Highlights
- SRSG highlights UNOCI's accomplishments, challenges in New Year message
- UNPOL finishes security sector workshop with police leadership;
- Identification - overview of accomplishments in 2008; CEI to announce new date for elections;
- French minister visits Bouaké;
SRSG highlights UNOCI's challenges and accomplishments in New Year message
In a New Year message to all civilian, police and military staff of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Cote d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, described the mission's successes in 2008 and the challenges it faces in 2009. Listing the successes, he said, inter alia, that "2008 was a good year for UNOCI: we have restored confidence with the Ivorian people, whom we came to serve; we have contributed to the consolidation and progress of the Ivorian peace process, which constitutes the focus of our mandate; and we have ensured a better management of our own house, which provides us with a spirit of teamwork. ..." With regard to prospects for the coming year, Mr Choi stated: "Looking ahead, 2009 appears to be no less challenging than 2008. We have to deal with the triple challenges of identification, DDR and elections, all the while keeping peace in the country. At the same time we have to adjust UNOCI's configuration and ensure its smooth management. And as we meet these tasks, we have to enhance internal cohesion and team spirit. Yet I remain confident that we shall meet them with success as I can rely on your resourcefulness and dedication."
UNOCI police complete high-level workshop with Ivoirian counterparts
On 30 December 2008, the UN Police (UNPOL) in Côte d'Ivoire completed a five-day workshop with the leadership and other high-ranking officers of the Ivoirian police force. The workshop was designed to help with the reform process of this security force, as prescribed by the Ouagadougou political accords. The interim chief of UNPOL, Pierre André Campiche, who participated in the workshop, said at the end of it that some important conclusions had been agreed, including the need for a new code of ethics for the police force, the need to create a closer and more trusting relationship between the police and the general population, as well as the need for the police to have more technical tools at their disposal. A part of the workshop concentrated on women's role in the police force - women represent a little more than 10 % of the Ivorian police - and the head of UNOCI's Gender Unit, Eva Dalak, described the importance, through examples, of increasing the number of women officers. UNOCI is assisting the Government of Côte d'Ivoire with security sector reform, and UNPOL have identified 35 important projects for the benefit of the Ivorian police. Ten of the 35 projects have already received funding.
Security
UNOCI stepped up its patrols in various parts of Côte d'Ivoire at the end of the year, conducting almost 500 patrols on 31 December and 1 January. No serious incidents of insecurity were reported.
Elections
According to the government of Côte d'Ivoire, 2.7 million people have been identified since the launching of the identification and electoral census process that began at the end of September 2008. The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) stated in a communiqué published at the end of last year that it could finish this process in February 2009 if the required financial resources are made available and proper security is provided. UNOCI continues to provide daily logistical support, including transportation, fuel and generators, to various collection centers around the country. UNOCI military and police regularly visit and patrol in the vicinity of these centers, while the Election Assistance Division is assisting the CEI and visiting collection centers each and every day. The President of the Republic, Laurent Gbagbo, announced in his New Year's address that he was strongly committed to holding elections in 2009, and that he was waiting for the CEI to publish a new, realistic chronology for the holding of free and fair elections this year.
French Official in Bouaké
The French Minister of State for Defense, Mr. Jean-Marie Bockel, yesterday visited the village of Tanou Sakassou, near Bouaké, where he presided over the handing over to the population of a hydraulic pump to safeguard the water supply in the village. Earlier in the day, Minister Bockel met in Bouaké with the local detachment of the French Licorne Force, which is engaged in joint military and civil actions to support UNOCI and its mandate. Licorne continues to provide support to various projects intended to assist the revival of community life in villages, in sectors such as agriculture and education. It has also supported UNOCI's 1000 micro-projects initiative for the reintegration of demobilized FAFN soldiers in and around Bouaké. Minister Bockel was accompanied on his visit by the former French Minister of Cooperation, Mr. Roussin, and the Head of the Licorne Force, General Houbron.