United States Embassy (Abidjan)
9 January 2009
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 press in Cote d'Ivoire continued to report on efforts being deployed by the country's authorities and the United Nations Operation in order to accelerate the electoral process. An opposition daily unveiled what it called a plan crafted by the ruling party to sabotage the electoral process. Newspapers also talked about conditions for the certification of the coming elections in Cote d'Ivoire and the relationship between Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana after a new administration takes over in this neighboring country. The state-owned daily Fraternite Matin carried reports filed by its special correspondent on the inauguration of Barack Obama.
1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): After days of political rows over issues regarding the funding of the identification and voter registration process, the paper carried a prominent story reassuring readers that the Ivorian peace process is "on track." The first assurance came from President Laurent Gbagbo, whom the paper quoted as saying "We'll succeed in organizing our elections." The President was speaking yesterday in Abidjan upon return from neighboring Ghana where he took part in the inauguration of President John Evans Atta Mills after his election that was greeted worldwide as free and fair. "Elections work in Africa and it will work in Cote d'Ivoire," Gbagbo reportedly said.
2. Fraternite Matin also announced that Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro on January 8 released CFA 1.420 billion (about $3 million usd) for the Electoral Commission to allow the body to pay election workers. The report further said that the Prime Minister left Abidjan yesterday for Ouagadougou where he will be meeting with President Blaise Compaore, facilitator in the Ivorian peace process.
3. Still on the electoral process, Fraternite Matin carried another story quoting the UN Secretary General's Special Representative, Y.J. Choi, as saying "We'll provide funds to support the identification program." The UN envoy, who was speaking after talks with former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie, reportedly said: "We'll provide financial, logistics and technical support to boost the peace process including the identification process."
4. However, a story in L'inter (an independent daily) said that the decision by the international community to provide funds to accelerate the electoral process in Cote d'Ivoire is subject to certain preconditions. Quoting the UN spokesperson in Cote d'Ivoire, the paper reported that the international community is ready to provide CFA 23 billion (about $ 48 million usd) that it has gathered for the purpose of the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire. However, the report said the money will be made available only after the Ivorian political stakeholders come out with "a clear-cut timetable of the peace process." L'inter also published a statement issued by the Primature saying that the Prime Minister on January 8 held an important meeting with institutions involved in the electoral process. The meeting was to evaluate the identification and voter registration process in order to elaborate "a coherent and feasible calendar for the program."
5. In a related development, L'inter carried another story quoting the Chairman of the ruling FPI party as saying "the party would not accept any result of the coming elections unless the disarmament of the former rebels is completed before the polls." According to the paper, the party leader again called for the suspension of the voter registration exercise in the zones under the control of the New Forces.
6. A banner headline in Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) suggested that Cote d'Ivoire's electoral process is in danger. Citing reliable sources close to the Presidency in Abidjan, the paper alleged that the ruling FPI party is preparing a plan designed to remove the electoral commissioner from office on the ground that the commission had not taken necessary measures to forestall fraud in the zones under the control of the New Forces during the identification and voter registration process. The paper went on to call for urgent action to put an end to what it called "FPI's bad faith." In a separate commentary, the paper said that it is high time for the electoral commission "to be financially independent."
7. According to Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition), the ruling and opposition parties are divided over the role to be played by the UN operation in Cote d'Ivoire on matters concerning the certification of the coming presidential elections. The paper quoted a leading member of the ruling FPI party as saying "We favor national sovereignty," but a leading opposition figure said "Certification is not the business of Cote d'Ivoire." Meanwhile, in an interview with the paper, the UN spokesperson outlined the five elements that will be taken into account for certification of the coming elections in Cote d'Ivoire. They are: "a peaceful atmosphere; all-inclusive election; equal access to the state media for all; the electoral roll and the result of the polls."
8. On bilateral issues, Le Matin d'Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported that Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana have agreed to open a new chapter in their relationship. According to the paper, the two sister countries have decided to reinforce security along their common border.
9. As preparations are under way for the inauguration of Barack Obama, Fraternite Matin carried the second of a series of reports on the event. The report mostly focused on President Obama's plan to resolve the economic facing the United States. The paper further quoted the President-elect as saying: "We are the nation that has survived many troubles and tribulations. If we manage to react quickly and seriously, I am convinced that we shall again overcome."
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