Some 130 Atchan and Gnan traditional chiefs from Abidjan region on 8 and 10 September 2015 participated in capacity-building seminar for traditional chiefs on local governance and social cohesion.



Jointly organized by the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), the Ivorian Ministry of the Interior and Security, the United Nations Development UNDP) and Abidjan District, the aim of the seminar was to provide traditional authorities with the right tools to peacefully manage their respective communities.



The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, took part in the opening ceremony of seminar during which she welcomed the excellent collaboration between the Ministry of the Interior and Security and UNOCI. "The aim of this collaboration is to provide the know-how on strategic and operational strategy to prevent and resolve conflict through the involvement of political, administrative and community actors in this regard. Especially with regard to opinion leaders and traditional chiefs who are in charge of the daily management of people's problems and the consolidation and maintenance of social cohesion," said Mrs Mindaoudou.



The Special Representative also stressed that the seminar would provide an opportunity for village chiefs to become generally better prepared on what they need to pay attention to in connection with the presidential election in October 2015. "With regard to the electoral process, village chiefs must more than ever play a role that ensures that the democratic process is respected by encouraging people to act in the best interest of the country," she added.



For his part, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of the Interior and Security, Mr. Bamba Cheick Daniel recalled the Government's support to traditional chiefs due to their importance within the society.



"This seminar is evidence of how important it is to ensure that traditional authorities receive proper training especially when the aim is to help them accomplish their mission for the greater interest of their communities and the nation as a whole," Mr. Bamba.



During the three-day seminar, several modules such as the mechanisms of conflict resolution, maintaining social cohesion and the contribution of traditional chiefs for peaceful elections; were presented to participants.