Highlights

-A second group of FAFN ex-combatants protest in Bouaké
-Civil servants deployed in FN zones threaten to leave
-Human Rights delegation wraps up week-long mission

Protest in Bouaké

A group of demobilized soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) who recently joined the civic service training programme, today staged a protest at the site of the training centre in Bouaké. The former soldiers set up barricades on the main road linking Bouaké to the neighboring city of Brobo. They also blocked access to the programme site and briefly stopped classes. The protesters claim they should also be paid 90,000 FCFA like the demobilized soldiers who have been recruited to join the new national army or other military branches. After discussions with the FN Commander Moro Ouattarra of Bouna Zone (north), the ex-combatants ended their protests. They were scheduled to meet the FAFN Chief of Staff, General Soumaila Bakayoko this afternoon.

Redeployment of administration

Following the disturbances in Bouaké, prefets and sous-prefets who recently took up their duties in zones under FAFN control have threatened to return to Abidjan. Several of them have told the Civil Affairs Section that they do not feel safe.

DDR

The Forces Nouvelles' Acting Zone Commander for the Séguéla and Vavoua (west), yesterday visited the regrouped ex-combatants at the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) site in Kani (west), during which he discussed the latest developments in the operations with them. UNOCI believes that the aim of the visit was to guage the attitude of the ex-combatants with regard to the three-day demonstrations in Bouaké and to ensure that the next phase of the regrouping process goes smoothly. All the regrouped ex-combatants in Kani have been paid.

Arms embargo

Arms embargo inspections were yesterday carried out successfully by UNOCI peacekeepers at the Defence and Security Forces of Cote d'Ivoire's (FDSCI) Gendarmerie Brigades at Niable (Abengouro) and Duékoué, at its Ecole de Gendarmerie in Daloa (west) and at its Regrouping camp in Daoukro (east). On the same day similar inspections were carried out at the FAFN's Sub-Sector HQ in M'bengué (north) and at its 41st Battalion at Mankono (north).

Human Rights

A delegation led by the Chief of the Human Rights Division, Mr. Simon Munzu, which went on a week-long mission to the Moyen Cavally, 18 Montagnes, Bafing and Denguélé regions to assess the human rights situation will be ending its visit tomorrow, 21 June 2008. During the visit, Mr. Munzu called on the political leaders to contribute to the implementation of free and fair elections. In a meeting with the civil society groups, the delegation confirmed its effort to support local NGOs to address the issue of gender-based violence as well as violence against children. In Bangolo west, (35km from Duékoué), the mission discussed the continuing armed attacks by unidentified highwaymen which have resulted in rape, summary executions, ethnically-motivated killings, physical assault and torture as well as extortion, with members of the mixed brigade. The different authorities asked the delegation to organize human rights sensitization campaigns to defuse tension and tackle major human rights abuses committed in the regions. In addition, the delegation raised concerns with the FAFN authorities on cases of arbitrary arrests and detention, gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation perpetrated with total impunity by some of its members.