United States Embassy (Abidjan)
29 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 the press over the weekend and today in Cote d'Ivoire were dominated by pre-election "fever" in this country. The dailies also announced the end of the voter registration on June 30, 2009. The joint mock military exercise conducted by the U.N. Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and Licorne (French troops stationed in Cote d'Ivoire); the two cases of swine flu confirmed in Cote d'Ivoire; and the controversy over government's subsidy to the Ivorian press were also in the news. The papers continue to report on the death of the American pop star, Michael Jackson.
1. A banner headline in Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) said that Ivorian political leaders are on the campaign trail for the upcoming Cote d'Ivoire's presidential elections billed for November 29, 2009. Addressing a rally on Saturday in the central city of Bouake - former stronghold of the New Forces -, Ivorian opposition leader Alassane Dramane Ouattara said: "We're all Ivoirians," according to the paper. Mr. Ouattara, who was barred from running for the presidency in 2000 following the controversy over his nationality, reportedly said: "The suspicion over nationality of certain citizens should come to an end to build the country with all Ivoirians." According to the paper, Mr. Ouattara, leader of the opposition RDR party, whose message focused on "pardon and reconciliation," insisted that the presidential elections be held this year.
2. "We want to change Cote d'Ivoire," Fraternite Matin quoted Francis Wodie, the leader of Ivorian Workers Party (PIT), as telling supporters during a pre-campaign rally on Saturday in Abidjan. On the continuous delay of the coming presidential elections, Mr. Wodie said: "We're tired." He further said, "We hope that this time, those that pledged to organize the elections, will live up to their promise." In a related development, a story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that the Chairman of the FPI party, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, called on the party's rank and file members to unite. According to the paper, the chairman was reacting to recent events of internal discord, which he reportedly said could undermine the party's efforts to win the elections and retain power.
3. On matters concerning the voter registration, Notre Voie published a public statement issued by the Independent Electoral Commission, which said that the operation will end on June 30, 2009. According to the statement, the decision by the electoral body not to extend the exercise is in compliance with "the timetable agreed upon by various political parties during the May 18, 2009's meeting of the CPC - a committee overseeing the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement."
4. While Cote d'Ivoire is preparing for crucial presidential elections, a report in the weekend's issue of L'inter (an independent daily) said that the U.N. Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and Licorne (French troops stationed in Cote d'Ivoire) has been trained on how to contain crowds. The report said that police officers from the Jordanian U.N. troops and elements of Licorne conducted a joint mock exercise on June 24, 2009 in Grand Bassam, a town close to Abidjan. The exercise was part of routine training aimed at testing reactions of U.N. troops in Cote d'Ivoire.
5. On health issues, a prominent story in the weekend's issue of Fraternite Matin informed the public that the Ministry of Health in Cote d'Ivoire on Friday confirmed two cases of swine flu. According to the paper, the cases were confirmed by the Institut Pasteur (Cote d'Ivoire's National Influenza Center) and then by a World Health Organization laboratory. [NOTE: In the context of its ongoing efforts to improve the health of the Ivorian people, the U.S. government donated on April 29, 2009 advanced equipment and computer technology to Institut Pasteur in Cote d'Ivoire. The equipment is to allow doctors to diagnose respiratory diseases, including a variety of strains of influenza, more rapidly than ever before. In addition to common influenza-like illnesses, the equipment also gives the laboratory the capacity to rapidly diagnose avian influenza strains and other unique influenzas that may have pandemic potential among human beings.]
6. On media issues, Fraternite Matin reported that the Ivorian government has provided Francs CFA 542 million (about $1.2 million) to Fonds de Soutien et de Developpement de la Presse (FSDP) - Funds for assistance and development of the press in Cote d'Ivoire. According to the report, Francs CFA 50 million (about $107,526) will be allocated to the printing media in Cote d'Ivoire, a decision that was immediately rejected by the GEPCI - Association of Ivorian newspapers publishers. The paper quoted the president of GEPCI, Denis Kah Zion, who denounced what he calls "the small portion" for the printing press. According to the paper, he accused the government of not respecting its commitment; the total operation budget of the FSDP is estimated at Francs CFA 3.120 billion ($6.7 million).
7. On the death of American pop star Michael Jackson, Fraternite Matin carried a two-page story on his visit to Cote d'Ivoire in February 1992. The paper republished a story published in connection with his visit here. "Dangerous Michael!" said the front-page report. The report said that thousands of fans, journalists and photographers turned up at the Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport to catch a glimpse of or snatch words from the pop star. Another front-page report in Nord-Sud Quotidien said that Krindjabo, a town in south-eastern Cote d'Ivoire is mourning Michael Jackson. The paper, which devoted its full back-page to the death of Michael Jackson, reminded readers that the late pop star during his visit to Cote d'Ivoire, also went Krindjabo (believed to be his original hometown), where he was crowned a king.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 United States Embassy. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
