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Côte d'Ivoire: American Embassy's National Daily Press Review


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United States Embassy (Abidjan)

25 April 2008
Posted to the web 25 April 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 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's two-day visit to Cote d'Ivoire and the signing of a code of good conduct by Cote d'Ivoire political stakeholders were the major issues in Friday's Ivorian Press.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The signing ceremony of the Code of Good Conduct document for political stakeholders in Abidjan was a prominent story on the front page of the paper. The paper described the signing of this document as "an important step by the Ivorian political stakeholders aimed at accelerating the electoral process." This signing, the paper further commented, was "a sign of willingness to respect the ethics of a competition and the commitment to organizing just, free, transparent, and an all-inclusive election." The Code of Good Conduct document also addressed the issue of Freedom of the Press.

2. According to Fraternite Matin, the Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, who was present at the signing ceremony, used the opportunity to remind the Independent Electoral Commission of its "important role" in the electoral process. According to the paper, Gbagbo said "You have an important role. Do not treat us like in 2000." Gbagbo further said, "I will not come in to interrupt the release of the results."

3. "Respect the Code of Good Conduct," Fraternite Matin quoted the UN Secretary General as telling the Ivorian political leaders. According to the paper, at the end of the signing ceremony, Ban Ki-moon urged Ivorian political leaders "to hold the long-delayed elections on November 30." The paper mentioned specific language in the document that quoted specific language about the commitment of political parties "to refrain from violence and not to release the results before an official announcement by an Independent Electoral Commission - the body in charge of conducting the polls." According to the paper, the UN Secretary General also announced that "The UN will certify all the stages of the presidential elections."

4. More on the elections. Fraternite Matin quoted the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Robert Beugre Mambe, as saying that "A violence-free election; an all-inclusive election; accurate and transparent voter's rolls; balanced media reports of political parties' activities and the publication of accurate and clean results are the 'five pillars' that will be considered in the certification of the electoral process."

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5. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party): With the picture of leaders of the three principal political parties in Cote d'Ivoire signing the code of good conduct, the paper published the full text of the pact saying it will help "ensure peaceful elections" in this West African country.

6. On the margins of his visit to Cote d'Ivoire, Ban Ki-moon held talks with Ivorian political leaders and members of civic groups, reported Fraternite Matin. Speaking after a meeting with the UN Secretary General, the Ivorian opposition leader Alassane Dramane Ouattara reportedly said that the discussion focused on "the question of security and the role of the peacekeeping forces during the electoral process." "There is a need to ensure peace and security for all Ivorians after these elections," the paper quoted Ouattara as saying.

7. Fraternite Matin also reported that the Ivorian civic groups and women's associations that met with the Secretary General, called for "more involvement of these groups in the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement." The paper quoted the President of the Ivorian League of Human Rights, N'Gouan Patrick, as saying, "The resolution of the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire should not be limited to the organization of the presidential elections, even though these polls would be determinant in its resolution."


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