During the meeting officers from different UNOCI components explained the UN Mission's mandate and the role in Côte d'Ivoire.
Regarding the forthcoming presidential election, Drissa Kone from UNOCI's Public Information Office in Divo compared it to a football tournament and urged people living in Galébré to do their best to maintain a peaceful electoral environment in 2015.
His explanations were reinforced by the representative of the United Nations Police (UNPOL) based in Gagnoa, Nimpagaritse Epitac. For his part, UNOCI Civil Affairs officer, Tanoh Eba stressed that the consolidation of social cohesion and the participation of women in elections were extremely important. She asked the population to vote for political principles rather than individuals. She also urged them to respect the State's authority.
Galébré with 32,000 inhabitants is a mixture of Ivorians and Burkinabé and Malian immigrants. It is the capital city of a sub-prefecture with the same name and is located within the department of Gagnoa, about 130 km in the northwest of Divo.
Following the post-electoral crisis, suspicion and distrust remained the main problem among villagers. Social cohesion between communities crumbled despite the clear will of the administrative authorities to promote social dialogue.
UNOCI's sensitization and information campaign therefore presented local and village authorities as well as villagers with an opportunity to reaffirm their desire to live in harmony as they had done in the past.
Consequently, in anticipation of 2015 elections, the chief of Onahio village, Samuel Zike, suggested that UNOCI supports the local notables by organizing training sessions in conflict management and prevention for traditional leaders and youths. He also solicited support to assist traditional leaders to revive inter-ethnic alliances as a means of conflict resolution.
Representatives of local youths, Gnigbawa Galébré Laurent Nahi Djapo and Jean-Luc Gaba, for their part, expressed their desire for the development of the village and peace in the midst of their communities. One of them explained how through the management of a rice field, village youths were able to gradually build a school with six classrooms.
The second representative demonstrated how through the promotion of peace the youths ended the mutual suspicion between them and their peers from the eleven communities living in Galébré. "We are condemned to live together," Mr. Gaba said.
The sub-prefect of Galébré, Emmanuel Kobenan Dongo asked villagers to respect their leader, Ivorian traditions and laws. "If we cultivate peace, harmony and social cohesion, we will be able to definitely end the crisis. I urge you to promote social cohesion, "he said.
