The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, and head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Wednesday 18 November 2015, handed over equipment to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Bobowi, which is very active in Méagui, in centrewest Côte d'Ivoire, situated at 75 km from San Pédro, in Nawa Region.



The handover ceremony took place in the presence of local government and community authorities, representatives of the local security forces, traditional chiefs, women, youths, the media and a huge crowd of people.



« Mr Prefect, I have the honour of handing over to you on behalf of the United Nations these motorcycle for the NGO Bobowi, in recognition for its contribution to strengthening social cohesion and resolving conflicts in Méagui », said the Special Representative, while expressing the hope that these means of transport would provide the NGO with the tools to extend the message of peace and social cohesion.



« This will help us to even more and we promise the head of UNOCI that these motorcycles will be put to good use, » said the president of NGO Bobowi, Mr. Yépi Senghor. He then explained how the NGO intends to carry out its work in order to strengthe social cohesion. « People to divide the land », he said, noting that everyone had an interest in resolving land disputes in Méagui. In this regard, he promised to present the results of the NGO's work to the head of UNOCI in 2016.



For his part, the Prefect of Méagui department, Mr. Pierre Kouassi Lenoir Yao, thanked the Special Representative for her commitment to them in their efforts to promote peace. While handing over the motorcycles to NGO Bobowi, the Prefect said that that « these motorcycles will give the NGO thwe means to strengthen its mobility to meet the people, to not only talk with them about peace, development and reconciliation, but also to support local government in the implementation of the land ownership laws in the department ».



This the second time that the head of UNOCI has visited Méagui département. She was also in the town on 14 May 2015, to participate in an intercommunity dialogue session, during which traditional chiefs, women and youths from the different communities made a commitment to preserve social cohesion before, during and after the presidential election in October 2015. « Thanks to you common efforts you met this challenge. Zero violence ! I would like to congratulate you. I would like to also tell you that other elections are coming and I'm sure that you will ensure that these are held with even more tolerance, » said Mrs Mindaoudou.