New UN envoy arrives in Côte d’Ivoire to head peacekeeping mission

The new United Nations envoy in charge of the peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire, Pierre Schori, arrived today in the major city, Abidjan, and expressed his happiness at finding himself in a position to reinforce the mission’s contribution to the West African country’s peace process.

Before taking up the post as chief of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), Mr. Schori was most recently a visiting professor at Adelphi University in New York. Before that he was also Sweden’s Permanent Representative at the UN from 2000 to 2004.

He also has been a member of the European Parliament and held ministerial posts in his Government, among many public service posts.

Meanwhile at UN Headquarters in New York, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said unidentified assailants fired up to 20 shots at the peacekeeping mission’s headquarters in western Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday and then fled.

No damage or injuries from the 15 to 20 shots were reported from UNOCI headquarters in Daloa, he said at the daily news briefing.

Daloa is west of the capital Yamoussoukro and close to the south side of the Zone of Confidence separating the Government-ruled southern part of the country from the rebel-controlled northern area.

The authorities of the National Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FANCI) have been investigating and would increase night patrols in the area, Mr. Dujarric said.

UNOCI also carried out arms inspections along the Ivorian-Guinean border over the weekend, he added.