached by civilians and soldiers, with a view to their participation in a coup d’etat,” army spokesman Babri Gohourou said in a statement.
He said the army possessed “irrefutable proof” that a coup was being prepared and said it was continuing to investigate.
The world’s top cocoa grower has been divided into a rebel-held north and a government-run south since a brief 2002-03 civil war.
Around 11,000 French and U.N. peacekeepers man a ceasefire line which roughly divides the country in two.
Tensions are running high as its factions squabble over the implementation of a U.N.-backed peace plan.
Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny, appointed as part of the plan, has clashed with President Laurent Gbagbo over powers it bestows on him.
The peace blueprint tasks Banny with bringing all sides to participate in a disarmament and reunification process and with organizing presidential elections by the end of October next year after previous deadlines, this year and last, were missed.
Foreign diplomats were dismissive of the coup allegation by the army, regarded as broadly supporting Gbagbo.
“I think it is an orchestration to increase political tension,” one diplomat told Reuters. “It wouldn’t be in anyone’s favor to do such a thing now.”
Coup rumors frequently feature in the former French colony’s fiercely partisan press.
In August 2005 sacked former army General Mathias Doue, whose whereabouts are unknown, said on French radio he would soon return to oust Gbagbo.
By Agencies
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
