Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
How a democrat was ousted for a dictator
COTE D’IVOIRE: How the pro-Ouattara had prepared an offensive against Gbagbo
It only took four days for the Republican Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) Alassane Ouattara to overthrow the balance of power with his rival, Laurent Gbagbo. Party on March 28 in western countries, FRCI had earlier taken control of towns and Toulépleu Bloléquin to cut off the Liberian militia recruited by the Gbagbo camp. The strategy of the President’s Men Ivorian recognized by the international community has allowed them to seize almost all of the country the evening of March 31. Come and put the seat in front of the residence and the presidential palace in Abidjan …
To ensure the success of the company, FRCI – new name given to the pro-Ouattara umbrella soldiers from the former rebel New Forces (FN) and a pro-Gbagbo “returned” or rallied – took the time to leave nothing to chance. “The case has been thoroughly prepared. Fini improvisation in September 2002 when the first military operation against Laurent Gbagbo. At the time, the rebels did not even using radio to communicate. Just phone satellite. Thus, at the headquarters of the gendarmerie camp of Agban in Abidjan, they were unable to prevent their comrades they were short of ammunition and had to give up …, “writes Christopher Boisbouvier in the last issue of the weekly “Jeune Afrique”. Distribution Equipment
preparations for the operation began after the call last December 16 by the camp Ouattara to walk on the Ivorian Radio and Television (RTI) in the upmarket Cocody, Abidjan, to install the new CEO of the chain. Refugees at the Hotel du Golf, where they were protected by UNOCI peacekeepers after the refusal of Laurent Gbagbo to concede defeat in the presidential election of November 28, Alassane Ouattara and his family then wanted to drop this holder strategic voice of propaganda of the supporters of outgoing president.
trying to pave the way for demonstrators blocked by a dam Defense Forces and Security (FDS) loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the FN have been repulsed at once by machine gun and 20mm gun …
At the same time, they also tried to Tiebissou, a strategic town in the center of the country, between Bouake, rebel-held, and Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Ivory Coast, but there had also met strong resistance from SDS. “The forces in favor of Alassane Ouattara were then impressed with the firepower of the pro-Gbagbo. From there, they began to reorganize, initially with the hope that the ECOWAS [Economic Community of 'West Africa, Ed] would give them a helping hand “, decrypts an attentive observer of the Ivorian quagmire who prefers to remain anonymous.
reorganization, because they can ultimately rely on the support of the military organization of West Africa, begins with a distribution to the soldiers of equipment needed to mount the front. Many cases of arms and ammunition were actually discharged on the tarmac of the airport in Bouake in recent weeks. Others have also passed through the border in Burkina Faso, say informed sources that support their claims on return flights to Ouagadougou recurrent made by some leaders of FRCI. “Just look at the photos published these days in the press to see: the weapons of the pro-Ouattara are new!”, Is a journalist specializing in Africa based in Paris, contacted by FRANCE 24. RPG-7, RPG-9, Famas, ammunition …: material forwarded to the men of Alassane Ouattara also includes the night combat equipment, whose use has proved decisive in the capture of several towns in the west the country in late March.
undermining
his headquarters in Abidjan, the “Republic of Golf” derided by the Gbagbo camp does not neglect the training of its troops. A source close to the Ivorian military circles who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons, the best of FRCI have followed training camps in Burkina Faso and Nigeria in recent months under the guidance of American instructors and French. Information that the French Ministry of Defence, joined by FRANCE 24, refused to comment, but that seems to confirm a “member of the intelligence services” hex quoted by Le Canard Enchaine this April 6: “We have provided tactical advice to FRCI “says one.
It is true that since the kidnapping of five French nationals working for Areva in Niger, in September last year, Paris has deployed a detachment of Special Operations Command (SOC) in Ouagadougou to hunt fighters of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Sahel …
Always in the shadows at last, the camp began a Ouattara undermining forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo. Building on the contacts he has forged in the military during the three years he spent in the Prime alongside Laurent Gbagbo between 2007 and 2010, Guillaume Soro, the former head of FN and Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, has launched initiatives to try to return more officers of FDS. Apparently with some success: according to the same source Ivorian some “joined” have been associated with the development plan of attack by the western FRCI. While on the ground, the offensive remained in the hands of the “lords of the North”, the famous zone commanders who ran former FN – indeed – the regions conquered by the rebels since 2002.
