United States Embassy (Abidjan)
3 July 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 that talks between the New Forces military leadership and disgruntled former fighters, who staged an uprising a few days ago over pay dispute, have collapsed. The ongoing probe into the cocoa and coffee industry in Cote d'Ivoire and a law on illicit enrichment were the other major items in the Ivorian papers. Papers also reported on an imminent cabinet reshuffle.
1. Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) reported that the July 2 direct talks between the New Forces military leadership and disgruntled former fighters in the Western-central city of Seguela have broken up. The paper said "The mutineers demanded the return of their former commander, Zacharia Kone, who was dismissed in May for indiscipline." The paper also said that "General Soumaila Bakayoko, chief of staff of the former rebel New Forces movement walked out on the meeting."
2. On the same subject, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) said that "The disgruntled former fighters were harshly critical of the new commander of the Seguela region, Issiaka Ouattara," who was appointed shortly after the dismissal of Zacharia Kone. The paper further reported that the mutineers present at the meeting yesterday had "acknowledged Bakayoko's authority as well as that of the leader of the New Forces, Guillaume Soro."
3. More on the same subject, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) also said that about 300 hundred inhabitants of Seguela organized a street demonstration on July 2nd to protest the insecurity and the continuous mutinies in the region. According to the paper, demonstrators also said: "We want the disarmament of all the disgruntled soldiers and their encampment. Martial law should be applied in case they refuse to do so."
5. Soir Info (an independent daily): The paper told readers that the former New Forces' military commander Zacharia Kone, who has since gone into exile in neighboring Burkina Faso after his dismissal, is "under control." The paper said that the Burkinabe authorities took this measure following a report in which Soir Info suggested a "collusion between Zacharia Kone and Ibrahim Coulibaly," the former Ivorian rebel leader, who was recently charged with plotting against the regime in Cote d'Ivoire by a court in Paris, France.
6. Le Matin d'Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party): A prominent story in this paper said that because he is faced with difficulties, including mutinies and the lack of resources, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, is threatening to officially declare that "it's impossible to implement the Ouagadougou Political Agreement." According to the paper, "The Ivorian Premier could also blame the international community for this state of affair, as they continue to be reluctant in providing funding for the implementation of the peace accord."
7. Meanwhile, Fraternite Matin is predicting a cabinet reshuffle. The paper implies that President Laurent Gbagbo is willing to use his massive anti-corruption crackdown to "form a new cabinet made up of technocrats." Citing reliable sources, the paper disclosed that President Gbagbo has extended his visit to Egypt, where he attended the African Union Summit, "to finalize this project, which is imminent." The paper further said, "Free from any pressure, President Gbagbo has given himself one week to put the last touches to this important cabinet reshuffle." On the other hand, L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) quoted the spokesperson of the New Forces, Sidiki Konate, as saying: "The cabinet reshuffle is not the order of the day."
8. In a front-page story, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) informed readers that the 20 top officials, who were arrested in connection with the ongoing probe into the cocoa and coffee industry in Cote d'Ivoire, held "a three-hour important conclave yesterday in the MACA - a prison in Abidjan."
9. A report in Fraternite Matin said that experts meeting in Abidjan on good governance have proposed that Ivorian government pass a law banning "money laundry, illicit enrichment and corruption." Meanwhile, Global Witness has welcomed the ongoing probe into the cocoa and coffee industry initiated by Ivorian authorities.
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