UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
IRIN-West Africa Update 136, 98.02.02

IRIN-West Africa Update 136, 98.02.02


U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination 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 136 of Events in West Africa, (Saturday to Monday) 31 January - 02 February 1998

LIBERIA: Some ECOMOG troops to remain

Despite a farewell parade on Friday, the West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, is unlikely to make a full withdrawal from Liberia in the immediate future, AFP reported. It quoted ECOMOG commander Major General Timothy Shelpidi as saying that the departure is a "political decision" and ECOMOG troops would remain until the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided otherwise. Under the ECOWAS 1996 Abuja peace accord, which ended Liberia's seven-year war, ECOMOG troops were to have withdrawn on 2 February 1998.

However, on Monday after months of debate, Liberian President Charles Taylor finally agreed that annunspecified number of ECOMOG forces from three unnamed West African countries would "assist" the government with security and "capacity building". The 2 February deadline for withdrawal was set with the understanding that ECOMOG would have completed its mandate of restructuring Liberia's security forces - a task it has been unable to complete.

ECOMOG departure feared

Meanwhile, the impending departure of ECOMOG troops has raised concerns among Liberia's rural residents, an independent Liberian newspaper reported. "The presence of ECOMOG troops in our area afforded us the opportunity to live in peace and security," the Inquirer said quoting a rural resident. "We fear their pending withdrawal."

Star Radio optimistic

On an optimistic note, the head of Liberia's independent Star Radio, George Bennet, told IRIN on Monday that the independent radio station could resume operations in the near future. Bennett said that following a series of ongoing contacts with various government departments, "there is a lot of goodwill towards Star Radio. We hope to resume broadcasting soon." The station, which was established by the Swedish NGO Foundation Hirondelle to provide unbiased coverage of the 1997 Liberian elections, had its license revoked following a misunderstanding with the government licensing agency early last month.

NIGERIA: Fears for jailed human rights activist mount

Concern is mounting in Nigeria over the health of jailed human rights campaigner, Beko Ransome-Kuti. His daughter, Nike Ransome-Kuti, told IRIN on Monday that her father could die without proper medical attention. Last week he was transferred from solitary confinement in the Kaduna prison in northern Nigeria to a nearby teaching hospital. She said, however, that clearance to enable a medical specialist to see him was still awaited. Her father, she added, was suffering from an "irregular heartbeat and chest pains".

Ransome-Kuti has been serving a 15 year jail sentence for involvement in an alleged March 1995 coup plot against the country's leader, General Sani Abacha.

Katsina tense after three die in clashes

Clashes between Nigerian police and Islamic militants in northern Nigerian city of Katsina on Frdiay claimed the lives of two civilians and policeman, AFP reported. The clashes resulted from a protest for the release of their spiritual leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Ahmad El Zak-Zaki, who was detained in 1996. According to AFP, there were also demonstrations in two other northern cities, Kano and Kaduna.

Gabonese Africa No. 1 radio reported Sunday that security in Katsina had been beefed up following the disturbances. It said the authorities were also concerned a US military strike on Baghdad could provoke protests from pro-Iraq Muslims in the city.

Pope's visit may lead to release of detainees

Next month's papal visit to Nigeria may lead to the release of Chief Moshood Abiola, who was widely believed to have won the 1993 presidential election, AFP reported. In a dispatch quoting the 'Sunday Tribune', it said the government was considering freeing some political detainees in response to Pope John Paul II's March 21-23 visit. Last November, Abacha who is cheduled to meet John Paul, pledged to released an unspecified number of political detainees.

SIERRA LEONE: Foreign nationals abducted

Six people including a senior foreign ministry official and three West African nationals were allegedly abducted after leaving the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, on 28 January, the secretary general of the ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), Abdul Karim Sesay, said on Monday. Confirming news agency reports, Sesay told IRIN that the men had left the capital en route for neighbouring Guinea when they went missing near the ECOMOG check point at Jui, 25 kms east of Freetown. AFRC security reported sighting their vehicle parked in front of the ECOMOG office although ECOMOG denied any knowledge of the missing men. Sesay said it was not the first time that people had reportedly disappeared near Jui.

