20120319
Xinhua
Insecurity is gripping Cote d'Ivoire's central region, including the key town of Bouake, adding to the difficulties being faced by the government in its bid to achieve post-war reconciliation and reconstruction.
The residents of Bouake, 360 km from the economic capital Abidjan, are witnessing an upsurge of incidents in the town, which used to be the stronghold of the ex-rebel New Forces (FN), according to a report obtained here on Sunday from the Human Rights Watch.
The daily life in Bouake and other central regions is characterized by cases of robbery and attacks on homes and along highways, the report said.
Fanny Mamadou, a councillor in the local municipal council, has confirmed the concerns of local people.
"We are living in conditions where insecurity incidents are at their highest rate, whether during the day or at night. Every day, robbery cases are reported both within the town and along the highways despite the presence of security forces within those zones," he said in a recent interview.
Traore Maimouna, a student in the area, said young girls are frequently harassed at night, especially in areas with no electricity.
Doumbia Soumaila, a member of the local civil society, attributed the upsurge to the fact that the security forces lack the means of fighting the robbers.
"Our police and gendarmes are sometimes overwhelmed by the situation because they lack the adequate means of effectively fighting against this phenomenon which has become frequent," he said.
|
