IVORY COAST: French troops will continue to provide security support along buffer zone

Record ID: 182006

  • Title: IVORY COAST: French troops will continue to provide security support along buffer zone
  • Date: 18th April 2007
  • Summary: (BN17) BROBO, IVORY COAST (APRIL 17, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FRENCH SOLDIERS IN A MILITARY ARMOURED VEHICLE DRIVING THROUGH A VILLAGE FRENCH CONVOY ON THE ROAD
  • Embargoed: 3rd May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA97GW4VMOYFV2C809KA3HNPQ12
  • Story Text: French troops (Licorne contingent) continue to provide security support in a buffer zone which until Monday (April 16) divided Ivory Coast rebel north from the government-controlled South. As U.N troops started their gradual pullout, to leave the security of the area in the hands of joint patrols formed by both government and rebel troops, the French contingent continued to provide their support to villages in the buffer zone. French troops remained on patrol Tuesday (April 17) along the buffer zone between the rebel-controlled north of the Ivory Coast, and the government in the south, even as the the pullout of U.N. troops continued.
    The Ivory Coast ordered the dismantling of the buffer zone -- the so-called zone of confidence, after a March 4th peace deal between the rebels and the government put an end to the long-running conflict in the West African nation.
    Under the peace plan, U.N. and French peacekeepers in the buffer zone will pull back in stages and be gradually replaced by mixed brigades of government and rebel soldiers. Although their numbers will be reduced, French troops say their mission to bring security to villages remains unchanged.
    "Certainly, we are going to lose a few numbers but our mobility will increase for the tactical group I command and we will be able to intervene, We will, if you will, be centred in the area of Yamoussoukro, the intersection of all roads, and from there we will be able to intervene either by land or air in the different areas where we are needed," said French Force Licorne Commander Colonel Benoit Houssay.
    Although fighting between the two sides ceased four years ago, the buffer zone had effectively marked the division between the rebel-held north and the government-held south, hindering transport and communication between the two halves.
    At the order of the U.N. force commander, peacekeepers Monday (April 16) removed barbed wire and traffic cones from a U.N. checkpoint and Pakistani and Moroccan peacekeepers in their blue helmets withdrew aboard troop carriers.
    The peace plan, a home-grown deal which followed the failure of several internationally brokered accords, foresees the holding of elections by early next year after disarmament and national identity procedures are carried out.
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