Highlights

- SRSG meets young people from Attecoube in Abidjan
- PDSRSG goes to Bouna to promote 1000 microprojects
- Ex-combatants demonstrate again in Bouake

SRSG's activities

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, today met with 109 young people from the Abidjan neighbourhood of Attecoube. The youths, aged between seven and 15, performed sketches, songs and poetry in praise of peace before an audience of UNOCI staff. Mr. Choi thanked them for their performances and urged them to become agents of peace in their schools and their families and communities. A spokesman for the children, Germaine Kponon Eklou, said that he and his friends had come to encourage and thank UNOCI for it contribution to peace in Côte d'Ivoire.

1000 micro projects

The Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Abou Moussa went to Bouna in the north east, to promote UNOCI's "1000 microprojects" initiative aimed at helping the reinsertion of ex-combatants, ex-militias and young people at risk into their respective communities.

Demonstrations

Demonstrating ex-combatants of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN), yesterday set up road blocks in different parts of Bouake over the death of two of their colleagues. They demanded an inquiry into the two deaths. Reports have claimed that the two ex-combatants died under mysterious circumstances and that their bodies were left at the local morgue by unidentified persons.

Security

A passenger minibus yesterday narrowly escaped attack when a group of armed men emerged from the bushes, firing aerial shots near Binao village on the Duekoue – Daloa road (west). The minibus escaped because the vehicle in front of it, on seeing the attackers about 200 metres a head, quickly turned back to warn other vehicles.

Arms embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday successfully carried out arms embargo inspections at the National Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire's (FANCI) gendarmerie brigade in Abengourou (east) and the Armed Forces School near Zambakro village (centre) as well as at the FAFN's Peloton mobile gendarmerie unit in Korhogo and at its 54th battalion unit in Mankono (north west).

Human Rights

On 27 August 2008, the Regional Human Rights Office in Daloa visited Bouaflé prison, which accommodates 410 inmates, including a woman with a 15-day old baby. Medical conditions in the centre are poor as it lacks basic medications, including antibiotics. Many prisoners suffer from infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as well as malaria. Five deaths have been reported in this prison since March 2008.

On 27 August, the Human Rights Division in Abidjan reported that a shop manager in Adjamé (Abidjan) sought UNOCI protection after he was threatened by gendarmes for assisting two friends to file complaints against nine (9) gendarmes. The two friends were beaten and severely wounded on 3 June 2008 by the gendarmes who also extorted money and other belongings from them in the Agban area of Abidjan. The gendarmes were arrested but released soon after. The Office is following up the case with the military prosecutor.

On 26 August 2008, the Chief of the UNOCI Human Rights Division inaugurated the Akwaba Centre dedicated to providing psychological, medical and social assistance to victims of violence and discrimination, especially women and girls. The Centre was funded both by UNOCI Human Rights Division through the implementation of a quick impact project and UNFPA. It is administered by the NGO Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF). UNOCI Public Information Division, representatives of UNFPA, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, the Mayor of Treichville as well as several national and international NGOs attended the ceremony.