Insecurity rising in certain urban centres of Côte d'Ivoire, UN mission says

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire today expressed anxiety about rising insecurity and criminal behaviour in certain towns, especially Abidjan, the largest city in the West African country, and called on the authorities to disarm and disperse armed groups.

"To contribute towards ending this rise in criminality, the soldiers and civilian police of UNOCI have been deployed on the ground since December in mixed patrols with the Ivorian Defence and Security Forces," the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire said.

The positive outcomes of these operations risked being seriously compromised by the activities of the armed groups and militias in working-class districts, UNONCI said.