UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
IRIN-West Africa Update 405 for 1999.2.18

IRIN-West Africa Update 405 for 1999.2.18


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@ocha.unon.org

IRIN-WA Update 405 of Events in West Africa (Thursday 18 February)

SIERRA LEONE: ECOMOG admits excesses

The West African intervention force ECOMOG has admitted excesses by some of its members, according to a senior UN official.

The UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu, told a news briefing in New York yesterday (Wednesday), that ECOMOG force commander General Timothy Shelpidi and Sierra Leone army chief General Maxwell Khobe had said about 100 men had been arrested and were being interrogated in connection with reports of summarily executing suspected rebels.

The two generals promised swift action against those found guilty and emphasised that the incidents had not been ordered, Otunnu said. He urged ECOMOG leaders to "rein in their men" and punish those who had committed excesses "given the exemplary reputation that the Force has built in Sierra Leone".

Otunnu also condemned atrocities carried out by the rebels and their use of children "on a massive scale" as fighters. He said there was a need for peace initiatives within Sierra Leone itself, but its neighbours must also be involved. Despite the "unspeakable tragedy" in Sierra Leone, he remained hopeful about long-term prospects for the country.

"It is rare that a society emerging from protracted conflict remains as united and cohesive at the national level as Sierra Leone is today," Otunnu was quoted as saying.

Former officers to be reinstated

The government of Sierra Leone has announced plans to reinstate 200 former military officers, Monrovia-based Star Radio reported. According to a government announcement over state radio, the public were requested to give details about officers they believe should not be reinstated. The ranks of the reinstated officers, described by the government as "loyal", range from colonel to second-lieutenant.

LIBERIA: Eight suspected rebel collaborators arrested

Police in Monrovia are investigating eight people suspected of collaborating with the rebels in Sierra Leone, Star Radio reported today (Thursday). They were arrested at the premises of Red Deer International and include the company's British general manager, an Australian, a Lebanese and five Liberians. The radio cited the director of police as saying military uniforms and letterheads with the logo "Combined RUF and Junta forces" were recovered. The rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) is fighting alongside the ousted military junta that seized power from Sierra Leonean President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah in 1997.

NIGERIA: Obasanjo fails to attend TV debate

A planned television debate yesterday between Nigeria's two presidential candidates turned "farcical" after General Olusegun Obasanjo of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) failed to turn up, news organisations reported. The live programme went out anyway, with his rival Olu Falae of the All People's Party/Alliance for Democracy taking full advantage of the occasion to outline his position on various issues.

Falae, like Obasanjo, pledged to pull Nigerian troops out of Sierra Leone if elected, a journalist who monitored the broadcast told IRIN. "It's unacceptable to be wasting Nigerian money abroad, while we're starving at home," Falae said. "We will bring our boys home from Sierra Leone within a year after serving notice to our West African partners." Sierra Leone's problem was political, he said, adding: "You cannot win a bush war."

Political analysts in Nigeria told IRIN Obasanjo had "shot himself in the foot" by not showing up for the debate. They described Falae as very articulate who was able to put forward his views unimpeded for an hour of prime time television.

Arrangements finalised for legislative poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has completed arrangements for legislative elections, due to be held on Saturday, Nigerian television reported yesterday.

INEC Chairman Justice Ephraim Akpata said election materials had been distributed throughout the country. On election day, movement would be restricted and voters should look out for "unscrupulous elements...who may wish to foment trouble".

Meanwhile, the Provisional Ruling Council announced that elected council chairmen and state governors will be sworn in simultaneously with the president on 29 May, the independent 'Guardian' newspaper reported today. It quoted Navy Chief Rear Admiral Victor Mbu as saying that, therefore, the military would exit "in one fell swoop".

GUINEA BISSAU: Rivals agree not to fight

President Joao Bernardo Vieira and his rival, rebel leader General Ansumane Mane, have pledged never again to resort to arms, AFP reported. At a meeting in Lome yesterday, hosted by Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, they discussed issues in an atmosphere of "brotherhood and mutual understanding", a joint statement said. They later left for Bissau on board the same plane. AFP said Mane had reportedly been offered the post of defence minister in a new government of national unity.

Mane led an army mutiny last June after being sacked as armed forces chief, accused of arming Senegalese separatists. Fighting broke out again late last month. Senegalese and Guinean troops, who came in to support Vieira, are due to be withdrawn from Guinea Bissau.

Abidjan, 18 Feburary 1999, 16:30 gmt

[ENDS]

Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 16:27:12 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.ocha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-West Africa Update 405 for 1999.2.18

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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