June 29, 2007 assassination attempt on Guillaume Soro
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- This article was initially translated from the Wikipedia article Attentat_contre_Guillaume_Soro_du_29_juin_2007, specifically from this version.
The June 29, 2007 assassination attempt on Guillaume Soro took place at the Bouaké Airport in Côte d'Ivoire. The Fokker 100 carrying Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, members of his delegation, and 20 journalists was taxiing on the runway after landing when it was targeted by rocket and Kalashnikov fire. One rocket struck and exploded in the cabin, one missed, and a third bounced off the fuselage and did not detonate.[1] Four people were killed and ten others wounded; Soro was not injured.[2]
The attack took place in a tense political climate, following the end of the Ivorian Civil War in 2004 and the Ouagadougou Accord of March 2007 which granted the New Forces, a former rebel group, the right to participate in the government. Guillaume Soro is the leader of the New Forces.
The identity of the attackers remains unknown.
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[edit] Accusations and suspects
Several rumors concerning the masterminds of the attack have circulated in the Ivorian press. Among those suspected:
- Chérif Ousman: commander of the New Forces linked to Guillaume Soro [3] but opposed to the Ouagadougou Accord. He reproached Soro for not having consulted with him before signing the accord.[4]
- Ibrahim Coulibaly, former rebel leader and New Forces member who is an enemy of Soro.[5]
- The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI): accused by the New Forces of having failed to secure the location, which was their responsibility.[6]
[edit] Reactions
Guillaume Soro sought an international investigation, adding, "Many have commented [on the attacks], but I will stay out of the fray. The only thing I ask is that I want to see the truth exposed, to know what happened, who did it, and why it was done."[7]
The attack was unanimously condemned, notably by:
- Laurent Gbagbo and his Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) political party, who on Monday July 2, 2007 strongly condemned the attack against the Prime Minister Guillaume Soro as "with their last energy, a final attempt orchestrated and carefully planned by the enemies of peace and the bloodthirsty."[8]
- The French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner condemned "the cowardly attempt" on Guillaume Soro.[9]
- The UN also condemned the attack as stated by its Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the Security Council declared that "the perpetrators of this criminal act must be brought to justice."[10]
- Philippe Mangou, Chief of Staff of the Ivorian army, supported the Prime Minister.[11]
- Charles Blé Goudé also condemned the attack.[12]
- The Assistant Chief of Staff of the New Forces, Issiaka Ouattara, stated that he knew who was responsible but would give names later.[13]
[edit] Effect on cocoa prices
Since Côte d'Ivoire is the most important cocoa producer in the world, the price of this raw material reached its highest level in four years on the London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange. This was because of "the possible worsening of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire, after the rocket attack to which Guillaume Soro was subjected," according to a stock market analyst[14].
[edit] National mourning
On July 13, 2007, the Ivorian government organized a national memorial service for the victims of the attack, namely:[15]
- Sékou Doumbia, member of the Protocole d’Etat serving the premiership
- Souleymane Sérifou, member of the Protocole d’Etat serving the premiership
- Ex-Lieutenant Drissa Ouattara, Prime Minister's security chief
- Ex-Corporal Siaka Diomandé, Prime Minister's bodyguard
[edit] References
- ^ Rocket hits Ivory Coast PM's plane, kills four
- ^ Rockets fired at Ivorian PM plane, BBC News, 29 June 2007
- ^ (French) Attention ! Le processus de paix en danger - Shérif et Zakaria veulent tout gâter
- ^ (French) journal de la radio Africa n°1 (29 June 2007)
- ^ Ivory Coast arrests French journalist accused of 'subversive activities'
- ^ (French) Côte d'Ivoire: Attentat manqué de Bouaké, Wattao accuse l'ONUCI
- ^ (French) Le Premier ministre réclame une enquête internationale sur l'attaque de son avion
- ^ (French) Côte d'Ivoire: Le FPI condamne l’attentat
- ^ (French) Attentat Soro: Kouchner condamne
- ^ (French) L'ONU condamne l'attaque contre Guillaume Soro en Côte d'Ivoire
- ^ (French) Mangou soutient Soro: "Dorénavant si quelqu’un s’en prend aux FN il aura affaire aux Fanci"
- ^ (French) Blé Goudé, depuis Bouaké - “Que celui qui n`est pas content aille faire sa guerre ailleurs”
- ^ (French) Côte d'Ivoire: Issiaka Ouattara dit Wattao, c'est Gbagbo qui nous a sortis du trou, soutenons-le
- ^ (French) Après l'attentat contre Soro : Les prix du cacao flambent
- ^ (French) Obsèques nationales pour les victimes (2007-07-10). Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
