The inhabitants of Tapeguia village have been called upon to renounce violence in all its forms and to embrace dialogue and development. This was the essence of a sensitization meeting organized by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) on Thursday 17 October 2013 in the village, located some 15 km from Issia.



The visiting UNOCI delegation including representatives of the Public Information, Human Rights, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), Child Protection, Civil Affairs offices as well as UN Police and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) presented their various mandates and called on the population to respect the authority of the village chief. "The march toward peace begins, above

all, with the respect for your authorities, starting with the village Chief who is the first link with the administration," the head of the UNOCI delegation urged.



Tapeguia village Chief, Yaro Aime said he was pleased with the UNOCI initiative which he said will contribute to lessen inter-communal tensions. He also drew the attention of the UNOCI delegation and local authorities to road blocks erected on the way to the farmlands by traditional hunters commonly known as .