October 30, 2008

The Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, who spoke yesterday on the peace process, made headlines in today’s Ivorian press. Reports also said that the UN Security Council on Wednesday renewed the arms embargo and the sanctions on certain individuals in Cote d’Ivoire for another year. Cote d’Ivoire. Government’s plan to alleviate poverty; the role of the media in the current peace process in Cote d’Ivoire; and possible reduction of the gas price were the other major stories in today’s dailies.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): "My ambition is arrive at a peaceful election," this paper quoted the Ivorian Prime Minister as saying. Mr. Guillaume Soro was a guest speaker yesterday at the state-run daily to elaborate on the peace process. Speaking on the voter registration exercise designed to provide identity and voting cards to Ivorians, the former rebel leader turned Prime Minister said: "We had a meeting Tuesday with the various bodies involved in the electoral process and we asked them to come out with reliable timetable that would include, not only the date the voter registration exercise would be completed, but also the final date of the elections. We also plan to extend the operation to other regions of the country once the operation gets a full momentum in Abidjan."

2. Regarding funding of the electoral process, "the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has proposed a budget estimated at about $71 million. The UNDP has already provided about $20 million as part of the basket-fund-agreement signed with this institution. The European Union pledged to contribute about $26 million. The state will contribute about $10 million. However, we don’t need money only for the elections but also for disarmament and other issues," Fraternite Matin quoted the Ivorian Prime Minister as saying.

3. On the questions relating to revenue collection in the former New Forces-controlled territory, Fraternite Matin quoted the Prime Minister saying: "The President [Laurent Gbagbo] and I are speaking with the same voice." According to the paper the Prime Minister further said, "The questions regarding the revenue collection, the grades and the number of the former combatants to be integrated in Cote d’Ivoire’s future army are very important and sensitive issues and we are trying to reach a compromise."

4. Regarding the security during the electoral process, a prominent story in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) quoted the Ivorian Prime Minister as saying "1,000 soldiers of the New Forces will be called in to reinforce security at the voter registration centers."

5. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI): A story in this paper said that handicapped people want to be involved in the electoral process. This was announced Wednesday by FIOPH – an Ivorian handicapped people's association – during a press conference in Abidjan. According to the report, handicapped people are demanding that all obstacles be lifted to enable them to participate fully in the voter registration exercise.

6. Another story in Fraternite Matin said that the UN Security Council on Wednesday renewed the arms embargo and targeted sanctions on personalities seen as obstacles to peace in Cote d’Ivoire for another year. The report said: "The 15-member council unanimously adopted Resolution 1842, which extends until October 31, 2009 embargoes on arms to Cote d’Ivoire as well as exports of Ivorian rough diamonds. The Security Council, the paper however said, envisages reviewing the measures "no later than three months after the holding of open, free, fair and transparent elections in accordance with international law."

7. A report in Fraternite Matin said that media associations, political leaders and representatives of NGOs are meeting to elaborate a handbook on electoral coverage for the media practitioners in the run-up to the forthcoming presidential elections.

8. Fraternite Matin reported that the UN is to support a poverty alleviation program in Cote d’Ivoire at the tune of about $41 million during the five coming years. However, the paper noted that the UN would use the coming elections in Cote d’Ivoire as a pre-condition for the funding.

9. Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former PDCI-RDA party): The paper said that the government would decide today whether to reduce the price of the gas or not. According to the paper, the petrol price reduction has become necessary following the drop of the price of this commodity on the international market. In another development, the paper said that classes have been suspended since Monday at Cocody University in Abidjan. According to the paper, teachers have called for the strike to protest recent attacks on one of their colleagues by students, who are members of the FESCI – Cote d’Ivoire Student Federation.

October 28, 2008

The Ivorian newspapers today pondered the future of the peace process underway in Cote d’Ivoire. The dailies also reported on recent new measures announced by the Ivorian authorities aimed at boosting the peace process. An opposition daily further warned that MODEL – a former Liberian rebel movement – constitutes a threat to peace in Cote d’Ivoire. On the upcoming elections in the United States, L’inter, an independent daily devoted a front-page story on what is shaping to happen on November 4th.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): In a prominent story, the paper quoted the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, as saying: "increasing delays in the dual identification and electoral processes is imperiling peace in Cote d’Ivoire." Mr. Choi, the paper said, was speaking Monday before the UN Security Council in New York. The paper noted that the voter registration in the run-up to the presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire started 15 September 2008 and was planned to be completed by October 30, 2008. "Unfortunately, the pace of progress has been painfully slow," the paper further quoted the UN envoy as saying adding, "The magnitude of delay has taken almost everybody by surprise."

2. In another front-page story, Fraternite Matin reported that the government has decided to open 774 registration centers in Cote d’Ivoire’s economic capital Abidjan "to boost the identification and the enrolment process" in preparation of the long-delayed polls. The paper published a public statement issued by the Ivorian authorities saying that the voter registration exercise, which was temporarily suspended, will resume today. Excerpts of this statement said that the five-day suspension was helpful "to train registration officers." The statement also outlined voters’ enrolment procedures and required documents for registration.

3. In a related development, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) carried a prominent story on the possibility of the Ivorian opposition coalition to file a single candidate for the coming presidential elections. According to the paper, the issue was at the top of agenda yesterday during a meeting between former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie and Anaky Kobena a leading member of the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace – a coalition of four principal opposition parties in Cote d’Ivoire. At the end of the meeting Mr. Anaky Kobena reportedly said: "If we lose these elections as a result of our failure to nominate one candidate the people won’t forgive us." Meanwhile, the paper quoted another leading opposition figure reassuring the people that "There won’t be war between the opposition leaders."

4. Soir Info (an independent daily): In a front-page story, this paper reported the Ivorian Defense Minister Michel Amani N’Guessan as saying: "Whoever forcibly removes Gbagbo from power will be immediately ousted." The Minister, the paper said, was speaking during a political rally in western Cote d’Ivoire in support of the ruling FPI party. Meanwhile, a report in Fraternite Matin said a leading member of the Rally of Peace and Progress denounced "hate speeches" that are being peddled by the opposition leaders. [The Rally of Peace and Progress, which is speculated to have been created by Laurent Dona Fologo, Chairman of the Economic and Social Council, is widely believed to be close to President Laurent Gbagbo.]

5. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) said that the government forces in Cote d’Ivoire are getting prepared in case ex-fighters MODEL – a former Liberian rebel movement – try to attack Cote d’Ivoire. The paper, which said it gets this information from "a reliable source", further warned that MODEL constitutes a threat to peace in Cote d’Ivoire."

MEDIA REACTION TO U.S. AND OTHER WORLD ISSUES

With only a week to go polls in US, L’inter (an independent daily) carried a banner headline announcing the November 4th presidential elections; a battle between the Democratic candidate Barack Obama and the Republican flagbearer John McCain. The paper then devoted a full page describing the final campaign strategy of the two candidates. In a related development, Fraternite Matin carried a prominent story about the two white supremacist skinheads who have reportedly plotted to kill 102 African Americans including presidential candidate Barack Obama. The two plotters, the paper said, were arrested in Alamo, Tennessee and formerly charged. 

October 22, 2008

The state-run daily Fraternite Matin today published excerpts of a report documented by a UN panel on the political stability and security situation in Cote d’Ivoire. The voter registration exercise again made prominent headlines in today's Ivorian media outlets focusing on efforts to ensure security at the registration centers. Other reports said that people who have been on trial in connection with toxic waste dumping have received 20 years to life sentences. A campaign for girls’ education and a German-funded poverty alleviation project, were the other issues in today’s newspapers.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A story in this paper said that a report published October 20 by a UN panel on Cote d’Ivoire underlined Cote d'Ivoire’s fragile political stability and security situation, as the country struggles to make progress in reaching benchmarks agreed to in a peace pact signed last year. The paper quoted portions of the report as saying: "The political situation is obviously stable, but there is a fear that the results of the November 30, 2008 presidential elections could have serious repercussions on the future progress of the peace process and a long-term stability." According to the report, "the panel warns the Security Council that security threats persist in the West African country because programs to disarm combatants and dismantle militia remain largely incomplete."