It only took four days for the Republican Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) Alassane Ouattara to overthrow the balance of power with his rival, Laurent Gbagbo. Party on March 28 in western countries, FRCI had earlier taken control of towns and Toulépleu Bloléquin to cut off the Liberian militia recruited by the Gbagbo camp. The strategy of the President’s Men Ivorian recognized by the international community has allowed them to seize almost all of the country the evening of March 31. Come and put the seat in front of the residence and the presidential palace in Abidjan …
To ensure the success of the company, FRCI – new name given to the pro-Ouattara umbrella soldiers from the former rebel New Forces (FN) and a pro-Gbagbo “returned” or rallied – took the time to leave nothing to chance. “The case has been thoroughly prepared. Fini improvisation in September 2002 when the first military operation against Laurent Gbagbo. At the time, the rebels did not even using radio to communicate. Just phone satellite. Thus, at the headquarters of the gendarmerie camp of Agban in Abidjan, they were unable to prevent their comrades they were short of ammunition and had to give up …, “writes Christopher Boisbouvier in the last issue of the weekly “Jeune Afrique”. Distribution Equipment
preparations for the operation began after the call last December 16 by the camp Ouattara to walk on the Ivorian Radio and Television (RTI) in the upmarket Cocody, Abidjan, to install the new CEO of the chain. Refugees at the Hotel du Golf, where they were protected by UNOCI peacekeepers after the refusal of Laurent Gbagbo to concede defeat in the presidential election of November 28, Alassane Ouattara and his family then wanted to drop this holder strategic voice of propaganda of the supporters of outgoing president.
trying to pave the way for demonstrators blocked by a dam Defense Forces and Security (FDS) loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the FN have been repulsed at once by machine gun and 20mm gun …
At the same time, they also tried to Tiebissou, a strategic town in the center of the country, between Bouake, rebel-held, and Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Ivory Coast, but there had also met strong resistance from SDS. “The forces in favor of Alassane Ouattara were then impressed with the firepower of the pro-Gbagbo. From there, they began to reorganize, initially with the hope that the ECOWAS [Economic Community of 'West Africa, Ed] would give them a helping hand “, decrypts an attentive observer of the Ivorian quagmire who prefers to remain anonymous.
reorganization, because they can ultimately rely on the support of the military organization of West Africa, begins with a distribution to the soldiers of equipment needed to mount the front. Many cases of arms and ammunition were actually discharged on the tarmac of the airport in Bouake in recent weeks. Others have also passed through the border in Burkina Faso, say informed sources that support their claims on return flights to Ouagadougou recurrent made by some leaders of FRCI. “Just look at the photos published these days in the press to see: the weapons of the pro-Ouattara are new!”, Is a journalist specializing in Africa based in Paris, contacted by FRANCE 24. RPG-7, RPG-9, Famas, ammunition …: material forwarded to the men of Alassane Ouattara also includes the night combat equipment, whose use has proved decisive in the capture of several towns in the west the country in late March.
undermining
his headquarters in Abidjan, the “Republic of Golf” derided by the Gbagbo camp does not neglect the training of its troops. A source close to the Ivorian military circles who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons, the best of FRCI have followed training camps in Burkina Faso and Nigeria in recent months under the guidance of American instructors and French. Information that the French Ministry of Defence, joined by FRANCE 24, refused to comment, but that seems to confirm a “member of the intelligence services” hex quoted by Le Canard Enchaine this April 6: “We have provided tactical advice to FRCI “says one.
It is true that since the kidnapping of five French nationals working for Areva in Niger, in September last year, Paris has deployed a detachment of Special Operations Command (SOC) in Ouagadougou to hunt fighters of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Sahel …
Always in the shadows at last, the camp began a Ouattara undermining forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo. Building on the contacts he has forged in the military during the three years he spent in the Prime alongside Laurent Gbagbo between 2007 and 2010, Guillaume Soro, the former head of FN and Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, has launched initiatives to try to return more officers of FDS. Apparently with some success: according to the same source Ivorian some “joined” have been associated with the development plan of attack by the western FRCI. While on the ground, the offensive remained in the hands of the “lords of the North”, the famous zone commanders who ran former FN – indeed – the regions conquered by the rebels since 2002.
