11 Jun 2012

COTE D’IVOIRE / PEACEKEEPERS AMBUSH WRAP

Chief of peacekeeping Herve Ladsous to brief the Security Council on last Friday’s attack in western Cote d’Ivoire which killed seven peacekeepers from Niger. UNTV / ONUCI

Posted at: June 11, 2012 5:55 pm

Duration: 01:49

Available in: SD

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STORY: COTE D'IVOIRE / PEACEKEEPERS AMBUSH WRAP 
TRT: 1.49
SOURCE: UNOCI / UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 9-10 JUNE ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE / 8 JUNE 2012, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

9 JUNE ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE

1. Various shots, peacekeepers' bodies arriving in Abidjan

8 JUNE 2012, NEW YORK

2. SOUNDBITE (French) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General: 
"I am deeply shocked and strongly condemn the attack in Cote d'Ivoire on seven of our blue helmets from the Niger contingent. I extend my sincere condolences to the government of Niger as well as the families of the peacekeepers who perished in this ambush. My thoughts are with you."

9 JUNE ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE

3. Various shots, force commander presenting condolences to Nigerbatt of this zone

8 JUNE 2012, NEW YORK

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General: 
"I call on the government of Côte d'Ivoire to do its utmost to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable for this deadly attack."

9 JUNE ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE

6. Various shots, force commander presenting condolences to Nigerbatt of this zone

10 JUNE ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Bert Koenders, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote d'Ivoire:
"We have strengthened our military, police, civilian and humanitarian presence in the area to deter further violence and to protect civilians, and to also accompany the government in ensuring that their presence is also being used to the maximum in order to make sure that these people feel safe and secure."

9 JUNE ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE

8. Various shots, force commander presenting condolences to Nigerbatt of this zone

STORYLINE:

The UN Security Council today (11 June) met to discuss the situation in Côte d'Ivoire following Friday's killing of seven peacekeepers in the first attack of its kind in the West African country.

Hailing from Niger, the peacekeepers were serving with the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), and on patrol in the proximity of Para village, near the border town of Tai in the country's south-west on Friday (8 June), when they were attacked by a group of unidentified armed elements. A number of civilians were also killed in the ambush.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms" and extended his condolences to the government of Niger and the victims' families.

SOUNDBITE (French) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General: 
"I am deeply shocked and strongly condemn the attack in Cote d'Ivoire on seven of our blue helmets from the Niger contingent. I extend my sincere condolences to the Government of Niger as well as the families of the peacekeepers who perished in this ambush. My thoughts are with you."

The UN reported today that the situation in Côte d'Ivoire remains relatively calm but tense, with no reports of further incidents.

Secretary-General Ban has called on the government of Côte d'Ivoire to hold those responsible for the attack to account.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General: 
"I call on the government of Côte d'Ivoire to do its utmost to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable for this deadly attack."

Four individuals have reportedly already been taken into custody by Ivorian security agencies but their identities remain unconfirmed, the UN Spokesman Martin Nesirsky said today.

The mission in Côte d'Ivoire in collaboration with the mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is also launching a full investigation.

Meanwhile the two missions have taken a series of immediate measures, including the mission in Côte d'Ivoire deploying additional uniformed elements to the border area.

SOUNDBITE (English) Bert Koenders, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote d'Ivoire:
"We have strengthened our military, police, civilian and humanitarian presence in the area to deter further violence and to protect civilians, and to also accompany the government in ensuring that their presence is also being used to the maximum in order to make sure that these people feel safe and secure."

Thousands of people were reported to be fleeing from the area this weekend following the incident.

UNOCI was established in 2004 by the Security Council to facilitate the peace process in the country, which was split by civil war in 2002 into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south.

The mission, whose current mandate runs until 31 July, is currently tasked with assisting the country tackle the many challenges it faces in the wake of the violence that followed presidential elections in late 2010 and the electoral crisis that finally ended in April 2011. These include the restoration of law and order, national reconciliation, the holding of legislative elections, and economic recovery.