2. Another prominent story in Fraternite Matin said that the ongoing voter registration exercise is scarred by frauds, prompting warnings from President Laurent Gbagbo, who was quoted as saying: "those who will be caught up organizing frauds will be jailed." The Ivorian president, who was speaking during a political rally in the Western city of Duekoue, assured the gathering that "There won’t be frauds, because we’ve put in place measures to uncover them… There are some little bandits who are trying to play with the enrolment. They come with false papers to have genuine identity documents… Those who are playing this game will be arrested." In a related development, Fraternite Matin said a leader of the opposition RDR party Tuesday accused the ruling FPI party for organizing "massive fraud." Speaking at a press briefing in Abidjan, RDR’s Election Affairs Officer Sanogo Mamadou alleged that President Gbagbo’s ruling FPI is planning "to ask the Young Patriots [a youth movement supportive of President Gbagbo] to swoop the voter registration centers in order to disrupt the operation on the grounds that foreigners were being registered." The paper also reported that security measures have been partially put in place in registration centers in Abidjan.

3. A report in Soir Info (an independent daily) said that the voter registration exercise was marred yesterday with violence in Yopougon, a suburb of Abidjan. According to the paper, the violence broke out when a group of youths tried to prevent some petitioners believed to be foreigners from getting registered.

4. A report in Fraternite Matin said the UN Secretary Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire, J.Y. Choi called on the youth in Cote d’Ivoire to exercise calm, as the voter registration program is underway. Mr. Choi, who was speaking after a meeting with Ivorian former President Henri Konan Bedie, reportedly said that "there is a four-fold mechanism crafted to protect the identification process against any act of frauds."

5. Regarding government measures aimed pre-empting fraud; Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) published the full text of a document containing measures that have been taken by Cote d’Ivoire Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to that effect. The document outlines the registration procedure and documents that potential voters have to produce for their enrolment.

6. On other issues, many Ivorian dailies today reported that a court in Cote d’Ivoire has sentenced people who have gone on trial in connection with toxic waste dumping from 20 years to life imprisonment. According to the L’inter (an independent daily), the head of a local company, Tommy, that signed the deal to treat the waste with the Dutch multinational, Trafigura, was sentenced to life imprisonment. The court’s verdict is still pending, reported the paper. [NOTE: Twelve people, who were accused of dumping toxic waste that killed 17 with some 100,000 needing medical treatment, have gone on trial in Cote d’Ivoire. Over 500 tons of chemical waste from the oil industry was dumped two years ago in the Ivorian economic capital, Abidjan.]

7. On another issue, Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) reported that President Gbagbo is trying to release top imprisoned officials, who were arrested in connection with a massive scandal in the Ivorian cocoa and coffee industry. A few months ago, President Gbagbo ordered investigation following allegations of mismanagement, embezzlement, fraud and forgery of banking documents related to the industry.

8. A report in Fraternite Matin said that the government of Cote d’Ivoire is to launch a campaign to encourage girls’ education in rural areas. The program will, among other things, encourage mothers to send their daughters to school. The program will target areas where the number of girls in school is very low. The report said that more than 60 per cent of women in Cote d’Ivoire are illiterate. It is also expected that when implemented, the program will help Cote d’Ivoire to emulate the Republic of Benin, where the rate of girls attending school has grown from 35 per cent to 84 per cent within a period of 12 years. On poverty alleviation, Fraternite Matin said that a German government is funding 51 micro-projects to assist some 1,600 women.

Media Coverage of Embassy Activities

A brief but positive story in yesterday’s edition Fraternite Matin said that the Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy, Cynthia Akuetteh recently presented equipment to a national social center to support its program for orphans and children who become vulnerable due to the HIV/AIDS. Estimated at $ 93,000 US dollars, this donation is part of the USG’s support for the fight against HIV/AIDS through the PEPFAR.

October 20, 2008

Reports in today’s Ivorian newspapers said that government officials are to appear before a judge as "witnesses" in connection with the probe into the cocoa and coffee industry following allegations of embezzlement. The disarmament of the former rebels and the Ivorian electoral process were the other major issues in the newspapers. Ivorian dailies also commented on the US electoral process.

1. Fraternite Matin (state-owned daily): A front-page story in this paper said that the hearing of four government officials in connection with the probe into the scandal that has hit the Ivorian cocoa and coffee industry is due to begin today. The paper recalled that the decision to hear these officials as "witnesses" in this matter was taken during a cabinet meeting a few months ago. The officials are named as the Planning and Development Minister, Paul Bohoun Bouabre; Agriculture Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly; Economy and Finance Minister, Charles Koffi; Animal Husbandry and Fishery Minister, Alphonse Douaty and Sebastien Dano Djedje, former Agriculture Minister. "Considered to be neutral in the matter relating to allegations of embezzlement in the cocoa and coffee sector, these cabinet ministers have been asked to help shed light on this scandal." [NOTE: A few months ago, the Police in Cote d’Ivoire arrested top officials of the Coffee and Cocoa industry in a widening crackdown on fraud in these sectors.]

2. On the disarmament process, Fraternite Matin reported that 1,200 ex-combatants and militiamen will be disbanded by the end of November 2008. According to the paper, this was announced last week by the coordinator of the disarmament program, Daniel Ouattara, during a seminar for local journalists on this program. In a related development, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported that the International Migration Organization is to finance 250 micro-projects as part of the disarmament program. These projects are mostly designed for 1,300 former combatants, said the paper.

3. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition): A prominent report in this paper said that the head of the Ivorian Defence and Security forces [FDS-CI, regular army], General Philippe Mangou, has vowed to "severely punish" soldiers who are tempted "to undermine the authority of the government." General Mangou, who was speaking over the weekend during a ceremony held to honor 108 soldiers promoted this year, was quoted as telling his soldiers: "Don’t allow the political leaders to manipulate you." According to the paper, the Ivorian commander was referring to recent tensions within the army when some soldiers went on a rampage to demand payment of their allowances.

4. Still on military issues, Soir Info (an independent newspaper) carried a prominent story saying that the former head of the Ivorian Defence and Security forces, General Mathias Doue, has deferred plans to return home. According to the paper, General Doue, who is living in exile, was due to arrive in Abidjan today, but had to abandon the plan for "security reasons." The paper went on to quote a leader of Congress for an Ivorian Renaissance (CRI) – the party that asked the former chief of defense staff to be its flag bearer at the next presidential election – as saying "We demand that the President of the Republic ensure us that if Doue comes back, he won’t be assassinated."

5. Fraternite Matin carried a reaction from Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore on the Ivorian long-delayed presidential elections. President Compaore, who is also the facilitator in the Ivorian peace process, reportedly said that "We must make sure that we are preparing for elections that will not be hastily conducted, but for elections that will be clean, fair and just and this depends on the quality of the voter registration." The mediator further described as a "secondary" issue the delay in the establishment of the voters’ rolls.

6. In a public statement published by L’inter (an independent daily paper), the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) said "regarding the date of the coming presidential election in Cote d’Ivoire, the commission is working on some aspects of the electoral timetable and will announce its position on this issue at the right time." The statement also said: "It [CEI] is working hard on the establishment of a clean, transparent and credible voter registration that reflects the reality in the country."

