allAfrica.com: Côte d'Ivoire: American Embassy's National Daily Press Review (Page 1 of 1)

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. President Laurent Gbagbo's plan to suspend the issuance of the residence permit required to foreigners living in Cote d'Ivoire has sparked controversy in the Ivoirian press. Newspapers also talk about the decisions by the UN Security Council, which unanimously voted yesterday to maintain sanctions imposed on Cote d'Ivoire since 2004 for another year.

2. The state-owned daily, Fraternite Matin publishes the full text of the UN Resolution 1782, in which the Security Council decided to extend the arms and diamond embargo as well as the individual sanctions imposed on Ivorian individuals until October 31, 2008. The text however, said the Council would carry out a review of the measures once the Ouagadougou Agreement, which was signed on March 4, 2007 is fully implemented, and after the holding of open, free, fair and transparent presidential and legislative elections in accordance with international standards no later than April 30, 2008. The resolution also warned that any serious obstacle to the freedom of the UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the French troops which back it shall constitute a threat to the peace and national reconciliation process.

2. In the wake of the UN Resolution, Le Matin d'Abidjan, a daily close to Gbagbo, quotes the Ivoirian Ambassador to UN, Alcide Djédjé as denouncing the Council's decision as "France's activism." According to the paper, the Ivoirian diplomat, however, welcomed the decision of the Security Council to review sanctions on Cote d'Ivoire. Notre Voie, another daily close to the ruling FPI party, says that the UN Resolution is "aggressive and threatening."

3. A banner headline in 24 Heures, a daily close to the opposition, says that "The UN has ignored Gbagbo's call demanding that the arms embargo and individual sanctions should be lifted." The paper points out that, "After being abused many times by the Ivoirian protagonists, who never keep promises, the UN Security Council wants to see clear-cut actions." It therefore exhorted the parties in Cote d'Ivoire to take concrete measures to complete the identification, voters' registration, fusion of security and defense forces, and reestablishment of state authority in the entire country," reports the paper.

4. In a front-page story, Soir Info, an independent paper, critically looks at the "real motive" behind Gbagbo's decision to suspend the issuance of the residence permit. The paper suggests that, "Gbagbo's decision is politically motivated because the president is a skillful and experienced politician..." "Through this proposal, the former opposition leader wanted to tell his detractors that he is not xenophobic," notes the paper.

5. Soir Info recalls that the residence permit was introduced by the leader of the RDR party, Alassane Dramane Ouattara in 1990 when he was Prime Minister under the regime of the late Felix Houphouet Boigny. "By proposing the suppression of the residence permit," comments the paper, "The Head of State wanted to present himself as the one, who has repaired the damage caused by Ouattara." "Ouattara, who pretends to defend you, introduced the residence permit and all harassments that are associated with it. I propose its suspension. Between Ouattara and me, who loves you most?" the paper quotes Gbagbo as saying.

6. Telling readers the history of the residence permit in Cote d'Ivoire, Notre Voie says that this document was instituted by Ouattara to "humiliate" and "track down" foreigners living in Cote d'Ivoire. Against this background, Le Temps, another daily close to the president calls Gbagbo's plan "a political lesson" given to Ouattara. The paper comments, "Those who used the issue of xenophobia to disfigure Cote d'Ivoire will have no longer any good reason to do so."

7. Speaking to Fraternite Matin, the Secretary General of the former ruling PDCI-RDA party, Alphonse Djedje Mady pointed out that Gbagbo's plan is just "for electoral purposes." The paper quotes the opposition figure as saying, "This decision should be taken by the National Assembly because it should come in the form of a law." Djedje Mady told Gbagbo to stop "the demagogy," reports the paper.

8. Questioning the sincerity of Gbagbo over his decision to suspend the residence permit required to foreigners living in Cote d'Ivoire, Le Front, a daily close to the New Forces, warns the Burkinabe that they will "be deceived" by Gbagbo. The paper says that though it welcomes the presidential decision, it's important to emphasize that Gbagbo has just made a proposal, and has not yet signed any paper suspending the issuance of the residence permit. The paper also indicates that Gbagbo's decision was no news because the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement signed in 2003 recommended the abolition of the residence permit in Cote d'Ivoire.

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