Highlights

-SRSG attends peacekeeping conference in South Korea
-FAFN Ex-combatants demonstrate in Séguéla
-UNPOL investigates killings in Sector East

Political

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y J Choi, is participating in a two-day conference on peacekeeping missions which opened in the South Korean capital Seoul today. The conference is also being attended by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Missions in New York.

DDR

Ex-combatants of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) who were demobilized in May 2008, today demonstrated in Séguéla over the non payment of the monthly allowances of 90,000 FCFA each. The vehicle of the Chef de Cabinet of the acting Zone Commander Issiaka Ouattara was held up by the protesters, before being allowed to go. According to information reaching UNOCI in Séguéla, the ex-combatants were threatening to go to Bouaké and Man to join their counterparts there to protest. Commander Ouattara met with them and promised they would soon be paid their allowances.
Meanwhile, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of the FAFN ex-combatants in Kani, in the Séguéla rea and Bouaké restarted on 21 June 2008. Some 450 ex-combatants were expected to be demobilized in the third phase of the process in Kani, of which 100 will join the new national army. However, only 120 turned up on the first day while the rest reported to the site yesterday. All the ex-combatants received their allowances. In Bouaké, the fourth and fifth phases of the DDR process also took place with approximately 1900 ex-combatants being demobilized. UNOCI's PAKBATT provided technical assistance during the process in Bouake while BANBATT did the same in Kani.

Security

Two cases of criminal attacks which led to the death of two men were reported in the Bouaké area over the weekend. The attacks took place in Yaokouassikro, in the Tiebissou area, where a man riding a motorbike was attacked and killed. The other one took place in a village along the Korhogo-M'Bengue road where a second man was killed. UNPOL is conducting an inquiry into the killings. Daily mixed patrols are now being carried out in the Bouaké area by the FAFN and UNOCI in an effort to improve the security situation.