Daily Brief on Côte d’Ivoire for Friday, 11 July 2008

11 juil 2008

Daily Brief on Côte d’Ivoire for Friday, 11 July 2008

Highlights

- SRSG Choi discusses micro-projects for FAFN ex-combatants in Bouaké;
- Masked bandits kill gendarmes in eastern Cote d'Ivoire;
- FAFN ex-combatants participate in DDR operation in Kani

Political


The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Cote d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, traveled today to Bouaké to discuss the modalities of implementation of a first batch of 10 micro-projects for the reintegration of ex-combatants of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN). The ten are part of a package of 1000 micro-projects put forward by UNOCI and financed through the UN Peacebuilding Fund. The SRSG explained that the projects are aimed at helping to accelerate the reintegration of ex-combatants.

Security

Masked bandits yesterday ambushed the commander and two other members of the mixed brigade stationed in the east-central town of Famienkro as they were returning from a meeting with the FAFN in Bonguera. According to UNPOL, the commander was killed on the spot, while one of his companions was seriously injured, and died shortly afterwards. The third person escaped unhurt. The attack, which took place about two km from the brigade's base in Famienkro, is being investigated by BANBATT and Military Observers.

Electoral

As a follow up to the technical assessment mission carried out on 8 July 2008 at the proposed offices for SAGEM, the technical operator for identification, UNOCI's Engineering Section yesterday held a working session with the technical operator. Both parties agreed that upgrading and rehabilitating the premises' air conditioning, electrical and communication systems were the main challenges. SAGEM also gave the Engineering Section the installation plan for each of its sites.
In a separate development, the Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) yesterday participated in a meeting on the contribution of local radios to the awareness-raising campaign for the upcoming identification and voter registration process.

DDR/DDM

A total of 348 ex-combatants of the FAFN yesterday participated in the 5th phase of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process in Kani, near Séguéla (centre west). A total of 118 ex-combatants are to join the new army while 230, including 12 women, have been demobilized. The ex-combatants will receive their allowances of 90,000 FCFA today.

Arms embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday successfully carried out arms embargo inspections at the FAFN's unit in Semien, near the western town of Man and at its sub-sector in the northern town of Tengrela as well as at the Defence and Security Forces of Côte d'Ivoire's (FDS-CI) former Sous-groupement 3 in Abengourou (east) and at its gendarmerie brigade in Toumodi (centre)

Humanitarian

UNOCI's Pakistani Transport Company yesterday donated medicines and food supplies to the Regional Hospital in Yamoussoukro. The donation comprised antibiotics as well as medicines to treat malaria and respiratory illnesses. The food supplies were for children in the hospital's pediatric wards.

NIGERBATT peacekeepers yesterday donated food to the Centre d'Eveil in the northern town of Korhogo, which provides literacy classes for children who do not go to school. The Director of the centre said that he was very happy to receive this donation and guaranteed that it would be used exclusively for the benefit of 50 children aged 8-14 currently enrolled in a literacy programme and 16 youths aged 15-18, who are in an apprenticeship programme.

Human Rights

Following a meeting on 9 July 2008 between a delegation from the Human Rights Division headed by its Chief, Simon Munzu, and Mrs Victorine Wodié, Chair of the National Human Rights Commission of Cote d'Ivoire, it was decided that the Division would organize a two-day human rights training session for 43 commissioners. Mr Munzu also told Mrs Wodié that any technical assistance aimed at enhancing the Commission's human rights capacity would be provided with the collaboration of the National Human Rights Institutions Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.