This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. For questions regarding this service, please contact: Mr. Teko Folli in the Public Affairs Press Office, TekoFX@state.gov.

Today's news reports said that Cote d'Ivoire has established a new cocoa management committee to oversee the functions of four institutions that were in charge of the cocoa and coffee industry. The papers also reported on the current peace process; the Ivorian government's decision to ban the import of Chinese milk; campaign against small arms in Cote d'Ivoire and the case of the French freelance journalist Jean-Paul Ney, who was arrested recently on charges of threatening national security.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): "My role is to restore confidence in the cocoa and coffee industry," the paper quoted Mr. Anoh N'Guessan, the Chairman of the new cocoa management committee to oversee operations in this key industry. The paper described the setting up of this committee as "the mother of all reforms." The paper quoted a public statement, which said "with a renewable, seven-month mandate, the committee will replace several cocoa oversight bodies, including the Cocoa and Coffee Regulatory Authority, the Coffee and Cocoa Exchange, the Fund for the Development and Promotion of Activities of Coffee and Cocoa Producers, and the Fund for Regulation and Control." According to the paper, Mr. N'Guessan described his responsibility as "a heavy task."

2. The decision by the Ivorian authorities to disband the old bodies in charge of the cocoa and coffee industry was also a subject of front-page stories in pro and anti-government dailies. L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) called the move "a U-turn" and published the full text of an ordinance establishing the new cocoa management committee. Le Matin d'Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said: "Gbagbo has put an end to the anarchy, and put in place a team of technocrats." "Gbagbo has kicked out the farmers," wrote Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition). Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition) accused President Gbagbo for appointing "his friends" to manage the cocoa industry. Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) suggested that the ongoing shake-up in the cocoa and coffee industry has virtually "shattered the dreams" of Bedie [Cote d'Ivoire's former president who is now the leader of the opposition PDCI-RDA party]. According to the paper, Henri Kassi Amouzou, one of the cocoa managers, who have been detained on corruption charges, was "considered as one of the financiers of Bedie's party."

3. On the presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire, L'inter (an independent daily) suggested that President Gbagbo is preparing to take his opponents by surprise. The paper commented that the choice of Gbagbo's campaign director for these coming elections would be determinant for his victory. While speculations are abound on who would lead the Ivorian President's campaign, the paper suggested that Michel Amani N'Guessan, the Security Minister in the current administration or the Chairman of the Economic and Social, Laurent Dona Fologo, is likely to play the role.

4. A front-page story in Fraternite Matin said that the government in Cote d'Ivoire has banned the import of Chinese milk products. According to the paper, the decision was taken following reports that contaminated Chinese milk killed children and sickened more than 50,000 others in far away China.

3. On other issues, Fraternite Matin also reported that RASALAO-CI, the Cote d'Ivoire's chapter of a West African network fighting the proliferation of light and small arms in the sub region has launched a campaign aimed at sensitizing civic groups. According to the paper, the campaign also seeks, among other things, to encourage governments in the region to ratify the Convention on light and small arms.

4. A front-page story in L'inter said that the French freelance journalist Jean-Paul Ney, who was arrested recently in Cote d'Ivoire on charges of threatening national security, had attempted suicide. The journalist was arrested in January this year after a video footage showed him in an alleged coup preparation involving exiled army sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly. The video was first seen on the Internet. According to the paper, Jean-Paul Ney is to appear in court next month.

Media Coverage of Embassy Activities

Le Temps: The paper briefly reported that the second edition of "American Week" program was launched last Sunday in Bouake - the stronghold of the former rebel movement in Cote d'Ivoire. The report said that DCM, Cynthia Akuetteh presided over the ceremony.

Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) carried a pre-event story announcing a DVC program organized September 23, 2008 by the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan on the topic: "The Role of the Press in a Democracy and in Covering Elections." This event was well attended.