IRIN-West Africa Weekly Roundup 43, 98.4.10

Tel: +225 21-73-54 Fax: +225 21-63-35 e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup of Main Events 43 in West Africa covering the period (Friday-Thursday) 3-9 April 1998

SIERRA LEONE: Ousted junta allegedly training in Liberia

A commander of the Nigerian-led intervention force, ECOMOG, in Sierra Leone, Colonel Buhari Musa, alleged on Wednesday that more than 3,000 troops loyal to the ousted Sierra Leonean military junta were receiving training in neighbouring Liberia, news organisations reported. Musa, ECOMOG commander for southern and eastern Sierra Leone, said the training was taking place in Lofa county at a camp used by the former faction of Liberian President Charles Taylor during the Liberian civil war.

The allegations were denied by the Liberian defence ministry whose spokesman, Philbert Brown, told Monrovia's Star Radio it would be "foolish" for the Liberian government to train anybody.

Leader of ousted junta still in country

Last weekend, Sierra Leone's government spokesman, Septimus Kaikai, told a news conference the leader of the ousted Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, Johnny Paul Koroma, was still in Sierra Leone, while the deputy leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Sam Bockari, had fled to neighbouring Liberia, news agencies reported. Kaikai said the reinstated civilian government hoped "no country would aid or abet in any way, shape or form the criminal activities of people wanting to, or who have created mayhem in another country", AFP reported. The report noted that Liberia's President Charles Taylor had helped the RUF when it launched its rebellion in 1991.

Hundreds die fleeing combats in east

Hundreds of exhausted Sierra Leoneans among thousands fleeing rebel attacks in the east have died en route to Guinea, Reuters reported on Wednesday, quoting aid and government officials. Large numbers of inhabitants of towns and villages have been fleeing fighting in the diamond-producing district of Kono in recent weeks. A UNHCR regional spokesman told IRIN 50,000 Sierra Leonean refugees had arrived in in Guinea in February and March but no figures were available for April. Earlier in the week, a US-based NGO, Refugees International, recommended that UNHCR be given additional staff and resources to cope with the new refugee influx. It estimated some 85,000 Sierra Leonean refugees had fled into the forest region of Guinea in recent months.

Last weekend, Reuters reported the ousted junta forces were fortifying Koidu town in Kono district and beefing up their presence in the city. A local humanitarian source in Sierra Leone told IRIN it appeared ECOMOG would attack northwards from Daru, while other ECOMOG troops from Makeni coordinated the assault from the west in a pincer-style movement.

President says national defence important

Sierra Leonean President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, on Wednesday, said his country needed to defend itself from external enemies, AFP reported. In a radio address quoted by AFP, Kabbah said Sierra Leone needed to ensure that no aggressor would ever control the country again and violate its territorial integrity. He suggested the possibility of establishing a "small well-trained and well-equipped army".

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council voted on Monday to maintain an arms embargo on Sierra Leone at Kabbah's request, news organisations reported.

Twenty-one Sierra Leoneans charged with treason

Twenty-one Sierra Leoneans appeared in court in Freetown Monday charged with treason in connection with last year's coup d'etat, according to news reports. The defendants included several people who held ministerial positions in the ousted AFRC government. The case was adjourned to 14 April. Treason is a capital offence in Sierra Leone.

Alleged collaborators to be deported

The Sierra Leonean government ordered the deportation of more than 20 foreigners, most of whom Lebanese businessmen, the BBC reported last Friday. Justice Minister Solomon Berewa said the men had been engaged in activities against the interest of Sierra Leone. The BBC quoted correspondents as saying many were accused of collaborating with the AFRC. AFP reported Monday another 60 foreign nationals, mainly Gambians would also be deported for alleged collaboration with the AFRC.

Humanitarian aid continues

The US Government told IRIN that its current food stock in Sierra Leone, channelled through NGOs and WFP, was estimated at 12,980 mt of assorted commodities. During the last week in March, WFP reported it had released more than 400 mt of assorted food commodities to the French NGO, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), for use in six wet feeding centres catering for some 20,000 children aged under five and 10,000 adults in the most vulnerable communities in Freetown. A one-month ration was distributed to some 10,000 vulnerable persons in Makeni, 150 km north of Freetown, through the NGOs, Concern and CARE.

