OPPOSITION PARTY PRESIDENT DETAINED FOR REMARKS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000197 E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM IV SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PARTY PRESIDENT DETAINED FOR REMARKS ON TELEVISION SHOW Classified By: PolEcon Chief Silvia Eiriz for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (U) Summary. The national security agency (DST),at the request of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, detained Kobena Anaky, president of a small opposition political party, March 20-21. Anaky's detention was the result of remarks he made regarding recent events in Madagascar on a March 18 television talk show, implying that Ivoirians should seek similar regime change. A Ministry of Interior statement issued on March 21 accused Anaky of urging Ivoirians to follow the example of the Malagasy in violation of the penal code. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Kobena Anaky, President of the MFA political party (Movement of Forces of the Future),was picked up at his residence by DST the afternoon of March 20. The Spokesman of the Armed Forces Chief of Staff read a statement on television the evening of March 20 announcing that the Armed Forces had ordered DST to detain Anaky. The statement extended a warning to those who urge Ivoirians to rise up and asked Ivoirians to support the current peace process. Anaky was released the morning of March 21. ¶3. (SBU) Anaky participated in a television talk show that aired on March 18. MFA Secretary General Philippe Legre told Poloff that a journalist asked Anaky to comment on recent events in Madagascar. According to Legre, Anaky responded that people can take destiny into their own hands if they want to. An Ivoirian who watched the broadcast told Poloff that Anaky stated that Ivoirians could learn from the recent events in Madagascar. The Ministry of Interior issued a statement on March 21 stating that Anaky's remarks violate Article 169 of the criminal code, which forbids actions that compromise public security, bring about serious political disturbances, discredit government institutions, or provoke and incite disobedience of the laws and orders of the legitimate state authority. The Ministry of Interior statement said that the case against Anaky will follow the customary judicial process. However, Legre told Poloff that no charges have been lodged against Anaky. Legre also told Poloff that Anaky refused to sign the statement DST drafted based on its interrogation of him. ¶4. (SBU) Anaky's party is small and is a member of the RHDP (Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace) coalition of opposition political parties. The RHDP met on March 21 to discuss Anaky's detention and Legre told Poloff the RHDP will issue a statement regarding the case on March 24. On March 23, Anaky announced that the MFA was pulling out of the government. The MFA heads only one ministry, Reconstruction and Reintegration. Anaky is known for his vituperative comments, and such remarks made in the past at MFA meetings and rallies, even though reported in the press, have been ignored. Anaky's relationship with President Gbagbo's FPI party is thorny since Anaky was a founding member of the FPI, but subsequently formed the MFA. ¶5. (C) Legre believes the detention is an attempt by the government to intimidate opposition presidential candidates and a tactic to avoid holding elections. Poloff asked Legre if he thought President Gbagbo had directed Anaky's detention. Legre responded that Gbagbo must have since he is the Commander of the Armed Forces and Chief of Staff General Mangou could never have ordered such a course of action without the President's approval. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: Embassy is attempting to get a copy of the television program. It is disturbing, but not totally surprising given recent events, that the Armed Forces, rather than the Ministry of Interior, took the lead in bringing about Anaky's detention. With changes in neighboring Guinea and Guinea Bissau, the government could be concerned that some individuals will take Anaky's words seriously. The government's actions are also causing unease among some Ivoirians on the street, who are already concerned about security during the presidential elections and possible reactions by the Armed Forces. Others have expressed a more positive interpretation of Anaky's detention and see it as a strong signal by the government that derailment of the peace process will not be tolerated. AKUETTEH