http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ivorycoast/ en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:05:09 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412855/posts Mauritania government has increased security for tourists in the country following the abductions last week of two Italian tourists near the border with Mali. Sergio Cicala and his wife Philomene Kabouree were kidnapped in an area of Mauritania where armed groups with links to Al-Qaeda are known to operate, diplomats said. There are suspicions the couple may have been smuggled into neighbouring Mali. "After these new kidnappings, it has been decided to adopt all necessary measures to ensure the personal security of foreigners in our country," the government said, quoted on Monday by pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi. It was the... ADNKRONOS.com - AKI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412855/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:05:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2315835/posts The American pastor and onetime presidential candidate was honoured at a ceremony with Amon N'Douffou V, king of the Agni people of the Krindjabo kingdom. The crowning ceremony was attended by bare-chested women. The king rules over a million members of his tribe, which venerates Michael Jackson after making him their prince after he visited the kingdom in 1992. Villagers deep in the rainforest launched a search for a successor to the singer who was crowned prince of the Agni people 17 years ago. The tribe held an extravagent two-day royal funeral for Michael Jackson. Traditional dancers and lookalikes of... Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2315835/posts#comment Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:22:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1972542/posts A national dance craze in Ivory Coast has spawned a black market in treatments claiming to increase one's bottom size. The dance in question has been inspired by DJ Mix and DJ Eloh's hit song Bobaraba, which means "big bottom" in the local Djoula language. When it plays you can be guaranteed that the dance floor will be packed with people shaking their derrieres. Even Ivorian footballers have adopted the moves and could be seen wiggling their bottoms in a curious on-pitch dance after each goal scored during the just-ended Africa Nations Cup. However, doctors have warned of the possible... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1972542/posts#comment Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:33:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870743/posts UN confirms inquiry of sexual abuse cases in Ivory Coast 23/07/2007 18:05 ABIDJAN, July 23 (AFP) The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast confirmed it was investigating cases of sexual abuse of Ivorian women, including young girls, by some Moroccan soldiers. "There was an internal investigation which proved the facts, but we are waiting the results of the full investigation led by our internal affairs services, which will confirm the facts," UN spokeswoman Margarita Amodeo told AFP. "There are minors among the victims concerned," she said. The United Nations at the weekend suspended a Moroccan peacekeeping unit based in... IC Publications http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870743/posts#comment Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:14:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1783061/posts http://thegiantotter.blogspot.com/2006/09/statistics-majority-of-muslims-support.html Statistics: Majority of Muslims support suicide bombing We now know from my previous article that a majority of Muslims in Palestine and Iraq support terrorism (53% and 61% respectively), while a large minority of Muslims in the UK support terrorism (25%). A further look into polls from the Pew Research Center for People and the Press has confirmed my previous conclusion; a majority of Muslims in most Islamic nations support terrorism. The PRC interviewed over 38,000 people during a four-month period in 44 nations. The conclusions of the Pew Global Attitudes survey are as follows: A majority of people... The Giant Totter http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1783061/posts#comment Sun, 11 Feb 2007 21:19:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709460/posts Estonia has immobilised the ship at the heart of an environmental scandal in Ivory Coast and launched a criminal investigation after finding toxic waste on board, prosecutors said.The investigation was opened at the request of the environment ministry after the results of analyses conducted on the residue left from cleaning the Probo Koala's oil tanks came today," Piret Seeman, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, told АFР on Wednesday. "The results of the analyses show similarities between the waste on board the Probo Koala in Estonia and the waste delivered by the Probo Koala to Ivory Coast, which caused mass... bakuTODAY http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709460/posts#comment Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:18:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1707782/posts VATICAN CITY, SEP 25, 2006 (VIS) - This morning in the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, Benedict XVI received Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, and representatives from Muslim-majority countries that maintain diplomatic links with the Holy See. Participating in the meeting were heads of mission from Kuwait, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lebanon, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Senegal, Algeria, Morocco, Albania, the Arab League, Syria, Tunisia, Libya, Iran and Azerbaijan. Also present were 14 members of the Islamic Council of Italy and representatives from the Italian Islamic Cultural Center and the Office of... Vatican Information Serivice http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1707782/posts#comment Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:37:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676959/posts Last week I participated on a panel on Capitol Hill under the aegis of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Côte d’Ivoire, co-chaired by Congressman John Boozman (R-Arkansas) and Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-North Carolina). After an introduction by the Congressional Research Service’s director of African affairs, Nicolas Cook, who reviewed the context for the current crisis, three Ivorian envoys—Ambassador Saratta Ottro Zirignon-Touré, deputy chief of staff to Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo; Ambassador Daouda Diabate, Côte d’Ivoire’s representative to the United States; and Ambassador Philippe Djangoné-Bi, permanent representative of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations—passionately made the case for their country, whose... FamilySecurityMatters.