UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
IRIN-West Africa Update 111-97, 97.12.24

IRIN-West Africa Update 111-97, 97.12.24


U N I T E D N A T I O N S Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa

Tel: +225 21-73-54 Fax: +225 21-63-35 e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

IRIN-WA Update 111-97 of Events in West Africa, (Wednesday) 24 December 1997

[As a supplement to its weekly round-ups of main events in West Africa, IRIN-WA will produce a daily synopsis of reports on the region. IRIN issues these reports for the benefit of the humanitarian community but accepts no responsibility as to the accuracy of the original source.]

SIERRA LEONE: Eight Kamajors die in fighting

Clashes in central Sierra Leone over the weekend left eight dead, the Director of Information for Defence, Lieutenant-Colonel John Milton, told AFP on Tuesday. He said soldiers of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) repelled an attack by Kamajors, militia fighters loyal to ousted President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, in Massingbi, some 200 kms east of Freetown. No details on civilian casualties were provided. He said the Kamajors were trying to block the main axis into the diamond-rich Kono area. No independent confirmation was available.

Operation "Black December"

In a related development, Kamajor leader Sam Norman said an operation to re-take Sierra Leone's highways had been launched at the weekend, Star Radio reported. He said the aim of operation "Black December" was to return major roads to the control of the regional peacekeeping force, ECOMOG. However, he denied allegations that ECOMOG was assisting the Kamajors. The operation was in response to recent statements by AFRC leader Major Johnny Paul Koroma indicating he may not hand back power in April 1998 as agreed in the Conakry peace accords.

NIGERIA: Coups hinder development

Nigeria's highest decision-making body, the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), met in the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday to discuss last weekend's alleged coup attempt, AFP reported. The purpose of the meeting was to examine internal security in light of recent events, said presidential spokesperson David Attah. Nigerian military leader General Sani Abacha urged fellow African leaders to fight the "scourge" of military coups which hinder development efforts.

Meanwhile, the US State Department, echoing yesterday's appeal by Amnesty International, called on the Nigerian government to ensure fair treatment and civilian trials for the alleged coup leaders, AFP reported.

In a related story, the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) expressed fears for four journalists who were jailed following the alleged 1995 coup. The journalists were charged with being "accessories after the facts of treason" because of stories they wrote following the coup, Post Express Wired reported. The special military tribunal sentenced the four to life imprisonment, which was later commuted to 15 years. According to WiPC, 11 journalists and writers have been detained in recent months.

GHANA: Panic buying behind shortage

The Ghanaian government appealed to motorists in a radio broadcast to avoid panic buying, which it said was the real culprit behind the "apparent" fuel shortage at some petrol stations. The spokesperson stressed, on 23 December, that if everyone returned to normal purchasing habits the situation would stabilise. Recent press reports indicated long queues and sporadic fighting in the capital, Accra, because of a delivery shortfall.

GABON: Independent press in crisis

Gabon can boast only two independent papers, AFP reported. In 1990, following the national conference that heralded the return to political pluralism and press freedom, some 30 papers flourished. However, most have closed down because of poor readership and a lack of financing. The Conseil National de la Communication (CNC), the government regulating agency, has offered to establish a "press solidarity" fund to help regenerate the independent press. However, detractors denounced the CNC as an organ of state censorship. A journalist said that, as in other African countries, current government laws placed more emphasis on restricting than promoting press freedom.

NOTE TO SUBSCRIBERS:

There will be no IRIN-West Africa Update on 25-26 December. The next Update will be on Monday 29 December.

Abidjan, 24 December 1997 14.00 GMT

[ENDS]

[The material contained in this communication comes to you via IRIN West Africa, a UN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. UN IRIN-WA Tel: +225 21 73 66 Fax: +225 21 63 35 e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci for more information or subscription. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this report, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. IRIN reports are archived on the Web at: http://www.reliefweb.int/emergenc or can be retrieved automatically by sending e-mail to archive@dha.unon.org . Mailing list: irin-wa-updates]

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 13:58:34 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-West Africa Update 111-97, 97.12.24 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.971224135528.14083A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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