GOCI TO LAUNCH PILOT IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM ON MAY

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000495 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO ASEC PREL IV SUBJECT: GOCI TO LAUNCH PILOT IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM ON MAY 18 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Prime Minister,s office and a New Forces (FN) representative have told us that on May 18 the government will begin a pilot population identification program at seven locations in government and FN territory and in the Zone of Confidence. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Francois Komoin, Secretary General at the Prime Minister,s office, confirmed that the particulars provided in a May 12 AFP article on the plan were accurate. According to Komoin, the pilot program will take place in seven locations: three in the south, in Port-Bouet, in Abidjan, Tiapoum, near the border with Ghana, and Meagi, near San Pedro; two in the Zone of Confidence, in Bangolo and Sandegue; and two in the FN-controlled north, in Bouna in the northeast and Botro, near Bouake. Komoin said the pilot program would begin on May 18 and be completed by May 25. ¶3. (SBU) According to Alain Lobognon, NF Secretary General Guillaume Soro,s Assistant Chief of Staff for Communication and Vice President of the National Commission for the Supervision of Identification (an organization established by the Linas-Marcoussis accord),the identification will be carried out by officials from the Ministry of Justice. Lobognon added that Tiapoum was chosen because it is a remote, hard-to-reach location, while Meagi,s population includes residents from all over West Africa. These locations will therefore be ideal test sites to measure the Ministry of Justice,s ability to carry out the work. ¶4. (SBU) According to Komoin, the Prime Minister,s office and others involved in this project are still working out the details and will be meeting through the weekend to finalize them. He expects that the Minister of Justice will announce the pilot program at a press conference on Sunday night or Monday morning. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: This is a very positive development. Identification and national identity are at the core of the NF,s grievances. If the government does launch the identification process in a serious manner, it will represent an important step forward in the peace process that may induce the NF to begin DDR. After his long trip abroad, it seems Banny has moved quickly to make identification happen. Hooks