How a democrat was ousted for a dictator

COTE D’IVOIRE: How the pro-Ouattara had prepared an offensive against Gbagbo
      
It only took four days for the Republican Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) Alassane Ouattara to overthrow the balance of power with his rival, Laurent Gbagbo. Party on March 28 in western countries, FRCI had earlier taken control of towns and Toulépleu Bloléquin to cut off the Liberian militia recruited by the Gbagbo camp. The strategy of the President’s Men Ivorian recognized by the international community has allowed them to seize almost all of the country the evening of March 31. Come and put the seat in front of the residence and the presidential palace in Abidjan …


To ensure the success of the company, FRCI – new name given to the pro-Ouattara umbrella soldiers from the former rebel New Forces (FN) and a pro-Gbagbo “returned” or rallied – took the time to leave nothing to chance. “The case has been thoroughly prepared. Fini improvisation in September 2002 when the first military operation against Laurent Gbagbo. At the time, the rebels did not even using radio to communicate. Just phone satellite. Thus, at the headquarters of the gendarmerie camp of Agban in Abidjan, they were unable to prevent their comrades they were short of ammunition and had to give up …, “writes Christopher Boisbouvier in the last issue of the weekly “Jeune Afrique”. Distribution Equipment
preparations for the operation began after the call last December 16 by the camp Ouattara to walk on the Ivorian Radio and Television (RTI) in the upmarket Cocody, Abidjan, to install the new CEO of the chain. Refugees at the Hotel du Golf, where they were protected by UNOCI peacekeepers after the refusal of Laurent Gbagbo to concede defeat in the presidential election of November 28, Alassane Ouattara and his family then wanted to drop this holder strategic voice of propaganda of the supporters of outgoing president.
trying to pave the way for demonstrators blocked by a dam Defense Forces and Security (FDS) loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the FN have been repulsed at once by machine gun and 20mm gun …


At the same time, they also tried to Tiebissou, a strategic town in the center of the country, between Bouake, rebel-held, and Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Ivory Coast, but there had also met strong resistance from SDS. “The forces in favor of Alassane Ouattara were then impressed with the firepower of the pro-Gbagbo. From there, they began to reorganize, initially with the hope that the ECOWAS [Economic Community of 'West Africa, Ed] would give them a helping hand “, decrypts an attentive observer of the Ivorian quagmire who prefers to remain anonymous.
reorganization, because they can ultimately rely on the support of the military organization of West Africa, begins with a distribution to the soldiers of equipment needed to mount the front. Many cases of arms and ammunition were actually discharged on the tarmac of the airport in Bouake in recent weeks. Others have also passed through the border in Burkina Faso, say informed sources that support their claims on return flights to Ouagadougou recurrent made by some leaders of FRCI. “Just look at the photos published these days in the press to see: the weapons of the pro-Ouattara are new!”, Is a journalist specializing in Africa based in Paris, contacted by FRANCE 24. RPG-7, RPG-9, Famas, ammunition …: material forwarded to the men of Alassane Ouattara also includes the night combat equipment, whose use has proved decisive in the capture of several towns in the west the country in late March.
undermining
his headquarters in Abidjan, the “Republic of Golf” derided by the Gbagbo camp does not neglect the training of its troops. A source close to the Ivorian military circles who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons, the best of FRCI have followed training camps in Burkina Faso and Nigeria in recent months under the guidance of American instructors and French. Information that the French Ministry of Defence, joined by FRANCE 24, refused to comment, but that seems to confirm a “member of the intelligence services” hex quoted by Le Canard Enchaine this April 6: “We have provided tactical advice to FRCI “says one.
It is true that since the kidnapping of five French nationals working for Areva in Niger, in September last year, Paris has deployed a detachment of Special Operations Command (SOC) in Ouagadougou to hunt fighters of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Sahel …
Always in the shadows at last, the camp began a Ouattara undermining forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo. Building on the contacts he has forged in the military during the three years he spent in the Prime alongside Laurent Gbagbo between 2007 and 2010, Guillaume Soro, the former head of FN and Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, has launched initiatives to try to return more officers of FDS. Apparently with some success: according to the same source Ivorian some “joined” have been associated with the development plan of attack by the western FRCI. While on the ground, the offensive remained in the hands of the “lords of the North”, the famous zone commanders who ran former FN – indeed – the regions conquered by the rebels since 2002.