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 disarmament of the former rebels in Cote d'Ivoire; Prime Minister Guillaume Soro's visit to the Middle-East; and World Press Freedom Day are the major issues that made headlines in today's Ivorian newspapers.

1. L'inter (a privately-owned daily): In a front-page story, the paper reported on what it called the "mystery" behind the decision by the New Forces to relaunch the disarmament program. According the paper, the "long-awaited" program got underway last Friday with 1,000 ex-combatants from the former Ivorian rebel movement. The paper said that about 43,000 former rebels are expected to lay down their arms as part of a five-month disarmament program; and it is estimated that some 26,000 former rebels will be reintegrated into civilian life, and the remainder will be integrated into the national army.

2. L'inter also described the exercise as "an important step" on the part of the Ivorian Prime Minister who is also the leader of the New Forces towards the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement. The paper said, through this disarmament, "Guillaume Soro has proved that he is still capable of controlling his fighters, who earlier accused him for having betrayed their struggle after signing the peace deal." The paper also suggested that the second challenge of the disarmament program is to convince the entire international community, which is believed to be using the disarmament program as one of the preconditions to provide funds needed for the implementation of the peace deal.

3. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): Still on the disarmament of the ex-rebels, the Ivorian First Lady, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo is demanding that the exercise should be completed "now." Mrs. Gbagbo, who was speaking during a political rally, argued that five months for the completion of the program is "too long." According to the paper, Mrs. Gbagbo said - "At a time when we are talking about the peace process, Cote d'Ivoire cannot afford to have on its soil rebels who are still carrying guns after they have taken control of the post of the Prime Minister. Even if they are 50,000, they have to lay down their guns now." She was also quoted saying, "Those who are living in our country and who have no reason to carry arms should get away from our soil." In the weekend edition of Fraternite Matin, the Defense Minister, Michel Amani N'Guessan stated that the decision by the New Forces to depose their guns should be "irreversible." According to the paper, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, responded in a statement, congratulating his fighters for starting the process, a "strong signal" that the peace accord signed in Burkina Faso last year is being implemented.

4. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition): Soro's official visit to the Middle-East was a subject of a front-page story in this paper. According to the paper, the Ivorian Premier who is in the region looking for funds to finance post-crisis projects in Cote d'Ivoire signed a 40 billion CFA-deal with the Islamic Development Bank. The money will be used to finance the construction of a highway and a project aimed at providing potable water for the population of Abidjan, the country's economic capital.

5. As the world celebrates Press Freedom Day, Fraternite Matin quoted the Ivorian Minister of Communication, Ibrahim Sy Savane, as saying "The [Ivorian] press has a historic chance to change its image after the war." According to the minister, the freedom of the press should move together with the "responsibility" of the journalists. He also announced that his department is planning to organize a seminar to discuss the issue on equal access for the political parties to the state media.

6. In another development, Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) said that security forces, economic operators and civic groups are due to meet today to hammer out a plan aimed at stamping out racketeering in Cote d'Ivoire.

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