National Daily Press Review Archive

June 30, 2006

1. Commentaries in Friday’s press focus on the African Union summit in the Gambian capital, Banjul and a meeting between commanders of the New Forces and the Ivoirian military.

2. On the African Union summit due to start tomorrow in Banjul, the state-owned daily Fraternité Matin, runs a front-page story entitled: "Gbagbo says no to any mini-summit on Côte d’Ivoire." The paper, noted for its balanced reports, quoted an Ivoirian diplomat in Banjul as saying, "We don’t want any mini-summit on Côte d’Ivoire. We’re here to attend the Africa Union summit. We reject the principle of this mini-summit. The dossier on Côte d’Ivoire does not belong to the UN for its Secretary General to convene a mini-summit…" The reports say: "The decision by the UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan to organize a special summit to design a plan to fit the situation if presidential elections are delayed in Côte d’Ivoire could be disastrous."

3. "Côte d’Ivoire rejects the conspiracy of Annan," says a banner headline carried by Le Courrier d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo. The paper publishes a statement issued by the National Congress for Resistance and Democracy [a coalition of political parties and movements close to President Gbagbo] calling upon the African Union "to stop throwing oil on the fire."

4. In a front-page story, Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling FPI party quotes the leadership of the party as saying, "The African Union has to stop Banny’s political diversions."

5. On the situation at home, Notre Voie reports that, "The demands by the New Forces for an integrated army, promotion of their military leaders and payment of their salaries were all rejected during their meeting yesterday in Bouaké with the leadership of the government forces." According to the paper, "The Defense Attaché at the US Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, Patrick O. Doyle attended the meeting at the request of the US Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Aubrey Hooks."

7. As Ambassador Hooks is set to embark on Thursday, July 6, 2006, on a week-long overland journey through New Forces-controlled territory in Northern and Western Côte d’Ivoire, Le Courrier d’Abidjan publishes a communiqué released by the US Embassy announcing this tour under the title: "The United States wants to press the rebels to lay down their arms." On the conclave that brought together New Forces and government forces, the paper quotes the Ivoirian Army Chief of Defense Staff, General Philippe Mangou who said: "We cannot integrate a corporal as a colonel."

June 27, 2006

1. On today’s covers, the press ponders the future of the peace process underway in Côte d’Ivoire.

2. The privately owned daily, Le Courrier d’Abidjan, devotes its front-page to the peace process and tries to explain what the future portends for Côte d’Ivoire after October 30th, the date for the forthcoming presidential elections. According to the paper, noted for its support for President Gbagbo, "Political and diplomatic bargaining has started on all fronts while the Ivoirian Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny, has launched a campaign in an attempt to extend his mandate."

3. On the coming summit of the heads of state of the African Union, which is due to be held in July in Banjul, Gambia, the paper indicates that, "The conference is likely to bring to the fore the disagreement between French-backed African countries, which have been lobbying for a transitional period in Côte d’Ivoire without President Laurent Gbagbo in command and the pan-Africans like Libyan leader Muammar Kadhafi, who believe that Western countries are using the rebellions to destroy the continent."

4. "With barely four months to go before the coming presidential elections, France and South Africa are totally divided over whether the poll should be conducted according to plan or be delayed," says banner headline carried by the privately-owned L’inter. "The difference emerged during the last meeting of the International Working Group [the panel overseeing the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire]," reports the paper. According to L’inter, "The South African Defence Minister, Mosiuoa Lekota, who was speaking after the meeting, deplored the fact that some West African nations and France appear to be doubtful that an election, scheduled for October, will take place." "These countries want to talk about what would happen if the election does not take place in October…This will only create an atmosphere where parties can give up, saying the election will not be held in October in any case," Lekota said.

5. "Mbeki wants to save Gbagbo," says a banner headline that runs across Le Patriote, a daily close to the opposition RDR party. According to the paper, "Pretoria has refused to allow the agenda of next the summit of the heads of state of the African Union to include the issue concerning a delay of the coming presidential poll in Côte d’Ivoire." Still on the elections, the paper discloses that, "The Independent Electoral Commission [the body that is tasked to conduct the poll] is functioning without a budget."

6. According to Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling FPI party, "South Africa accused France of sabotaging the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire." On ways to push forward the peace process, the paper quotes South African Defence Minister, Mosiuoa Lekota, as saying, "The urgent question is the need to push for progress on peace and not debate what happens if the deadline is not reached." Meanwhile, Eugene Djué, a leading member of the Young Patriots [a movement close to President Gbagbo] told the paper that, "If the October elections are delayed, we’ll take up our responsibility to liberate the country."

7. Le Jour Plus, a privately owned daily close to the opposition indicates that, "The dream of the ruling party has been dashed as the UN has removed the organization of the forthcoming elections from President Gbagbo’s control."