7. On the US presidential elections, Fraternite Matin reported that the former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has decided to throw his weight behind Democratic candidate Barrack Obama in the race for the presidency. Basing his assessment on Obama’s "capacity to inspire," reported the paper, Powell said the Illinois Senator "meets the requirements to lead the United States." Powell, the paper said, sees Obama as "a reformer" and for that reason, "I will vote for him."

October 17, 2008

An Ivorian independent daily newspaper today asserts that the repeated delays of the presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire could jeopardize the peace process underway in this West African state. Basing its analysis on the recent rhetoric from the various political circles in Cote d’Ivoire, another independent daily explains how the Ivorian political groups are preparing for confrontation. Ivorian dailies also report on the problems relating to the disarmament of the former combatants. Other reports say that an Ivorian lawyer has criticized the trial of people accused of complicity in the dumping of poisonous toxic waste in Cote d’Ivoire. News on cocoa exports and the government’s plan to increase workers’ salaries are the other major stories. Dailies also commented on the final 2008 presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.

1. Soir Info (an independent daily) suggests that the repeated delays of the presidential elections – widely believed to be a key factor in resolving the lingering crisis – could create another upheaval in Cote d’Ivoire. According to the paper, a joint government-New Forces (the former rebel movement) delegation meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, has proposed that the polls, which were scheduled for November 30, be postponed to 2009. The paper notes that if the Ouagadougou Political Agreement signed more than a year ago was a "breakthrough,"..."the deal is still hitting against the electoral process." "As the electoral process in Cote d’Ivoire is moving at a slow pace," the paper quoted observers as saying, "the future of this country does not look promising." The paper further asserts that "the delay in the identification and voter registration exercise ... is likely to put oil on the fire in a country that is yet to recover from internal frustrations." The paper sums up that the continuous delays of the presidential elections could trigger what it calls "unpredictable social upheaval" that could discourage many investors from coming to Abidjan.

2. L’inter (an independent daily): With pictures of Ivorian political key players on its front page, the paper claims that leaders of political parties in Cote d’Ivoire are preparing for "confrontation." The paper, which bases its assertion on recent statements coming from different parts of the political arena, said they [Ivorian political leaders] have already "flouted the Code of Conduct" signed by the political parties a few months ago. Against this background, the paper notes that the social and political atmosphere has suddenly "deteriorated," adding, "The future does not augur well for Cote d’Ivoire."

3. Reporting on a joint government-New Forces delegation currently meeting in Ouagadougou, Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported that the two sides are divided over military questions. The meeting was mainly designed to find a solution to the questions relating to the future of the former combatants. In a related development, L’inter reported that a lack of funds is making it difficult to complete the disarmament of the ex-fighters. According to the paper, this was announced yesterday by the head of the program, Daniel Kossomina Ouattara.

4. In a prominent story, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) announced that ex-Ivorian military commander General Mathias Doue is coming back home to contest the forthcoming presidential elections. "I’m not a criminal on the run… I’m coming back like Samory," General Doue is quoted as saying. (NOTE: Samory a 19th century ruler who fought against the French and created an empire in western Sudan.)

5. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A front-page story in this paper said that the leader of an Ivorian human rights group has described the trial of people accused of complicity in the dumping of poisonous toxic waste in Cote d’Ivoire as "a charade." The paper quoted the president of the Action for the Protection of Human Rights, lawyer Herve Gouamene, as saying that the case was "biased."

6. In another development, Fraternite Matin reported that Cote d’Ivoire’s second port of San Pedro is to export 600,000 tons of cocoa and coffee by the end of 2009. The plan, the paper quoted officials of the port as saying, is designed to increase significantly the traffic of cocoa and coffee. The project, the paper adds, would also help reinforce the partnership between the port of San Pedro and institutions involved in the cocoa and coffee industry.

7. A prominent story in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that Ivorian authorities will increase workers’ salaries in 2009. According to the paper, the announcement was made yesterday by the Minister of Labor, Hubert Oulaye, during a meeting in Abidjan.

8. L’inter devotes a full page to the US presidential elections. In the wake of the final 2008 presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, the paper published stories culled from international media outlets. One of the items said: "Obamania has gained ground in American rural areas." In a related development, a story in Fraternite Matin said that the Secret Service, which is in charge of the security of the candidates, is taking "seriously" a recent verbal threat made against Barrack Obama. According to the paper, during a meeting of the Republicans in Pennsylvania, a participant shouted "kill him" when the name of the Democratic candidate was mentioned.

Media Coverage of Embassy Activities

Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) briefly reported on a DVC program organized October 14, 2008 by the U.S. Embassy and ARS Paris on the topic: "Media and Elections."

October 16, 2008

President Laurent Gbagbo and the Ivorian ex-President Henri Konan Bedie made the headlines in many newspapers today as both have been engaged in what the dailies called a pre-campaign in the run-up to the long-delayed presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire. The voter registration exercise and a threat from cocoa farmers to blockade the industry over pricing were the other top stories in the newspapers. Ivorian newspapers, which were closed before the final 2008 presidential debate yesterday between John McCain and Barack Obama, carried some pre-event commentaries.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A front-page story in this paper said President Gbagbo called on the people of Cote d’Ivoire to come together to support the country. The Ivorian leader reportedly called for peace, unity and solidarity, as he toured the central regions of the country. According to the report, President Gbagbo told supporters that he has decided to hold out an olive branch to Guillaume Soro [the former rebel leader turned Prime Minister] to build unity, adding "he who cannot forget the past cannot help support the progress of the country." The Ivorian leader was also quoted as saying that the Ouagadougou Political Agreement paves the way for peace. Commenting on current issues, President Gbagbo told the gathering that despite the problems facing the voter registration exercise, "the operation won’t stop," adding "my hope is that you should all be able to vote and I will come back to tell you who you should vote for."

2. A front-page story in L’inter (an independent daily) said that the Ivorian ex-President Henri Konan Bedie is also engaged in a political tour in the central regions of Cote d’Ivoire. The paper quoted Mr. Bedie as saying, "FPI (the ruling party) continues to use any kind of obstacle to delay the elections… Gbagbo and his camp can no longer lead this country…" Reporting on the same event, Fraternite Matin quoted the Ivorian former leader as saying, "The failures of FPI are obvious! This regime has abandoned the development of the country; workers; farmers; youth, etc ... The FPI is prolonging the suffering of the Ivorian population; blocking the economic growth and the social development of the nation; strangling enterprises…."

3. Another story in Fraternite Matin said that Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro is racing against the clock to resolve problems facing the voter registration exercise. The Prime Minister met yesterday with representatives of the political parties in a bid to find ways "to improve the organization of the operation," reported the paper.

4. Still on the voter registration exercise, a story on the front-page of Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling party) said that FESCI – the largest Cote d’Ivoire Student Union – has called on all students to register to vote. "There is no reason that students should stay away from this exercise because when our destiny is at stake, we need to have our say," FESCI’s leader Mian Augustin was reported as saying.

5. In a related development, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) carried a prominent story in which it quoted the youth leader of the PDCI-RDA party, Kouadio Konan Bertin, as calling on his followers "to not allow those who want to block the voter registration to trample on them." According to the report, the youth leader said: "I am ready to descend to the streets in case anybody tries to prevent our youths from getting registered." On the same issue, Yao Kouadio Seraphin, leader of the JUDPCI – the youth wing of another opposition party – reportedly said: "Nobody has the monopoly on violence." Meanwhile, the paper quoted the Deputy Secretary of JFPI – the youth wing of the ruling party – as saying, "We have never tried to block the voter registration exercise."

6. On another issue, a front-page story in L’inter said that cocoa farmers are threatening to launch an indefinite nationwide strike beginning October 20 to cripple the cocoa industry to protest the failure to apply promised price increases. The paper published a statement issued by SAPICOCI -- a farmers union – saying that although a cocoa management committee recently raised the reference farm-gate price by 40 percent to 700 CFA francs ($1.46) per kg, the commodity is still not sold at the new price.

