UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 36-97, 8/27/97

IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 36-97, 8/27/97


U N I T E D N A T I O N S

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 36-97 of Events in West Africa, 27 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 - Military option seen as less likely

The summit of the 16-member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which was scheduled to open Wednesday, has been postponed to Thursday. No reason was given for the delay. According to AFP, many regional members no longer favour a military solution to the Sierra Leonean crisis. Nigerian military chief-of-staff, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, on Tuesday called on his ECOWAS counterparts to support the further imposition of sanctions against Sierra Leone's military government, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). Paulo Bangura , the AFRC foreign minister, visited Togolese President General Gnassingbe Eyadema in Togo on 27 August. The minister requested that Eyadema "exercise his good offices" to intervene on behalf of the AFRC at the ECOWAS summit in order to arrive at a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The AFRC has not been invited to attend the summit. However, ousted President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah is expected to attend as the head of a Sierra Leonean delegation. Source: AFP.

SIERRA LEONE - 15 die of starvation

An AFRC spokesperson announced the death of 15 people in Lungi, site of the international airport, due to starvation. No independent confirmation was available. Lungi local sources told AFP that commodity prices had soared following last week's introduction of a curfew and the interdiction of river traffic, on which the area is dependent. Moreover, the primary source of income for Lungi inhabitants was linked to the nearby airport, which has been closed since the 15 May coup. Source: AFP.

In a related issue, the commander of the West African Peacekeeping force, General Victor Malu, informed the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sierra Leone it was his understanding that the sanctions were to cover all goods, including humanitarian aid. However, he suggested that the forthcoming ECOWAS summit might address the exemption of humanitarian aid. Source: UN Humanitarian SITREP 12-22 August.

NIGERIA - Efforts to address oil related issues The state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recalled 11 of its 21 depot chiefs on 25 August as part of a nine-point plan to normalise the fuel supply nationwide, following a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Federal Government. New appointments to replace the 11 chiefs are expected. Nigeria's fuel crisis which started over a month ago has contributed to rising internal tension.

The Federal Government announced that it would soon introduce a new body to replace the Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). Sources at the Presidency said that the government was determined to establish a system that would enable the oil producing areas to reap the benefits accruing from the exploitation of local resources. This has been a contentious issue with many local communities and has led to numerous protest movements and incidents of sabotage on petroleum infrastructure. Source: Daily Times & NewsReport Journal.

NIGERIA - Conflict resolution sought

The Osun State Council of Kings and Chiefs set up a high-powered committee comprised of traditional kings to examine the cause of recent clashes between the Ife and Modakeke communities, which have claimed over 75 lives within the past 11 days. Members of the two ethnic communities recently engaged in bloody clashes following the relocation on 14 August of the local government headquarters from the Modakeke-dominated town of Enuwa to Ife-dominated Oke-Ogbo. The state government was obliged to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew and deployed riot police in the affected communities. Source: AFP.

NIGERIA - Abacha's candidacy rejected

The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) on Monday challenged military leader, General Sani Abacha, charging that the military regime's credentials and poor accountability did not justify the perpetuation of Abacha's tenure beyond the civilian hand-over date. The present military regime has promised to hand over power to an elected government in 1998. Source: NewsReport Journal.

WEST AFRICA - The question of two Chinas

The two Chinas debate is playing itself out in West Africa. On 26 August, the People's Republic of China said, for the present, that it retained diplomatic ties with Liberia as the new president, Charles Taylor, had yet to decide whether he would recognise Beijing or Taiwan. In the confused state of pre-election Liberia, the 'official government' recognised China while Taylor recognised Taiwan. Taylor's first foreign policy dilemma will be to decide between the two. China does not tolerate dual recognition and penalises foreign governments that do so by suspending formal relations. Government recipients of Chinese foreign aid are often required to sign official communiques recognising only China. On 12 August, the Chadian government decided to restore diplomatic links with Taiwan - a move vehemently protested by China, which threatened Chad with "necessary countermeasures". On 25 August, Taiwan announced a US$ 50 million subsidy to Chad for the reconstruction of the Ndjamena-Abeche-Sarh road. Source: AFP and Chadian radio via BBC Monitoring.

Abidjan, 27 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: <199708280925.MAA17346@dha.unon.org> Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 19:04:17 +0100 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 36-97, 27 August 1997 97.8.27

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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