United States Embassy (Abidjan)
16 August 2007
This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
1. A few days after the Ivoirian Prime Minister set up a working group aimed at reviving the stalled public hearings, Soro Guillaume assured Cote d'Ivoire's opposition coalition of fair, democratic and transparent elections. But the major news in today's Ivoirian newspapers is the close door meeting last Tuesday between President Laurent Gbagbo and the country's security and defense forces in a bid to resolve a crisis following reports of "growing anger in the military barracks."
2. "War allowances: The security and defense forces claim 300 billions Francs CFA," says a banner headline that runs across the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin. "Gbagbo held a three-hour close door meeting with top military brass trying to defuse tension," reports the paper citing reliable sources. "Food and war allowances, the ranks of soldiers of the New Forces Armed Forces, the situation of soldiers, who were displaced as a result of the war, promotion..." were issues that were atop of last Tuesday's meeting, reports the paper.
3. Regarding the food allowances, indicates the paper, "Gbagbo promised to pay them once the economic situation of the country will allow doing so." On the other issues, "He called upon everybody to make sacrifice and to understand the prevailing situation."
4. Meanwhile, "anger is not yet over in the military barracks," writes Fraternite Matin, "As disgruntled defense and security forces in the Akouedo military barracks in Abidjan, calling themselves 'soldiers of terrain' held a nightly 'war council' last Wednesday where they described Tuesday meeting as a lot of fuss for nothing."
5. Nord-Sud Quotidien, a daily close to the opposition, says it was "a stormy" meeting between Gbagbo and the security and defense forces at the Presidential Palace last Tuesday. It quotes the Ivoirian leader as telling soldiers, "You didn't win any war... I don't have 300 billions Francs CFA to pay you."
6. In a bid "to assure" the opposition groups of the full implementation of the peace process, and "to revive the relationships between allies of the G7 - an opposition and New Forces alliance --, Soro told oppositions leaders: "We'll do everything possible to organize transparent elections," reports the paper.
7. A front-page story in Le Nouveau Reveil, a daily close to the ex-ruling PDCI-RDA party, suggests that, "The Republic is under threat, as Gbagbo insulted the soldiers." "The General will fall down," continues the paper, suggesting that "Gbagbo would consider firing the Ivoirian Chief of Staff, Major General, Philippe Mangou."
8. "The clash between Gbagbo and Cote d'Ivoire National Armed Forces," reads a banner headline carried by Le Front, a daily close to the New Forces. "I don't owe you anything," Le Patriote, a daily close to the opposition RDR, quotes Gbagbo as saying, while a front-page story in 24 Heures - also close to the opposition - says, "Gbagbo knocks out the army."
9. Telling readers a different story, Le Temps, a daily close to the Ivoirian president, runs a front-page item entitled: "Gbagbo and his army have come to an agreement on how to resolve issues regarding the ranks given by Soro to his soldiers, allowances..." According to the paper, "Gbagbo used the occasion to urge the country's security and defense forces not to follow politicians... and to assure them that the peace process is irreversible."
10. Notre Voie, a daily close to the ruling FPI party, describes Gbagbo's declarations during Tuesday's gathering, as "a frank and direct speech." "Gbagbo restores confidence amongst the soldiers," writes the paper. With a picture of the Ivoirian leader on its front-page, Le Matin d'Abidjan - also pro-Gbagbo --, says, "The president kills the rumors in the garrisons."
11. "While the whole government is on vacation, Gbagbo and Soro are planning to reshuffle the government," hints L'inter, a privately-owned daily.
12. Finally, Le Courrier d'Abidjan, a daily close to Gbagbo, alleges that, "The Ivoirian authorities are negotiating for the arms embargo imposed on Cote d'Ivoire to be lifted." According to the Ivoirian Interior Minister, Desire Tagro yesterday held talks with two UN experts tasked to oversee the embargo.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 United States Embassy. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
