April 30, 2008

Today, the Ivorian privately-owned daily L’inter published the first of a two-part interview with an official from the State Department on the U.S. electoral system. The papers also reported on Ivorian opposition figure, Alassane Dramane Ouattara's press conference, yesterday; the insecurity in the city of Abidjan; and the ongoing peace process.

1. L’inter (a privately-owned daily): The paper carried a full-page interview with Christopher Teal, Program Officer in the Foreign Press Center at the State Department. The interview was conducted by Felix Diby Bony, L’inter’s political reporter, who recently participated in a tour for Francophone journalists during the Pennsylvania primary. According to the report, Teal focused on the American electoral process. He explained that "The American electoral system is widely decentralized. Each State organizes its primaries; they start in the States of Iowa and New Hampshire. This process continues until each party obtains the number of delegates that determine its flag bearer, who is then endorsed during the party’s convention."

2. Fraternite Matin (a privately-owned daily): The paper devoted a full page to the leader of the RDR party, Alassane Dramane Ouattara’s press conference, which focused on the socio-political situation in Cote d’Ivoire. According to the paper, Ouattara, who was speaking two weeks after the government set November 30 as the date of the forthcoming presidential elections in this country, said: "It is impossible for every single party to rule Cote d’Ivoire alone after the polls." The paper also said that Ouattara referred to the wave of violence in Zimbabwe and Kenya following controversial elections in these countries, and suggested that, "There is a need to make sure that elections are democratic, where the people can freely choose their leader and that the defeated party recognizes the victory of the winner." On ensuring the "credibility" of the upcoming elections in Cote d’Ivoire, Ouattara proposed that state institutions like the Constitutional Council and the Supreme Court that are charged to settle electoral disputes should "stay away" from the process. According to the paper, Ouattara said that "they [the Constitutional Council and the Supreme Court] have fallen into disrepute, as they are responsible for the problems facing the country." Regarding the Code of Good Conduct that was signed last week by the Ivorian political stakeholders, Ouattara reportedly said: "It’s a first step that should be encouraged and there is a need to do everything possible so that this code allows us to conduct peaceful elections, whose results will be accepted as the verdict of the people."

3.Still reporting on Ouattara's statement, L’intelligent d’Abidjan (a privately-owned daily) carried a front-page story saying that the leader of the RDR party asked for "the extension of the deadline for the audiences foraines (the public identity hearings designed to provide documents for the nationals of Cote d’Ivoire)," in the perspective of the upcoming elections in this country. According to the paper, the Ivorian opposition figure believed that so far, "only half of the people who do not have identity papers have been identified."

4. In a related development, L’intelligent d’Abidjan reported that on Tuesday, the UN Security Council welcomed the Ivorian government’s decision to hold the coming presidential elections on November 30, calling it "an important step forward to stability and normality in the west African nation." In a statement, the Security Council called on all parties in Cote d’Ivoire to abide by their agreement, in view of the many elections the country has postponed in the past few years, reported the paper.

5. On security issues, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that the commander of the CECOS – a national gendarmerie’s unit designed to ensure security in Abidjan and its outskirts – is demanding mobile equipment to step up security in the Ivorian economic capital. General Guiai Bi Poin, who was speaking yesterday at a press conference, was quoted as saying that "The security situation in Abidjan during the past three months has been marked by an increasingly acts of criminality that were rapidly stopped by the unit."

6. The CECOS has launched an operation dubbed: "Coupeurs de route," said a prominent story in Fraternite Matin. The paper quoted the commander of CECOS as explaining that this security apparatus is aimed at "cracking down on bandits that operate on the high ways."

April 29, 2008

Ivorian newspapers today announced that Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, left Abidjan yesterday for the Middle-East to seek funds for the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire. The papers also reported on the opening of the first session of the National Assembly, which will occur tomorrow in Yamoussoukro. Some papers reported that the Code of Good Conduct that was signed last week by the political stakeholders in Cote d’Ivoire has been already violated.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): "Financing of the peace process: Soro is in search of support in the Middle-East," said a prominent headline in the paper. According to the paper, the Ivorian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, left Abidjan yesterday for a 10-day visit to the Middle-East, where "he will be meeting with officials of the Kuwait Fund and the Islamic Bank." The paper said that Soro will visit Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Soro, who is accompanied by a delegation of prominent individuals, such as the President of the Imams Council of Cote d’Ivoire, Cheick Aboubakar Fofana, will attend the International Islamic Economic Forum in Kuwait. The paper further suggested that the Ivorian Prime Minister’s visit would help strengthen the "good relationship" between Cote d’Ivoire and the Middle-East. The paper also said that Soro will use the opportunity to thank officials in the Middle-East for their "support" during the crisis that Cote d’Ivoire has faced since September 19, 2002; he will also "to ask them support the peace process underway in the West African country."

2. "Soro in the countries of petrodollars," said a banner headline in Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party). The paper published the full text of the statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister in relation to his visit to the Middle-East. The dailies quoted insiders as saying that, "The head of the Ivorian transitional government is in search of financing not only for the peace process but also for the post-crisis projects in Cote d’Ivoire."

3. In a front-page item, Fraternite Matin informed readers that the 2008 first session of the Ivoirian National Assembly is due to open tomorrow in the new Parliament House in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire's political capital. The paper’s regional reporter suggested that by conveying this special session in Yamoussoukro, the Ivorian lawmakers want to send "a strong signal that the country has been re-unified." For the populations in Yamoussoukro, the reporter went on, "This is another signal that President Laurent Gbagbo’s plan to transfer of the Ivorian capital from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro is becoming more and more palpable."

4. L’inter (a privately-owned daily): The paper expressed concerns about the respect of the Code of Good Conduct that was signed last week by the political stakeholders. Commenting on the political rally held last weekend by the former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie, the paper indicated that "Bedie violated the article 4 of the Code." According to the paper, Bedie did not "mince his words" when he was addressing supporters during the rally. "He criticized the current FPI regime using rhetoric that contradicts the Code of Good Conduct." L’inter quoted the Ivorian former Head of State as saying, "Cote d’Ivoire is a Republic where one cannot accept anti-democratic leaders, who have been established by the use of force and ruse, who maintain their grip on the power through violence, bloodshed, and refuse to go to elections." [NOTE: Article 4: The signatories agree to avoid the use of all forms of violence and pledge to exercise restraint in their utterances, writings, attitude, and behavior and to respect the opinions of others; to fight violence, intimidation, vandalism, crime, and public disorder.]

5. Bedie’s rally over the weekend was also a subject of a front-page story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party). The headline said: "Bedie who has virtually lost popularity has opted for chaos." The paper also alleged that Bedie, who is also the President of the former ruling PDCI-RDA party, is calling for "violence." "Bedie has torn apart the Code of Good Conduct, a day after the UN Secretary General left the country," said another banner headline carried by Le Matin d’Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party).

6. Speaking to Fraternite Matin, the former Ivorian Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny, who is also a cadre of the PDCI-RDA party, contracted the assertions in L'inter. The paper quoted Banny as saying, "Bedie has a sound understanding of a State and a Nation."

April 28, 2008

Today’s Ivorian newspapers focused on political parties' campaign activities for the November 30, 2008 presidential elections. The papers continue to report on the Code of Good Conduct document that was signed last week by the political stakeholders in Cote d’Ivoire.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A front-page story in the paper said that the former Ivorian President, who is also the leader of the PDCI-RDA party, Henri Konan Bedie, wanted "the impartial forces to secure the forthcoming elections in Cote d’Ivoire." According to the paper, Bedie was speaking at a rally in Soubre, in south-western Cote d’Ivoire, to thousands of supporters over the weekend. Bedie is quoted as saying, "In a democracy and in our country, the vote is essential… If we choose a bad candidate, this means that during their tenure in office, we will find ourselves facing difficulties, like those we have been confronted with during the past seven years… Voting is a power. This power has been given to us by our Constitution which is our political compass. You have to freely exercise it without fear, because it is your right."

