The mobile grassroots sensitization team of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) dubbed ONUCI-Tour was in Ferkessedougou, 580 km north of Abidjan on 25 November 2014 to promote peace and social cohesion among the population.

The tour was also aimed at calming the spirits of Customs agents whose offices had been vandalised on 1 November by some traders who were angry over the seizure of their goods. Several Customs officials were injured and property damaged. ONUCI-Tour made an effort to reconcile and restore confidence between the population and the Customs department.



The UNOCI Office Coordinator in Korhogo, Adama Tide urged the different communities living in the area to live in peace and respect Ivorian laws. « Social cohesion at the local level involves all the communities and socio-professional components without exception. It is consolidated each day through dialogue and the implantation of the culture of peace, non-violence and the respect of the rule of law, » he said.



The representative of the Prefect of Ferkessedougou, Daniel Gnalla thanked the UN Mission for organizing the meeting, saying it would enable the population to better appreciate the work of the Customs department. On his part, the Deputy Mayor of the municipality, Yacouba Sanogo called on the inhabitants to respect the Customs whose main role he said was to protect the national economy.

The Sub director of Territorial Surveillance, Customs Colonel Jean Claude Adja said he was satisfied that peace between economic operators and Customs administration had been restored through the good offices of UNOCI and local authorities.



The meeting brought together some 100 participants including Customs officers and agents, members of the Gendarmerie, Police, Waters and Forestry services as well as the civilian population made up of representatives of traders, transporters and youth associations and women's cooperatives.





UNOCI was represented by officials of its Public Information; Civil Affairs; Human Rights; Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration offices and UN Police.