October 30, 2009

Friday’s Ivorian press was dominated by reports on the ongoing electoral process and by a meeting of the government in Yamoussoukro. Reports also focused on the UN Security Council’s decision to extend sanctions imposed on Cote d’Ivoire and on the Ivorian government’s efforts to reduce its external expenses. Efforts by the National Council for Audio-Visual Communication (CNCA) to ensure fair access for all political parties to the state-owned media, a U.N. report on female genital mutilation, as well a seminar on gender-based violence were other prominent issues in the press.

1. A prominent report in Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) said that President Laurent Gbagbo and his Prime Minister, Soro Guillaume, attended Thursday’s meeting that focused on the electoral process, especially the issue relating to the voter list.

Reporting on this meeting, L’inter (an independent daily) quoted the Ivorian president as saying that only the Independent Election Commission (CEI) can decide whether the presidential elections should occur on November 29, 2009 or not. The paper further quoted a final communiqué released at the end of the government meeting that announced that the bodies involved in the voter registration exercise will be meeting on November 1, 2009 to address remaining obstacles.

2. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) informed readers about the UN Security Council’s decision to extend sanctions imposed on Cote d’Ivoire for another year. The report said that Resolution 1893 was unanimously adopted yesterday to extend the sanctions, which include an arms embargo and a ban on any state importing rough diamonds from Cote d’Ivoire. Moreover, targeted sanctions restricting the travel of individuals that threatened the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire were extended as well, the paper said, adding that these measures could be reconsidered no later than three months after the holding of open, free, fair and transparent presidential elections.

3. In another development, an article in Soir Info (an independent daily) said that the Ivorian government has decided to cut its external expenses by one-third. The paper attributed this information to Kouame Yao Bernard, the Cabinet Chief of the Minister of Finance, who spoke at the opening session of a workshop held yesterday in Abidjan. The move, the paper said, would help bring down the budget allocated to the country’s foreign missions.

4. The National Council for Audio-Visual Communication (CNCA) - a state-run TV and radio regulatory body – has stepped up efforts aimed at ensuring fair access for all Ivorian political parties to the state-owned media, said a report in Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily). According to the paper, the decision was taken after the CNCA noted serious discrepancies in the airtime allocated to political parties by RTI – the state-run Broadcasting Corporation. The paper quoted Franck Anderson Kouassi, the President of the CNCA, as saying that the RTI is not giving political parties a fair share of the airtime. The head of the CNCA, the report said, therefore demanded that measures should be taken so as to ensure balance in the coverage of all political parties and individual activities by the public TV and radio stations.

5. Finally, on human right issues, Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) reported on a workshop on gender-based violence organized by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in the western town of Duekoue. Leaders of women’s associations and representatives of local NGOs attended the seminar, which aimed at providing participants with resources to support victims. Mr. Ehouman Emmanuel, the IRC representative, underscored that the ultimate goal is to involve women in the fight against violence against women.

With more on human rights, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) noted that the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) is taking on an alarming proportion in African countries. The paper quoted a U.N. report saying that more than 90 million young girls are victims of FGM in Africa despite campaigns to stamp it out. The report, the paper said, blamed this situation on traditional practices and discrimination against girls.

October 29, 2009

The debate over some 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records continued to be the dominant subject in today’s Ivorian press. A U.N. report on the violation of the arms embargo by both the Government of Cote d’Ivoire and New Forces – the former rebel group - and other security issues related to the Ivorian peace process were also subjects of front-page stories. The dailies also talked about concerns voiced by an Ivorian opposition party over what it called the ruling FPI’s control of the public media.  

1. The debate on whether the 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records should be “automatically integrated” into the voter’s lists or not was a subject of a prominent story in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin. According to the paper, Cote d’Ivoire’s principal opposition parties – the RDR of Alassane Dramane Ouattara; PDCI-RDA of Henri Konan Bedie and UDPCI led by Albert Mabri Toikeusse – have called for “the respect of the law” as a way to resolve this problem. The paper further quoted a leading member of the RDR party as saying: “There is a need to abide by the law… But we want to invite everyone to avoid any categorization of citizens from the same country.” 

2. With more on this question, a prominent story in Le Patriote (a daily close to the RDR party) suggested that the Ivorian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, is making efforts to find a solution to the problem and to make sure that no Ivorian is disfranchised. Soro, the paper said, has decided to allow technical teams working on the issue more time to continue the research and the data processing in order to identify those who are qualified to be Ivorians.

3. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Economic and Social Council, Laurent Dona Fologo, said that the Ivorian presidential elections officially slated for November 29, 2009 are not “possible”, reported L’inter (an independent daily). “If you want a transparent, solid, reliable list [electoral list] like everyone has recommended to us, it won’t be possible to hold an election on November 29,” the paper quoted Fologo, a leading political figure, as saying. 

4. While efforts are underway to resolve the problem relating to the voters’ list, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) informed readers that the Ivorian peace process hangs in the balance and predicted that events in the coming November are likely to “endanger” the process. According to the paper, Ivorian incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo has activated “his repression machinery.” Citing reliable sources, the paper claimed that the national police have been instructed to put its different units on alert to pre-empt what the paper called “a coup” designed to be perpetrated during the period of November 1-30, 2009. The paper however suspected that these security measures could be a pretext to crack down on the opposition groups.

5. In another development, a front-page story in Le Nouveau Reveil said that the former ruling PDCI-RDA party denounced what it called “the monopolization of the state media by the ruling party.” According to the paper, the party voiced its concerns yesterday during a press conference in Abidjan and threatened to stop paying TV and radio allowances. On the same note, L’Expression (a daily close to the opposition), in a front-page story, explained how RTI -- the public broadcasting corporation -- is preparing the mood for the victory of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo. The paper denounced what it saw as a favor given by the state TV to Gbagbo, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming elections, and to organizations affiliated to his party.

6. On security issues, a report in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close the Ivorian Prime Minister) said that elements from both government army and the New Forces Armed Forces are threatening to go on a rampage to press for allowances. According to the paper, the disgruntled soldiers belong to the Center of Integrated Command (CCI) – a joint government army and the New Forces Armed Forces security unit – tasked with ensuring security during the electoral process.   

7. Reporting on a U.N. report on the violation of the arms embargo by both the Government of Cote d’Ivoire and the New Forces – the former rebel group --, Le Nouveau Reveil said that the two sides are re-arming with “the complicity” of Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, the facilitator in the Ivorian peace process. The paper went on to comment that this recent report clearly showed that the Ouagadougou Political Agreement, a blueprint signed by the Ivorian former belligerents, was a “big deception”.

October 28, 2009

The controversy over some 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records and the ongoing debate on the possible delay of the Ivorian already long-delayed presidential elections again made headlines in today’s Ivorian press. The general political atmosphere in Cote d’Ivoire ahead of the up-coming presidential elections and a U.N. report on the violation of the arms embargo by both the Government of Cote d’Ivoire and the New Forces – the former rebel group – were also major stories in the dailies. 

1. A banner headline in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin said that President Laurent Gbagbo has said “no” to any “automatic integration” of all those who have been enrolled during the voter registration and the population identification programs. According to the paper, the incumbent president, who was speaking yesterday in Abidjan during a meeting with his campaign team, suggested that research and data processing should continue in order to identify people who are qualified to be Ivorians; but ruled out any move that would allow defrauders to be registered. By adopting this stance, the report said, Gbagbo has put an end to the controversy surrounding the case of some 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records; but also responded to those – from within and outside his own party – who called for “a systematic integration” of all those who were enrolled on the electoral lists. The paper, however disclosed that after a series of verifications, it appears that out of 2,752,181, the cases concerning about 1,911,254 people are yet to be settled. It further projected that about 900,000 to 1.5 million people seeking Ivorian nationality may not be qualified to obtain this document.

2. While Ivorians await the publication of the electoral lists, Fraternite Matin hinted that women represent more than 50 per cent of the registered population after the recent population census. The paper quoted figures as saying that out of the total 6,384,816 identified persons; about 3,246,000 are women as compared to 3,137,000 men.

3. On the ongoing debate over the date of the Ivorian long-delayed presidential elections, a front-page story in L’inter (an independent daily) suggested that the Ivorian Prime Minister is not in favor of November 29, 2009, the date officially set for the up-coming presidential elections. As the debate on this issue continues, the Ivorian opposition leader, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, said: “We’ll take the issue to the U.N. Security Council,” if the polls are not conducted on November 29, reported Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the Ivorian Prime Minister). Commenting on this issue, Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) opined that Ivorian political stakeholders are using this problem as a pretext to delay the electoral process.

