National Daily Press Review Archive

September 29, 2006

1. Once again, the political impasse in Cote d’Ivoire is the top story in today’s Ivoirian press, as the question on how to resolve the crisis in this country has generated hot debates among the mediators.

2. "French President Jacques Chirac attacked President Laurent Gbagbo," says a banner headline that runs across the state-owned daily, Fraternité Matin. Speaking at the International Organization of Francophone Countries summit in Bucharest, Rumania, "President Chirac stepped up pressure in a bid to obtain a new political dispensation in Cote d’Ivoire after October 31," reports the paper. According to the paper, "The Ivoirian peace process was high on the agenda of an ECOWAS leaders’ summit, who were meeting on the sidelines of the Bucharest’s summit."

3. Regarding the South African President Thabo Mbeki’s recent peace mediation, the paper quoted the Senegalese leader, Abdoulaye Wade as saying, "I didn’t appreciate the initiatives of Mbeki." Offering a different point of view, the UN Secretary General’s Representative in Cote d’Ivoire, Pierre Schori, said: "We support the South African mediation," reports the paper.

4. "Mbeki out," says a banner headline on the front page of Le Patriote, a daily close to the opposition RDR party. According to the paper, President Wade criticized his mediation saying, "He [President Mbeki] has a personal friendship with President Gbagbo." "Thabo Mbeki should leave the Ivorian problem to ECOWAS leaders, which is due to hold an extraordinary summit on Cote d’Ivoire in Abuja, Nigeria next week," the paper quoted President Chirac as saying.

5. On the front-page of Soir Info, a privately owned daily, the French leader is quoted as saying: "Cote d’Ivoire’s situation is disastrous."

6. L’inter, another privately-owned daily, says, "President Chirac is putting pressure on President Gbagbo," while calling the Ivoirian Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny, "a man with great wisdom."

7. "President Chirac hits on President Gbagbo," says a prominent story on the front-page of the privately-owned daily Le Nouveau Réveil, close to the ex-ruling party PDCI-RDA. According to the paper, the French leader suggested "the reinforcing the powers of Mr. Banny."

8. In a related development, Le Temps, a privately-owned daily close to President Gbagbo, is of the opinion that, "ECOWAS is disqualified to address the Ivoirian problem." The paper denounces what it calls, "The ambiguous role of Nigeria."

9. "At long last the plot designed by President Chirac and Mr. Banny has come to light," says a front-page story carried by Le Courrier d’Abidjan, a daily close to President Gbagbo. In a statement, "Patriotic Women" [a group supporting President Gbagbo] tells President Chirac that, "Cote d’Ivoire is not France’s overseas department."

10. Notre Voie, a daily close to the ruling FPI, quoted the president of the party as saying, "France is our enemy." Regarding the controversy on whether the Ivoirian Constitution should be suspended or not, the paper reports that, "Chirac supports the application of the Constitution." "Foreigners have no right to impose their point of view," the paper quoted the French President as saying.

11. 24 Heures, a privately-owned daily close to the opposition, reports that, "There are signs of an imminent war." In a front-page story, the paper discloses that, "2,000 Liberian mercenaries have taken position on Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia’s common border."

September 25, 2006

1. The scandal of the toxic waste dumped in Abidjan last month, and the visit of South African President and African mediator Thabo Mbeki to Abidjan today in a bid to unlock the political impasse in Côte d’Ivoire, are the major items in Monday’s papers.

2. "Thabo Mbeki in Abidjan today: The secrets behind the journey," reads a prominent headline that runs across the privately-owned daily 24 Heures. The paper, close to the opposition, comments that, "This visit of the South African leader, at a time the main Ivoirian opposition leaders are out of the country, deserves many questions." Citing UN diplomatic sources, the paper discloses that, "The African mediator is expected today in the Ivoirian capital in order to deliver a message to his Ivoirian counterpart from the UN Secretary General, and to convince President Gbagbo not to try to throw the peace process into peril by supporting street demonstrations."

3. According to Le Temps, a daily close to President Laurent Gbagbo, "The South African leader is not scheduled to meet the Ivoirian opposition leaders."

4. Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately-owned daily close to the ex-ruling party PDCI-RDA, says, "The mission of the South African leader will not change anything." The New Forces leader, Soro Guillaume is reported saying, "The African Union should appoint a new mediator." The paper also reports that, "The opposition PDCI-RDA is preparing for the end of reign of President Gbagbo." According to the paper, "The PDCI-RDA has invited its local leaders for an emergency meeting, while the youth of the party are getting mobilized."

