New Ivorian government will struggle to stem unrest

Significance

The strike included teachers and hospital workers and was just the latest public unrest faced by the Ivory Coast government since the turn of the year. President Alassane Ouattara’s administration has also confronted two army mutinies and subsequent nationwide protests by citizens, including schoolchildren.

Impacts

• The government will attempt to negotiate a new public-sector wage deal later this month, but grievances will persist.
• Investor confidence is unlikely to be significantly hampered in the short term, unless cocoa exporters face further shipping delays.
• The ability of the opposition Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) to capitalise is limited following poor legislative results in 2016.