As part of the regional sensitization campaign to strengthen social cohesion and create a peaceful electoral environment, the regional office of the Public Information Section of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in Man, on Wednesday, 24 June 2015, organised a meeting to exchange information with and sensitise people in Guézon sub-prefecture in the department of Facobly in the west of Côte d'Ivoire.



The objective of the meeting was to involve all sections of the population in strengthening social cohesion and consolidating peace in order to create a peaceful electoral environment before, during and after the presidential election of October 2015.



During the meeting, UNOCI's Public Information Office, its Civil Affairs' Customs unit and United Nations police officers and the Legal Clinic in Man urged traditional and community leaders, women and youths, to carry out actions and behave in ways that promote the culture of peace and respect of human rights and state authorities.



For the deputy prefect of Guézon, Prince Assemian, who took an active part in that meeting, social cohesion and harmony between communities were a reality in Guézon.



"With UNOCI's peace messages, its sensitization for a peaceful social environment, we must now give a chance to national reconciliation in order to achieve development and emergence as advocated by the Ivorian Government," he said.



On behalf of the Mayor's Office and Facobly executive officers, the 4th Deputy Mayor, Mahan Germaina, thanked UNOCI for the fruitful exchanges and the various actions undertaken by UN Mission to maintain and consolidate peace in Côte d'Ivoire, particularly in the Guémon region.



"This town knows it can count on you to help people initiate development which is also a factor in the consolidation of peace," he added.



After the exchanges, the chief of central Guézon, Benjamin Guei, pleaded for the support of the Mission in the construction of a market that would help the town get out of its lethargy and engage in development by selling its agricultural products.



On behalf of UNOCI, the head of the UN Mission's delegation, Mukamurenzi Providence, reassured the population of Guézon that the Mission will always accompany them within the limits of its available resources.



He then urged them to be more tolerance and commit to the peace and reconciliation process in order to foster the creation of social stability, security, peace and peaceful environment.



He concluded by saying that development and peace which were interdependent were the sole condition to ensure a harmonious life within communities.

More than 150 people from the villages of Guézon, Seambly, Taibly, Facobly II and Kloplou and the town of Facobly participated in the sensitization session known as ONUCI Tour.