2. According to Fraternite Matin, the rally in Soubre was part of a nationwide political campaign in order "to retake power that it lost following a military coup d’etat in December 24, 1999." The paper said, Bedie used the opportunity to talk about the current state of the economy in Cote d’Ivoire by accusing "The ‘Reformers [the name of the ruling FPI party]’ to have killed the economy, and the agriculture." The paper further said, Bedie promised "to create a new Cote d’Ivoire, where Ivorians – irrespective of their origin – could fulfill their dreams as human beings."

3. In a related development, Fraternite Matin reported on Pascal Affi N’Guessan's (the President of the ruling FPI party) sixteen-day political tour in the northern regions. Speaking in Korhogo, Mr. N’Guessan called on civil workers to return to their posts in the zones formerly under the control of the New Forces. He is quoted as telling his supporters the following - "I would like to call upon all government functionaries, who are still afraid to come to the zones that were formerly besieged… I would like to tell them that in Korhogo there is nothing, there is life, there is peace. One can come and work in Korhogo. I have been touring the northern regions for the past month. I organized rallies in nearly 60 localities and sometime late in the night. At no point was there any incident." The paper also said that the visit of the FPI’s president to Korhogo has helped open up the gates of the region to the ruling party.

4. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition): Reporting on Affi N’Guessan’s tour to the northern region, the paper suggested that the ruling party has "taken over the stronghold of the RDR – an opposition party led by Alassane Dramane Ouattara." According to the paper, the chairman of the ruling party launched what it called "A Marshall Plan," designed to provide the populations in the north with social amenities including clean water, health centers, and education.

5. Nord-Sud Quotidien also reported on the campaign activities in Yamoussoukro of Gnamien Konan. Mr. Gnamien is the former Director of the customs services, who recently announced his intention to contest the forthcoming presidential elections. In telling the gathering the reason for the decision to run, the presidential aspirant reportedly said that the motive was to avoid "another disastrous power shift" in Cote d’Ivoire. According to the paper, Gnamien also said that "Cote d’Ivoire would not have found itself in the current situation if Felix Houphouet Boigny [the father of independence] had retired earlier."

6. Reporting on religious matters, Nord-Sud Quotidien said that more than 4,000 Muslims gathered yesterday in Abidjan to celebrate the anniversary of Prophet Mohamed. According to the paper the gathering brought together "the major experts of the Tidjanie Brotherhood." They are from Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote d’Ivoire; their discussions focused on the topic: "Who is Prophet Mohamed?"

7. Le Patriote (a daily close to the RDR party): Reacting to the ruling FPI party’s "Marshall Plan" to speed up development of the northern regions, the paper accused Affi N’Guessan of "blackmail." According to the paper, Affi N’Guessan said "Vote for Gbagbo and you will have an emergency plan that will enable you to develop your region."

8. Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition): In a front-page story, the paper alleged that the Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo did not sign the Code of Good Conduct. The paper further said that "the fact that Gbagbo, who will be contesting the coming elections, did not append his signature to the document is proof that he [Gbagbo] will not accord any importance to this document." (NOTE: President Gbagbo did not sign personally, but the Secretary General of the FPI signed on behalf of the party.)

April 25, 2008

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s two-day visit to Cote d’Ivoire and the signing of a code of good conduct by Cote d’Ivoire political stakeholders were the major issues in Friday’s Ivorian Press.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The signing ceremony of the Code of Good Conduct document for political stakeholders in Abidjan was a prominent story on the front page of the paper. The paper described the signing of this document as "an important step by the Ivorian political stakeholders aimed at accelerating the electoral process." This signing, the paper further commented, was "a sign of willingness to respect the ethics of a competition and the commitment to organizing just, free, transparent, and an all-inclusive election." The Code of Good Conduct document also addressed the issue of Freedom of the Press.

2. According to Fraternite Matin, the Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, who was present at the signing ceremony, used the opportunity to remind the Independent Electoral Commission of its "important role" in the electoral process. According to the paper, Gbagbo said "You have an important role. Do not treat us like in 2000." Gbagbo further said, "I will not come in to interrupt the release of the results."

3. "Respect the Code of Good Conduct," Fraternite Matin quoted the UN Secretary General as telling the Ivorian political leaders. According to the paper, at the end of the signing ceremony, Ban Ki-moon urged Ivorian political leaders "to hold the long-delayed elections on November 30." The paper mentioned specific language in the document that quoted specific language about the commitment of political parties "to refrain from violence and not to release the results before an official announcement by an Independent Electoral Commission – the body in charge of conducting the polls." According to the paper, the UN Secretary General also announced that "The UN will certify all the stages of the presidential elections."

4. More on the elections. Fraternite Matin quoted the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Robert Beugre Mambe, as saying that "A violence-free election; an all-inclusive election; accurate and transparent voter’s rolls; balanced media reports of political parties’ activities and the publication of accurate and clean results are the ‘five pillars’ that will be considered in the certification of the electoral process."

5. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party): With the picture of leaders of the three principal political parties in Cote d’Ivoire signing the code of good conduct, the paper published the full text of the pact saying it will help "ensure peaceful elections" in this West African country.

6. On the margins of his visit to Cote d’Ivoire, Ban Ki-moon held talks with Ivorian political leaders and members of civic groups, reported Fraternite Matin. Speaking after a meeting with the UN Secretary General, the Ivorian opposition leader Alassane Dramane Ouattara reportedly said that the discussion focused on "the question of security and the role of the peacekeeping forces during the electoral process." "There is a need to ensure peace and security for all Ivorians after these elections," the paper quoted Ouattara as saying.

7. Fraternite Matin also reported that the Ivorian civic groups and women's associations that met with the Secretary General, called for "more involvement of these groups in the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement." The paper quoted the President of the Ivorian League of Human Rights, N’Gouan Patrick, as saying, "The resolution of the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire should not be limited to the organization of the presidential elections, even though these polls would be determinant in its resolution."

April 24, 2008

L’inter (a privately-owned daily) today reported on Tuesday’s crucial Democratic primary in Pennsylvania that saw the victory of Senator Hilary Clinton over her rival Senator Barrack Obama. The visit of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon to Cote d’Ivoire; and a plan crafted by the West African finance ministers to stem the high cost of food commodities in the region, are the other major stories in today’s Ivorian newspapers.

1. A front-page story in L’inter (a privately-owned daily) said that Senator Hilary Clinton’s victory in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania put her "back on the race for presidency," while her rival, Senator Barrack Obama vowed to take "his revenge" in the next Democratic primaries set for May 6 in Indiana and North Carolina. The paper’s political reporter, Felix Diby Bony, who is in Pennsylvania as part of the Foreign Press Center Tour on Elections for Francophone journalists, said that Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Pennsylvania could not enable the American First Lady to "kick out Obama," it will however allow her "to stay in the race." Bony said, Mrs. Clinton, who was close to defeat -- hence quit the race -- managed to win what was called "the Pennsylvania battle" by 55 percent against 45 percent for Obama. The Pennsylvania "showdown", commented Bony, will remain "engraved in the annals of the United States because of the great passion that it had triggered."

2. On the voting patterns during the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, Bony said that out of the total tallies, 56 percent of women versus 53 percent of men voted for Clinton. Forty-four percent of women versus 46 percent of men voted for Obama. Bony said that while the Pennsylvania win helped "boost not only the moral but also the popularity of Mrs. Clinton," it was also an opportunity for the Senator of Illinois – Barack Obama – to demonstrate that he was "a good looser by accepting defeat." According to Bony, Barack said "I thank all, but I want to congratulate Senator Clinton for her victory" to his supporters.

