Latest update: 12/04/2011 

- Alassane Ouattara - France - French military - Ivory Coast - Laurent Gbagbo


France denies its forces arrested Gbagbo

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While France admits its forces played a part in the operation to unseat Laurent Gbagbo, military spokesperson Cmdr. Frederic Daguillon (pictured) denies that French troops made the arrest.

By Helen PERCIVAL / Jonathan WALSH (video)
FRANCE 24 (text)
 

Standing shoulder to shoulder with the United Nations in Ivory Coast, French forces clearly played a key role in what was to be the final assault against Laurent Gbagbo.

However, French authorities denied Monday that they had played a direct role in Laurent Gbagbo's arrest. "This was an operation, in the end, that took place between Ivorians", French Defence Minister Gérard Longuet told the press. He did recognise however, that French forces in Ivory Coast had "supported" Alassane Ouattara's Republican Forces.

Nevertheless, Gbagbo's camp insisted that the French Army's role went even further, stating the French Forces of Ivory Coast - deployed under the name Licorne - arrested the former president.

Gbagbo's spokesman in Paris, Alain Toussaint, told FRANCE 24: "The French force Licorne did enter the residence of Laurent Gbagbo.

"The moment they got inside, the head of the military staff alerted me and when French Special Forces arrested the president of the republic, again, a member of the military staff called me and told me the French are here, the president will be arrested."

This has been denied by French authorities: "No French military forces got inside the residence of the Presidential palace," said Cmdr. Frederic Daguillon, the French forces spokesman in Abidjan.

According to Army spokesperson Thierry Burkhard, Licorne soldiers were deployed Monday along strategic routes in Abidjan, notably along the boulevard de France, "1.5 km from the Gbagbo's residency".

French Licorne soldiers number 980 men on the ground. While France has maintained a military force in Ivory Coast since the country's independence, Licorne operations began at the end of 2002, at the start of the politico-military crisis that finally came to a head this week.

Date created : 12/04/2011 
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point of view

by Amos Z. Gaye Sr. (not verified) - 30/05/2011 - 15:43

I am sorry that ivory coast is now lost, because those in power will not seek peace but will want to kill their own brotheres for their selfish interest and that is what france want. but becareful ivorian so that your country will not be like liberia. France did not like you for she is only looking for her interest abnd gbagbo did not agreed to steal or sell his country right. 0uattare please ddon't forget that it was gbagbo that allow you to vote as a citizen of that country. now you have turn against him be minddful too.

Gbagbo

by Anonyme (not verified) - 20/04/2011 - 06:46

please France don't explain and justify your sins we all know you and we are getting ready for you every day
You just need to be redy as well but time will come surelly

Cowardice

by Jean (not verified) - 13/04/2011 - 12:26

Everyone knows the role France played in capturing Laurent Gbagbo, so why should they deny it??

it looks so so obvious that

by Anonyme (not verified) - 12/04/2011 - 23:39

it looks so so obvious that France is in this mess for the cocoa... looking like a fight for chocolate!!! ex colonial "emperor is naked".Let Ivory Coast have its independence...give it up.

impeialism

by Anonyme (not verified) - 12/04/2011 - 22:54

as a north african i feel disgusted by this interference it's betterfor you to look after immigrants and restotre their dignity insted of playing the saviours and defenders of liberty the white man burden is over

sur gbagbo

by makiesse tombo donato (not verified) - 12/04/2011 - 21:41

moi etant africain je suis contre du traitement de gbagbo si le soldat français sont la non pour le rsortissnts français si c'etait pour ça aucun français serait encore en abidjant ,mais jusqu'a quand vous europeen vous aller nous laisser gerer nos affaire seul sans vous, donc nous sans vous nous ne pouvons pas, pour quoi si quelquin aimes sont pays doit toutjour mourir pour citer que deux ou sont Lumumba , kabila le pèr ,tout ça non pour les interet africain mai plutot les votres si vous aimez les a pourquoi n'est pas leurs donner l'integration dans vos pays plutot vous faites de banlieu pour leurs metre comment ils vons vivre comme vous toutjour la continnueté de l'afrique en europe c'est pour le crime ,vendalisme la democratie ne doit pas etre inculquer comme ça

well done france force n Ouattara forces..

by thato (not verified) - 12/04/2011 - 13:28

ppl r liberatd nw mak sure gbagbo answer for al e mischives h dd at ivory coast,sure him tht he s lik any1 n he s nobody.think ife inprisonmnt n capital punishmnt suits hm cos lot f lives were onli cos f 1 fool.nw gaddffi u r nxt my man ,anyway amerika ll do its job lik wht they dd to saddam yes ago w regrt u v bn told to step down nw u refusin force ll b uzd said obama.u doin a grt job G8 ITALY,USA,FRNCE ETC.W NEED U MOST.

End of French bases in Africa

by stan (not verified) - 12/04/2011 - 12:49

We will be seeking ONE MILLION signatures from citizens of all francophone countries in Africa to prepare a law suits that will end direct or indirect French intervention in any its former colony or in any African States, and removal of French forces and is bases from all African States.

The use of UN resolution to protect the so-called civilains have been abused, in this instance the UN is irrelevant.

BLACK or AFRICA is still under slavery

by Anonyme (not verified) - 12/04/2011 - 10:18

i guess french people are playing fool and african are just being mislead as in the time of colony simple as that if ot let anyone tell me the contrary after what france and UN under USA mandate as done!!!!!

Wake Up Africa

by Yamie (not verified) - 12/04/2011 - 09:03

African Leaders are Power hungry. I wonder why leader of the 21st century does not step down when it is time to. This is yet to happen even in Malawi Where most of the things are now messed up. We will need these forces in Malawi as well to address the current crisis facing Malawi. Once was a Warm-Heart of Africa But now, Things are different. Ivorians learn to be politically Mature, regardless of faith, color, and ethnicity.

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