8. 24 Heures, a privately own daily close to the opposition, announces that "the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected in Abidjan early July." The paper suggests that, "The visit of the UN boss has caused panic in President Gbagbo’s entourage since they still recall positions that were recently taken by Mr. Annan, who threatened to place sanctions on President Gbagbo."

9. Finally, the new Commander of Licorne, the French peacekeeping force in Côte d’Ivoire, General Antoine Lecerf told Fraternité Matin, a state-owned daily noted for its balanced reports, that, "I’m an artisan of peace." The French army officer, who was speaking yesterday after a meeting with President Gbagbo, explained that his role is to, "work with the UN forces in a bid to create conditions for the resolution of the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire."

June 26, 2006

1. Reactions to the decisions taken during Friday’s meeting of the International Working Group and the ongoing disagreement between the leadership of the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace and other opposition MPs over their decision to return to the parliament are the major stories in today’s Ivoirian press.

2. L’inter, a privately owned daily, ran a banner headline entitled: "The International Working Group [the international panel overseeing the Ivoirian peace process] is engaged in a tussle with President Laurent Gbagbo over issues concerning the Independent Electoral Commission and the future of the National Assembly." Elaborating on the conclusions of their meeting held last Friday in Abidjan, the paper noted that, "For the International Working Group, the doors of the National Assembly are considered as closed and sessions that are being held in the House, for some time now, have no raison d’être."

3. According to the paper, "The other bone of contention is the role of the Independent Electoral Commission in the registration of voters for coming elections." "At the end of their last meeting," writes the paper, "The group reminded the protagonists that the Pretoria accords conferred the exclusive responsibility to the Independent Electoral Commission for the implementation of the electoral process." Reacting to these conclusions, the paper writes, "The Speaker of the National Assembly, Mamadou Koulibaly, castigated the UN panel for their decision regarding the Parliament."

4. Le Front, a privately owned daily close to the New Forces quoted the Ivoirian Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny as saying during the meeting, "I don’t recognize Mamadou Koulibaly."

5. According to the President of the Economic and Social Council, Laurent Dona Fologo, quoted by Le Courrier d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo, "The International Working Group has become an obstacle to peace." For the First Lady, Mrs Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, "Côte d’Ivoire will not be ruled according to UN’s decisions," While the Speaker of the Parliament is quoted as saying, "You won’t impose on our country what you want."

6. Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling FPI party believes that, "The last meeting of the International Working Group has showed evidence that this institution is incapable of resolving the Ivoirian crisis." The paper states that, "The group is disqualified," and then calls on "Ivoirians to fight for their own destiny." The other major issue on the front-page of the paper is the controversy surrounding the return of the opposition MPs to the parliament. The paper wonders whether, "the opposition lawmakers [who decided to return to Parliament] betrayed their leaders."

7. The state-owned Fraternité Matin carries a banner headline entitled: "The leadership of the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace [a four-party opposition coalition] disapproved of the lawmakers." Speaking to the paper, noted for its balanced reports, the spokesperson of the opposition group in the Parliament, Mr. Yves Fofana said: "We won’t give up the agreement [between the President of the Republic and the opposition MPs on their return to the House]."

8. "We felt we were abandoned," the daily Nord-Sud Quotidien quoted the opposition MPs as saying. According to the paper, "Six hundreds million FCFA will be used to pay the salaries of the opposition MPs."

9. In a declaration carried by Soir Info, a privately owned daily, the MFA a minor party and one of the allies of the opposition coalition, branded the lawmakers as "opportunists".

10. Finally, Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily close to the opposition ponders the future of Cote d’Ivoire in the event that the presidential elections scheduled for October 31, 2006 are delayed. The paper discloses that, "ECOWAS has launched its machinery in a bid to decide the fate of President Gbagbo during its next Summit of Head of States planned for July in Banjul, Gambia."

June 24, 2006

1. News in Friday’s Ivoirian press focuses on the future of the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy, an opposition coalition, the disarmament and identification processes, and the decision by opposition MPs to return to the parliament.

2. On the disarmament and identification processes, Fraternité Matin, a daily noted for its balanced reports, quotes the Prime Minister of the transitional government, Charles Konan Banny, as saying, "The peace process is a give-and-take exercise." The premier was a guest speaker at a forum on "Peace for a sustainable development," which offered Ivoirian intellectuals an opportunity to speak about creating "a depoliticized army" in their country.

3. The state-owned daily also carries a banner headline entitled: "The Alliance between Henri Konan Bédié and Alassane Dramane Ouattara splits." The paper explains that, "Differences between members of the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace [a coalition of the four principal opposition parties] have come to the fore, as the RDR’s leader, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, has decided to form his own alliance." Called "the Union of the Forces for Democracy and Change", the paper discloses that, "The new alliance will be launched soon and will bring together the RDR and some minor parties as well as the left wing ideologists of the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace."

4. In a related development, Le Patriote, a daily owned by the opposition RDR says "It’s not yet a divorce." However the paper discloses that, the RDR is unhappy with the leader of the PDCI-RDA party, Henri Konan Bédié for "its surprising closeness with the FPI on issues concerning the peace process."

5. Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately owned daily close to the former ruling PDCI-RDA party alleges that, "Officials at the cabinet of the Prime Minister are undermining efforts by the Coordinator of the disarmament process, General Gaston Ouassénan Koné to disarm the ex-combatants and dismantle the militias."

6. Elaborating on the progress of the disarmament and identification processes, the Prime Minister who was quoted by the privately owned daily Soir Info says, "Disarmament is the government’s top priority."

7. Nord-Sud Quotidien, a privately owned daily close to the RDR party quoted Eugene Djué, a leading member of the Young Patriots [a movement close to the ruling FPI party] as saying, "There will be no elections in October."

8. According to 24 Heures, another privately owned daily close to the opposition, "The refusal of the militias in the West of Côte d’Ivoire to participate in disarmament may hold back Banny’s peace trail, which has made a good start." Despite the situation, the Ivoirian Prime Minister yesterday, "launched his peace campaign throughout the country."

9. A front-page story carried by Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling FPI party says, "Ivoirians boycotted the ceremony organized by the Premier to launch the peace campaign." The paper, which called the event "a one man show," quoted Mr. Banny as saying, "It [the launch] was not just to say that the progress of the disarmament and the identification processes failed."

10. "Mamadou Koulibaly greets the return of the opposition MPs to the parliament," writes L’intelligent d’Abidjan. The paper quoted the Speaker of the Ivoirian National Assembly as saying, "It’s a no-looser and no-winner deal."

11. According to Le Courrier d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo, carried a prominent story saying, "The conflict that between the Speaker of the Parliament and the opposition lawmakers is over." The paper believes that, "The decision of the lawmakers to resume work shows the triumph of democracy in Côte d’Ivoire."

June 22, 2006

1. The World Cup competition again makes headlines in today’s press as The Elephants, Côte d’Ivoire’s national team, made a spirited exit.

2. Ivoirian newspapers are unanimous saluting the honorable exit of The Elephants from the World Cup. L’intelligent d’Abidjan says, "The victory of the national team in the match against Serbia and Montenegro has brought down tensions in the country."

3. "The Elephants save their honor," writes Le Matin d’Abidjan adding, "As the Black Stars are set to clash today with the U.S., Ghana remains the only hope for Africa."

4. "Dindané was there, so was the victory," writes Le Patriote. According to the paper, "Aruna Dindané who scored two goals during yesterday’s match was selected as the best player of the match by the FIFA."

5. 24 Heures also congratulates The Elephants for their performance, but regrets that, "the victory came too late." After Henri Michel announced his intention to stop coaching The Elephants, the paper suggests that, "His deputy, Gérard Gili is likely to become the next coach of the Ivoirian national team."

6. On political issues, the state-owned daily Fraternité Matin quoted the Ivoirian Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Koné Mamadou who called on the New Forces, "to get more involved in the identification process in order to ensure its success." Mr. Koné announced that, "The public hearings will start throughout the country." The paper, noted for its balanced reports, also reports, "The leader of the Total Liberation of Grand West (FLGO), Denis Maho Glofié, wants to meet the Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny, because he is, "the only authority they can count on for the success of the disarmament process."

7. "The militias are divided over Banny’s money," says a banner headline of Nord-Sud Quotidien, a privately owned daily close to the opposition RDR party.

8. In a front-page story, Le Jour Plus, a privately owned daily close to the opposition alleges that it sees, "the hands of President Laurent Gbagbo behind the current impasse in the Parliament over the payment of salaries of the MPs, the national strike called by teachers and the delay in the dismantlement of the militias." The paper described President Gbagbo’s mediation to find a solution to the problem within the Parliament as, "a political show."

9. A scandal hits the front-page of Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily close to the opposition. According to the paper, "700 million FCFA has been embezzled from the National Investment Bank."

10. Le Temps, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo, calls on Ivoirians, "to get mobilized ahead of the African Union Head of States Summit planned to be held in Banjul, Gambia, where the future of Côte d’Ivoire will be high on the agenda." The paper alleges that, "The Banjul summit will be the center of political bargaining and lobbying in support of a French blueprint to resolve the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire to the detriment of the legality imposed by the Constitution."

11. On the relationship between President Gbagbo and his French counterpart, Jacques Chirac, the privately-owned daily newspaper, L’inter discloses that, "For the past twenty months, there has been no communication between the two leaders." "Relations between Chirac and Gbagbo are at a standstill…With five months to go before the end of the mandate of President Gbagbo, the French leader is studying different scenarios in case that the presidential elections, which are scheduled to take place on October 30 are delayed," suggests the paper.

June 20, 2006

1. The meeting yesterday between President Laurent Gbagbo and MPs from the opposition groups vies for headlines with developments in the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire in Tuesday’s Ivoirian press.

