United States Embassy (Abidjan)
14 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.
The preparation for the November 30 presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire was one of the major stories in today's Ivorian press. President Laurent Gbagbo's today visit to Seguela and Vavoua in the Western-central region, where disgruntled former fighters went on a rampage a couple of weeks ago, was also a subject of front-page stories. The papers also reported on the case of the Franco-Canadian journalist, Guy-Andre Kieffer, who disappeared in April 2004 in Cote d'Ivoire, as well as on the recent hike of petrol prices.
1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper carried a front-page story quoting the UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cote d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, who said that "there are three major obstacles to overcome" for the November 30 presidential election. The paper said that Mr. Choi made this comment after a meeting with Ivorian ex-President and leader of the former ruling PDCI-RDA party, Henri Konan Bedie, over the weekend. The paper further said that the discussions between the two men focused on "the funding, logistics problems and the security issue of the upcoming election." Mr. Choi reportedly said that despite these problems, "we must be optimistic so as to be able, within the four-and-half months, to meet the deadline for the November 30, which is a decisive and a turning point in the peace process." Mr. Choi also said "the budget for the organization of the polls is almost completed."
2. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI): In a front-page story, the paper suggested that the presidential election scheduled for November 30 could be delayed because "the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) continues holding back the work of other institutions involved in the preparation of the polls."
3. Fraternite Matin published some excerpts from a statement by the Independent Electoral Commission, which said "it is committed to collaborate with all national and international institutions" taking part in the preparation of the election. The statement also said that "the CEI reiterates its profound gratitude to its national and international partners, which are contributing in an efficient manner to reinforce and to consolidate its actions and initiatives in order to give Ivorians clean, transparent and credible election that is conform to democratic standard."
4. Still on the upcoming election, in a front-page story, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) reported on what it called "a plan crafted by the Ivorian Interior Minister to enable President Laurent Gbagbo to win the forthcoming polls." According to the paper, the plan is contained in a ten-page document and seeks, among other things, "to control the identification program and the voters' registration exercise."
5. Regarding the case of the missing Franco-Canadian journalist, Guy-Andre Kieffer, who disappeared in April 2004 in Cote d'Ivoire, Notre Voie reported on what it called "the untold story about the relationship between the missing journalist and some French consultants, leaders of Commodities Corporate Consulting (CCC)." According to the paper, the missing journalist worked with the Commodities Corporate Consulting as a consultant before quitting the company over a money dispute. [NOTE: On July 11, the Ivorian Attorney General, Raymond Tchimou, called for four French consultants to be charged over the 2004 disappearance of a Canadian journalist in Abidjan. The Attorney General alleged that missing journalist Guy-Andre Kieffer, who disappeared in April 2004 while researching a story on corruption in Ivory Coast's cocoa industry, received threats from the four with whom he worked as a consultant. Two of the French consultants, who headed the Commodities Corporate Consulting (CCC), made death threats against Kieffer, Tchimou said at a news conference in Abidjan.]
6. The recent increases in the fuel prices in Cote d'Ivoire were today a subject of front-page story in Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party). The paper questioned why gas is more expensive in Cote d'Ivoire as compared to the prices in other countries, like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which rely on Cote d'Ivoire for petrol products. In a related development, L'inter (an independent newspaper), in a prominent story, said taxi drivers are threatening to stop working today to protest the increases of the fuel prices, while civil servants are pressing the government to increase their transport allowances.
7. In a bid to alleviate the high cost of living in Cote d'Ivoire, the government announced a reduction in the State's expenditures, said a front-page story in Fraternite Matin. According to the paper, the move was announced by the Minister of Economy during a recent TV program.
8. L'intelligent d'Abidjan (a privately-owned daily) reported on the stepped-up security in Seguela and Vavoua in the Western-central region. This is in response to President Laurent Gbagbo's upcoming official visit to the region, where disgruntled former fighters went on a rampage a couple of weeks ago.
9. Finally, a report in L'inter said that Female Genital Mutilation in the Northern region of Worodougou is at an 80% all time high. According to the paper, this is the highest in Cote d'Ivoire. The paper reported that UNFPA and UNICEF have jointly launched an awareness campaign in this region in attempts to stop the practice.
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