A delegation comprising staff of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), and the Deputy Prefect of Gnagbodougnoa, on 3 July 2015, visited Kragbalilié, 43 km, south west from Gagnoa, to talk about peace with to the local population and to encourage them to strengthen social cohesion and build a peaceful electoral environment.



Representatives of United Nations Police (UNPOL), the Public Information office in Divo and the Division of Human Rights, exchanged with about four hundred participants, including community leaders from 17 villages of the sub-prefecture, as well as presidents of youth and women associations.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Idrissa Kone from the Public Information office of UNOCI in Divo called on the population of Kragbalilié to choose peaceful solutions as a method of resolving existing conflicts. He urged community leaders to use traditional mechanisms to find solutions to conflicts. He also warned young people against acts of violence during elections, including the destruction of public property and other acts of vandalism. He finally invited the residents of Kragbalilié to create conditions to ensure a peaceful electoral environment during next October's elections.



For his part, Jean Marie Nkuruziza of UNPOL, explained to the audience the tasks assigned to his component. He said that their role as UN police officers was to support and advice Ivorian Gendarmerie and the national police on the protection of civilians (POC). In addition, he urged the people of Gnagbodougnoa and Kragbalilié to cultivate unity, friendship and to show due respect to administrative and traditional authorities.



The head of the Regional Office of Human Rights, Etienne Allou made a presentation on the protection and promotion mandate of his division. He called for political tolerance and explained to the audience the significance and importance of the respect for Human rights during the election period. He also stressed on the importance during election time of the freedom of association, meeting, movement, and expression.



The Sub-Prefect of Gnagbodougnoa, Seraphin M'bla Kouassi, who presided over the ceremony, asked the population to put an end to the atmosphere of mistrust between Kragbalilié communities that has been prevailing since the post-election crisis of 2010-2011.



"In 2011 and 2012, it was not possible to see such a gathering between communities and ethnic groups," he however noted.



He thus welcomed the positive changes seen in terms of social cohesion in the village. M.Kouassi further asked the population to fight against rumors and to inform authorities in case of a conflict, so that a quick solution could be found.

"Problems do exist and will continue to exist. However, your role is to make sure to minimize their causes and make sure that we could restrain them when they happen, "he said.