The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Ivory Coast, Y. J. Choi has assured that preparations are in place to ensure a peaceful presidential election, come November.
Despite the unavailability of sufficient computers and other logistical hitches that were identified, the representative however expressed hope after his tour to the identification and voter registration centres in the capital Abidjan. ‘I am confident that the voting centres would be fully operational for the polls,’ Mr. Choi said.
He also visited the western region of Moyen Cavallay to check on progress made in implementing projects financed by the UN Operation in Ivory Coast (UNOCI) to benefit the general population and was proud of the work that is being accomplished by the Moroccan military engineering unit.
As part of his visit package, Mr. Choi met with 15 former militia members, including six women, who will benefit from UNOCI micro-projects, such as the construction of a storage depot that will hold a rice-shelling machine and a mill, which will provide jobs to help them reintegrate to society.
The elections are slated to take place on the 30th of November in Ivory Coast, which became separated in 2002 between the Government-controlled south and the rebel-held north before a peace deal was struck early last year to bring the groups together. One of the problems facing the electoral campaign is the identification of Ivorian’s, and hence determining their eligibility to vote.
