The UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) took part in an arms collection operation jointly organized by the Ivorian national commission for the fight against the illegal proliferation and circulation of light and small caliber weapons (COMNAT-ALPC) and the national Authority for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (ADDR) held in Toulepleu (far west) on 11 September 2014.

UNOCI assistance consisted in deploying its Moroccan contingent to provide security at the arms collection site, provide technical and material support and a facility for the voluntary HIV/AIDS testing of ex-combatants who surrendered their weapons.



Twenty eight ex-combatants handed over a total of 19 weapons, two grenades and 507 rounds of ammunition.



The Prefect of Toulepleu, Diarra Karim congratulated the ex-combatants and encouraged those who were still skeptical to do so. « I salute the community leaders and encourage the various communities to work for peace because the war has come to an end. The arms surrender would permit ADDR and COMNAT to set up community projects for you, » he promised.

A representative of UNOCI's Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) division, Nsengo Kyambanza reaffirmed the availability of the UN Mission to support the disarmament process in order to achieve a lasting peace and called on civilians in possession of weapons of war to come and hand them over.



COMNAT's Coordinator for sensitization said the current disarmament campaign would go on for ten days in five different areas of the western region. « Let the population understand today that the State is moving on with the peace process and every community and individual should adhere to this dynamic, » he said. He welcomed the support of partners, particularly UNOCI and the UN Mine Action Service as well as the administrative authorities who have been following the progress of the arms collection exercise.



The operation is scheduled to move on from Toulepleu to the towns of Blolequin, Guiglo,Duekoue and will round up in Man.