COTE D IVOIRE: Annan says UN mission needs more troops after latest flare-up

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

ABIDJAN, 15 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - The UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire (ONUCI) needs reinforcing with more than 1,200 military personnel after days of mob violence in the West African nation last month left it "strained to the limit", Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday.

"The crisis has highlighted the limitations of the Mission when faced by massive unrest and attacks against certain groups of civilians that are clearly orchestrated, organised and undertaken in a climate of impunity," Annan said in his latest report to the Security Council on Cote d'Ivoire.

ONUCI currently has around 6,000 peacekeepers in the former French colony, that has been split into a government-controlled and a rebel-held north for more than two years. But the events of early November prompted a rethink.

Government troops shattered an 18-month ceasefire and began bombarding rebel territory paving the way for a ground assault to crush the rebel New Forces movement.

The offensive came to an abrupt halt when nine French peacekeepers were killed in a raid. Paris retaliated by destroying the Ivorian airforce, triggering a wave of violence that sent 9,000 mainly-French expatriates fleeing and left many homes and business in ruins.

Annan suggested the 15-nation council give the green light to an emergency reinforcement in Cote d'Ivoire that would include 850 soldiers and 76 military policemen as well as other extra manpower.

"These adjustments would add total 1,226 military personnel to the current authorised strength of the force of 6,240, thereby increasing its strength to up to 7,466 military personnel," Annan said. "The crisis in the first half of November has strained to the limit ONUCI's capacity to implement its mandate."

The Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), which has been involved in long-running mediation efforts to solve the crisis in the world's top cocoa grower, had called for a reinforcement of UN peacekeepers last weekend.

Annan said on Tuesday that it was not just extra people that were needed but also more resources. He called for a boat unit in Abidjan, which could be used to rescue people or transport troops across the lagoon that divides the city.

And he said attack helicopters were needed to back up UN peacekeepers on the ground and present a stronger deterrent. He noted that in November, despite ONUCI's efforts, large numbers of government troops had moved across the buffer zone, which runs through the centre of Cote d'Ivoire, and clashed with rebel forces.

Looking further ahead, more reflection was needed.

"The question arises of how protection can best be provided," Annan said. "I would invite the Security Council and regional leaders to consider long-term strategies that could be employed in this pivotal West African country, including by the United Nations."

A spokesman for Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo declined to comment on Annan's latest report, while on the streets of Abidjan, reaction was mixed.

"If more blue helmets come to bring security and to intervene when fighting starts again, that would be very good," said Moussa Tanoh, a car parts salesman. "But if they come as observers who hesitate to intervene until it's too late, they'd better stay home."

Annan's report was published the day before the UN Security Council threatened to impose a second wave of sanctions on anyone obstructing Cote d'Ivoire's peace process.

It has already slapped a 13-month arms embargo on the country and is expected to issue a statement formally announcing its decision about individual travel bans and asset freezes on Wednesday or Thursday.

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