5. A front-page story carried by the state-owned daily, Fraternité Matin, says, "The New Forces reject the mediation of President Mbeki." In a related development, the paper, noted for its balanced reports, quotes the French Delegate Minister for Cooperation, Mrs Brigitte Girardin saying, "The situation in Côte d’Ivoire is difficult and alarming, and there is a need to design a new form of transition to allow Ivoirians to choose democratically the leader of their country."

6. On the front-page of the privately-owned daily, Soir Info, former Prime Minister Seydou Diarra proposes "a transition without President Gbagbo in command."

7. Regarding the toxic waste scandal, Fraternité Matin, reports that, "The former Transport Minister Anaky Kobenan, the Director of the Port of Abidjan Marcel Gossio, the Director of Customs Services Gnamien Konan, and the Governor of the District of Abidjan Djédjé Amoindji, are to appear today before the National Assembly."

8. According to the daily Nord-Sud Quotidien, a daily close to the opposition RDR party, "The former Transport Minister refuses to answer the questions of the lawmakers."

9. Speaking to Le Patriote, a privately-owned daily close to the opposition RDR party, Anaky Kobenan denounced what he called, "A political plot." He went on saying, "The Port of Abidjan did not fall under my administration. The truth will soon come out, and it will be brutal."

10. As the National Assembly summoned officials suspected of involvement in the toxic waste scandal for questioning, Le Jour Plus, a privately-owned daily, says, "Parliament’s move goes against the procedures that have been put in place to look into the matter."

September 20, 2006

1. Commentaries in Wednesday’s Ivoirian press focus on the meeting of the UN Security Council, as the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire will be one of the top issues to be discussed today.

2. A front-page story carried by the state-owned daily, Fraternité Matin, announces that, "The crisis in Côte d’Ivoire will be top on the agenda of the UN Security Council meeting today in New York." The paper, noted for its balanced reports, outlines possible outcomes for this conclave, one which will be held "without President Laurent Gbagbo." The paper also suggests that, "France is to propose its ‘Plan B’ on the margins of the meeting."

3. Quoting the Paris-based Le Monde newspaper, Fraternité Matin explains that, "The blueprint consists of neutralizing the Ivoirian leader for one or two years, in a bid to organize undisputable elections. Players during the transitional period must be neutral. For authorities in Paris, the objective is to suspend the Constitution in order to prevent President Gbagbo from becoming an obstacle to the Prime Minister, who enjoys the full support of Paris."

4. Meanwhile, "ex-President Henri Konan Bédié, RDR opposition leader Alassane Dramane Ouattara, and Soro Guillaume, leader of the New Forces -- all of whom are expected to attend the meeting -- are speaking with one voice. Alassane Dramane Ouattara and Henri Konan Bédié want the Head of State to quit power," reports the paper.

5. Notre Voie, a daily close to the ruling FPI party, calls the decision by the UN Security Council to delay sanctions against Ivoirian leaders close to President Gbagbo, as "a setback for French President Jacques Chirac." According to the paper, "China and Russia vetoed the sanctions." The paper reports that, "A powerful pressure group in the American Congress called the Côte d’Ivoire Caucus, sent a petition to the UN Secretary General supporting President Gbagbo." In a related development, the paper reports President Gbagbo saying about the UN and French peacekeeping forces in Côte d’Ivoire that, "they are free to leave the country if they want to."

6. In a front-page story carried by the privately-owned daily L’intelligent d’Abidjan, President Gbagbo is reported saying, "The meeting of the UN Security Council is informal, and will not be crucial." President Gbagbo also announces his intention to propose "a peace plan" to the African Union. According to the paper, "The Young Patriots, [a group close to President Gbagbo] have been on high alert since yesterday."

7. As the UN Security Council is meeting to address the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, Le Patriote, a daily close to the RDR opposition party, comments that, "192 nations face the diktat of one man." According to the paper, "President Gbagbo is a threat to the international security. He must comply with the UN resolutions on Côte d’Ivoire."

8. Speaking from New York, the Secretary General of the ex-ruling party PDCI-RDA warned that "Côte d’Ivoire is on the verge of chaos, and the situation may slide into bloody clashes," reports Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately owned daily close to this party. According to Alphonse Djédjé Mady, "Heavy arms were deployed on the frontlines, while 5,000 ex-Liberian combatants have already taken position." Another warning, now from youth militants close to the opposition group, said: "We’ll pour into the street, even if only one ‘Patriot’ goes to the street."

