United States Embassy (Abidjan)
2 February 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.
The congress of the opposition Rally of the Republicans (RDR) and the outstanding performance of the Elephants - Cote d'Ivoire's national soccer team, were the subjects of front-page stories in most of Ivorian newspapers, today.
1. 24 Heures (a pro-opposition newspaper): With a picture of the Ivorian opposition leader, Alassane Dramane Ouattara in a triumphant mood, on its front page, the paper quoted the leader of the RDR party as saying, "We'll be at the Presidential Palace this year." Ouattara, reported the paper, was speaking over the weekend after he was endorsed as the leader of his party for the forthcoming presidential elections during the party's congress in Abidjan.
2. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) reported that Ouattara, who will be holding the leadership position of his party for the next five years, has received delegates' approval to form alliances with other political parties. In a separate story, the paper hinted that "Ouattara wants to form an alliance with New Forces," the former Ivorian rebel movement. The paper said Ouattara told reporters at a press conference that "it's premature to talk about the position that Guillaume Soro - leader of the New Forces -- would be holding in such an alliance. I invited him to join an alliance with my party. We're still awaiting his reaction, and then we'll enter into negotiation." Speaking on the reconstruction of Cote d'Ivoire after the crisis, Ouattara suggested that this should take place in what he called "a new environment of peace, security, and union of the intellectual resources of this country."
3. While the RDR's leadership is waiting for reaction from the New Forces' boss regarding the party's proposal to form a coalition, Wattao, a military commander in the former rebel movement told Fraternite Matin that, "After the elections, we can join a party." "We're not politicians; we are not a political party. We're referees and we must be neutral." The paper further reported that the ex-warlord also used the opportunity to call upon various political parties in Cote d'Ivoire "to rally behind the Prime Minister in a bid to bring peace back to Cote d'Ivoire."
4. Regarding the upcoming elections, Ouattara warned that "to pre-empt the Kenya syndrome to happen in Cote d'Ivoire, there is a need to resolve problems that come up before the presidential elections," reported Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party.)
5. Fraternite Matin reported on the youth wing of the ruling FPI party's comment that "there can be no elections without disarmament." This comment was made yesterday during the general assembly of JFP - Jeunesse du Front populaire Ivoirien. In their discussions, the youths speculated on how there could be elections in Cote d'Ivoire if citizens of this country are denied "free movement." The paper said the youths' leadership said: "A vote is a free act. One cannot therefore vote under constraint. This is not possible."
6. In another development, Fraternite Matin devoted five pages to the ongoing African Cup Nations competition that is taking place in the neighboring Ghana. The paper hailed Les Elephants - Cote d'Ivoire national soccer squad - which beat Guinea 5-0 in the quarter-finals played yesterday in Sekondi. With the pictures of the goals scorers on its front page, the paper said: "We want more!" After their victory that propelled them into the semi-final, where they will clash with either Egypt or Angola, the coach the Ivorian squad said: "Let's stay mobilized."
Media Coverage of Embassy's Activities
Over the weekend, the state-owned television (RTI-TV) carried footages of a conference organized by the US Embassy on the book: "Forgiveness in international politics: An alternative road to peace." The TV report on the event was positive. The same television network also broadcast a late-report on World Aids Day events in Man, western Cote d'Ivoire, featuring the US Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt, who spoke on the US's "huge contributions" to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Cote d'Ivoire.
Islam Info (a weekly Muslim newspaper): In a front-page story, the paper informed readers about books donated by the US Embassy to the National Islamic Council of Cote d'Ivoire. The positive report showed pictures of the Director of American Cultural Center, Sharon White, engaged in discussions with Muslim leaders.
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