United States Embassy (Abidjan)
7 July 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.
Cote d'Ivoire's press today pondered the peace process underway in Cote d'Ivoire. The dailies also critically looked at the political landscape and the general atmosphere as Cote d'Ivoire prepares for landmark presidential elections. The arrival of the new French Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire; child trafficking; Ambassador Nesbitt's speech on America's Independence Day celebration and President Obama's July 10-11 maiden visit to Accra, Ghana were the other major stories in the dailies. Papers continue to report on Michael Jackson's death; in its June 3 issue, Fraternite Matin carried the Ivorian government's condolence message to the government of the United States.
1. In Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily), a prominent story talked about the head of the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Y. J. Choi's comment that September 2009 will mark "a turning point" in the electoral process underway in Cote d'Ivoire. According to the paper, Choi was speaking Monday in Abidjan at a press conference on the peace process. Presidential elections are set to be held in Cote d'Ivoire on November 29. Responding to a question regarding the demand for another extension on the voter registration exercise that was completed on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, Mr. Choi said: "It's the responsibility of national bodies, including the independent electoral commission or the national commission for the supervision of the identification, to see to this request."
2. More on the voter registration exercise, a front-page story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that the independent electoral commission has admitted to have disfranchised many Ivorians. The paper suggested that the electoral body could reconsider its decision not to extend the exercise. The paper also said that a source close to the commission said that only a political decision could help overturn the situation. Still on the same issue, a story in L'inter (an independent daily) said that the decision to extend or not the registration exercise could be known today as the Ivorian Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with all the key players in the identification and the voter registration processes.
3. Speaking Monday about the November 29 presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire, the new French Ambassador, Jean-Marc Simon, expressed optimism, reported Fraternite Matin. "I've no doubt. I note the decisions that had been taken by the Ivorian authorities and I've no comment about that." According to L'Expression (a daily close to the opposition), Ambassador Simon said: "November 29 will be respected."
4. On the ongoing disarmament process, the Ivorian Defense Minister, Michel Amani N'Guessan, reaffirmed Cote d'Ivoire's commitment not to regress. According to Fraternite Matin, N'Guessan said: "The peace process has now reached a turning point. Cote d'Ivoire is committed to peace and development." N'Guessan said this at a ceremony, where the U.N mission in Cote d'Ivoire presented items to support the disarmament program. The paper also reported that the Deputy U.N. Envoy to Cote d'Ivoire, Abou Moussa, said: "UNOCI is committed to continuously provide logistic and technical supports in a bid to create good conditions for the up-coming elections."
5. A report in Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) said that political parties and civic groups, including the Ivorian Movement of Human Rights, called on the Ivorian army not to meddle in politics. "The Forces of Defense and Security [government's forces] should stick to their regalia role," the paper quoted Mr. Drissa Traore, the President of Ivorian Movement of Human Rights as saying. [NOTE: Media reports recently quoted the Chief of Staff of Defense and Security Forces, General Philippe Mangou, asking Ivorian political leaders "to respect the army." General Mangou, reports said, was reacting to a statement made by Ivorian opposition leader Alassane Dramane Ouattara describing the bombardment of Bouake in 2004 by government's forces in an attempt to retake the city then under the control of the New Forces as "stupid, barbaric and shameful."] Meanwhile, Notre Voie carried a prominent story in which the President of the Ruling FPI party, who was reacting to Ouattara's statement, questioned the political maturity of the Ivorian opposition leader.
6. The political landscape in Cote d'Ivoire in the run-up to the country's presidential elections was also a subject of front-page story in Le Patriote. According to the paper, the Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire (UDPCI), the party of the late Ivorian military junta leader, General Robert Guei, is on the brink of collapse. The paper said that President Laurent Gbagbo is behind moves to break up this party; and this was part of his agenda to impose the ruling party's supremacy in Cote d'Ivoire's western regions.
7. A prominent story in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) told readers that President Gbagbo and his opponent Alassane Dramane Ouattara are engaged in what the paper called "multi-billion political campaigns." The paper said that during recent political rallies across the country, Gbagbo and Ouattara promised to spend billions of CFAs on development programs.
8. On another issue, a report in Nord-Sud Quotidien said that the police recently impounded two vehicles carrying 20 children in the south-western city of Soubre. According to the paper, the children are from Burkina Faso and were victims of child trafficking.
9. L'inter published the full text of Ambassador Nesbitt's speech on the 2009 Independence Day celebration of the United States. The paper highlighted key points of the message, in which the U.S. diplomat reaffirmed the support of the American government to the peace process underway in Cote d'Ivoire. "We congratulate the government for the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and note that many progress has been made, notably the successful completion of the audiences foraines [public hearings] and the identification process," the message said. Reporting on the same message, AIP (the state-own news agency), carried a story on its web site, saying that Ambassador Nesbitt called on the international community to continue to support the Ivorian peace process. Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) also reported on the speech and highlighted the ambassador's call for the international community's support to the peace process.
10. As President Barack Obama is expected in Ghana on July 10-11, Le Temps said that the American President will carry a message of "audacity and hope" to Africa. The paper described the president's maiden visit to Africa as a "great symbol."
10. On Michael Jackson's death, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) in its June 3rd edition carried a condolence message from the Ivorian government to the government of the United States The message said: "His death constitutes a heavy loss for his family, American people, Africans and for millions of fans across the world."
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