Ivory Coast: November 12, 2002

Archives

Bulgarian mercenaries have apparently joined contract soldiers from France and South African in Ivory Coast, to help the government deal with the rebels. Earlier on 11 November, between 50 and 60 foreign mercenary instructors and helicopter pilots were seen helping the Ivory Coast's regular army use recently acquired Russian-made weapons and vehicles (including heavy machine guns and armored personnel carriers). However, Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lyubomir Todorov quickly told the press that his government had no knowledge of any mercenaries. 

Local sources reportedly said that primarily Bulgarian crews were helping the army fly three Mi-24 Hinds and two Mi-17 transports. Civilians first reported pilots practicing aboard two MI-24 combat helicopters off the Grand Bassam seaside resort (25 miles from Abidjan) . These helicopters arrived in Cote d'Ivoire in late October. 

However, Ivorian sources became indignant at any suggestion that the mercenaries were anything other than trainers or that they might fight alongside Ivorian soldiers. 
Meanwhile, the rebels claim to have fixed two Alpha jets, but no one has seen them in the air. - Adam Geibel


 

Article Archive

Ivory Coast: Current 2012 2011 2010 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close