7. On the US presidential elections, Fraternite Matin ran a story written before yesterday’s debate between John McCain and Barack Obama that called the event "the last chance for Republican candidate, John McCain, as recent opinion polls put him behind his rival, Barrack Obama." The paper predicted that economic issues, especially a recent Congress-supported bail-out plan, would dominate the debate. The paper went on to comment that "the different plans proposed by the two candidates to salvage the American economy seemed not enough to convince the people of America."

Media Coverage of Embassy Activities

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily); L’inter (an independent daily) and Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) positively reported on a DVC program organized October 14, 2008 by the U.S. Embassy on the topic: "Media and Elections." The reports emphasized ARS-Paris speaker George Kazolias’s message inviting journalists to balance their stories and to stick to the facts. TV2 (a state-run TV network) carried footage of the program, while AIP, a state-owned news agency published a positive story on its website: http://www.aip.ci.

2. L’inter also carried in its October 15 edition a story saying that the US Embassy in Abidjan congratulated REJECI – a network of young entrepreneurs in Cote d’Ivoire -- for its work (note: to encourage free market values and small business skills among youth). With a group photo showing the Public Affairs Officer with members of REJECI, the paper said the network was created with the joint support of the US Embassy and UNDP. The president of the network reportedly thanked the US Embassy for "its commitment to working for the insertion of youth into the social fiber."

October 15, 2008

Reports in the Ivorian newspapers today said that a joint government-New Forces delegation meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, has proposed a new date for the crucial presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire. Dailies also quoted experts saying that toxic waste, which was dumped more than year ago in Abidjan, could have a long term effect on the health of the population. Still on health issues, two newspapers carried in-depth reports analyzing how the HIV/AIDS pandemic is causing havoc in Cote d’Ivoire and claiming mismanagement in this sector.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A banner headline in this paper said that a joint government and New Forces (former Ivorian rebel movement) oversight committee of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement has proposed that presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire should be held during the first quarter of 2009. Members of this committee, reported the paper, are currently gathered in Ouagadougou for "new talks on their peace deal [signed in March 2007] in an attempt to find solutions to some sticking points." Those issues, explained the paper, include "the controversy over the rank and the number of the New Forces’ ex-fighters eligible to join Cote d’Ivoire’s new national army." Fraternite Matin quoted the New Forces’ spokesperson, Alain Lobognon, as saying that the aim of this current meeting is to craft "another complementary agreement." The paper went on quoting an unnamed source as saying that the two sides have also agreed that the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) should secure the whole electoral process.

2. Still on the new date of the coming elections, Fraternite Matin quoted the UN Secretary Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, as suggesting that "the delay [of the polls] should not be too long." Mr. Choi was speaking yesterday in Abidjan after a meeting with Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo. To meet the deadline, the UN envoy suggested that priority should be given to logistic problems. Mr. Choi, the paper said, also informed President Gbagbo about the security measures to be put in place by UNOCI in connection with the coming elections. In a related development, Fraternite Matin carried another story on the ongoing voter registration exercise in the run-up to the forthcoming presidential elections. The report quoted Cote d’Ivoire Prime Minister Guillaume Soro as saying that "security forces from both government and New Forces armies will be deployed as from next week to secure the registration centers." The Prime Minister’s declaration came in the wake of "violent demonstrations in some centers," reported the paper.

3. Meanwhile, a front-page report in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that many voter registration centers in Abidjan were closed yesterday as a result of strikes launched by census agents over what they called "bad working conditions."

4. Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) carried a two-page in-depth report where it pointed out some dysfunctions in the deal that has led to the appointment of SAGEM – a French company in charge of the identification process in Cote d’Ivoire. The paper allegedly called the deal signed between the government and SAGEM "a fraud" that would cost the State "more than 20 billion Francs CFA (about $ 42 million US dollars."

5. On health issues, pro and anti-government newspapers today reported that toxic waste, which was dumped more than a year ago in Abidjan, could have a long term effect on the population. A prominent story in L’inter (an independent daily), based on expert testimony in a case involving nine people accused of dumping toxic waste in Abidjan in August 2006, said that the life of the population in Abidjan is in danger as water bodies in the Ivorian economic capital and surrounding areas were contaminated. Reporting on the same testimony, Fraternite Matin focused on the original victims of the toxic waste, noting they could suffer from cancer in the future. On the same issue, Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) said there could also be congenital problems in the children of the original victims.

6. A prominent story on the front-page of Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) said that the HIV pandemic is "a real disaster in Cote d’Ivoire, especially among youth." The paper quoted Dr. Jean-Pierre Kouassi, Program Officer for PEPFAR-ANADER Counseling and Testing Project, as saying that one of the reasons that the pandemic is gaining ground is that "women cannot negotiate the use of condoms with their partners." The report said that for this year alone, PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) has granted more than $120 million US dollars to about 40 organizations, including the Ministry in Charge of AIDS and the Ministry of Health, to help fight the disease. The newspaper story further said that other international donors including the World Bank and the United Nations are providing financial support to Cote d’Ivoire. However, the story said, many actors in this sector wonder whether these funds were really used to fight the disease. People living with the disease reportedly claimed that organizations which say they are fighting the disease are "just putting the money in their pockets." The paper also quoted a source close to the PEPFAR team in Abidjan who rejected this assertion. In a related development, Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) published a rejoinder from the Ministry in Charge of AIDS in reaction to an earlier investigative story in the same newspaper on how the ministry is mismanaging funds designated to be used in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

October 14, 2008

The voter registration in the run-up to presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire and problems related to this exercise were the major issues in today’s newspapers. A front-page story in L’inter, an independent daily, said that an Ivorian numerologist had predicted the victory of the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, in the coming US presidential election. Reports also said that about ten Ivorian former child fighters have now become drama performers.

1. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): A prominent story in this paper said that the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) is to release 10 billion FCFA (about 21 million dollars) to resolve financial constraints related to the ongoing nationwide voter registration exercise in Cote d’Ivoire. The money, the paper said, is to pay census agents who have been striking over what they called "bad working conditions." According to the paper, most registration agents abandoned their posts yesterday on the grounds that their employers did not sign any contract with them and they don’t know how much they will be paid after the job is done. A separate report in this paper said that in a bid to resolve financial obstacles impeding on the voter registration exercise, officials from the CEI and other institutions involved in this program met yesterday to figure out how much money is needed to pay the census agents.

2. Fraternite Matin also published the full text of a public statement issued yesterday by the RHDP – an alliance of four principal opposition parties – in which it denounced dysfunctions in the voter registration process. The statement further blamed these problems on the ruling FPI party and called on Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to be "vigilant to ensure that this crucial stage of the electoral process should not be taken hostage by the FPI (government party)." "The RHDP wish to draw the attention of the national and international community to the manifest willingness of the ruling FPI whose intention was to prevent or to truncate the population identification program," said excerpts of the statement.

3. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI): A front-page item in this paper said that the voter registration program is sliding into confusion. To ensure that security prevails during the exercise, the paper published a statement issued by the CEI calling on the Center for Integrated Command – a government and New Forces joint military squad – for rescue.

4. Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party): A prominent story on the front-page of this paper speculated that President Laurent Gbagbo has "a hidden agenda" designed "to sabotage" the voter registration exercise. The paper’s speculations also had it that the Ivorian leader would be using the "Young Patriots" (a youth movement close to him) to disrupt the process. In a separate brief story though, the paper said that the leader of the Young Patriots, Charles Ble Goude, supported the voter registration program.

