United States Embassy (Abidjan)
17 June 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.
Reports in Ivorian dailies mainly focused on the Government's emergency plans to deal with the damage from heavy rains and mudslides; President Gbagbo's visit in the northwest town of Touba; and the dockworkers and health practioners strikes. Other reports were on the voter registration exercise and the late Gabonese President's official funeral. Dailies also reported on outreach campaigns by the NGO Network of Actions Against Small Arms Proliferation. Programs by State Department IIP speaker Imam Hendi also made today's news.
In a prominent article, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) shed light on urgent measures set up by Ivorian authorities to deal with damage from heavy rains and mudslides. The plan includes rescue operations, rehabilitation activities and financial support. Recent heavy rains, the paper indicated, claimed 21 lives. Addressing the issue on the margins of his upcountry visit, President Gbagbo called for solidarity and an immediate implementation of the plan.
On President Gbagbo's visit in the northwest region of Touba, articles in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) indicated that important decisions were taken to address the constant conflicts and major social and economical problems in the area. President Gbagbo called on the local people to look forward and work to develop their region.
Reporting on the health practioners strike, Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) indicated that for the past two days activities have been at standstill in almost all national hospitals. Sick people looking for treatment are facing many problems. This situation, the paper mentioned, needs to be tackled urgently to avoid more lives lost.
In a related development, Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) noted that dockworkers decided to resume work today. This decision, the paper added, is the outcome of a meeting held with President Gbagbo to discuss their requests.
Reporting on the late Gabonese President's official funeral ceremony held yesterday in Gabon, L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) indicated that some fifteen heads of state paid tribute to Mr. Omar Bongo.
On the voters registration exercise, L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) indicated that the operation was launched on Monday in China. Voters registration teams are working at the Ivorian Embassy. Developing the same issue, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) added that a final operation in Abidjan will start next week to allow for additional registrations.
In the framework of its outreach activities, NGO Network Actions Against Small Arms Proliferation in West Africa (RASALAO) and Amnesty International held a conference yesterday to call on Ivorian authorities to sign the UN treaty on small arms trade. The information was reported by Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party), which further added that the aim of the treaty is to regulate the sector to prevent illegal small arms proliferation.
Islam Info (an Ivorian weekly Muslim newspaper) published the first part of President Obama's June 4 speech in Cairo in French and promised to publish the rest of the message in its coming issues. The paper also posted the speech on its web site: www.islaminfo-ci.org.
Finally, the meeting of IIP State Department speaker Imam Hendi with Ivorian journalists was reported in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party). In his remarks, Imam Hendi indicated that, like Christianity and Judaism, non-violence is a basic concept in Islam. The paper reported that Imam Hendi called for mutual understanding.
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