The people of Dieou-Zibiao village, Bangolo division (550 km north-west of Abidjan) hosted the mobile grassroots campaign team of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) known as on Tuesday 16 September 2014. Discussions centred on the need to create a peaceful environment in view of the 2015 presidential election, human rights, rural land disputes and precautions to be taken to prevent the Ebola virus fever.

The representative of UN Police Joyeux Nimiagaritse drew the attention to the people to the forthcoming presidential election saying it was important "to avoid a repeat of what was experienced in the recent past."

Mohammed Sidien of the Human Rights division highlighted the consequences of impunity. "Impunity is the source of disorder in any community. You must expose all acts of human rights violation in order to achieve stability and reinforce social cohesion," he said.



Civil Affairs representative, Ramillo Rudaragi said "UNOCI makes a modest contribution to conflict resolution among communities through its expertise while leaving the final decision for you to appraise."

A representative of the Ivorian regional surveys department of the Ministry of

agriculture, Guemon Teya Koffi spoke on land disputes and the importance of land in the social set up. "Land is at the centre of social cohesion; it is at the centre of our lives. You should take advantage of the legal texts governing land ownership by updating your land certificates," he advised.



The head of the NGO , Jonas Siekpo spoke on social cohesion which, he said, begins with the respect for laws and authority. "Differences between people should constitute a source of wealth," he said, urging them to accept one another.

For his part, the chief medical doctor for rural health, Dr. Jean Diomande imparted relevant information about the Ebola virus fever. "Ebola is found in bats and game but these do not manifest the disease. The disease is transmitted through the touching or eating of infected 'bush meat'," he said adding that once someone is contaminated, he can transmit the disease though urine, sweat, stool, blood and other secretions.

The village chief, Bon Fils Oulata Tassahou thanked UNOCI for the meeting with his people and presented a list of grievances including the need to rehabilitate the government primary school which is dilapidated and is in no state to encourage parents to get their children enrolled. He also spoke of the need for rural electrification and the grading of the road linking the sub prefecture.