Daily Brief on Cote d'Ivoire for Friday, 17th August 2007

17 sep 2007

Daily Brief on Cote d'Ivoire for Friday, 17th August 2007


Highlights

-Forces Nouvelles continue with unilateral DDR programme
-UNOCI and UNMIL carry out joint border patrols
-Bonoufla Mixed Brigade apprehends ten people

DDR

The Forces Nouvelles carried on with their unilateral DDR programme yesterday with a reinsertion ceremony for 30 women ex-combatants in Danané. The women were each given 25,000 CFA and a sewing machine. UNOCI Military Observers who attended the ceremony said that these ceremonies, which are being held all over the Forces Nouvelles areas, are aimed at former fighter who do not have the qualification and background to be absorbed into the Ivorian national army.[Comment: UNOCI Military also believe it is the Forces Nouvelles' way of avoiding disarmament]
Pakistani engineers have completed about 85% of the work on the DDR site in Kani but the rest of it is being hampered by the non-availability of some essential materials.
However five tents out of a total 35 have been delivered to the site.

Military

SENBATT yesterday carried out a joint patrol with UNMIL in the Yeouli area, while TOGOBATT did the same with Licorne in Abidjan. Air recces were also conducted by BENINBATT and SENBATT on the same day.
A platoon size patrol will today be sent from San Pedro to Adamadougou, while another will go from Tabou to Gnato-Boke to carry out joint patrols with their counterparts from UNMIL and to show UN presence.
Licorne will be carrying out civil-military activities in Tabagne, located some 50 km from Bondoukou, from 18 to 25 August 2007. The activities will include patrolling, repairing roads and making a variety of donations in an attempt to ease the plight of the population.

Security

NIGERBATT will carry out and air and ground recce and provide security backup for the Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro's visit to Ferkessedougou on 18th August 2007, following a request from the Forces Nouvelles. The battalion has also been asked to provide backup medical support.

The Mixed Brigade in Bonoufla yesterday apprehended ten people on suspicion of theft and illegal money collection. Initial investigations are still ongoing.
BANBATT will today provide security to the Ivorian Minister of Solidarity and War Victims who will be attending the start of celebrations for Solidarity Day in Giuglo. The event will continue until 19th August 2007.
Arms embargo

Military Observers (Milobs) from Ferkessedougou will today carryout an arms embargo inspection at Forces Nouvelles camp in Ouangolodougou. Security will be provided by NIGERBATT. Also today Milobs from Bouna will conduct a similar inspection at the FN camp in Tehini. Security will be provided by GHANBATT.

Human Rights

As a follow up on the arrest of Mr. Mamadou Konaté, on 29 June 2007, in Ouangolodougou following the assassination attempt on Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, the Regional Human Rights Office in Bouaké met with Mr. Konaté at Camp Wattao before his transfer to the Camp Blindé. Mr. Konaté is allegedly accused of being a supporter of Sergeant-Chief Ibrahim Coulibaly, known as IB. The Office is following the case with the FN authorities.

On 15 August, the Regional Human Rights Office in San Pedro reported that villagers in Moussadougou erected barricades on the San Pedro-Sassandra axis to protest against the arrival of agents of the Société de Développement des Forêts de Côte d'Ivoire (SODEFOR). According to the villagers, on the same day SODEFOR agents allegedly beat up four villagers and brought three of them to San Pedro where they were again physically assaulted before being released on 16 August. A delegation composed of a representative of the Préfet, the Gendarmerie and the Procureur de la République arrived at the barricade and the Gendarmerie fired aerial shots to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. The Office is following the case.

On 15 August, the Regional Human Rights Office in Duékoué met with a delegation from the American Embassy. The Office briefed the delegation on the general human rights situation in the region as well as on the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and specified that the major human rights violations were racketeering at checkpoints and inter-community conflicts related to land disputes.

The Regional Human Rights Office in Odiénné conducted a two-day mission to Touba and Ouaninou (Bafing region) to establish human rights protection cells. In Touba, the Office met with the traditional leaders, the president of the youth association, the deputy director of the community radio "La Voix de l'Arbre Céleste" as well as a representative of the Forces Nouvelles. At Ouaninou, the Office met with the Chief of the village who said that as a result of previous working sessions they had already created a human rights protection cell, which should be officially inaugurated by the Human Rights Division.
On 15 August, the Regional Human Rights Office in Odiénné held a working session with the Director of the Direction Régionale de l'Education Nationale reinforcing the sensitization programme on human rights in the educational system. It was agreed that human rights protection cells and human rights clubs will be created in several towns and schools. The Direction Régionale de l'Education Nationale will mobilize teachers, parents and students to be trained on human rights issues. He also reiterated the need for the support of the Human Rights Division for the creation of the Lycée de Reconciliation at Samatigula. [Comments: Since the launching of the sensitization programme on human rights in the education system on the 19-20 November 2006, 18 Human Rights Clubs and 21 Protection Cells have been created in the Odienné and Bafing region