They want to poison GBAGBO
Rumors of assassination of President Gbagbo, The strange silence of the regime OuattaraNotre-20/7/2011
The information is taken and distilled for a week on the Internet. She landed in a number of mailboxes and users to transfer it cheerfully. The authors say the information holding "sources close to some Western governments in Abidjan." She is persistent but the Ivorian power remains silent.The information is this: The Ambassadors "France and the U.S. have been asked to get their approval for a natural death of President Laurent Gbagbo in Korhogo under house arrest for nearly three months. It merely tells us that "the custodians of the palace of IvoryCoast, after analysis, have indicated to the two diplomats that it is almost impossible to govern Ivory Coast quietly with a leader the likes of Laurent Gbagbo in prison. They have added that too many of his supporters and military outside is a very high threat to the security of the Ivorian government. " So, from this alert on the net, the designers of the assassination of President Gbagbo are convinced that all Ivorians to the cause of ousted President April 11, 2011 by the French army is the hope of regaining state power to bring their champion to the highest office. To permanently destroy any hint of insurrection and bring in the Ivory Coast all the exiles, criminals who feed the idea of killing the former president believe, according to the information they need to remove the source of their hope. To do so, it would have been considered the death of President Laurent Gbagbo.But how? The strategy adopted is to cause natural death. To do so, it was decided to remove him from his personal physician to whom they have already indicated that he, Dr. Christopher Wheat, is not under house arrest but his patient. " The possibility he would be given back to his family and return to see his patient once a week. The physician, Dr. Christopher Wheat, has already agreed to the idea of seeing his nuclear family because his children are still in kindergarten and calling every day. "President Laurent Gbagbo is subject to regular monitoring of blood, this pernicious disease that would operate during the absence of his doctor, aggravating substances are added to a meal to ease the rising tension. So, slowly, the tension reaches a threshold of no return, which inevitably will cause natural death. An autopsy requested by his family will conclude that he died following an irreversible rise in blood: natural death. No one will know that the rise of tension was caused. In the turmoil, the medical staff would be subtracted to be protected in South Africa. Ordinary passport biometric was under garment as it will not use his diplomatic passport that requires a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "says the serious charge on the Internet. The principle of this scheme have been arrested. "But the big question is the attitude of the personal physician of President Gbagbo. Would it be complicit in the design or is it proof of the naivety of a person who is offered a chance to see his wife and children after three months of captivity? ".Finally, the authors of this information on the Internet questioning in connection with recent events: "What if, in addition to previously reported aspects of this humiliating celebration of July 14 by Francois Fillon in the new French colony of Côte d'Ivoire The visit was hiding something? And if it were for Ouattara and Soro Fillon, as well as the ambassadors of France and the United States (...) to discuss in person, to avoid leaving any traces, to refine this diabolical plan to physically remove Gbagbo? All signs must be on high alert. For the French and their supporters today in Côte d'Ivoire, are capable of anything.
