Carjacking down 10 percent

Ivorian Defence and Civil Protection Minister Moise Kouassi told reporters on Friday there had been a 10-percent drop in carjacking nationwide so far this year compared to the same period in 2000. He also said there had been an increase in the number of stolen cars recovered.

In addition, he said in Abidjan, the ministry was trying to recover arms and ammunition stolen from the country’s main armoury since the coup in December 1999.

“We found the armoury empty,” he said.

So far, 40 percent of the arms have been recovered. Yet, there continues to be carjackings involving guns. In addition, there is a fluid circulation of small arms into the country because of the present conflict involving Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Public perception of the Ivorian police, which has been unable to stem the spate of armed robberies, is that of an inept and corrupt force that preys on motorists. Kouassi also said the armed forces were being retrained to show respect for democratic principles, the rule of law and to improve relations with the public.

He added that an army battalion would be based in the western town of Man and smaller units in Danane, Guiglo, Tabou and Toulepleu to shore up security near the border with Liberia and Guinea, where there are at least 122,000 refugees. This follows two recent incidents in which armed Guineans and Liberians were arrested in Danane, on their way to join dissidents fighting Liberian government troops in Lofa County.