ABIDJAN – Heavy gunfire erupted in a district of Abidjan Wednesday as Ivory Coast’s new government forces tried to dislodge militia loyal to deposed president Laurent Gbagbo, residents said. Die-hard pro-Gbagbo militia are still operating in sectors of Abidjan’s north-western Yopougon district, where residents said insecurity is high and were forced to flee to safer neighbourhoods.
“Since 4:00 am we have been hearing heavy firing and loud explosions. We were forced to flee the neighbourhood very early,” a Yopougon resident told AFP.
“An FRCI soldier told us that they had come to dislodge pro-Gbagbo’s Liberian militia who are still hiding in Yopougon,” said another resident, using the acronym for new President Alassane Ouattara’s forces. The sound of heavy fire reverberated over the vast metropolis, where the new administration is trying to re-establish security following heavy fighting earlier this month to oust Gbagbo.
“I am waiting for a boat with my four children to sail across” the lagoon, said an elderly woman frm Yopougon. Another resident said: “The walls were shaking, we all fled.” The former strongman was arrested on April 11 with the help United Nations and French forces who bombarded his Abidjan residence. Ouattara’s government begun exerting its authority in the strife-torn west African state and on Tuesday PM Guillaume Soro held the first ministerial meeting at the official govt office where security topped the agenda.
