Gogo village commits to prevention and peaceful settlement of conflict

"ONUCI-Tour", the mobile sensitsation team of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) visited the inhabitants of Gogo, 680 km north of Abidjan on 10 October 2014 to discuss the theme: 'Mechanisms for conflict prevention and management'.

The campaign comes several months after a bloody conflict between two communities over a rape incident and the murder of a woman by a cowherd. An UNOCI intervention pacified the communities by making them understand that only those involved in the incidents would answer for their deeds and that the entire community cannot be held responsible.

A representative of UNOCI Public Information Office, Desire Ndagijimana advised the people to always seek peaceful ways to resolve conflicts and called on them to consult the village Chief and his notables in times of conflict.

Ludovic Kassi of the Human Rights division spoke to them about their rights and the respect for the rights of others while Philemon Balolebwami of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Office spoke of the role of DDR in the restoration of a lasting peace. He called on ex-combatants still in possession of firearms to hand them in to the authorities in order to benefit from social reintegration projects financed by UNOCI and the national Authority for DDR (ADDR). "You must understand that the war is over and there is no reason to hold on to your weapons," he advised.

The Prefect of Tehini division, Amani Tiemoko said he was happy with the discussions and committed the village to the maintenance of social cohesion to safeguard development achievements of the village which has just been upgraded to a Sub Prefecture. He seized the opportunity to remind the population to respect measures taken by government to prevent the Ebola virus. "Ebola is at our doors, we must take care to preserve life," he stressed.
About a thousand people attended the campaign which coincided with the cultural yam festival.