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.

The assessment of the Ouagadougou Agreement a year after its signature; the upcoming presidential elections; the insecurity in Abidjan; and the clashes between public transportation drivers and security forces are today's front-page stories in Ivorian daily newspapers.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) reported on the Ouagadoudou Agreement in a story, quoting Prime Minister Soro saying -"with confidence everything is possible." According to the paper, all the actions put in place by the Government since April 2007 have not been entirely implemented. The only action which has been successful is the public hearings (audience foraines). The other action is the identification process which encounters some difficulties as it depends on the reconstitution of the registers of births that were lost or destroyed. Another action to be put in place is the disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion of ex-combatants. According to the paper, though loyalist forces completed demobilization in January 24, 2008, New Forces soldiers have not been demobilized. Also, demobilization of militia forces in Western Cote d'Ivoire has not been accomplished. The third action to be addressed has to do with funding for the elections and the program for the return of displaced populations.

2. On the peace process, L'inter (a privately-owned daily) reported on Soro's self- assessment in meeting his mandate as Prime Minister, his views on President, and a message through journalists. According to the paper, Soro used the meeting in Korhogo last Friday to talk about his accomplishments during his one year mandate as Prime Minister. He said that the peace process has taken a great step forward, since he became Prime Minister and urged journalists to help move the peace process forward and avoid instigating false debates.

According to the paper, Soro said "The same people who say that Soro has betrayed, are the same people who will tell Gbagbo that Soro is lulling you into a false sense of security. Gbagbo and I, we know each other before all these problems. Let's stop these backstage maneuverings and let's go to elections. Go to villages and try to convince the populations to vote and let's work to bring back peace." The paper also reported that a year after the Ouagadougou Agreement, the people are between hope and doubt as there are delays and difficulties in the implementation of the Agreement. The paper further said, although important decisions have been made and solutions have been found to some problems, solutions to the main problems such as disarmament, identification and elections remain.

3. On SAGEM (the identification operator), L'Intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) reported on popular concerns about the group's role and the proposed elections for June 2008. Le Nouveau Réveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI party) said in a front page report - "Chosen as the technical operator for identification, SAGEM, figures and facts never revealed... Should we fear that French company?" The paper reported that SAGEM is a subsidiary of Safram Group, a powerful French holding. It has already conducted with success identification operations in Nigeria with 60 million of persons, in Philippines with 73 million of persons and in Malaysia with 25 million of persons. The paper also said that the company has a good reputation and its neutrality has never been denied. Having said all this, however, the paper further said that the presidential camp is not happy over the choice of Mr. Kagnassi as representative of SAGEM in Cote d'Ivoire. According to the paper, a source close to the ruling FPI party said that Mr. Kagnassi has a bad reputation and being a member of the SAGEM makes it impossible for people to trust SAGEM.

4. 24 Heures (a daily close to the opposition) reported on the burial of the driver killed last week by police men during a clash between security forces and public transportation drivers. According to the paper, the after the burial of Lancina Bamba, who was killed last Wednesday by elements of CECOS, security forces went on a real man hunt and used tear gas and real bullets to disperse protesters who wanted to organize a march after their return from cemetery.

5. On the same subject, Le Patriote (a daily close to Rally of Republicans) reported that in order to calm the protesters, President Gbagbo sent his spoke-person to the driver's house. Gbagbo's representative asked the driver's friends to resume duties and promised them that President Gbagbo will meet them soon.

6. A front-page story in Notre Voie (a pro-FPI daily) said that presidents Gbagbo and Compaore of Burkina Faso have been awarded the "Sedar Senegalais" prize in Dakar. According to the paper, this prize is to reward Senegalese personalities for their distinction in their activities. This is the first time that prize "Sedar Senegalais" has been awarded to other Africans. The paper said presidents Gbagbo and Compaore were chosen for their contribution to African integration.

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