2. According to a front-page report carried by the state-owned daily Fraternité Matin, “A parity commission, which was set up at the end of the meeting between President Gbagbo and the lawmakers, has been tasked to find ways to solve the impasse on the payment of the salaries of the opposition MPs.” On the question of the return of the opposition MPs to the National Assembly, the paper, noted for its balanced reports, says, “They have demanded a two-day reprieve to decide.” The paper believes that, the main concern of the lawmakers is “how to save their reputation.”   [The speaker of the Ivoirian National Assembly, Mamadou Koulibaly, decided to freeze the salaries of the opposition lawmakers who have been boycotting sessions at the National Assembly on the grounds that the mandate of the body ended in December 2005.]”

3. “Gbagbo is blackmailing the opposition MPs,” writes Le Patriote, a daily owned by the opposition RDR party. The paper noted that, “The meeting called by the Ivoirian leader was a political trap.”

4. “Gbagbo demands the opposition lawmakers to return to the National Assembly without condition,” reports Nord-Sud Quotidien, a privately owned daily close to the opposition RDR party. On social issues, the paper discloses that, “President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny have signed a secret deal in an attempt to bring down the level of tension in the country.”      

5. After yesterday’s meeting between President Gbagbo and the MPs, Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately owned daily close to the ex-ruling party wonders whether, “The lawmakers would return to the National Assembly.” Meanwhile, the paper believes that the conclusion of the meeting sounds like, “a defeat for the Speaker of the Parliament.” The other major issue making the front page of the paper is, “what the future holds for the Ivoirian peace process” that should culminate with presidential elections planned for October 2006. According to the paper, “In case the October elections were delayed, President Gbagbo will have to relinquish power to allow the Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny to step in while Côte d’Ivoire, like Liberia, will be placed under UN mandate.”

6. According to Le Temps, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo, “The mediation offered by the Ivoirian leader to resolve the stand-off between the Speaker of the Ivoirian National Assembly, Mamadou Koulibaly and MPs from the opposition groups resulted in a victory for the Speaker.”

7. Le Courrier d’Abidjan, another privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo quoted the Ivoirian leader as telling the opposition MPs, “to go back to the National Assembly, after he listened to their grievances.” The paper also allegedly accused the French President Jacques Chirac of, “trying to use ECOWAS to remove President Gbagbo from power.”

8. According to the privately-owned daily 24 Heures, “A Presidential Council will be set up to rule the country in case the coming presidential elections are delayed.” The paper, close to the opposition, disclosed that, “Such a Presidential Council would exclude President Gbagbo and other political leaders.”   

June 19, 2006

1. The stand-off between the Speaker of the Ivoirian National Assembly, Mamadou Koulibaly and MPs from the opposition groups over the payment of their salaries and reactions to the defeat suffered by The Elephants during their second match at the World Cup tournament are lead today’s Ivoirian headlines.

2. "Henri Michel is fired after the defeat of The Elephants," says a banner headline that runs across Nord-Sud Quotidien. The paper, which is close to the opposition RDR party, quotes the coach of the Ivoirian national team as saying, "I’m playing my last match with The Elephants on Wednesday." The paper notes that, "Activities in the public and private sectors [throughout Cote d’Ivoire], which virtually became idle [during the past week], will resume after the defeat of The Elephants."

3. According to Henri Michel, in Le Patriote, "The Elephants lost due to lack of experience." Meanwhile, the paper is of the opinion that the defeat suffered by the Ivoirian national team is partly due to "the inability of the coach to identify his best players."

4. 24 Heures also believes that, "bad coaching killed The Elephants." However, the paper suggests that, "The 2006 World Cup tournament marks the revival of African soccer as Côte d’Ivoire’s neighbor Ghana put up a wonderful performance against the Czech Republic to win 2-0.

5. "The Ghanaians have taught a lesson," writes Le Nouveau Réveil. The paper believes that, "After the elimination of The Elephants, all hope now lies with Ghana, which made the whole continent dance last Saturday." The President of the Ivoirian Football Federation, Jacques Anouma, told the paper that, "I assume my part of the responsibility [for the losses]."

6. On the question of the payment of the salaries to the opposition MPs, Fraternité Matin, a state-owned daily says, "President Laurent Gbagbo is meeting this morning with the lawmakers, in a bid to resolve the crisis." According to the paper, noted for its balanced reports, "President Gbagbo has offered his mediation because the matter between the Speaker of the National Assembly and the opposition MPs has reached a turning point." The aim of this mediation, explained the paper, is to arrive at "a no-looser and no-winner solution, only to put the peace train back on the rails and let all the parliamentarians aboard."

7. According to L’inter, "President Gbagbo is likely to rule in favor of the opposition MPs who have been boycotting sessions at the National Assembly on the grounds that the mandate of the Parliament ended last December." However, the privately owned daily believes that, "The president will find it difficult to convince the Speaker of the Parliament, Mamadou Koulibaly, to accept the verdict, which sounds like a defeat for him."