5. A front-page story in Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party) said that the Ivorian Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, is unhappy following "acts of vandalism" committed at some registration centers. In a related development, Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) reportedly quoted the Premier, who assured that "all Ivorians will be registered… and that no political party will organize fraud during the voter registration exercise." Reporting on the possible political arrangement in the run-up to the forthcoming presidential elections, Nord Sud Quotidien quoted the Ivorian former President and also leader of the opposition PDCI-RDA party, Henri Konan Bedie, as saying "I would rally behind Ouattara [Alassane Dramane Ouattara, leader of the opposition RDR party] in case a second round opposes him to President Gbagbo."

6. On the coming U.S. presidential elections, a front-page story in L’inter (an independent daily) said that an Ivorian numerologist had predicted the victory of the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama.

7. On other issues, Notre Voie told readers that about 10 child former combatants-turned drama performers were presented to the public a few days ago in Abidjan. According to the paper, the children who were fighting in Western Cote d’Ivoire were sponsored by the Cote d’Ivoire chapter of Amnesty International and a local NGO.

October 10, 2008

The electoral registration processes; the toxic waste law case; and the security issues threatening the electoral process are the main topics discussed in today’s Ivorian dailies.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) quoted Mr. Beugré Mambé (the president of the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission) as saying "there will not be any fraud in the electoral registration process underway" in an address to Ivorian religious leaders. Mr. Mambe’s purpose is to involve religious denominations in an awareness raising campaign with the Ivorian population in order to guarantee the success of the process.

The paper also reported on a meeting between Mr. Affi N’Guessan (the president of the ruling FPI party) and Mr. Choi ( the special representative of the Secretary General of the UN mission in Cote d’Ivoire) to assess the electoral registration process underway. Mr.Choi is quoted as saying that significant progress has been made in the Ivorian crisis resolution plan, which should be a basis for guaranteeing the success of the whole crisis settlement process. He also said the electoral registration operations are working well despite the slight delay in launching the operation. Mr. Affi N’Guessan reportedly declared: "Our objective is to put together our efforts to correct all the shortcomings impeding the electoral registration process, for fair and transparent elections."

L’Intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) said that Mr. Affi and Mr. Choi met to evaluate the crisis resolution process. The paper said that Mr. Affi claimed government authorities were involved throughout Cote d’Ivoire to ensure the security and transparency of the electoral identification process.

Notre Voie ( a daily close to the ruling FPI party), reporting on the same meeting, quoted Mr. Affi as stating that it will be safer to postpone the presidential elections in order to have the required time to implement an efficient and dependable electoral registration process. The paper added that some opposition political parties could take .advantage of the failures of these operations to organize massive fraud.

Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to opposition) revealed that some petitioners have been obliged to spend the night in the registration centers to get registered because of the large crowds...

L’Inter (an independent daily) said that some of the registration agents threatened to stop working because of the non payment of their allowances. The paper asserted that these agents have been left with no financial and technical support. The paper added that such a situation could endanger the process.

Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR) quoted Mr. Mambé as promising to take measures to resolve the problems occurring in some of the electoral registration centers.

Regarding the toxic waste trial, Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) said that the lawyers of the indicted demanded the appearance of Mr. N’Zi Kablan before the court (Mr. N’Zi is the Executive Officer of PUMA Energy, the Ivorian branch of TRAFIGURA company).

Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) quoted the Counsel of Defense as saying: "We are not going to comply with a biased Justice." In a related analysis, the paper explained that the appearance of the Executive Officer of PUMA Energy is crucial if we want to know the truth about the dumping of toxic waste and to be sure of the fairness of the Ivorian justice system.

Le Matin d’Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI) revealed that there will be a clash between the Judgeand the Counsel for the Defense due to the latter’s threat to boycott the court session planned for next Monday if the Executive Officer of PUMA Energy does not appear before the court.

L’Inter (an independent daily) said that the group of lawyers in charge of defending the indicted persons requires the adjournment of the trial to be able to carry out investigations on the toxic waste issue to gather all necessary proofs which could help discover the truth.

Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the opposition PDCI party) quoted the lawyers as saying that the absence of some key actors involved in the toxic waste case is an impediment to the revelation of the truth.

Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) announced that a Committee of Ivorian Lawyers wants to get involved in the toxic waste law case to help find a solution to its possible disruption.

Soir Info (an independent daily), L’Inter (an independent daily), Le matin d’Abidjan(a daily close to the ruling FPI) and Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported on security issues relating to the electoral registration process. The article stated that the Security Command Center (CECOS) has created two special units in charge of maintaining security during the presidential elections. The objective is to prevent any violence and confrontation during and after the elections. The papers added that CECOS has been offered twenty-four cars to increase its fleet.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reported on the forthcoming US presidential elections claiming that the current financial crisis helps consolidate the progress of candidate Barrack Obama in the opinion polls.

L’Intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) said that the former affiliation of candidate McCain with the American Advisory Council, which is the American branch of the world Anti-Communist League, will harm him.

Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) claimed that candidate Obama is better trained to govern the USA than McCain.

October 9, 2008

The meeting between the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission and the main political parties; the law case concerning the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan in August 2006; and the response of farmers to the reform of the coffee and cocoa industry are the main topics discussed in today’s Ivorian newspapers.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reporting on a meeting between President Gbagbo and the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission, quoted Mr. Beugré Mambé (president of the Independent Electoral Commission) as saying: "We will take the time required for an electoral registration process according to international standards." The paper explained that the aim of this meeting was to assess the identification process officially launched some weeks ago. Mr. Mambé also stated that President Gbagbo required the process to be implemented in a secure and peaceful environment. According to the paper this requirement will obviously bring about the postponement of the presidential election. In addition, the daily reported on Mr. Mambé’s meeting with the major Ivorian political parties to reassure them about the electoral registration process. According to the paper, he stated that 95% of Abidjan city is already covered by the agents in charge of the electoral registration operations and that all of the national territory will be covered by next week.

The daily also released a press conference delivered by Mr. Blé Goudé (the leader of the young patriots) to make an evaluation of the implementation of the electoral registration process. Mr. Blé Goudé reportedly encouraged the Ivorian population to get involved in the process.

Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) published an article expressing concerns about the proper implementation of the electoral registration process. Security issues, uncertainty on the payment of the agents’ allowances and power cuts are some of the obstacles which might endanger the whole process.

Le Jour Plus ( a daily close to the opposition ) reporting on the meeting of the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission with the political parties, quoted Mr. Mambé as saying: "These elections must be trustworthy and totally transparent and to achieve this, we need everyone’s support."

L’ Inter ( an independent daily) quoted Mr. Mambé as promising that next week, the Independent Electoral Commission team and other technical structures will be increased to speed up the electoral registration process.

On the subject of the toxic waste trial, Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily), Soir Info (an independent daily), Le Jour Plus (a daily close to opposition) and Nord Sud Quotidien(a daily close to opposition ) said that the Counsel for the Defense left the court due to the refusal by the Judge to allow the Executive Officers of TRAFIGURA company to appear before the court. The lawyers in charge of defending the accused are quoted as asserting that the presence of the Executive Officers of this company is the only way to know the truth about the dumping of the toxic waste. The dailies added that the trial has been rescheduled for next Monday.

L’Inter (an independent daily) reporting on the reaction of the farmers to the decision from President Gbagbo to reorganize the coffee and coca industry, quoted some members of this industry as saying that the new management committee recently nominated by the President is useless.

Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reported on a speech delivered by another association of the coffee and cocoa industry. According to the paper this group of farmers agrees with President Gbagbo’s decision and concurs with the vision of the new management committee and its advisory committee.

Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) released the declaration of the National Coordination of Coffee and Cocoa Producers saying that the decision made by President Gbagbo is an act of dictatorship, since the investigation on the scandal in the industry has not yet revealed the truth about the malfunctioning of the industry. They are even said to be requesting the freedom of the imprisoned former Executive Officers of the industry.

Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) reported on a demonstration of coffee and cocoa producers in Mbatto (a city located in the South East of Cote d’Ivoire). According to the paper, the farmers complained about the lower price of their products which does not match with the official price set by the new management committee.

Soir Info (an independent daily) revealed that the price set by the new management committee is not respected by buyers. Farmers are said to be accusing the government of not taking measures to guarantee compliance with the fixed price.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

L’Inter (an independent daily) published an article on the speeches of candidates Obama and McCain during the two presidential debates. The paper then said Obama is the winner of the first two rounds of the presidential debates. Soir Info (an independent daily) and Intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) also reported on the second presidential debate, explaining that candidate Obama is likely the winner of this debate.

Le Matin d’Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said that candidate Obama is supported by the Africans and his victory will symbolize an African renaissance.

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October 8, 2008

The electoral registration and identification process; the presidential election deadline; and the trial concerning the dumping of the toxic waste in Abidjan in August 2006 are the main subjects in today’s Ivorian dailies.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) released an interview with Mr. Yapo Eugene (the Secretary General of the National Statistics Institute). He explained the reasons for the absence of the Institute agents at the electoral registration sites. The lack of technical equipment, security problems, and financial problems are, according to the paper, the main reasons Mr. Yapo gave to justify the inability of the Institute’s agents to be present in the electoral registration sites. Mr. Yapo is also quoted as saying that those difficulties were addressed by the government and the agents of the National Statistics Institute were able to join the registration sites. The daily also reported on the meeting between the president of the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission and the mayors of Abidjan. The paper said that the president of Commission urged local authorities to get involved in the electoral registration process.

Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) said that some weak points of SAGEM Security (the French company in charge of the technical aspect of the electoral registration process) were noticed in some of the registration centers. According to the paper, the slowness of the operation which prevents many petitioners from being registered and the shortage of registration papers are the main hindrances to the success of the process.

Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) also exposed some obstacles to the effective implementation of the electoral registration process. According to the paper, many petitioners were rejected due to some abnormalities relating to their papers. The article further explained that those petitioners may be deprived of their voting rights because of the absence of the National Commission of Identification Supervision agents who could help resolve these irregularities. The daily also reported on the meeting Mr. Beugré Mambé (the president of the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission) had with the mayors of Abidjan. Mr. Beugré is quoted as saying to the mayors: "I can assure you that the electoral registration process will be implemented in total transparency."

Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) reported on a press conference delivered by Mr. Alphonse Tiorna Soro (the president of a civil society movement) appealing to both the ruling FPI and the opposition RDR parties to avoid any speech or action which could put at risk the electoral registration process.

L’Inter (an independent daily) said that the New Forces deplored the obstacles to the effective implementation of the electoral registration process. The paper stated Mr. Alain Lobognon (the head of the communication committee of Prime Minister Soro) as saying: "The New Forces will take action against any activity aiming at disrupting the electoral registration process."

Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI) denounced the insecurity in the electoral registration centers due to the absence of the Integrated Command Center staff members. The paper also expressed its concern about the proper organization of the presidential election without the effective disarming of the New Forces soldiers.

On the subject of the presidential election deadline, L’Intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) , Le Patriote ( a daily close to the opposition RDR party) , Le Jour Plus (a daily close to opposition) and Nord Sud Quotidien ( a daily close to opposition) released an interview from Dr. Allassane Ouattara (the leader of RDR party) as saying that the deadline of November 30th can’t be met because of the slowness in the implementation of the Ouagadougou Peace Agreement and the obstacles in the electoral registration process. He is said to be expecting the electoral commission to propose a new realistic date.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reported on the law case concerning the dumping of the toxic waste in Abidjan in August 2006. The daily said that the TRAFIGURA Executives Officers should appear before the court to tell the truth about the dumping of the toxic waste. L’Intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) reported that the Executive Officers of the Ivorian Refinery Company and PETROCI who were said to be involved in the toxic waste case successfully proved their innocence before the court.

Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) published an article saying that the Counsel of Defense requested the postponement of the toxic waste trial due to the absence of Mr. N’Zi Kablan (the Executive Officer of Puma Energy, the Ivorian branch of the Dutch Company TRAFIGURA). According to Le Patriote (a daily close to opposition RDR), Mr. Amondji Pierre (the Governor of Abidjan district) rejected any charge of complicity in the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan. On the same subject, Notre Voie ( a daily close to the ruling FPI party) quoted Mr. Amondji as stating that he has never given any agreement to Tommy company ( the company which dumped the toxic waste in different sites in Abidjan).

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Dailies reported on the forthcoming presidential election in the United States.

Le Jour Plus (a daily close to opposition) said that Jerome Corsi, the author of an Anti-Obama novel, is about to be expelled from Kenya. His novel portrays candidate Obama as a radical leftist, a drug addict and a Moslem trying to hide his religious beliefs. However, the paper added that the national authority argued that Mr.Corsi’s expulsion is not related to the content of his book but to his infraction of Kenyan immigration laws.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reported on the second presidential debate between candidates McCain and Obama, saying that McCain promised his supporters to reveal the hidden face of Obama and to catch up in the opinion polls.

Soir Info (an independent daily) said that the advance of Obama in opinion polls was strengthened after the second presidential debate held yesterday in Nashville.

ABIDJAN US EMBASSY

Fraternite Matin (a state owned daily), Le Matin d’Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party), and Le Temps (a daily close to he ruling FPI party) reported on an award ceremony for the best Ivorian secondary school students for the year 2008. Ms. Jessica Leslie Gnako, daughter of Cultural Affairs Specialist Angele Gnako, won the prize in her grade for the District of Abidjan for the highest score on the science Baccalaureate examination and also the prize for the best overall grade point average of any high school student in Abidjan.

October 7, 2008

The electoral registration process and the aftermath of the trial concerning the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan are the main topics in today’s Ivorian dailies.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reporting on the electoral registration process said in a banner front page headline that the operations of both electoral registration and the Ivorian population identification process are a real obstacle course. The paper explained that there are many difficulties hindering efficient implementation of the programs. The shortage of electoral registration agents, insufficient technical equipment, slowness of operations, and lack of organization are some of the problems which, according to the paper, could jeopardize the effectiveness of the processes.

L’Inter (an independent daily) released an interview with Mr. Konaté Navigué (the president of the youth wing of the ruling FPI party) as saying that many cases of fraud have been noticed during the electoral registration process. He delivered this speech during a meeting he had in the head office of his political party to provide a partial assessment of the registration process. Mr. Navigué reportedly denouncedthe lack of transparency and absence of agents of National Statistics Institute as evidence of the poor implementation of the electoral registration process.

On the same subject Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) announced that the youth wing of the former ruling PDCI has created a committee to prevent fraud during the electoral registration process. The paper explained that this initiative was a response to the committee already created by the youth wing of the ruling FPI. The paper also fears that these committees could become a source of violent confrontations between the youth sections of the political parties.

Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) suspected Minister Koné Mamadou (in charge of the Department of Justice) of planning massive fraud during the electoral registration process, in complicity with the opposition RDR. The paper claimed that the decision of the Minister to transfer records from public sessions to his cabinet was a strategy to help the opposition RDR party organize massive fraud during the electoral registration process. The paper also released an interview with Ambassador André Janier (the French Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire) in which he is reported to have said that the postponement of the forthcoming presidential election won’t cause any catastrophe given that the essential steps have begun and are irreversible.

Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling PDCI party) suspected the National Statistics Institute to be in complicity with the ruling FPI party to sabotage the electoral registration process.

