At 4:45am today we woke to the sound of automatic weapon fire in the distance. This had apparently started an hour or so earlier. Along with small arms fire, we also heard some heavier weapons and explosions. At first, news sources suggested a revolt was taking place by discontented elements within the Ivorian military. As the day has gone on news reports suggest an attempted coup d’état.
We have been able to contact most SIL personnel around the country by telephone advising that they stay at home. All confirm that they are not in imminent danger. We have been monitoring the situation throughout the day via radio and the Internet. It is reported that most of Abidjan is now firmly under the control of loyal government forces, but the airport may still be in the hands of mutineers. We have heard little or no gunfire since midday. The minister of the interior was killed by an attack on his house during the night and the wife of the minister of defence was taken hostage. General Gueï, the former leader of the military who took power in the 1999 coup d’état is also confirmed as having been killed.
In the central region of the country, SIL has a workshop centre in Bouaké – Côte d’Ivoire’s second largest city. This is at present our major concern. Press reports indicate that this city is still under rebel control. Our personnel in Bouaké report by telephone that they are secure, but have heard a lot of fighting, particularly around the nearby army base which lies between the workshop centre and a large missionary boarding school (ICA). There are press reports of rebel forces heading south from Bouaké towards Abidjan and of government forces being sent north.
For up to date news in English we recommend the BBC World Service website.