United States Embassy (Abidjan)
17 March 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.
Ivorian newspapers today reported on concerns about the forthcoming presidential elections, which are planned to be held later this year; and fraud in Ivorian identity documents. The papers also reported on the cantonment of former rebels, corruption and illegal enrichment in Cote d'Ivoire.
1. Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party): A banner headline said that "it's impossible to organize presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire in June 2008." The paper then cited "three major obstacles" that could lead to the delay of the electoral process. One of them, reported the paper, is the identification process, which is yet to get "momentum." According to the paper, the cantonment of the former combatants has been delayed, and the international donors are still unwilling to provide full financial supports that would help accelerate the peace process underway in this West African state.
2. While news reports said that the upcoming elections in Cote d'Ivoire hang in the balance, a leading member of the opposition RDR party, who was quoted by Soir Info (a privately-owned daily), said "Gbagbo cannot win the elections." According to the paper, Cisse Ibrahim Bacongo, who was speaking in France, said that the Ivorian opposition figure and leader of the RDR party, Alassane Dramane Ouattara is in "a better position" to win the elections. Regarding the controversy over the date of the polls, Bacongo said "I strongly believe that the elections cannot take place in June."
3. Le Patriote (a daily close to the RDR party): Another leading member of the RDR party, quoted by this paper, warned that "the party would contest the elections' results if they were rigged." In a separate story, the paper reported that the Ivorian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, invited the key political players to come forward with proposals on an eventual delay of the coming elections. According to the paper, Soro, who was speaking to the French newspaper Jeune Afrique, said that "it's now time for the political stakeholders to say whether the coming elections should be delayed in order to complete the audiences foraines (the public identity hearings designed to provide identity documents to Ivorians)."
4. In a front-page story, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) denounced what it called "the big frauds" in the issuance of the Ivorian identity testimonial. According to the paper, the cost for identity testimonial now costs about 3,500 instead of 1,000 CFA.
5. In a different story, Notre Voie announced that about 118 former combatants have been cantoned in a center located in the northern town of Ferkessedougou as part of the ongoing disarmament program in Cote d'Ivoire. This 250 capacity center, reported the paper, was built with the support of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI). Speaking at the ceremony, the New Forces army commander, General Soumaila Bakayoko reaffirmed "the willingness of the New Forces Armed Forces to support the peace process." "We'll manage to meet the deadline in order to assist in providing security during the elections," General Bakayoko was quoted as saying.
6. "Ivorian religious leaders expressed concerns about illicit enrichment and corruption in Cote d'Ivoire," said a front-page report in Le Patriote. According to the paper, Cheick Aboubacar Fofana, a leading Muslim figure, who was speaking at a conference in Abidjan, denounced the lack of "morality" on the part of Ivorians, and called on religious leaders to help reverse this situation.
Media Coverage of Embassy's Activities
Over the weekend, the state-owned radio station and some dailies carried stories on a conference on "The development of women leadership." The conference was organized by the US Embassy, as part of International Women's Month observance. The positive reports emphasized the importance to teach young girls the virtue of excellence and good leadership. Soir Info (a privately-owned daily) reported that the US Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt used the opportunity to encourage young girls to work hard in order to succeed.
The state-owned news agency - AIP - also published on its web site a full story of a DVC that focused on how women can play a leadership role in politics. The positive article was written by the agency's senior, who participated an International Visitor program on the American elections, last month.
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