United States Embassy (Abidjan)
20 August 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.
A meeting yesterday between the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) and leaders of Ivorian political parties over the electoral process was the subject of front-page stories in many dailies today. Other reports said that guns were missing from a Yamoussoukro garrison. The August 18 violent protest by ex-rebels in the central city of Bouake over pay delays was the other major news item in today's papers.
1. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition): A prominent story on the front page of this newspaper said that the Independent Electoral Commission tasked with organizing the upcoming general elections in Cote d'Ivoire is in a "total mess." The paper was reporting on a meeting yesterday between the commission and key political leaders. According to the paper, the electoral body was not able to find solutions to difficulties that are likely to hold back the organization of the upcoming presidential elections. Opposition political parties attending the meeting used the opportunity "to accuse the ruling party of encouraging fraud" through its program dubbed Operation Inundation, an informal information campaign organized by the Front Populaire Ivoirian party (FPI) to tell potential voters how to apply for identification documents needed to register to vote. (Note: Other political parties are concerned that this will somehow circumvent the official identification process.)
2. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling FPI party): A front-page item in this paper said that the FPI-backed "Operation Inundation" was the dominant issue yesterday at the meeting that brought together members of the electoral commission and key Ivorian political parties. According to the paper, the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) - a four-party opposition coalition - and the Ivorian Workers Party (PIT) denounced this operation saying its aim was "to cheat."
3. Another front-page report carried by Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that yesterday's meeting offered the ground for a heated debate over issues including the date of the forthcoming Ivorian presidential elections; disarmament of former fighters; and voter registration. In a related development, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) announced that the voter registration exercise is set for September, quoting Sokouri Bohui, a leading member of the ruling party. Regarding the date of the polls, Sokouri Bohui said: "We can ask for the delay of the elections," reported a prominent story on the front page of L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily).
4. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): This paper informed readers that potential voters will have to present a birth certificate or a court judgment for their enrolment on the voter registration list. According to the paper, this was announced yesterday by Robert Beugre Mambe, the Chairman of the CEI, during the meeting with leaders of political parties. Commenting on the delay of the electoral process, the paper sounded an alarm bell and pointed a finger at SAGEM, the French group in charge of the identification process, as "responsible for the delays." "SAGEM demanded 66 billion FCFA (about $148 million USD) to organize transparent elections under the supervision of the CEI. In case it fails to live up to the promises, it has to be blamed for it," said the commentary.
5. In another development, Fraternite Matin carried a front-page story saying that guns including AK47 and grenades were missing in a garrison based in the Ivorian political capital, Yamoussoukro. Another prominent story on the same issue in L'inter (an independent daily) said the military hierarchy is "on alert" following the discovery that the guns were missing.
6. In the wake of the revolt of ex-rebels in the central city of Bouake over pay delays, Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition) carried a front-page story asking who should pay allowances that the former rebels are entitled to under the disarmament program. In the face of continuous violent protests by the ex-fighters, the paper suggested that Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, leader of the New Forces, and the facilitator in the Ivorian peace process, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, should work out a solution to the problem.
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