« Elections must not be accompanied under any circumstances by violence », the Special Representative of UN Secretary-General in Cote d'Ivoire,

Mrs. Aichatou Mindaoudou declared at the 36th edition of UN Days held in Sinfra from 12 to14 November 2014.



The head of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) made the appeal on the last day of the event which was marked by a public discussion forum with a cross-section of the population of Sinfra, 326 km from Abidjan; a visit to the Human Rights House, a project financed by UNOCI at the request of the National Commission of Francophonie and the launching of rehabilitation work on the Sinfra cultural Centre.



During the public forum, UNOCI and local authorities were presented with recommendations made by various working groups of traditional and community leaders, religious authorities, women's and youth associations, elites and senior managers, security forces, teachers and media practitioners.

During the forum which saw a massive turnout of the population, UNOCI Force Commander, General Hafiz Masroor Ahmed handed over to the divisional Prefect of Sinfra, Nianson Konian a consignment of medical equipment destined for the town hospital that was donated by the Niger and Moroccan battalions of UNOCI. The Niger battalion also provided 12000 litres of potable water to the population which has been experiencing a scarcity of water.



Prizes were also awarded to winners of several sporting competitions while dramatic sketches, musical performances and film shows on the activities of the UN punctuated the occasion.

In her closing address, the Special Representative stressed on the importance of strengthening social cohesion and "the need to place individual and collective responsibility of promoting and working for peace above anything else." She pledged her personal commitment and that of the UN to support activities of the local authorities and the population to create a climate of peace with regard to the 2015 presidential election.

On his part, the Prefect of Sinfra, Nianson Konian expressed satisfaction with the massive turn out of the elites, local authorities and political and religious leaders.

« As opinion leaders, you have the task of carrying UNOCI's message of peace to your various destinations as well as your political parties and communities in order that the peace which has been restored is consolidated through our behavior and by maintaining a liking for work, promoting a spirit of tolerance, forgiveness and love, » he declared.



It would be recalled that from the first day of the event, a voluntary HIV/AIDS screening test was organized for the population.