In the spotlight: Laurent Gbagbo breaks nine years of silence

Audio 01:09

Operation of distribution of electoral cards, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, October 14, 2020. REUTERS / Luc Gnago

By: Norbert Navarro

6 min

Publicity

A speech just before the presidential election of October 31, to invite dialogue and thus avoid " 

disaster

 ".

"

Gbagbo speaks for the first time

", launches "

in the headlines

" the independent Ivorian daily

Soir Info

.

"

I understand civil disobedience, I share it,

" said Laurent Gbagbo on the front page of

Nouveau Réveil

.

This daily close to Henri Konan Bédié's PDCI also notes that, in the interview he gave to our colleague Denise Époté, from TV5 Monde, Laurent Gbagbo clearly positioned himself "

on the side of the oppositi

on

".

To which

Le Nouveau Réveil

adds on the front page this prediction by Laurent Gbagbo

: "

After October 31, it's a disaster

".

To read also:

Ivorian presidential: Laurent Gbagbo comes out of his silence and calls to avoid "the catastrophe"

"

9 years later, Gbagbo breaks the house,

" enthuses

Le Temps

.

This daily newspaper which is close to him

found the former President of the Republic " 

equal to himself.

Serene, wise and determined for the fight.

He's in great shape,

 ”says

Le Temps

,“ 

the chef has spoken.

And well spoken.

He spoke loudly, very loudly,

 ”said this newspaper.

After having seen this interview with Laurent Gbagbo, the newspaper

Today

, in a flowery style, launches this very Abidjanese remark: " 

That's why we miss him

!"

This is why we miss Gbagbo so much,

enhances

Today.

He appeased us all during this interview.

 "

In France too, several dailies are opening their columns this morning to this Ivorian news

The newspaper

Opinion

thus underlines that Laurent Gbagbo broke the silence because "

politically, he does not wish (not) to bear the hat of the foreseeable post-electoral violence

".

In this newspaper, the spokesperson (in exile) of President Gbagbo Justin Koné-Katinan, underlines that Laurent Gbagbo " 

draws the attention of the international community by warning that it is not yet too late to avoid violence, go to national consultations, implement social cohesion.

Everyone will take responsibility for their actions before the people and before history,

 ”warns Justin Koné-Katinan in the

Opinion

.

Also to listen:

Sylvain N'Guessan: "Laurent Gbagbo wants to remain the leader of the opposition"

Recently, on RFI and France24, Ivorian President Ouattara said that the World Bank placed Côte d'Ivoire "at the gates of paradise

".

But in France, this morning, a daily newspaper locates said paradise very close to hell

This is the newspaper

Liberation

.

Which reveals the content of a

report " 

remained confidential

 " of the European Union, " 

dated April 2018

 ", in which was denounced in " 

a language not very diplomatic

 ", the " 

growing disconnection of the ruling class (Ivorian) by in relation to the daily realities experienced by the population

 ”.

This European Union report also points to " 

corruption (which) remains

 " in Côte d'Ivoire, reports

Liberation

, stressing that the poverty rate is " 

around 46.3%, condemning nearly half of the population to live below the poverty line

 ”.

Dual political and social context, underlined on the eve of the Ivorian presidential election

"

Never for ten years, a poll has aroused so many fears in Ivory Coast

", warns

Liberation

again

.

Which newspaper finds that the " 

dialogue of the deaf

 " which prevails there " 

makes fear the worst

 ", and recalls that the United Nations have just announced " 

the repatriation of all their" non-essential "personnel

 ".

Reporting in Assouindé, south-eastern Côte d'Ivoire,

Liberation

visited the oldest primary school in the village, which will serve as a polling station tomorrow.

“ 

But out of

1,300 registered, only a hundred people came to collect their electoral card.

Is it out of hostility to the outgoing president

?

For fear of clashes

?

In the village, these questions cause an embarrassed silence

 ", indicates

Libé

, noting that Abidjan" 

is empty or barricaded in fear of a tense weekend

 ".

The third five-year term of Alassane Ouattara?

It is " 

at the heart of all controversies and all tensions, raising fears that the country will return to political violence

 ", also warns

Le Figaro

.

The streets of Abidjan are certainly very calm, but it is more the fear of violence and the traumatic memory of the post-electoral crisis of 2010 that seem to dominate

 ", estimates this daily, presenting the outgoing president Alassane Ouattara as " 

favorite of the ballot

 "tomorrow" 

for the pass of three

 "

Le Figaro

formula

.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Newspaper

  • Africa

  • Ivory Coast

On the same subject

Ivorian presidential election: far from partisan divisions, bloggers give voice

Great report

Ivory Coast: chronicle of an announced crisis

Ivorian presidential election: those who will vote and those who will not