LIBERIA: Donors pledge US$ 220 million

Donors agreed in Paris Tuesday to resume a regular aid programme for Liberia after an almost ten-year break because of the country's civil war, news organisations reported. Eleven donor countries agreed to provide US$ 220 million in grants to the Liberian government in the first phase of a two-year national reconstruction programme. Liberian Finance Minister Elie Saleeby said this was the first signal that the international community recognised the Liberian government's economic efforts. A donor statement urged the government to allow press freedom, properly train the police and security forces, and hold speedy trials, AP reported.

Former presidential bodyguards acquitted in murder trial

A Liberian jury on Wednesday acquitted two former bodyguards of Liberian President Charles Taylor of the murder of an opposition member of Parliament, Samuel Dokie, and three family members, news organisations reported. The jury decided that there was insufficient evidence to convict Richard Saydee and Kennedy Fineboy of murdering the Dokies. The defence lawyers blamed the murders on a "regional SSS commander and four others" who are now believed to be in Cote d'Ivoire, AFP said. The lawyers claimed that lack of police reports and eyewitness accounts "created doubts about their (clients) involvement".

Archbishop testifies on security matters

The Catholic Archbishop of Liberia, Michael Francis, said security problems in Monrovia were deeply rooted in the "unfinished business" of the Abuja accord, independent Star Radio reported on Tuesday. Testifying before the Liberian Senate on the security situation, Francis said though the accord was not a legal prescription, it contained "safeguards" on future problems. He said restructuring the army and other security forces without the input of the West African ECOMOG peacekeeping force would not be in the best interest of Liberia.

Government asks UN to lift arms embargo

Taylor said last Friday his government had asked the UN to lift an arms embargo imposed in 1992 during the civil war, news agencies reported. Speaking at a press conference, Taylor said the request was before the UN sanctions committee, adding the issue of Liberian compliance with the arms embargo was a matter for the UN Security Council not ECOMOG. Star Radio quoted Taylor on Friday as saying that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had lifted the arms embargo. But an ECOMOG official quoted by the radio said the force was unaware of the lifting of the embargo at any level.

Key roads and bridges to be rehabilitated

WFP announced the launch of a logistics operation to rehabilitate 600 km of key roads and 19 bridges in Liberia to improve accessibility to designated resettlement areas. The one-year project, carried out in conjunction with Swiss Disaster Relief and the Liberian government at a cost of US$ 6.3 million, will focus on four important routes: Gbarnga to Voinjama, Voinjama to Kolahun, Zwedru to Harper, and Pleebo to Barclayville. WFP said the project would facilitate the repatriation and return of internally displaced to their home areas.

NIGERIA: Nobel Prize winner says "armed conflict" possible

Nigerian Nobel Prize winner and activist Wole Soyinka said "armed conflict" in Nigeria to restore democracy should not be ruled out, AFP reported on Wednesday. The report quoted Soyinka, speaking on CNN, as calling for the release of Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential elections annulled by the then military government, the formation of a government of national unity and a national conference to discuss the country's future. "If these conditions are not met, there is a strong possibility of an armed conflict," he warned.

Meanwhile, the United Action for Democracy (UAD), a coalition of 26 Nigerian pro-democracy organisations, called for an oil embargo, which would "precipitate the demise" of the military government.

Police stop presidential candidate's rally

Last Saturday, Nigerian police stopped a rally by presidential candidate, Mohammed Dikko Yusufu, in the south-eastern city of Calabar, 570 km south-east of Lagos, AFP reported. A police permit granted to Yusufu, the Grassroots Democratic Movement(GDM) leader, was withdrawn on security grounds. According to AFP, Yusufu's campaign has been very critical of the present regime.

Government establishes constitutional court

The Nigerian government on Thursday established a Constitutional Court as part of its transition programme to hand over power to a civilian government, AFP reported, quoting the justice ministry. The Court will arbitrate electoral disputes and interpret and enforce a new constitution. Nigerian leader General Sani Abacha will appoint the judges to the court on recommendations made by an advisory judicial committee.

