Initiated by the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), through its Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Division in partnership with the local cell of the Ivorian Authority for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (ADDR) and the local government authorities of Odienné, the local DDR Committee was set up in the city on 28 January 2014. With members from the departmental committee, the DDR body is composed of six persons and will be in charge of community reinsertion projects for ex-combatants from Odienné.



Speaking at the event, the manager of the community reinsertion projects in the western area and the DDR Coordinator based in Man, Jean de Dieu Ntanga,recalled the aim, the objectives and the procedures as well as the technical management and funding of community reinsertion projects. He also highlighted UNOCI's assistance to the implementation of the project. "UNOCI is funding this project to the tune of $3 million," he said.



For his part, Koné Bema of the ADDR Cell in Odienné said he was satisfied with the support and assistance that UNOCI is providing for the implementation of the community projects. « The ADDR truly appreciates UNOCI's initiative which involves supporting ADDR in resolving problems with ex-combatants in the shortest possible time. This has been very helpful to us».



The youth leader of Odienné, Koné Lanciné, said that he was now in a position to pass on reliable information to his colleagues and the community after the meeting. « I can now reassure the ex-combatants by giving them information they can rely on , information which we did not have before this meeting,» he added.



The meeting ended with the identification and feasability of certain projects in the Odienné region.