8. In an address to the nation over the week-end, the Prime Minister of the transitional government, Charles Konan Banny said: "The peace train won’t go backwards," according to Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily close to the opposition RDR party. According to the paper, "The Ivoirian head of government also used the occasion to launch a nation-wide peace campaign."

9. Regarding the coming elections, 24 Heures, a privately owned daily close to the opposition, reports that, "The Ivoirian Prime Minister is currently in South Africa to meet with President Thabo Mbeki, the mediator in the Ivoirian crisis." According to the paper, "The agenda of this meeting is to focus on the role of the National Statistics Institute in the registration of voters to be used during the coming presidential elections."

10. Le Temps, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo, says, "The Ivoirian Prime Minister who has been accused of trying to sideline the National Statistics Institute, is meeting with President Mbeki to defend his position."

11. Le Jour Plus, a daily close to the opposition, suggests that, "The French authorities are concerned by the prolongation of President Gbagbo’s tenure, in the event the presidential elections are delayed."

June 16, 2006

1. Friday’s press is dominated by news on the delay in the disarmament of the militia groups, and the mood in Côte d’Ivoire as The Elephants, the country’s national team, is set to play its second match today against Netherlands as part of the World Cup tournament.

2. With a picture The Elephants’ coach, Henri Michel on its front-page, Nord-Sud Quotidien describes today’s match as "crucial". The daily quoted the coach as saying, "I’ll feature the best team." The paper predicts "a clash between Côte d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba and Netherlands’ Arjen Robben, who like the Ivoirian soccer maestro plays for England’s Chelsea." Bonaventure Kalou, The Elephants’ attacker pleads with Ivoirians "to forget the match against Argentina", while the midfielder, Akalé Kanga, predicts "nothing than the victory of The Elephants."

3. As The Elephants play tonight, "Ivoirians hold their breath," says a front-page story carried by Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan.

4. Le Front believes that, "Today is the day of The Elephants." To guarantee their victory, "The Elephants would have to triumph or perish," says the paper.

5. According to Friday’s satiric GBICH! newspaper, "Women are the best supporters of The Elephants." The paper cartoons ladies in a fierce fight over The Elephants’ key players.

6. L’intelligent d’Abidjan a privately owned daily calls today’s game "the match of all hopes." However, the paper deplores the fact that "many supporters of the national team could not travel to Germany as they were denied visas."

7. The privately owned L’événement is of the opinion that, "The destiny of The Elephants at stake." As the Ivoirian team is set for the challenge, "Mothers of the players are praying for the success of their boys," reports the paper. Meanwhile, the Ivoirian Sports Minister, Dagobert Banzio, calls on the German authorities "to allow The Elephants’ supporters to go to Germany."

8. On political issues, L’inter, a privately owned daily carries a banner headline entitled: "The peace train of Banny divides the militia groups." According to the paper, "While the Group of Young Patriots for Peace says it’s ready to join the process, the militia groups in the west refuse to disarm on the grounds that the sites provided for the cantonment is not appropriate."

9. According to 24, a privately owned daily close to the opposition, "The dismantlement of the militia groups planned to start today has been delayed because of the caprices of the leaders." The paper quoted the leader of AP-WE, one of the militia groups in the west, as saying, "Whoever tries to enforce the disarmament, will regret it. This is a warning for the Licorne [French peacekeeping force in Côte d’Ivoire] and the Ivoirian government forces."

10. Still on the housing of the militia groups, Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily close to the opposition, reports that, "30.000 elements under the command of Eugene Djué [a leading member of the Young Patriots movement] are threatening to block the process if the scheme does not include them."

11. "While efforts are underway to dismantle the militia groups, parallel forces continue to recruit militiamen," discloses Le Jour Plus, a daily close to the opposition.

12. Le Courrier d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo, reports on the recent visit of the Ivoirian leader, Laurent Gbagbo to Chad and Equatorial Guinea. The paper quoted President Gbagbo as saying, "I’ll do everything possible so that elections are held this year in Côte d’Ivoire."

13. According to Fraternité Matin, a state-owned daily, President Gbagbo and his Chadian counterpart, Idriss Déby Itno, denounced "the inability on the part of the African Union to resolve crisis on the continent."

June 13, 2006

1. The Ivoirian peace process and the question of disarmament are the main issue in today’s Ivoirian press.

2. Commenting on the difficulties facing the Coordinator of the Disarmament Program, General Gaston Ouasséna Koné, Le Front, a daily close to the New Forces, ran a banner headline entitled: "Ouasséna finds himself in a quagmire as he realizes the realities on the ground." The paper is of the opinion that, "The deal signed last week between the boss of the disarmament program and the leader of the Total Liberation of Grand West (FLGO), Denis Maho Glofié, gave some signs of hope." However, it noted that, "This agreement does not necessarily guarantee the success of the program planned to start on 16 June."

