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 visit of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon to Cote d'Ivoire; and the decision by the New Forces, the former Ivorian rebel movement, to relaunch the disarmament program of its former combatants on May 2 are two major stories in Wednesday's Ivorian press.

1. A front-page story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that one year after the signing of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement, "Soro has finally decided to depose the guns." According to the paper, the New Forces led by Guillaume Soro, who is also the Prime Minister in the transitional government, yesterday announced that "The former rebels would relaunch a program on May 2 to integrate their fighters into the army or undergo skills training." According to the paper, the announcement was made after "an important meeting" that brought together New Forces' top brass and the leader of the movement in their stronghold of Bouake in central Cote d'Ivoire. On the question of whether the disarmament of the ex-combatants would be completed before the upcoming elections, billed for November 30 this year, the New Forces Armed Forces commander, General Soumaila Bakayoko, reportedly said: "Don't worry, we have established a calendar that would enable us to complete the cantonment earlier before the polls." General Bakayoko further said "According to the calendar, the cantonment will begin with soldiers based in Bouake and Seguela."

2. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) also reported on the New Forces' decision to begin the cantonment of their former combatants. The paper said that the Ivorian Prime Minister used this opportunity to underscore the importance of "the identification scheme, one of the preoccupations of the New Forces." The paper further reported that Prime Minister Soro said "The motive behind the struggle spearheaded by the New Forces was to clarify the question of citizenship and to allow each Ivorian national to have their national identity card." According to the paper, Soro also evoked the issue regarding promises made by international donors to finance the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire. He said, "It's now time to help advance the peace process in our country. There is no reason today to bring forward more issues as pre-conditions to help Ivorians come out of the current situation."

3. Still on the financing of the Ivorian peace process, Fraternite Matin quoted the French Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Andre Janier, as saying, "We will provide financial assistance for the organization of the elections in Cote d'Ivoire." Janier, reported the paper, was speaking yesterday after a meeting with President Laurent Gbagbo.

4. In a front-page story in Fraternite Matin, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was reported as calling on the international donors to support the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire. Ban, reported the paper, was speaking yesterday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, after holding talks with the Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, who is also the facilitator in the process. The UN Secretary General was quoted as saying, "Despite improvements in the situation in Cote d'Ivoire, the President [Compaore] and I are of the view that a lot still remains to be done." According to the paper, the Secretary General also urged the two sides in Cote d'Ivoire "to go further with the process of disarmament and the reunification of the country and the complete re-establishment of state authority." Fraternite Matin also announced that Ban Ki-moon is expected in Cote d'Ivoire today, where he will hold talks with the Ivorian authorities and political stakeholders.

5. Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition): In a prominent story in its front page, the paper denounced what it called "a vast plot against the Independent Electoral Commission." The paper alleged that "Supporters of the ruling FPI party are actively preparing to fight the decision that stipulates that 'any differences that will oppose the National Statistics Institute and SAGEM - the French group that has appointed to conduct the identification process and to establish voter's registration - shall be resolved by the Independent Electoral Commission.'"

6. Meanwhile, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) quoted the Ivorian Prime Minister as saying "People do not want elections. But the polls will take place according to plan."

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