September 15, 2010

The UN envoy’s pledge to offer financial and technical support ahead of the October 31 presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire is the subject of front-page stories in many dailies today. The dailies also report on a meeting Tuesday between Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro and candidates in the up-coming elections. The general political atmosphere in the country in the run-up to the much-awaited elections, the political stalemate in neighboring Guinea (Conakry), reports on community violence in southwestern Cote d’Ivoire, Ivorian-French bilateral relations, and the decision by workers of the customs services to embark on a strike are the other major news items. A front-page story in the weekly Moslem newspaper Islam Info says that President Obama opposes extremism. 

1. A prominent story in the state-owned daily Fraternite Matin says the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) has pledged to help the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) complete eight major tasks in order to have the presidential elections take place on October 31. “We’ll accompany and support the Independent Electoral Commission. We won’t replace the CEI,” the paper quotes UN Envoy, Y. J. Choi, who was speaking yesterday after talks with Youssouf Bakayoko, the Chairman of the electoral body in Abidjan. The report also says that, with only six weeks to go the polls, the UN mission in Cote d’Ivoire is committed to support the electoral watchdog to ensure holding free and transparent elections. According to the paper, the two bodies are committed to work together in order to complete eight major tasks, including: The distribution of the voter cards and ID cards; the establishment of a full electoral map; recruitment and training of some 66,000 polling agents, electoral observation, transport and delivery of electoral documents, establishment of a center to collect electoral results and security during the polls.
2. Another major report in Fraternite Matin says Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro on Tuesday called for “a violence-free campaign” in the run-up to the crucial presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire. Soro, the paper says, met with some candidates in the next presidential elections to reassure them that the polls will take place on October 31 according to schedule. “I can assure you that the government is fully committed to respect the date of October 31,” the premier is quoted as saying. He also hoped that the electoral commission will resolve some pending issues, especially the printing and distribution of the national ID and voting cards.
3. With more on the government’s commitment to holding a peaceful election, a report in Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) says the Prime Minister, who was meeting with the country’s traditional chiefs on Monday, urged them to help keep a peaceful atmosphere during the electoral process. “I’ve called you today to seek your support in informing the population to vote in a brotherly and peaceful atmosphere.” In a related development, a report in L’inter (an independent daily) announces that the Prime Minister is due to meet today with the diplomatic corps over the electoral process.
4. The question relating to the certification of the results of the coming elections is also the subject of a front-page story in Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the cabinet of the Prime Minister). Under a headline that says “Who will certify the results?” the paper suggests that the issue over the certification of the Ivorian elections could become a bone of contention between UNOCI and the Constitutional Court. The report further explains that the UN mission in Cote d’Ivoire has the international backup to see to the certification of the results, while the Constitutional Council is, by the law of the land, the institution vested with the power to have the final say on electoral results in Cote d’Ivoire. To add more to the controversy, the paper recalls a statement made earlier by the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Paul Yao-N’Dre, who reportedly said: “The UN is not the judge who gives the final decision. That’s the job of the Constitutional Court…”
5. Meanwhile, a front-page report in Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition RDR party) says French Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire Jean-Marc Simon has expressed “optimism” about the peace process underway in Cote d’Ivoire. Speaking yesterday after talks with the Ivorian opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, the French diplomat reportedly said: “I am sure that we are on good track, we are close to the end of the tunnel…”
6. Ivorian-French relations also make a prominent headline in Fraternite Matin, which announces “a rapprochement” between President Laurent Gbagbo and his French counterpart, Nicholas Sarkozy. According to the paper, a top French official is expected in Abidjan “to cement Ivorian-French relations.” Quoting diplomatic sources, the paper hints that, barring the unexpected, Claude Gueant, an aide to the French president, will arrive in Abidjan before the October 31 presidential elections as part of an official visit, prompting the paper to say that, after years of misunderstanding, France and Cote d’Ivoire seem ready to turn the page. The report also quotes a French official as saying recently that France will send an official to Cote d’Ivoire after the publication of the final voter list.
7. As Ivorians are preparing to go the polls on October 31, an article in L’inter suggests that there is a need to learn lessons from what it calls “the Guinean scenario.” The paper says that, with only five days to go to the polls in this neighboring country, the whole electoral process hangs in the balance, with no guarantee as to whether the second round of the presidential elections, set for September 19, would take place or not. Back to the situation in Cote d’Ivoire, the paper comments that the October 31 presidential elections in this country and the second round of the polls in Guinea are equally important, as they are set to restore peace to both West African countries. The paper calls for swift measures to be taken in order to avoid the Guinean scenario from happening in Cote d’Ivoire.
8. Meanwhile, a prominent story in L’Inter says a score of people were seriously injured in the south-eastern region of Fresco following clashes between local communities and aliens. According to the paper, a dispute over land ownership in the region has sparked the violence between members of the local community and Burkinabe aliens. The report also says that government officials are trying to bring peace back to the region, while security forces are on high alert. “Nearly 30 persons were injured and two other are reported missing, as Burkinabe attack Kosso,” says Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling FPI party), which is also reporting on the same event.
9. In another development, a front-page story in Le Nouveau Courrier (a daily close to the ruling FPI party) says that activities at the customs services are likely to be brought to a standstill, as customs workers are threatening to embark on a strike today. However, the report says that the workers are divided over the industrial action.
10. Finally, with a picture of President Obama on its front-page, the weekly Moslem newspaper Islam Info carries a prominent article saying that the American president opposes extremism. The full article, which appears on the back page, quotes President Obama as saying: “The US will never go to war against Islam.” President Obama, the paper says, was speaking during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks; and called on Americans to be “tolerant.”