After M’Bazo, Dougako ! Five days after making a stop in M’Bazo, the sensitisation caravan of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire, ONUCI Tour, went to a Dougako on Wednesday, 23 March 2016. The village, which is situated at 18 km north of Divo is in conflict with its neighbour, M’Bazo over fishing rights in local river.

We have understood your message of peace and forgiveness

As in M’Bazo, the aim of ONUCI Tour’s visit to Dougako was to sensitise villagers on peaceful cohabitation, listen to their point of view on the cause of the conflict between them and their neighbours in M’Bazo over fihsing rights in River Boubo.

Personnel from the different sections of UNOCI based in Divo started by explaining their different mandates and provide advice to the people of Dougako on the advantages of using peaceful means to resolve the conflict with their neighbours. In this regard Civil Affairs Officer Philine Nau, urged both parties to use traditional methods by favouring « foundation of social cohesion and peaceful cohabitation ». For his part, Antoine Sanon of UNOCI Police UNPOL) explain his component’s mission which is to assist the Ivorian Police.

Just as he had done in M’Bazo, Human Rights Officer Etienne Allou Koffi urged villagers to cultivate peace, non-violence and social cohesion and avoid taking the law into their own hands. He also sensitised them on the importance of fighting against gender-based and domestic violence, forced and early marriage, sexual violence and female genital mutilation.

The UNOCI delegation was accompnied by the president of the Regional Human Rights Commission, Isidore Yoro, who explained the current laws on fishing rights in Côte d’Ivoire and the distributed the relevant text to village leaders.

Despite the hostility shown by certain youths at the beginning of the sensitisation session, the event ended with the agreement of everyone to promote peace. It should be noted that during the exchanges, people in Dougako pleaded with the Ivorian authorities to find a lasting solution to the conflict which has lasted a long time.

In conclusion, the representative of the deputy prefect, Hermann Zohora, asked villagers to be patient, adding that with time the administrative authorities will find a lasting solution to the conflict between M’Bazo and Dougako.

« Dougako is a village of peace », the Chief of Dougako, Elie Gnakpa Titré, insisted at the end of the sensitisation session, adding that the traditional chieftaincy will work to consolidate peace and peaceful cohabitation between the neighbouring villages. « We have understood your message of forgiveness and peace and we will put it into practice, », said Chief Gnakpa.