On the subject of the trial concerning the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan in August 2006, Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) said that Mr. Gossio (the current director of of the Abidjan Port Authority) and Mr. Gnamien Konan (the former director of the Ivorian Custom Service) denied any guilt in the dumping of toxic waste. They declared these denials during their first appearance in court as witnesses in the framework of the trial concerning the toxic waste case. According to the paper, these personalities said that their tasks were just technical ones and were not meant to detect the danger relating to the toxic waste.

Nord Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) quoted Mr.Gossio as saying: "I did not know that the waste dumped in Abidjan was toxic; I was informed at the same timeas all of the Ivorian population." The paper reprted that Mr. Gossio and Mr. Gnamien assertedthat they had been mislead by some of their collaborators. Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) said that both Mr.Gossio and Mr.Gnamien Konan are avoiding their responsibilities in the dumping of toxic waste in August 2006.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

L’Inter (an independent daily) reported on the US presidential elections saying that candidate John McCain is taking a risky strategy to catch up with Obama in the opinion polls. The paper noted that the series of verbal attacks John McCain and Sarah Palin are making against Obama could hurt them.

Le Matin d’Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI) released an article from a French magazine about an investigation of Governor Sarah Palin for abuse of power. According to the story, she is suspected of having dismissed the Security Commissioner of Alaska, Walt Monegan, for failing to fire her brother-in-law, who had experienced a difficult divorce with her sister.

October 6, 2008

The nominating convention of the opposition RDR (Rally of Republican) party, the fixing of the price of cocoa and the implementation of the electoral registration process are the main topics in today’s Ivorian dailies.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reporting on the nominating convention of the opposition party RDR quotes in a front page banner the RDR’s leader Mr. Allassanse Ouattara as saying that "with CFA 8000 billions (about $ 16.84 billions) I will resolve all the problems of Cote d’Ivoire."

The paper reveals that Dr Allassane Ouattara has been nominated by the members of his political party to be their runner for the forthcoming presidential election in Cote d’Ivoire. He is declared as saying that he is the real alternative for stability, prosperity and development in Cote d’Ivoire.

Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) says in a front page headline that the program of administration of the opposition candidate Ouattara is a copy of that of the ruling FPI.

In a related text the daily says that the main points of the program of administration of the RDR are already included in that of the ruling FPI party. For the paper Dr Allassane Ouattara is a plagiarist lacking the imagination to propose new and revolutionary programs to Ivorians.

Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) describes the nominating convention of RDR as an extraordinary event, something never seen in Cote d’Ivoire.

The paper quotes Dr Allassane Ouattara as saying "I am ready to be the unifier Cote d’Ivoire is looking for". In a related analysis the daily reports that the real objective of the leader of RDR is to implement unity and reconciliation in Cote d’Ivoire and the program of administration of the RDR can solve any kind of problem in Cote d’Ivoire.

Soir Info (an independent daily) reporting on the same subject quotes Dr. Allassane Ouattara as asking Ivorians to grant him a mandate so that he can built a strong and modern country.

On the subject of the fixing of the price of cocoa (the main raw product produced by Cote d’Ivoire), Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) says that the new committee in charge of the management of this important Ivorian export (Cote d’Ivoire is the world’s first cocoa producer) is taking up its challenges of rebuilding and stabilizing the cocoa industry. The paper explains that the price which was fixed to CFA 500 (about $ 1) per kilogram has now increased to CFA 700 ($ 1.4) per kilogram.

For the paper this announcement is good news for the farmers who suffered severely from the crisis that occurred in the cocoa industry.

Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) quotes Mr. Ano N’Guessan (Head of the newly appointed coffee-cocoa management committee) as declaring that the fixing of such a price aims at "giving to the Ivorian farmers the right reward for their work".

L’Inter (an independent daily) states that the rise of the price of cocoa will not only provide better living conditions to Ivorian farmers but also maintain the efficient functioning of the cocoa industry.

On the subject of the electoral registration process Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the opposition PDCI party) accuses the Director of the National Statistics Institute of planning the failure of the electoral registration process.

For the paper, the absence of the agents of this Institute in the registration centers was a strategy of the ruling FPI to hinder the process.

Nord Sud ( a daily close to the opposition ) quotes the International Community as stating that they would not give any financial support to Cote d’Ivoire before the implementation of transparent , open and fair elections in Cote d’ Ivoire . In a related article the paper reveals that good planning for the forthcoming elections is the essential condition for the donors to take up their partnership with the Ivorian government.

Le Jour Plus ( a daily close to the opposition) releases an interview with a member of the PDCI parliamentary group, Mr. Yves Fofana, in which he states that the ruling FPI party is planning to hold catastrophic elections with massive fraud in the registration process.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) quotes President Gbagbo as stating "Ivorians should put less pressure on the Independent Electoral Commission to enable it to work freely on the organization of the forthcoming presidential elections." He gave this speech while receiving the citizens of ECOWAS countries living in Cote d’Ivoire. According to the paper, President Gbagbo requested the patience and the indulgence of the Ivorians.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Soir Info (an independent daily) and L’Inter (an independent daily) report on the forthcoming American presidential election. According to these dailies, Sarah Palin accused Barack Obama of cooperating with some terrorists, referring to his work with Bill Ayer. Mrs. Palin is quoted in the paper as saying that Obama can be a danger for US security and stability.

October 3, 2008

The return home of the Ex Chief of Staff of the Ivorian Army, General Mathias Doué; the reaction of Sergeant Ibrahima Coulibaly (the leader of the dissident branch of the Forces Nouvelles – ex rebel group) to Prime Minister Guillaume Soro’s invitation to reconciliation and the beginning of the electoral registration process are the major subjects in today’s Ivorian dailies.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily ) reporting on General Mathias Doué’s return to Cote d’Ivoire as a political activist says in its headline "The Ivorian Renaissance Congress requests General Doué’s candidacy in the forthcoming presidential elections". The paper later explains that the Ivorian Renaissance Congress (a new political party) wants General Doué to be its candidate for the next presidential election in Cote d’Ivoire. According to the paper the members of this political party are convinced that General Doue is the only alternative for stability and prosperity in Cote d’Ivoire.

The paper quotes General Doue as saying in a telephone conversation "I am ready to serve my country with loyalty; I am coming back home very soon."

L’Inter (an independent daily) quotes General Doué as declaring "I am coming back home on October 20th, 2008". The secretary general of the Ivorian Renaissance Congress, Mr. Bah Enoch, is quoted as stating"General Doue embodies the hope for a blissful future ...".

Le Matin d’Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) says in a headline "General Mathias Doue confirms his candidacy in the presidential election." The paper quotes the heads of the Ivorian Renaissance Congress as accusing the ruling FPI of being responsible for all the misfortunes of Cote d’Ivoire and stating that only General Doue can change things. In a related analysis the paper questions General Doue’s morality and loyalty. For the paper he is an author of a military coup and a betrayer.

Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) reporting on this event quotes the secretary general of the Ivorian Renaissance Congress as saying that his political party is threatened by the government which ordered them to stop any political activities. For him this measure of the Ivorian government is arbitrary and aims at muting his political party.

On the subject of the reaction of Sergeant Ibrahima Coulibaly to Prime Minister Soro’s invitation to reconciliation Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the opposition PDCI party) quotes Sergeant Ibrahima Coulibaly as saying "I have never sent emissaries to meet Soro." In an interview he granted to the daily, the spokesperson of Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly is quoted as saying that the leader of the dissident branch of the Forces Nouvelles questions the sincerity of the Prime Minister’s invitation.

Soir Info (an independent daily) says that Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly and his men denied the declaration of Prime Minster Soro saying that he received some emissaries of Ibrahima Coulibaly. According to the paper Sergeant Coulibaly and his men considered the statement a strategy to hide the crisis among the new forces.