4. Reacting to a report in Tuesday’s issue of Fraternite Matin that “the polls will not take place as scheduled due to technical problems,” a leading member of the former ruling PDCI-RDA party denounced what she called another “Gbagbo-crafted political ruse,” reported Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the PDCI-RDA party). According to the paper, the women’s wing of the party, in a statement, expressed its “indignation” following Fraternite Matin’s article. The paper went on to publish a commentary from an independent contributor who questioned Prime Minister Soro’s good faith with respect to organizing the presidential elections on November 29. The writer also denounced what he called “strategy designed to cling to power.”

5. In another development, a front-page report in Fraternite Matin said that its reporters were prevented yesterday from covering a fire that broke out at the PDCI-RDA’s headquarters in Abidjan. “Fraternite Matin and RTI – the public broadcasting network – never cover our activities… We don’t need you here,” the paper quoted a group of youth close to the party as telling reporters who went to the scene.  

6. A banner headline in Nord-Sud Quotidien said that both sides in Cote d'Ivoire, the Government-controlled south and the rebel Forces Nouvelles-held north, are violating the arms embargo imposed on the country, quoting a new report documented by a U.N. group of experts monitoring the sanctions. The report, the paper said, noted that “the northern part of the country bears more resemblance to a warlord economy than to a functioning government administration.” The group of experts is particularly concerned by “the systematic transfer of weapons and ammunition from neighboring Burkina Faso to the Forces Nouvelles-controlled north of the country, which may be linked to cocoa smuggling,” the paper further quoted excerpts of the report as saying.

October 27, 2009

The state-owned daily Fraternite Matin announced in today’s edition that Cote d’Ivoire’s long-delayed presidential elections, which were officially slated for November 29, 2009, will not take place. The controversy over some 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records and a demonstration by women who support the Ivorian opposition to denounce what they called “control of the public media outlets by the ruling party” were also subjects of front-page stories in the dailies. 

1. A banner headline in the state-owned Fraternite Matin announced that Cote d’Ivoire’s long-delayed presidential elections, which were officially slated for November 29, 2009, will not take place as scheduled due to “technical problems.” According to the paper, the publication of the provisional electoral lists will only begin on November 3, 2009 – less than four months before the official date of the polls – in the 10,400 potential polling stations. The paper further noted that the question of the 2.7 million potential voters registered during the identification program but who do not feature anywhere in the historical records is yet to be resolved. It also speculated about the new date of the first round of the presidential elections quoting analysts projecting that the polls could be held on January 24, 2010. The paper went on to suggest that after the October 2000 “calamitous presidential elections,” Cote d’Ivoire is now fully committed to organize “clean and undisputable” elections in a bid to save the country from sliding into violence. 

2. Speaking Monday in Abidjan, reported Fraternite Matin, the Ivorian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, told reporters that Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, who is also the facilitator in the Ivorian peace process, hoped that “the Ivorian elections could take place as soon as possible but before that it is important to have good provisional and final voter’s lists and to put in place conditions for a good organization of the polls.” Soro, the paper said, was speaking after he arrived from a week-long official visit to China and Burkina Faso where he held talks with the President Compaore. “I’m back here in Cote d’Ivoire to resume working together with all the partners involved in the electoral process to speed up the process.”

3. A prominent story in Nuit et Jour (a daily close to the opposition) said that the Ivorian Workers Party (PIT) leader Francis Wodie is waging a campaign to save the elections from a further delay. The report said that the Ivorian opposition leader, who was addressing a rally last weekend, urged Ivorian to disapprove of any attempt to postpone once again the polls billed for November 29, 2009.

4. Regarding the case of some 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records, L’inter (an independent daily) quoted Mamadou Coulibaly, the Speaker of the Ivorian National Assembly and a leading member of the ruling FPI party as suggesting that all the contentious people should be considered Ivorians. The paper praised what it called Coulibaly’s “courageous stance” that contradicts that of some hardliners of the ruling FPI party. Reporting on the same issue, L’Expression (a daily close to the opposition) told readers about “Coulibaly’s revolt to denounce exclusion and hatred against foreigners.” With more on the controversy surrounding the problematic 2.7 million registered people, the paper however published mixed reactions from other supporters of the ruling party with some of them describing Coulibaly’s position as a pure “farce”.

5. As media reports announced plans by the Independent Electoral Commission to publish two provisional voter lists – the certified and the litigious lists – this week, a front-page story in L’intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) said that the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) – an opposition coalition – has rejected the move. According to the paper, the opposition alliance, which includes the PDCI-RDA and RDR parties --  respectively led by the former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie and Alassane Dramane Ouattara --, denounced what they called “categorization of Ivorians and a political manipulation on the issue of nationality.”

6. On another note, Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) reported on a demonstration staged yesterday at the headquarters of the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in Abidjan by women who support the opposition coalition, RHDP. The demonstration was called to denounce what demonstrators called the “ruling FPI party’s control of the public media outlets.” The protestors, the paper said, accused the management of RTI – a state-run broadcasting network – and Fraternite Matin of being biased in the coverage of the political activities of the candidates in the up-coming presidential elections.  

October 26, 2009

A statement issued by the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) relating to the case of some 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records was the major issue in the weekend’s and today’s Ivorian press. The issue of security at the western borders between Cote d’Ivoire and its neighbors, meetings of experts on food security and a common investment policy in the West African region, and the visit of American experts to Cote d’Ivoire on cocoa certification issues were the other major issues in the dailies.

1. Referring to a public statement issued by the Ivorian Election Commission (CEI) on October 25, a prominent story in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin said that, out of the 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records, the cases of 852,181 have been clarified. The paper also quoted the statement as saying that the technical team working on voter registration will hand over the provisional voter lists to the electoral commission this week. Reporting on the same issue, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the Ivorian Prime Minister) informed readers that 4.3 million registered voters have so far been certified, while the problem concerning 1.9 million people has yet to be resolved. The paper also quoted the electoral commission’s spokesperson as saying that two provisional voter lists – the certified and the litigious lists – will be published this week.

2. The controversy over the 2.7 million problematic voters was also the subject of a front-page story in the weekend’s issue of Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party), which accused the U.N. Special Envoy to Cote d’Ivoire, Young-Jin Choi, for preparing what it called “another war” in Cote d’Ivoire. The paper quoted Mr. Choi as calling for the immediate publication of the voter lists and urging stakeholders to find a compromise on the issue regarding the 2.7 million registered potential voters who do not feature anywhere in the historical records. The paper believed that by adopting this position, the U.N. official was supporting the opposition RDR party. This position, it further said, would not help guarantee “transparent elections” and could subsequently undermine peace in the country. 

3. On another note, a report in Fraternite Matin said that military commanders from both the Ivorian government army and the New Forces held a closed door meeting last Friday in Yamoussoukro to discuss how to ensure security at the western borders between Cote d’Ivoire and its neighbors. According to the paper, nothing transpired after the meeting, which was also attended by the Center of Integrated Command (CCI) – a government and New Forces joint security unit whose role is to ensure security in the country during the electoral period. Reporting on the same issue, Soir Info (an independent daily) speculated that the volatile political situation in neighboring Guinea (Conakry) prompted the meeting.

4. On regional issues, L’inter (an independent daily) reported on the ongoing meeting in Yamoussoukro that has brought together experts from the Mano River Union to discuss a common investment policy in the region. Investors and businessmen from Guinea (Conakry), Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire are attending the three-day meeting aimed at finding ways to stimulate economies and cooperation between the member countries, the report said. The Mano River Union comprises Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire, which was the last to join this regional body created in 1973 to promote sub-regional economic integration.

5. With more on sub-regional cooperation, a report in Fraternite Matin said that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has proposed the establishment of a regional mechanism to ensuring food security in the region. The decision, the paper said, was taken during an extraordinary meeting that brought together ministers of agriculture, commerce, economy and finance from West African countries last week in Yamoussoukro.

6. Finally, a report in L’inter said that a delegation of American experts visited Cote d’Ivoire as part of the country’s cocoa certification process. According to the paper, the delegation met with farmers’ associations in the eastern region that are working on plans to improve the quality of the Ivorian cocoa beans.   

October 23, 2009

Reports in today’s Ivorian press said that the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) called Thursday for the publication of the electoral lists in a bid to build momentum towards holding the long-delayed presidential elections slated for November 29, 2009. The dailies also talked about the situation of the former combatants of the New Forces. The case of some top Ivorian officials jailed for their presumed implication in a financial scandal that engulfed the Ivorian cocoa and coffee industry and an attack on an opposition newspaper by a group of students were the other major stories in the press.

