Highlights

- UNOCI vehicles targeted by protesters in Bondoukou
- Civil society groups sign code of conduct for elections
- FAFN soldiers in Man awaiting DDR are put on standby

Security

UNOCI vehicles were this morning being targeted by protesting youths in Bondoukou, a day after they carried out violent demonstrations in the town during which they destroyed two trucks loaded with manganese. The youth, members of "Le Mouvement de Renaissance de Bondoukou (MOREB), threw stones at two of the Mission's vehicles, injuring the driver of one of them. MOREB members, who have been organizing street protests against what they described as abusive exploitation of the Bondoukou's natural resources by outsiders, yesterday blocked the main road in the town, preventing traffic from moving, before being dispersed by police throwing teargas. The police also arrested some of MOREB's leaders, including its secretary general. In retaliation, MOREB kidnapped a policeman, but later released him. The Prefet told UNOCI that he had no choice but to call in the army to restore order in the town. UNOCI is monitoring the situation.

Residents in Zaliouhoun, near Daloa (centre-west) yesterday told a UNOCI patrol that robbers regularly carry out attacks along the road between Gonaté, Bébouo and Sibouo. The bandits, masked and armed with Kalashnikovs, operate on Thursdays, which is market day in Gonaté. They block the road and snatch valuables from their victims. According to local residents, despite the fact that there is a gendarmerie checkpoint at the entrance of the village, the criminals are able to operate with impunity. The villagers claimed the gendarmes were more interested in racketeering vehicles on which they impose illegal tolls ranging from 1000 to 2000 FCFA.

Electoral

Civil society groups yesterday signed a code of conduct for the upcoming election period at the end of a one-day workshop organized by the Independent Electoral Commission to discuss their role in the polls.

The rehabilitation of coordination centres for the identification and registration of voters has been making good progress, according to UNOCI's Electoral Assistance Division. In Korhogo (north) the work has been completed and the centres handed over to the Ministry of Construction. So far, seven sites have been fully renovated while the work on 44 others is at an advanced stage. However, work on the centre in Minignan, near Odienné (north) has not progressed because the contractor claims he does not have the materials.

DDR

285 soldiers from the Armed Forces of Forces Nouvelles (FAFN), comprising 95 each from the 64th, 65th and 66th Battalions turned up for the start of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process in Man (west) on 11 August 08, but they were asked to remain on standby, as the local FAFN authorities were awaiting further instructions from Forces Nouvelles headquarters in Bouaké. In addition, the facilities for the DDR process are not ready.

Arms embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday successfully carried out arms embargo inspections at San Pedro port (south), at the FAFN's Operational Command Post in Bouaké and at the Defence and Security Forces of Cote d'Ivoire's (FDSCI) gendarmerie squadron stationed in Daoukro (east).

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Duekoué yesterday held a working session with the Police Commissioner of Guiglo to discuss the prevailing insecurity in the region. According to the commissioner, the possession of weapons and ammunitions by the former militias and so-called self-defence groups, remains a source of insecurity in the area. He said that Guiglo police recently arrested a member of an armed gang who claimed they had been provided with arms and ammunition by the Liberation Front for the Great West (FLGO) militia.

The promotion and protection of human rights in the Denguélé region was the main topic of discussion recently when the .Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné met with the presidents of three NGOs, Horizon Verte Santé, Sind'ya and Caritas. In this regard, it was agreed that capacity-building seminars on human rights and on the prevention of conflict during the forthcoming presidential election should be organized. The NGOs also agreed to help repair three water pumps at Tomba (45 km south of Odienné), Férémandougou (58 km south of Odienné) and Mahandiana (175 km northeast of Odienné).