Abidjan

11 Stories

Tragedy Unfolds in Plane's Undercarriage

Child stowaway found dead in Paris

(Newser) - Air France says "the lifeless body of a stowaway," believed to be a child, was discovered in the landing gear of a plane that arrived in Paris from the Ivory Coast early Wednesday. The body—said to be that of a boy of African origin around the age...

Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo's Forces Regain Ground in Abidjan
 Gbagbo Forces Regain Ground 
Apr 9, 2011 12:59 PM CDT

Gbagbo Forces Regain Ground

Reports of his pending surrender greatly exaggerated

(Newser) - Laurent Gbagbo, supposedly all but defeated, is surging, with forces loyal to him retaking control of two districts in Abidjan. "They clearly used the lull of Tuesday (for peace talks) as a trick to reinforce their position," a UN official says. Further, Alassane Outtara's fighters may have exaggerated...

Defiant Gbagbo Holed Up in Tunnel

Ousted Ivory Coast leader refuses to leave bunker

(Newser) - Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo appears to be a man who just doesn't know when he's beaten. The leader, who refused to relinquish power after losing an election to opponent Alassane Ouattara, is holed up in a tunnel built to connect his Abidjan residence to that of the French ambassador,...

Gbagbo Still in Bunker as Forces Seize Home

Ouattara ambassador says the strongman is negotiating surrender

(Newser) - Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo is reportedly negotiating his surrender, as troops loyal to Alassane Ouattara have, with the help of helicopter attacks by the UN and the French, seized Gbagbo's presidential home in Abidjan. A senior diplomat said fighters were trying to coax Gbagbo out of the bunker he's...

Ivory Coast: UN Fires on Gbagbo Troops as France Joins in
 UN Fires at Gbagbo Forces 
Apr 4, 2011 3:45 PM CDT

UN Fires at Gbagbo Forces

France gives military OK to take out his heavy weapons

(Newser) - The United Nations and France continued their crackdown in Ivory Coast today, with a UN helicopter firing on Laurent Gbagbo's forces and Nicolas Sarkozy giving his troops the OK to take out the entrenched strongman's heavy weapons, reports the AP . The UN said it acted to stop Gbagbo troops from...

UN Evacuates Ivory Coast, French Move In

Ouattara loyalists ready last push against Gbagbo

(Newser) - As forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara prepared a final push to drive Laurent Gbagbo from power in Ivory Coast, the UN was evacuating some 200 staffers from its oft-targeted headquarters in Abidjan. And as the UN moved out, an additional 300 French forces moved in, reports the AP, claiming control...

Ivory Coast Fighters Begin Final Push

Pro-Ouattara forces close in on presidential palace

(Newser) - Fighters loyal to the Ivory Coast's elected president have descended on the country's main city in a final push to oust incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo. Forces backing internationally recognized leader Alassane Outtara have made rapid advances in recent days and now control around 80% of the country, AP reports. Heavy...

Rebels Seize Ivory Coast Capital

Forces backing internationally recognized leader make major gain

(Newser) - Fighters supporting Ivory Coast's internationally recognized leader seized control of the nation's administrative capital on Wednesday, marking a symbolic victory after months of political chaos sparked when the country's former president refused to step down after an election. The fall of Yamoussoukro caps a dramatic advance on the city from...

200K Flee Worsening Ivory Coast Violence

Thousands flee Abobo, as gunfire fills the district

(Newser) - Worsening clashes between the two men who claim the Ivory Coast's presidency have driven some 200,000 people from the country's economic capital over the past two weeks, reports Reuters . Machine gun battles between the two forces raged over the weekend in the Abobo district of Abidjan, home to much...

Ivory Coast Street Battles Leave Up to 18 Dead

New civil war feared as post-election violence continues

(Newser) - Gunfire and explosions shook Ivory Coast's main city today, as supporters and security forces loyal to the two men claiming to be president clashed, killing up to 18 people amid fears the violence could push the country toward another civil war. Rebels loyal to Alassane Outtara exchanged fire with government...

Oil Giant Tries to Settle Biggest- Ever UK Lawsuit

Trafigura offers deal to Africans sickened by toxic sludge

(Newser) - A British multinational has offered a multimillion-dollar payout to settle a case involving toxic pollution in the Ivory Coast, the Independent reports. A contractor working for oil trading firm Trafigura dumped hundreds of tons of toxic sludge around Abidjan in 2006, sickening tens of thousands. Some were permanently disfigured, and...

11 Stories