United States Embassy (Abidjan)
2 October 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. Today's reports say UN's experts are currently in Abidjan to investigate an attack on the plane of the Ivoirian Prime Minister, Soro Guillaume on June 29, 2007. Papers also ponder the controversy over the ongoing public identity hearings, a program designed to issue birth certificates to residents without identity documents.
2. A front-page story in Le Nouveau Reveil, a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party, says "The Ivoirian Prime Minister, Soro Guillaume and the Interior Minister, Desire Tagro are engaged in a power struggle over the organization of the public identity hearings." "The decision by the Interior Minister to delay the redeployment of the sub-prefects and mayors in the New Forces-controlled territory," comments the paper, "Constitutes an act of defiance to the authority of the Prime Minister."
3. The paper wonders whether Soro is not confronted with the same "difficulties" as it was the case of his predecessor, Charles Konan Banny, when the latter was serving as Prime Minister. The paper warns that "the Prime Minister will be held responsible for the failure the public identity hearings."
4. Reacting against this background, Le Jour Plus, a daily close to the opposition, says, "The electoral process is under threat."
5. 24 Heures, a daily close to the opposition, expresses concerns that "the fighting opposition the Prime Minister against the Interior Minister may jeopardize the rapports between President Laurent Gbagbo and his premier." However, it cites reliable sources saying, "Gbagbo and Soro met yesterday in a bid to settle the problem."
6. Le Front, a daily close to the New Forces, blames "the ruling FPI party for the delay of the public identity hearings," adding, "This could be seen as evidence that the FPI does not want clean elections."
7. Still on the controversy surrounding the public identity hearings, Le Temps, a daily close to Gbagbo, indicates that "The Prime Minister is accusing the Interior Minister after messing up the program."
8. In a front-page story, Fraternite Matin, a state-owned daily, tells readers that, "The difference between the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister over the public identity hearings have been settled after a meeting between Gbagbo and Soro yesterday."
9. In a separate development, Fraternite Matin announces that "a UN fact-finding mission is currently in Cote d'Ivoire in connection with the attack on the plane carrying Soro last June in Bouake." According to the paper, the delegation met with the Ivoirian prime minister yesterday in Abidjan.
10. Regarding the terms of reference of this mission, the paper quotes the head of the delegation as saying, "It's an exploratory mission, whose aim is to work with the government to clarify a demand submitted by the Presidency of the Republic on the attack of the plane carrying the head of the government."
11. According to Nord-Sud Quotidien, a daily close to the opposition, the UN fact-finding mission "inspected yesterday the Presidential Jet," on which the premier was traveling during the attack.
12. Finally, L'inter, a privately-owned daily, announces that "the former Ivoirian Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny returned home a few days ago." According to the paper, "Banny is likely committed for a political career, and this could make things difficult for any prospective candidates for the upcoming presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire.
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