1. A prominent report in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin said that U.N. Secretary-General Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire Young-Jin Choi called for the immediate publication of the voter lists. Mr. Choi, who met yesterday with the President of neighboring Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, Facilitator of the Ivorian dialogue, also called for honoring the electoral timetable, the report said. According to the paper, the top United Nations envoy to Cote d'Ivoire further called on the stakeholders to build momentum towards holding the long-delayed presidential elections slated for November 29, 2009. Mr. Choi, the paper added, also highlighted the challenges which remain, especially the publication of the provisional electoral lists, and underscored the urgent need to find a compromise on the issue.

2. Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) quoted a statement issued Thursday by the Convention of Cote d’Ivoire’s Civil Society (CSCI) denouncing the way the data concerning more than 2.75 million people who had been registered during the identification and voter registration process are being processed. Reporting on the same issue, L’Expression (a daily close to the opposition) said that the Ivorian civil society group is calling for the publication of the electoral lists.

3. Receiving a delegation of supporters yesterday, the Ivorian First Lady, who is also a leading member of the ruling FPI party, announced that “the presidential elections will be delayed,” said a report in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the Prime Minister). Mrs. Simone Gbagbo, however, assured the party’s supporters that “there has been significant progress, and the electoral process is not deadlocked.”

4. In another development, Nord-Sud Quotidien reported that 20 former New Forces’ combatants have been demobilized in the northern city of Korhogo. The paper attributed the information to New Forces’ military Commander Fofie Kouakou Martin. With more on the future of the New Forces’ military leaders, the paper carried another story explaining how the former warlords are preparing to fit into a new society after the up-coming presidential elections. According to the paper, under the Ouagadougou Political Agreement, some 5,000 former fighters will join Cote d’Ivoire’s new army as volunteers; while others will return to normal life thanks to UNOCI-supported micro projects.

5. On the case of some top Ivorian officials jailed for their presumed implication in a financial scandal that engulfed the Ivorian cocoa and coffee industry, a prominent story in L’inter (an independent daily) said that some of the defendants refused to appear before the judge investigating the case. According to the paper, lawyers for the defendants, including Henri Amouzou, President of the Cocoa and Coffee Development and Marketing Fund, have also decided to withdraw from the case to protest against the illegal detention of their clients.

6. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) today announced that a group of students yesterday ransacked their offices. According to the report, the attack was led by people believed to be members of UNESCI (Union Nationale Estudiantine et Scolaire de Cote d’Ivoire) – an Ivorian student association – to protest against what they called “an insulting” story carried in a previous edition of the paper. The paper also noted that the attack came two days before the date set for a meeting between the leader of the PDCI-RDA party and candidate in the up-coming presidential elections, Henri Konan Bedie, and the students. 

[NOTE: According to Patrice Yao, Publisher of the newspaper, the protest was against a story entitled: “A businessman, ex-member of UNESCI under track,” published by the paper in its October 22’s issue. He said the attackers – believed to be students and members of UNESCI – forced their way into the daily’s office. Earlier, the Secretary General of UNESCI, Oliver Anangaman, came to the newsroom to issue a rejoinder in reaction to the story, the news publisher said. According to him seven workers – including journalists – who were on duty -- were “seriously injured” and office equipment including computers were destroyed during the attack. He also said the police arrived at the scene but nobody was arrested.]   

October 22, 2009

Today’s Ivorian press was dominated by the growing fever of electoral campaigns in the run-up to the upcoming presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire. The papers again reported on a meeting between the U.S. Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt, and the head of the Independent Electoral Commission on Tuesday on the Ivorian electoral process. The dailies also pondered the state of the Ivorian media amidst allegations of the government’s attempt to control the state-run media outlets.

1. A prominent story in the state-owned Fraternite Matin said that, a few days after President Laurent Gbagbo announced his intention to seek re-election, the incumbent president told his campaign team to work hard for his victory in the up-coming presidential elections. “No victory is won in advance,” Gbagbo was quoted by the paper as telling his campaign team during an official ceremony Wednesday in Abidjan. According to the paper, out of the 32 members of the campaign team, about 20 are drawn from other political groups. The paper went on to comment that the configuration of this team is a manifestation of what it called “Gbagbo’s willingness to be the flag-bearer of an all-inclusive Cote d’Ivoire, irrespective of people’s political, ethnic, religious and regional backgrounds.”

2. With more on Gbagbo’s campaign team, L’inter (an independent daily) informed readers that Charles Ble Goude, the leader of the Young Patriots, was charged with rallying the youth behind President Gbagbo’s candidacy. Citing observers, the paper suggested that Ble Goude is a good choice because of his capacity to mobilize the youth. In a related development, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) carried a contribution from an independent writer who outlined Gbagbo’s major advantages to win the forthcoming elections. The writer profiled the Ivorian leader as a humble man, an accomplished intellectual and a statesman.

3. A report in Fraternite Matin said that leaders of the New Forces have noted progress in the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement following an evaluation meeting on October 20-21 in the northern city of Korhogo. They welcomed the normalization of the political situation in the country and praised the Ivorian Prime Minister and leader of the New Forces for living up to his promises not to stand for the up-coming presidential elections, the report said.

4. Meanwhile a front-page report in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the Primature) said that the New Forces are demanding that decrees regarding their integration into the Cote d’Ivoire’s national army be signed before the elections. “The decrees must be signed,” the paper quoted Colonel Bamba Simina, the Cabinet Director of the leader of the New Forces as saying in an interview with ONUCI-FM – a United Nations radio station in Cote d’Ivoire.

5. Still on the up-coming presidential elections, Fraternite Matin reported on a meeting between the U.S. Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt, and the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) on Tuesday on the Ivorian electoral process. The paper, which attributed this information to the CEI, said Ambassador Nesbitt was accompanied by the head of the Bureau for West African Affairs at the Department of State in Washington, Robert Scott, who wanted “to get a better understanding of the situation in Cote d’Ivoire.”

6. In a prominent story, Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) denounced what it called the state-owned media’s – TV and Fraternite Matin – “support for Gbagbo’s candidacy”. The paper went on to warn the state media outlets that they may be held responsible for any violence that would mar the electoral process. Referring to reports relating to a recent working lunch offered by President Barack Obama on the margins of the last U.N. General Assembly in New York, the paper accused Fraternite Matin of manipulating public opinion. It further called upon the National Council of Audio-Visual Communication (CNCA) and the National Press Council (CNP) – both state-owned media watchdogs – to make sure that the state-run media outlets, which are a vehicle to inform the general public, should not become engines of political propaganda and disinformation.

7. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) accused the National Press Council of being biased in its decisions after the state-owned media watchdog fined the paper for insulting the Ivorian Prime Minister. The paper published a statement issued by the watchdog committee announcing its decision to sentence the paper to a fine of FCFA 5 million (about $11,000 USD). The paper published another statement issued by the watchdog committee saying that Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) has been sentenced to a fine of FCFA 3 million (about $6,849 USD).

October 21, 2009

Today’s Ivorian press reported on a meeting between the U.S. Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt, and the head of the Independent Electoral Commission on Tuesday on the Ivorian electoral process. The latest developments in the electoral process and rumors on a meeting between President Laurent Gbagbo and Israeli mercenaries were the other major issues in the newspapers.

1. A report in L’inter (an independent daily) said that the Independent Electoral Commission yesterday briefed the U.S. Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt, about the progress made in the electoral process during a meeting at the electoral body’s headquarters in Abidjan. According to the paper, Ambassador Nesbitt was accompanied by the head of the Bureau for West African Affairs at the Department of State in Washington, Robert Scott, and the head of the Political and Economic Section at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Mary Townswick. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ambassador Nesbitt reportedly said: “I’ve noted that the Independent Electoral Commission is working hard in order to finalize and to cross-check all information in view of the publication of the provisional electoral lists.” Ambassador Nesbitt, the report said, expressed “satisfaction” and lauded the electoral body for its “professional” job. The paper also reported the electoral commissioner, Robert Beugre Mambe, as saying “we’re working so that all stages of this important process should be well executed in view of the certification of the process by the United Nations.”

2. Talking about the electoral process, a front-page story in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin quoted the President of the Constitutional Council, Paul Yao N’Dre, as saying that the role of the United Nations is to certify the electoral process, and the Constitutional Council has the responsibility to validate the process. Yao N’Dre, the report said, was speaking on Tuesday after talks with the Ivorian opposition leader, Alassane Dramane Ouattara.