3. Back to Cote d’Ivoire, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) carried a picture of President Laurent Gbagbo, his Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro and Ban Ki-moon on its front-page with a banner headline reading "the UN Secretary General spent his first night in Abidjan." Another prominent headline said that "Ban Ki-moon is here to accelerate the peace process." According to the paper, an immediate aftermath of the UN Secretary General's visit to Cote d’Ivoire is "the signing by the Ivorian major political parties of a code of conduct." In the 20-article document, Ivorian political leaders pledged among other things, "to engage in the competition [coming elections] in a spirit of fraternity and loyalty." They also pledged to show a sense of "fair-play, to work for peace; national unity and social cohesion."

4. Fraternite Matin also told readers that, the issue regarding the financing of the peace process ranked high on the agenda during talks between the UN Secretary General and the Ivorian officials. "Help us to respect the date," Gbagbo was quoted as telling his host, referring to the upcoming presidential elections set for November 30, 2008. According to the paper, the international community granted 27 million euros in aid to Cote d’Ivoire to help the country organize post-war elections. The announcement was made yesterday during Ban’s visit to Cote d’Ivoire, where he praised the country’s political stakeholders "for progress towards holding polls." According to the paper, the Secretary General said, "I note the consensus amongst the leaders."

5. L’inter reported that the UN Secretary General promised that the UN will "certify the forthcoming presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire." Reporting also on the UN Secretary General’s visit to Cote d’Ivoire, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that Ban Ki-moon pressed the Ivorian Prime Minister and leader of the New Forces "to complete the disarmament process."

6. On the economic front, Fraternite Matin reported that ministers from the West African Economic and Monetary Union, meeting in Abidjan have hammered out a plan aimed at stemming the high cost of food commodities in the region. According to the paper, the multi-billion plan includes long-term agricultural projects that would help increase food production in the region, where most countries are facing a price hike crisis.

April 23, 2008

The visit of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon to Cote d’Ivoire; and the decision by the New Forces, the former Ivorian rebel movement, to relaunch the disarmament program of its former combatants on May 2 are two major stories in Wednesday’s Ivorian press.

1. A front-page story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that one year after the signing of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement, "Soro has finally decided to depose the guns." According to the paper, the New Forces led by Guillaume Soro, who is also the Prime Minister in the transitional government, yesterday announced that "The former rebels would relaunch a program on May 2 to integrate their fighters into the army or undergo skills training." According to the paper, the announcement was made after "an important meeting" that brought together New Forces’ top brass and the leader of the movement in their stronghold of Bouake in central Cote d’Ivoire. On the question of whether the disarmament of the ex-combatants would be completed before the upcoming elections, billed for November 30 this year, the New Forces Armed Forces commander, General Soumaila Bakayoko, reportedly said: "Don’t worry, we have established a calendar that would enable us to complete the cantonment earlier before the polls." General Bakayoko further said "According to the calendar, the cantonment will begin with soldiers based in Bouake and Seguela."

2. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) also reported on the New Forces’ decision to begin the cantonment of their former combatants. The paper said that the Ivorian Prime Minister used this opportunity to underscore the importance of "the identification scheme, one of the preoccupations of the New Forces." The paper further reported that Prime Minister Soro said "The motive behind the struggle spearheaded by the New Forces was to clarify the question of citizenship and to allow each Ivorian national to have their national identity card." According to the paper, Soro also evoked the issue regarding promises made by international donors to finance the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire. He said, "It’s now time to help advance the peace process in our country. There is no reason today to bring forward more issues as pre-conditions to help Ivorians come out of the current situation."

3. Still on the financing of the Ivorian peace process, Fraternite Matin quoted the French Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, Andre Janier, as saying, "We will provide financial assistance for the organization of the elections in Cote d’Ivoire." Janier, reported the paper, was speaking yesterday after a meeting with President Laurent Gbagbo.

4. In a front-page story in Fraternite Matin, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was reported as calling on the international donors to support the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire. Ban, reported the paper, was speaking yesterday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, after holding talks with the Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, who is also the facilitator in the process. The UN Secretary General was quoted as saying, "Despite improvements in the situation in Cote d’Ivoire, the President [Compaore] and I are of the view that a lot still remains to be done." According to the paper, the Secretary General also urged the two sides in Cote d’Ivoire "to go further with the process of disarmament and the reunification of the country and the complete re-establishment of state authority." Fraternite Matin also announced that Ban Ki-moon is expected in Cote d’Ivoire today, where he will hold talks with the Ivorian authorities and political stakeholders.

5. Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition): In a prominent story in its front page, the paper denounced what it called "a vast plot against the Independent Electoral Commission." The paper alleged that "Supporters of the ruling FPI party are actively preparing to fight the decision that stipulates that ‘any differences that will oppose the National Statistics Institute and SAGEM – the French group that has appointed to conduct the identification process and to establish voter’s registration – shall be resolved by the Independent Electoral Commission.’"

6. Meanwhile, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) quoted the Ivorian Prime Minister as saying "People do not want elections. But the polls will take place according to plan."

April 22, 2008

The American electoral process was again one of the major stories in L’inter, a privately-owned daily. The visit of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Cote d’Ivoire slated for tomorrow; the high cost of basic food commodities; strike actions in the Ivorian education system; and the general political atmosphere in the country are the major news stories in today’s Ivorian newspapers.

1. L’inter (a privately-owned daily): As the battle ground is set for a "crucial vote" today in Pennsylvania as part of the Democratic presidential primary, L’inter’s political reporter Felix Diby Bony suggested that Hillary Clinton faces "a big challenge." According to the reporter, "The American former First Lady, whose victory was predicted by the opinion polls, has to win with a significant margin if she wants stay in the race for the nomination as the flagbearer for the Democratic Party." Bony also suggested that Clinton’s defeat or a small victory would force the former First Lady to abandon the party and bid good luck to Senator Barrack Obama."

2. The two rivals rounded up their campaigning yesterday and are now looking forward to the electorate to deciding on their "fate," L’inter reported. The report also said that Clinton needs to win at least by ten percentage points to be able to continue. Bony went on to predict that, with the support of the Senator, Governor and the Mayor of Pennsylvania, Clinton is "poised for victory." The paper also highlighted the strong support from the Clinton family, especially the daughter and Bill Clinton, the former American President.

3. In a different development, L’inter reported that Human Rights Watch, a leading human rights watchdog, called on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to address "the issue of impunity" in Cote d’Ivoire. The paper said, in a statement, the organization called on the UN Secretary General to take "meaningful and concrete steps" to ensure that the authorities in Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia move "from rhetoric to action" in pursuing people accused of major human rights abuses. The UN Secretary General is currently in Liberia as part of a four-nation regional tour and is due to arrive in Cote d’Ivoire Wednesday, in a bid to consolidate peace in the two West African countries, where UN peacekeeping forces have been deployed.

4. Still on human rights in Cote d'Ivoire, Soir Info (a privately-owned daily), reported that a former Ivorian Human Rights Minister said that the visit of the UN Secretary General to Cote d’Ivoire may not have any "impact" on the peace underway in this country.

5. In a prominent item in its front page, Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that the visit of the UN Secretary General to Cote d’Ivoire is a sign that this West African country is again "a good destination for travelers." According to the paper, Ban is coming to Cote d’Ivoire to express the UN’s "full support" to the peace process underway in this country. The paper further speculated that this visit would send "a strong signal" to the international community especially to donors that now it is time for them to move from promises "to concrete actions" by financing the post-conflict reconstruction projects in Cote d’Ivoire.

6. A prominent story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that consumer associations are again threatening to stage demonstration as businessmen ignore government’s decision to reduce the prices of basic food commodities in Cote d’Ivoire. According to the paper, consumers have launched a protest that they called "three-day without business in Cote d’Ivoire", beginning today.

7. Also reporting on the same subject, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA) said that the Federation of Active Consumer Associations of Cote d’Ivoire has called for a three-day nationwide action to protest the non application of government’s measures designed to scale down the prices of food commodities.

8. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A front-page story in the paper said that public primary schools throughout Cote d’Ivoire have been closed since yesterday, because teachers have been embarked on a three-day nationwide strike to press for salary increases.

April 21, 2008

The American electoral process was one of the major stories in L’inter, a privately-owned daily. Reports also said that the Ivorian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro is expected today in Bouake (the stronghold of the New Forces) to meet with his military leadership in a bid to speed up the disarmament process. President Laurent Gbagbo’s meeting last week at the UN Security Council and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) underway in Accra, Ghana, were also top stories in today’s newspapers.

1. "An African en route to the White House," said the headline of a story carried by L’inter (a privately-owned daily). According to Felix Diby Bony, the paper’s political reporter, who is currently in the U.S. as part of the Foreign Press Center Tour for Francophone Journalists (a program sponsored by the State Department), "The Obama phenomenon continues to gain ground in the U.S." Bony said, "This is not the first time an Afro-American has clearly shown his ambitions to become the American President. But this time round, the events on the ground have taken a dramatic turn, as an Obama phenomenon is taking roots on the American soil. He further said that Barrack Obama has virtually changed "the minds of American people."

2. L’inter, however, warned that "Obama’s charisma" that enables him to pull crowds at his rallies could turn out to be "an illusion." "Even if the recent opinion polls put his challenger, Hillary Clinton far behind him, the Former First Lady is yet to be defeated," suggested the paper. In Pennsylvania where Clinton has got the support of the Senator, Governor and the Mayor, indicated the paper, "The Former First Lady is capable to overturn the patterns." In its April 19-20 edition, L’inter devoted almost a full-page to the primaries underway in the U.S. with special reports on "the place of Africa in the electoral debates in America."

3. The disarmament of the former combatants of the New Forces was the subject of a front-page story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI). "Disarmament of the ex-rebels: Soro to speed up the process," said a prominent headline on the front page of the paper. According to the paper, the Ivorian Prime Minister who is expected today in Bouake will, from Tuesday, organize a series of "crucial meetings" with the leadership of the New Forces in a bid "to accelerate the disarmament program and to re-establish State’s income services in this part of the country."

4. "Reunification: Soro disarms his soldiers," said a banner headline in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition). According to the paper, a ceremony marking the disarmament of the former rebels will take place in Bouake tomorrow in the presence of the UN Secretary General Special Representative Y.J. Choi and the representative of President Blaise Compaore, the facilitator in the Ivorian peace process. "One thousand former combatants stationed in Bouake will depose their arms during the ceremony," the paper reported. The paper said, the move came a few days after the government of Cote d’Ivoire set November 30, 2008 as the date of the presidential elections. In a separate development, the paper reported that the banks, which had been closed down in the former rebels-controlled territory as a result of the war, are "resuming their activities progressively."

5. Soir Info (a privately-owned daily): A front-page story in the paper said that "the Ivorian peace process will be top on the agenda during the visit of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is expected in Abidjan on Wednesday." According to the paper the Secretary General may use his visit to Cote d’Ivoire "to encourage Gbagbo and Soro to continue the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and to warn both leaders about the danger of organizing any elections that could slide into violence."

6. A few days after the government in Cote d’Ivoire announced that the upcoming elections will be held in November 30 this year, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) quoted a leading opposition figure as saying that "There will be no elections in Cote d’Ivoire on November 30." The paper published a statement issued by Anaky Kobena, leader of the Mouvement des Forces d’Avenir, with a headline reading, "Gbagbo’s plan is to use every means possible to hold his grip on the power until 2010."

7. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily paper): A prominent story in the paper said that during his meeting with the UN Security Council last week in New York, Gbagbo proposed "a new blueprint" to resolve conflicts in the world. Gbagbo, the paper reported, suggested that "The UN should rely on regional organizations in conflict management."

8. In another development, Fraternite Matin reported that the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) which opened in Accra on Sunday focused on "a new international trade order." Speaking at the conference, the UN Secretary General called for "a new development strategy aimed at ensuring that the benefits of second-generation globalization reached the entire world’s developing countries and poorest populations," the paper reported.

April 18, 2008

Ivorian newspapers today reported on the following – the signing of the agreement between the government of Cote d’Ivoire and SAGEM (French group to conduct the identification of the Ivorian population) on Thursday; pressure by the coalition of political parties and movements supporting President Laurent Gbagbo for the completion of the disarmament program before the elections; and the arms embargo imposed on Cote d'Ivoire by the UN Security Council in 2004.

1. With a picture of the Ivorian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro and Jean-Paul Jainsky, Managing Director of SAGEM on its front page, L’intelligent d’Abidjan (a privately-owned daily) announced that the French group has now received the government’s "green light" to commence the identification program aimed at providing "new national identity cards" to Ivorians.

2. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): Reporting on the agreement between SAGEM and the Ivorian government, the paper quoted the head of the French group as saying, "We won’t deceive the President of the Republic or the Prime Minister." This agreement, estimated at 161 million dollars, will enable SAGEM "to provide technical assistance and to conduct the identification scheme in collaboration with national institutions that are involved in the establishment of the electoral rolls." The paper further quoted the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), Robert Beugre Mambe, as saying that "The identification program will involve not only SAGEM, but also the National Statistics Institute and any other Ivorian partners in charge of the population identification process and the census of the voters." To ensure the "transparency" of the process, Mambe reportedly said that "provisional electoral rolls will be displayed in public and also be published on the Internet before the polls."

3. According to the paper, after the signing ceremony, the UN Secretary Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire Y.J. Choi said "The ball is now in the court of the international community to provide economic and financial assistance, for the completion of the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire." The paper also reported on Prime Minister Soro's reaction to the agreement – he said "The government has demonstrated its commitment to organize the elections in 2008."

4. A prominent headline on the front page of Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) said that the CNRD – a coalition of political parties and movements supporting Gbagbo – posed "new conditions" for the organization of the upcoming elections whose date has been set for November 30, this year. According to the paper, the coalition expressed "concerns about the implication of this decision in a country which is still partitioned." One excerpt from the statement said, "In the actual state of the country, no election can be conducted." Other excerpts said, "Such decision suggests that before November 30, 2008, the public administration will be fully deployed throughout the country and the disarmament will be completed. In other words, the long-awaited unification of Cote d’Ivoire will become a reality."

5. L’inter (a privately-owned daily): Reporting on the CNRD’s position, the paper carried a prominent story saying that "The Presidential camp is demanding a calendar for the disarmament." The paper also quoted a leading member of the ruling party coalition, who is preoccupied by the identification process. According to the paper, the Spokesperson of the CNRD said "The CNRD thinks that the National Statistics Institute can perfectly do the job [the identification scheme] that has been given to SAGEM."

6. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA): A front-page story in the paper said that a few days after the announcement of the date of the coming presidential elections, the New Forces have decided "to withdraw, regroup and demobilize 1,000 of their former combatants stationed in Bouake."

7. L’inter: The paper carried a prominent item saying that "The Defense and Security Forces in Cote d’Ivoire have rejected an UN accusation that they have violated an arms embargo imposed on Cote d’Ivoire by the UN Security Council in 2004." "We are engaged in the peace process which is under way. Permitting our men to receive military training would be like preparing for war, something which would be absolutely wrong," the paper quoted a senior military official as saying on condition of anonymity.

Media Coverage of Embassy’s Activities

L’inter: The paper reported that as part of the PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) program aimed at fighting HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire, the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan trained radios producers. The objective of this training, said the positive report, was to launch "Radio Diaries", a program that consists of using the radio to tell the story about the daily life of people living with the HIV virus.

The paper reported that as part of the PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) program aimed at fighting HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire, the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan trained radios producers. The objective of this training, said the positive report, was to launch "Radio Diaries", a program that consists of using the radio to tell the story about the daily life of people living with the HIV virus.

