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IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 55-97 of Events in West Africa, 30 September 1997
[As a supplement to its weekly round-ups 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: ECOMOG shells coastal areas
ECOMOG forces shelled the coastal residential areas in Freetown overnight on Monday. Residents said that there were no casualties but shells fired across the Sierra Leone estuary left at least three craters in the backyards of waterfront homes, AFP reported. The motive for the mortar fire was not known and ECOMOG declined to comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, the ministry of marine resources issued a statement on Monday that frequent ECOMOG bombardments had caused "severe damage to Sierra Leone's marine ecology". A ministry official told AFP that the situation was alarming. He also claimed that thousands of bloated dead fish had been found on the beach last week and that the Nigerians were "pouring dangerous chemicals into the water". Source: AFP.
Agencies discuss cross-border operations from Guinea
Consultations between UN agencies and NGOs are currently under way regarding cross-border operations from neighbouring Guinea into Sierra Leone. The discussions focus on how to conduct this operation in the light of ECOWAS sanctions. Some 60,000 internally displaced persons depend entirely on food aid distributed by WFP and NGOs in Freetown and surrounding areas, according to a WFP report. Medical organisations have reported an increase in malnutrition in children in certain parts of the country. An outbreak of measles in the northern district of Koinadugu was reported over the weekend. UNICEF said that at least 3,000 persons were affected, but immunisations had begun.
A local humanitarian source in Conakry told IRIN that 11,000 metric tonnes (MT) of food were ready to be moved into Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Kambia in Sierra Leone from Guinea. Current food stocks in Sierra Leone amounted to less than 2,500 MT. Since the May coup d'etat, some 3,000 MT of relief food have been looted from the WFP Freetown warehouses which are now under the control of some elements of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). Source: WFP and IRIN.
Iran and China to honour pre-coup scholarship awards
Iranian and Chinese scholarships awarded to 15 Sierra Leonean students during ousted president Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah's presidency will be honoured, the pro-Kabbah radio station announced Tuesday. A ministry of education official said that the AFRC had not been approached on this matter, AFP reported. Any student who accepted the offer would be "punished". It is unclear whether the students concerned are currently in Sierra Leone or abroad. Source: AFP.
LIBERIA: US warns Taylor over Libya
The US government has warned President Charles Taylor against reviving ties with Libya. According to Monrovia's 'The National' daily, Taylor was warned that reviving his connections with Libya would sour bilateral relations. Source: 'The National'.
NIGERIA: Human rights group recommends tough action
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)said that the Commonwealth must take tougher action against Nigeria's military government at its forthcoming summit. The CHRI, an independent non-governmental organisation based in New Delhi, said that human rights abuses were escalating in Nigeria and warned Commonwealth leaders not to be taken in by the military government's pledges to restore democracy, Reuters reported. The CHRI report, prepared for the Edinburgh summit meeting in October, claimed that the Nigerian government had not fulfilled any of the conditions set out at the 1995 Auckland summit. Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth at the Auckland summit. Source: Reuters.
New opposition radio
A newly-announced opposition radio calling itself 'Radio New Nigeria' will broadcast a special message on Nigeria's independence day on 1 October. In a press release, 'Radio New Nigeria' described itself as the voice of the Nigerian Advocacy Group for Democracy and Human Rights in Nigeria. Source: Nigerian Advocacy Group for Democracy and Human rights press release via BBC Monitoring.
CAMEROON: Opposition leader meets Bedie
Cameroonian opposition leader John Fru Ndi met Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie on Sunday. Ndi, leader of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), discussed the problems surrounding the Cameroonian presidential elections slated for 12 October. Bedie stressed the need for dialogue and moderation in these difficult situations. The SDF is boycotting the scheduled elections. Source: Fraternite Matin.
Biya invited to televised debate
Two Cameroonian opposition leaders have challenged President Paul Biya to a televised debate. Samuel Eboua, leader of the Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progres (MDP) and Albert Dzongang, leader of theMouvement du Rassemblement Camerounais (MRC), invited Biya to discuss his 15-year legacy and his manifesto. Biya, who turned down the same challenge at the last elections in 1992, has not yet responded to this offer. RFI reported a "feeble" start to the election campaign. Source: Soir Info and RFI.
MALI: Justice minister visits imprisoned opposition leaders
The new Malian justice minister, Hamid Diabate, visited imprisoned leaders of the Malian radical opposition. Diabate met Mountaga Tall, leader of the Congress National d'Initiative Democratique (CNID), and Mohamed Lamine Traore of the Mouvement pour l'Independance, la Renaissance et l'Integration (MIRI) yesterday (Monday) and on 24 September. The Malian president, on Saturday, called on his government to start a dialogue with the political establishment. Source: Radio France Internationale.
TOGO: Eyadema advocates African common market
Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema advocated the formation of an African common market. During his two-day official visit to South Africa, Eyadema said that the economic communities of west and southern Africa should join forces to pave the way for a common African market. Source: SAPA news agency via BBC Monitoring.
Abidjan, 30 September
[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: <199710010747.KAA18154@dha.unon.org> Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 10:12:25 +0300 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 55-97 for 30 Sep 1997 97.9.30
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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