The following report highlights major news developments in politics, economy, and health in Cote d’Ivoire as of 3 November. This edition focuses on the inauguration of a US firm’s cocoa processing unit, another US firm’s plan to invest in the Ivorian mining sector, COVID-19 update, and reactions after security forces dispersed a march by university graduates in the Plateau ward of Abidjan. The report includes background information to add context to the news items.
ECONOMY
Prime Minister Inaugurates Extension of US Firm’s Cocoa Processing Unit
Media reported that Prime Minister Patrick Achi inaugurated the extension of US company Cargill Cocoa’s processing unit in Abidjan on 2 November, which is expected to boost the development of the cocoa value chain and the creation of jobs in Cote d’Ivoire. PM Achi said that “the implementation of this strategic project reflects the dynamism of the Cargill group and the major role it intends to play in the industrialization of the cocoa sector in Cote d’Ivoire.” With an estimated investment of over $100 million, the processing unit located in the Yopougon ward of Abidjan is the largest cocoa grinding plant in Africa, according to media report.
Background: Cargill has been operating in Cote d’Ivoire since 1998 and employs 870 people at its sites in the towns of Abidjan, Daloa, and San Pedro. The company committed to increasing its cocoa grinding capacity by 50 percent.
US Firm Plans To Invest in Mining Sector
Media reported that a delegation of Newmont, a US mining firm, visited the Mining Development Company of Cote d’Ivoire (Sodemi) on 26 October. The report quoted Cathy Cox, Newmont executive director in charge of exploration, as saying that their visit aimed to “explore investment opportunities in the Ivorian mining sector and to discuss a possible partnership with the Sodemi.”
Background: Newmont is the world’s leading gold company and possesses huge mines in Africa, notably in Ghana.
HEALTH
COVID-19 Update as of 2 November
New cases: 8 positives of 1,575 samples (0.5 percent)
Total cases: 61,319
New recoveries: 37
Total recoveries: 60,071
New deaths: 0
Total deaths: 696
Active cases: 552
New vaccination doses: 26,596
Total vaccination doses: 3,349,245
Source: Ministry of Health
TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Journalist Says Government Unable To Counter Unemployment
Investigative journalist Andre Silver Konan in a post on his Facebook page with 545,000 followers, on 3 November asked the authorities to release the 25 doctorate degrees holders arrested during a protest against their unemployment by the government. Konan added that although these Doctors could innovate and think about ways of creating their own companies, the current situation is still to be blamed on the government as it continues to act as if it could offer tailored jobs to the thousands of graduates that are formed every year. The post generated 277 comments and was shared 63 times. Most comments criticized the authorities for hampering people’s rights to demonstrate, only leaving that privilege to supporters of the ruling party. Others encourage young Ivoirian graduates to turn toward entrepreneurship.
Background: After a brief meeting with Higher Education Minister Adama Diawara on 2 November, an association of University graduates “non recruited” to teach in universities attempted to demonstrate in the business ward of Plateau but security forces dispersed them and arrested about 25 of them.
