Highlights

- UNOCI calls for restraint amid war of words between political actors
- PDSRSG receives Burkinabe Foreign Minister and delegation
- SRSG meets president of Ivorian Workers party

Political

Following the recent war of words between the Chairman of the Ivorian Popular Front party, Pascal Affi Nguessan and the Spokesman for the Forces Nouvelles, Sidiki Konate, UNOCI today issued a statement calling on all Ivorian actors to help consolidate the recent achievements in the peace process by showing restraint and using language which matches their actions in accordance with the Code of Conduct they signed earlier this year.

The Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Abou Moussa, recieved a delegation from Burkina Faso led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alain Bedouma Yoda. The Burkinabé delegation was in Côte d'Ivoire to attend a reconciliation ceremony, initiated by the Ivorian Government in 2007. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Yoda said that UNOCI was playing a very important role in the crisis-resolution process in Cote d'Ivoire and congratulated the Mission for working to bring peace back to the country as quickly as possible.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, yesterday continued with his consultations with Ivorian political leaders by meeting the President of the Ivorian Workers Party (PIT), Francis Wodié, who was accompanied by several members of his party. The discussions centred on the advances made in the peace process as well as the challenges which remain. Mr. Choi said that the identification and voter registration operation was progressing despite logistical difficulties.

Electoral process

Almost two million Ivorians have now been identified and some cases, registered to vote, according to the latest figures. The news has been welcomed by UNOCI which said that it was encouraged by the number of people registering, despite some delays and sporadic incidents. The Mission also reiterated its determination to continue providing logistical support in order keep the operation moving.

Arms embargo

Arms embargo inspections were successfully carried out by UNOCI peacekeepers at the Defence and Security Forces of Cote d'Ivoire's (FDS-CI)) gendarmerie brigade in Tranusa, near Bondoukou (east) at its camp in Nassian (east), at its gendarmerie squadron in Daloa (centre west) and at the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles' (FAFN) 82nd infantry battalion in Mahandiana-Sokourani, near Odienné (north)

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné is following up on the case of a 34-year-old man who was allegedly detained, beaten with sticks and military belts, and threatened with knives by soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles at the Poste de Commandement Operationelle in the northern city. The victim claimed that he was attacked after challenging the soldiers for demanding money from civilians. He was released after paying 1000 FCFA ($2 approx). The Office noticed that the man had wounds on his back. In another case being followed up by the Office, a 25-year-old man was reportedly arbitrarily arrested on 20 November 2008 by a FAFN soldier posted at the military headquarters. The victim is still being detained at the gendarmerie in Odienné.

On 2 December, within the framework of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in cooperation with the Regional Human Rights Office in Abidjan and with the technical assistance of the Rule of Law unit, jointly organized a two-day human rights awareness workshop in Aboisso, 120 km east of Abidjan. The session, which was broadcast live on the local radio, focused on human rights norms and protection mechanisms in Côte d'Ivoire. Some 470 participants, including local authorities, community, religious and traditional leaders as well as representatives of local NGOs participated in the event. The delegation visited the local court and prison and distributed kits containing soap, rice, sugar and milk to inmates. Eleven human rights clubs were also launched during an official ceremony chaired by the prefect of region.