3. Another report in Fraternite Matin said that the contentious issues that are holding up the publication of the provisional electoral lists were high on the agenda during a meeting yesterday between the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire, Y. J. Choi, and Henri Konan Bedie, former Ivorian President and candidate in the up-coming presidential elections. According to the report, the U.N. envoy hoped that a solution would be found quickly to the remaining obstacles in order to pave the way for the publication of the provisional electoral lists.

4. In a related development, Mr. Bedie, in an interview with Fraternite Matin, talked about the possible delay of the presidential elections slated for November 29, 2009. “The date of November 29, 2009 was fixed by consensus during a meeting of the CPC – a committee overseeing the implementation Ouagadougou Political Agreement. This date cannot be changed without consultation of this body,” Mr. Bedie was reported as saying.

5. Speaking at a political rally a few days ago in the north-eastern region of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Ouattara proposed the rehabilitation of the former fighters before the elections, reported Fraternite Matin. According to the paper, the Ivorian opposition leader and candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections was reacting to a recent statement made by President Gbagbo saying that the disarmament will be completed after the elections.

6. On another development, a prominent story in Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) claimed that Israeli mercenaries were received by President Gbagbo. The paper, which attributed this information to L’Express (a French newspaper), also alleged that President Gbagbo held “a secret meeting” with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert July this year in Yamoussoukro to talk about how to ensure security in Cote d’Ivoire’s main cities.     

October 20, 2009

Today’s press again focused on the electoral process as well as a new opinion poll. Other prominent reporting covered the creation of an international award prize to promote biological and cultural diversity and a meeting of ECOWAS experts ahead of the global summit on food security. A UNFPA-sponsored campaign for gender balance made the news as well.

1. Pending final clearance from the Constitutional Council, candidates bidding for November 29, 2009 elections are engaged in political rallies. Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) noted that Mr. Alassane Ouattara was in the central eastern city of Tanda last week. According to the paper, the leader of the Rally of Republicans (RDR) told the local population, “I am determined to win the election. Together we will bring back peace and prosperity.”

Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) reported on a meeting in a southern neighborhood of Abidjan held by Mr. Bedie.”The time has come for this regime to step aside,” Mr. Bedie said in reply to the requests submitted by people attending the meeting.

2. As part of his consultation initiative, the UN Special Envoy in Cote d’Ivoire Mr. Y.J. Choi met yesterday with the President of the Independent Election Commission (CEI). According to Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition), discussions focused on the voter registration process and the case of omissions. “Two challenges have to be addressed now. The first one is the provisional voter list and the second one is the final list,” Mr. Choi was reported as saying.”I am confident of a positive outcome,” he added. 

3. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) published the outcome of a new opinion pool carried out by French company TNS SOFRES. According to the daily, President Gbagbo is credited with some 42% of the votes and came out first whereas opposition leaders Konan Bedie and Alassane Ouattara respectively obtained 30% and 28% of the ballot. Still with regard to this opinion poll, President Gbagbo topped up the run-off with some 52%.

4. On the initiative of the Canadian Chair for Research on ethnology and biodiversity (CRCEB), an international prize to promote biological and cultural diversity has been created.

Providing details, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) mentioned that the prize, named the Laurent Gbagbo and Blaise Compaore Prize for Biological and Cultural Diversity, recognizes individual and collective actions for the preservation of biodiversity. The prize, the paper further indicated, is an acknowledgement to the Ivorian and the Burkina presidents for their actions in favor of biodiversity.    

5. Experts from the Economic Organization of West African States (ECOWAS) gathered for a two-day workshop yesterday in the central city of Yamoussoukro to validate policies advocated to fight global food insecurity. The information was reported by Le Mandat (a daily close to the opposition) which underscored that the issue is topical for the African continent. According to experts, food insecurity results from climate change, urban development, population growth and oil price shifts that are interconnected and rarely confined by borders and is an issue of global importance.

6. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) organized a seminar held October 13-15, 2009, to call for integrated and strategic plans to promote gender equity. Reporting on the workshop held in Dakar, Senegal, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) noted that participants were called upon to share experiences and advocate an approach in line with the UNFPA’s actions for gender balance. 

October 19, 2009

News reported today and over the weekend mainly focused on political rallies ahead of the run-up to the presidential polls. The weekly press statement of the Independent Election Commission and debates over the actual date of the polls were other highlighted topics.

1. President Gbagbo officially registered last Friday as a candidate to the presidential polls of November 29. Reporting on the ceremony, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) noted in its weekend edition that hundreds of people gathered at the Independent Election Commission (CEI) as President Gbagbo submitted his application. “I am candidate for Cote d’Ivoire,” the paper reported him as saying in his address to the rally. “I am candidate to carry on the fight of our fathers,” he added.

In a related story, L’Expression (a daily close to the opposition) in its Saturday release indicated that though bidding for a second presidency term, candidate Gbagbo intends to fully hold his prerogatives. “I am 100% president of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire as well as 100% candidate,” the daily reportedly quoted him as saying in the course of an interview following the registration of his candidacy at the CEI.

Still on the same topic, Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) underscored President Gbagbo’s stance on the issue of the disarmament. According to the daily, the issue could be forcibly settled.”Disarmament will definitely be dealt with through the legal use of force after the election,” the daily reported President Gbagbo as saying to journalists.

2. The Independent Election Commission (CEI) released its weekly press statement on Sunday, October 18, 2009. The information was reported by Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) which noted that the official period for candidacy application to the forthcoming poll has expired on October 16, 2009. A total of 20 candidates have been registered and forwarded to the Constitutional Council for final approval, the paper added.

Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) noted that out of the 20 candidates, only 12 of them actually paid the 20 million election bail. These candidates include President Gbagbo and opposition heavyweights Alassane Ouattara and Konan Bedie as well as independent candidates Mr. Akoto Yao and Mrs. Oble Jacqueline. 

3. As application for candidacy to the presidential poll closed on Friday, debates over the actual date of the poll continue to be on the agenda. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) noted that the initial date scheduled for November 29, 2009 is unlikely to be respected. The paper informed readers that all the bodies involved in the process including the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the National Office of Identification (ONI) and the Independent Election Commission (CEI) are busy elaborating a new electoral timetable. This new timetable, the paper added, will take into account delays resulted from the handling of the case of some 3 million people missing on the provisional voter list.

In another report, L’inter (an independent daily) indicated that a “gentleman’s agreement” is likely to be signed between the two major opposition leaders Henri Konan Bedie and Alassane Ouattara. The CFA Francs 10 billion agreement (Approximately US $ 22 million) aimed favoring the two opposition leaders’ support for a delay of the poll, the paper added.

October 16, 2009

Reports in today’s press were still dominated by the issue of the presidential election and its probable delay. Dailies reported on President Gbagbo’s candidacy and the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire’s initiatives to support the ongoing peace process. Reports also focused on military issues ahead of the elections and a media workshop on gender-based violence.

1. As the case of some 2.8 million people missing on the provisional voter list continues to be a major concern, the presidential election slated for November 29 is subjected to debates and mixed comments. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) reported Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro who called for mutual consideration and voiced interferences in Cote d’Ivoire’s domestic affairs. Soro, the paper said, was reacting following a recent statement by French official Alain Joyandet who demanded that the Ivorian elections should be held according plan. “Africa and its people deserve mutual respect from others,” he reportedly said. Soro, who was addressing African ambassadors on the margins of an official visit in China, indicated that a lot has been done to ensure credibility in the electoral process,” reported the paper. “We are about to lift the remaining obstacles”, he reportedly said.

Still on the same issue, Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) noted that France is prepared to accept a slight delay of the polls. The paper quoted the French Secretary of State, Alain Joyandet, as suggesting that one to two-week delay could be possible to tackle remaining stumbling blocks on the way to the elections.

In a related development, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) reported the Special Representative of the Facilitator of the Political Agreement of Ouagadougou, Mr. Boureima Badini as saying that efforts are being deployed so that the elections could be held on November 29, 2009. Badini also called upon all stakeholders to support these efforts.  

2. News that President Gbagbo will be filing today his nomination papers for presidency to the Independent Election Commission made headline in the pro-FPI daily newspaper Notre Voie. In a front-page story, the paper informed readers that a special itinerary has been elaborated to allow rally of supporters to attend the official ceremony.

3. In a bid to efficiently support the ongoing peace and electoral process, the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) is to initiate consultations with Ivorian stakeholders, reported Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition). The paper indicated that the purpose of these meetings is to find ways to boost the peace process and to allow for a timely publication of the provisional voter list.

4. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) reported on increasing military patrol in key points in Abidjan. According to the paper these measures are part of a plan put in place by President Gbagbo to pre-empt violence that could result from the delay of the poll.

5. Finally, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) reported on a workshop on gender-based violence initiated by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The training, the paper added, was aimed at equipping women in the media to fight against gender-based violence. According to IRC Program Coordinator Monika Bakayoko, the issue of violence against women calls for common actions in order to better sensitize the population.

October 15, 2009

A recent statement made by a French official on the timetable of the up-coming presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire has triggered mixed reactions in today’s Ivorian press. The dailies again commented on the case of some 2.8 million potentially problematic voters listed on the provisional electoral; and the political atmosphere in the run-up of the polls. Efforts by the government to ensure security in the country; new outbreak of the avian flu in Cote d’Ivoire and a reform in the Ivorian cocoa and coffee industry were the other major stories.

1. With pictures of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on its front page, Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI) claimed that U.N. and France differ over the electoral process underway in Cote d’Ivoire. The daily quoted French Secretary of State in charge of Cooperation Alain Joyandet as saying that “the elections [in Cote d’Ivoire] must absolutely come on according to plan.” It further suggested that this statement contradicts the position of the head of the U.N. Mission in Cote d’Ivoire, Young Jin Choi, who reportedly said: “We still have to complete two crucial stages before arriving to elections including the publication of the provisional voter list that is an important step and the publication of the final voter list… About 2.7 million persons registered cannot be found on any voter list. We must find an urgent solution to these persons before we produce the electoral list.” The paper then suspected France of trying to create instability in Cote d’Ivoire.

2. Notre Voie, another pro-FPI daily newspaper, which described as “a slip” the French Secretary of State in charge of Cooperation’s statement on the Ivorian electoral process, quoted Ivorian Reggae Star, Alpha Blondy, as saying: “Alain Joyandet has no right to give us neither an order nor a lesson.” Commenting on this issue, Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) said that the statement made by the French Secretary of State in charge of Cooperation has woken up what the paper called “devils” of a dormant war opposing France in Cote d’Ivoire. With more on the French Secretary of State in charge of Cooperation’s statement, Soir Info (an independent daily) suggested that this could be a sign of “disappointment” on the part of the French authorities as a result of the continuous postponements of the Ivorian presidential elections. This disappointment, the paper further explained, could be linked to France’s huge contributions to the peace process in Cote d’ivoire.

3. In a related development, Soir Info suggested that as many stumbling blocks still remain on the way to the polls, there is no doubt that the presidential elections slated for November 29, 2009 will be postponed. The paper then wondered why the Ivorian political stakeholders, the technical teams involved in the preparation of the elections and the international community continue to remain silent over the possible delay of the polls.

4. In a front-page story, L’inter (an independent daily) also claimed that it is impossible to hold presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire on November 29, 2009 and called upon President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to tell people the truth. The paper went on to denounce what it called “dangerous maneuvering” on the part of the international community and urged the stakeholders to help put in place measures that could save the country from sliding into chaos. The paper however lauded the head of the U.N. Mission in Cote d’Ivoire, Young Jin Choi, for his “clear-headed” analysis of the situation on the ground.

5. On security issues, a report in Le Jour Plus quoted the military commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia saying that “recurring tensions in the border region between Liberia and Cote d’ivoire will diminish if the Ivorian elections run smoothly.” The paper reported that since January Liberian ex-combatants, who fought as mercenaries for the Ivorian government forces of President Laurent Gbagbo against the New Forces/former Ivorian rebel movement, have been making threats and demanding that the Ivorian government pay their back salaries. To keep the situation under control, the paper added, the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the U.N. forces in Cote d’Ivoire have been carrying out joint border patrols.

6. In order to crack down on armed robbers, the Ivorian authorities have set up 2,000 video cameras across the city of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire’s economic capital, said a front-page report in Fraternite Matin. The move, the paper said, is designed to help protect people and their properties. According to the paper, an agreement was signed yesterday between the government and a private security company in charge of the implementing the project.

7. On health issues, L’inter informed readers of an outbreak of avian flu in Cote d’Ivoire. The paper attributed the information to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Fishery Resources. 
   
8. Finally, a report in Fraternite Matin said that a panel set up by the Ivorian government yesterday presented its report on a reform in the cocoa and coffee sector. According to the paper, the report recommended that the government assume  responsibility for regulating the sector that plays such an important role in the country’s economy.

October 14, 2009

A meeting of the U.N. Security Council Tuesday as well as talks between President Laurent Gbagbo and the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) on the Ivorian electoral process was a subject of front-page stories in today’s Ivorian press. The dailies also reported on the latest developments on the ongoing investigation into a financial scandal that rocked the Ivorian cocoa and coffee industry.

1. The Ivorian electoral process was a subject of prominent headlines in the state-owned Fraternite Matin which quoted the head of the U.N. Mission in Cote d’Ivoire, Young Jin Choi, as saying: “We’re facing a serious obstacle.” According to the paper, Choi, who was speaking from New York after briefing the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, was referring to the 2.8 million potentially problematic voters listed on the provisional electoral rolls. “We still have to complete two crucial stages before arriving at elections,” Choi told an Abidjan-based U.N. radio station, and cited those stages as: “The publication of the provisional voter list that is an important step and the publication of the final voter list.” The paper also mentioned a press statement issued at the end of the Security Council’s meeting that called on “all parties in Cote d’Ivoire to join forces to complete the remaining tasks – including the publication of the final voter list – and to resolve differences in the spirit of reconciliation and dialogue.”

2. Regarding the 2.8 million potentially problematic voters listed on the provisional electoral roll, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) quoted a leading member of this party saying that “The case of more than one million out of the 2.8 million potential voters has already been resolved.” “The PDCI-RDA will not accept any further delay of the elections,” the paper quoted the party’s leader as saying.

3. In a related development, Fraternite Matin quoted French Secretary of State in charge of Cooperation Alain Joyandet as saying that “the elections [in Cote d’Ivoire] must absolutely go according to plan.” The paper went on to state that, on this issue, France shares the same view with the Ivorian opposition group. The paper also quoted the French official as saying about the voter list that “The voter list will never be perfect; there is nowhere it is perfect.” The paper went on to comment that it seems that the transparency of the elections is no longer a priority for French authorities, who, it said, suspect the Ivorian authorities of trying to delay the presidential elections slated for November 29, 2009.

4. With more on the date of the up-coming presidential elections, a front-page story in Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) saw France as encouraging the vote of foreigners in the coming elections in Cote d’Ivoire. For the elections to be held on November 29, Paris has stepped pressure on the Ivorian authorities, said a banner headline in the pro-opposition daily L’Expression. But a commentary in the independent daily newspaper L’inter suggested that on whether to hold the polls on schedule or delay them in a bid to complete the remaining tasks, there is a need to allow Ivorians to go according to their own pace. The paper went on to call on the French diplomat to reconsider his position; unless his objective was to let Cote d’Ivoire descends into chaos.

5. As the debate over the 2.8 million potentially problematic voters continues, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) carried a prominent story wondering who among President Gbagbo; former Ivorian leader Henri Konan Bedie or opposition heavyweight Alassane Dramane Ouattara would get the votes of these prospective voters. The paper further disclosed that the Ivorian authorities are working to find “a political arrangement” to the case the 2.8 million potential voters. 

6. A front-page story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) informed readers that the case of the 2.8 million potential voters was high on the agenda during a meeting Tuesday between President Gbagbo and the Head of the Independent Electoral Commission, Robert Beugre Mambe. “We’ve tasked the technical bodies to find a solution to the case of the 2.8 million potential voters; and we hope that in a few days they would be able to provide us with new figures that will allow us to publish the provisional voter list,” Mambe was reported as saying. 

7. On another issue, a front-page story in L’inter said that a judge investigating the case of some top Ivorian officials jailed for their alleged involvement in a scandal that had rocked the Ivorian coffee and cocoa industry has sought an injunction to extend the detention of the defendants for another four months. The report said the top officials have been languishing in MACA – a prison in Abidjan – for the past 20 months without trial. In a related development, the paper published what it called “the untold stories” behind this investigation alleging that Ivorian former Minister of Agriculture, Sebastien Danon Djedje [Minister of National Reconciliation in the current administration] is linked to a 4-billion (about $9 million USD) financial scandal.

October 13, 2009

The November 29, 2009 presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire continued to be the dominant issue in this week’s Ivorian press. The Ivorian opposition heavyweight, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, was also in the limelight a day after he filed his nomination papers before the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). Reports also said that a coalition of Ivorian women organizations is calling for the delay of the elections. The United States’ support in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire and reactions to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Barack Obama were the other major issues in the press.  