9. A front-page story in the privately-owned daily 24 Heures says, "Soldiers are divided over President Gbagbo’s recent speech." The paper, close to the opposition party comments that, "The military commands of both government forces and the New Forces are concerned over the growing of the political tension."

September 18, 2006

1. The toxic waste affair continues to be the main subject in the Ivoirian papers today as Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny officially launches operations aimed at cleaning up the toxic waste that was dumped in Abidjan.

2. According to the state-owned daily Fraternité Matin, "The clean up of the toxic waste will cost 20.7 billion Francs CFA." Launching the operations yesterday, Mr. Banny said, "The dumping of the toxic in Abidjan was a crime." For his part, President Laurent Gbagbo is reported saying, "There will be no amnesty for those behind the toxic waste affair."

3. According to 24 Heures, a privately-owned daily close to the opposition, "Work to clean up the toxic waste will take three months. The waste will be then sent to Europe for treatment."

4. A front-page story carried by the privately-owned daily L’inter, said: "Two owners of Probo Koala, the vessel that dumped the toxic waste in Abidjan, were arrested at the Abidjan International Airport."

5. According to Nord-Sud Quotidien, a daily close to the opposition RDR party, "The two owners of the vessel who have been arrested in connection with the toxic waste will face trial."

6. In another development, Le Patriote, a daily close to the opposition RDR party, ran a front-page story reading, "Three days after having castigated the international community, President Gbagbo will travel to New York to attend the summit on Côte d’Ivoire that will be organized on the sideline of the meeting of the UN Security Council." The Ivoirian leader, the paper added, will be accompanied by "South African President Thabo Mbeki, his tutor".

7. Meanwhile, Le Matin d’Abidjan, a privately-owned daily close to President Gbagbo, commented that, "France and the UN have decided to reconsider their position after the speech of President Gbagbo." According to the paper, "The meetings to be organized by the UN Security Council during this autumn would try to discuss modalities of a new transitional period, with the same actors including President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny."

8. Commenting on the cabinet reshuffle carried out by the Prime Minister over the week-end, Le Front, a privately owned daily close to the New Forces, said: "Despite the economic crisis, Banny has increased the number of ministers in the new government."

September 14, 2006

1. The toxic waste affair continues to be main subject in the Ivoirian papers.

2. Quoting the Minister of Construction Urbanization and Housing, Fraternité Matin carries a banner headline reading: "The Abidjan lagoon is polluted." The Minister spoke at a meeting yesterday in Abidjan that brought together members of the outgoing cabinet and political leaders to discuss the dumping of huge quantities of toxic waste in Abidjan. A six-member team of French experts in toxic waste management suggested "the immediate disposal of the waste", reported the paper, noted for its balanced reports.

3. A front-page story in 24 Heures, a privately-owned daily close to the opposition, says, "Fishes and other animals died as the result of the toxic waste." According to the paper, "Animals in the Abidjan zoo are in danger."

4. Soir Info, a privately-owned daily, reports "Seven people died, while 13,000 are seeking medication for poisoning from the toxic waste." And that "the disposal of the toxic waste will be completed in two weeks". In an open letter to the Prime Minister, an Ivoirian judge denounces "corruption, which has become a national sport in Côte d’Ivoire."

5. L’inter, a privately-owned daily, comments that "considering recent developments about the toxic waste affair, Côte d’Ivoire is running the risk of a national disaster."

6. A report carried by the daily Le Temps says, "The entire village of Anyama, a suburb, north Abidjan, is contaminated."

7. Nord-Sud Quotidien described the Prime Minister’s experience yesterday at a meeting with political leaders and members of the outgoing cabinet to evaluate the management of the toxic waste, as his being "the opposition tribunal."

8. Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan, a daily close to the opposition denounces what it calls "the silence of the ruling FPI over the toxic waste scandal." The paper also reports that "a vehicle suspected of carrying toxic waste was stopped in Abobo, a district of Abidjan."

9. Digging into the toxic waste scandal, Le Patriote, a daily close to the opposition RDR party, publishes a two-page interview of drivers who drove the vehicles that reportedly carried the waste. "Every driver was paid 125,000 Francs CFA for the transport of the toxic waste," one driver was quoted as saying.

