United States Embassy (Abidjan)
7 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.
Today's reports in the Ivorian press focused on the increase in the prices of the petroleum products. The peace process underway in Cote d'Ivoire, especially President Laurent Gbagbo's planned visit to the Western-central region, where disgruntled former rebels recently went on a rampage, and the electoral process, was the other major item in the dailies. Fraternite Matin and L'inter (two major newspapers in Cote d'Ivoire) reported on Embassy Abidjan's 4th of July celebration.
1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A prominent news story on the front page of this paper said that the domestic prices of petroleum products have shot up as a result of the increase in gas prices on the international market. According to the paper, the price of a barrel of oil, which was $25 in 2003, is $145 in July 2008. The paper listed the new prices for petroleum products and said that these prices, which were announced during a televised government statement, will take effect on July 7, 2008. In a commentary, the paper said the announcement a day before the effective date of the new prices was "a mistake." According to the paper, many petrol filling stations in Abidjan were closed yesterday just after the announcement on "the pretext that they have run out of petroleum products."
2. Further on the government's decision to increase the prices of the petroleum products, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) said the move was "the highest increase ever affected in Cote d'Ivoire." Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) told readers that the reason behind the increase of the domestic prices of the petroleum products, was that "President Gbagbo was not a good manager." Le Patriote also said that in response to the new prices of the petroleum products, "drivers and traders are threatening to increase taxi fares and prices of food commodities." The paper quoted the President of the Federation of Consumers Associations, Marius Comoe, who said "If the prices of the commodities go up, then we will call on the population to descend on the streets." A prominent story in Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) said that "President Gbagbo has no pity for the people." A story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that the announcement of new prices of petroleum products caused "panic among consumers."
3. Reporting favorably on the decision to raise prices, Le Temps (another daily close to the ruling FPI party) told readers that Cote d'Ivoire was not the only country in the region to increase the domestic petroleum products prices. According to the paper, new domestic gas prices will be effective as from July 8 in Guinea, while the prices of the petroleum products in Mauritania have recorded a 20 per cent increase over previous prices. The paper further commented that due to the rocketing gas prices on the international market, "President Gbagbo has no choice but to follow this new trend."
4. On the mutiny in the western-central cities of Seguela and Vavoua, Fraternite Matin said that President Gbagbo is expected in this region on July 14 to give his backing to Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro. According to the paper, "the Ivorian President's visit to the region is designed to support efforts by the Prime Minister to find a solution to the revolt staged by New Forces former fighters over pay dispute." The paper also reported on President Gbagbo's position, which he made clear after a meeting with Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro over the weekend. According to the paper Gbagbo said "In order not to abandon the Prime Minister alone on the frontline and to show the unity of the country, I will be going to Seguela on July 14 to tell these men that the time for disarmament has come and he who refuses to lay down the gun is against the Republic, and will be considered as an enemy to the peace."
5. On the electoral process, L'inter (an independent daily) published a statement issued by the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), which said that the electoral body is to take some urgent actions this week in order to speed up the electoral process. According to the paper, the statement also said that the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Cote d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, handed over an audit of the country's electoral map to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on July 4.
Media Coverage of Embassy's Activities
Reporting on the well attended (over 300 people, including the Minister of Defense, other government officials, the diplomatic corps, NGOs' and civil society) 4th of July celebration by Embassy Abidjan, Fraternite Matin and L'inter (two major newspapers in Cote d'Ivoire) carried stories focusing on the speech of Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt during the celebration of July 4 in Cote d'Ivoire. The two positive news stories highlighted Ambassador's Nesbitt statement on democracy, as "a living, evolving phenomenon" and the peace process underway in Cote d'Ivoire.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 United States Embassy. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
