Highlights

-UNOCI welcomes announcement of election date;
-Insecurity in the west;
-Youths in western area block displaced migrants' access to their farms;

Elections

The UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) has welcomed the announcement by the Ivorian Government of the date of the presidential election - 30 November 2008 -, terming it one of the greatest achievements in the Ivorian peace process. In a communiqué issued on Monday, UNOCI encouraged all Ivorian parties to consolidate the current momentum by demonstrating the same will to move ahead and the same commitment to public interest. It also reiterated its commitment to pursue and strengthen its support for the Ivorian people until peace is achieved. This support was reiterated on Tuesday at a press conference during which UNOCI spokesman Hamadoun Touré and the Head of the mission's Electoral Assistance Division, Ahmedou El Becaye Seck, highlighted the importance of the announcement.

Security

On 11 April, a Bangolo mixed police unit conducted a security operation in Beoue-Zagna, 6 km from the western town of Bangolo, to apprehend a group of alleged bandits suspected of attacking public buses. During the operation, two persons from the indigenous Guéré community were killed, Mr. Zeaglo Kame Ranch Bertin (27) and Mr. Dazamin Serge Alain (20). A third person, aged 15, who suffered severe bullet wounds was transferred to the Bangolo Médecin Sans Frontières hospital for medical care. UNOCI's regional human rights office is following up the case.

Social cohesion

The sub-prefect of the western district of Blolequin had a meeting with district youths in the presence of the prefect and humanitarian agencies with a view to convincing the young people to allow displaced persons to return to their farms. The youths objected, saying that of the two protected forests in the area, one, the Sio Forest, was already occupied by migrants and that the indigenous people wanted to farm the other one, the Goin-Debe Forest, for themselves, even though it has farms planted by migrants. The Prefect said the discussions would continue.

The situation in the village of Akimou-Yaokro (see Sitrep of 14 April) has been deteriorating. After a criminal fire, 200 residents were reported to have left the village for fear of revenge acts. Three of the village's six teachers have also fled.

The dead bodies of two presumed robbers were discovered yesterday evening about 7km from the northern town of Korhogo. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are under investigation.

DDR

As part of his current mission to the field, the new head of UNOCI's Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Division, Mr. Ould Sidi, visited two DDR sites in Bouake. A meeting with General Bakayoko, scheduled this morning, has been postponed to next Thursday. Mr. Ould Sidi was scheduled to travel to Korhogo later today.

Human Rights

On 12 April, the Regional Human Rights Office in the centre-west town of Daloa supported a human rights training session conducted by three members of the human rights clubs of the local grammar school, Lycée Moderne II, for 40 fellow members of the club. The aim of the training was to sensitize students on international human rights norms with a view to integrating the latter into the school curriculum and fostering a culture of peace. The three students who conducted the training had themselves been trained by UNOCI Human Rights Officers in Daloa on 19 May 2007.