The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire and Chief of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Monday, 14 September 2015, went to Logouata and Bayota, two localities situated at 305 kilometres from Abidjan in the Goh Region in the centrewest of the country, where she appealed for peace and calm and urged people to maintain social cohesion.



The Special Representative's visit to Logouata and Bayota came four days after violent intercommunity clashes which resulted in deaths and the destruction of property. She was leading a delegation composed of members of UNOCI's military, police, human rights, civil affairs, public information components and the Mission's field offices in Divo and Daloa. The deputy director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mrs Aïssata Dè was also part of the delegation.



Explaining the reason for her visit to the two localities, the head of UNOCI said: "I came to present UNOC's condolences, show compassion to the injured and express my solidarity to those who lost their property and especially to listen to you in order to understand what happened here to adversely the cohesion that your localities have always enjoyed", she told the different communities she encountered.

In Logouata, a village in the sous-préfecture of Bayota, the violence resulted in two deaths, several wounded and the destruction of property, including the burning down of several homes. Some 15 village and tribal chiefs, dignitaries from the region, as well as the deputy prefect, Mrs Ouédji Danielle Solange, were among the people who welcomed the UN delegation.



The youth president and spokesperson of the locality, Koukougnon Clément, gave an account of the events that took place highlighting the fact that the different communities had good relations until the events. He reiterated the indigenous communities' willingness to continue to live peacefully with the immigrant communities despite what happened. "We still want to live as good neighbours," he stated, thanking the Special Representative and her delegation for their visit.

Mrs Mindaoudou presented UNOCI's condolences to relatives and friends of the dead and wished those who were injured a speedy recovery. "I came to comfort you and to see how we can wipe away your tears," she told people.



The Special Representative then explained UNOCI's mandate to people, especially with regard to strengthening social cohesion. In her address to the youths, she reminded them that intercommunity conflict should be resolved peacefully and urged everyone to show restraint. She stressed the importance of respecting the law. She concluded by thanking people of Logouata and their willingness to put aside the past despite the painful incidents they had just suffered. "This simply shows that you are women and men of peace," she added.



The second stage of the visit of the Special Representative and her delegation was in Bayota where they met with members of the immigrant communities.



The discussions focused on the need to preserve a peaceful environment. As she had done earlier in Logouata, Mrs Mindaoudou stressed the importance of avoiding violence and the use of force in daily relations. She appealed to local youths to behave in a peaceful way. "Nobody has the right to take justice into their own hands. You are in a place where you have been welcomed so it is necessary to behave in an exemplary way. You should let the law take its course," she told them. The Special Representatives then appealed to all communities to show restraint, tolerance and a spirit of peaceful dialogue.



In this regard, the head of UNOCI suggested that an intercommunity dialogue session be organized so that people can come together, sit down and talk in order to identify their problems and make recommendations on how best to resolve them. "You should all do all you can to maintain social cohesion. You should be capable of protecting your property and put the common interest above all else", she insisted.



Mrs Mindaoudou concluded by asking for an inquiry to be opened on the violent incidents so that those responsible can be brought to justice. She promised to return in the very near future to participate in an intercommunity dialogue session.