Taï still on course on the road to peace

The district of Taï is at peace. One year after the last attacks in this border town situated on the far west of Côte d'Ivoire, some 700 km from Abidjan, the calm which reigns is mainly due to the people's will to move towards peace after much suffering. They have been doing so in collaboration with the United Nations and local authorities who have redoubled their efforts to encourage peace by organising sensitisation activities to promote social cohesion.

In the sous-préfecture of Zagné, during a recent discussion forum initiated by the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), youths in the area made a commitment to become ambassadors of peace. "{The youths are working for peace and they will continue to carry out actions among the different communities in an effort to rebuild the trust which was lost during the crisis, between them}", said the local youth president, Kaho Lemaire at the end of the forum. The aim of the forum was to urge local youths to turn their backs on violence and actions that could disrupt their communities.

In addition, in an effort to support local initiatives, UNOCI's Civil Affairs Section organised an inter-community dialogue meeting in Diere-Oula, a village situated south of Taï, on the road between Taï and Para. This village was hit hard by the Ivorian crisis which led to many of its residents seeking refuge in Liberia. The meeting was aimed at promoting dialogue and encouraging local initiatives to promote reconciliation and strengthen social cohesion. The different communities have since found a way of living in harmony and are assisting one another, as well as the returnees, by organising diverse activities including a « day of reconciliation ».

In Ponan village, in the sous-préfecture of Taï, UNOCI organised a listening and sensitisation session as part of its advocacy to promote peace. During the event, a representative of the Mission's Civil Affairs Section encouraged people to make a commitment to peace. "{ If you learn to accept one and another, if you learn to discuss issues in order to find solutions to your differences, if you make the ultimate sacrifice which means turning the page on the painful events which each one of you have gone through and move forward, peace, really peace will come,}" the representative of UNOCI told villagers in Ponan.

The numerous attacks perpetrated in this area has forced local government authorities and partners of the Ivorian Government to redouble their efforts to provide an impetus to the return to normality. It was as part of these efforts that peace and conflict management committees were set up after consultations with community leaders. The different reforms did not only allow each inhabitant of N'Zê city to forget any rancour, but also gave people the opportunity to talk about their concerns to each other. These efforts also went a long way to boosting the stability of the security situation, reconciliation, strengthening respect for human rights and restoring the rule of law.
Today, the district of Taï enjoys an atmosphere of brotherhood and unity with a notable improvement in the security environment and respect for human rights. Reconciliation days, social and sport activities with the support of the United Nations, other humanitarian partners and local government authorities.

Mistrust and recurrent complaints between communities in the department have significantly decreased. Proof of this among many others is the fact that people who were previously complaining about the attitude of traditional hunters, known as Dozos, agreed to make peace with them during a meeting organised by the Prefect of Taï, Aka Kassy Bio.

The strengthening of social cohesion during the post-crisis period has had a positive effect on people's daily lives. In addition, Taï has benefitted from several projects, including the rehabilitation of a primary school, a medical laboratory and a youth club - thanks to UNOCI's Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme.
For the first deputy mayor of the town, Tehe Tere, "{ Taï is resolutely on the road to peace. All it needs now is a final effort by the population, with the support of the local authorities, UNOCI and the NGOs, to finally overcome the challenge of finding lasting peace and social cohesion }".

Prisca Armande Soumahoro