United States Embassy (Abidjan)
28 October 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 Ivorian newspapers today pondered the future of the peace process underway in Cote d'Ivoire. The dailies also reported on recent new measures announced by the Ivorian authorities aimed at boosting the peace process. An opposition daily further warned that MODEL - a former Liberian rebel movement - constitutes a threat to peace in Cote d'Ivoire. On the upcoming elections in the United States, L'inter, an independent daily devoted a front-page story on what is shaping to happen on November 4th.
1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): In a prominent story, the paper quoted the UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cote d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, as saying: "increasing delays in the dual identification and electoral processes is imperiling peace in Cote d'Ivoire." Mr. Choi, the paper said, was speaking Monday before the UN Security Council in New York. The paper noted that the voter registration in the run-up to the presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire started 15 September 2008 and was planned to be completed by October 30, 2008. "Unfortunately, the pace of progress has been painfully slow," the paper further quoted the UN envoy as saying adding, "The magnitude of delay has taken almost everybody by surprise."
2. In another front-page story, Fraternite Matin reported that the government has decided to open 774 registration centers in Cote d'Ivoire's economic capital Abidjan "to boost the identification and the enrolment process" in preparation of the long-delayed polls. The paper published a public statement issued by the Ivorian authorities saying that the voter registration exercise, which was temporarily suspended, will resume today. Excerpts of this statement said that the five-day suspension was helpful "to train registration officers." The statement also outlined voters' enrolment procedures and required documents for registration.
3. In a related development, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) carried a prominent story on the possibility of the Ivorian opposition coalition to file a single candidate for the coming presidential elections. According to the paper, the issue was at the top of agenda yesterday during a meeting between former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie and Anaky Kobena a leading member of the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace - a coalition of four principal opposition parties in Cote d'Ivoire. At the end of the meeting Mr. Anaky Kobena reportedly said: "If we lose these elections as a result of our failure to nominate one candidate the people won't forgive us." Meanwhile, the paper quoted another leading opposition figure reassuring the people that "There won't be war between the opposition leaders."
4. Soir Info (an independent daily): In a front-page story, this paper reported the Ivorian Defense Minister Michel Amani N'Guessan as saying: "Whoever forcibly removes Gbagbo from power will be immediately ousted." The Minister, the paper said, was speaking during a political rally in western Cote d'Ivoire in support of the ruling FPI party. Meanwhile, a report in Fraternite Matin said a leading member of the Rally of Peace and Progress denounced "hate speeches" that are being peddled by the opposition leaders. [The Rally of Peace and Progress, which is speculated to have been created by Laurent Dona Fologo, Chairman of the Economic and Social Council, is widely believed to be close to President Laurent Gbagbo.]
5. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) said that the government forces in Cote d'Ivoire are getting prepared in case ex-fighters MODEL - a former Liberian rebel movement - try to attack Cote d'Ivoire. The paper, which said it gets this information from "a reliable source", further warned that MODEL constitutes a threat to peace in Cote d'Ivoire."
MEDIA REACTION TO U.S. AND OTHER WORLD ISSUES
With only a week to go polls in US, L'inter (an independent daily) carried a banner headline announcing the November 4th presidential elections; a battle between the Democratic candidate Barack Obama and the Republican flagbearer John McCain. The paper then devoted a full page describing the final campaign strategy of the two candidates. In a related development, Fraternite Matin carried a prominent story about the two white supremacist skinheads who have reportedly plotted to kill 102 African Americans including presidential candidate Barack Obama. The two plotters, the paper said, were arrested in Alamo, Tennessee and formerly charged.
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