United States Embassy (Abidjan)
29 November 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. Reports on President Laurent Gbagbo's visit in the North of Cote d'Ivoire and the upcoming elections remain the key topics in the Ivoirian press. While most papers have positive reports, a few papers are sceptical. Below are summaries of reports on this visit.
2. In Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) a front-page headline reads: Strong message for peace: The President pays a visit to Soro and Ouattara families. During his visit yesterday in Ferkessédougou, Soro's native town, President Gbagbo is quoted as saying: "This trip in the North is an act of State not a symbol. I have come to tell the population that the war is really finished even though there are still some frictions because one cannot come out of a crisis like from a dinner."
According to the same report, Prime Minister Soro said: "This visit is not an electoral campaign. It is above any consideration of power and political quarrels. This visit is to re-establish the integrity of the territory, to preserve the State. Without that State none of political life is possible".
3. In L'Intelligent d'Abidjan (a privately-owned daily), a front-page story in the paper says: "Peace process yesterday in Ferkéssédougou: Gbagbo and Soro told one another the truth. According to the paper, Soro told Gbagbo: "It is your duty to implement the Ouagadougou Agreement in a strict way" and in response Gbagbo told Soro the following, "My trip here is not a symbol, I am here to work."
The paper also reports that when the governmental security forces enter in Korhogo, they were given a standing ovation by the population which welcomed them for their return in the northern region.
4. In Soir Info (an independent daily), a front-page story quoted Soro as saying: "It is not an electoral visit." According to paper, Soro told President Gbagbo to examine the population which was hostile yesterday and which is jubilant today to welcome him. This marks a turning point in the change of mentalities and spirit in the whole country".
The paper also quoted Gbagbo as saying: "I came to bring you the good news. Friends of Ferkessédougou, I am repeating that here and tomorrow in Tengrela and Boundiali, the war is over".
On another subject, the paper reports that the new Representative of the UN Secretary General paid yesterady a visit to the President of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). When asked by journalists what he thinks of the deadline fixed by Ouagadougou Agreement signatories, he answered as quoted: "I don't know the exact content of the supplementary agreement and I think it is too early to say something about that."
5. In L'Inter (an independent daily), a front-page story says: "Elections in June 2008, a difficult bet for Gbagbo and Soro". According to the paper, Gbagbo and Soro, the two main protagonists of the crisis and signatories of the Ouagadougou Accord have fixed June 2008 as elections date in the supplementary agreement signed two days ago in the Burkinabe capital. It is desirable that the former opponents succeed to take up the challenge but in practice, things are not easy for them.
6. In Le Temps (a daily close to Gbagbo), a front-page story says: "State Visit: the reunification materializes; Gbagbo gets back the savannah region; Soro puts the Niarafolo population in Gbagbo's care; Tagbana and Senoufo cry of joy". According to the paper, the jubilation to see President Gbagbo was indescribable. Some people told the security forces not to ill-treat them, but to let them see their President after five years. Others were crying and saying that they did not believe that Gbagbo will come to Korhogo. Now they know that the war is really over and they thank the Lord to have permitted that.
7. In Le Matin d'Abidjan (a daily close to Gbagbo, a front-page headline says: "Gbagbo puts the Senoufo people under his feet. Popular jubilation for Gbagbo in Korhogo and Ferkessédougou." According to the paper, the arrival of Gbagbo and Soro in Ferké triggered vivacious hysteria among the population. Though security was heavy, some of them wanted to touch Gbagbo, who they have not seen since five years.
The paper also reports that in the afternoon, Gbagbo went to pay a visit to Alassane Ouattara's big brother. Ouattara's little brother, Ibrahim Ouattara is quoted as saying: "In anything, brotherhood must prevail. My bother and the President have known each other for a long period. They are friends". According to the paper, the President's response was that his visit to the Ouattara's home is to reconcile everybody around the Ouagadougou Agreement.
8. In Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition), a front-page headline says: "State visit in the Senoufou country, the kiss of Gbagbo to the Great North". According to the paper, yesterday visit in Ferkessédougou was the first step of Gbagbo's trip in the North and Gbagbo was quoted as saying: "Here we are in Ferkessédougou. It is not a dream but a reality. Some people talk but we must tell them that we did good a job when we signed the Ouagadougou Agreement. Today there is no other choice than to reconstitute the country. The war is over. We must move forward." Meanwhile, Soro said: "Ivorians are tired of our divisions."
9. In a front-page story, 24 Heures (a daily close to the opposition) says: "Gbagbo takes possession of the North. It is an act of power."
10. In Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition), a front-page headline says: "Ferké, first step of the Head of State's visit; Gbagbo speaks, trembles and contradicts himself." According to the paper, instead of reading the speech written for him, Gbagbo as usual put aside his speech and decided to talk directly to the population. The paper says that in his speech, the President delivered contradictions - sometimes, he says that his visit is not a stroll but that he is at work; sometimes he says that it is an act of power and that the President must go everywhere in the country; and at some point he says that his visit is a symbolic act.
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