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IRIN-WA Update 201 of Events in West Africa, (Wednesday) 6 May 1998
SIERRA LEONE: UK Foreign Office allegedly met security firm
Senior officials of the British Foreign office reportedly
met representatives of the security firm, Sandline,
prior to the delivery of weapons used to overthrow
the Sierra Leonean military government, various British
dailies reported. 'The Independent' on Wednesday quoted
by AFP said Craig Murray, deputy head of the Foreign
Office's Africa department, was among the officials
at the meeting. According to Monday's 'Independent',
the weapons supplied by Sandline were flown out of
Bulgaria around 21 February to the pro-democracy "militia
and the Nigerian army". British Shadow Trade and
Industry Secretary John Redwood demanded the government
clarify whether there had been any collusion between
the government and Sandline, the paper added. Sierra
Leone has been under an arms embargo since 1997.
ECOMOG chief says over 100 Liberians captured
The Commander of the West African intervention force in Sierra Leone, ECOMOG, Maxwell Khobe, said the number of Liberians captured in Sierra Leone has increased to over 100, Monrovia's Star Radio reported on Wednesday. The Liberian s had been captured either behind frontlines or in combat, Khobe said, adding this provided further evidence that Liberia was supporting the ousted junta leader, Johnny Paul Koroma. However, Liberia's deputy defence minister, Austin Clarke, said Liberians fighting in Sierra Leone were "mercenaries" and enjoyed no backing from the Liberian government, the radio said on Tuesday.
In a related development, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Vicki Huddlestone told a press conference in Freetown on Monday her government had no evidence to suggest Liberia was involved in fighting in Sierra Leone, according to Star Radio. She said it would be unacceptable to the US if claims of President Charles Taylor's involvement were confirmed.
Restructuring of police crucial to security, Kabbah
Sierra Leonean President Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah on Tuesday said the restructuring of the police was the first step towards improving security, according to Star Radio. Speaking to a three-member police team from the United Kingdom, Kabbah said the police also needed training and logistical support.
Treason trial to start Wednesday
The trials of 59 Sierra Leoneans, including former president Joseph Momoh, charged with treason in connection with alleged collaboration with the ousted junta were scheduled to open on Wednesday, AFP reported, quoting judicial sources.
NIGERIA: Muslim leader on trial under tight security
The radical Nigerian Muslim leader, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zak Zaki, will face trial on Wednesday in the northern town of Kaduna, the BBC reported. He is charged with inciting disaffection against the military government of General Sani Abacha. The report said Zak Zaki's supporters, who belong to a Shi'te group called the Muslim Brothers, have put up posters around the town calling for him to be freed. Security has been beefed up. Several people were killed in recent protests over the Sheikh's lengthy detention and the recent arrest of his wife. Zak Zaki was arrested in September 1996. The members of the Muslim Brothers reject any form of secular authority and are not afraid of confronting the police, the BBC said, noting that fierce government crackdowns only seemed to fuel their anger.
The BBC said the north had always been a bastion of support for the military and unrest was "the last thing the government needs." Jane's information group 'Foreign Report', in its May edition, also reported the growing disaffection of the northern establishment towards the government.
Deadline for petitions contesting state assembly polls
The Nigerian government on Monday issued a decree to allow petitions contesting the December 1997 state assembly elections by 15 May, state television announced on Monday. The petitions will be presented to election tribunals to be established in each state of the Nigerian federation. The decree also outlined the conduct of elections to the Houses of Assembly, the offices of governors and deputy governors, and offences and penalties. It said the governorship elections slated for 1 August, the same day as the presidential elections, would only be postponed if there was a "serious breach of peace".
Another activist arrested
The Secretary-General of Nigeria's main opposition coalition, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Ayo Opadokun, was arrested in his Lagos law chambers on Tuesday by security men, according to news sources. The independent daily 'Vanguard' quoted by Reuters said Opadokun's arrest was his second in four years. He was released last year after being detained for almost three years without charges. In a related development, Olusegun Maiyegun, a member of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), arrested on Monday, was escorted back to his office with security men to pick up documents and taken away again, AFP reported.
SENEGAL: Ten hurt as students and police clash
Ten people, including a policeman, were injured on Tuesday when security forces and students clashed in Saint Louis, Senegal's second largest city, according to news sources. The students were protesting against the power cuts at the campus for three days. Three students were in intensive care. Ten cars were set on fire, including a vehicle belonging to the university's rector. Meanwhile, a Senegalese government statement formally denied reports that security forces had fired live ammunition to break up the demonstrations, PANA reported on Tuesday. The statement described the reports as "unfounded" and "totally false".
LIBERIA: Unrest quelled
Sporadic shooting around the Defence Ministry in Monrovia
finally ceased on Tuesday evening following the quelling
of an angry demonstration by 2,000 demobilised soldiers,
news sources said. It was not clear who was involved
in the shooting. A demonstration earlier in the day
by retired soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia
(AFL) pressing for the payment of their retirement
benefits turned violent. Ministry of Defence offices
were looted. Warning shots fired by government security
men dispersed the crowd. AFP reported that one unidentified
soldier was shot in the leg during Tuesday's incidents,
while an unidentified man was found dead from gunshot
wounds on Wednesday. ECOMOG sent in tanks and troops
to cordon off the area. Star Radio reported that ECOMOG
warned it would take appropriate action against any
group which attempted to cause trouble. The peacekeeping
force urged the government and the retired soldiers
to strive towards a peaceful settlement.
Representatives of the defence ministry and demobilised
soldiers were expected to meet on Wednesday to find
a solution to the retirement benefits dispute, according
to Star Radio. Meanwhile, PANA quoted Liberian Defence
Minister Daniel Chea as saying that US$ 600,000 had
been provided for the restructuring of the Armed Forces
of Liberia (AFL) with half earmarked for retirement
and demobilisation benefits.
NIGER: 1,200 Nigeriens repatriated from Algeria
UNHCR told IRIN that as of 30 April some 1,200 Nigeriens had left Algeria for their country. Another 1,071 are expected to return home by the end of the repatriation process scheduled for 25 May. The reintegration projects focused on providing water, schooling and health facilities in seven selected sites in Niger prepared for the returnees. Eight other sites would be managed by the European Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Office (ECHO) or shared with UNHCR and NGO partners.
CAMEROON: Biya to look into journalist's plight
Cameroonian President Paul Biya said he wanted goaled journalist Pius Njawe's plight to be resolved in the best way possible, AFP reported on Tuesday. However, speaking to journalists during his private visit in France, Biya stressed it was Cameroon's business and not for discussion in France.
Two French NGOs Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) and the Federation Internationale des Ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) had asked French President Jacques Chirac to intercede on behalf of Njawe at his meeting with Biya. The FIDH also demanded that all French aid be subject to the respect of international conventions protecting fundamental human rights, to which Cameroon is a signatory.
Abidjan, 6 May 1998, 19:00 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]
Subject: IRIN-West Africa Update 201, 98.5.6 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980506191733.16625A-p://www.reliefweb.int/emergenc
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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