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 identification program designed to provide identity documents for the nationals of Cote d'Ivoire; the civic education scheme; the visit of the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cote d'Ivoire; and the mood within the New Forces following the dismissal of the New Forces military commander, Kone Zacharia, were the major items in today's Ivorian newspapers.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A prominent story on the front page of the paper said that "the identification program can now begin," this is in reference to the Ivorian government's provision of approximately $ 24 million to SAGEM, the French company that has been tasked to conduct the identification of the population and the electoral census, in collaboration with the National Statistics Institute (INS). According to the paper, the parties involved in this program will sign an agreement today. The report said this announcement was made by the Ivorian Ministry of Economy and Finance. The paper further indicated that this amount represents "the first installment of the total $ 112 million that the Ivorian government should provide to the French company." The paper suggested that upon the payment of this portion, "the identification, the important phase of the peace process underway since the signing of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement on March 4, 2007, can now begin."

2. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party): The paper carried a prominent story on the establishment of the electoral rolls in the perspective of the upcoming presidential elections. The paper suggested that the voters' registration might delay because the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Robert Beugre Mambe, was trying "to sideline the National Statistics Institute." According to the report, "the Electoral Commissioner, during a meeting yesterday, rejected some sections of the mode of operation on which SAGEM and the INS earlier agreed upon." In a separate story, the paper quoted Desire Tagro, the Ivorian Interior Minister, who is also a leading member of the ruling FPI, saying: "We'll establish identity documents to all those who have attained the voting age."

3. On a related issue, Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) carried a commentary, which said, "More than a month after the new date for the upcoming presidential election was set, many political observers continue to wonder whether the polls can hold." The commentary further said, "Many Ivorians as well as the international community doubt the date of the election, because since the announcement of this date, no concrete action has been taken on the ground in connection with the preparation of the polls."

4. Fraternite Matin: The paper announced the beginning of the civic education scheme, which was designed by the authorities in Cote d'Ivoire to provide jobs for Ivorians especially for the former war fighters. According to the paper, "250 ex-combatants, who went through the demobilization process, started training yesterday to allow their reinsertion into the society."

5. In a separate development, Fraternite Matin told readers that "200 ex-combatants of the New Forces who deserted their ranks following the dismissal of the New Forces' military commander, Kone Zacharia, have resurfaced." According to the paper, the disgruntled soldiers decided to return to their base after they received "assurance" from the New Forces' leadership that there will be no "reprisals" for their temporary desertion. The paper further reported that the spokesperson of the former rebel movement, on behalf of the Secretary General of the New Forces, "granted pardon to supporters of Kone Zacharia, who went into hiding after their leader was sacked."

6. Still on Kone Zacharia, L'inter (an independent daily newspaper) carried a front-page story titled, "Kone Zacharia, who is now living in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, will be confined into asylum until the elections are completed." Meanwhile, Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) reported that "the former New Forces' commander is negotiating with his leader, Guillaume Soro, to return home."

7. Fraternite Matin reported on the visit of the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung-Wha Kang in Cote d'Ivoire, where she met with the country's authorities including Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro. According to the paper, the Deputy High Commissioner also held talks with the Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights of Cote d'Ivoire, Victorine Wodie. Discussions between the UN commissioner and the Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights of Cote d'Ivoire focused on "institutional, technical and financial difficulties" facing this institution.

8. Fraternite Matin also reported that the Ivorian Ministry of Labor received about $ 1.2 million from GTZ [a German international cooperation agency]. According to the paper, this money will be utilized "to speed up the campaign against the worst forms of child labor in Cote d'Ivoire."

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