The Assistant Secretary-General for UN peacekeeping operations, Mr. El Ghassim Wane, arrived in Abidjan on 17 February 2016, where he will head a UN Strategic Review Mission until 20 February 2016. The aim of the mission is to review the situation of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) based on extensive consultations with all the interested parties and then make recommendations to the United Nations Security Council.



In this regard, the Assistant Secretary-General on Thursday, 18 February 2016, met with the Ivorian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Albert Mabri Toikeusse, to discuss the situation in the country and identify ways in which the UNOCI can accompany national authorities while awaiting its closure. The ASG's delegation was accompanied by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire and UNOCI Chief, Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou.



« We had wide-ranging discussions on the situation to see how UNOCI can continue to accompany the Ivorian authorities taking into account the closure of the Mission which is in the horizon but is yet to be determined," said the Assistant Secretary-General at the end of the meeting, adding that a vital period of several months will be used to consolidate the very important achievements accomplished by Côte d'Ivoire in the consolidation of peace.



Mr. Wane outlined the form of the Mission's accompanying role which includes strengthening social cohesion and a certain number of security challenges, including those linked to the situation on the border with Liberia.



The delegation of the Strategic Review Mission, including a technical preparatory team, arrived in Côte d'Ivoire on 8 February, and is composed of civilian and military technical experts. Apart from the Assistant Secretary-General El Ghassim Wane, the mission also includes the Deputy Military Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, General Adrian Foster.



The programme of the Strategic Review Mission to Côte d'Ivoire included meetings with national authorities, including at the highest level of the State, national and international actors, as well as field visits to the west of Côte d'Ivoire, around the border area with Liberia.