Highlights

- UNOCI Chief meets Ivorian Prime Minister
- Special Rapporteur on toxic waste meets SRSG and PDSRSG
- Four generals meet to finalise security plan for election
- Two-day seminar on DDR opens in Yamoussoukro

Political

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, today met with Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to discuss UNOCI's efforts to help solve the logistical problems facing the electoral process, in order to expedite the launch of the identification operation.

Earlier Mr. Choi had a meeting with the Mr. Okechukwu Ibeanu, the Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights. Mr Ibeanu, who also met with the Principal Deputy Special Representative, Abou Moussa, said that his discussions, which took place at the headquarters of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire, fell within the framework of contacts with the top officials of the mission. They were aimed, he said, at explaining the nature of his one–week visit in Côte d'Ivoire and finding out about the activities and measures undertaken by the UN country team to manage the toxic waste situation.

Military

UNOCI's Force Commander General Fernand Marcel Amoussou today attended a meeting in Yamoussoukro on the security provisions for the forthcoming election with his Ivorian and Licorne counterparts, Generals Soumaila Bakayoko, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forcse of the Forces Nouvelles, Phillipe Mangou, Chief of Staff of the Defence and Security Forces of Cote d'Ivoire and Phillipe Houbron, Commander of Force Licorne. The aim of the meeting was to fine-tune the security plan for the election and sign a Memorandum of Understanding on security provisions for the election between the Ivorian and Impartial Forces.

On 2 August 2008, General Amoussou went to Ouagadougou to meet with President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, his Defence Minister and the head of the Army to discuss security provisions for the Ivorian presidential election and how to secure the border between Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso.

DDR

A three-day seminar on how best to socially reintegrate ex-combatants opened in Yamoussoukro (centre) today. The aim of the gathering is to identify any problems in the reintegration and process and make recommendations on how they can be tackled. The seminar will also discuss the 1000 micro-projects aimed at reintegrating ex-combatants and young people at risk, which was initiated by the head of UNOCI and financed through the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Participants will include representatives from UNOCI, UNDP and the Integrated Command Centre (ICC) among others. On a separate but related issue, the ICC has asked UNOCI military to provide security escorts for its personnel in the field during the DDR and disarmament dismantling of militias (DDM) operations.

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Duékoué on 30 July 2008 made a second visit to Sehoun-Guiglo, situated 35 km from Duékoué, to investigate a land dispute between the Gueré community and Burkinabé immigrants. The recent clashes were prompted by an accusation by the Guerés that Burkinabés were illegal occupying 80 hectares of land belonging to them. The Office found that tension was high in the village and has asked for a meeting with the sous-prefet in order to urge the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures to prevent a further deterioration in the situation.