Highlights

-Protesting ex-combatants in Bouaké receive allowances
-Electoral Assistance Division meets technical operator for identification process
-Human Rights Division investigates claims of extortion and assault by ex-FAFN

Protest in Bouake

A delegation from the Prime Minister's office today went to the 3rd battalion in Bouaké, to pay demobilized ex-combatants of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN), who have been demonstrating in the city since 16 June 2008, over the non payment of their monthly allowances. It is estimated that by the end of the day, about 980 soldiers would have received their allowances from a total budget of 200million FCFA. During the demonstrations yesterday, many of the ex-combatants were armed with guns and knives and erected barricades in the city centre preventing any movement of traffic. They also broke into the parking lot of the national telecommunication company Cote d'Ivoire Telecom and damaged parked cars. Some of them forcibly entered the premises of the company and stole employees' mobile phones and refill cards, four motorcycles and 140,000 FCFA (approx $331). In response to the repeated demonstrations, UNOCI's Crisis Management Group held a meeting in Bouaké yesterday to take stock of the situation and to ensure security of UN staff and equipment. The meeting decided to increase patrols by the Military and Formed Police Units and organize rehearsals of the Mission's contingency plan for the evacuation of UN personnel.

Electoral

The Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) has met with the technical operator SAGEM to assess the preparatory activities with regard to the identification and voter registration processes, which are scheduled to start in early July 2008. The challenges facing the start of the process were discussed and SAGEM presented its communication and awareness raising strategy which will consist mainly of bi-weekly press briefings to provide an update. With regard to the funding of the process, SAGEM confirmed that it had received $47 million from the Ivorian Government as advance payment.

Military

Representatives from UNOCI and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) today met at the frontier town of Logouato (west) to discuss mixed patrols to provide security before, during and after the elections. It is the first meeting since the setting up of a security planning team for elections was announced by UNOCI Force Commander General Fernand Amoussou, after a meeting of Force Commanders of peacekeeping missions in West Africa on 11 June 2008.
Redeployment of administration

The Civil Affairs Office has been told by the assistant Mayor of Séguéla that despite the official handing over of the running of the city to the municipal authorities by the FAFN on 19 May 2008, the collection of parking taxes is still done by the FAFN, while the municipality collects taxes in the markets. In a separate but related matter, almost all 55 permanent municipal employees in Séguéla have taken up their posts though they have only received eight months of their salary arrears out of a total of 64 months accumulated between September 2002 and December 2007.

Arms embargo

Arms embargo inspections were successfully carried out by UNOCI peacekeepers at the Defence and Security Forces of Cote d'Ivoire's (FDSCI) Marine Naval Base in Abidjan, at its Gendarmerie Brigades in Guiberoua (south west) and Sandegué (east) as well as at the at the FAFN unit in Pogo on the Ferfe – Diawala – Nielle road (north)

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Bouaké is investigating reports that some of the ex-combatants who have been demonstrating in the city since 16 June 2008, over the non-payment of their demobilization allowances carried out extortion and physical assault against civilians. It was reported that the sous-préfet of Languibonou, and his wife were physically assaulted, forcibly removed them from their car, their mobile phones were stolen and their car was damaged by the protesters. In another incident, six hooded protesters forcibly entered the shop of a businessman in Dar es Salam neighbourhood, and stole 400,000 FCFA (approx $945) and a mobile phone.