United States Embassy (Abidjan)
10 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. A couple of weeks after the official launching of the public identity hearings, the Ivoirian press continues to express concerns about this program designed to issue birth certificates to residents without identity documents. Additionally, the Ivoirian media talked about an alleged "money laundering and fraud" in connection with the purchasing of a chocolate factory in Fulton, in the state of New York.
2. According to 24 Heures, a daily close to the opposition, "The Ivoirian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, wants to look into the matter concerning the embezzlement of 100 billions Francs CFA, which was meant to buy a chocolate factory in Fulton." This whole issue was made public by the American partners, who accused their Ivoirian counterparts of using them to map out a money laundering business, reports the paper. According to the paper, the prime minister has asked the minister of agriculture to gather all materials relating to this matter. By all indications, it seems that the Ivoirian government is beginning to investigate the matter, which was in the papers a few months ago.
3. In a related development, 24 Heures publishes excerpts of a World Bank report on different business sectors in Cote d'Ivoire -- including cocoa, coffee, energy, and finance. According to the paper, "The report was compiled by a World Bank's mission that visited Cote d'Ivoire from September 17-28, 2007." "The findings are alarming," writes the paper, which adds: "The Mission has noted the embezzlement of hundreds of billions Francs CFA generated by cocoa and coffee sectors since 2001."
4. In a front-page story, Fraternite Matin quotes the spokesperson of the prefects, Sam Ettiasse, as saying: "There are no more obstacles that could hinder the redeployment of the public services," one of the major conditions for the identification process to be successfully carried in Cote d'Ivoire. According to the paper, the prefect was speaking last weekend after a meeting with the Ivoirian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro. "The prefects and sub-prefects are ready to return to their posts," Ettiasse is reported as saying.
5. In a bid to ascertain the situation on the ground, reports Fraternite Matin, the special representative of the Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore -- the facilitator in the Ivorian crisis --, Boureima Badini visited the central, northern and western regions of Cote d'Ivoire held by the former rebel New Forces.
6. The paper quotes Kone Zakaria, a former rebel military commander in central Seguela as saying, "We released all the buildings that belong to the prefects and sub-prefects, and we also offered them new offices. We did all this because they are our brothers and we want peace to return to Cote d'Ivoire."
7. Meanwhile, Le Front, a daily close to the New Forces, says, "The public identity hearings have not yet started throughout the country, despite the assurance given by the prime minister last Saturday." "In the Western city of Man, Brobo (central), and Seguela (central-northern), the public identity hearings got a slow start on Monday," reports the paper.
8. In a related development, Le Front hints that the special representative of the Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore will soon submit "an interim report on the implementation of the Ouagadougou Agreement."
9. Notre Voie, a daily close to the ruling FPI, publishes "the full list of the judges, prosecutors and court's clerks to be deployed in 25 areas in connection with the public identity hearings."
10. To ensure a complete redeployment of the public administration in the entire country, Soir Info, a privately-owned daily, advises the Ivoirian premier "to be firm" on this issue. The paper believes that "Soro has to explain thoroughly to the New Forces' former military leaders the meaning of this exercise."
11. While the Ivoirian authorities are pushing hard to fully implement the Ouagadougou Agreement, news reports says political leaders are being engaged in a war of words over "who'll win the upcoming elections in Cote d'Ivoire." In a long interview to Nord-Sud Quotidien, a daily close to the opposition, the Chairman of the ruling FPI party, Pascal Affi N'Guessan said: "Gbagbo cannot lose the election."
12. Regarding the controversy surrounding the date of the polls, L'inter, a privately-owned daily, reports that "President Compaore wants the election to be held in October 2008." According to the paper, the facilitator in the Ivoirian peace process was speaking to the French weekly newspaper Jeune Afrique.
13. A front-page story in L'intelligent d'Abidjan, a privately-owned daily, says, "The youths of northern Cote d'Ivoire are threatening to besiege the Office of the Prime Minister and the premises of RTI to protest against the delay in the implementation of the Ouagadougou Agreement and the biased coverage of political activities by the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation."
14. Meanwhile, Cheick Aboubacar Fofona, the Chairman of the High Council of Imams in Cote d'Ivoire, speaking last Monday during a prayer session marking the Night of Destiny, was "hopeful" of the implementation of the Ouagadougou Agreement, reports Fraternite Matin. The Muslim leader told the gathering that, "He who wants peace must refer to the Holy Koran."
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