An advance party of 20 French troops reached the northern towns of Korhogo (634 kilometers north of Abidjan) and Ferkessedougou, as the peacekeepers started to deploy more widely in the rebel-held north. The reconnaissance team would hold talks with rebel military commanders to map out the deployment of more French soldiers.

Humanitarian agencies should be among the first to benefit from the new deployment, 
since the French will help to rehabilitate schools, health centers and other public buildings in the north in addition to maintaining security there. - Adam Geibel