3. Still on the peace process, the Ivoirian reggae star, Alpha Blondy told the state-owned daily Fraternité Matin that, "The worst is to come in Côte d’Ivoire." To forestall "any chaos", the UN-designated Peace Messenger suggests "an all-party consultation ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections." Meanwhile, the paper, quoted the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Pierre Schori, as saying, "The recent beginning, though at slow pace, of the disarmament and identification processes of the population shows that the situation which was virtually stagnant has now got a new momentum." The boss of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (ONUCI) strongly believes that, "The time of truth is soon to come in Côte d’Ivoire where presidential elections are due in October after four years of political and military crisis."

4. Fraternité Matin, a paper noted for its balanced reports, carried a report saying, "Main streets in Adjamé [a neighborhood in Abidjan] have been barricaded since Sunday by some 150 elements of the 1st Battalion of the Legionary Commandos of Côte d’Ivoire (BCL) formerly known as Group of Young Patriots for Peace (GPP)." "Their objective," reports the paper "Is to dislodge government forces who have taken over the premises of Institut Marie Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny, the former base of GPP." Meanwhile, "the leader of the GPP, Touré Moussa alias Zegen calls for calm," says the paper.

5. "The militia groups in the west are ready to disarm," says a banner headline carried by L’inter, a privately own daily. In a two-page investigative report, the paper explains "how the former combatants are preparing for their reinsertion." In another development, the paper sheds light on the ongoing "rift between Fofié Kouakou and other members of the New Forces." According to the paper, "This internal affair has to do with the financial interests."

6. Meanwhile, Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily close to the opposition says, "The news that Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly is coming back home causes panic amongst the New Forces." [A former Ivoirian army officer and self-proclaimed leader of the Ivoirian rebellion, Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly, is actually living in exile after he was accused for plotting to topple President.]

7. Le Patriote, a daily owned by the opposition RDR says it finds the "the evidence that President Laurent Gbagbo is xenophobic." The paper quoted the Ivoirian leader as saying, "Côte d’Ivoire is tired of paying the Burkinabe: it’s enough."

8. Le Courrier d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo, describes ONUCI-FM, the United Nations radio in Abidjan as "rebel bloc propaganda machinery." According to the paper, "ONUCI-FM devotes 86 percent of its airtime to the G7 [a coalition of seven opposition parties]."

June 12, 2006

1. The performance of The Elephants, the Ivoirian national team during their first match at the World Cup last Saturday in Germany dominates Monday’s Ivoirian press. Another major story is the peace process underway in Côte d’Ivoire.

2. Commenting on the game between Côte d’Ivoire and Argentina at the World Cup tournament over the week end, Fraternité Matin says, "After their defeat, The Elephants will bounce back." According to the paper noted for its balanced reports, "The experienced Argentinean team overcame the weight of The Elephants." The Elephants’ team leader Didier Drogba is quoted as saying: "Our team is young and we regret to have lost the match. We had many opportunities but unfortunately, we lost because of defensive mistakes. We’ll find solutions to these problems to achieve good results during next matches." In an editorial, Fraternité Matin describes The Elephants’ team leader as "a symbol of willingness and determination, someone who is gifted with passion to win and a passion to convince." The editorial then asks, "Whether each Ivoirian can emulate the spirit of Drogba."

3. L’intelligent d’Abidjan, a daily also noted for its balanced reports, ran a front-page story explaining that, "The Elephants’ passion to win did not conquer the supremacy of Argentina, the world soccer giant." The paper reports however that, "In the face of the Elephants, Argentina was gripped with fears."

4. Despite the defeat of The Elephants during their first match, Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling FPI party believes that, "There is hope for The Elephants to perform better." The paper however, called Saturday’s clash as "the match of all regrets."

5. With a picture of Didier Drogba kissing the ball after scoring The Elephants’ sole goal when they played against Argentina, Le Courrier d’Abidjan says, "The Elephants lost a battle and not the war." In a letter of encouragement to the President of the Ivoirian Football Federation (FIF), Jacques Anouma, President Laurent Gbagbo salutes "the brave athletes and the technical staff for their determination and self-sacrifice, and the people of Côte d’Ivoire for their mobilization and strong support to the national team."

6. La Patriote, a daily owned by the opposition RDR party, called Saturday’s failure of The Elephants as "a defeat of Henri Michel."

7. "Why The Elephants fell before Argentina," asks Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately owned daily close to the ex-ruling party PDCI-RDA. According to the paper, the defeat was due to a catalogue of problems including, "The choice of the players and coaching."

8. In addition to its sports coverage, Fraternité Matin also ran a banner headline saying, "University teachers defy Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny, as they launched an indefinite strike to press for better working conditions.

9. On the peace process underway in the West African cocoa-rich country, Le Nouveau Réveil disclosed that, "The dismantlement of the militia groups is postponed to 16 June 2006." "The decision," reports the paper, "Came after the Coordinator of the Disarmament Program, General Gaston Ouasséna Koné and the leader of the Total Liberation of Grand West (FLGO), Denis Maho Glofié, reached an agreement a few days ago."