1. A front-page story in the pro-opposition daily newspaper, Nord-Sud Quotidien said that the leader of the Ivorian opposition Rally of the Republicans (RDR) party, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, on Monday filed his nomination papers before the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). According to the paper, the event marked the end of a 15-year “profound and bloody controversy” over the question regarding the nationality of the opposition leader who was barred from running for presidency in 2000 for “dubious nationality”. The paper described Ouattara’s candidacy for the forthcoming presidential elections as “historic”, and explained that this was made possible thanks to the 2005 Pretoria Peace Agreement signed by the Ivorian political factions in South Africa. Reporting on Ouattara’s candidacy, Le Patriote (a daily close to the RDR party) told readers that it was not a dream and called it “a victory over the reign of the arbitrary.” After submitting his nomination papers, Ouattara said: “I’m committed to conduct the political campaign in an atmosphere of peace and reconciliation,” the state-owned Fraternite Matin.  

2. With more on the major candidates vying for presidency, a front-page story in Fraternite Matin said that a recent opinion poll conducted by TNS-SOFRES – a French company – showed the incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo leading with 42 percent of those polled as against 30 percent and 28 per cent for former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie and Alassane Dramane Ouattara respectively. The paper also said that the Ivorian opposition had earlier rejected results of another opinion poll conducted by the same polling company and which showed Gbagbo comfortably in the lead with 43 percent of those polled.

3. A report in Soir Info (an independent daily) said that the Network for Peace and Security for Women in the West African Region (Cote d’Ivoire’s chapter) is calling for the delay of the Ivorian presidential elections slated for November 29, 2009. The delay, the organization said in a statement published by the paper, will help avoid “exclusion of some Ivorians on the electoral lists.” The statement further demands the Independent Electoral Commission find a solution to the case of the 2.8 million potentially problematic voters listed on the provisional electoral.

4. Speaking to the pro-opposition daily newspaper L’Expression, a leading member of the Ivorian Workers Party (PIT) said that the Ouagadougou Political Agreement will become null and void if elections do not take place on November 29, 2009.

5. In its Monday’s edition, Fraternite Matin quoted Charles Ble Goude, the leader of Young Patriots (a movement supportive of President Gbagbo), calling on Ivorians “to choose freedom by voting for Gbagbo” in the up-coming presidential elections. The Ivorian youth leader, the paper said, was speaking last weekend in the central city of Daloa as tens of thousands of Ivorians gathered to celebrate the 7^th anniversary of “Resistance”, a movement created in the wake of the September 19, 2002 military revolt that turned to full-scale rebellion in Cote d’Ivoire.

6. On health issues, a report in Fraternite Matin said that the United States donated equipment worth FCFA 87 million (about $196,000 USD) to the government of Cote d’Ivoire as part of its programs designed to care of orphans and other children who have become vulnerable as result of the HIV/AIDS. The donation, the paper said, was presented to the Ministry of Family, Women and Social Affairs by the DCM, Julia Stanley, as part of the PEPFAR program. 

7. Ivorian weekend’s newspapers were dominated by reactions to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Barack Obama. In a front-page story, Le Patriote informed readers that the Ivorian opposition leader, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, sent a message to congratulate President Obama. “On behalf of my party, the Rally of Republicans (RDR), and on my own behalf, I would like to express to you my great pride in your vision for a generous world and to address my sincere and warm congratulations to you for this great honor bestowed on you,” read excerpts of the message. L’intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) published reactions from some Ivorian political leaders and members of the Ivorian civil society. According to them, commented the paper, President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize because of actions that he has undertaken and which go in the direction of peace and the settlement of the military crises shaking the world. In a front-page story, Fraternite Matin called President Obama “an unexpected guest” who has won the Nobel Peace Prize.               

October 9, 2009

The provisional voters’ lists, which were officially handed over to President Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday, were again a subject of front-page stories in today’s Ivorian press. The case of Guy-Andre Kieffer, a Franco-Canadian journalist, who has been missing in Cote d’Ivoire since April 2004; a discussion on President Obama’s first address to U.N. General Assembly organized by the U.S. Embassy for journalists; and a visit of PAO Sita Liane Chakrawarti to the state-owned newspaper Fraternite Matin were the other major issues in the press.     

1. A prominent story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) quoted a leading member of this party as calling for the establishment of “separate voters’ lists” in order to guarantee “the transparency” of the presidential elections slated for November 29 in Cote d’Ivoire. The party’s national secretary in charge of elections, Martin Sokouri Bohui, was reacting to the 2.8 million potentially problematic voters listed on the provisional electoral rolls that the Independent Electoral Commission handed over on Tuesday to President Gbagbo. “The FPI will not accept a list that includes everybody,” the paper quoted Sokouri Bohui, who suggested “further data analysis” in order to figure out those who are qualified or not to be enrolled for the forthcoming elections in Cote d’Ivoire.

2. In a prominent story, Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) opined that the controversy generated by the “contentious” 2.8 million registered voters is “unjustifiable.” The paper carried an interview of Mamadou Sanogo, the RDR’s national secretary for elections, who claimed that “this controversy has been deliberately created by those who fear to go to elections.” 

3. L’Expression (a daily close to the opposition) blamed what it called “the scandal surrounding the voter registration” on the bodies that conducted the operation, namely,  the National Statistics Institute and SAGEM (a French company), saying that they have botched up the work. The paper further revealed that the data which had been collected in some 213 registration centers were not processed, representing 8 percent of the total data that were not taken into account on the provisional voters’ lists.

4. Meanwhile, a report in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) said that the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) had called on Ivorians to avoid any conflict about the provisional electoral lists. “There is a need to allow technicians to do their job in order to find a solution to the problem,” the paper quoted UNOCI’s spokesperson, Hamadoun Toure, as saying during a press conference yesterday in Abidjan. Another prominent story in this paper informed the public that potential voters can check their names on the provisional electoral lists by sending a text message to 98099.

5. With more on the electoral process, a front-page story in L’inter (an independent daily) said that a visiting African Union’s fact-finding mission has demanded that Cote d’Ivoire finance its own elections. The paper quoted the head of the AU’s delegation, Dieudonne Kombo-Yaya, who was speaking yesterday after a meeting with a coalition of civil society groups, as saying “The organization of elections falls within the sovereignty of a state.” According to the paper, the AU’s diplomat was reacting to a statement made by a member of the civil society groups who accused the international community of failing to provide financial support for the organization of the forthcoming presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire.

6. On the case of Guy-Andre Kieffer, a Franco-Canadian journalist, who has been missing in Cote d’Ivoire since April 2004, L’inter reported that French investigators searching for the body of the journalist left Abidjan empty-handed. According to the paper, the search was conducted a few days ago in “Foret du Banco”, a forest located in the outskirts of Abidjan. The report further, however, quoted Ivorian state prosecutor Raymond Tchimou saying earlier that the journalist had been taken out of the country and is still alive.

7. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) reported on a discussion of President Obama’s first address to the U.N. General Assembly organized by the U.S. Embassy for journalists. The discussion, which was led by PAO Sita Liane Chakrawarti and Fulbright Fellow Zauditu-Selassie Kokahvah, was as part of the Embassy’s English program for Ivorian journalists.

8. A report in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin said that PAO Sita Liane Chakrawarti visited the media outlet yesterday in order to reinforce collaboration between the U.S. Embassy and the newspaper. Ms Chakrawarti used the opportunity to encourage the journalists to visit the Embassy’s Information Resource Center (IRC), the report said. 

October 8, 2009

The electoral process and the forthcoming elections continued to be the major highlights in the Ivorian press today. Dailies reported on speculations over the provisional voter lists and consultations on the electoral process initiated by Prime Minister Soro Guillaume. The announcement of the candidacy of President Gbagbo in the November 2009 elections, as well as a project aimed at fighting HIV AIDS amongst the armed forces, also made the news.

1. The provisional voter list, which was handed over to President Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday, was again the subject of prominent reports in the press. L’inter (an independent daily) noted that the case of some 3 million potential voters omitted from the list appears to be a serious problem for the President and his Prime Minister. The paper indicated that the issue was even mentioned during the official handover ceremony by the President of the Independent Elections Commission (CEI). “These omissions are not necessarily fraud cases,” the daily reported Mr. Robert Mambe as saying. However, the paper suggested that the case calls for careful and subtle handling to ensure that the whole process is not jeopardized.

