The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) on Wednesday 10 February 2016 organized its traditional local sensitization campaign known as ONUCI Tour in Grobonou-Dan, situated at some 56 kilometres San Pedro, in the sub-prefecture of Gabiadji.



The objective of the campaign was to ask various communities in Grobonou-Dan to persist in their efforts to build peace and national reconciliation

Speaking at the event, Patricia Nwotheigho who led the UN delegation urged people to work for peace and be a model of peace to surrounding villages.

"We are here to reiterate the United Nations will support your efforts to maintain a peaceful environment and ensure local elections are held without violence. The priority today is development. Development requires peace. Without peace, no development activity is possible, "she said.



Diverse components of UNOCI and United Nations agencies agencies including Public Information, Civil Affairs and Human Rights divisions, the UN Police, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) participated in the sensitization activity. They explained their respective mandates and objectives to local people.



They urged people to respect the authority of their leader. "The village chief is the local government representative in the village, so he needs your support to carry out his daily work. You must always refer to him when you receive any information," said Public Information Officer Kadizatou Ibrahim Cisse.



Among other topics discussed were the promotion of a peaceful electoral environment, the right of women and youths to participate in politics, the importance of freedom of expression, the promotion of dialogue in conflict resolution, the fight against gender-based violence.



At the end of the discussions, the Secretary General of the village association, Fulgence N'Guessan, expressed his gratitude to the UN Mission for having organized the sensitization session. "We thank UNOCI for this session because it helps us in our quest for reconciliation between the sons and daughters of the village," he said.



It should be recalled that Grobonou-Dan village was one of the villages in the southwest which was displaced villages because of Koussou dam. In addition, for seven years, the village had two chiefs. The problem was resolved only last December with the appointment of Bernard Nanan Kouadio N'Guessan as the legitimate village chief.