June 9, 2006

1. As the World Cup begins today in Germany, Friday’s papers in Côte d’Ivoire looks at the chances for The Elephants, Ivoirian national squad at the tournament.

2. Fraternité Matin runs an editorial welcoming the World Cup. The commentator, Jean-Baptiste Akrou, suggests that during the competition, "The name of Côte d’Ivoire should not rhyme only with words like crisis, partition, blue helmets, Licorne, militia groups, rebellion, death squad…" The writer also hopes that, "Through the performance of The Elephants, Côte d’Ivoire’s youth should gain a new image." The writer concludes, "The World Cup should help push forward the peace process underway in the country."

3. Speaking to the state-owned newspaper noted for its balanced reports, N’dri Romaric, one of The Elephants says that, "Our objective is show the same performance as during the recent African Cup of Nations." Meanwhile, "Supporters of the Ivoirian national team are crying fowl as their applications to obtain visas to travel to Germany have been rejected."

4. Still on the visa issue, Nord-Sud Quotidien, a daily close to the opposition RDR party, reports that, "Police used tear gas to disperse score of The Elephants’ supporters yesterday in front of the German Embassy in Abidjan as they were protesting the refusal of the German authorities to grant them a visa."

5. "Three thousands youth protesters thronged the German Embassy in Abidjan to press for visas," reports Le Front, a privately owned daily close to the New Forces.

6. To enable the population in the Abidjan district of Cocody to watch the World Cup matches, the Mayor, Jean-Baptiste Gomont, has installed three wide screens at the town hall and on the University of Cocody campus," reports Le Temps, a privately owned daily noted for its support of President Gbagbo.

7. In a center spread L’événement, a privately owned daily close to the opposition, describes the ambiance and measures put in place by the German authorities to facilitate the smooth operation of the world competition. According to the paper, Mamadou and Mariam, Mali’s renowned blind artists will have a privilege to sing the hymn opening the tournament. According to Alexis Adélé, L’événement’s special correspondent in Hamburg, Germany, "The competition will cost the hosts 25 million Euros."

8. According to L’intelligent d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily noted for its balanced reports, "The United Nations has joined the International Association of Football Federations (FIFA) to launch a global peace campaign."

9. Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily close to the opposition, sends a message to The Elephants as the Ivoirian squad is set to clash tomorrow with the world-soccer power, Argentina in Hamburg. The message reads: "Elephants, in the face of adversity, be worthy." The paper strongly believes that the match between Argentina and Côte d’Ivoire will be "a remake of Argentina versus Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions during 1990 World Cup."

10. From Germany, The Elephants speak to Ivoirians on the front page of Le Matin d’Abidjan, a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Gbagbo. "We’re a team to be taken seriously," says Arthur Boka, the left fullback of The Elephants. The paper described, "The boys as the flag-bearer of the African continent."

11. "Côte d’Ivoire can take people by surprise," says the world’s leading football maestro and Chairman of the Organization Committee of the 2006 World Cup, Franz Beckenbauer in Le Courrier d’Abidjan, a paper close to the government. German coach Jurgen Klinsmann also believes in the possibility for the "victory of the Elephants".

12. Friday’s satire GBICH! newspaper shows a front-page cartoon depicting President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny in a peace train with a headline reading: "The World Cup kicks off, with the train of peace." On board are passengers bearing placards reading "FPI, PDCI-RDA, and RDR…"

June 8, 2006

1. The disarmament program originally scheduled to kick off today, the controversy over the burial ceremony of late leader of the military junta, General Robert Guéi, and the feverish atmosphere that has gripped Ivoirians on the eve of the World Cup are the main topics in today’s Ivoirian press.

2. “Dismantlement of the militia groups postponed!” This is a banner headline that runs across the daily Fraternité Matin as the state-owned daily quotes the Coordinator of the Disarmament Program, General Gaston Ouasséna Koné saying, “It’s not a question of force.” According to the paper noted for its balanced reports, “the decision to postpone the program came after a protracted meeting yesterday between General Ouasséna and leaders of the main self-defense groups [militia].” 

3. The paper also quotes the leader of the Front for the Total Liberation of Grand West (FLGO), Denis Maho Glofié, as saying, “We’ll meet tomorrow [today] to clarify positions and set new dates. It [the dismantlement] will be delayed for 10 days.” However, the militia said, “The meeting was useful…All the other leaders attended the meeting. We talked with General Ouasséna and we agreed to postpone the exercise for 10 days.” 

4. “Maho Glofié defies Ouasséna Koné,” writes Le Front on its front page. According to the privately owned daily close to the New Forces, “While the militia leader said his movement was not participating in the disarmament program because they were not affiliated with the discussions, this was in fact an effort the part of certain Ivoirians to block the peace process.” The paper called on the coordinator of the program to be, “firm if he wants to successfully conduct the disarmament.” 

