In an effort to promote social cohesion between the stallholders in Duekoué markets who come from different communities living in the town, the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) initiated an intercommunity dialogue session to try to resolve disagreements between a group of women following the post-electoral crisis and advance the return of peace.



The meeting took place on 19 February in the town situated some 502 km west of Abidjan, with the support of the national non-governmental organisation Bonne action and in the presence of the local president of the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the third deputy mayor and secretary-general of local government.



This intercommunity dialogue session was organised to hear what the different parties had to say, said UNOCI coordinator in Duekoué, Alem Makonnen. « We are gathered here to listen to what you have to say. We cannot make progress in the peace process if there are still unresolved problems. I urge you all to speak freely so that we can try to find a solution to your problem», she added.



The president of the women selling in the catholic market in Duékoué, Beatrice Bah said that following the post-electoral crisis, members of her group had lost their stalls in the main market in the city. « Without reconciliation, we cannot return to our stalls in the main market. We want reconciliation so that we can progress, so that we can have peace, », she added.



The Catholic market was in the grounds of the church before it was moved to the land opposite, explained the representative of the local Commission, Father Père Cyprien Ahouré, explaining the history of what happened. « I urge you to return to to the main market to take the stalls you had before the post-electoral crisis. We will do all we can to ensure that the local authorities become involved,», he insisted.

The third deputy mayor, Kalifala Kalo, for his part, welcomed the politics of reconciliation initiated by the Ivorian President with the support and assistance of UNOCI and certain ONGs who work in strengthening social cohesion and re-establishing peace and confidence. « We must turn over the page on the crisis and work quickly to develop the region du Guemon », said Mr. Kalo.

After the speeches, three focus groups were set up to promote discussions between the different groups. The women said that they were ready to return to their respective stalls in the main market on condition they receive help.



The second secretary-general of the préfecture, Kouamé Yao, welcomed the measures taken so that peace and understanding returns between the market women of Duékoué. « There is a time to disagree and a time to reconcile. The children of Duekoué cannot remain at daggers drawn eternally. We must make peace,», said Mr. Yao.



Women play a very important role in Côte d'Ivoire's economy and the administrative authorities have a duty to help them to reconcile and make peace, he concluded.