UNPOL

WHO ARE THEY ?

Created by UN Security Council Resolution 1528 of 27 February 2004, the UN Police in Côte d’Ivoire became operational on 4 April of the same year. UNPOL in Côte d’Ivoire is led by Police Commissioner, Vianney Nshimiyimana.   It is made up of 400 policemen and 20 policewomen as well as six groups of Formed Police Units specialized in maintenance of public order, making a total of 1,200 police coming from 26 contributing countries. They are deployed as follows :   

  •   Abidjan sector 
  •   Sector West/Daloa 
  •   Sector East/ Bouake
 

 

  1. Legal Framework

The UN Police in Cote d’Ivoire went operational on 4 April 2004 within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1528. Its mandate was modified and reinforced by several subsequent resolutions including Resolution 1765 following thee Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) of 4/3/2007.

 

  1. Strength

UNPOL has a strength of 400 officers from 25 contributing countries and 750 elements of the Formed Police Unit coming from three countries.

 

  1. Presentation of UNPOL, Côte d’Ivoire

Ø  UNPOL in Côte d’Ivoire plays a key role in establishing a police presence throughout the Ivorian territory and in the organization of internal security.

Ø  It equally focuses on the training of members of the local police and gendarmerie by providing technical advice and expertise in professional matters. Its mandate allows it to assist in the organization of peaceful and transparent elections.

 

  1. Accomplishments

Ø  Assistance in the evaluation of the local police and gendarmerie structures.

Ø  Providing guidance for territorial units: joint patrols, assistance in the execution of daily police duties such as identifying punishable offences, arrests, hearings and interrogation of suspects.

Ø  Training of local police and gendarmes in police science and judicial procedure; sixteen police officers trained and deployed in other UN missions. Six hundred defense and security auxiliaries trained in  the notion of community police, public security and deployed in the north of the country to better discharge their duties of ensuring the free movement of people and goods

Ø  Joint patrols with Formed Police Units during community visits.

Ø  Participation in arms embargo inspection in the context of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process.

Ø  Providing security for the mobile court hearings.

Ø  Support to the reconstruction and socioeconomic development activities of the country (through UNOCI quick Impact Projects programme, donations etc.)

Ø  Mixed Brigades

Following the Ouagadougou Political Agreement OPA of 4/3/2007, UNPOL became involved in the monitoring of six mixed brigades created after the substitution of the “Zone of Confidence” by the “Green Line”. These were the mixed brigades of Ngattadlikro, Kopengue, Famienkro, Bangolo, Bonoufla and Zeale. UNOCI Police was charged with assisting in the management of security in this part of the territory, a task that was assigned to the Impartial Forces. A mixed brigade comprised 10 FDS, 10 FAFN and 4 UNPOL elements. In collaboration with the two other forces, UNPOL ensured the free movement of people and goods, monitored road traffic and carried out joint patrols in the villages and towns. It also supervised the coverage of mobile courts, a crucial phase of the electoral process aimed at recording birth declarations and identifying Ivorian nationals for the purpose of obtaining identity cards- a precondition for inclusion in the voters register.

 

  1. Collaboration with other UNOCI components

UNPOL assists other components of UNOCI on a daily basis. This is illustrated in its participation in activities to  sensitize the population through public forums, schools caravan organized by UNOCI Public Information Ofiice PIO during which other sections such as HIV/AIDS, Gender, Child Protection, Human Rights, Civil affairs, Electoral assistance, Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration DDR take turns in informing the public about their mandate and activities. UNPOL also takes part in inspecting arms embargo sites.

 

  1. Organisation

Ø  Secretariats of the Commissioner and deputy Commissioner

Ø  Office of Chief of Staff: Personnel cell, Logistics, Public Information, security investigation unit

Ø  Operation section

Ø  Training section

Ø  Reform and restructuring

Ø  Planning

Ø  Abidjan sector: Abidjan post, Abengourou and Abidjan airport.

Ø  Sector East, Bouake: police posts: Bouke, Bondodukou, Boun, Ferkessedougou, Korhogo, Sakassou, Yamoussoukro and Boundiali

Ø  Integrated Command centre

Ø  Sector West, Daloa: Police posts: Daloa, Bangolo, Bounoufla, Danane, Duekoue, Man, Odienne, San Pedro, Seguela.

The last police post was inaugurated on 16/6/2008 in Boundiali to ensure a wide presence throughout the territory.

 

  1. Humanitarian Activities:

UNPOL’s vision is “to maintain law and order with a human face.” Apart from supporting socioeconomic activities by donating professional equipment and materials to the Ivorian national police, UNPOL also makes gifts of food items, school kits to orphanages and the needy, provide drinking water to the population, conduct free medical consultations and treatment and rehabilitate certain local police posts.