This information circulating on the net has quietly gained momentum with the transfer of persons close to President Gbagbo in Boundiali (900 km north of Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire). Locked at the La Pergola New in Abidjan since the overthrow of President Gbagbo by the French army, 25 persons were conveyed by night to the north while the Minister of State, Justice Minister Alassane Ouattara was said they were waiting to be transferred to the Detention and Correction d'Abidjan (MACA) in repair until the end of this month. This brutal option to consolidate all political prisoners in Northern cities (Bouna, Katiola, Korhogo and Odienne) under the control of the rebellion of Alassane Ouattara since September 2002 has to say many observers that the new government took Ivorian Gbagbo and his family hostage for elusive goals. This leaves the field open to all the rumors, true or not.The most amazing thing in this case is that the plan is silent Ouattara deal with this information lying around everywhere in offices, homes and all the cyber cafes. It may be false, without any real basis, but more and more Ivorians are convinced that with Mr. Ouattara, the wildest rumors are always true: Beginning December 99, rumors of a coup had filled Abidjan. Bedie was overthrown on December 24 by the soldiers close to Ouattara, now an ally in the war against Gbagbo. In September 2002, rumors of a major military attack on the Côte d'Ivoire, from Burkina Faso, had enveloped the country. The editors of the daily Notre Voie had suffered the wrath of power then. He was accused of giving "alarming information that could deter investors." Assigned a rebellion by the warlord Zakaria Koné, Alassane Ouattara's rebels came from BURKINA FASO to cut IvoryCoast into two. As we approach the presidential election of November 2002, formalized by persistent rumors informants close to the DGSE (French secret service) had warned that without disarmament, France would organize the mess to overthrow Gbagbo. This is done since April 11, 2011. Finally, when the evaporation in the nature of the commander Abéhi Jean Noël, head of the armored squadron of the national police, while Abidjan had Rumours that the regime Ouattara, frightened, would transform the political prisoners as human shields to protect their power. This is done since Saturday, July 9, 2011, with the consolidation of all political prisoners in the north, in the cities of Korhogo, Odienné, Bouna and Katiola.So the rumors of "natural death of President Gbagbo scheduled to Korhogo" would it be able to confirm the exception of the rule? Let's see.
Cesar Etou
The information is taken and distilled for a week on the Internet. She landed in a number of mailboxes and users to transfer it cheerfully. The authors say the information holding "sources close to some Western governments in Abidjan." She is persistent but the Ivorian power remains silent.The information is this: The Ambassadors "France and the U.S. have been asked to get their approval for a natural death of President Laurent Gbagbo in Korhogo under house arrest for nearly three months. It merely tells us that "the custodians of the palace of IvoryCoast, after analysis, have indicated to the two diplomats that it is almost impossible to govern Ivory Coast quietly with a leader the likes of Laurent Gbagbo in prison. They have added that too many of his supporters and military outside is a very high threat to the security of the Ivorian government. " So, from this alert on the net, the designers of the assassination of President Gbagbo are convinced that all Ivorians to the cause of ousted President April 11, 2011 by the French army is the hope of regaining state power to bring their champion to the highest office. To permanently destroy any hint of insurrection and bring in the Ivory Coast all the exiles, criminals who feed the idea of killing the former president believe, according to the information they need to remove the source of their hope. To do so, it would have been considered the death of President Laurent Gbagbo.But how? The strategy adopted is to cause natural death. To do so, it was decided to remove him from his personal physician to whom they have already indicated that he, Dr. Christopher Wheat, is not under house arrest but his patient. " The possibility he would be given back to his family and return to see his patient once a week. The physician, Dr. Christopher Wheat, has already agreed to the idea of seeing his nuclear family because his children are still in kindergarten and calling every day. "President Laurent Gbagbo is subject to regular monitoring of blood, this pernicious disease that would operate during the absence of his doctor, aggravating substances are added to a meal to ease the rising tension. So, slowly, the tension reaches a threshold of no return, which inevitably will cause natural death. An autopsy requested by his family will conclude that he died following an irreversible rise in blood: natural death. No one will know that the rise of tension was caused. In the turmoil, the medical staff would be subtracted to be protected in South Africa. Ordinary passport biometric was under garment as it will not use his diplomatic passport that requires a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "says the serious charge on the Internet. The principle of this scheme have been arrested. "But the big question is the attitude of the personal physician of President Gbagbo. Would it be complicit in the design or is it proof of the naivety of a person who is offered a chance to see his wife and children after three months of captivity? ".Finally, the authors of this information on the Internet questioning in connection with recent events: "What if, in addition to previously reported aspects of this humiliating celebration of July 14 by Francois Fillon in the new French colony of Côte d'Ivoire The visit was hiding something? And if it were for Ouattara and Soro Fillon, as well as the ambassadors of France and the United States (...) to discuss in person, to avoid leaving any traces, to refine this diabolical plan to physically remove Gbagbo? All signs must be on high alert. For the French and their supporters today in Côte d'Ivoire, are capable of anything.
