- President Laurent Gbagbo has been unanimously nominated by the ruling Front Populaire Ivorian (FPI) convention to lead the party in the November presidential polls.
All of the party's 14 structures at the weekend endorsed Mr. Gbagbo's candidature at the Felix Houpouet Boigny Foundation in the administrative capital Yamoussoukro.
Gbabgo has been in power since 26 October 2006, and is seeking a second term in office.
His main rival in the 30 November polls include the former Ivorian president Henri Konan and Alasane Dramane Outtara, leader of the Rally for Republicans. Mr. Bédié has already started his campaign in the former rebel controlled north.
In announcing his nomination confirmation, FPI president Pascal Affi N’guessan portrayed the numerous qualities of Mr. Gbagbo, stating, “We need a leader who can face challenges, sets an example and does not run in face of the first alarm and abandon his people to violence and anarchy."
He also said Côte d'Ivoire once split by a five-year civil war needs a candidate who "battles illiteracy, ignorance, poverty and disease."
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.