UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
IRIN-WA Update 205, 98.5.12

IRIN-WA Update 205, 98.5.12


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 205 of Events in West Africa, (Tuesday) 12 May 1998

SIERRA LEONE: ECOMOG claims capture of Koindu

The Nigerian-led West African peacekeeping intervention force, ECOMOG, captured the eastern town of Koindu on Monday from ousted junta forces, Reuters reported, quoting an ECOMOG source. ECOMOG units attacking from Guinea and backed by local militia drove out the rebels after a week of fierce fighting, the report said. 130 people, including women and children, were killed in the fierce battles. An ECOMOG commander, quoted by Reuters, added that ECOMOG had captured 20 rebels, including fighters allegedly belonging to Liberian President Charles Taylor's defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL). The Commander conceded that the Liberian fighters may not be backed by the Liberian government.

A local humanitarian source told IRIN that hospitals in Makeni and Kabala in central Sierra Leone lacked beds and drugs to treat the large number of amputees and wounded from eastern Sierra Leone. The French NGO, Action Contre La Faim (ACF) had received a large influx of malnourished children at its therapeutic centres in Makeni and Magburaka. The source said despite serious security concerns, efforts are being made by the UN and NGOs to deliver humanitarian aid and carry out assessments.

Britain did not supply arms, Kabbah says

Sierra Leonean President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on Tuesday denied he had received any military backing from Britain, Reuters reported. The British government, facing a growing scandal over an arms deal to Sierra Leone, published a letter by Kabbah to British Prime Minister Tony Blair. In the letter, Kabbah recalled that junior Foreign Office Minister Tony Lloyd had told him at the Commonwealth Summit in October 1997 "while the British government would continue to give diplomatic and other support to my government it could not provide it with lethal materials or weapons". Kabbah said as far as he was concerned the matter was closed. Arrangements were made by third parties to enable the British security firm, Sandline, to make a "a single delivery of light weapons for use in our civil defence units only after the removal of the illegal regime".

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Secretary General Emeka Anyaoku on Tuesday said what happened in Sierra Leone "was entirely right", AFP reported, quoting the BBC. Anyaoku said the reinstatement of the democratically elected government in February was wanted by "the whole world" and was internationally acclaimed. According to Anyaoku the "political intent" of the UN sanctions was aimed at the military junta.

UN resolution applies to "both sides"

However, the United Nations on Monday said the UN arms embargo against Sierra Leone "applied to both sides" - the junta as well as the democratically-elected regime, according to AFP. UN Spokesman Juan Carlos Brandt said the UN Resolution provided for all states to prevent the sale or supply to Sierra Leone of military aid and petroleum products. The UN fuel embargo against Sierra Leone was lifted on 16 March although the arms embargo is still in force.

Amnesty to visit Sierra Leone

The international human rights NGO, Amnesty International, in a statement, announced it would visit Sierra Leone from 14 to 27 May to obtain detailed information on the human rights situation in the country.

NIGERIA: Voter turnout 37 per cent, Nigerian paper says

The voter turnout in Nigeria's 25 April legislative elections was 37 percent of the registered voters, AFP reported on Monday, quoting the pro-government 'Daily Times'. The paper quoted the government's National Electoral Commission as saying the large variations in turnout across Nigeria had been "erroneously" interpreted by the media as a sign of voter apathy. Final results of the poll have not been announced yet. According to partial results, the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) has won more than 70 per cent of seats in the Senate and House of Assembly, Reuters said.

Five activists detained

Nigerian security forces on Monday detained five human rights activists belonging to the Nigerian-based Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), AFP reported, quoting a CLO source. Computers, files, account books and other documents in the CLO office were taken away by the security agents along with those arrested.

Meanwhile, Olisa Agbakoba, arrested on Monday, reportedly went on a hunger strike, AFP said. Agbakoba is president of the United Action for Democracy (UAD), a coalition of 26 pro-democracy and human rights organisations. The UAD was behind the May Day protests.

Authorities announce bid to end lingering fuel crisis

The Lagos State military administrator, Colonel Mohammed Marwa, on Monday announced a bid to end the latest petrol shortage hitting the economic capital, Lagos, in three days, AFP reported. The programme is dubbed "Operation Fuel in 72 Hours". No further details were provided. In a related development, Nigeria's 'The Daily Times' quoted a petroleum ministry spokesman as saying the government had decided to spend US$ 92 million on turnaround maintenance of the Old Port Harcourt refinery in an attempt to reactivate the plant, Reuters reported. The refinery can produce 60,000 barrels of oil per day. Port Harcourt is 350 km east of Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Anglo-Dutch oil company, Shell, on Monday said it had re-opened four flowstations closed following a local dispute, Reuters said. The flowstations produce 40,000 barrels per day of crude oil.

LIBERIA: ECOWAS chief says ECOMOG agreement to be signed soon

The Liberian government and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will shortly sign an agreement on the status of ECOMOG, Star Radio reported on Monday. ECOWAS Executive Secretary Lansana Kouyate said the signing of the status of forces agreement would follow a review of the protocol of the agreement. Kouyate was speaking at a diplomatic reception in Monrovia on Saturday. Kouyate said he regretted the delay in the signing of the agreement. He also urged the Liberian government and ECOMOG authorities to bury their differences and suspicions, and focus on Liberia's reconstruction.

UNHCR receives funds

Denmark and Sweden announced a contribution of US$ 2.7 million to UNHCR for its repatriation as well as reintegration activities, a UN statement said.

BENIN: Civil servants launch strike

Civil servants in Benin widely followed a strike call over unpaid salaries on Monday, AFP reported. Most ministry offices, public buildings and schools in the capital, Cotonou, and other big towns were empty as the strike ordered by Benin's five major trade unions took hold, AFP's correspondent said. The unions are demanding payment of wage bonuses promised in February, scrapping of value-added tax and an end to privatisation of public services. According to AFP, Finance ministry staff estimated unpaid wage bonuses at five billion CFA francs (US$ 8.4 million).

President Mathieu Kerekou and the unions met last week, Benin state radio reported. According to the radio, union leaders viewed the meeting as "the beginning of understanding between the government and the unions". The strike comes just after Friday's resignation by Prime Minister Adrien Houngbedgi and the withdrawal of his Parti du Renouveau Democratique (PRD) from the ruling coalition.

SENEGAL: Students riot in northern city

Students in the northern city of Saint Louis ransacked the university's rector's office and damaged vehicles on Monday after he closed the univerity for a week, news organisations reported. The rector announced the campus closure following clashes between security forces and students protesting power cuts last week. Ten people were wounded in last week's incidents. The security authorities denied using live ammunition.

Meanwhile, the lecturers' union, le Syndicat autonome des enseignants du superieur (SAES), on Monday called for the resignation of the rector, AFP reported quoting the Senegalese APS news agency.

TOGO: President Eyadema in Ghana

Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema arrived in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Tuesday for a two-day visit, news organisations reported. Eyadema and Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings are expected to discuss regional security and the acute power crisis in the region. This is Eyadema's first visit to Ghana since he took power in 1967. The visit is seen as a warming of relations between the two countries, Deutsche Presse-Agentur said. Togolese opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio was in exile in Ghana until his recent return to Togo to contest the forthcoming presidential elections. In the past, Togo has accused Ghana of supporting subversive activities by the opposition.

NIGER: Radio back on air, journalist reported released

The private nigerien radio station, Anfani, was back on air early Monday evening, AFP reported. The radio was closed down a week ago following the broadcast of a petition against censorship and intimidation of the press. AFP also reported that the BBC's correspondent in Zinder, Keita Souleyman, was released. No further details were available. Maman Abou, publisher of 'Le Republicain', remains in detention.

Abidjan, 12 May 1998, 18:15 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, 13 May 1998 08:30:30 -0300 (GMT+3) From: IRIN - Central and Eastern Africa <irin@ocha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-WA Update 205, 98.5.12 Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980513082957.639A-100000@amahoro.dha.unon.org>

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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