April 17, 2008

Reports in Thursday’s Ivorian newspapers said that the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire was a prominent issue at the UN Security Council meeting, where the Ivorian leader President Laurent Gbagbo gave an address, yesterday. The arms embargo imposed on Cote d'Ivoire by the UN Security Council in 2004, as well as investment plans for Cote d'Ivoire by French businessmen are the other top stories in today’s dailies.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper carried a prominent headline on its front page quoting Gbagbo as telling the UN Security Council that "The November 30 deadline will be respected." The paper published the full text of Gbagbo’s speech in which he reassured the Security Council saying that "The crisis in Cote d’Ivoire is being solved." Excerpts of the address said, "All the key players in the electoral process – the government, Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), National Statistics Institute, SAGEM (the French group tasked to conduct the identification of the Ivorian population) are working hard. The November 30 deadline will be respected. The crisis in Cote d’Ivoire is getting to the end. This allows us to appreciate, not only the role being played by the United Nations and by the African Union, but also the efficiency of their collaboration in conflict resolution."

2. L’inter (a privately-owned daily): The paper shared its speculations on what it called "the three motives behind Gbagbo’s visit to the United Nations." The first one, the paper said, is "to demonstrate to the international community that he [Gbagbo] has no intention to maintain his grip on the power or to postpone indefinitely the upcoming elections," whose date has been set for November 30, 2008. The paper said that the second motive is that because the peace process under way in Cote d’Ivoire is constrained by financial problems, "Gbagbo will be using the opportunity offered by this meeting to ask international donors – who are still reluctant to keep their promises – to provide the money needed for the completion of the peace process." The third motive for Gbagbo’s presence in the Security Council is "to convince the world body to lift the arms embargo imposed on Cote d'Ivoire by the UN Security Council since 2004."

3. Meanwhile, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) carried a prominent story saying that "The lifting of the arms embargo has been compromised." Citing an unnamed source close to the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the paper said that "The decision to lift or not to lift this embargo has been deferred to June this year." Notre Voie is in concurrence with L’inter's speculation that "the Ivorian leader is using his meeting with the Security Council to influence the Council's decision, even though many, including UNOCI officials, believe that lifting the sanctions is premature." To buttress this speculation, the paper quoted an unnamed source at UNOCI as saying that "Even if the normalization of the socio-political situation has become evident, it is premature to lift the embargo." According to the paper, this source further said, "How the embargo can be lifted when the question of the disarmament has not yet been solved? The New Forces are still holding their arms in the north and the militias (self-defense groups) are not yet dismantled. We cannot, in this condition, allow one party to the conflict to be re-armed."

4. In a related development, Fraternite Matin reported that the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire, in its recent report, "deplored the refusal by the Ivorian authorities to allow the inspection of facilities that fall under the control of the Republican Guard." The paper said that the UN’s Group of Experts, which reports to the UN Security Council stated that the refusal of the Republican Guard to allow their facilities to be inspected had "seriously compromised surveillance." The report further said that "both the Defence Forces of Cote d’Ivoire (FDS-CI) and the Forces Nouvelles had separately engaged in trainings with military characteristics in other State members in violation of the embargo."

5. Finally, on economic issues, Fraternite Matin reported that French businessmen are waiting to see "the aftermath of the forthcoming elections to decide on whether they should come back or not to Cote d’Ivoire." According to the paper, this was announced yesterday by "Action pour la France," an NGO that is working for the return of the French economic operators who "left the country because of the war."

Media Coverage of Embassy’s Activities

L’intelligent d’Abidjan (a privately-owned daily): The paper reported that the U.S. Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire has launched "Radio Diaries", a new concept aimed at combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic. According to the paper, the program was presented for the first time yesterday as journalists from proximity radios gathered at the U.S. Embassy for two-day training. The positive report also highlighted that the training was organized with the support of the PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).

In April 16 edition, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) reported that the U.S. government has found a new method aimed at helping people living with HIV virus. Dubbed "Radio Diaries," the method consists of using the radio to tell the story about the daily life of people living with the HIV virus, the paper reported.

April 16, 2008

Reactions after the Ivorian government set the upcoming presidential election for November 30, 2008 continued to dominate commentaries in today’s newspapers. Dailies also reported on government’s plan to speed up the electoral process in a bid to meet the deadline. Other newspapers talked about President Laurent Gbagbo’s visit this week to the United States to attend the UN Security Council meeting in New York.

1. In the wake of Cote d’Ivoire government’s decision to hold the upcoming presidential elections on November 30 this year, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) prominently reported that France welcomed the move. According to the paper, a French Foreign Affairs official described the decision as "an important step." "We support Cote d’Ivoire’s effort aimed at the full implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and we encourage all the Ivorian parties to consolidate the current momentum," the French official as saying.

2. On the same subject, Fraternite Matin reported that United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) Tuesday "welcomed" the announcement that Cote d’Ivoire’s presidential elections will now be held on 30 November this year. According to the paper, the Spokesperson of the mission, Hamadoun Toure, called it "a historic decision," because since the deployment of UNOCI, four years ago "this is the first time that the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has proposed a date that has been endorsed by the government." Toure, who was speaking yesterday in Abidjan also "reaffirmed UNOCI’s commitment to support the organization of the presidential and other elections," reported the paper.

3. Further on the elections, Fraternite Matin quoted the Spokesperson of the Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro saying "The government of Cote d’Ivoire is to sign an agreement Thursday [April 17], with SAGEM – a French group tasked to conduct the identification of the Ivorian population." The paper explained that under the terms of this agreement, SAGEM will "closely collaborate" with the National Statistics Institute "to execute the identification scheme and to establish voter’s cards." The paper also said that with funding of 161 million dollars by the government of Cote d’Ivoire the identification program and the production of the voter’s cards will occur within eight months." According to the paper, the Spokesperson of the Ivorian Prime Minister reassured the public that "measures have been put in place to enable SAGEM and the National Statistics Institute to meet this deadline."

4. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling party): In a front-page story, the paper alluded to pressure factors on Gbagbo as "Those who forced President Gbagbo to sign the decree setting November 30 as the date of the long-awaited presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire." Citing unnamed sources, the paper claimed that "The pressure came from the UN Secretary General Representative in Cote d’Ivoire, Choi Young Jin and Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore – facilitator in the Ivoirian peace process." The paper said, "To force the Ivorian leader to speed up the implementation of the Ouagadougou Agreement, Choi and Compaore brought forward an argument that, due to the delay in the implementation by the Ivorian authorities of the agreement, the international community was considering to take over the dossier."

5. In a front-page story, Soir Info (a privately-owned daily) tried to unveil the "mystery" surrounding the new date of the coming elections. The paper went on to explain that considering "the volume of tasks" to be completed and "the artificial obstacles" that may come up on the way to the polls, "November 30 looks like a date that was set just to please the international community." "The disarmament, which constitutes an important step for the identification scheme and the identification itself are yet to begin," observed the paper. As the date of the elections was officially announced just a few days before Gbagbo flew to New York to attend the Security Council Meeting, the paper quoted a diplomatic source as suggesting that "Gbagbo and Soro worked against the clock to enable the Ivorian President to travel to U.S with a date in his suitcase, because the original plan to hold the elections in coming June became virtually impossible."

6. A banner headline that ran across Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) said that the Ivorian government’s decision to set the first round of the forthcoming presidential elections on November 30 could turn to be "a big hoax." The paper suggested that this could be "a plan crafted by Gbagbo and Soro to gain time and ruse people tasked to organize the presidential elections." In a separate commentary, the paper viewed the announcement of the date of the polls as "a charming operation" ahead of Gbagbo’s meeting with UN officials on the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire.

7. Meanwhile Fraternite Matin indicated that Gbagbo, who flew yesterday to New York to attend the UN Security Council Meeting on peacekeeping and international security issues, will use the opportunity "to market the idea of direct dialogue" that resulted in the singing of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement.

