Some 30 community leaders have decided to take charge of the reconciliation process by strengthening social cohesion and involving all sections of the population in Guiglo in the process.



They made this commitment during a workshop organized on Tuesday, 4 June 2013 by the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (ONUCI) in Guiglo, situated 530 km Abidjan. In their final statement, the community leaders urged the local branch of the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Ivorian Authority for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (ADDR) to quickly tackle the issues linked to the return of exiles and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the disarmament of those who are still illegally keeping arms.



In addition, the participants asked the Government to find the appropriate responses to the illegal occupation of classified forests and land ownership issues. They also pleaded with UNOCI to organize regular meetings with community leaders.



During the reading of the recommendations made by the three working groups who dealt with the following themes "The Humanitarian and Security Situation"; "Social Cohesion and Reconciliation" and "The Promotion and Protection of Human Rights", the secretary-general of the local government of Guiglo, Marc Aoulou Aka, expressed his satisfaction at the pertinent proposals made by participants. "Your different contributions show the interest that you have in establishing peace in our region which paid a heavy price during the post-electoral crisis. I urge you now to put these in practice on the ground for the benefit of everyone," he said.



Madeleine Belle, the deputy mayor who spoke after and Mohamed Sidien Attaher, who led the UNOCI delegation, congratulated participants for the commitment in working with the United Nations mission in an effort to promote a peaceful environment in Guiglo.



The workshop was organized as part of a follow up to a meeting held in Guiglo with traditional chiefs, community leaders and representatives of women's organizations and youth groups in February 2012.