United States Embassy (Abidjan)
18 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.
A pro-opposition newspaper today reported that Cote d'Ivoire's government forces have violated a U.N. arms embargo imposed on Cote d'Ivoire. Reports also said that La Licorne - the French troops based in Cote d'Ivoire - is to organize mock exercises in order to ensure security during the forthcoming presidential elections. News that the former Ivorian military General Mathias Doue is likely to stand for presidency generated comments in a pro-government daily. The First Lady's call to review of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement as well as a European Union's report on the cocoa and coffee industry in Cote d'Ivoire, were also major stories in today's dailies.
1. Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) had an "exclusive" report on "Heavy weapons are being convoyed to the country [Cote d'Ivoire] via neighboring Guinea-Bissau." The paper suggested that the U.N. Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) "must open its eyes," because "President Laurent Gbagbo has never respected the November 2004 arms embargo imposed on Cote d'Ivoire by U.N Resolution 1572." The paper described Guinea-Bissau as "an axis of evil," which together with Guinea-Conakry have become what it called "the transit for illicit trading in arms and ammunitions destined to Cote d'Ivoire."
2. Reporting on the security for the scheduled November 30 presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire, Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said La Licorne - the French troops based in Cote d'Ivoire - is to begin ten-day mock military exercises in the western region of the country. The announcement about the exercises, which should begin on September 20, was in a public statement issued by La Licorne in Abidjan. According to the paper the statement said, "In a bid to ensure security during the elections, the impartial forces [U.N. blue helmets and French troops] need to undergo training... It's in response to this that La Licorne will carry out mock military exercises on September 20-30 in the western region of Cote d'Ivoire."
3. In a front-page story, L'inter (a privately-owned daily) reported about speculations on the dangers that may disrupt the scheduled presidential elections if the disarmament program was not well conducted. The paper said that peace in Cote d'Ivoire after the elections depends on the success of the disarmament program. The paper therefore appealed to the officials to take the necessary measures in order to finance the program and to put in place mechanisms to monitor the exercise.
4. A day after news reports that the former Chief of Defense staff of Cote d'Ivoire, General Mathias Doue is likely to contest the coming presidential elections, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) expressed doubt that the former military commander could be a good candidate. The paper was reacting to a statement made yesterday by the leader of the Ivorian Renaissance Congress (CRI) that "only General Doue can restore hope to Ivorians in this Cote d'Ivoire that has been disfigured by years of crises."
5. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition): A prominent story in this paper said that "the activism of the Ivorian First Lady can endanger the coming elections." The paper pointed out that the recent rhetoric of Mrs Gbagbo demanding the review of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement could "weaken efforts aimed at implementing the agreement."
6. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party): This paper published a report on the cocoa and coffee industry in Cote d'Ivoire. Excerpts of the report by the European Union, said that "Ivorian cocoa and coffee producers have lost 50%t of their purchasing power." The paper also said that the producers cannot save money due to their difficult living conditions.
Media Coverage of Embassy Activities
Today, L'inter (an Ivorian privately-owned daily) reported on Ambassador Nesbitt's signing of four NGO grant agreements, worth $90,000 to support four Human Rights NGOs in Cote d'Ivoire. Yesterday, Soir Info reported on this US support for human rights work in Cote d'Ivoire.
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