Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06ABIDJAN885 | 2006-08-08 18:19:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Abidjan |
VZCZCXRO2691 RR RUEHPA DE RUEHAB #0885 2201819 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 081819Z AUG 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1730 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE |
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000885 |
1. (C) Summary: The UN confirms reports that it has halted the dismantlement of militias in Guiglo over the weekend. A UN official told us that tension in Guiglo remained high as some 1000 militia members from other towns continued their protests over the weekend. Although officially the UN claims to have suspended activities due to the low ratio of weapons per militia member, they are clearly also concerned by the potential for violence among disgruntled militias who believe their names should also be included on the disarmament lists. End Summary. 2. (U) The local press reports that the UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire (ONUCI) halted the dismantlement of militias in western Cote d'Ivoire over the weekend. The Head of ONUCI's DDR Department, Jean-Luc Stallone confirmed these reports to us on August 8. He said that disarmament had been "put on hold" because of the low number of weapons being surrendered by militia members. To date, according to ONUCI, 930 militias had registered for the dismantlement program but had only turned over 90 weapons and some 5,100 rounds of ammunition. (Note: these figures for weapons and ammunition are even lower than those reported earlier, e.g., in Abidjan 839.) 3. (C) Francois Sonon, Head of Office for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Duekoue, a town just east of Guiglo, told us on August 8 that tension in Guiglo remained high over the weekend as some 1000 militia members from other towns, namely Toulepleu located on the Liberian border, had continued their protests in Guiglo. Sonon said protesters had attacked the actual DDR sites and there were unconfirmed reports that some persons had burned the residence of the sub-Prefect in Toulepleu. According to Sonon, the protesters continue to claim that some of the names on the dismantlement lists are not actual combatants and they are demanding that their own names be added to the DDR lists. After discussions with the military Prefect in Guiglo on Saturday morning, the protesters agreed to return to their villages although they demanded assistance to return. UN forces from the Benin-battalion based in Guiglo provided them with logistical assistance. However, Sonon said other militia groups blocked roads in Duekoue on Sunday to protest the UN's decision to suspend the disarmament process. 4. (C) Emboff traveling in Guiglo last week viewed weapons turned in on August 2, when the UN claimed some 50 militia members were disarmed. Located in the back of a pick-up truck under Ivoirian military escort (FANCI), Emboff was able to see two rusty automatic weapons, one hand grenade, and several dozen ammunition rounds. Many have criticized the quality of weapons being turned in, charging militia groups with handing in broken weapons. Jacques Seurt, Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told Emboff at his field office in Guiglo that most of the weapons turned in up to now were not the same type of weapons used during the actual fighting in the region. Several sources report the newly disarmed militias were spending their first $240 DDR payment on drinks in local bars in Guiglo. 5. (C) Comment: It is a bad sign that the dismantlement of pro-Gbagbo militias in Guiglo has stopped only halfway into the process and without producing the intended results. Although the UN officially claims to have suspended activities due to the low ratio of weapons per militia member, they are also clearly concerned by the potential for violence among disgruntled militias who believe their names should be included in the disarmament lists. Stallone told us the UN will try to reorganize their approach before restarting disarmament, although it is not yet clear what measures they will adopt. End comment. Hooks |