8. Fraternite Matin also devoted its front page to a message to the Ivorian political stakeholders from the Roman Catholic Clerics, who called upon the politicians "to accept in calm the verdict of polls," in reference to the forthcoming elections in Cote d’Ivoire.

April 15, 2008

Today’s Ivorian newspapers reported on the meeting Monday between Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and U.S. Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire Wanda L. Nesbitt. The announcement yesterday by the Ivorian government of the date of upcoming presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire was another major issue in today’s newspapers. Papers also carried reactions following the government’s decision to set the first round of the long-delayed polls for November 30.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper briefly reported that Gbagbo’s visit at the end of this week to the United States to attend the UN Security Council meeting in New York was high on the agenda when Ambassador Nesbitt met with him yesterday at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan. "We talked about issues that will be addressed at the UN Security Council," the paper quoted Nesbitt as saying. According to the paper, discussions between the Ivorian Head of State and the U.S. Ambassador also focused on the peace process, especially the Council of Ministers meeting held yesterday in connection with the preparations of forthcoming elections in Cote d’Ivoire.

2. "The date of the presidential elections is finally set," said a banner headline that ran across Fraternite Matin. The decision, reported the paper, was taken after an "emergency cabinet meeting" yesterday in Abidjan following a proposal from the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The conclave also addressed issues pertaining to "the role of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), the National Statistics Institute and SAGEM – a French group tasked to conduct the identification of the Ivorian population in the perspective of the coming elections," reported the paper.

3. In a related development, Fraternite Matin quoted the Government Spokesperson, Amadou Kone, as saying, "The presidential polls will not be combined with the parliamentary elections." "We have fixed the date of the presidential elections. We have not talked about the parliamentary elections, therefore the presidential polls won’t be combined with the legislative ones," Kone reportedly said.

4. Reacting to the event, Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro called this announcement "a turning point in the peace process." "For some time now, we’ve been working to reach a consensus on the elections. This consensus has become possible thanks to the decrees that have been adopted today [April 14]. For us, this is a sign of satisfaction that puts Cote d’Ivoire on the way to elections," Soro was quoted as saying. While the Rally of the Republicans (RDR), the party of the Ivorian opposition figure Alassane Dramane Ouattara, called the decision "an important step," the New Forces ensured the people of Cote d’Ivoire that "the elections are irreversible," reported Fraternite Matin.

5. Reactions to this decision from other political groups are subject of a front-page story in Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party). Affi N’Guessan, the Chairman of the ruling FPI party, was quoted as saying: "We’re satisfied with this decision," while Alphonse Djedje Mady, a cadre of the PDCI-RDA party, called for "the respect of this deadline." Meanwhile, the leader of the UDPCI, the party of erstwhile military leader General Robert Guei, believed that this decision confirmed that the peace process is on "track."

6. Commenting on the Ivorian government’s decision to hold the presidential elections on November 30 this year, Le Nouveau Reveil claimed that this was "a defeat" for President Gbagbo, because the Ivorian leader "finally decided to move forward following pressure from the international community." "Now that the cloud that was hanging over the polls has been dissipated, Ivorians are hopeful of seeing the end of the tunnel that would also mark the end of their daily suffering," commented the paper.

7. In the wake of the government’s decision, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) wondered whether the presidential elections would be held on November 30 according to plan. It went on arguing that the eight months ahead before the polls are likely to become another opportunity for "confusion, insubordination and endless racketeering," in Cote d’Ivoire.

8. Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party): The paper quoted Alassane Dramane Ouattara, the leader of the RDR, as saying that his party will "respect the verdict of the votes" if they are "transparent." Ouattara, reported the paper, was speaking after a meeting yesterday with the Ivorian Roman Catholic Clerics in Abidjan. In a separate story, the First Lady, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, proposed that the disarmament program should be completed before the elections, reported the paper.

9. While many observers here see the forthcoming presidential elections as a key step to restoring peace, the chairman of a civic campaigning group suggested that "the elections alone cannot resolve the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire," reported L’inter (a privately-owned daily). Patrick N’Gouan, who was speaking in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, after a meeting with the facilitator in the Ivorian peace process, suggested that alongside the coming elections, there is a need to find solutions to some "thorny issues including rural land ownership, migration, population identification, the electoral laws and the responsibility of the army during the electoral process."

April 14, 2008

The date of the upcoming presidential elections and campaigning ahead of the polls in Cote d’Ivoire are the major issues in today’s Ivorian newspapers.

1. A banner headline that ran across Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) said: "General elections: State and SAGEM are to sign a final agreement today." According to the paper, "the consensus on this agreement," between the government of Cote d’Ivoire and SAGEM – the French group that has been tasked to conduct the identification of the population ahead of the forthcoming elections – was reached over the weekend during protracted meetings called by the Ivorian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro. In connection with this agreement, the Ivorian Interior Minister has to present a bill on "the mechanisms aimed at controlling and validating the identification of the population," reported the paper.

2. The meeting, which brought together Ivorian political stakeholders, officials from the cabinets of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, the Head of the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire, the Representative of the Facilitator – President Blaise Compaore -- and members of the Independent Electoral Commission, offered the opportunity to review "three bills that are fundamental for the electoral process," reported the paper. In a separate story, Fraternite Matin quoted Soro as saying "We don’t envisage organizing elections beyond 2008. This would be untenable." Soro, reported the paper, was speaking after a meeting with the former Ivorian President and leader of the PDCI-RDA party, Henri Konan Bedie.

3. A prominent item on the front-page of Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) said that the government will announce the date of the upcoming presidential elections "today." "We’ll work in order to organize the elections in 2008," the paper further quoted Soro as saying after his meeting with Bedie.

4. "The official and final date for the polls will be announced today," said a front-page story carried by L’intelligent d’Abidjan (a privately-owned daily). In a commentary, the paper believed that the announcement of this date would rekindle "hopes" among Ivorians and that all Ivorian political key players would "spare no effort" to resolve the political stalemate in Cote d’Ivoire. The paper further suggested that there is a need to "warn" anybody who would be engaged in "activities that could derail the peace process."

5. As the speculations over the date of the Ivorian elections rage on, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) told readers that President Gbagbo, Soro and the Independent Electoral Commission "agreed to hold the polls in October this year." According to the paper, the consensus on the date of the coming elections was made possible following "pressure from the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon."

6. Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition): The paper carried a prominent story claiming that the Ouagadougou Political Agreement has "failed" and that "the UN is now taking charge of the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire." However, commented the paper, Gbagbo is "maneuvering" to reverse this state of affairs.

7. While Ivorians are waiting to know the "final date" of the upcoming presidential elections, Nuit et Jour (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) told readers that "Gbagbo’s electoral machinery is gaining ground." Notre Voie (a daily also close to the FPI party) carried a prominent item reading "Gbagbo won the sympathy of the Senoufos [the ethnic group of the Ivorian Prime Minister]," as the Chairman of the ruling party toured the northern regions in Cote d’Ivoire. Speaking at a political rally in Daoukro [hometown of the ex-Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie], the Ivorian First Lady, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, said: "The time of PDCI is over," reported Notre Voie.

8. Finally, Fraternite Matin announced that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will embark on a four-nation tour of West Africa that will take him to Ghana, Liberia, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire on April 19-24. According to the paper, this visit will focus on the UN’s efforts to consolidate peace in the region and on development issues. During his final stop in Abidjan, the UN Secretary General will have meetings with Gbagbo, Soro, opposition leaders and civil society.

April 11, 2008

The high cost of living, the strike by universities and primary schools, as well as the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire, are the major stories in Ivorian newspapers, today.
   
1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper carried a banner headline saying: “The prices have increased up to 45% within nine months; Food and Alimentation Organization (FAO) recommends urgent measures”. According to the paper, the Director General of FAO, Mr. Jacques Diouf, said that the high cost of food commodities has become a worldwide concern. He stated that urgent measures are necessary in order to ensure that negative consequences due to the increase of food commodities prices do not affect more seriously poor people in the short term.

