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.

Today's news reports said that the Ivorian government is to engage in a series of consultations with consumer associations and drivers' unions in a bid to end the strike over rising fuel prices that has paralyzed businesses for the past few days in Cote d'Ivoire. The report also said that the World Food Program (WFP) donated $ 490,000 to Cote d'Ivoire to address the food crisis. Rumors of a coup d'etat in Cote d'Ivoire and the death of two security forces of the Integrated Command Center - a joint command of government and New Forces military forces - were the other major stories in today's Ivorian papers. Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI newspaper) also reported on a meeting between a delegation from the United States' Embassy in Abidjan and the leadership of the New Forces.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper announced that the Ivorian government is committed to find measures in order "to reduce the negative effects of the rocketing fuel prices in Cote d'Ivoire." The paper published the full text of a televised statement from the government announcing a series of consultations between the government and all the consumer associations and drivers' unions today. These consultations will be followed by a cabinet meeting on July 19 and a Council of Ministers on July 20 "to find a solution to the problem," said the statement. According to the paper, businesses in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire's commercial capital were paralyzed again yesterday, as taxi and minibus drivers continued their strike over rising fuel prices, ignoring a call from the drivers' union leaders to resume work after a meeting with President Laurent Gbagbo on July 16. Reports also said that in some suburbs of Abidjan, there had been demonstrations by drivers who erected barricades and held placards with message reading, "We're hungry! We're tired! They must reduce the price of petrol."

2. In a prominent story, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) said that President Gbagbo "bowed down" following pressure from taxi and minibus drivers and the two-day nationwide strike called by the Cote d'Ivoire General Union of Workers (UGTCI) to protest against the high cost of living. In a related development, L'inter (a privately-owned daily) predicted that the situation may worsen, as taxi and minibus drivers are planning to organize rallies and marches next week.

3. In a front-page story Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) noted that the two strikes were "a success, as workers in Abidjan and other parts of the country stayed home." According to the paper, the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace - an opposition alliance - is set to announce today its position on the current political and social situation prevailing in Cote d'Ivoire.

4. Meanwhile, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) accused the opposition RDR party of Alassane Dramane Ouattara of being behind the protests over the high cost of living. The paper alleged that the party of the Ivorian opposition figure is trying to use the "legitimate anger of taxis drivers" as a pretext "to achieve political ambition." In a separate story, the paper accused Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) of "inciting people to revolt." Regarding the coverage of the ongoing strikes by the state-owned media, Le Patriote questioned whether "the RTI - the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation - is still a public media." According to the paper, the national television has imposed "a total black-out on the problems regarding the high cost of living and the ongoing strikes."

5. A report in Fraternite Matin said that the World Food Program (WFP) donated $ 490,000 to Cote d'Ivoire to address the current food crisis. According to the paper, this contribution is to finance projects aiming at raising agricultural productivity and assist vulnerable communities in the rural areas that have been affected both by the longstanding crisis and the current rocketing food prices.

6. In another development, the lead front-page story in Le Matin d'Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported that the Ivorian army is on "high alert following rumors of a coup d'etat." The story speculated that unnamed individuals might be trying to use the current protests over rising prices to destabilize the country.

7. A report in Fraternite Matin said that the New Forces denied their implication in the death of two security forces of the Integrated Command Center - a joint command of government and New Forces military forces. According to the paper, two gendarmes were killed July 10 in an ambush.

Media Coverage of Embassy Activities

Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI newspaper) carried a report on a meeting between a joint delegation from the United States Embassy and the Carter Foundation, led by DCM Cynthia Akuetteh, and the leadership of the New Forces on July 15 in Bouake. According to the paper, discussion focused on the peace process and the preparation and supervision of the upcoming elections. The positive report also said that the American delegation visited the Western-central city of Seguela, where disgruntled former New Forces' fighters went on rampage a couple of weeks ago. [Note: The paper copied the information from the website of the New Forces www.fninfo.ci]

carried a report on a meeting between a joint delegation from the United States Embassy and the Carter Foundation, led by DCM Cynthia Akuetteh, and the leadership of the New Forces on July 15 in Bouake. According to the paper, discussion focused on the peace process and the preparation and supervision of the upcoming elections. The positive report also said that the American delegation visited the Western-central city of Seguela, where disgruntled former New Forces' fighters went on rampage a couple of weeks ago. [ The paper copied the information from the website of the New Forces ]

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