United States Embassy (Abidjan)
23 January 2008
This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Today, several papers reported on the visit of Ambassador Mark Lagon, Director of the US State Department's Office to monitor and combat trafficking in persons to Cote d'Ivoire. Meanwhile, the recent rumors of a coup d'etat continue to dominate the Ivorian press. The papers also reported on the country's socio-political situation as well as the state of the country's coffee and cocoa sector.
1. Several dailies, including Le Nouveau Reveil and 24 Heures, informed readers about the visit of Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, Director of the U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Using information from a US Embassy Abidjan Press Release on the visit, the papers reported on the duration of the visit and explained that Ambassador Lagon is visiting Abidjan "to consult with senior government officials and non-governmental leaders regarding the progress Cote d'Ivoire has made in combating trafficking in persons for the purposes of child labor and sexual exploitation."
2. On the continuing rumors of a coup d'etat, a prominent headline in Le Jour Plus (a pro-opposition newspaper) said "the hideout" of the exiled former sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly, aka IB, has finally come to light. [On January 8, Cote d'Ivoire's top military prosecutor, Colonel Ange Kessi, opened a case against IB, who is accused of plotting a coup. But IB strongly denied that he planned to overthrow the Ivorian government.] The paper hinted that Ben Rassoul Timite, head of IB's private cabinet, is actually in Dakar, Senegal, where he has been living for almost a week now. According to the paper, Timite explained that his visit to Dakar is "to meet Ibrahim Coulibaly." He also said that he will "use the opportunity to meet the leadership of UNIR [Union Nationale des Ivoiriens du Renouveau] a political party that my boss (Ibrahim Coulibaly) is the founder." Timite is also quoted as saying, "IB left Dakar just after our meeting."
3. Still on the controversy over the alleged plan designed by IB to oust the regime in Cote d'Ivoire, Le Temps (a pro-Gbagbo newspaper) told readers that the spokesperson of the New Forces, Sidiki Konate, denied recent reports in a local daily that one of Gbagbo's aid, who is also the Interior Minister in the current administration, Desire Tagro, met with IB in the neighboring Ghana.
4. The alleged coup-d'etat came to the fore again yesterday during a press conference at Licorne's [French troops in Cote d'Ivoire] headquarters in Abidjan. L'inter (a privately-owned daily) quoted Gen. Bruno Clement-Bollée, Commander of Licorne, as saying: "We've no information about this issue, and really, I've no interest in this. I also got the information through your newspapers that allegedly reported that his [IB] men had colluded with us."
5. On security, Fraternite Matin said that Gen. Clement-Bollée, who was addressing a press conference yesterday in Abidjan, said: "The security has improved remarkably in Cote d'Ivoire." According to the paper, the French military commander ruled out any situation where the whole country could be confronted with acts of violence. Clement-Bollée reportedly said "there are signs that Cote d'Ivoire is set to become a violence-free country, because everybody is fed up." The paper said Clement-Bollée explained that "this improving security" on the ground had resulted in the reduction of the French troops in Cote d'Ivoire from 2,400 to 1,800. The paper also said that Gen. Clement-Bollée pointed out that "this decision was mostly motivated by the withdrawal of government and New Forces' soldiers from the frontlines." In his explanation, Clement-Bollée emphasized that "the missions of Licorne [in Cote d'Ivoire] remain unchanged and that though the troops have been reduced, Licorne will continue to support the UNOCI [UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire] and the Ouagadougou Political Agreement."
6. In another banner headline, Fraternite Matin reported that the Ivorian Roman Catholic Clerics are "angry" after taking a critical look at the current socio-political situation in Cote d'Ivoire. According to the paper, this pronouncement was made at a gathering of the clerics in the northern city of Ferkessedougou. While denouncing what they termed as "illicit enrichment, corruption, hypocrisy, and double standard posture of Ivorian political leaders," the clerics expressed "optimism" as to the successful completion of the peace process ongoing in Cote d'Ivoire. However, they cautioned that for this to become a reality "each Ivorian, people living in and friends of Cote d'Ivoire should be firmly committed to contribute its success."
7. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition): The paper announced the proposed salary increase for Ivorian members of Parliament and Social and Economic Council and denounced this decision saying that "while politicians are amassing wealth, the people are getting poorer."
8. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) devoted its front page to what it called "the total mess" in which the Ivorian cocoa and coffee sector has been plunged. According to the paper, "a power struggle" is opposing leaders of the BCC (cocoa and coffee marketing body).
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 United States Embassy. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
