Highlights
- Traditional Chiefs sign agreement at UN Peacekeepers Day event
- UNOCI investigates reports of militias in Sector East
- PAKBATT peacekeepers evacuate injured woman
- Moroccan battalion rotates
UN Peacekeepers Day
Traditional chiefs from the Moyen Cavally and 18 Montagnes regions today signed an agreement to support and accompany the peace process and to contribute to the consolidation of social cohesion in their respective areas. They made this commitment at a forum organised by UNOCI in the western town of Bangolo to commemorate International UN Peacekeepers Day and the contribution of traditional chiefs to the peace and reconciliation process. The traditional leaders commended UNOCI for its contribution to the Ivorian peace process. The ceremony was attended by more than 700 people including the Deputy Commissioner of UNOCI Police, Pierre-Andre Campiche and Sector West Commander, Brigadier-General Mainul Islam.
Militias
UNOCI and Licorne soldiers have been instructed to investigate reports that new militias were being formed in Sector East. Concentrating on the region around Bongouanou, Military Observers have carried out a number of patrols to gather information in connection with these reports but have so far not found any concrete evidence to support them.
Military
At the weekly liaison meeting with the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles in Man yesterday, Licorne and BANBATT sought official clarification on information that the FAFN intended to establish a checkpoint at Dakouigouie, near Danané. The FAFN Liaison Officer said that they had no intention of doing so. It was also reported during the meeting that the main telephone cable serving Man had been stolen on the night of 25th May and morning of 26th May 2007. As a result there is no network for both mobile and fixed telephones in Man, Danané and Odienné. The FAFN representatives stressed that Ivorian Telecom will start working to restore the network, and that an investigation to identify the culprits has been launched. The Licorne liaison Officer confirmed that the
French Force will be handing over a school they have been using as their camp in Man on 30th May 2007. The Ivorian Minister of Education is expected to attend the handover ceremony.
PAKBATT peacekeepers on 26th May 2007 evacuated an injured woman and three children to the Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Hospital in Bangolo following an accident on the Man to Duékoué road.
A team comprising representatives from UNOCI, Licorne, the Ivorian Defence and Security Forces and the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) will carry out reconnaissance in the north of the country from 11 - 15 June 2007, to identify roads in need of rehabilitation. This was decided at a planning conference on road rehabilitation in the north of Cote d'Ivoire held on 25th May 2007.
Yesterday the Moroccan battalion based in Bouake began rotating their officers and soldiers. More than 700 troops will be returning home and replaced by a new contingent. The first rotation leaves Cote d'Ivoire today.
Security
Licorne soldiers based in Bouaké, announced this morning that they are providing security on trains travelling between Raviart and Kan, which are in the former Zone of Confidence.