An intercommunity dialogue encounter to better manage and resolve land conflits, organised with the assistance of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), brought together opinion leaders over a period of four days in December 2014 in Kouibly, in the Tonkpi region, 40 km from Man in the west of Côte d'Ivoire.

The aim of the 60 participants, which included village officials from Kouibly and Batiébly-Toudrou, was to create a consultation framework between communities in an effort to use dialogue to prevent and resolve disputes linked to land ownership which date back to 2009.



During the different stages of the meetings, UNOCI's Civil Affairs Officer, Frank Dakoury, recalled the objectives of the discussions. « These meetings aim not only to create framework for discussion and dialogue between communities and find lasting solutions to the problems identified but also to promote dialogue between communities in order to facilitate and build confidence as well as peaceful coexistence in the locality. In this particular instance we want to bring together the Wobés of Kouibly and Batiébly-Toudrou and the immigrant community of Burkinabé planters for a peaceful coexistence », he said.



The administrative authorities led by the prefect of the department Adolphe Yao N'Dri and the deputy prefect, Georges Konan Kouakou, welcomed the initiative which they described as « promising » with regard to effort to consolidate social cohesion in the region.

At the end of the encounter which involved the central chief of Kouibly, Jean Mouho and that of Batiébly-Toudrou, Jean Guéi, the different communities, while welcoming UNOCI's action, promised to give priority to dialogue and mutual consultation to resolve their conflicts and the development of the region. They also agreed to establish together a framework to manage land that can be cultivated.



The representatives of UNOCI's Civila Affairs and Public Information Sections took an active role in the discussions during which they reiterated the UN Mission priority which is to create a lasting peaceful environment.