| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for West Africa
Tel: +225 21-63-35
Fax: +225 21-63-35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci
IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 28-97 of Events in West Africa, 13 August 1997
[As a supplement to its weekly roundups of main events in West Africa, IRIN-WA will produce a daily synopsis of international media 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 - Guinean Foreign Minister may revive talks
Guinean Foreign Minister Lamine Kamara arrived in Abidjan on Tuesday to talk with fellow members of the Committee of Four which was mandated by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to find a solution to the Sierra Leonean crisis. His visit comes two days after a Sierra Leonean delegation from the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) led by former military ruler Major Joseph Saidu Momoh visited Conakry. Source: AFP
SIERRA LEONE - Nigeria to host ECOWAS summit
A source close to the ECOWAS secretariat said today (Wednesday) that Nigeria will host a two-day ECOWAS summit on 27 August to discuss, among other issues, the crisis in Sierra Leone. The summit will be preceded on 23 August by a four-day preparatory meeting of its council of ministers. Source: AFP. LIBERIA - Taylor appoints economic advisers
Liberia's new President, Charles Taylor, yesterday appointed a three-member economic advisory committee to be chaired by former finance minister John Bestman. Amelia Ward and Francis Kaba, both former ministers of planning and economic affairs, will also sit on the committee. Taylor has also established a National Security Council (NSC) made up of the ministers of foreign affairs, justice, defence, internal affairs and national security. The NSC portfolio has been given to Brigadier-General Philip Kamah, former deputy chief of staff of the Liberian armed forces, whose troops fought those loyal to Taylor during much of the civil war. The Nigerian Commander of ECOMOG, the West African peacekeeping force, Major-General Victor Malu, will also sit on the NSC.
Among his latest appointments, Taylor named former transport minister Armah Youlo as managing director of the Monrovia Transit Authority, a state-owned public transport company. As reported yesterday, confirmation hearings are scheduled to be held today in Monrovia to approve the 19 candidates nominated by Taylor for top government posts. Source: AFP.
LIBERIA - Curfew shortened
The Liberian government announced today that it had shortened the night-time curfew that has been in place since 1992. The curfew, previously from midnight to dawn, now extends from 2 am - 5 am. The decision has been made in conjunction with ECOMOG. Source: BBC Monitoring.
NIGERIA - Funds for ailing refineries
Nigeria's government has approved US$ 200 million for the maintenance of the country's four malfunctioning oil refineries. Continued fuel shortages have led to massive imports and scarcity of fuel supplies, particularly in the capital, Abuja. Nigeria's Finance Minister, Anthony Ani said that the shortages, which have threatened the national economy, would end when the refineries are repaired. The minister has set certain conditions before the money will be released to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). These include details and evidence of the ability of contractors to do the job and an assurance that the Corporation will guarantee uninterrupted fuel supplies in the country.
The NNPC comes under the petroleum resources minister, Dan Etete, who has traded accusations with Ani over who is responsible for the crisis. Source: AFP.
NIGER - China provides military equipment
China made a donation to the Nigerien government on 12 August of military equipment, including vehicles and weapons, valued at over 20 million FF, said an official source in Niamey. The Chinese ambassador to Niger further announced that 30 Nigerien soldiers would be provided with military training in China. In May, the Libyan government had also made a donation of military equipment valued at 20 million FF. The two countries re-established diplomatic relations over a year ago, to the detriment of Taiwan. China has since assisted Niger with health, irrigation and agricultural projects. Source: AFP.
WEST AFRICA - Libyan summit
A regional mini-summit will take place in the Libyan capital Tripoli from 15 to 17 August. The heads of state for Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad are expected to attend. The objective of the summit is to examine the general situation in Africa and the "irrational position" of the US vis-a-vis countries in the region, said the Libyan representative in Paris. Niger's president has already announced his intention to travel to Libya. Source: AFP.
Abidjan, 13 August 1997
[ENDS]
[Via the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA) Reports mailing list. The material contained in this communication may not necessarily reflect the views of the UN or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts from this report should be attributed to the original sources where appropriate. For further information: e-mail irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci, Tel: +225 217367 Fax: +225 216335.]
----- Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970813180726.006fd0c0@pop.africaonline.co.ci> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 18:11:43 +0100 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 28-97, 13 August 1997 97.8.13
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
| Previous Menu | Home Page | What's New | Search | Country Specific |