Ivorian crisis: The UN technical assessment mission visits Blaise Compaoré

Le Nouveau Réveil - The UN technical assessment Mission on the Ivorian peace process is expected in Ouagadougou on Friday for a meeting with the Facilitator of the inter-Ivorian dialogue, President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso. “The mission will request the views of President Compaoré in this crucial period of the crisis-resolution process, in order to report to the United Nations Secretary-General”, Hamadoun Touré, spokesman of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), said during UNOCI’s weekly press conference.

Crisis resolution- The head of the UN assessment mission on disarmament: the parties are not opposed on the issue// Raisedon Zenenga: “we see an obvious will to propose solutions”.

Fraternité Matin  - Yesterday the head of the UN assessment mission, Raisedon Zenenga, and his team held a working session with the Minister of the Defence, Amani N’Guessan, at his office. There, too, the feeling of satisfaction was confirmed. On the specific issue of disarmament, which seems to be the bone of contention between the Presidential camp and the Forces Nouvelles, the UN diplomat said he did not get the feeling that there was a controversy. “With regard to our meetings, we do not see the controversy you are talking about, we do not see bitterness,” he said. “On the contrary, we see an obvious will to look for a better understanding and to propose solutions in the coming days. The parties involved tell us that they are working hard to set up everything needed for the implementation of the OPA,” said Raisedon Zenenga.

UN assessment Mission in Côte d’Ivoire- Djédjé Mady: “The United Nations should take action …”

Le Mandat  - The chief of the United Nations assessment team now in Côte d’Ivoire, Raisedon Zenenga, met with PDCI (Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire) Secretary-General Djédjé Mady, at the party’s headquarters on 14 April. For almost one hour, the two delegations reviewed the crisis-resolution process. At the end of the meeting, Djédjé Mady said that Zenenga’s mission was not to propose solutions, but rather to collect information on how to emerge from the crisis and report to the UN Secretary-General. This is why “we told him what we know about the management of this crisis and we are waiting for him to do his report and for the United Nations to draw its conclusion,” said Djédjé Mady. He said the PDCI would like the United Nations to go beyond simply assessing the situation, and take action so that Côte d’Ivoire can emerge from the crisis in a peaceful and democratic way. “The United Nations should help us in a more positive and significant way in order for us to hold elections,” Djédjé Mady pointed out.

Ex-combatants’ assembly sites: A big disappointment

Nord Sud  - The regrouping of Forces Nouvelles soldiers will be done soon. However, it should have been done long ago. Money and lack of will are said to be blocking disarmament. In the meantime, the sites selected to host the ex-combatants who volunteer for the army have become slums. (...) The funds announced by the international community are still expected.

Hamadoun Touré - ONUCI: "We have played our part" (...)

Nord Sud: The fact is that some of theses sites have fallen into disrepair

Hamadoun Touré: It is not UNOCI’s work to rehabilitate these sites if they fall into disrepair. If I give you a house and sometime later you tell me that it has fallen into ruin, it means that you did maintain it.

Rumors of attacks on Forces Nouvelles’ areas: the Green Berets of Chérif Ousmane bring out the heavy artillery

Nord Sud  - Chérif Ousmane’s men yesterday combed Bouaké in search of enemy combatants after they  heard a rumor of an imminent attack against the Forces Nouvelles’ stronghold. (...) According to informed sources, suspicious persons were arrested these days in Bouaké. “An operation is in progress against our areas. We do not know where it is coming from. But people are swarming Bouaké on motorcycles, posing as motorcycle taximen. To verify identities we carry out these patrols,” said a soldier. (...). The Forces Nouvelles have so far made no official statement on  this operation. (...).

Mercenaries present in CNO, government-controlled areas - Are Gbagbo and Soro preparing the resumption of the war?

Mandat  - (...) Hardliners in the presidential camp and the Forces Nouvelles are threatening each other. (...) Despite the arms embargo in Côte d'Ivoire, the two camps are heavily armed to protect themselves against possible attack from the opponent. In addition to weapons, other strategies have been put in place to neutralize the enemy. Among these strategies ... is the infiltration of the enemy camp by mercenaries well equipped for this mission (...). This explains the presence of mercenaries in both the government and the Forces Nouvelles’ controlled areas. (...) According to a source close to the Prime Minister's office "Laurent Gbagbo thinks that he can overcome us with arms or threats. We , too, have infiltrated his area.” The source confirmed that the presidential camp was preparing an attack against the Centre, North and West. A member of the uniformed forces close to the ruling party said that there were mercenaries working for the Forces Nouvelles in Abidjan and Yamoussoukro. (...).

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