New York – The top United Nations peacekeeping official said with Côte d’Ivoire now firmly anchored on the path of peace, stability and economic recovery, the mission would consider wrapping up its mission there.
Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told the Security Council on Wednesday in New York that the mission would begin to consider ways to support consolidating the country’s gains.
“Côte d’Ivoire is on the right track it will be prudent, therefore, to draw down our collective involvement through the peacekeeping mission in the country.
“I particularly welcome the Government’s ongoing reforms to the expansion of the political space and strengthening of unity and national cohesion,’’ he said.
He, however, said in spite of the stable security situation, there are “weaknesses” including intra-community conflicts in some regions of the country, as well as military threats in the southeast.
Ladsous said the country is subjected to areas of tension in the region of Boukani in the northeast, as evidenced during violent clashes in the night of Wednesday to Thursday, 24 March, between pastoralists and farmers in Bouna.
He noted that the clash left at least 30 dead and displaced more than 2,000 people, mainly women, children and elderly.
“Since the terrorist attacks of March 13 in Grand Bassam, claimed by al-Mourabitoun group, affiliated to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Government has taken proactive measures to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the attacks.
Ladsous hailed the subsequent efforts throughout the sub-region towards cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
“In view of these and other efforts, it will be appropriate, in my opinion, to conclude the phase of our collective commitment through the peacekeeping mission in the country.
Ladsous stressed that the time has ripped for the body to define the future role of the UN in the country to support the consolidation of peace, stability and democracy. (PANA/NAN)