With more on this issue, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) stated that the omissions are undoubtedly a hurdle that must be met  to ensure the smooth progress of the process. This issue, the paper underscored, constitutes a major concern, as no one knows if he/she is among of those people who were the omitted. According to the paper, a total of 2.752.181 people were deleted from the rolls. 

  Still on the subject, L’intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) reported on the series of consultations initiated by Prime Minister Soro Guillaume. The report said that Mr. Soro met yesterday with representatives of the different political parties. The purpose, the paper added, was to shed light on the progress of the electoral process, especially the release of the voter list. The meetings, the paper further said, will try to find ways to address the other challenges. Mr. Soro called on the different political parties to support the government in its effort to successfully carry out the electoral process. “The process is delicate and requires the support and commitment of all,” he reportedly said. The president of the Independent Elections Commission (CEI), Mr. Robert Mambe reaffirmed the CEI’s commitment to ensure a timely and credible completion of the process. On his part, the representative of the ruling FPI party, Mr. Affi N’Guessan thanked the CEI and called on bodies involved in the electoral process to effectively see to the case of those who were omitted on the voter lists.

In a related report, the daily noted that in a bid to secure the release of the provisional voter list the New Forces have set up mixed patrol teams. New Forces police officer Seydou Ouattara indicated that this is in line with a security policy to avoid potential troubles which could result from the publication of list in the New Forces-controlled areas. In a similar report, Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) noted that the date of the release of the final voter lists is being kept secret. The paper noted that the information was given yesterday by the President of the Election Commission. According to the paper, the aim is to avoid useless and irrelevant speculation on the date.

2. In a banner headline, the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin noted that President Gbagbo will run for a second term. According to the paper, the information was delivered yesterday by the Ivorian first lady Mrs. Simone Gbagbo during a rally in the suburb city of Anyama. “President Gbagbo has decided to run for presidency,” the daily reported Mrs. Simone Gbagbo as saying.

3. On health issues, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported on a regional workshop on HIV/AIDS initiated by the Western and Central African States Army Network Against HIV AIDS (REMAFOC/SIDA). Organized on September 24, 2009 in the Gallieni military camp of Abidjan, the workshop was aimed at elaborating and implementing collective measures to fight and stop the spread of the disease in the army. The project, the paper added, was financed by the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI). Figures indicate that army personnel are at greater risk in the exposure to the disease, the paper added.

October 6, 2009

Reports in today’s press were still dominated by the voter registration roll and the forthcoming presidential polls. Dailies also provided updates on the expulsion of Imam Kobeissi following allegations of his links with the Lebanese organization Hezbollah. Other reports were on the ECOWAS joint development program.

1. The electronic format of the provisional voter registration list is now available. The information was provided by Soir Info (an independent daily), which noted that the list will be handed over to President Laurent Gbagbo this week during an official ceremony. The paper added that the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) will soon release the provisional voter lists on the Internet to allow for massive consultations. The list, the daily added further, will then be made available in the different voter registration centers.

With more on the voter list, L’inter (an independent daily) noted that the release of the roll is likely to bring about controversies over the issue of Ivorian citizenship. According to the daily, out of some 6 million potential voters, about 2 million were excluded as a result of the different cross-checking operations involved in the voter registration exercise. The paper suggested that any disputes that may result from the operation could raise again the controversial issue of “Ivoirité,” which will undoubtedly delay the electoral process.

In a related development, Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported on a workshop jointly organized by the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI); the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the Independent Elections Commission (CEI). The aim of this two-day seminar was to sensitize the Ivorian media on responsible and professional reporting of electoral disputes. In her address, Mrs. Diop Fatoumata Traore, the Vice-President of the CEI, recalled the different steps leading to the polls and called on the various actors involved, namely the civil society, to responsibly play their role in the process. Mr. Hamadoun Toure, the Spokesperson of the UNOCI, encouraged journalists to become observers while reporting on the electoral process. Mr. Hamadoun, the daily added, also called on the media to be wary of survey figures and trends and to remain impartial in their reports.

Still on the electoral process, an African Union’s fact-finding mission is currently in Abidjan to monitor the prevailing electoral atmosphere. The information was reported by Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party). The paper noted that the AU delegation launched a series of meetings with the different political actors. Thus, the paper reported, the AU envoys met with the facilitator of the Political Agreement of Ouagadougou, Mr. Boureima Badini; the Minister of Justice; and the leaders of the Rally of Republicans (RDR). The delegation will meet with representatives of the ruling FPI party, the Convention of the Civil Society, and other actors in the coming days, the paper added. 

2. Following its 2007 summit in Abuja, Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted a joint development program for its fifteen member states. Reporting on the recent press statement of the ECOWAS Commissioner, Mr. Bamba Ngaladjo, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) noted that the program aims at providing fruitful development conditions to the region by promoting cooperation and integration policies. The joint development plan, Mr. Bamba added, also includes a joint program on finance and environment. 

3. Finally, L’Expression (a daily close to the opposition) shed more light on the expulsion last August of an Imam of Lebanese origin at Abidjan airport. Mr. Abdoul Menhem, a.k.a.Imam Kobeissi, the chaplain of AL ZAHARA mosque in Abidjan, was expelled from Cote d’Ivoire following allegations of his links with Hezbollah, a movement listed by the United States as a terrorist organization. Criticizing the action, the daily noted that though of Lebanese origin, Imam Kobeissi is born in Cote d’Ivoire and has the citizenship of the country. The paper spoke against what it considers a case of abuse and pressed the Ivorian authorities to take the necessary actions. [Notes:Imam Kobeissi’s allegation of ties with Hezbollah came from an interview with the bi-weekly newspaper Jeune Afrique in June 2009.]

October 5, 2009

The forthcoming presidential elections and the political atmosphere in Cote d’Ivoire ahead of the polls are the top stories in today’s Ivorian press. Dailies also reported on a book discussion organized on September 30 by the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan.

1. A report in Monday’s issue of the state daily newspaper Fraternite Matin said that with less than a month to go to polls in Cote d’Ivoire, the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) called for “calm.” The paper quoted a statement issued on October 4 by CEI as saying that “as the electoral process has reached the stage that will deal with electoral complaints, the press; civil society groups; political parties; religious leaders and traditional chiefs should do everything possible so that this critical stage takes place in an atmosphere conducive for peace; discipline and mutual understanding.” The paper also quoted CEI – the body in charge of organizing the November 29 presidential elections – as informing the public that “after the publication of the provisional voters’ registration lists, any complaints should be formulated and submitted to the local bureaus of the electoral commission where the voter registration was conducted.” 

2. In a different story, Fraternite Matin reported on the Convention of the Ivorian Civil Society’s calls on the electoral body to publish the provisional voters’ registration lists. In a statement issued on October 2, reported the paper, the Ivorian civil society groups “welcome the fact that bodies involved in the voters’ registration exercise were able to complete this important stage of the electoral process.” However, the paper went on to say that the Ivorian civil society groups also called for “the effective publication of the provisional voters’ registration lists in the registration centers throughout the country to enable the population to check their names.”   

3. More on the political atmosphere in Cote d’Ivoire in the run-up to the elections, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) suggested that the provisional voters’ registration lists that will be officially handed over to Prime Minister Guillaume Soro this week is likely “to revive passions” amongst the different political stakeholders. According to the paper, a daily close to the ruling FPI party, which was reporting on the provisional voters’ registration lists in its Friday’s edition, said that the data processing had led to discover “3 million of suspicious potential voters.” The paper went on to inform readers that the opposition RDR party had sent a petition to the United Nations because it believed that “2 million of its supporters had been withdrawn of the list.”  With a headline titled: “War or peace after the elections: Soro is engaged in big political maneuvers,” the paper said that Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro is working against the clock to diffuse the tension. Soro, the paper said, will be therefore holding this week a series of meetings with Ivorian political stakeholders to address the issue.

4. Still on the same issue, a front-page story in the weekend’s edition of Fraternite Matin announced that the meetings between the Prime Minister and the country’s political key players are set for October 7-9. According to the paper, Soro will use these meetings to pre-empt pre-electoral tensions and to urge the political leaders and other key actors to support the electoral process. 

5. Prior to the publication of the provisional voters’ registration lists, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) carried a prominent story explaining how potential voters can check for their names; raise any complaints and uncover those who fraudulently got registered on the voters’ roll.  

6. On the role of the media in the electoral process, L’Expression (a daily close to the opposition) reported that Ivorian journalists from print and electronic were trained on October 3-4 on how to report on electoral disputes. Organized by the United Nations Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the program was aimed at training the journalists on how to inform the public on the electoral process.

