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IRIN-WA Update 267 of Events in West Africa, (Thursday) 6 August 1998
NIGERIA: New cabinet under discussion
Nigeria's top military body, the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), was expected to meet on Thursday to discuss nominations for a new cabinet and a new election commission, AFP reported.
The news agency quoted a senior military source as saying it was not known when the outcome of the meeting would be made public. But the head of an independent election commission and interim cabinet could be disclosed "within days", he said.
Last month, Nigeria's new military ruler, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, sacked the cabinet appointed by his hardline predecessor, General Sani Abacha. Abubakar also promised presidential elections for May next year as the final part of a progressive handover to democratically elected civilian institutions.
Although a number of opposition groups have met to discuss establishing new political parties, no opposition leader has yet offered to participate in a transitional government.
Five feared dead in communal clash
Five people were feared dead after renewed fighting this week between two feuding communities in Nigeria's southwestern Osun state, AFP reported on Thursday.
AFP quoted the 'Nigeria Tribune' as saying some 10 people were also injured in clashes on Tuesday night and Wednesday between Ife and Modakeke townships, which abated on Wednesday. The immediate cause of the fighting was not known, AFP said. However previous bouts of violence have been rooted in a dispute over which of the two communities would be the seat of local government.
GUINEA BISSAU: Aid supplies blocked
The bulk of a 600 mt aid shipment has been awaiting government clearance at the port of Bissau since its arrival in the country on 16 July, news agencies reported on Thursday. So far, according to AFP and Lusa, only 38 mt of medical supplies have been released.
The aid was intended for some of the 350,000 people displaced by fighting between Senegalese-backed government forces and army mutineers. The mutiny broke out on 7 June after President Joao Bernardo Vieira sacked his former armed forces chief of staff General Ansumane Mane. Mane was accused of allegedly smuggling guns to the Senegalese separatist province of Casamance.
Lusa quoted a spokesman for Mane as saying the manner in which the government distributed aid amounted to "putting pressure on the civilian population". He reaffirmed that the airport, held by the rebels since the start of the conflict, could be used for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Observers said use of the airport, however, would still be subject to how the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) can persuade the two sides to build on a ceasefire signed on 28 July.
German aid
Meanwhile, the German government has pledged of US$ 312,500 for the purchase of mosquito nets, AFP reported. Many of the displaced people are without shelter and the current rainy season has increased the threat of malaria, according to humanitarian and Catholic Church sources.
GHANA: Gaoled editors denied bail
Ghana's court of appeal has dismissed an application for bail filed by two gaoled newspaper editors, media reports said on Wednesday.
According to the Canada-based International Freedom of Exchange (IFEX), the court ruled that Haruna Atta from the 'The Weekend Stateman' and Kweku Baako from 'The Guide' should stay in prison until their appeal against a contempt of court conviction had been heard.
Last month, press rights groups took exception at the contempt sentences passed on the two men, which the Ghanaian Journalists Association (GJA) described as "crushing and likely to intimidate the press".
Ghana's First Lady, Nana Rawlings, reportedly brought the case in connection with a libel suit.
TOGO: Opposition rejects presidential overture
The main opposition parties in Togo have turned down an offer by President Gnassingbe Eyadema for a role in a new government, AFP reported on Wednesday. It said the Comite d'Action pour le Renouveau (CAR) led by Yao Agboyibo and the Parti pour la Democratie et le Renouveau (PDR) led by Zarifou Ayeva had called the offer a bid to divert the country's attention from talks in Brussels on the fairness of the presidential election last month.
The European Union has refused to renew a cooperation agreement with Togo that was cancelled in 1993 because of "irregularities" cited by EU observers in the 21 June election which saw Eyadema return to power. This week, Eyadema dispatched his foreign minster, Koffie Panou, to Brussels to discuss the issue. His visit follows a similar mission recently by the prime minister, Kwassi Klutse.
Both opposition parties suggested a transitional government be appointed to oversee "transparent elections", AFP said. Meanwhile, Gilchrist Olympio, exiled leader of the l'Union des Forces du Changement (UFC), who claimed vicitory in the election, was quoted as saying he too was open to discussions because he felt the Eyadema offer "insincere".
Abidjan, 6 August, 18:40 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 or can be retrieved automatically by sending e-mail to <archive@ocha.unon..org> - mailing list: irin-wa-updates]
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 17:59:04 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-West Africa Update 267, 98.08.06 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980806175814.10223B-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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