UNOCI/UNMAS Secure Storage Programme for ammunition: Four ammunition stores handed over at Adiaké Lagoon Base

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Tuesday, 13 October 2015, handed over the keys to four ammunition depots to the Minister in charge of Defence Paul Koffi Koffi at Adiaké Lagoon Base.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Forces Républicaines de Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI), General Soumaïla Bakayoko, the Commander of the National Navy, local administrative authorities, the president of the Regional Council and the Ivorian Ambassador to Ghana and Togo, as well as several dignitaries.

This assistance from the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) was provided through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), as part of the Mission's accompaniment of the Ivorian authorities with regard to the problem of management and storage of arms and ammunition, said Mrs Mindaoudou. « These new ammunition depots in Adiaké will provide secure storage for explosives and ammunitions which will prevent the dangerous consequences of any accidental explosions as well as uncontrolled access to ammunition » said Mrs Mindaoudou, adding that « the protection of civilians is one of the main activities outlined in the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire according to UN Security Council Resolution 2226 ».

The keys to the four ammunition depots were handed over to the Minister in Charge of Defence, Paul Koffi Koffi who thanked the UN Mission, UNMAS and the Halo Trust for the project. "This project is one of capital importance with regard to the security of our installations, our personnel and the population, " he added.

Successes

The construction of the site is part of a national project costing nearly 2.2 billion FCFA whose objective is to provide Côte d'Ivoire with arms and ammunition depots in accordance with international standards. Some 141 tons of ammunitions were destroyed on the same day at the request of the national authorities. In terms of national capacity building, 58 officers from the national security forces, including a female officer from the National Navy, were trained in management and security of ammunition stock in accordance with the latest international standards. These officers will be responsible for managing the stokage sites throughout the country. Some 77 officers from the national security forces, including two women from the Ivorian Navy, have been trained in the Neutralisation, Removal and Destruction of Explosives and 100 officers from the Forces Républicaines de Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI) have acquired competences in the clean-up of war zones.

In the next six months, UNMAS plans to rehabilitate and secure some 100 armory in different parts of the country, including towns in the border areas in the north of the country. This help the fight against pillage and the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition.