American Embassy's National Daily Press Review

August 26, 2008

The TV broadcast declaration of the Forces Nouvelles following protests by ex-combatants in Bouake (rebel held zone), which resulted in the decision to suspend all large military gatherings in the rebel held zone, and comments about the visit of Mr. Bedie, President of the opposition Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), in Sakassou (near Bouake in the rebel held zone) are the top stories in today’s Ivorian newspapers. The Democratic convention in the United States of America also leads the headlines in some Ivorian newspapers.

1. Le Temps (a daily close to the ruling party) carries a banner a headline revealing that Mr. Ouattara, President of the opposition Republican Rally party (RDR), is planning to overthrow Prime Minister Soro from his position as Secretary General of the Forces Nouvelles. The paper said that Ouattara and Bedie suspect Soro of favoring Gbagbo during the upcoming presidential elections.

2. In the same vain, L’Inter (an independent daily) quotes Forces Nouvelles Chief of Staff, General Bakayoko on the protesting groups, as saying: "It was a conspiracy …" According to the paper, the Forces Nouvelles Staff Head-quarters outwitted a plan that was prepared to cause unrest in major cities under the Forces Nouvelles' control. The paper suggests that the protests by the ex-combatants are not just over money, but are orchestrated to achieve a change in leadership in the Forces Nouvelles.

3. Similarly, Le Patriote (a daily close to the opposition) concluded that the former combatants' protests in Bouake were part of a conspiracy to control Bouake (Centre), Man (West) and Touba (North-West) (currently held by the Forces Nouvelles).

4. "We did not join the Forces Nouvelles to make money" Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) quotes the Forces Nouvelles Chief of Staff, General Bakayoko, who was commenting on the former Forces Nouvelles combatants’ protests in Bouake. He explained that the Forces Nouvelles began their rebellion to seek improved conditions for the population in northern Cote d'Ivoire.

5. L'Intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) reports on the same story in a full page interview with the Commandant Abou Fama, head of the Prime Minister's private security group. Fama focused on the need to consolidate the peace agreement by uniting the rebel and government forces in the South and North of the country; he indicated that the Forces Nouvelles will not tolerate trouble in their own zone anymore.

6. In a front-page story, Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the former ruling party) comments positively on the Bedie visit in central Cote d'Ivoire, in Sakassou. The paper quotes Mr. Bedie as saying: "I am here to weepwith you". For the paper the Walebo (people from Sakassou, central Cote d'Ivoire) have been neglected and should turn down the ruling FPI at the upcoming elections.

United States of America

7. L’Intelligent d’Abidjan (an independent daily) releases the second in a series of "postal cards" sent by its correspondent who is in the US to cover the Democratic Party's convention in Denver. The report noted that the atmosphere is very festive and warm, along with the serious business being conducted.