Three weeks after violent incidents between residents in M’Bazo and Dougako, two villages situated north of Divo (situated at 189 km from Abidjan), the sensitisation caravan of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), known as ONUCI Tour made made a stop in Mbazo on 18 March 2016. The main objective : To support mediation efforts being made deputy prefects Marie Koffi Ahou de Didoko and Léopoldine Kragbé of Divo who are responsible for the administration of the two villages.

It should be recalled that on 23 and 24 February 2016, people living in M’bazo and Dougako had a violent confrontation over fishing rights in part of the River Boubo. Following this incident, the Prefect of Lôh-Djiboua region and the Divo Department, Joseph Kpan Droh, together with the president of the Collective of Traditional Chiefs of the region, Paul Alico began mediation between the two parties with them aim of reconciling them.

It is within this context that UNOCI decided to organise a session of its sensitisation caravan, ONUCI Tour, in M’Bazo. The aim of the session was to sensitise local people on the need to co-exist peacefully and in addition to listen their concerns which led to the conflict with their neighbours.

Following an introduction by the deputy prefect of Didoko, Marie Koffi Ahou, the UNOCI sections took turns to address the residents of M’bazo with peace and reconciliation messages. In this regard, Human Rights Officer Etienne Allou Koffi urged people to cultivate peace, social cohesion and non-violence in M’Bazo and to avoid taking the law into their own hands. He also sensitised them on the need to fight against gander-based violence, domestic violence, early marriage and female genital mutilation.

For his part, Civil Affairs Officer Tanoh Eba Kouakou reminded the gathering on the importance of social cohesion and national reconciliation. In his contribution, Associate Public Information Officer, Idrissa Koné, pleaded for a change in people’s behviour in order to meet the challenge of the development of their village.

The Regional director of animal and fishing resources in Lôh Djiboua, Godins Koffi Kouakou and the departmental director of the Water and Forests Service, Commander Daniel Bali Konan explained to the villagers of M’bazo that fishing methods and the material they use did not meet with current standards. They provided the villages with the text on the current laws governing the use of rivers and streams in Côte d’Ivoire.

At the end of the ceremony, the deputy prefect of Didoko thanked UNOCI on behalf of local people for the action it undertakes to help the two villages re-establish social cohesion. She concluded by pleaded with villagers to make peace with their neighbours.