United States Embassy (Abidjan)
15 October 2007
press release
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. Reports in the Ivoirian press today are dominated by the alleged money laundering and fraud in connection with the purchasing of a chocolate factory in Fulton, in the state of New York. The issue again comes to the fore, as President Laurent Gbagbo has ordered an investigation into the matter.
2. A front-page story in L'inter, a privately-owned daily, says, "Gbagbo has decided to deal with his collaborators," who, according to news reports, are allegedly accused of "corruption, embezzlement of money, and mismanagement in the cocoa and coffee sectors." "Barring the unexpected, the Ivoirian leader would address the nation tomorrow to announce measures to deal with the matter," indicates the paper.
3. Earlier, the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin over the weekend carried a banner headline reading, "Following accusations of embezzlement, Gbagbo has laid the matter before the prosecutor and has called for an investigation into these accusations." "In case of infractions found during this inquiry, we request you to take the necessary actions to initiate all necessary proceedings, in conformity with the law," saying an excerpt of a letter Gbagbo wrote to the prosecutor.
4. Soir Info, welcomes Gbagbo's decision, and notes that "many people saw the president's continuous silence over this issue as a support of those who are responsible of these malpractices." According to the privately-owned daily, "He [Gbagbo] wants to prove that he is not associated with any of these scandals, which have hit the cocoa and coffee sectors." But cocoa and coffee producers call Gbagbo's decision "a diversion," reports Soir Info, a privately-owned daily.
5. Telling readers the reason behind Gbagbo's decision, 24 Heures, a daily close to the opposition, suggests that, "The move of the head of State is subtle." Its aim, indicates the paper, is to avoid that "these scandals tarnish the image of his regime."
6. Le Temps, a daily close to Gbagbo thinks that by calling for an investigation into the case of the Fulton's chocolate factory, "the president has demonstrated that he believes in good governance." Reacting to accusations of embezzlement, the paper quotes officials close to the ruling FPI party as saying, "We're ready to respond before any court."
7. Nord-Sud Quotidien, a daily close to the opposition, wonders whether "this investigation called by Gbagbo could be successfully completed, when the cocoa and coffee businesses are being controlled by the president's henchmen."
8. In another development, Le Courrier d'Abidjan, a daily close to Gbagbo, hints that "the Ivoirian president is expected in Paris, France tomorrow." The paper also suggests that "Gbagbo may meet with his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy."
9. A banner headline that runs across Le Nouveau Reveil, a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party, says that "Gbagbo is planning to reshuffle the government." The paper alleges that "the move is designed to get rid of all ministers close to the opposition parties."
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