10. According to Le Matin d’Abidjan, a daily close to President Laurent Gbagbo, "The Ivoirian leader is now in full control of the toxic waste affair, in a bid to defuse the bomb that could blow off his regime."

11. In a front-page story, Le Jour Plus discloses what it calls "startling findings" after investigations carried out by the UN experts on the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan. The paper, which is close to the opposition, describes as "a plot" the "brief detention" of two of its journalists because of their reporting on the scandal. The paper notes that "while innocent people are dying as a result of the toxic waste, the culprits are still at large, and journalists are jailed."

12. A front-page story carried by Le Courrier d’Abidjan, close to President Gbagbo, discloses what it calls "the true Plan B designed by France to overthrow President Gbagbo’s regime." According to the paper, "A war is being prepared against the national army and the Young Patriots [a group close to President Gbagbo]."

13. Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately owned daily close to the ex-ruling PDCI-RDA party says "an imminent military attack is being prepared in the south-western Côte d’Ivoire." According to the paper, "5000 former Liberian mercenaries close to the ruling FPI party are ready to launch a war."

September 13, 2006

1. News in the Ivoirian press continues to be dominated by the toxic waste scandal and the stalemate after the Chairman of the African Union, Denis Sassou N’Guesso failed to broker an agreement between the Ivoirian leaders.

2. According to the state-owned daily Fraternité Matin, "The peace process underway in Côte d’Ivoire is deadlocked as Congo’s Head of State and Chairman of the African Union, Denis Sassou N’Guesso has abandoned the party." Speaking to the paper, Mr. Sassou N’Guesso said: "The protagonists are inflexible." "The disagreement was due to the fact that plan to run the identification and disarmament programs together failed," the paper quotes the Congolese leader as saying.

3. "The mediation of President Sassou N’Guesso failed," says a banner headline carried by the privately-owned daily Nord-Sud Quotidien close to the opposition RDR party. The paper quotes the African mediator as saying, "We couldn’t reach a consensus." Meeting the executive members of his party yesterday, the leader of RDR, Alassane Dramane Ouattara said: "We’ve a State that is functioning in a mess."

4. Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan, a privately-owned daily close to the opposition, comments that, "the peace talks failed because President Gbagbo took a hardliner position."

5. 24 Heures, another daily close to the opposition believes that, "The peace process is in danger."

6. According to L’événement, a privately owned daily, "President Gbagbo has sabotaged the mediation efforts of President Sassou N’Guesso."

7. "Sell off of the Ivoirian nationality: Sassou failed," says a banner headline that runs across Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling FPI party. According to the paper, the talks failed because of "the unrealistic proposals of the Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny." On the future of the Ivoirian leader, the paper says, "President Gbagbo will remain in power after October 31, 2006."

8. "It is not desirable that we arrive at October 31 in this state of blockage," President Sassou N’Guesso warns, reports the privately-owned daily L’intelligent d’Abidjan.

9. Le Courrier d’Abidjan, a daily close to President Gbagbo calls the African mediator, "The powerless fire fighter." Regarding the toxic waste scandal, the paper says, "A humanitarian catastrophe is looming ahead."

10. According to Le Front, a privately-owned daily close to the New Forces, "inhabitants are fleeing the waste-prone zones."

11. Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately owned daily close to the ex-ruling PDCI-RDA party, warns "A second vessel carrying toxic waste is in the Ivoirian territorial waters."

12. "Danger: A second vessel containing toxic waste is en route to Abidjan," says a banner headline carried by Le Jour Plus, a privately owned daily close to the opposition. According to the paper, "There is an attempt to bury the toxic waste scandal." The paper also reports that, "Two of its journalists have been arrested and are currently held in police custody because of their reporting on the scandal." In its Monday edition, the paper reported that "the Ivoirian First Lady is involved in the toxic waste scandal."

September 1, 2006

1.   The bloody confrontation between the police and students on the University of Cocody campus and the launching of the largest web site of any American embassy in the world lead much of Friday’s Ivoirian press.

2. Fraternité Matin, a state-owned daily noted for publishing balance reports, carries a banner headline saying that one student died in a punishing expedition lead by the police; 15 were wounded. The paper reports that the policemen were reacting to an attack, injuring two of them on the part of the students at a bus station early this week. The paper also notes that the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan has launched its new web site; it is reportedly the largest web site of any U.S. Embassy in the world.