Sesay identified those missing as Guinean Cherif Haderia, Ivorian Keita Sekou, Nigerien Alhaji Mai Nasora and three AFRC employees - the director general of the department of foreign affairs, William Bangura, his driver and a security officer.

AFRC moves to red alert status

In a further development, Sesay also confirmed reports that security forces had moved to "red alert" on Saturday after the AFRC learned that ECOMOG forces were attempting to expand their area of control. A brief radio announcement in Freetown said, security personnel were ordered to ensure that "the Western area and its environs are gainfully manned with immediate effect". Sesay said the AFRC expected an ECOMOG attack within the next few days. Last week, however, sources in Sierra Leone emphatically discounted AFRC alletgations of ECOMOG attacks.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: MAIB charged with new attack

The Equatorial Guinean government accused the Bioko island separatists of launching a new attack on Sunday, AFP reported. It said the attack occurred in the island town of Rebola, 60 kms south of the capital, Malabo.According to a government communique the attack occurred while soldiers were searching for members of the illegal Movimiento para la Autodeterminacion de la Isla de Bioko (MAIB). An MAIB separatist was killed and several civilians and military personnel were reportedly injured. The defence ministry accused residents of Rebola of aiding and abetting the "terrorists". According to AFP, the Bubi community, which supports the MAIB, has been hit with retaliation attacks since an alleged attack by MAIB on military personnel on 21 January. There has been no independent confirmation of the attacks.

Meanwhile, representatives of the European Union in Malabo called on the government to restore order in Bioko.

The minority Bubi ethnic group in Bioko, an island off the coast of Equatorial Guinea, has long resented domination by the mainland Fang. The incidents marked the first alleged MAIB attacks.

GUINEA-BISSAU: Officers arrested for arms trafficking

Several Guinea-Bissau army officers were arrested at the weekend for supplying Casamance separatists in southern Senegal with arms, a government statement said. According to news reports, the number of officers involved was not disclosed. But it said that Senegalese nationals arrested for arms smuggling had implicated the officers. Guinea-Bissau has long been used by the Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de la Casamance (MFDC) as a rear base for its rebel operations.

SENEGAL: Badji joins call for negotiations

Sidy Badji, a founding member of the military wing of the MFDC, announced his willingness to open a dialogue with the movement's southern faction led by Father Augustin Diamacoune Senghor, the daily Sud Quotidien said on Monday. Badji is reportedly well respected among the movement's northern faction. The more moderate Senghor had launched an appeal in late December and again in early January for an MFDC ceasefire. However, he has been unable to reconcile his moderate faction with more radical elements of the MFDC, who have repeatedly undermined efforts to restore peace to the area.

MUARITANIA: Official arrested

The Mauritanian high commissioner for the Organisation for the Develepment of the Senegal River (OMVA), Baba Ould Sidi, was arrested in the capital, Nouakcott, late last week, Africa No 1 radio reported at the weekend. The official of the OMVS based in Dakar, Senegal, was reportedly arrested for causing Mauritania to lose several key posts following a recent restructuring of the OMVA. The management of water flow from the Senegal River dam is crucial to the livelihood of the population along the river, mainly black Mauritanians. Mauritania missed a crucial meeting in which water needs were discussed during last year's drought. Member states also include Senegal and Mali.

CHAD: Coup plot alleged

Chadien President Idriss Deby denied last week's reports of an attempted coup and the subsequent arrest of high-ranking officers, news reports said.The weekly "l'Autre Afrique" had published reports of an attempted coup.

WEST AFRICA: Asian threat to CFA franc

The dramatic fall in Asian currencies has added a new twist to the debate over the future of Africa's CFA franc, Reuters reported on Monday. The CFA franc is used in 14 West African states. With the exception of Guinea-Bissau, all are former French colonies. The article cited concerns for the CFA franc in competition with Asian currencies in the coffee, coco, timber, palm oil and other commodity markets. France has promised to maintain its fixed exchange rate with the CFA franc. However, with the advent of the euro single currency in Europe, Germany has raised objections to continued French support for the CFA franc.

Abidjan, 02 February 1998 18:45 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: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 18:48:33 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-West Africa Update 136, 98.02.02 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980202184402.22438A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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