United States Embassy (Abidjan)
4 November 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.
1. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition): A prominent story in this paper quoted the U.S. Ambassador in Cote d'Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt's response to a question on the historic meaning of the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama, an African American. According to the paper, the Ambassador said: "The candidature of a Black American [in today's presidential elections] is already a victory." Ambassador Nesbitt was speaking Monday during a roundtable discussion with Ivorian journalists to explain the American electoral system. The paper further said that Ambassador Nesbitt described today's final battle for the presidency of the United States between Senators Obama and John McCain as "a historic" event in the U.S annals. Ambassador Nesbitt reportedly said that today's elections have triggered "passion" especially among the young electorate.
2. "The Ivorian youth must emulate the courage of Obama," said another story in Nord-Sud Quotidien. The paper was quoting Honorable Pale Dimate, MP and President of "Parliamentarians Network for Obama", who was speaking yesterday during a conference in Abidjan. Honorable Dimate, the paper reported, was speaking on the topic "Comparative analysis of French and North-American electoral system." The speaker reportedly said: "The candidature of Obama has become a world affair because there are lobby groups all over the place working for the victory of the Illinois Senator." Nord-Sud Quotidien also published a contribution from a leading member of the former ruling PDCI-RDA party. The writer said the current passion in the sub-Saharan Africa for "the possible election" of Obama as the President of the United States is just "an emotional" attitude. The writer went on to ask whether Africans should support Obama for "the color of his skin or for what he [Obama] could do for Africa." Explaining the candidature of Obama, the contributor said: "Obama is not a superman. It's just because America has changed while the whole world is still dragging its feet on racial, regional, ethnic and cultural differences."
3. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper quoted the U.S Ambassador in Cote d'Ivoire as saying: "Opinion polls are not scientifically accurate but rather give a snapshot of the trend." The paper was reporting on Ambassador Nesbitt's meeting with the local media on the American elections. It quoted the American diplomat who predicted that "today's elections would record a higher turn out... and it is probable that current demographic changes have some impacts on the polls." The paper also announced that the U.S Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire is organizing an Election Night event today in Abidjan. According to the paper, an NGO called "Lumière 21" is also organizing an election night "in support of Obama." Another prominent story in Fraternite Matin said: "The whole Africa stops breathing" as Americans are set for "historic presidential elections." Phil Nomel, the paper's special correspondent in Washington DC quoted an American political analyst saying: "I've now understood that he [Obama] possesses the necessary assets to lead this country."
4. L'inter (an independent daily): The paper devoted four pages reporting and forecasting the outcome of today's elections in U.S. In a front-page story the paper questioned Obama's chances to win these elections. According to L'inter's political reporter, Felix Diby Bony, in Chicago, definitely "the truth shall come from the ballots tonight." [NOTE: Bony is currently in the US in a US Elections tour for international journalists - sponsored by the Department of State. The tour, which began on October 28, ends on November 6, 2008.] While opinion polls confirm Obama's lead over his challenger, reported the paper, the Republican candidate, John McCain, is running against the clock to overturn this trend. The paper also reported on Ambassador Nesbitt's meeting Monday with Ivorian journalists and quoted the U.S diplomat who rejected "any possibility of frauds." Another story in this paper said that Ivorians are preparing for "a wake-keeping for Obama." L'inter also published other news items culled from the international media outlets explaining the American electoral system and some of the successes of the outgoing President, George Bush.
5. Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition): Reporting on the funding of campaigning in during these American presidential elections, the paper quoted Ambassador Nesbitt as saying: "It's not the richest person who wins elections in the U.S." Other dailies including Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA), Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party), AIP (state-owned news agency) and Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported on Ambassador Nesbitt's meeting yesterday with the media. Notre Voie quoted the U.S. diplomat as saying: "Americans are ready to accept the outcome of the polls." The Ivorian national television network (TV1 & TV2) also carried footages of Ambassador Nesbitt explaining the American electoral system to Ivorian journalists a day before the elections in the U.S.
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