CE 31 OCTOBRE 2013--PARLER de LA COTE DIVOIRE en ANGLAIS... 1. Reactions after ICC says Gbagbo must to remain in custody The decision made yesterday by the International Criminal Court (ICC) that former Ivoirian President Laurent Gbagbo must remain in custody ahead of his trial on charges of crimes against humanity orchestrated during the 2011 post-election violence in Cote d’Ivoire sparked mixed reactions in the local press. With a picture of Gbagbo listening to the verdict, pro-government newspaper Le Jour Plus (pp. 2&3) says, “The ICC has shut down the dream of his supporters.” “Gbagbo’s supporters broke into tears,” reads a prominent headline in L’Expression (p. 1) which carries a commentary (p. 2) saying that, “This disillusion should serve as lesson to the FPI,” the former ruling party. On the same tone, Le Patriote (p. 2) says the decision by the ICC is “a victory” for Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. The paper also opines that the verdict marks the beginning of “Gbagbo’s downfall.” Reporting on the ambiance in Gbagbo’s hometown of Gagnoa, Nord-Sud Quotidien (p. 2) says plans for a celebration of Gbagbo’s eventual freedom were cancelled. The tone is different in pro-opposition newspaper Notre Voie (p. 2), which tells readers that two of the ICC’s judges opposed the decision to keep Gbagbo in custody. A commentary carried by the paper on the same page also suggests that, despite being maintained in custody, the former president is still innocent until the court finds him guilty. In the wake of the court’s decision, Le Temps (p. 2) denounces the “parody,” adding that the former Ivoirian president has become a thorn in the side of the ICC’s judges. The paper also denounces what it sees as a “plot” against Gbagbo. Le Nouveau Courrier (p. 6) also denounces the “political decision.” The paper reports insiders as saying the decision behind Gbagbo staying in custody could be linked to fears that his release would spark trouble in Cote d’Ivoire. A report in Fraternite Matin (p. 9) quotes Joel N’Guessan, spokesperson of President Alassane Ouattara’s ruling RDR party as saying that the decision made yesterday by the ICC has brought to an end “predictions” on the eventual release of Gbagbo. N’Guessan also believes that the decision was a sign that the court was more concerned about the cases of the victims. Meanwhile, Pascal Affi N’Guessan, president of Gbagbo’s FPI party, expressed “optimism” reports the paper. 2. Two soldiers injured after new armed attack A report in Soir Info (p. 3) says two soldiers were injured following an attack on government forces at a check-point near the town of Agboville, about 80 kilometers north of Abidjan. The report notes that this new attack came barely four days after an assault Saturday on government forces in the same region. Despite the assurance given by the Ministry in charge of Defense, Agboville was hit a second time in less than a week, notes Notre Voie (p. 5). 3. Five suspected to be jihadists arrested in Abidjan Reports in the press today say that five Mauritanian citizens suspected to be jihadists have been arrested in Abidjan. According to L’Inter (p. 3), which attributes the source to pointschauds.info, a Mauritanian online news site, four of the alleged terrorists were arrested at Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport in Abidjan while the fifth was arrested later. 4. Local NGO calls for constitutional amendment A report in L’Inter (p. 5) says Aimons Notre Afrique (We Love Our Africa), an Ivoirian NGO, has called for a review of the Ivoirian Constitution. The paper quotes the head of the group, Harouna Douamba, as saying at a press conference Monday that an amendment should be added that creates a vice-president in Cote d’Ivoire. “The post of vice-president is a security guarantee for the population,” the paper quotes Douamba as saying. 5. AU meeting of mediators, envoys on conflict resolution opens in Abidjan A conference of African Union’s mediators and special envoys opened Tuesday in Abidjan, reports Fraternite Matin (p. 6). The conference, which is being organized in conjunction with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of independence in Africa, will also try to evaluate progress made in peace maintaining on the continent. 6. Prime Minister Duncan holds talks with UNSG’s special adviser on the prevention of genocide According to Fraternite Matin (p. 8), Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan held talks Tuesday with the UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng. “We have to ensure that peace prevails in Cote d’Ivoire,” the paper quotes Dieng as saying. A report in Le Patriote (p. 4) says Dieng, who met with the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the conference of African Union’s mediators and special envoys, commended Cote d’Ivoire for preventing genocide in the past. 7. Cote d’Ivoire improves record on doing business Cote d’Ivoire has risen six positions in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report for 2014, rising from 173 to 167, reports Fraternite Matin (p. 16). According to the paper, the report also ranks Cote d’Ivoire the top economy in Africa that has recorded the highest growth. 8. Ivoirian First Lady, American University sign deal to fight child trafficking According to Fraternite Matin (p. 13), Ivoirian First Lady Dominique Ouattara has signed an agreement with Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana in a bid to fight child trafficking. The deal, signed Monday in Washington D.C., seeks among other things to establish cooperation in order to conduct research regarding the Harkin–Engel Protocol. Also known as the Cocoa Protocol, this effort is aimed at ending the worst forms of child labor and forced labor in the production of cocoa in Cote d’Ivoire, the largest producer of cocoa in the world °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire. The opinions expressed in these reviews in no way reflect the views of the United States Government and are presented for informational purposes only. The accuracy of reports contained in this summary has not been confirmed by the Embassy. For questions regarding this service, please contact: Mr. Folli Teko in the Public Affairs Press Office, [email protected].
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:46:42 +0000