Highlights

- SRSG meets traditional chiefs to discuss peace process
- TAM ends week-long visit to assess UNOCI
- Profiling of militias in south and central Cote d'Ivoire postponed

Political

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Cote d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi today met with a group of Ivorian traditional leaders at the Mission's headquarters in Abidjan. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the spokesman for the group, Nanan Dodo Ndepo Diddas, said that they had come to thank Mr. Choi and the UN Mission for the work they were doing to promote peace in the country.

A UN technical assessment mission (TAM) left Abidjan yesterday after spending a week meeting UNOCI staff, UN agencies, the Ivorian Government, political parties, civil society groups and other stakeholders in the Ivorian crisis-resolution process ahead of the renewal of the Mission's mandate which ends on 31 January 2009. Prior to its departure, the TAM met with members of the diplomatic community accredited to Côte d'Ivoire to discuss its preliminary findings. The head of the TAM, Assistant Secretary-General Edmond Mulet, explained that he would take into account the ambassadors' views and suggestions in finalizing the TAM's recommendations on the reconfiguration of UNOCI.

DDR/DDM

The profiling of militias in the south and centre part of the country, which was due start on 10 December 2008, has been postponed. Around 27,000 militia members are expected to be profiled by the National programme for reintegration and community rehabilitation, the PNRRC, and the Integrated Command Centre (ICC) once the operation starts.

Security

The situation was reported calm this morning in Abidjan and Bouaké following problems during the weekend in prisons in both cities, which reportedly resulted in the escape of 28 detainees from Bouaké prison. In Bouaké, it was alleged that prison guards were overpowered when they opened the cells to serve meals and some 28 prisoners managed to escape. Aerial shots were fired to dissuade others from trying to escape. The Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) were alerted and managed to recapture ten of the escapees. In Abidjan, five people were reportedly injured when security forces foiled an attempt by prisoners to stage a mass jailbreak on 13 December 2008. The prisoners were reportedly protesting over changes in visiting hours.

In response to an attack on a house occupied by FAFN ex-combatants in Bonoufla and constant rumours of future attacks, the Integrated Command Centre (ICC) in Yamoussoukro has decided to send a Mixed Military Detachment (MMD) to support the Mixed Brigade based in the town, situated some 25 km from Daloa (centre west). UNOCI patrols also continue to monitor the situation.

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Daloa has reported that the ex-combatants who were reportedly targeted during an armed attack by unidentified men in Bonoufla, on 10 December 2008, which resulted in the deaths of two children, had fled from Bahoulifla a week earlier to take refuge in the area following a wave of arrests by FAFN authorities in Vavoua and Séguéla. The arrests had followed violent clashes between FAFN soldiers and alleged sympathisers of Zacharia Koné, the former FAFN Zone Commander. One of the demobilized soldiers suffered severe bullet wounds to his stomach during the attack in Bonoufla. It should be recalled that FN authorities threatened a few weeks ago to attack Bonoufla where they believed alleged insurgents were hiding.

Seven people, including three civilians and four FN soldiers, were arrested and detained in Bouna prison for their alleged involvement in armed robberies and the sale of stolen motorcycles. They were reportedly severely beaten by FAFN soldiers, shot in the foot and ordered to run bare feet in and around Bouna. One of the civilians allegedly collapsed and died and the others were taken back to the local prison. Questioned on the matter by human rights officers, an FN Commander claimed that he was fighting impunity among FN soldiers.