MONTHLY REPORT--ABIDJAN BUREAU--FEBRUARY 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP94-00798R000200190022-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: March 1, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

I I
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200190022-1
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
ABIDJAN BUREAU
MAB 6032
I March 1987
MEMORANDUM TO: Director, FBIS
THRU: Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT: Monthly Report--Abidjan Bureau--February 1987
I. OPERATIONS
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. Chad continued to dominate the bureau's coverage in February.
Amidst continued reports of fighting in the north, some below the key 16th
parallel demarcation line, several African leaders came out in support of
the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Chad--a move widely interpreted
as being anti-Libyan in nature. Among those making such calls were the
heads of state of Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Gabon and the Nigerian foreign
minister. Another blow was struck to Libyan interests in Chad when the
former vice president of GUNT--the Libyan-backed opposition to President
Habre's government--called for ceasing opposition to Habre and returned to
Ndjamena. Diligent work by bureau personnel along with BBC cruising obser-
vations allowed us to add an 1100 GMT (clandestine) Bardai Chadian National
Radio cast to our normal coverage and complete a detailed cruising effort
on Ndjamena. Both stations remain only poorly heard and erratic.
2. Several items were filed for BBC on the flap arising over the
opening and subsequent closing of a new United Kingdom visa office in Lagos,
Nigeria.
B. Coverage
Both AFP English and the Zairian news agency, AZAP, also provided chal-
lenges. For the most of the month, AFP's Engliah language beam to West
Africa failed to follow announced frequencies or changed to new frequen-
cies at unannounced times. The editorial staff was usually able to track
this erratic pattern though not without considerable effort. On 27
February new AFP English frequencies were announced and to date they have been
adhered to. AZAP appeared to be totally off the air for several days on
all known frequencies. This problem was finally solved when an enter-
prising editor tracked them down on a new frequency only to have them re-
turn to their normal frequency the following day.
npclassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/14: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200190022-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/14 CIA-RDP94-00798R000200190022-1
II. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
1. Monitor supervisor
effective 15 February.
-2-
received a promotion to FBN-11/6
2. The Embassy Administrative Office has requested bids for con-
tracting out the management of some 200 employee association support per-
sonnel, including the bureau's custodial and driver staff. The conversion
to personal services contracts--to be accomplished at this post by the end
of Mar?is in response to a State Department policy of phasing out all em-
ployee association contracts.
III. VISITS
1. David Halstead, State Department deputy director for West African
Affairs, visited the bureau on 19 February.
2. The bureau chief, deputy chief, engineer and chief monitor visited
the chief press attache in the Ivorian Foreign Ministry to discuss bureau
services to the Ivorian Government.
Attachments:
Monthly Production Report
cc: Chief, Swaziland Bureau
Deputy Chief, London Bureau
Lnief, Abidjan Bureau
Dnr+- Caniti7Pd COM/Approved for Release 2012/08/14 CIA-RDP94-00798R000200190022-1
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