The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Friday, 19 July 2013, concluded her first visit to the field which started on Monday, 15 July 2013. The mission, whose aim was to make contact and listen to people, took the new head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and her delegation to Bouaké, Yamoussoukro, Abidjan, Daloa and Issia.



During her tour, the Special Representative met with personnel of UNOCI and United Nations agencies working in the interior of the country, paid courtesy calls on local authorities and held discussions with representatives of civil society, including traditional chiefs, religious and community leaders, as well as members of women's association and youth groups. Mrs Mindaoudou was accompanied by UNOCI Force Commander, General Muhammed Iqbal Asi, and Acting UN Police Commissioner, Awale Abdounasir.



Between 15 and 19 July, the Special Representative went to Bouaké, Yamoussoukro, Daloa and Issia. In each locality, she held long discussions with civilians, military and police personnel of UNOCI's regional offices in Sectors East and West. The head of UNOCI also visited Abidjan Sector, which covers the border area with Ghana, and the Aboisso area where she also met with the Mission's field personnel.



During each encounter with local authorities and representatives of civil society, the Special Representative welcomed the excellent collaboration which exists between UNOCI personnel in the field and their Ivorian partners. She also told her interlocutors that she was ready to continue this cooperation and consolidate UNOCI's assistance, and that of the United Nations agencies to the peace process, the restoration of state authority and national reconciliation.



Aïchatou Mindaoudou also had the opportunity to visit several Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) financed by UNOCI. QIPs are provided to peacekeeping missions to give them the opportunity to finance small community projects to help the population in a post-crisis situation, while carrying out their main mandate. These projects could involve the rehabilitation of vital infrastructures such as schools, dispensaries or public buildings.

Mrs Mindaoudou also visited two schools which were partially rehabilitated through the Mission's QIPs programme – N'Gattakro II primary school in Bouaké, and the Gendarmerie primary school in Daloa. In Issia, the Special Representative visited a restaurant financed through a QIPs programme known as « The 1000 microprojects programme » for the economic and social reinsertion of youths in the region, many of whom were ex-combatants.



At the end of her visit to the interior, the Special Representative welcomed the professionalism and commitment of UNOCI personnel working in the field, recalling that « The success of a peacekeeping mission depends on the quality of its teams, particularly those working in the field ». She urged her collaborators to redouble their efforts and show devotion in the execution of their mission.



In addition, Mrs Mindaoudou welcomed the quality of the collaboration between UNOCI and its Ivorian partners in the field. « We are going to support this collaboration and better develop it to the benefit of all Ivorians, without exclusion, so that the United Nations can contribute to Côte d'Ivoire finding its rightful place among Nations, » stressed the head of UNOCI. « During my meetings with the local populations, I noticed a significant willingness for reconciliation, » she said, adding « Help us to help you ».