Sara Atteby

Suspense over in Ivory Coast as Gbagbo and Ouattara face 2nd round of Presidential Elections

6 novembre 2010 by Sara Atteby

The people of the Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) were able to return to routine life once more after 3 days of suspense, fervently awaiting the final results of the presidential election held this Sunday, 31^st October. In stark contrast to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week where in Abidjan the streets were empty, schools were closed and many businesses shut. Even taxis were hard to come by. This was reflected across the nation’s cities and towns where the mood was tense but the people were patient.

After the initial joy at the success of Sunday’s vote, many people were unsurprisingly frustrated at the electoral commission’s delay in announcing the outcome. Partial results were released on Monday from expats living abroad, a trickle of results were then announced later on RTI (the national television station), but further delays meant rumours spread and a mass of unofficial results were published online on Twitter and Facebook.

Just after midnight (and just after the planned deadline) on Wednesday evening the final official results were announced, allowing the people of Ivory Coast to breathe a sigh of relief. Former President (1993-1999) Henri Konan Bédié on 25.24%, former Prime Minister Allassane Ouattara (1990-1993) on 32.08% and Current President Laurent Gbagbo on 38.30%, with no one gaining absolute majority, Ouattara and Gbagbo will now meet head to head in a second round of voting on the 21^st November.

By Sara Atteby

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Ivory Coast Presidential Elections are a great Success: Transparent, Peaceful & Well Organised

31 octobre 2010 by Sara Atteby

There is a great sense of joy and also relief in the Ivory Coast this evening as poles closed on this most historic presidential election. Eager to have their vote counted, many arrived early at polling stations across the country with early reports suggesting a turnout of 70%.

A positive sign of confidence in the legitimacy of this election, attendance today for this first round of elections was very high. Expats throughout Europe also turned out with mostly high attendance and voters were in good spirits with few incidents.

Only in France, LeParisien.fr reported that clashes in the country had led to the closure of 5 polling stations in Paris, Sevran, Aubervilliers, Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis) and Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine). Police also used tear gas to fend of voters in the city of Créteil. Ivorians were then denied access to polling stations, some traversing the country in order to have their vote counted. As a result, 18 of the 19 members of the independent Electoral Commission have called for the vote in France to be annulled.

UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Y. J. Choi said of the election today, « I congratulate Ivorians who have mastered their passion and emotion and have come out massively to exercise their civil right, peacefully and with discipline after having been patient for so long. »

By Sara Atteby

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Making a killing out of football: The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) Replies to Allegations

28 octobre 2010 by Sara Atteby

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has today responded to a report on the state of Football in the Ivory Coast published on the 26th October by the website “abidjan.net” as well as the dailies “L’Intelligent d’Abidjan” and “Nord-Sud Quotidien”.

The report compiled by the forum for African Investigative Reporters’ entitled “Making a killing out of football: African reporters investigate”, claimed that the Ivorian Football Federation and its President, Mr. Jacques Anouma were guilty of alarming financial irregularities.

FIF dismiss the allegations calling the report “Nothing but slander”. Denying any involvement in such “obscure and immoral practices” the Ivorian Football Federation has called upon the journalists behind the report to “leave their lair and offload their gravediggers’ clothes of Ivorian football to appear before the constituents in the forthcoming General Assembly elective of the FIF”.

Nigeria and Cameroon were also mentioned in the report published on 26^th October 2010, and below are some of the findings concerning the Ivory Coast Football Federation:

■ FIF received $1.6m a year from the Ivorian Petrol Refinery Company, SIR, but local clubs never got any of the money. The fund’s existence only became public when SIR stopped the donations in 2007 on discovering the money was not being distributed.

■ Sports donations from the corporate sector are now routinely paid directly to the sports minister, to « avoid the money falling into the hands of [FIF president and Fifa executive member Jacques] Anouma ». The problem is exacerbated by the fact he is now also the chief financial officer.

■ In 2008 FIF announced a $2.2m surplus, with Anouma saying: « Stop accusing us of using taxpayers’ money, Fifa gives us money. » However, their own 2007 internal report detailed donations from the state run coffee-cocoa industry of more than $4m, and sources suggest a further $6m comes direct from the state.

■ Local clubs are angry about claims that players and officials are put up in plush hotels and provided with prostitutes for internationals, paid for by these state funds.

■ Even Fifa recognise the problems at FIF, announcing that they would market the Ivory Coast’s 2010 World Cup ticket allocation to « minimise the risk of fraud ».

The full response from the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) can be read here (in French): http://www.fif-ci.com/une-details.php?newsID=1677

By Sara Atteby

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Candidate’s Slogans for the Ivory Coast Presidential Elections on October 31st, 2010

26 octobre 2010 by Sara Atteby

After 10 years of mess, stammering, Institutional disorder, unjustified rebellion and political cacophony, the Ivorians were able to regain their right to vote this Sunday, October 31st to decide between 14 candidates.

If the population is apparently excited to again enjoy their democratic rights, the candidates seem to be even more galvanized and hyper excited. Everyone feels endowed with magical powers to immediately transform the Ivory Coast in to a developed country. But what is most striking are the slogans and sayings highly inspired by the spirit of creativity of the Ivorians. And so, it is our pleasure to present you some of the leitmotifs of our candidates.
Francis Wodie: « I am physically, intellectually and spiritually different from the other candidates »

Jacqueline Oble: « Let’s cross our arms to build the future »

Laurent Gbagbo: « This election is the battle for the sovereignty of Cote d’Ivoire against the Masks from abroad »

Gnamien Konan: « We must save the schools because they are like our blood. If the school is polluted, the whole system is sick »

Anaky Kobenan: « With tourism, I will bring in more money than the binomial coffee and cocoa industry »

DAHICO Adama: « I am the only candidate on the list with a bubu (robe) and white hat »

Mabri Toikeuse: « We must reduce the powers of the President of the Republic »

Bédié: « This will be my last term »

Allassane Ouattara: « I ask only 5 years »

Konan Kouadio Simeon: « I am the neutral peacemaker »

Translation by Sara Atteby

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Ivory Coast Elections: US Renew Travel Warning

21 octobre 2010 by Sara Atteby

The U.S. Department of State yesterday renewed its travel warning for the Ivory Coast. Replacing the previous warning from 12^th May 2010, the United States are advising “U.S. citizens to exercise caution should they travel to Cote d’Ivoire, and to take special care when travelling outside Abidjan. Security conditions in the north and in the west can deteriorate without warning.”

This despite the United Nations recent expression of confidence in the elections in the West African nation. UN representative Young-jin Choi stated that “campaigning is evolving in accordance with democratic rules despite the passion inherent in this kind of event. » And also that “the campaign period for the Oct. 31 presidential election has taken off peacefully.”

It may be that elections in the Ivory Coast will go to a second round and the U.S Department of State have declared that they believe this to be a very likely possibility, which could then lead to violent demonstrations.

The United States also renewed a travel warning on the 19^th October for Nigeria, specifically the Niger Delta region.

By Sara Atteby

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Football: Will Rooney Join Drogba at Chelsea?

20 octobre 2010 by Sara Atteby

Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba are two of the best strikers in the Premier League today. But will they join forces together in Chelsea?

This week several British tabloids published the news that Rooney wanted to leave Manchester United. Despite his recent poor performance, he is asking for a pay rise of more than £150000 after tax, per week.

Football insiders have debated that, considering the salary he is looking for, within the Premier League only Manchester City or Chelsea could afford him. Surely he can not go to Manchester City; the prodigal son of Sir Alex Ferguson. But would he be wanted in Chelsea? According to Manager Ancelotti, the answer is yes. He said, “If they really want to sell him and, also, if Rooney is on the market, not just Chelsea would be interested but a lot of other teams as well.”

Former Chelsea manager, Mourinho was asked last night how he viewed Rooney’s situation and said that he thought Rooney would not leave Man U, « He will stay … I believe he belongs to Manchester United, he belongs to Manchester United fans, he belongs to Old Trafford.” However, if it did happen that he left, Mourinho stated that he would not hesitate to take him to Madrid to join his former Man United team mate, Ronaldo. “…give me a call. Everybody will be interested”.

By Sara Atteby