This information circulating on the net has quietly gained momentum with the transfer of persons close to President Gbagbo in Boundiali (900 km north of Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire). Locked at the La Pergola New in Abidjan since the overthrow of President Gbagbo by the French army, 25 persons were conveyed by night to the north while the Minister of State, Justice Minister Alassane Ouattara was said they were waiting to be transferred to the Detention and Correction d'Abidjan (MACA) in repair until the end of this month. This brutal option to consolidate all political prisoners in Northern cities (Bouna, Katiola, Korhogo and Odienne) under the control of the rebellion of Alassane Ouattara since September 2002 has to say many observers that the new government took Ivorian Gbagbo and his family hostage for elusive goals. This leaves the field open to all the rumors, true or not.The most amazing thing in this case is that the plan is silent Ouattara deal with this information lying around everywhere in offices, homes and all the cyber cafes. It may be false, without any real basis, but more and more Ivorians are convinced that with Mr. Ouattara, the wildest rumors are always true: Beginning December 99, rumors of a coup had filled Abidjan. Bedie was overthrown on December 24 by the soldiers close to Ouattara, now an ally in the war against Gbagbo. In September 2002, rumors of a major military attack on the Côte d'Ivoire, from Burkina Faso, had enveloped the country. The editors of the daily Notre Voie had suffered the wrath of power then. He was accused of giving "alarming information that could deter investors." Assigned a rebellion by the warlord Zakaria Koné, Alassane Ouattara's rebels came from BURKINA FASO to cut IvoryCoast into two. As we approach the presidential election of November 2002, formalized by persistent rumors informants close to the DGSE (French secret service) had warned that without disarmament, France would organize the mess to overthrow Gbagbo. This is done since April 11, 2011. Finally, when the evaporation in the nature of the commander Abéhi Jean Noël, head of the armored squadron of the national police, while Abidjan had Rumours that the regime Ouattara, frightened, would transform the political prisoners as human shields to protect their power. This is done since Saturday, July 9, 2011, with the consolidation of all political prisoners in the north, in the cities of Korhogo, Odienné, Bouna and Katiola.So the rumors of "natural death of President Gbagbo scheduled to Korhogo" would it be able to confirm the exception of the rule? Let's see.
Cesar Etou
Monday, July 18, 2011
Real reason why they ousted gbagbo
Ivory Coast: French bosses forcingYoung Afrique-18/7/2011
July 14, Francois Fillon visited the Ivory Coast for talks with Alassane Ouattara. In the luggage of the Prime Minister, one hundred companies attracted to the reconstruction and economic recovery of the country.
The future is bright. "France was doing well in Ivory Coast under Gbagbo regime, but with Ouattara they will be doing better and the will not experience more pressure. It's a new era, "says a French construction sector, present in the country for thirty years.
Evidence of this revival? Subsided, the Paris-Abidjan already attracting newcomers. Since May, Carrefour and Auchan prospect the market. The restaurant chain Hippopotamus opened its first franchise on June 16 (3 million). And its parent company, Groupe Flo, considering the upcoming opening of a brewery Flo, with the help of promoter Franco-Ivorian Badreddine Jihad.
And it's not over. As proof, during his visit to Abidjan after the traditional parade of 14 July on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, French Prime Minister François Fillon has come accompanied by a delegation of a hundred business leaders, led by Patrick Lucas, Chairman of the Africa MEDEF, the main French employers' organization. Besides the date, logistics deployed by Paris reflects the strategic importance of this visit. "Three Airbus have been mobilized. This trip will cost over 200,000 euros to the French government, "stated a French diplomatic source in Abidjan, a few days ago.
Impatience
With this official visit, French companies have put themselves well in battle in anticipation of the investment plan of over 10 billion euros that the Ivorian government should start after the elections, planned before the end of year. Investments in energy, infrastructure (roads, bridges, schools, hospitals ...) and social (development of health insurance) are the priorities.
Very excited, many French bosses have already made the trip to Abidjan since the fall of Laurent Gbagbo, April 11, to unlock investments pending. Olivier Bouygues, deputy CEO of the Bouygues group, already received twice ADO (May 11 and June 23) announced the relaunch of gas operations through its subsidiary Foxtrot. The group is also working to start the construction of the third bridge in Abidjan-Riviera Marcory. The project (255 million) is on track with the release of 45 million euros by the African Development Bank.
