Participants put their hands together in a sign of peace at the end intercommunity dialogue organized from 28 to 29 April 2016 by the Division of Civil Affairs of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in collaboration with the sub-prefecture of Koro, in the Bafing region (138 km from Man).

The meeting was aimed at settling lingering land disputes in the village of Kountiguisso. The conflicts, according to some analysts, originated from illegal land acquisitions by some local communities and their refusal to accept the authority of traditional chiefs.

The inter-community dialogue was chaired by the Secretary General of prefecture who was representing the Prefect of the department of Koro and was attended by the population and heads of administrative services in the area.

Your commitment will help you turn the page of the crisis

At the opening ceremony, the leader of UNOCI’s delegation, Civil Affairs Officer, John Nsengo, expressed his satisfaction for the active participation of the populations in the meeting. He also urged them to awaken their conscience to create conditions for land conflict settlements.

For his part, the Secretary General of the prefecture welcomed the United Nations System’s support in solving land disputes that routinely undermine social cohesion in Kountiguisso. He further asked the population to take advantage of the opportunity given by the United Nations to solve conflicts.

“The community life starts with forgiveness, love and tolerance. People of Koro and Kountiguisso, you have no other alternative if you want to build a peaceful, prosperous and developed department. That is why I am delighted that all communities have decided to actively participate in that meeting. It is with genuine and sincere commitment that we can have true reconciliation; the reconciliation of the hearts. Your commitment will allow you to turn the page of this crisis,” said Benoit Kouadio Brou.

After two days of separate discussion sessions and a plenary on the second day, the two parties agreed to bury the hatchet by signing a document in which each of them made explicit concessions. They, for instance, decided to recognize and respect the authority of their village heads, to end lawless settlements and remove illegal settlers. They also engaged to inform the village chief before conducting any land transaction.