Statements on CI

Violence in Cote d'Ivoire (01/24/06)

State Department Spokesman Scott McCormack (Photo: State Department)

Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 24, 2006

Noting the return to relative calm in Côte d’Ivoire, the United States remains concerned about the impact of the recent violence on the peace process and the provision of humanitarian assistance. We particularly deplore last week’s violent protests in Abidjan against United Nations Operations in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), and the attacks on humanitarian operations in the west. These attacks resulted in significant risk to UNOCI operations, the substantial loss of humanitarian matériel and the temporary suspension of essential assistance to vulnerable populations. We call on all parties to work with UNOCI to safeguard the security of refugees, humanitarian workers and civilians, and to ensure that similar incidents do not recur.

The United States supports the efforts of Prime Minister Konan Banny and his Government in facilitating the Ivoirian peace process. We thank Nigerian President Obasanjo for support as Chairman of the African Union. Working with the international community, Côte d’Ivoire must disarm and reintegrate former combatants and organize free, fair, and transparent elections before October 31, 2006, in accordance with the efforts of the African Union and UN Security Council Resolution 1633. We urge all Ivoirian parties to support these efforts.

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