Highlights

- SRSG Visits UNOCI Projects in West;
- Nigerbatt steps up patrols in northern area plagued by banditry;
- Unrest continues between indigenous and settler communities in the west

SRSG Visits Duekoué and Lokosso

The Special Representative of the Secretary General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mr. Y. J. Choi, visited two population centers in the western Moyen Cavally prefecture of Côte d'Ivoire this Sunday. The purpose of the visits was to see first-hand the development of UNOCI assistance projects in Duekoué and Lokosso. In Lokosso the SRSG visited a primary school that is being renovated by the Moroccan Battalion stationed in Duekoué. The total cost of this project is approximately 18,000 USD.

To date UNOCI has supported 12 projects in the Moyen Cavally region, of which seven were completed. The SRSG met with a group of applicants to learn more about proposed projects, and made a working visit to the Moroccan Battalion's headquarters in Duekoué.

UNPOL Medal Parade

United Nations Police from six countries received the UN Medal of Peace in Daloa at a ceremony held in UNOCI's Sector West HQ on Friday 10 October. The acting UNOCI Police Commissioner, Pierre-André Campiche, presided over the ceremony, which decorated 38 Police and Gendarmerie Officers. The recipients came from six countries: Benin, Burundi, Djibouti, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Commissioner Campiche praised the work of his colleagues who, he said, thanks to their professionalism, helped bring peace to Côte d'Ivoire. Local authorities, traditional chiefs, civilian as well as military staff, took part in the ceremony.

Arms Embargo Inspection

UNOCI military and police successfully carried out an arms embargo inspection at the Gendarmerie Brigade in the centre-west town of Divo. A security escort for this inspection was provided by MORBATT.

Security

Following reports from UNOCI Civil Affairs Officers, at the end of last week, concerning bandits operating around Lafokpokaha village, the Niger Battalion stepped up its patrols and visited the village on Saturday 11 October. According to several witnesses, over the last two weeks, individuals armed with machetes robbed local civilians moving on foot or by motorcycle between Ferké and Lassologo. It was reported that the attacks occurred both during the day and at night, approximately two kilometers from an FAFN checkpoint. The Niger Battalion will continue to add more patrols to this area.

Outreach

Today the Public Information Office in Daloa, the Sector West headquarters, organized a meeting between the local press from the region and the heads of UNOCI sections based there. The goal of the meeting was to better inform the local press about the projects and priorities that UNOCI has in this sector.

Human Rights

UNOCI Human Rights note that the week of 6 – 11 October was marked by ongoing inter-community conflict between indigenous Guérés and settlers in western Côte d'Ivoire, which led to ethnically motivated exactions such as arbitrary arrests and the destruction of property. In the Forces Nouvelles area, arbitrary arrest and detention as well as ill-treatment committed by FAFN elements on demobilized FAFN ex-combatants were reported. In both Government-controlled and Forces Nouvelles zones, sexual violence and ill-treatment perpetrated by FAFN elements, unidentified men or family members continue to jeopardize the full enjoyment of girls' rights.

Clashes between members of the Guéré community and immigrants erupted in the western villages of Séoun-Guiglo (25 km south of Bangolo) and Petit-Gozon. As a result, hundreds of Guéré fled to neighbouring villages.

The Human Rights Division offered training to some 221 people including UNOCI police, teachers and agents of the Commission Electorale Indépendante (CEI). These training sessions were delivered by human rights officers in Daloa, Duékoué and Bondoukou.

The Regional Human Rights Office in Duekoué, together with the Child Protection Division, organized a human rights training session for 64 members of the Moroccan Contingent deployed in Duekoué-Bangolo.