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Ambassador Hooks walks through the town of Zoutoue in Western Cote d'Ivoire (Photo: Ron Kellog/US Embassy)

“The partition of Côte d’Ivoire is artificial,” says Ambassador Aubrey Hooks

The American Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Aubrey Hooks, told journalists on Tuesday that the aim of his recent visit to the New Forces-controlled territory in the North and West of Côte d’Ivoire was to understand the realities on the ground and to draw the attention of the country’s political key players to the needs of the population in these regions. The visit also sought to find new American partnerships in business, cultural, and health sectors, particularly in the fight against the HIV/AIDS through the American Emergency Plan.

Ambassador Hooks, who was accompanied by a strong American delegation, said the mission took them to thirteen towns including Man, Yeleu, Zouan Ougnin, Touba, Odienne, Boundiali, Ferkessédougou, and Bouaké; and covered 3,000 kilometers.  During the visit, the delegation held meetings with New Forces leaders, local officials, traditional chiefs, religious leaders, and humanitarian organizations.

Discussions focused on the peace process underway in the country, notably the question of disarmament and the reunification of the country. According to Ambassador Hooks, “The partition of Côte d’Ivoire is artificial…I was struck by the similarities between the North and the South, because people’s concerns at both sides of the country are the same.”   According to Ambassador Hooks, “the populations’ major concerns are to have access to potable water and the possibility for their students in the regions to take their final exams.”

Elaborating on the peace process, Ambassador Hooks declared that, “Significant progress has been made during the past two years and there is a real prospect for reconciliation amongst Ivoirians.” On the issue of disarmament, he said, “The New Forces’ leadership expressed their preparedness to lay down arms in order to pave the way for the demobilization of ex-combatants.”

Finally, the U.S. Ambassador reaffirmed the commitment of his country to continue to support the Ivoirian peace process. “The United States is already involved in the crisis at all levels,” he said. On the role of the U.N. peacekeeping forces in Côte d’Ivoire, Ambassador Hooks said, “Their responsibility to facilitate the smooth implementation of the peace process and not to enforce the disarmament.”