On the initiative of the Public Information Office of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), people in Kouassikro, a village situated at some 15 kilometres from Daloa, were encouraged to work for elections without violence during the polls in 2015. The plea was made on 30 January 2015, during UNOCI's traditional sensitisation activity known as « ONUCI Tour''.



Anita Traoré from the UN Mission's Civil Affairs Division who led UNOCI's delegation drew the villagers of Kouassikro's attention to the violence which occurred during elections in 2010 in certain localities and urged them to avoid making the same mistake. « An election is a simple game in which people can choose their candidate freely. Avoid arguments which could end in violence », she advised.



The UNOCI's sections which took part in the event, such as the Public Information Office, UN Police, the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) and Civil Affairs sections presented their respective mandate to the people of Kouassikro.



Anicet Bekrou from the Public Information Office urged the villagers to prioritise the development of their locality instead of the political affiliations. «You should get involved in the national reconciliation so that Côte d'Ivoire can find lasting stability, which is vital for lasting development », he told the audience.



The chief of Kouassikro, Jean Kouassi Kouassi, welcomed UNOCI's initiative which he said provided the opportunity to avoid the tension which was observed between Kouassikro and certains neighbouring villages during the 2010 elections.



For his part, the youth leader of Zepreguhé, Pierre Claver Koré, who took part in the session, promised to continue the sensitisation started by UNOCI in order to ensure that peace reigns in the area.