Blocked for the moment, the proposed international airport of San Pedro is promised to Bouygues, Vinci and Fougerolle for the shell, and Aéroports de Paris for the operation - an investment of 185 million euros funded by the ... Deutsche Bank. Vinci is also working with the architect Pierre Fakhoury into participating sites to transfer the political capital of Abidjan to Yamoussoukro.
In mid-June, the businessman Roger Franco-Ivorian Abinader presented to Ivorian authorities Stéphane Charriau, Director for Africa energy group Alstom. It was received by the Minister of Energy, Adama Toungara, before holding talks on the phone with Philip Serey-Eiffel, special adviser to ADO responsible for economic and infrastructure. Objective: To revive the expansion projects of thermal power plants and Azito Ciprelli 4, Vridi. Alstom is well positioned to take over as the Chinese Sinohydro the construction of the dam Soubré (300 million). "The President's priority is to bridge the gap energy production," says a close associate of the Ivorian head of state.
Trucks
French companies feel (too) confident. The principle of competition between foreign companies set up by Gbagbo to diversify the origin of investors and reduce French influence in the country, proved ineffective, but this measure still had a psychological impact in creating a climate of uncertainty around the hexagonal companies.
When the battle is played without them
French groups are everywhere. Americans Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) remain the main Ivorian cocoa chargers. June 23, they have already exported nearly 350,000 tons of beans, 40% of the 2010-2011 campaign, which ends Sept. 30. In palm oil, Olam (the Indo-Pakistani Kewalram Chanrai) and Indonesian Wilmar acquired a monopoly position through a partnership with the Ivorian private Sifca.
In hydrocarbons, except Foxtrot (subsidiary of Bouygues), operators are American (Vanco Energy), Russian (Lukoil), British (Tullow Oil), Belgium and Ivory Coast (Yam's Petroleum), Nigeria (Ornato), Canada (NRC) Italian (Edison) or UAE (Al-Thani). In the iron, the Indian Tata Steel and Taurian lead the pack with a contract estimated at over 3.5 billion euros for the first. Gold is the case of South Africa's Randgold Resources and Cluff Gold UK. Finally, China National Geological & Mining Corporation is in the manganese.
Of course, the breakthrough of new investors, including China, has reduced the market share of France increased from 12% to 9.8% between 2009 and 2010. However, it remains the second trading partner. According to a note of the economic mission of the Embassy of France in Abidjan, bilateral trade between Paris and Abidjan have reached 1.4 billion euros in 2010. A record. During the boom years before the crisis, they peaked at 700 million euros. On their own, French companies (600 SMEs are present next to large groups) generate more than 50% of tax revenues, estimated at over 2.3 billion euros in 2011.
Other heavyweights attest to this strong French presence. Societe Generale and BNP Paribas, which share 35% of the Ivorian banking market, have had confirmation that they could continue to host the accounts of large public companies in the country as well as approximately 100 000 employees, two thirds of the public service. Similarly, Bolloré and Bouygues dominate the business on the banks of the lagoon Ébrié. The Ivorian subsidiary of Bolloré Africa Logistics is the first private investor. In the port of Abidjan, is preparing the relaunch of its development plan of the container terminal (75 million) and expects 285 million euros of investments in twenty years to leave its subsidiary Sitarail (railway transportation) .
But Total, CFAO and other Accor above all the eyes on the huge project of privatization or redistribution of the cards in the public sector. The head of state has requested an audit of 43 public enterprises (national refinery company [SIR], National Investment Bank, Bank Versus ...) and some of them could be privatized. Already, Sonangol is asked to give up its 22% stake in the SIR. Officially, the Angolan group is evicted for not keeping its promises of investment of about EUR 140 million - not because of his country's support to Laurent Gbagbo ...
Lucrative opportunities ahead. Yet friendly pressure exerted on the power by the Ivorian international donors including the World Bank, to encourage him to launch tenders for more transparency. It remains to see where the yellow line.
Baudelaire Mieu, Abidjan
July 14, Francois Fillon visited the Ivory Coast for talks with Alassane Ouattara. In the luggage of the Prime Minister, one hundred companies attracted to the reconstruction and economic recovery of the country.