GUINEA: President warns troublemakers

Guinean President Lansana Conte warned anybody intent on stirring up trouble in Guinea that they would be punished to the full extent of the law, AFP reported last Friday. Speaking on the 14th anniversary of the coup which brought him to power, he said nobody had the right to promote political, racial or religious conflict. He called on Guineans to remain calm. Late March, nine people were killed when security forces clashed with residents of an area designated for demolition. About 60 people, including Mamadou Ba, leader of the opposition Union pour la Nouvelle Republique (UNR), were arrested.

Meanwhile, two deputies belonging to the Rassemblement du Peuple Guineen (RPG), Mamadi Sangare Conde and Mamore Conde, were released on Monday in Beyla, 900 km southeast of Conakry, Gabonese Africa No 1 radio reported. They had been arrested following a party meeting last weekend. Guinean opposition coalition, the Coordination de l'opposition democratique en Guinee (CODEM), which boycotted the national assembly on Monday, said it would continue its boycott until three other members of parliament, including Ba, were released.

SENEGAL: President proposes public funding for political parties

Senegalese President Abdou Diouf proposed financing political parties from public funds and giving the opposition official status after next month's legislative elections, according to news reports. In a speech last Friday celebrating the 38th anniversary of Senegal's independence, Diouf also said the recently created National Elections Observatory (ONEL) and the appointment of a new interior minister were part of the efforts to enhance the reliability and success of the elections, PANA reported. Diouf also called for dialogue and negotiation with the separatist rebels in the southern province of Casamance provided national unity were respected. He also praised the army's achievements against the rebels, AFP reported.

In a related development, 20 political parties submitted their lists for the legislative elections in May last Saturday.

GUINEA-BISSAU: Minister accused of arming Senegalese rebels

The suspended former Guinea-Bissau army chief of staff, Brigadier General Ansumane Mane, has accused Defence Minister Samba Lamine Mane and a group of officers of smuggling arms to Senegalese rebels, AFP reported Sunday. In a letter published by the press, Ansumane Mane, suspended for negligence, said Guinea-Bissau President Joao Bernardo Vieira had "permitted" arms trafficking to separatist fighters in the southern Senegalese Casamance province.

MALI: Former US president praises Mali leader

Former US President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday commended Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare for his efforts to complete the democratic process begun a year ago, AFP reported. After a meeting with all the political parties, Carter suggested that municipal elections be held in the third week in June to allow each party to draw up an electoral list acceptable to all. He also recommended a political forum to examine organisational problems of elections and a complete "audit" of the independent national election commission.

CHAD: President criticises "traitor" politicians

Chadian President Idriss Deby earlier this week denounced "traitor" politicians trying to hinder oil exploration in southern Chad, AFP reported. Deby criticised those Chadian politicians lobbying World Bank officials and environmental NGOs to "hamper" oil exploration. Deby called on his government to ensure peace and security throughout the country.

WEST AFRICA: Power shortages worsening

Benin's minister of mines and energy, Emmanuel Golou, said on Monday power shortages had worsened considerably in Benin, AFP reported. He said Benin was coping with less than a quarter of its power needs. Residents in the capital, Cotonou, currently receive barely two hours of power supply per day. Meanwhile, the Ghanaian ministry of mines signed a contract with a British-based company, Aggeko PLC, for the supply of 30 megawatts of power to industrial and mining consumers, PANA reported, quoting a ministerial statement.

Benin, Togo and Ghana depend on the Akossombo hydro-electric dam in Ghana for their power. The dam's water levels have dropped drastically, resulting in a sharp decline in power output.

Francophone finance ministers discuss CFA

Finance ministers from mainly French-speaking countries met in Gabon on Thursday to discuss the future of their common currency, the CFA Franc, the BBC reported. The meeting is held amid concerns over a possible devaluation of the currency when France joins the single European currency, the euro, in 1999. France guarantees the value of the CFA by maintaining a fixed rate of one French Franc to one hundred CFA Francs. The French foreign ministry said earlier in the week the introduction of the euro would not impact on the CFA Franc.

Abidjan, 10 April 1998, 13:30 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-weekly]

Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 13:33:53 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-West Africa Weekly Roundup 43, 98.4.10 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980410133159.12847A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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