3. “Dead and wounded” headlines Soir Info, a privately-owned and independent daily. The paper reports that the police devastated student dormitories and classrooms of the University in Cocody. In another report, the paper says that Mr. Soro, the leader of the New Forces, met with Congo’s Sassou N’Guesso, on a visit in France.

4. Notre Voie, a privately-owned daily, close to the ruling FPI party carries a banner headline stating: “Policemen shoot with real ammunition.” The Secretary General of the students’ coalition demanded the resignation of the Minister of Interior, the Director the National Police, and the Director of Police Academy.

5. 24 Heures, a privately-owned daily close to the opposition RDR carries a story that the four political rivals and the Prime Minister have been invited to New York during the September 20th UN Security Council meeting.

6. Nord-Sud, a privately-owned daily close to the New Forces questions whether it is true or not that Mr. Gbagbo plans to travel to the rebel-held zone with the President of the Burkina Faso.

October 6, 2006

1. West African heads of state meet today in Abuja, Nigeria, for a key summit aimed at reviving the stalled peace process in Cote d’Ivoire, and Ivoirian papers ponder the outcome of the talks.

2. "Will a miracle come from Abuja," wonders a banner headline that runs across the privately-owned daily, Le Nouveau Reveil. According to the paper, close to the ex-ruling PDCI-RDA party, "The whole nation holds its breath," as ECOWAS leaders meet today to move forward the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire. Another question on the paper’s front page is whether "President Laurent Gbagbo will or will not attend the summit." The paper confirms that, "South African President Thabo Mbeki has been invited to the talks," but calls the African Union mediator "an unwanted guest."

3. Fraternite Matin, a state-owned daily, runs a banner headline entitled: "The transition after October 31 begins today." In an in-depth analysis, the paper, noted for balanced reports, notes that, "Each political camp in Cote d’Ivoire has its own recommendations on the way out of the political crisis."

4. According to the paper, "President Gbagbo – who is expected today in the Nigeria’s capital Abuja – is demanding, among other things, the departure of the French peacekeeping forces and their replacement by an African Union’s forces, the suppression of the confidence zone, and the formation of a new cabinet."

5. And, while the opposition groups – like the ex-ruling PDCI-RDA and opposition RDR parties – are pressing for "a new transitional arrangement with President Gbagbo as the head of State and Charles Konan Banny the Prime Minister vested with more powers than in the previous administration," explains the paper, "The New Forces want a) the Ivoirian leader to quit power, and b) a transitional integrated military commandment."

6. Le Front, a privately owned daily close to the New Forces, quotes the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan as saying, "We expect the ECOWAS summit in Abuja to come out with firm decisions." The paper hopes that, "The West African leaders will decide on the fate of President Gbagbo." According to the paper, "The management of RTI –the Ivoirian Broadcasting Corporation – has stepped up security measures in a bid to pre-empt any attack in case the security situation deteriorates."

7. Le Temps, a daily close to President Gbagbo, discloses what it calls "Chirac’s three blueprints to eliminate Gbagbo." "The plan," the paper suggests, seeks among other things, "to prevent President Gbagbo from coming back home after attending the Abuja summit."

8. According to the privately-owned daily, Soir Info, "News that President Mbeki will attend the ECOWAS summit has changed the original plan of the regional body." The paper suggests that, "The African Union mediator will have the opportunity to present a detailed report on the peace process, and that could help change decisions in favor of his Ivoirian counterpart." The paper also reports that, "The Ivoirian main opposition parties will not attend the summit."

9. Speaking on the front-page of the privately-owned daily, Nord-Sud Quotidien, the Speaker of the Ivoirian Parliament, Mamadou Koulibaly, warns that, "If ECOWAS suspends the Ivoirian Constitution, this will trigger an uprising." The paper, close to the opposition RDR, reports that, "The UN Secretary General has warned the Chairman of the ruling FPI party, Pascal Affi N’Guessan, after he threatened to attack French peacekeeping forces and foreigners living in Cote d’Ivoire." The paper quotes the French Defense Minister, Michelle Alliot-Marie saying, "We won’t let ourselves to be intimidated."

10. As the ECOWAS summit on Cote d’Ivoire is scheduled for today, "The FPI has a message to West African leaders," says a prominent story on the front page of Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling party. The paper quotes a statement issued by the party as saying, "You [ECOWAS leaders] have to take decisions that support democracy."