Korhogo, 15 October 2009... UNOCI's Force Commander, General Fernand Marcel Amoussou, on Wednesday, 15 October 2009, in Korhogo, participated in a medal parade ceremony for 382 soldiers from the 13th Nigerien contingent of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

Congratulating the peacekeepers for the love they have for their work and their good relations with the population, General Amoussou said that "this contingent enjoys working everyday to help the population". He also welcomed the excellent relationships the contingent has with the civilian and military authorities in Korhogo. "Creating the conditions favorable to a political and peaceful resolution to the crisis, this is UNOCI's objective", he added.

For his part, the Commander of the Nigerien battalion, Colonel Amadou Madougou, gave the historical background to the presence of his country's troops in Côte d'Ivoire, recalling that "in 2002, Niger was the first country to provide ECOWAS with soldiers for the return of peace in Côte d'Ivoire". He outlined the work carried out by the 13th contingent since its deployment on 27 April 2009 to "create the conditions for a return to peace in the Savanes region".

The ceremony, which was attended by Niger's Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, UNOCI's Sector East Commander as well as local civilian and military authorities ended with a parade and a Nigerien cultural display.