The few minutes needed in Ivory Coast

(BRUSSELS2 to Paris) In Côte d'Ivoire, as in Libya, the start of the operation also took place within a few minutes, as Defense Minister Gérard Longuet explained at the colloquium "looks at a year of "operational engagements" which is being held today in Paris. The French only intervened in support of a UNOCI mission (the UN force). It was therefore necessary that the operational reality follow the political and legal reality.

However, the Ukrainian helicopters did not have a night flight instrument and could only fly during the day. The meeting started at 17 p.m. local time... We had to act quickly, so that the letter arrived early enough for the Ukrainian UN helicopters to open hostilities. Then the French could follow... 

Gbagbo's tactical error

« Gbagbo's tactical error was to concentrate all his heavy weapons on a single site “explains the minister who details the conditions of the final intervention. " We invented the check valve. As Ouattara's troops seemed a little hesitant to engage, " a marine infantry regiment was placed on the bd de France. And we closed” (Nb: no possibility to go back). But the French stopped just before the capture of Gbagbo “We let them go. We stopped at the door, confirms the minister. And we let the Ivorians solve the problems between them. »