Highlights

- SRSG discusses electoral process with RDR president
- Villagers in Gbapleu demonstrate against extortion by gendarmes
- BANBATT reports mounting tension in Prikro

Political

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, today met with the President of the Rally of Republicans (RDR) political party, Alassane Dramane Ouattara to discuss the peace process. At the end of the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, Mr. Choi said that the discussions had centred around logistical provisions for the electoral process, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) operation and certification of the elections. With regard to the elections, Mr. Choi said that there had been delays and that he and Mr. Ouattara had touched on the ways and means to catch up in order to maintain the timetable. On the issue of certification of the elections, the Special Representative said that for the UNOCI, this was not about criticizing the process, but about providing aid and support to Ivorians to ensure that it is acceptable to everyone.

International Day of Peace

More than 200 people in Gbapleu, a village situated 45 km from Duekoué (west), yesterday used the presence of UNOCI sections in their village to celebrate International Day of Peace, to demonstrate against alleged extortion by members of the Gendarmerie against the population. In response, the Sub-Prefect called for a meeting on 24 September 2008 to try to find a solution to the problem. The villagers had also demonstrated on 21 September 2008 for the same reason. After the demonstrations, the rest of the day included presentations on UNOCI's mandate and activities by representatives from the different sections, a question and answer session, and a free medical camp organised by the Mission's Moroccan Battalion based in Duekoué.

Security

BANBATT peacekeepers report that there is mounting tension in Prikro village, situated approximately 80 km north of Daoukro (east), after the sub-prefect recently received two death threats by sms. The security situation has also deteriorated following the withdrawal of the Famienkro Mixed Brigade after its Commander was murdered in an ambush in July 2008. The Famienkro Mixed Brigade was initially replaced by a detachment from the Integrated Commanding Centre (ICC), which, however, left its new camp in Prikro in early September and has not returned.

On 21 September 2008, six women were reportedly raped, following an attack by seven bandits in Seba village, 7 km north of the western town of Bangolo. Armed with six Kalashnikovs and a sawn-off hunting rifle, the assailants raped their victims after stealing food from them. The Bangolo Mixed Brigade is investigating the incident.

The Gendarmerie Brigade commander in Man yesterday informed participants at UNOCI's weekly coordination meeting that, on 21 September 2008, his troops had arrested three suspects of an armed robbery committed a day earlier in Kouibly road (west). The gendarmes seized the weapons used by the robbers, as well as mobile phones and SIM cards that the bandits had allegedly stolen from their victims.

MORBATT together with UNPOL has been carrying out frequent patrols in the Duekoué area following reports of the possibility of inter-community clashes in Seoun Guiglo and Petit Gozon villages. Villagers in Seoun Guiglo reported gunfire on the night of 20 September 2008 which resulted in the death of one person, while in Petit Gozon, people reported an attack by four men during which 15 people were killed. Investigations are still being carried by local law enforcement authorities and UNPOL to establish the facts surrounding these reports.

Arms Embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers conducted arms embargo inspections at the National Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FANCI) regrouping site in San Pedro and at the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) first engineering battalion at its air base in Bouaké.

Humanitarian

UNOCI's Ghana Aviation yesterday donated of two bags of 50kg of maize and drinking water to an orphanage in Bouaké. The ceremony was attended by the Unit's commanding officer, Colonel Nagai Maxwell, who described the donation as an act of social responsibility.

Human Rights

Two more FAFN soldiers, allegedly close to former Zone 5 Commander Zacharia Koné in Séguéla (centre west), were arrested between the night of 18 September 2008 and the morning of 19 September 2008, bringing the number of arrests since 28 August 2008 to 21. Two volunteers for the new army (VAN) were also taken from their homes by four members of the Anaconda Brigade, under the command of Zone Commander Issiaka Ouattara, who allegedly removed their clothes, blindfolded them and took them into the forest where they were severely beaten with the butts of their Kalashnikovs before being taken to the Séguéla gendarmerie. One soldier, reportedly arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Guillaume Soro on 29 June 2007, has since disappeared following his arrest on 11 September 2008 in Mankono (west). He is reported to be held in Camp Highlander in Séguéla but Forces Nouvelles officials have refused to grant the Regional Human Rights Office in Daloa access to the detainee because of what they described as "reasons of state security".