2. Le Patriote (a daily close to RDR) carried a front-page story, saying: “While Ivorians are hungry, Gbagbo spent    75 billion CFA; he made a budget of 34 billion CFA for himself; where are the 41 billion CFA of Ivorians?” According to the paper, in 2007 only 34 billion CFA was budgeted to cover the expenses of the Presidency. But what has been noticed is that the Presidency spent 74.8 billion CFA. The paper said that there was no conflict last year because of the Ouagadougou Agreement. So the presidency cannot take the argument that it used that money to buy armaments. The paper said that only the mismanagement and the bad use of public funds can explain this expenditure.

3. University, Secondary schools, City Halls, the social front is flaring up again; teachers abandon amphitheaters” is the front-page story of Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition). According to the paper, the National Coordination of Higher School Teachers has started a week strike to protest against the non-application of different decrees which allow the increase of their salaries and bonus. The paper also reported that all the city halls in Cote d’Ivoire closed yesterday. Municipal agents protested to claim that a decree should be taken in order to implement the law related to their status voted in 2006.  

Nord-Sud Quotidien also reported that the special representative of the Ouagadougou Agreement facilitator, Mr. Boureima Badini, met with the youth and the women in order to receive the proceedings of the seminar organized in Grand-Bassam at their intention. According to the paper, Mr. Boureima said that they believed in the deadline of June for the election. But the reality on the field showed that it would be difficult to meet that deadline. For him, everything must be done to hold the election this year.

4. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) carried a banner headline saying: “Demonstrations against the high cost of living, the Akye (a southern ethnic group in Cote d’Ivoire) are revolting against Gbagbo.” According to the paper, Adzopé, a small town in the south of Cote d’Ivoire, was a dead town last Wednesday when all the stores, the markets, the offices were closed and 5,000 people took the streets to protest against the high cost of living. The population was crying that it is fed up. According to the paper, the people said that they could no longer support liars. They are quoted as saying: “When Gbagbo came to power, he promised the earth and the moon; he said he had come to defend the poor and we followed him. Today all the prices of food commodities have increased from the simple to the double. Where are we going? That is why we are marching.”

Nouveau Réveil also reported that SAGEM, the technical operator of the identification has no intention to withdraw. According to the paper, the Prime Minister spokesperson, Meité Sindou, called Nouveau Reveil yesterday following their article on SAGEM and told them that the negotiations between the government and SAGEM are not interrupted. They are underway and the financial agreement between Cote d’Ivoire and SAGEM is nearly finalized.

5. In Soir Info (a privately-owned daily), reported that the U.N. Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI) continue to evaluate the public hearings (audiences foraines). According to the paper, seven months after the launching of the public hearings, the Director of the Division of Electoral Assistance of ONUCI, Mr. Ahmedou El Becaye Seck, announced that, subject to confirmation of the Minister of Justice, out of 515,412 demands of birth certificate, 488,686 have been delivered and the operations will end in a few week.

6. On the same subject, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) carried a front-page story which said: “Public hearings (audiences foraines) 488,686 birth certificates delivered.” According to the paper, 488,686 out of 515,412 demands were delivered. Among those certificates, 414,706 were for Cote d’Ivoire Nationals and 73,980 for foreigners.

MEDIA ON EMBASSY ABIDJAN
Fraternité Matin reported that the American Embassy conducted a HIV/AIDS Road Show in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday April 9, 2008. Mrs. Sharon White, Director of the American Cultural Center, reaffirmed the support of the U.S. government towards the fight against HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire. She is quoted as saying: “The government of the United States is ready to accompany the Ivorian Government and its partners in their efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR.

L’Inter (a privately-owned daily), reported that the U.S. Embassy in partnership with the NGO “Terre d’Espérance” organized a ceremony of book donation to 100 young girls. According to the director of the Embassy Information and Resource Center, Marie Laure Angoran, these girls who ranked first in their classroom were chosen by the Embassy. She told them to be models through their work. This program is part of the program on women leadership, which was initiated to support future women leaders of Cote d’Ivoire.

April 10, 2008

The standstill in the peace process, the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the high cost of living in the country continue to be the major stories in  Ivorian newspapers, today.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper carried a banner headline saying: “The obstacles to the peace process are financial.” According to the paper, Mr. Boureima Badini, the special representative of the Ouagadougou Agreement mediator, said that the obstacles to peace are financial. He is quoted as saying: “It is not easy for a country which is coming out of a crisis to finance that crisis, to ensure the normal functioning of the Republic and pay at the same time the international debts. We, therefore, launch an appeal to the International Community to bring funds so that the peace process could be normally financed and that we see the end of the crisis by the supposed deadline.”

Fraternité Matin also reported that Ivorian religious leaders met with Prime Minister Soro Guillaume yesterday. During the meeting the Prime Minister asked them to get involved in the peace and in the electoral processes.

2.  Le Patriote (a daily close to RDR) carried a front-page story, saying: “To pass in force and keep the power, here is the secret plan of Gbagbo.” According to the paper, Gbagbo is preparing himself to organize the election in the last quarter of 2008. He wants unilaterally to fix the date of the election without waiting for the end of the identification process. The paper said that Gbagbo wants to use the 2000 electoral list in order not to have additional names, which favor the opposition. In that way, he will take aback his opponents which will have no choice but to go to the election once the date is known in order to avoid to be seen by the International Community as the enemy of peace.
The paper also reported that the U.N. operation Office in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI) is training journalists and press correspondents in view of the elections. ONUCI initiated that training as its contribution to the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire.

3. Le Jour (a daily close to the opposition): The paper carried a front-page story saying: “Presidential election 2008, Simeon Konan, president of the NGO Initiatives for Peace: Gbagbo, Bedié and Ado deserve a sanction vote”. According to the paper, Mr. Konan said that to avoid the country from running towards a catastrophe, the three political leaders (Gbagbo, Bedié and Ouattara) should quit the political scene. A new and neutral person should be elected in order to avoid reprisals for Gbagbo, Bedie and Ouattara.

4. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) carried a banner headline saying: “The peace process is at a standstill; SAGEM the technical operator wants to pull out.” According to the paper, after a stormy meeting yesterday at the Prime Minister’s office, SAGEM threatened to pull out. The paper reported that as the government has no money to fund the election, SAGEM proposed to do so with its own money if the government gives guarantees to reimburse the company. SAGEM is willing to finance up to 85 % of the operation but requested that treasury bonds be issued to them. The Minister of Economy, Mr. Charles Diby Koffi, politely refused because he said that he had no authority or the capacity to engage Cote d’Ivoire on that path.

The paper also said that the Minister asked SAGEM to consider that the state of Cote d’Ivoire is tied by the sole written engagement. He proposed that the state can pay back the money in two years. Forty billion CFA will be paid during the first year and the balance will be paid during the second year. But after two hours of negotiations, both parties did not agree and suspended the discussions.Le Nouveau Reveil also reported that Ban Ki-Moon, the U.N. Secretary General will come to Cote d’Ivoire April 23-24. According to the paper, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon is coming to visit the U.N. headquarters. He will also have talks with President Gbagbo about the peace process.

5. L’inter (a privately-owned daily): The paper carried a front-page story saying: “Peace process, Boureima Badina, the Representative of Compaore: we are towards the deadline; great decisions need to be taken.”  According to the paper, after a meeting with President Gbagbo yesterday, Mr. Boureima stated that he had come to evaluate the peace process. He said that he had agreed with President Gbagbo that the country is nearly at the deadline of the peace process and great decisions need to be made in order to have the election this year. The paper also reported that Mr. Boureima said the most important obstacle to the peace process is the financial. He therefore launched an appeal to the International Community to provide funds for the financing of the election.

6. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported that President Gbagbo’s decision to reduce the prices of food commodities is bearing fruit. According to the paper, after last week’s demonstrations against the high cost of living, the prices of fish as well as the rice and oil have been reduced; thanks to President Gbagbo’s measures.

7. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the oppostion) front-page story said: “Social cohesion, here is the new law against tribalism; the mention of ethnicity in documents is forbidden.” According to the paper, in order to create social cohesion for a modern and united society, and in order to honor its commitments vis-à-vis the international treaties, conventions and the Universal declaration of the human rights, the Ivorian legislator has elaborated laws to suppress racism, xenophobia, tribalism and racial and religious discrimination.

April 9, 2008

The postponement of the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire and the high cost of living in the country as well as the insecurity, are the major stories in today’s Ivorian newspapers.
   
1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper carried a banner headline saying “the upsurge of prices, a worldwide threat; Louis Michel, the European Commissioner said: “Africa risks a humanitarian tsunami”; the U.N. very concerned”. According to the paper, in many countries people are protesting against the high cost of living, which is the result of the increase of the price of petrol.

The paper also said that the U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon is very concerned about the increase of the price of food commodities. He appealed to countries to take immediate measures to ensure food security. 

2. Fraternite Matin also reported that the signatories of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and the President of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) met to evaluate the peace process and made some recommendations. According to the paper, the date for the elections will be fixed once all the prerequisites are removed. The paper also said that the RHDP (a coalition of the opposition parties) wants elections to be held in December 2008, at the latest.

3. Le Patriote (a daily close to RDR) carried a front-page story, saying: “Elections in 2008, the doubt is settled down. Mambe poses seven prerequisites”.  According to the paper, the President of the Independent Electoral Commission, who met yesterday with political parties, said that the election date will only be fixed when solutions to the existing problems are found. The paper said, some of the participants at the meeting commented that the elections might only take place in 2013.            

The paper also reported that nothing has changed, a week after the announcement by President Gbagbo to reduce the prices of food commodities. According to the paper, when journalists visited some markets in order to see if merchants have really reduced their prices, some of the merchants said that they were not aware of any decision on price reductions of the food commodities. Others said the purchase of their stocks included taxes, hence they cannot afford to reduce their prices; this would result in losing money.

4. On the same subject, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) said that retailers refuse to reduce their food commodities prices and attacked importers. For them, prices cannot be imposed on them without knowing the reality on the field. According to the paper, importers have not reduced their prices so retailers say they don’t see why they should reduce theirs; some wholesalers say they even doubt that the rice price will ever be reduced.

Nord-Sud Quotidien also reported that the opposition is putting pressure on the president of the Independent Electoral Commission to fix a date for the presidential election. According to the paper, the opposition believes that the prerequisite demands by Robert Mambé, president of IEC, should be solved concomitantly: the public hearings (audiences foraines), the reconstitution of the registers of births, the adoption of new electoral texts, the signature of the contract with SAGEM (the electoral list operator) should be done at the same time.

5. L’inter (a privately-owned daily): The paper carried a story saying: “High cost of living, after measures taken by the government, political parties replied to Gbagbo”. According to the paper, RHDP (a coalition of opposition parties) said that Gbagbo’s decisions are ill-conceived and insufficient. Djédjé Mady, the Secretary General of the PDCI, said: “The demonstrations taking place these days are the results of improvisation, the notorious incompetence of good governance of the ruling party. They are the symbols of the failure of the ruling FPI.”  The paper also said that Mr. Wodié, another opposition leader, said that the government should reduce its lifestyle.

6. The RHDP attack on Gbagbo and Soro “the Ouagadougou Accord will lose its credibility if…” is the front-page story of L’Intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily). According to the paper, RHDP which met yesterday at the headquarters of PDCI said that if the elections don’t take place in 2008, the Ouagadougou Agreement will lose its credibility. The paper also said that the RHDP also denounced the use of violence by the government in power against the population, which was protesting against the high cost of living.

7. In Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party), reported on the RHDP’s ultimatum to President Gbagbo. According to the paper, RHDP told Gbagbo that the deadline for the presidential election is December 2008.

April 8, 2008

The relationship between Cote d’Ivoire and the International Monetary Fund; the decision by the Ivorian authorities to cancel customs tax in an attempt to reduce the high cost of living in the country; the plan by the government to regulate revenue collections throughout the country; and the latest development on the peace process underway in Cote d’Ivoire are the major stories in today’s Ivorian newspapers.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper carried a banner headline announcing "the normalization of the relations between Cote d’Ivoire and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)," which, it said, "has granted Cote d’Ivoire $ 66.2 million USD in the form of post-conflict emergency assistance." According to the paper, the announcement was made yesterday by the Country Director of IMF, Egoume B. Philippe. According to the paper, "This emergency post-conflict assistance is meant to help the strengthening of the administrative and institutional capacities required to support an economic revival and a greater level of economic assistance."

2. Fraternite Matin further explained that the resumption of these financial assistances by the international institutions owes much to the "success" of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement, which allowed "the return of political calm and helped relaunch economic activities in Cote d’Ivoire." However, the paper said, "the IMF’s Country Director deplored the fact that revenues collection services are not yet deployed throughout the country."

3. Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party): Quoting a statement issued by the cabinet of the Prime Minister, the paper carried a front-page story, saying that a government-fact finding mission "is currently visiting regions located in the central, northern and western part of Cote d’Ivoire in order to prepare the ground for the redeployment of custom services."

4. In a front-page item, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) claimed that "the New Forces continue to demanding money from travelers."

5. On the decision by the Ivorian authorities to cancel customs tax in an attempt to reduce the high cost of living in the country, Fraternite Matin carried a prominent story saying: "The prices of food commodities have gone down." The paper quoted a businessman as saying, "while government’s decision to cancel custom revenues on basic food commodities are yet to yield the expected resulted, oil and rice traders have decided to reduce the prices of these two commodities."

6. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party): The paper carried a banner headline reading "Gbagbo holds back the identification process and the voters' registration." The paper said "the identification process has been delayed because President Laurent Gbagbo has not yet signed the decree defining the roles of SAGEM -- the French group that has been appointed to conduct the identification process -- and the National Statistics Institute." In a separate story, Le Nouveau Reveil commented that "The recent demonstrations against the high cost of living in Cote d’Ivoire have thrown the identification process into oblivion."

7. Le Nouveau Reveil reported that in a bid to ensure that the Ivorian upcoming elections help resolve the political crisis in this West African country, Francis Wodie, the leader of the Ivorian Labor Party (PIT) suggested that "Ivorians should be fully involved in the preparation of the polls." According to the paper, Wodie made the proposal recently when he was speaking during a conference organized by the youth wings of the political parties in Cote d’Ivoire.

8. L’inter (a privately-owned daily): The paper carried a story saying that the Managing Director of the Ivorian national television network rejected recent allegations that "the Presidency has censored the diffusion of footage of the demonstrations on the Ivorian national television network." On April 1, L’inter allegedly reported that "an order was given to the director of the television not to broadcast any report on the demonstrations." According to the paper, the new Managing Director assumed responsibility of this censorship saying that "it was a personal decision."

April 7, 2008

Ivorian press continued to comment on the government’s decision to reduce customs tax on basic food commodities in a bid to control the high cost of living in the country. Fraternite Matin devoted its front-page to November 2004 events in Bouake, the New Forces’ stronghold. The upcoming elections in Cote d’Ivoire are the other major news in today Ivorian dailies.

1. Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party): A banner headline that ran across the paper said that "despite Gbagbo’s promise to cut down customs tax on basic foods in order to stem the high cost of living in the country, the prices of the commodities continue to increase." Addressing Saturday a rally of women in Abidjan, a leading member of the women wing of the RDR party said: "The Head of State said that prices of foods will be reduced… If nothing is done within a week, we will take our responsibility by ask