Highlights

- FAFN Chief of Staff meets with disgruntled ex-combatants
- DDR process to start in Man in August
- Municipal workers threaten to derail reconstitution of registers process

FAFN in Séguéla and Vavoua

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN), General Soumaïla Bakayoko, yesterday held a meeting in Séguéla with one of the leaders of the ex-combatants who demonstrated last weekend, along with representatives of the protesters in Vavoua. According to BANBATT, UNOCI representatives were not allowed into the meeting, but officers from Force Licorne attended. With regard to the security situation, BANBATT reported that following the release of the hostages who were being held in Vavoua, tension has decreased considerably in the area. However a representative of Force Licorne involved in the negotiations has warned that if the Impartial Forces withdraw from Camp Genie in Séguéla, the situation could deteriorate once again. Meanwhile, the Impartial Forces continue to patrol Vavoua area, along the Séguéla-Daloa road to show their presence, observe and monitor the security situation. The general security situation was regarded as calm but fragile. There were still armed FAFN soldiers roaming the streets of Vavoua.

DDR

A patrol from BANBATT's Daloa Camp yesterday provided security escort for a 17- member delegation from the Integrated Command Centre (ICC) to Séguéla. The purpose of the visit was to work out future modalities of the ongoing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process for ex-combatants of the FAFN. In a seprate but related issue, the FAFN commander of the 64th battalion yesterday told UNOCI that the DDR / cantonment process will start in Man (west) on 1 August 2008. The operation will involve the cantonment of 95 ex-combatants, ten of whom will be integrated into the new national army while the remainder will return to civilian life.

Electoral process

An association of municipal workers, known as the "Mouvement pour la défense des droits des agents municipaux de Côte d'Ivoire" announced today that they would not allow their members to take part in activities related to the reconstitution of civil registers in areas under Forces Nouvelles control in the centre, north and west of the country. The association wants the Ministry of the Interior to pay its members 67 months of salary arrears covering the six-year crisis period faced by the country. However, the association has indicated that before taking any action, it would seek further discussions with the relevant authorities. The reconstitution of the civil registers is an important part of the identification process, which is due to be launched some time this month.

IDPs

Two convoys of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the sous-prefecture of Blolequin left Guiglo yesterday to return to their original homes in Koadeguezon and Tinhoun villages in western Côte d'Ivoire. Some 81 families comprising 330 people were able to make the return trip with the help of the International Migration Organisation (IMO) and UN humanitarian agencies.

Human Rights

On 1 July, UNOCI's Human Rights Office in Odienné undertook a human rights assessment mission to Séguélon, situated at about 64 km south-east of Odienné (north). The Office noted that some FAFN soldiers have been carrying out vengeful acts against the relatives of Zacharia Koné. During the mission, the Office held a working session with several local authorities, including the Sous-Préfet, who deplored the ongoing human rights violations in the Sous-Préfecture and expressed his willingness to collaborate with the Human Rights Office in the promotion and protection of human rights.
The Regional Human Rights Office in Bouaké yesterday paid a monitoring visit to the civilian prison in the city. The Office noted that the detention conditions of the 58 inmates, including three women had deteriorated since the last visit a month ago. Many detainees were ill with respiratory diseases and severe malaria due to lack of medical care and the unhygienic conditions. It was reported that detainees had attempted to escape on 26 and 30 June 2008.
As part of the Human Rights Division's support to the promotion of human rights in general, the Human Rights Office in Daloa on 30 June 2008, donated a television set, a laptop, a video projector with a stand, and a camera to local civil society groups. The hand-over ceremony was attended by local dignitaries, including the Secretary-General of the Prefecture, the Regional Director of Education, traditional chiefs and about 65 representatives of human rights NGOs and school clubs. Meanwhile, on 28 June 2008, the Human Rights Office in Daloa organised a sensitization session on child rights for teachers and parents from the Bada Foundation, a local child rights NGO. The session focused on the protection of children against abuses such as economic and sexual exploitation, ill treatment and trafficking, but also touched on women's rights.