Highlights

 

• 
  
  
• SRSG welcomes
  remarkable progress in identification operation

Most civil servants
who fled Forces Nouvelles zones have returned, says CNPRA

Forces Nouvelles
organizes briefing on 4^th Supplementary Agreement to the OPA

 

Electoral process

 

The Special Representative of
the UN Secretary-General for Cote d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, today congratulated
Ivorians and their leaders on the remarkable progress made so far in the peace
process. Speaking after a meeting with the Chairman of the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC), Robert Beugre Mambe, Mr. Choi said that despite some delays,
there had been strategic and historic advances in the identification and voter
registration operation in Côte d'Ivoire. The number of people identified or
registered to vote was now more than three million.  The SRSG also reiterated
that the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) will continue to provide
logistical, technical and financial support for the operation in order to ensure
that it takes place under the best possible conditions.

 

Redeployment of
administration

 

Almost all the civil servants who had fled Forces Nouvelles zones in northern
Côte d'Ivoire because of armed conflict have returned there, according to the
National Committee for the Redeployment of the Administration (CNPRA). Officials
said on Saturday, 10 January 2008, that 23,000 of the 24,000 public servants
concerned had been redeployed in the north.

 

Peace process

 

The Forces Nouvelles today held a briefing session on the contents of the 4^th
Supplementary Agreement signed in Ouagadougou in December 2008, within the
framework of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA). According to information
received by UNOCI, participants at the session included high-level military
officials of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) as well as zone and
sector commanders. It should be recalled that 15 January 2009 is the deadline
for the implementation of a number of important issues contained in the
agreement, including the redeployment of the Administration and the
establishment of a unified treasury.

 

Humanitarian

 

A
primary school in Bonguera village, in the sub-district of M'Bahiakro (centre)
which was completely destroyed in an air raid during the Ivorian crisis has been
rehabilitated by UNOCI through its Quick Impact Project programme at a cost of
11m FCFA francs ($22,000).  During a handover ceremony held this weekend, the
village chief praised the contribution Mission's contribution which he said "has
made it possible for more than 300 children to resume school this year". UNOCI
is currently looking for ways to possibly bring new partners into the project in
order to complete the supply of tables, chairs, desks and other school
equipment, which were not part of the original project agreement.

 

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights and UNPOL officers in
Korhogo are following up a case of excessive use of force by an FAFN soldier on
28 December 2008 in Ouangolodougou, 95 km north east of Korhogo (north), during
which a Burkinabe man, suspected of being in possession of drugs, was shot in
the right foot for resisting arrest. Two FAFN soldiers involved in the incident
were detained for 48 hours before being released.

On 7 January, the Regional Human Rights Office in
Odienné (north) conducted a 'training of trainers' session for 60 teachers from
the Denguélé, Bafing, and Worodougou regions (north). The training focused on
human rights with particular emphasis on the rights of the child. The
participants are to be in charge of conducting a sensitization campaign and a
series of special human rights sessions at primary schools throughout the
region.