The future is bright. "France was doing well in Ivory Coast under Gbagbo regime, but with Ouattara they will be doing better and the will not experience more pressure. It's a new era, "says a French construction sector, present in the country for thirty years.
Evidence of this revival? Subsided, the Paris-Abidjan already attracting newcomers. Since May, Carrefour and Auchan prospect the market. The restaurant chain Hippopotamus opened its first franchise on June 16 (3 million). And its parent company, Groupe Flo, considering the upcoming opening of a brewery Flo, with the help of promoter Franco-Ivorian Badreddine Jihad.
And it's not over. As proof, during his visit to Abidjan after the traditional parade of 14 July on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, French Prime Minister François Fillon has come accompanied by a delegation of a hundred business leaders, led by Patrick Lucas, Chairman of the Africa MEDEF, the main French employers' organization. Besides the date, logistics deployed by Paris reflects the strategic importance of this visit. "Three Airbus have been mobilized. This trip will cost over 200,000 euros to the French government, "stated a French diplomatic source in Abidjan, a few days ago.
Impatience
With this official visit, French companies have put themselves well in battle in anticipation of the investment plan of over 10 billion euros that the Ivorian government should start after the elections, planned before the end of year. Investments in energy, infrastructure (roads, bridges, schools, hospitals ...) and social (development of health insurance) are the priorities.
Very excited, many French bosses have already made the trip to Abidjan since the fall of Laurent Gbagbo, April 11, to unlock investments pending. Olivier Bouygues, deputy CEO of the Bouygues group, already received twice ADO (May 11 and June 23) announced the relaunch of gas operations through its subsidiary Foxtrot. The group is also working to start the construction of the third bridge in Abidjan-Riviera Marcory. The project (255 million) is on track with the release of 45 million euros by the African Development Bank.
Blocked for the moment, the proposed international airport of San Pedro is promised to Bouygues, Vinci and Fougerolle for the shell, and Aéroports de Paris for the operation - an investment of 185 million euros funded by the ... Deutsche Bank. Vinci is also working with the architect Pierre Fakhoury into participating sites to transfer the political capital of Abidjan to Yamoussoukro.
In mid-June, the businessman Roger Franco-Ivorian Abinader presented to Ivorian authorities Stéphane Charriau, Director for Africa energy group Alstom. It was received by the Minister of Energy, Adama Toungara, before holding talks on the phone with Philip Serey-Eiffel, special adviser to ADO responsible for economic and infrastructure. Objective: To revive the expansion projects of thermal power plants and Azito Ciprelli 4, Vridi. Alstom is well positioned to take over as the Chinese Sinohydro the construction of the dam Soubré (300 million). "The President's priority is to bridge the gap energy production," says a close associate of the Ivorian head of state.
Trucks
French companies feel (too) confident. The principle of competition between foreign companies set up by Gbagbo to diversify the origin of investors and reduce French influence in the country, proved ineffective, but this measure still had a psychological impact in creating a climate of uncertainty around the hexagonal companies.
When the battle is played without them
French groups are everywhere. Americans Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) remain the main Ivorian cocoa chargers. June 23, they have already exported nearly 350,000 tons of beans, 40% of the 2010-2011 campaign, which ends Sept. 30. In palm oil, Olam (the Indo-Pakistani Kewalram Chanrai) and Indonesian Wilmar acquired a monopoly position through a partnership with the Ivorian private Sifca.
In hydrocarbons, except Foxtrot (subsidiary of Bouygues), operators are American (Vanco Energy), Russian (Lukoil), British (Tullow Oil), Belgium and Ivory Coast (Yam's Petroleum), Nigeria (Ornato), Canada (NRC) Italian (Edison) or UAE (Al-Thani). In the iron, the Indian Tata Steel and Taurian lead the pack with a contract estimated at over 3.5 billion euros for the first. Gold is the case of South Africa's Randgold Resources and Cluff Gold UK. Finally, China National Geological & Mining Corporation is in the manganese.
