Mutineers shot guns into the air as they held a major road into Cote d’Ivoire’s second city of Bouake on Monday.

More than 200 commercial trucks were stranded on the roadside after mutinous soldiers sealed off the southern entrance to Bouake.

The government spokesman Bruno Kone told Reuters it would maintain a firm line with the mutiny.

While there was no negotiations under way with the soldiers “discussions were continuing” and a military operation against them was ongoing.

The head of the army said on Sunday troops were being sent to Bouake to “re-establish order” but a Reuters team travelling from the capital Yamoussoukro towards the city, saw only a handful of loyalist military vehicles.

One of the mutineers said, “This is not a coup d’etat. He (Alassane Ouattara) is our father. We need him. All we’re asking for is for them to give us what is rightfully owed to us. That is all we want.”

Another said the mutineers were willing to work with President Quattara and urged him not to listen to his ministers.

Reuters