United States Embassy (Abidjan)
18 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.
The power struggle between the Ivorian State Prosecutor and disgruntled lawyers continued to make news in today's newspapers. The Ivorian electoral process; the indictment of senior military officers on Monday for inciting revolt following protests last September by soldiers demanding combat bonuses; and the media campaign against the proliferation of light weapons and small arms in Cote d'Ivoire were the other major news in today's Ivorian dailies.
1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A front-page story in this paper said that the impasse between the Ivorian State Prosecutor, Fehou Raymond Tchimou, and disgruntled lawyers has taken a dramatic turn, as court clerks and bailiffs have joined the strike. While the lawyers have been striking for the past few days to demand the resignation of the prosecutor, the court clerks are threatening to bring businesses to a standstill at the Court House in Abidjan to press for the application of a decree improving their working conditions, the report said. The bailiffs, the report continued, are protesting what they call "the indictment" of a lawyer in the discharge of their duty.
2. In another development, Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) prominently reported that three Ivorian senior military officers were charged on Monday with "inciting revolt" following protests last September by soldiers demanding combat bonuses. "They also face charges of complicity in weapons theft over the disappearance of guns," the paper said. According to the paper, the indictment of the three military officers, who have been held in custody for more than a month, was announced by a source close to a military court in Abidjan. The paper also said that the military officers were not officially identified, but Lieutenant Colonel Lancine Fofana, Colonel Moustapha Cherif and Commander Doulaye Sekongo were mentioned in some media reports.
3. On issues regarding the Ivorian electoral process, Fraternite Matin reported that on November 17, the Ivorian Prime Minister officially launched the voter registration exercise in Bouake - the stronghold of the New Forces (the former rebel movement). The report said that 58 out of 174 registration centers will start operating in Bouake and its surroundings. In a related development, the paper quoted Mrs Fatoumata Diop, one of the vice-presidents of the Independent Electoral Commission, as saying that "registration centers will soon close down in Abidjan." According to the paper, the electoral commissioner made the announcement Saturday during a conference on the contribution of the electoral body to enable handicapped persons to get registered.
4. Still on the electoral process, Fraternite Matin announced the creation of the Coordination of Cote d'Ivoire's Women for Elections and Post-conflict Reconstruction (COFEMCI-REPC). According to the paper, founders of this organization said that the objective is to help create an atmosphere conducive to peace. The organization also seeks, among other things, to encourage Ivorian women to fully take part in the economic, social and cultural development of the country and in the ongoing electoral process.
5. In a front-page report, L'inter (an independent daily) suggested the possibility of a radio-TV debate between the three main presidential candidates: President Laurent Gbagbo, former President Henri Konan Bedie and Alassane Dramane Ouattara. According to the paper, an Ivorian NGO that promotes code of ethics and legality in politics is working on this project. The paper also said that that President Gbagbo, who is widely seen as "a mogul" in TV debate, welcomes the idea saying it will help "reinforce democracy and allow the public to gauge the candidates and their programs."
6. A report in Fraternite Matin said that about 30 journalists were recently trained to enable them to lead a campaign against the proliferation of light weapons and small arms in Cote d'Ivoire. The training was conducted by RASALAO-CI - a West-African organization fighting light weapons and small arms. At the end of the training, participants called on Cote d'Ivoire's National Assembly to pass a bill on the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)'s Convention on light weapons and small arms.
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