Special Representative of UN in Côte d'Ivoire, Choi Young Jin reviewed with Africas The latest developments in the Ivorian crisis. He participated on Monday, February 28, 2011 in Dakar at the 20th High Level Meeting of Special Representatives of the Secretary General of the United Nations in West Africa.
The Africas. There are two different M Choi days, UN peacekeepers have been targeted by armed pro-Gbagbo.Quelle is your reaction to this situation?
Young Jin Choi. Listen, we were in our patrol and our items have received direct hits of military pro-Gbagbo and we returned fire. It happened in the day, late afternoon in Abobo (Abidjan neighborhood, a stronghold of Alassane Ouattara). Our three peacekeepers have happily received his shots on their helmets. If they were not well protected, they would die on the field. It was a very serious attack and we have warned the pro-Gbagbo. They were told not to repeat this kind of attacks that we equate to a war crime. The lyrics sometimes brutal as well as threats by some close to Gbagbo are part of the strategy of harassment, propaganda. We understand very well. If you burn your car, you pull on you, you try to kidnap you and we proceeded to the ransacking of houses to make goods. This is an act of extreme hostility directly. It is a loss of control of the forces of Gbagbo. However, recently there has been a transformation of harassment, became moderate.
The Africas. What is the situation today in Abobo and in western countries?
YJ. C Oh, the situation is very serious especially in Abobo, a district of Abidjan, where we found several bodies dumped in the street. This could cause epidemics in the country. So you could have not only humanitarian cases in Abobo, but also in western Côte d'Ivoire ... We do very careful and vigilant.
The Afriques.Craignez you a resumption of civil war in Ivory Coast?
YJC You know, all I can say now is that for the first time since 2004, he was hanging there 's direct connection between the two armies in the west. It is a very serious sign, but it should be noted that they were separated after a day combat. Now, fingers crossed all the more that we have not seen a resumption of fighting since the clash. It has nothing to fear but we are preparing for the worst course with the hope that this situation back to normal.
The Africas. Are you aligned with the panel of African leaders who began peace talks in Ivory Coast under the auspices of the African Union? YJC
I'll tell you. I had the opportunity to make a briefing in the company of these heads of state appointed by the African Union. But the meeting was strictly devoted to elections. They promised me they will soon return to Abidjan with a solution. Perhaps they will return at the end of this week. They are waiting with great hope. Anyway, our mandate is our duty to assist, support this high level panel of African Heads of State as well as the expert group. Contrary to what many analysts believe, to leave Gbagbo is not our mission in Ivory Coast. It should be clear. We're here for the Ivorian people. Our first mission is the protection of civilians, including civilian pro-Gbagbo.La second is the protection of the Golf Hotel where the President elect Mr Alassane Ouattara. This feature of the Hotel du Golf is very important because it is to prevent division of the country and the resumption of war civile.Nous have also made half of our items based in the Ivorian capital at the Hotel du Golf. The third element of our mandate is the certification that is to say, save results of the presidential election. Our impartiality is complete on the military and politics.
The Africas. What this case commando invisible? YJC
Y'avait It is true that clashes between pro-Ouattara civilian camps in Abobo and military pro-Gbagbo.Nous Y'avait can say that heavy weapons fire from both sides . That is to say that elements of the camp Ouattara civilians are armed. Unfortunately, the UN is in disarray to say that the situation in Côte d'Ivoire may be a source of serious complications with negative implications in the west African subregion.
Interviewed by Mohamed Ndiaye
Les Afriques
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