In towns on both sides of the ceasefire line that divides between the northern part of the country controlled by the rebel forces and the southern part controlled by the government, ceremonies were held to celebrate the disarmament process.
A partnership between President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro has been forged in March. Both Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. Soro were former enemies in the past. Mr. Soro is the ex-rebel leader before being appointed Ivory Coast’s prime minister in a power-sharing government.
Both men started the day south of the ceasefire line in the town of Tiebissou.
“Starting today, you will quit the front lines. There is no more front line in Ivory Coast,” said President Laurent Gbagbo to the troops.
A similar ceremony had taken place in Djebonoua located in the northern part of the ceasefire line.
According to BBC, this is one of the biggest steps towards the planned reunification of the country. It would be a country with one government but two countries controlling both halves.
However, the disarmament brings a difficult issue. After the disarmament, there will be thousands of soldiers that will need to find new work. Others would be integrated into a new joint national army.
Over the next three months, 5,000 government troops and 33,000 rebel fighters will be assembled at disarmament sites according to a government estimate.
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