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676959/posts#comment Thu, 3 Aug 2006 13:02:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1620459/posts So like Dude... I learned that the capitol of Texas is Cuba. That means that the capitol of Arizona is like, Brazil. WHOA DUDE! IT MUST BE! Uh Huh Huh Huh Huh Huh Huh... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1620459/posts#comment Mon, 24 Apr 2006 13:32:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1584373/posts Abidjan - A Paris gang-leader was arrested overnight in Abidjan and has confessed to the kidnap, torture and murder of a young French Jewish man, Ivorian investigators said on Thursday, in a case that has horrified France. Youssouf Fofana, 25, could be extradited back to France by the end of the day, according to French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. Fofana is believed to have fled to Ivory Coast shortly after the dying Ilan Hamili was found on February 11 outside the French capital. "He has French nationality. He has been arrested by the Ivorian police. (French) police investigators are... News24 (South Africa) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1584373/posts#comment Thu, 23 Feb 2006 22:41:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1574540/posts For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary February 8, 2006 Message To the Congress of the United States MESSAGE TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: Consistent with subsection 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b)(IEEPA), and section 301 of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1631 (NEA), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order (the "order") blocking the property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire. In that order, I declared a national emergency to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and... The White House http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1574540/posts#comment Wed, 8 Feb 2006 20:15:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1574210/posts Peacekeeping successes in Sierra Leone and Liberia in 2005 seem to have clouded the judgement of Security Council members on what still needs to be achieved in the world's poorest region. Increasingly desperate pleas for more peacekeepers for neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire - which has been divided between the rebel-held north and government-ruled south since a failed coup attempt in September 2002 - continue to go unheeded. This leaves the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) dangerously exposed to the rising tide of nationalist violence that seeks to sweep it out of the country. An international working group set up to... Jane's Foreign Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1574210/posts#comment Wed, 8 Feb 2006 13:25:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1565699/posts "To get their supporters out into the streets last week, youth leaders aired hate messages on radio and state TV, a favoured medium for whipping up political sentiment in Cote d’Ivoire since the country descended into civil war after a failed coup in September 2002. The battle for control of the airwaves has been at the centre of the struggle for power in Cote d’Ivoire, with factions notably seeking a hold over state radio and television broadcaster Radiodiffusion Television." Ivorienne (RTI)." Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1565699/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jan 2006 21:34:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560866/posts The Ivory Coast erupted into chaos yet again overnight, with opposing gangs roaming the streets and committing violence despite the presence of United Nations peacekeepers tasked with defending a cease-fire between the two sides of the Ivorian civil war. One UN contingent finally opened fire to protect themselves, killing four Ivorians, while another shot weapons in the air and fired teargas to cover their retreat: IVORY COAST, once one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, was close to its second civil war in five years yesterday as gangs of armed thugs loyal to President Gbagbo ran amok across the southern... Captains Quarters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560866/posts#comment Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:20:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560444/posts United Nations peacekeepers in Ivory Coast's main city are under siege by supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo. More than 2,000 protesters have tried to force their way into UN headquarters in Abidjan, and had to be held back by warning shots and tear gas. More than 300 troops have been forced to withdraw from two UN bases in the west of the country after clashes that left at least four protesters dead. BBC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560444/posts#comment Wed, 18 Jan 2006 19:40:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560296/posts Bangladeshi United Nations peacekeepers have pulled out of a camp in western Ivory Coast after clashing with supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo. Four people are reported to have been killed when a UN base in Guiglo, 300km (187 miles) from Abidjan, was attacked. France has called for calm in towns and cities in the government-controlled south after three days of protests. Mr Gbagbo supporters are angry at international mediators wanting to dissolve the pro-Gbagbo parliament. The ruling party subsequently pulled out of the transitional government and UN-backed peace talks and is calling on the 10,000 French and UN troops keeping... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560296/posts#comment Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:47:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1559791/posts Ivory Coast's ruling party has called on peacekeepers to pull out, while protesters have attacked UN bases. Supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo are angry at international mediators, who say that parliament, which backs Mr Gbagbo, should stand down. UN troops have fired tear gas to repel protesters in the main city, Abidjan, while a UN base has been overrun in the western town of Guiglo. The ruling FPI has also said that it is pulling out of the peace process. The mediators were appointed by the UN to help steer the country towards elections, due this year. Ivory Coast has... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1559791/posts#comment Tue, 17 Jan 2006 20:21:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1541826/posts AFP is reporting a French sergeant-major was placed under judicial investigation for murder on Wednesday over the death of an Ivorian man in French military custody in Ivory Coast in May. A source close to the inquiry said the non-commissioned officer had admitted under questioning his responsibility in the act. Firmin Mahe, described by the French army as a dangerous bandit, was killed by suffocation by French soldiers in an armored vehicle on May 13 after being shot in the leg, then captured and taken for treatment by French soldiers. He died in a jeep on the way to hospital.... AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1541826/posts#comment Fri, 16 Dec 2005 17:34:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1528783/posts I got this in my FreepMail just now. Posting so I can alert the mods and Jim Rob Dear, I am Mrs. Peace Toya from Ivory Coast. I am a widow being that I lost my husband a couple of some years ago. My husband was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board until his death . He was assassinated January 2002 by the rebels following the political uprising.Before his death he had a foreign account here in Cote d'Ivoire up to the tune of $9 Million dollars which he told the bank that it was for the importation... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1528783/posts#comment Sat, 26 Nov 2005 12:33:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1522859/posts Diamond-producing countries and the diamond industry agreed yesterday to take unprecedented measures to stop the smuggling of "conflict diamonds" from West Africa. A resolution on Ivory Coast was unanimously approved at the Moscow plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process, the UN-backed international scheme to stop the illegal trading of gems. Recognising that millions of dollars' worth of conflict diamonds were being smuggled out of the rebel-held areas of Ivory Coast, members of participating countries agreed to put in place practical measures to stop the flow. "Intervention on the trade side will impose specific controls for diamonds in the whole West... Financial Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1522859/posts#comment Wed, 16 Nov 2005 03:21:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1517180/posts French troops suffocated Ivorian Some 10,000 French and UN peacekeepers are in Ivory Coast French troops in Ivory Coast killed an Ivorian man by suffocation in May while he was in their custody, the French Defence Ministry has said. The French forces commander at the time was informed of what had happened, but did not report it to his superiors. Gen Henri Poncet was suspended last month in connection with the death. France's 4,000-strong peacekeeping mission, supported by UN troops, is enforcing a fragile truce between the Ivorian government and northern rebels. The prisoner, Firmin Mahe, "was killed by suffocation... British Broadcasting Corporation http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1517180/posts#comment Mon, 7 Nov 2005 11:33:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1514650/posts ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - A red T-shirt draped over the statue of a former colonial governor bears a curt message for French peacekeepers in this war-divided West African country: "Get out." The tenuous relationship between Paris and its former colony suffered another blow Wednesday when the French Defense Ministry confirmed that troops in Ivory Coast suffocated an Ivorian prisoner in an armored vehicle in May, and commanders knew of the killing but did not notify their superiors. Gen. Henri Poncet, who commanded the peacekeeping mission, was suspended from duty and given an official warning while the investigation continues. "Certainly this... AP via Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1514650/posts#comment Thu, 3 Nov 2005 05:28:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512332/posts ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) - Ivory Coast's president vowed to stay in power for another year Sunday as security forces fired into the air and hurled tear gas at opposition militants protesting a bitterly disputed, U.N.-backed extension of his mandate. Laurent Gbagbo also said he would name a new prime minister within days to ensure presidential elections are held within 12 months. Late Sunday, rebels issued a statement proclaiming rebel leader Guillaume Soro the new premier, although they have no legal authority to do so. The move was sure to increase tensions in the West African country. A presidential ballot,... ap.tbo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512332/posts#comment Mon, 31 Oct 2005 03:09:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1498530/posts BOUAKE, Ivory Coast (AP)--Rebels in Ivory Coast expressed shock Friday over an African Union call for Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to remain in office for another year after canceled Oct. 30 elections, saying they would reject any extension of his mandate. In the government-held south, Gbagbo's ruling party welcomed the A.U. statement which called Thursday for Gbagbo to remain in power and appoint a new prime minister to lead a transitional government. A.U. leaders had gathered in Ethiopia to discuss the situation in the West African country, where a constitutional crisis has been brewing since Gbagbo announced last month that... AP/Dow Jones Newswires http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1498530/posts#comment Fri, 7 Oct 2005 18:10:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1437627/posts In 2001, two American congressmen set up legislation pushing for a cocoa certification program designed to protect the thousands of children working in the sector. Four-years later, little has changed for the working children of Ivory Coast. Joe Bavier visited a plantation near Agboville in southeast Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa exporter and has this report for VOA. At the end of a trail head leading through dense forest to a 30-hectare cocoa plantation, a half-dozen shirtless young men and adolescents take a break from work. During the July lull in the cocoa-growing season, they had been 'cleaning', hacking... Voice of America http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1437627/posts#comment Wed, 6 Jul 2005 15:56:37 GMT