Ex-Ivory Coast president prepares to flee after coup
Nation's new leader consolidates power and sets up public salvation committee
By Alexandra Zavis
Associated Press

December 26, 1999


ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — The former army chief who staged a largely bloodless coup in Ivory Coast took steps Saturday to consolidate his hold on power as the ousted resident prepared to flee the West African country.
Junta leader Gen. Robert Guei appointed nine senior military officers to the National Committee of Public Salvation, which will oversee the country for a transitional period. Guei also named himself president of the committee.
To ensure continuity, Guei said regional administrators and civil servants in charge of the various ministry offices will remain in their posts. Foreign Minister Amara Essy will also keep his position, he said.
"The man changes but the nation remains," Guei said, quoting former President Felix Houphouet-Boigny in a Christmas Day broadcast on national television and radio.
Guei also announced the arrest of Laurent Dona Fologo, secretary-general of ousted President Henri Konan Bedie's Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast, and Trade Minister Guy-Alain Gauze. They were being held in barracks "for their own safety," he said.
A curfew was in effect for a second night Saturday, and soldiers were ordered to shoot anyone on the streets after 6 p.m.
Ivory Coast, a nation of 19 million people, has long been considered a model of stability in West Africa. The military takeover is the country's first since independence from France in 1960.
The unrest began Thursday, with troops rampaging and looting in the commercial capital of Abidjan in protest over unpaid salaries, poor living conditions and what they called the bad governance of the country. On Friday, Guei declared the military was in control and had suspended the constitution, courts and parliament.
Despite the rioting, many Ivorians welcomed the coup, saying they hoped the military would improve Ivory Coast's shaky economic and political circumstances.
People huddled around their radios in the streets, listening to the military announcements. Some jumped up and down in excitement and chanted: "No more Bedie."
France, the United States and various African countries, however, have condemned the coup and called for a return to civilian rule.
Bedie has taken refuge at a French military base near Abidjan's international airport, the French government said Saturday.
Guei said Bedie was planning to "flee to France." However, a spokesman for the French foreign ministry, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said he had no information on where Bedie wanted to go.
One of Guei's military aids, Maurice Bouho, said the junta had blocked Bedie from using an Ivorian presidential aircraft, but would allow him to leave by other means.
"Our objective is not to hurt or kill anyone," Bouho said, adding the junta could change its mind if Bedie did not leave before the end of the day Saturday.
Guei, who has called a meeting Sunday with representatives of all public service sectors, wants life to return to normal in the country on Monday.
He has also guaranteed press freedom but warned journalists to be responsible and not to report "garbage."
He said Saturday his forces had arrested soldiers who participated in looting during the coup. The junta also ordered soldiers to turn in commandeered civilian vehicles at an Abidjan military base so they can be restored to their owners.
"We requisitioned vehicles only because we didn't have the means to assure security and stop looting," Bouho said.
Soldiers in commandeered cars patrolled the streets Saturday, occasionally shooting in the air to break up gangs of youths who continued to participate in frenzied looting on otherwise abandoned streets in some Abidjan suburbs.
Other soldiers, however, raided stores and restaurants in the poor neighborhoods of Abobo and Adjame. Witnesses said officers — some in uniform, others in civilian dress — robbed passers-by and seized cars before later abandoning them to gangs of youths, who quickly stripped the vehicles of tires and other parts.
"I was really scared," said Tassere Ouedraogo, a messenger who drove through the rioting in Abobo on his motorcycle. "I thought I wouldn't make it."
Soldiers forced two foreign journalists from a taxi downtown on Saturday morning and zoomed away in the car, telling them: "You don't need to drive. You can walk."
No deaths were reported during the coup. But Guei said a number of people were injured during rioting and street celebrations that followed his Friday announcement of a successful takeover.
The junta leader called doctors to report Monday to hospitals, which were mostly abandoned during the rebellion.
A longtime soldier, Guei was replaced as Ivory Coast's military chief in 1995 during unrest surrounding elections Bedie had won.


December 26, 1999