United States Embassy (Abidjan)
25 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.
Violent clashes on Monday in central city of Seguela between former Ivorian rebels made headlines in today's Ivorian press. Reports also said that Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea (Conakry) have signed an agreement aimed at developing road infrastructures connecting the two West African states. The nationwide strike called by the Ivorian primary school teachers; plan to open up the broadcasting sector in Cote d'Ivoire and what did cause the death of 16 people including children in the central city of Bongouanou, were the other major stories in today's press.
1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A banner headline on the front page of this paper said that "former rebels close to Kone Zackaria - a former warlord - attacked Seguela." The report said that ten assailants and one New Forces' soldier were killed on Monday when "unidentified gunmen tried to take control of the arms depot of the New Forces Armed Forces in the central city of Seguela." According to the paper the armed group also set free prisoners. "For some time now, we have gathered from our intelligence that soldiers close to Commodore Zackaria were planning an attack. We have therefore taken measures to forestall this attack," the paper quoted a leading member of the New Forces as saying. The paper also published a public statement issued Monday by the New Forces. Excerpts said: "The way the attack was carried out makes think of a plan aimed at simultaneously attacking the cities of Seguela, Bouake and Korhogo... The Armed Forces of the New Forces restate their indefectible attachment to the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and reiterate their commitment to the full implementation of the said accord."
2. Still on this event, Fraternite Matin suggested that these attacks - the second one since June 2008 - "endangers the peace process" underway in the West African state. The attacks, the paper further explained were the result of "enmity" between the New Forces' leader-turned Prime Minister Guillaume Soro and Kone Zackaria. "Only dialogue [between the former leaders of the Ivorian rebellion] and disarmament of the ex-combatants would help heal the wound," advised the paper. [NOTE: Soldiers loyal to former Cote d'Ivoire rebel chief Kone Zacharia staged a mutiny in Seguela June 28, attacking their own headquarters. Kone, a renowned rebel fighter, was sacked on May 18 as commander for the Seguela zone for an "act of indiscipline". He is currently in exile in Burkina Faso.]
3. Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party): A front-page story in this paper said that Ivorian government forces are on high alert, as former Liberian rebels are preparing to launch an attack on western Cote d'Ivoire. The paper carried eyewitness reports alleging that "some former Liberian rebels, well-known in the region, were seen moving around disguising themselves as petit traders."
4. A report in Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) said that a contingent of the Center for Integrated Command - a joint government forces and New Forces military unit - based in the western region staged a strike Monday to press for allowances. According to the paper, the disgruntled soldiers ended their movement after the intervention of the sub-prefect in the region.
5. L'inter (an independent daily): The paper cited military sources saying that militia groups that were recently disbanded in Abidjan are planning to carry out reprisals in the Ivorian economic capital. The paper quoted some of militiamen saying that "We don't understand the way we are being treated after serving loyally the nation, while former rebels are well treated." In a separate report, the paper said that since November 11, government forces have started cracking down on the self-defense groups that were created during the war in Abidjan. According to the paper, about 2,500 militiamen have been disbanded so far. The paper further explained that the government forces have engaged in this exercise in order to comply with the Ouagadougou Political Agreement that demands key players to help create an atmosphere conducive to peace in the country.
6. A report in Fraternite Matin said that Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea (Conakry) signed on Saturday an agreement aimed at rehabilitating road infrastructures connecting the two West African states. The project when completed would help buttress trading between the two countries, said the paper.
7. Reacting to the nationwide strike called by the Ivorian primary school teachers, Fraternite Matin quoted the Education Minister saying that the movement is "illegal" because negotiations between the Ministry and the teachers unions over the salary increases are still underway. Meanwhile, an official from the Ministry of Public Service reportedly said that "there will be salary increases beginning from the second semester of the year 2009."
8. On media-related issues, Fraternite Matin reported that the Ministry of Communication is jointly working with public and private broadcast experts to finalize a plan designed to open up the broadcasting sector in Cote d'Ivoire.
10. Finally, on the death of 16 people including children of food poisoning in the central Bongouanou Fraternite Matin reported President Laurent Gbagbo is demanding an autopsy to be conducted in order to know the exact cause of the deaths. According to the paper, the villagers died after consuming maize meal sold by a local woman.
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