COTE D'IVOIRE: TENSIONS CONTINUE WITHIN MARITIME

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000911

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC ELAB EFIN
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: TENSIONS CONTINUE WITHIN MARITIME
POLICE

REF: ABIDJAN 854


1. (U) On August 8, Maritime Police officers announced in a
press conference that on August 4 Minister of Transport Anaky
Kobenan (leader of the MFA, an opposition party) had issued
the payment of bonus arrears in the amount of USD 234,000
(CFAF 117 million) and suspended Director General for
Maritime Affairs Jean-Christophe Tibet Bi Balou. In so
doing, Anaky effectively met the demands of striking Maritime
Police officers that had resulted in a violent clash between
security and militia forces (reftel). During the press
conference, the police officers announced their support for
the Minister's actions and called for an audit of office
accounts and the appointment of a new Director General in
three months through an internal bidding process.


2. (U) Tibet Bi Balou resisted his suspension, reporting to
work with an armed escort on August 8 at the Office of
Maritime and Port Affairs. The new Acting Director General,
Dassie Kobenan (a cousin of Minister Anaky),showed up as
well, accompanied by his own security escort. Eventually,
the former Director General and his guards left the building
without incident. However, on August 10, roughly 20 Maritime
Police officers loyal to Tibet Bi Balou besieged the Office
of Maritime and Port Affairs and fired shots into the air in
an effort to prevent the Acting Director General from
entering, causing panic in the downtown district of Plateau
where the office is located. These officers were confronted
by another group of Maritime Police supporting Dassie
Kobenan. The standoff required the intervention of Armed
Forces (FANCI) Chief of Staff General Philippe Mangou.
Mangou arrived on the scene, calmed the parties down, and
invited the two factions for talks in his office.


3. (SBU) Lt. Yao Koffi, a Maritime Police officer who is a
supporter of Tibet Bi Balou, told us that his side had
resisted the suspension of the former Director General
because the action was illegal absent a Presidential decree.
He also compained that the new Acting Director General is aformer

CUSTOMS OFFICERUUUUer, i.e., from outside the Martime
Police.


4. (SBU) Comment: Until the ipasse is resolved, there
remains a potential forfurther clashes involving the
maritime police. Te situation may be exacerbated by those
trying t undermine opposition Minister Anaky through suppot
of Tibet Bi Balou and his faction.

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