United States Embassy (Abidjan)
10 September 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 ongoing identification process; concerns about the presidential election deadline of November 30; the Prime Minister's visit to France and the current US-Russia relationship were the main stories in today's Ivorian newspapers.
1. On the identification and census process for the Ivorian presidential elections L'inter (an independent daily) reported on the delay and participants' complaints during the training session of the identification and census agents on September 9, 2008. According to the paper, participants complained about the lack of financial support. The Independent Electoral Commissioner, Beugre Mambe succeeded in calming them and explaining the purpose of the training, which is designed to build trainees' capacities in electoral and identification issues at the field level.
2. On the likely postponement of the presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire, L'inter reported that it will be difficult and may be even impossible for the elections to be held as currently scheduled for November 30, for various reasons. L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) reported on the Prime Minister's private visit to Ouagadougou and France on the framework of the election schedule of November 30. According to the article, the Prime Minister's visit was to discuss the option of postponing the elections.
3. In a headline story, Soir Info (an independent daily) said, "The Ouagadougou Political Agreement is at risk." According to the paper, on September 8, the Prime Minister, the former PDCI ruling party president, and the Minister of Interior representing the current FPI ruling party met with President Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso to discuss the elections deadline of November 30, 2008. Also reporting on the election deadline, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the party) said in a headline story that "The presidential primaries may be held in February 2009."
4. Reporting on international issues, L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) said "Bush is about to increase the military troops in Afghanistan". The paper explained that US President George W. Bush was preparing to reduce the United States armed forces by nearly 8,000 soldiers by early 2009 in Iraq, while reinforcing the military forces in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported on the United States - Russia "critical" relationship with the headline - "Is the cold war back?" The paper talked about concerns regarding the US support to Georgia and Russia's support to Venezuela.
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