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The first day of negotiations is Monday, March 29, in Paris during the Bouaké bombing. On November 6, 2004, two Ivorian army aircraft landed on a French base in this city in Côte d’Ivoire, killing 10 and wounding 38. The aircraft was piloted by Belarusian mercenaries and aided by Ivorian co-pilots. This day was devoted to the call of witnesses, the reminder of the facts and the first hearings.
With our special envoys to the Palais de Justice in Paris, Pierre Firtion and Laura Martel
Gérard Moricard, former commander of Bouaké’s probation brigade, is trying to “collect his memories despite the passage of time” when the president proposes. In short, he outlines the context: the tension linked to the offensive of loyalist forces; water, electricity and telephone interrupted. He is in another French grip, 2 or 3 km from the Lycée Descartes, when it is bombed. But he has to wait more than 3 hours to get there. The crowd has gathered around, but above all he gets the order “to wait until the airspace is safe”.
The “total chaos”
On the spot, “it was total chaos, the soldiers were in shock”. The ex-commander admits it: he felt “very lonely[…] without any directive “, because for 4 days all communication was denied. “The only satellite phone was the colonel,” he points out, cryptically.
For the investigator, there is no doubt: “a goal error quickly seemed completely impossible, the pilots knew they were beating the French forces.” On the other hand, the ex-commander finds “curious” that “nothing has tried to stop the Belarusian pilots” as soon as they return to Yamoussoukro airport, where he leaves four days later.
“I heard resentment from soldiers who said there was a way to stop them. They had taken refuge in a building at the airport. It would have been easy, but the order should not have been given to do so. But to give them to whom? He reminds himself. Before I admitted “it was complicated, the situation was very tense”.
►Read also: Trial against the bombing of Bouaké in Côte d’Ivoire: expectations of civil parties
“Let the ministers adopt”
Nicolas Bouron, for his part, was present during the bombing. Tremolos in his voice, he tells the bar his day on November 6. The French camp preparing for the launch of 2 Sukhoi, the unexpected bombing, its body propelled by the impact of the rockets and its attempts to help one of its comrades. For him, too, the action was undoubtedly completely intentional.
What does he expect from this trial? The accused’s conviction. “But what would have interested me more, adds this former soldier who has retained the aftermath of the bombing, is that the ministers assume.” However, it is not yet certain that the political leaders of the time will testify.
This afternoon, the fact that we had the light from the legal part – the investigation from the Ministry of the Interior – provided facts that we did not know. Well, me anyway. I am waiting to see if other answers are given to my questions in the coming days.
Delon, mother of a soldier who disappeared in Bouaké, at the hearing: “It was extremely difficult”
Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the then prime minister, and Dominique de Villepin, the former interior minister, have not yet confirmed their arrival. Michèle Alliot-Marie, the former Minister of Defense, has stated that she does not want to testify. But the court intends to revive it. For the Advocate General, his presence at this trial is “absolutely necessary”.
Michèle #AlliotMarie #MAM she does not want to come and testify. A refusal condemned by the lawyers of the civil parties. “It seems to me very important that she can testify before the court,” the Advocate General wrote. CSQ: PDT announces that he will restart it. #Process #Bouake
– Pierre Firtion (@pedrofirtion) March 29, 2021
Only Michel Barnier, then Foreign Minister, confirmed his presence before the court. Another important political figure assured that she would be there: it is Michel de Bonnecorse, then head of the Africa Cell in the Élysée.
►Also listen: Focus – The Bouaké bombing in the Ivory Coast opens at Paris Assizes
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