Review of the Ivorian Press, Thursday 27 June 2013

27 Jun 2013

Review of the Ivorian Press, Thursday 27 June 2013

d of the UN Police (UNPOL) in Cote d'Ivoire, Divisional Commissioner Jean-Marie Bourry has come to the end of his assignment after a 4-year tour of office. In a farewell ceremony yesterday, the Ivorian Minister of State for Interior, Hamed Bakayoko paid homage to the outgoing UNPOL Chief, hailing him for his"commitment, devotedness and availability."



L'Inter: Political dialogue between the government and 'small' opposition parties resumed on Monday 24 June while the resumption of talks with the former ruling FPI party is conditional. An FPI press statement which reached the paper on Tuesday states that the general secretariat of the party "remains convinced that the immediate and unconditional release of FPI youth wing leader, Koua Justin and the effective implementation of the points that were mutually agreed upon during the first phase of the political dialogue would, without doubt, create a favourable environment for the resumption of the negotiations."



In another development, the Ivorian government Spokesman, Bruno Kone has responded to the FPI demands, saying the party was not addressing itself to the right person. According to L'Inter, Soir Info, L'Expression, Le Jour Plus, Le Patriote, the government spokesman said after a cabinet meeting yesterday that with regard to the FPI demand for the release of its youth wing leader and other political prisoners, "the government does not meddle with the activities of the judiciary. I think it (the party) is not addressing itself to the right person."



Sud: The Minister of Justice has explained that it was not easy to hold all the hearings and conduct cross examinations in all the cases against persons accused of crimes committed during the post electoral crisis in a short space of time. Mr. Gnenema Coulibaly said there were a total of 27 files concerning 3,500 persons whose cases cannot be treated within a short period of time. "Two years may appear to be long but two years is not excessive considering the weight of the files and the number of accused persons," he explained.



Le Jour Plus: Fourteen gendarmerie sub officers including one lieutenant are to appear before the Abidjan Military Tribunal today for violating regulations governing the keeping of arms. Arms and ammunition were found in their homes after a search on 14 October 2011. The arms were supposed to have been turned in to the arms magazine. The search was conducted after gunshots were heard on the night of 14 October 2011 at the Abidjan gendarmerie barracks at Agban and the broadcast of a message on the gendarmerie radio network calling for the liberation of Cote d'Ivoire.



L'Inter: A company of the 2nd Infantry battalion of the Ivorian Army in Daloa has undergone medical examination with a view to deployment to Mali which is preparing to hold presidential election on 28 July 2013.



Sud: The Ivorian government has given its approval of the appointment of Mr. Terence Patrick McCulley as US ambassador extraordinary to Cote d'Ivoire with residence in Abidjan. He replaces Philipp Carter III who leaves Cote d'Ivoire after a 4-year term of service.