7. On security issues, Soir Info (an independent daily) carried a front-page story recalling recent declarations made by candidates who self-proclaimed themselves winner before the November 29’s presidential elections. The paper went on to mention examples in some African countries – like Gabon and Togo – where the decision by candidates to announce their own victory before the officials results were released had led to violence. Aware of this situation, the paper said, impartial forces together with government and New Forces Armed Forces have been engaged in mock exercises in a bid to ensure security during the elections. 

8. Finally, L’intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) reported on a book discussion organized by the U.S. Embassy on American civil society. Participants during the discussions highlighted the role of civil society in the United States; and invited Ivorian civil society groups to emulate the American example.    

October 2, 2009

The release of the provisional voter list, as well as the official burial ceremony for the former President Robert Guei made news in today’s press. Other reports were on reactions following Monday’s violent incidents in Guinea. Dailies also reported on the roundtable on media and privacy and a book discussion recently organized by the US Embassy in Abidjan.

1. The provisional voter list was handed over yesterday to the Ivorian Prime Minister, Soro Guillaume. According to L’inter (an independent daily) the handover ceremony took place at the Prime Minister’s office yesterday. The paper also indicated that the local media was not invited to the event. It therefore quoted Reporting Radio France International – a French Broadcasting network - the sole media authorized to cover the event, indicating that Mr. Soro received a set of high-capacity hard discs from officials of the Independent Elections Commission (CEI). The paper further noted that out of 6.630 millions of potential voters, the provisional list came out with 6.300 millions.

Still on this issue, L’intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) noted that the handover ceremony is a significant step towards the Ivorian presidential elections slated for November 29, 2009. The paper called on political parties and civil society to raise any complaints in a responsible manner to pave the way for a smooth electoral process.

In a related development, Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) noted that the Ivorian civil society held a press conference yesterday on the peace process underway in Cote d’Ivoire. According to the paper, Dr. Ngouan Patrick, the President of the Ivorian Civil Society Convention, pressed the Independent Elections Commission to come out with “a realistic timetable” so as to complete remaining tasks ahead of the poll. “This will allow for more visibility on the process,” the paper quoted him as saying.

2. The official funeral ceremony of late President Robert Guei started yesterday in Abidjan. News reports in L’Expression (a daily close to the opposition) had it that neither President Laurent Gbagbo nor the Ivorian Army Chief of Staff, General Philippe Mangou, attended the ceremony in Abidjan, where the late leader of the former Ivorian military junta lay in state. The late General Guei Robert’s body was transferred to his hometown in Man where thousands of people gathered to pay him a last tribute. [Note: General Robert Guei led a military coup in December 1999 that ended four decades of rule by the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI). He was ousted following a popular uprising after he self-proclaimed himself president in the 2000 presidential election. Gbagbo was later officially declared winner of the polls.]

3. Ivorian dailies continued to report Monday’s violence in Guinea. Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) noted that the Ivorian Civil Society Convention spoke against what it called “an act of barbarism” and called for the withdrawal of the Ivorian Ambassador to Guinea. “President Gbagbo should call back the Ivorian Ambassador for consultation,” the paper reported Mr. Ngouan Patrick, the President of the Convention as saying during a press conference. Mr Ngouan also called on the international community to take coercive measures against the military regime in this neighboring country, the paper added. 

4. The US Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire organized on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 a roundtable on the theme: “Media and privacy of public personalities.” Reporting on the activity, Le Quotidien (a daily close to the ruling FPI Party) noted that the speaker, Mr. Kebe Yacouba pointed out the fact that journalistic ethics establish a barrier between information and privacy. Media, he said, should not go beyond a certain limit. The paper noted that the guest speaker however underscored that journalists could publish personal information on politicians when they negatively interfere with their political duties.

 

5. Still on the US Embassy’s activities, Le Mandat (a daily close to the opposition) reported on the book discussion held on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 on “The Revival of Civil in America.” The panelists, the paper noted, called on Ivorian civil society to responsibly play its role. Mr. Honore Guie, the head speaker, encouraged social associations and the promotion of education to ensure efficiency in commitments. 

October 1, 2009

Reactions following the United Nations Security Council’s concerns about the electoral process in Cote d’Ivoire and the political landscape in this West African country in the run-up to the November 29 presidential elections were the major issues in today’s press. The case of Guy-Andre Kieffer, a French-Canadian journalist, who has got missing in Cote d’Ivoire since April 2004; U.S government’s support to fight the HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire and a roundtable discussion organized by the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan on Tuesday on “media and privacy” were the other major issues in the newspapers.  

1. A front-page story in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin said that the Ivorian opposition heavyweight, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, has been declared “persona non grata” by militia groups operating in the western region of Moyen-Cavally. According to the paper, Ouattara, the leader of the opposition Rally of the Republicans (RDR) party, is expected in this region to address political rallies slated for October 3-7, 2009. However, the paper quoted Maho Glofei Denis, the leader of the Forces of Resistance of the Grand West (FRGO) – a militia group based in the region – as saying: “All political parties’ leaders who did not visit the Moyen-Cavally region during the war are not welcome here.”

2. “Maho Glofei and the militiamen say no to Ouattara’s tour in the Moyen-Cavally,” said a front-page story in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition). The paper quoted the leader of the militia group as saying that “the wounds that resulted from the war are yet to be healed and any political leader who is planning to come to the region must render apology to the population prior to the visit.” The report further said that the militia groups operating in the region have been distributing leaflets demanding their followers to attack Ouattara’s convoy.

3. In the wake of the United Nations Security Council’s meeting on the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire, Soir Info (an independent daily) commented that by calling on the Ivorian political stakeholders “to respect the electoral time line,” the world governing body has joined the Ivorian principal opposition groups led by the PDCI-RDA party led by Henri Konan Bedie and Ouattara, leader of the RDR party. The paper went on to recall that the two parties had earlier rejected any attempt to further delay the Ivorian presidential elections slated for November 29, 2009. “We support the U.N’s position,” Nord-Sud Quotidien quoted a leading member of the PDCI-RDA party as saying in reaction to the Security Council’s recommendation.

4. Still on matters concerning the electoral process, Nord-Sud Quotidien informed readers that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is expected in Cote d’Ivoire. The paper attributed the information to the Carter Center’s Country Director in Abidjan. [Created in 1982 by former President of the United States Jimmy Carter and former First Lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter, the Carter Center is providing a credible and impartial assessment of the Ivorian electoral process, including the pre-electoral preparations. It has also deployed long term observers to monitor the identification and voters’ enrollment operations and plans to deploy short-term observers during the election period throughout the country to monitor polling.]

5. As preparations for the Ivorian presidential elections are underway, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) wondered whether Cote d’Ivoire would be able to avoid the drama unfolding in Guinea (Conakry). The paper said that Monday’s killings in this neighboring country recalled March 25-27, 2004 events in Cote d’Ivoire where “120 opposition supporters [according to U.N.] and 500 [according to the opposition] were killed.” It also suggested that “in both countries, the main objective of these killings was to terrify the opposition leaders and their supporters and to nip in the bud any attempt to protest.”

6. On the case of Guy-Andre Kieffer, a French-Canadian journalist, who has got missing in Cote d’Ivoire since April 2004, Le Nouveau Reveil quoted a soldier alleging that “Kieffer was killed by mistake after his detention at the Presidency.” But L’inter (an independent daily) quoted the Ivorian Prosecutor, Raymond Tchimou, as claiming that “Kieffer is alive.” Commenting on the ongoing investigation on the whereabouts of the journalist, Tchimou reportedly said: “We are no more looking for a dead person, but rather somebody who has been taken out of Cote d’Ivoire and who is still alive.” 

7. On health issues, Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition) reported that the Ivorian Minister in charge of AIDS, Christine Adjobi, has congratulated the American government for its financial support in fighting against the HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire. Mrs Adjobi, the paper said, was speaking recently during an HIV awareness campaign in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire’s economic capital.

8. Many dailies today reported on a roundtable discussion organized on Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan on “media and privacy.” Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party); Le Mandat (a daily close to the opposition); Notre Heure (a daily close to the opposition); and Le Patriote (a daily close opposition RDR party) carried positive articles on the discussion. Agence Ivoirienne de Presse (AIP) – a state-owned news agency – also published a story on its web site: www.aip.ci. ONUCI-FM (a United Nations radio station in Cote d’Ivoire); Radio Cote d’Ivoire (a state-owned radio); TV1 (a state-run TV station) and other proximity radios carried either voices or footage of participants.