5. After the postponement of the disarmament program, 24 Heures, a privately-owned daily close to the opposition said: “The train of peace has broken down at Guiglo.” According to the paper, “the delay of the dismantlement of the militia groups is due to the confusion they face.”

6. Le Patriote, a daily close to the opposition RDR party described the adjournment of the disarmament program as “a rendez-vous missed.” The paper explains that, “In any civilized state where there is a rule of law, militia groups constitute a cancer and a danger for the Republic, for they work for their own interests.” On the front page of Le Patriote, General Mathias Doué [ex-Commander of Côte d’Ivoire Armed Forces] broke his silence saying, “Mangou led the operation.” The paper says, “General Doué was speaking from hideout after reports held him responsible for the bombardment of a French military base in Bouaké in November, 2006.”

7. “We’re here to take the body of General Guéi,” says a front-page story carried by Dernières Nouvelles d’Abidjan. The paper was quoting one of the brothers of the late president who wants to “burry him in Kabakouma, his home village.”

8. Still on the controversy over the burial of the ex-president, Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling FPI party says, “Mabri [former health minister and a leading member of the UDPCI party] asks for six billion [CFA] for the ceremony.”

9. In a front-page story, Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately owned daily, close to the opposition, disclosed that “The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have an explosive report on economic reforms underway in Côte d’Ivoire in different sectors including coffee, cocoa, and petrol.”

June 2, 2006

1. Friday’s Ivoirian press is dominated by a lingering standoff between the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mamadou Koulibaly and opposition members of Parliament. Another major story in the press today is the agreement reached yesterday between the Ivoirian forces and New Forces to begin the disarmament on 8 June.

2. L’événement, a privately owned daily close to the opposition, carried a banner headline entitled: "Military dialogue: The disarmament to kick off on 8 June." The paper published the final communiqué issued following yesterday’s military meetings. The communiqué suggests that, "The disarmament and disbandment of the militia groups will begin on June 8th." On the deployment of the administration throughout the country, the military leaders said, "Political leaders should see to this program," the communiqués says, adding however that, "The government forces and New Forces will need to secure the operation and create a favorable environment."

3. "Peace is here…" Le Nouveau Réveil, a privately owned daily close to the ex-ruling party quoted the Ivoirian Defense Minister, Aphing Kouassi, who was speaking on the side of the ongoing military conclave. In another development, the paper publishes a full page of a program designed by Professor Salif N’Diaye to salvage the Ivoirian education system, which according to the writer is threatened by what he calls: "Intellectual genocide."

4. According to Soir Info, a privately owned daily, "The rebellion demands the disarmament of security companies." Addressing the press after the conclusion of yesterday’s negotiations, reports that paper, "the military Commander of New Forces, Colonel Soumaila Bakayoko insisted for the identification of the ex-combatants to allow them to have their nationality papers." To guarantee the success of the disarmament scheme, the New Forces leader said: "It’s important to disarm security companies because some are legal and many others are illegal and are holding firearms."

5. Speaking to Fraternité Matin, the military Commander of New Forces said: "The Armed Forces of the New Forces are fully committed to peace." In a bid to reassure the protagonists in the Ivoirian peace process, the UN Secretary General Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Pierre Schori said: "We’re moving in the right direction, there is no cause for panic." The state-owned daily newspaper noted for its balanced reports also disclosed that, "The cost of the recent pilot identification program is estimated at 12 billions CFA Francs." Meanwhile, the paper suggests that, "The success of the program depends on the disarmament of the ex-combatants and dismantlement of the militia groups."

6. "The rebels claim identity cards as a condition for their disarmament," says a banner headline carried by Notre Voie, a daily owned by the ruling FPI party. On how to conduct the disarmament program, the paper proposes that, "Côte d’Ivoire should go to Liberia’s school." According to Notre Voie, "Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi castigated the sponsors of the rebels in Côte d’Ivoire." Muammar Gaddafi was speaking at the Community of the Sahelian-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)’s summit in Tripoli which was attended by President Gbagbo.

7. The standoff that opposes the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mamadou Koulibaly against opposition members of the Parliament makes headline in Nord-Sud Quotidien, a privately owned daily close to the opposition. According to the paper, twenty-one MPs returned to the parliament yesterday. During the session, reports the paper, "Mamadou Koulibaly and MPs from the presidential camp amended articles of House’s rules and regulations paving the way sanctions to be taken against the opposition lawmakers who have been boycotting parliament’s session."

8. Finally, Le Temps a privately owned daily noted for its support for President Laurent Gbagbo published a letter from Bedi Holy to the US Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Aubrey Hooks. The writer thanks Ambassador Hooks for "his kindness towards the people of Côte d’Ivoire," adding: "Your country has fully understood the retrograde and unhealthy imperialism that Côte d’Ivoire is facing."