The 42nd edition of United Nations Days (JNU) which started on 2 February 2016 in Dimbokro, ended on Thursday, 4 February with a forum of exchange with local people. The day's event, which was attended by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire and Head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Aichatou Mindaoudou, was a day of fellowship and interaction with Dimbokrofouès.



The forum was also attended by the Prefect of the N'zi region, Prefect of the department of Dimbokro, Jacques Obouo N'Guessan, the Mayor and his Deputy, officers, village chiefs, community, traditional and religious leaders.

The final started with reports and recommendations from workshops and discussions groups comprising prefects, elected officials, managers, traditional leaders, community and religious leaders, teachers, security forces, media, diverse associations and NGOs. The workshops discussed social cohesion and national reconciliation. Participants from diverse social backgrounds expressed their commitment to maintain a peaceful environment for lasting peace in their region and in Côte d'Ivoire.



"The peaceful environment in which the presidential election took place in October 2015 is the result of your behaviour as mature citizen," the Special Representative said. She recalled that the presidential election had recorded "zero violence, zero deaths, zero injuries."



In response to a recommendation from traditional and community leaders, the head of UNOCI encouraged them to continue to train, inform and reconcile before, during and after the forthcoming local elections.

"We visited several villages and hamlets around the country in order to increase the adherence of all to peace. I encourage you to preserve peace," she said, adding that UN Days sensitization and information campaign is designed to complement the efforts of national and local authorities in this regard.



It should be noted that the Special Representative has held discussions with the village chiefs, traditional and community leaders and with prefects of the region and with elected officials of Dimbokro.





Harmony and brotherhood must coexist beyond our ethnic and religious differences



The regional prefect, Jacques Obouo N'Guessan expressed his appreciation of UNOCI's actions over a decade. He noted that the valuable contribution made by the UN Mission in the resolution of the crisis in 2010. He particularly welcomed the Special Representative good offices mandate which led to the peaceful presidential election in 2015. "Harmony and fraternity must coexist beyond our ethnic and religious differences," the Prefect said. He also said that the development of the region depended on the union of the sons and daughters of the N'zi region.



The group of actors called "That's it!" from the Alassane Ouattara University of Bouaké performed sketches on the need to preserve peace, even after the departure of UNOCI.



During the UN Days, a safety operation was held as well as projections of sensitization films were shown to audiences at the Youth Centre in Dimbokro.