Of course, the breakthrough of new investors, including China, has reduced the market share of France increased from 12% to 9.8% between 2009 and 2010. However, it remains the second trading partner. According to a note of the economic mission of the Embassy of France in Abidjan, bilateral trade between Paris and Abidjan have reached 1.4 billion euros in 2010. A record. During the boom years before the crisis, they peaked at 700 million euros. On their own, French companies (600 SMEs are present next to large groups) generate more than 50% of tax revenues, estimated at over 2.3 billion euros in 2011.
Other heavyweights attest to this strong French presence. Societe Generale and BNP Paribas, which share 35% of the Ivorian banking market, have had confirmation that they could continue to host the accounts of large public companies in the country as well as approximately 100 000 employees, two thirds of the public service. Similarly, Bolloré and Bouygues dominate the business on the banks of the lagoon Ébrié. The Ivorian subsidiary of Bolloré Africa Logistics is the first private investor. In the port of Abidjan, is preparing the relaunch of its development plan of the container terminal (75 million) and expects 285 million euros of investments in twenty years to leave its subsidiary Sitarail (railway transportation) .
But Total, CFAO and other Accor above all the eyes on the huge project of privatization or redistribution of the cards in the public sector. The head of state has requested an audit of 43 public enterprises (national refinery company [SIR], National Investment Bank, Bank Versus ...) and some of them could be privatized. Already, Sonangol is asked to give up its 22% stake in the SIR. Officially, the Angolan group is evicted for not keeping its promises of investment of about EUR 140 million - not because of his country's support to Laurent Gbagbo ...
Lucrative opportunities ahead. Yet friendly pressure exerted on the power by the Ivorian international donors including the World Bank, to encourage him to launch tenders for more transparency. It remains to see where the yellow line.
Baudelaire Mieu, Abidjan
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Large markets in IVORYCOAST: Obama wants his share of pie
If Ivory Coast oil, according to the information site Wikileaks has begun since last April to take the lead of France, cocoa, meanwhile, continues to be controlled by American chocolatiers including Cargill and the UK where Amajaro Loïk Folloroux, son of Dominique Ouattara, wife of IvoryCoast President Alassane Ouattara , is the Director. Cocoa is now paid on 300fcfa field to the delight of chocolate business holders and misery of the peasants. Gone are the price of 1100 FCFA on the applied field under President Laurent Gbagbo. The former head of the Ivorian state, who was ousted from power by France, on April 11, Americans and French are rubbing their hands for "business". Three months after installing their friend to power, the new head of state, Alassane Ouattara, Washington pouts in Paris on sharing the "pie market security" in Cote d'Ivoire. According to the publication La Lettre du Continent No. 615 of 7 July, the U.S. said they were increasingly embittered by the maneuvers of Ouattara regime which tends to want to focus exclusively on French interests in the markets (arms, supervision, equipment variety ...) related to security and defense in IvoryCoast. Angry, Washington has sent emissaries to meet with Mr. Ouattara in Abidjan and in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), on the sidelines of the summit of the African Union (AU), according to corroborating sources close to Ouattara entourage, to pressure him so that he does not forget Uncle Sam in the sharing of "the pie". Pressures that have paid as much as the head of state, Alassane Ouattara, has given "instructions to hold or stop orders for equipment and armaments of the Police and the Gendarmerie of IVoryCoast. Officially, the reason is serious cash flow problems, "wrote The Letter of the continent". Although due to financial difficulties is not unfounded because the Ivory Coast through a deep economic crisis, the U.S. would accept that Ouattara clearly does not meet "its commitments" to Washington who helped him diplomatically against Gbagbo. Barack Obama even sent on May 21, his "securocrats" Brooke Anderson, chief of staff of the national security of the White House to attend the inauguration of Ouattara in Yamoussoukro.These commitments are discussed here implicitly by the letter of the continent: "Americans have always Abidjan, in the district of the Riviera, not far from their embassy-fortress, the counseling center area of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), considering the economic capital to a regional pool to fight against both the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and insecurity in the Gulf of Guinée.A training program in marine commandos in Abidjan area is in the pipeline within Africom, the U.S. military command dedicated to Africa and based in Stuttgart (Germany). " According to informed sources close to president Ouattara , the town of Grand-Bassam was chosen to host the U.S. military base
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