Highlights

- Former Korhogo Zone Commander arrested after Séguéla attack
- Mixed brigade protest blocks main road in Duékoué

FAFN unrest

Following the attack by dissident soldiers from the Armed Forces of Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) in Séguéla, the Zone Commander of Korhogo, Major Martin Fofié has had Major Yousouf Djarassouba, the previous Zone Commander of Korhogo arrested. Major Fofié has reportedly alleged that he suspects Major Djarassouba of being behind the attack. Two other FAFN soldiers have also been arrested along with the former Zone Commander. They are being held in the Gendarmerie prison in Korhogo. The situation remains calm. Meanwhile action against dissident FAFN soldiers in Séguéla continues. Several suspects have been arrested and detained. The acting Zone Commander Issiaka Ouattara (alias Wattao) has vowed to take strong measures against the dissidents in order to protect the local population.

Security

Members of the Mixed Brigade in Bangolo (west) today erected road blocks and barricades along the Duékoué - Man road preventing all vehicles including those of UNOCI, from passing. Also this morning, their counterparts in N'Gattadolikro, 40 km south of Bouake, were on strike. Both groups were protesting against the non payment of their allowances. According to a spokesman for the Mixed Brigades, the gendarmes are claiming 11 months salary and 15 months food allowances. It should be recalled that their counterparts in Zeale, near Danané (west) took similar action on 24 November 2008.

Electoral process

And additional 37 identification centres opened in Bouaké yesterday, bringing the total number to 95. It is hoped that all 174 scheduled to open in the city will be operational by the end of this week. More than 16,000 people have registered since the operation was launched in Bouaké on 18 November 2008.

Arms embargo

Arms embargo inspections were carried out successfully at the Defence and Security Forces of Côte d'Ivoire's (FDS-CI) gendarmerie brigades at Guitry, Gagnoa (centre west), and Guiglo (west) and its regrouping site in San Pedro (south).

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Korhogo is following up the case of a 16-year-old girl who was allegedly repeatedly sexually abused by her father. The father was arrested and detained for 24 hours before being released on 21 November 2008 by the gendarmerie brigade. During the criminal investigation, the victim will stay with her grandmother. In a separate but related case, the Office advised a 13-year-old girl who claimed she had been raped by a man known to her to report the incident to the police.

The Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné, on 22 November 2008, participated in a workshop on child protection organized by the local NGO, Horizon Verte Santé, in collaboration with Save the Children UK. The workshop focused on violence against children with particular emphasis on child abuse and exploitation. The Office took the opportunity to sensitize the 150 participants on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights and the Welfare of Children.