MONTHLY REPORT--ABIDJAN BUREAU--JULY 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87-01104R000100010006-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 3, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: August 4, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/03: CIA-RDP87-01104R000100010006-5
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
ABIDJAN BUREAU
MAB-6015
4 August 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THRU Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT Monthly Report--Abidjan Bureau--July 1986
1. Final installation preparations are underway in the
Embassy Budget and Finance Office for the establishment of an Abidjan-
based regional Financial Management Center (FMC). Though no date for
final installation has been set, a U.S. disbursing officer has been
assigned and is now at post. Once the FMC is in place, the disburse-
ment needs of this post as well as those of other CFA-currency posts
will be handled here rather than at the Paris RAMC.
2. The dollar continued a downward trend during the month,
with a high of 351 CFA to the dollar at the beginning of July and
a low of 344 by month's end. The average exchange rate for July
1985 was 447 CFA to the U.S. dollar.
Monitorial/Editorial
1. The long-awaited Ivory Coast cabinet reshuffle was
announced finally on 8 July by Minister for Information, Culture
Youth, and Sports, Laurent Dona Fologo. The new cabinet consists
of 40 ministers in all, including 9 ministers of state without port-
folios and 3 ministers with portfolios, of which 12 are new. The
offices of the ambassador, DCM, Political/Economics Section, and
other embassy consumers were notified immediately and the cabinet
list was read over the telephone to Ambassador Miller by the bureau
deputy chief.
2. Most of the African countries which are members of the
Commonwealth joined in a boycott of this year's Commonwealth Games
held in Edinburgh, Scotland in protest of Great Britain's refusal
to impose economic sanctions on South Africa. The boycott was spear-
headed by Nigeria, black Africa's most populous country and its
defacto spokesman, which was soon joined by the other member countries
in the bureau's coverage area -- The Gambia, Ghana, Mauritius, and
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Sierre Leone. The boycott was accompanied by strong criticism of
Britain's stance and policy concerning South Africa from the govern-
ment, private sector, and media of the various countries.
3. The 44th OAU Council of Ministers meeting, preparatory
to the 22nd OAU summit of heads of government and state, was held
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21-26 July. The main topics of discussion
were South Africa -- including the issue of sanctions and support
for the liberation struggle for black majority -- and the economic
plight of the continent. The ministers issued strong criticism
of the West, specifically Great Britain, the United States, France,
and West Germany, over their refusal to impose sanctions on South
Africa.
The 22nd OAU summit was held from 28-30 July. The first order
of business was the election of Congo's Denis Sassou-Nguesso as
new chairman succeeding Senegal's Abdou Diouf. Like the ministerial
meeting, the summit focused mainly on the situation in southern Africa
and adopted a resolution condemning the U.S., Britain, France, West
Germany, and Israel.
4. On 8 July, AFP announced plans for a major reorganization
of the agency and the elimination of 300 jobs by the end of 1988.
Workers went on a 24-hour strike at 1000 GMT on 10 July, however,
AFP continued to transmit items intermittently and at a much reduced
rate. AFP transmissions returned to normal at 1000 GMT on 11 July,
but later in the day the workers decided to launch a 48-hour strike
beginning at 0800 GMT on 15 July. The strike was extended an addi-
tional 48-hours on 17 July and finally ended on 19 July in time
for regularly scheduled sign-on at 0700 GMT with AFP management
and workers reaching an agreement.
1. Deputy Bureau Chief) land family departed
for Washington PCS and homeleave on 24 July. arrived
on 14 July, assuming duties as the new deputy chief on 24 July.
parted for Bangkok on 31 July.
Her replacement,) arrived at post on 15 July.
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3. Staff Engineer) (returned from CONUS R&R on
8 Jul TDY Engineer) (who had served for 8 weeks
in[ absence, departed for Headquarters on 10 July.
4. Monitor) (was selected to participate
in the Foreign National Orientation Program which will be held in
Washington 8-12 September. This is the first time in 3 years that
an Abidjan Bureau monitor has been selected for the program.
5. Senior Communications Operator
PSI effective 20 July.
1. Ambassador Robert Miller and Deputy Chief of Mission
Carl Cundiff, both of whom departed post on 3 August, visited the
bureau during the last week of July to bid farewell to the staff.
Ambassador Miller will go on to the position of Vice President of
the National Defense University. Mr. Cundiff will be director of
State Department's Office of Food Policy and Programs.
2. The new Deputy Chief of Mission, Vincent Farley, met
bureau employees when he visited on 28 July as part of his intro-
duction to mission components.
1. On 15 July, the Government of the Ivory Coast gave its
agrement to the appointment of Dennis Kux as the new Ambassador
to the Ivory Coast. President Reagan announced his intention to
nominate Mr. Kux on 25 July. If approved by the Senate, Mr. Kux
is expected to arrive at Post in mid-September.
2. The departure of
and the arrival of and
were feted at a ga a n
hosted by and his wife, and
on 19 July. Some 70 guests were in attendance, including the
Deputy Chief of Mission.
STAT
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3. The bureau chief participated in a JAO Orientation
Program for new arrivals at post which included briefings by all
the major mission components.
STAT
Chief, Abidjan Bureau
Attachment:
Monthly Production Report
cc: Chief, Swaziland Bureau
Deputy Chief, London Bureau
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/03: CIA-RDP87-01104R000100010006-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/03: CIA-RDP87-01104R000100010006-5
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