Ivory Coast has asked the United Nations to deploy surveillance drones to monitor its border with Liberia.
Ivory Coast U.N. envoy Yousoufou Bamba told the Security Council Tuesday that drones should be deployed to offset planned cuts to the U.N. peacekeeping force in Ivory Coast.
Western Ivory Coast has been the scene of deadly attacks by armed groups crossing the border from Liberia.
The attacks are blamed on supporters of former president Laurent Gbagbo, who was ousted in 2011 after rejecting the election victory of his rival, current President Alassane Ouattara.
Last month, the Security Council announced plans to deploy such drones for the first time in the Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor that country's border with Rwanda and Uganda.
The United Nations is planning on reducing its 9,000 forces in Ivory Coast over the next couple of years.
Ivory Coast U.N. envoy Yousoufou Bamba told the Security Council Tuesday that drones should be deployed to offset planned cuts to the U.N. peacekeeping force in Ivory Coast.
Western Ivory Coast has been the scene of deadly attacks by armed groups crossing the border from Liberia.
The attacks are blamed on supporters of former president Laurent Gbagbo, who was ousted in 2011 after rejecting the election victory of his rival, current President Alassane Ouattara.
Last month, the Security Council announced plans to deploy such drones for the first time in the Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor that country's border with Rwanda and Uganda.
The United Nations is planning on reducing its 9,000 forces in Ivory Coast over the next couple of years.
