Highlights

- Redeployed civil servants threaten to strike
- Woman killed in roadside attack in Boundiali
- FAFN soldier killed during attempted burglary

Redeployment of administration

Civil servants who were recently redeployed in the Man area, yesterday held a sit-in at the local government offices to protest against unpaid allowances, insecurity and "unacceptable" living conditions. They handed in a letter to the administrative authorities threatening to go on strike from 8 September 2008, if their demands are not met. In the letter, they ask that their resettlement allowances be paid immediately, an improvement in security along the Man-Duékoué road (west) and especially near Bangolo and the reopening of banking facilities. The National Committee for the Redeployment of the Administration (CNPRA) said that it was doing everything to resolve the problems faced by the redeployed civil servants.

Security

A woman was killed during a roadside robbery on 3 September 2008 on the road to Boundiali, near M'bengué Bougou, 20 km from Korhogo (north). Meanwhile, on 4 September 2008, a delegation from UNOCI staff based in Korhogo met with a group of dozos (traditional hunters) to discuss the security situation in general, and the frequent escape of inmates from the local prison. There have been six escapes in 14 months. Both parties agreed to work together to try to improve the security situation.

Following reports of an attempted roadside robbery along the Duekoue – Bangolo road (west), MORBATT yesterday provided security escort to two vehicles and a fuel truck traveling along the same route.

A soldier from the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) was killed on the night of 1 and the morning of 2 September 2008, when he and another soldier forcibly entered the home of a local businessman in Gompleu, situated 55 km west of Man (west). According to reports from local people, one of the soldiers was killed as he struggled with the businessman who was trying to take possession of his AK 47 rifle. The incident provoked tension between the villagers and FAFN soldiers stationed in the village. The villagers demanded that the soldiers be punished. The Forces Nouvelles authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Arms Embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday successfully carried out arms embargo inspections at the National Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire's (FANCI) cantonment site in Abengourou (east), at the National Gendarmerie Brigade in Yamoussoukro (centre) and at the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) camp in Lalebera, 80 km from Ferkessedougou (north).

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné conducted a fact-finding mission to Tienko, situated 92 km north of Odienné (north), during which it organized a sensitization session on human rights and elections for 32 participants including members of the Human Rights Promotion and Protection Cell, members of the local administration, religious leaders and traditional leaders, among other. Participants reported that FAFN soldiers had been carrying out a lot of human rights abuses including demanding taxes for crossing their checkpoints. They also informed the Office that these same soldiers were exacerbating the conflict between the farmers and the cattle breeders by refusing to hand farmers' crops.