Highlights

-UNHQ sends exploratory mission to look into request for investigation into 29 June attack;
-Ivorian Minister of Justice briefs UNOCI on public hearings;
-Teams conducting the Mobile Court hearings expected in Bouaké this week
-Pro-Gbagbo militia leader released from goal

Exploratory mission

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has sent an exploratory mission to Côte d'Ivoire for six days to look into a request by President Laurent Gbagbo for an independent international investigation into the 29 June attack on an airplane that was transporting Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to Bouaké. The aim of the mission is to determine the exact nature of the request from the Ivorian authorities and to discuss possible options based on UN principles and practice with regard to such investigations.

Mobile Courts

Ivorian Justice Minister Mamadou Koné briefed representatives of the UN System in Côte d'Ivoire on the public mobile court hearings at a meeting held today at UNOCI headquarters in Abidjan. He explained the modus operandi of the hearings, which he said was developed in a consensual manner by the Ivorian parties, and stated that following the symbolic launch of the exercise on Monday 25 September, the hearings would soon begin in earnest in various parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Prefecture of the Vallée du Bandama region, in the centre of the country, announced in Bouaké that the technical teams which will conduct the Mobile Courts in the Djebonoua and Brobo regions are expected to arrive in Bouaké this week. On their arrival, they will hold meetings with officials from the Independent Electoral Commission and the Forces Nouvelles as well as local chiefs in order to work out a detailed schedule.

UNOCI Military have been asked to patrol and demonstrate a presence in the areas where the Mobile Courts are being held; to monitor the security situation; to be prepared to provide security for UNOCI personnel involved in the process and to report on the security situation regarding freedom of movement.

Military

A company of Force Licorne troops arrived on 29 September 2007 in the northwestern town of Séguéla. The troops will be stationed on the outskirts of the town while carrying out a series of exercises from 29 September to 10 October 2007. They will also repair a broken bridge on the Mankono Road near Somania village.

On 29 September 2007, MORBATT and UNPOL conducted a night patrol in Bouaké, while Military Observers (Milobs) in the northeastern town of Bouna conducted a day patrol with UNPOL to Tiessaba. In the north, Milobs and UNPOL conducted a patrol along the Korhogo-Kohotieri road, while Milobs and UNPOL patrolled from the centre-western town of Daloa to Bezibouo, a distance of some 45 km. Teamsite Odienné (northwest) conducted a joint long-range patrol to Bako and Moya.

Tragic accident

On 29 September, an UNOCI vehicle being driven by a staff member based in Daloa hit and killed an eight-year-old girl at Adamadougou in the southwestern town of San-Pedro. UNPOL requested an escort from SENBATT to go and meet the driver at Méagui Gendarmerie Brigade. The escort was then directed to the girl's village for investigation. The patrol found out that the victim's family had already buried the body. The family said it was destiny and that they do not intend to file a lawsuit for wrongful death. The car driver was later escorted to SENBATT. The San Pedro Gendarmerie investigated the accident.

Mixed Brigades

The Bonoufla Mixed Brigade has received new office equipment, including a computer, a printer and a typewriter, from the Integrated Command Centre in Yamoussoukro.

Sector East's Commander today reported that there were still no Forces Nouvelles members in the Mixed Brigades at Kokpingue and Famienkro in the northeast of the country. The two brigades were officially installed in August 2007. It is believed that the absence of the FN is linked to the dispute over military ranks between the FN and the Ivorian Defence and Security Forces.

Miscellaneous

The leader of the Union des Patriotes et Résistants du Grand Ouest (UPRGO) a militia close to the Presidential camp, has been released from custody following his arrest last week during violent demonstrations in Duékoué. Members of UPRGO demonstrated in the centre of the western town in protest against the non-payment of cash they claim was promised to them in return for laying down their arms.

Two members of staff from UNOCI's engineering section visited Gohitafla camp on 29 September 2007 to carry out reconnaissance as part of preparations to dismantle the camp.

Human Rights

On 28 September, the Regional Human Rights Office in Duékoué held a working session with the local military authorities in the western town of Danané to discuss the arrest of seven alleged sympathizers of Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly, alias "IB", suspected of a plot against the state. The police commissioner, Mr. Coulibaly Thomas, confirmed that the seven men were members of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) who belong to the Koyaka community (IB's ethnic group) and were arrested on 17 September in Danané by FAFN intelligence and transferred to Bouaké. The police commissioner stated that he had had no additional information on the case since then.

On 28 September, the Regional Human Rights Office in Daloa met with Lieutenant Koné Zacharia, Commander of the Mixed Brigade in Bonoufla, to express its concern regarding human rights violations, including extortion, committed by his elements against the population. The meeting concluded with an agreement to organize an awareness-raising training on international human rights standards for the elements of the Mixed Brigade in order to address the issue.

On 27 September, the Regional Human Rights Office in Yamoussoukro met with Ms. Toualy Dorothée, coordinator of the NGO Renaissance Santé Bouaké (RSB), within the framework of its promotional activities related to women and children's rights with particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS and sexual violence. The two parties discussed the organization of human rights awareness training for women's associations based in the region. The Office also participated, along with 18 members of women's associations, in a two-day brainstorming session on the establishment of an NGO network specialized in sexual violence and on designing a form to document cases of sexual abuse including sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and rape.