L’Inter (an independent daily) quotes Mr. Ben Rassoul Timité, the spokesperson of Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly, as stating "This declaration of the Prime Minister Soro seems like a trap."

Tackling the subject of the beginning of the electoral registration process, Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reveals that access to some electoral registration centers has been refused to the staff in charge of the process. In a related analysis the paper denounces several hindrances to the implementation of the electoral registration process.

Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI) declares in a front page banner "Some serious irregularities are observed in the electoral registration process." The paper releases an interview with the election specialist of the ruling FPI as saying that most of the staff in charge of the electoral registration process are composed of members of opposition parties and that the National Statistics Institute is not represented in the electoral registration centers. For the paper these shortcomings of the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission could jeopardize the whole process.

"National Statistics Institute sabotages the electoral registration process" says Nord Sud (a daily close to the opposition). In a related analysis the paper argues that the National Statistics Institute has many weak points which hinder the implementation of the registration process. The paper even suspects the institute of having misused government funding amounting to 2 billion CFA F.

Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to opposition PDCI party) reveals there were yesterday stormy discussions between the different structures in charge of the electoral registration process in a bid to guarantee the success of the process.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Le Jour Plus (a daily close to opposition) reports on the current financial crisis in the USA. The paper says that Wall Street has not yet recovered from the crisis in spite of the Senate vote to adopt the Paulson Plan.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reports on the forthcoming presidential election in the USA . The paper quotes a Washington Post poll as indicating that both Democratics and Republicans doubt Sarah Palin’s ability to be Vice President because of her lack of experience.

On the same subject, L’Inter (an independent daily) says that Barack Obama is taking advantage of the financial crisis to criticize the current administration and bolster his presidential campaign.

October 2, 2008

The inauguration of SOTRA Industries, the first Ivorian buses and cars assembling unit; the aftermaths of the trial concerning the dumping of toxic wastes and the implementation of the electoral process are the main issues in the Ivorian dailies

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reporting on the inauguration of a bus and car assembling unit quotes President Gbagbo in a front page banner as stating "the era of industrial economy has come." President Gbagbo congratulated the heads of Sotra, the Abidjan urban transportation company, for their hard work in creating such a unit, which is a partnership between Sotra and a French branch of an Italian motor company.

Le Matin d’Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) reporting on this event said that President Gbagbo committed himself to fund Sotra so that this new initiative could be successful.

Soir Info (an independent daily) in its report on the same event emphasizes President Gbagbo’s speech and his "vision to turn Cote d’Ivoire into an industrialized country." According to the paper the President felt pride for the innovative undertaking of Sotra and he encouraged other Ivorian companies to follow this example.

"The buses made in Cote d’Ivoire are ready" Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) announced in a headline on the same story, also noting President Gbagbo’s interest in the mission of industrializing Cote d’Ivoire.

On the subject of the toxic waste case, Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) releases an interview with Professor Boni Serge (the head of the presidential committee in charge of the management of the toxic waste crisis). The paper quotes him as stating "We have already indemnified 70 percent of the total number of toxic waste victims." Mr. Boni rejected any charge of laxity and complicity made by some victims against the government after the opening of the trial concerning the dumping of toxic wastes in Abidjan in August 2006.

Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the opposition PDCI party) claims to know that the indicted Executive Officer of Tommy (the company which dumped the toxic wastes in different sites in Abidjan) rejected any guilt before the Court.

According to the paper, he claimed that he was not aware of the danger of the waste and that he had been misled by Trafigura Company (the international company that sent the toxic waste to Abidjan).

Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) in its reporting on this issue says that the Executive Officer of Tommy wants an indictment of the executive’s board of the Trafigura Company.

L’Intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) says that the Executive Officer’s denial of guilt is only a strategy to delay the procedure since he had the means to detect the danger of the waste.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reports that Mr. Choi (Special Representative of the Secretary General in Cote d’Ivoire) said "We shall take up the challenge of organizing open, fair and transparent elections in Cote d’Ivoire." According to the paper, Mr. Choi made the statement during an audience he granted to an association of women who are supporting fair elections in Cote d’Ivoire. Le Matin d’Abidjan (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) accuses Mr. Beugré Mambé (President of the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission) of having created 16 imaginary registration centers.

Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) says in a front page banner "SAGEM is summoned by Members of Parliament." In a related development the paper explains that the Ivorian Parliament summoned the different structures in charge of the electoral registration process to give some clarification about electoral registration and the general identification process for the Ivorian population.

According to L’Intelligent D’Abidjan (an independent daily) the Ivorian Members of Parliament require more information and clarification both about the electoral registration process and the implementation of the Ouagadougou Peace Agreement.

MEDIA COVERAGE OF EMBASSY ACTIVITIES

Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) reports on an activity held on October 26th at the American Embassy on "Cross Cultural Research" focusing on introducing Ivorian students to using the Information Resource Center to do online research on the U.S. other resources at the Information.

October 1, 2008

The dismissal of some soldiers of the national army, the beginning of the trial concerning the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan in August 2006 and Prime Minister Soro Guillaume’s interview released by the African monthly magazine Jeune Afrique are the major news stories in today’s Ivorian papers.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) said in a front page story - "the National Army Staff took heavy measures." This is a report on the aftermath of the mutiny of some loyal soldiers which occurred over the weekend in the cities of Yamoussoukro (the political capital city) and Daoukro (located in the Center-East). The paper said, that the Chief Commander of the National Army fired 91 loyal soldiers who were accused of repeated mutiny and poor discipline. General Mangou (Chief of Staff) reportedly declared that the mutiny was over and no misbehavior would be accepted and tolerated any more. Reporting on the same topic, Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) said "91 soldiers fired and indicted". The paper quoted General Mangou, who said "it is unacceptable that soldiers resort to arms to express their concerns". He is also reportedly said that there are sanctions aimed to discourage to mutiny; he said discipline is being restored among the National Army.

L’Inter (an independent daily) reported that Prime Minister Soro Guillaume assured the Ivorian military that no one would be forgotten throughout the peace process and new joint forces Army plan; he said mutineers could jeopardize the normalization of the cooperation with the international financial institutions on debt reduction. Prime Minister Soro was speaking at the launching of the electoral registration process. Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition) on the other hand, accused President Gbagbo of sacrificing those who saved his regime during the war. The paper referred to the dismissed soldiers as a possible danger to the peace process underway in Cote d’Ivoire.

Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) reporting on the opening of the trial of the indicted persons in the case concerning the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan in August 2006, the paper said that Mr. Gossio (the Director of Abidjan Port); Mr. Amondji (the Governor of the District of Abidjan); and Mr. Gnamien (the former Director of Ivorian Customs Service) have been called in the Court as witnesses. The paper also said that the persons listed above served as heads of those departments at the time of the dumping.

Le Nouveau Reveil (close to the former ruling PDCI RDA) reported on the same issue in a front page story headline; the paper said "the government chooses his culprits". According to the paper, granting the status of witnesses to Gossio, Amondji and Gnamien hinders the action of the Justice department. Speaking on the behalf of the victims, Ms. Rachelle Gogoua (president of an association of victims of toxic wastes) told Nord Sud (a daily close to the opposition) that the trial is all a put on.

Prime Minister Soro's interview with Jeune Afrique (a pan African newspaper) was covered in most papers. Fraternité Matin (a state owned daily) picked up the Prime Minister's assurance that "It will be impossible to cheat during the forthcoming elections." According to the paper, the Prime Minister said that important technical measures are being taken to secure the electoral process and that the scheduled elections date of November 30 is still doable.

United States of America

Soir Info (an independent daily) and Le Jour Plus (a daily close to opposition) reported on the rejection by the House of Representatives of the salvaging plan of the financial institutions of the USA. They also reported on the call by presidential candidates Obama and McCain for urgent measures to protect the savings of American families and small sized enterprises.