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IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 58-97 of Events in West Africa, 4-6 October 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: AFRC and RUF clash in diamond town
Fighting broke out between Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) soldiers and members of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in eastern Sierra Leone. They were reportedly mining for diamonds in Tongo when a disagreement resulted in clashes on Saturday, according to AFP. Security forces were dispatched on Sunday to quell the fighting which had forced many civilians to flee. Sixteen people were injured but no deaths were reported. Source: AFP.
AFRC claims "upper hand" over ECOMOG
AFRC Chief of Staff Brigadier Samuel Koroma claimed his army had the "upper hand" over the Nigerian-led ECOMOG troops stationed in Lungi. He said the AFRC continued to register successes in "contained attacks" between the two forces. Koroma did not give casualty figures but said that Sierra Leonean losses had been "minimal". However, unconfirmed reports indicated that ECOMOG troops now controlled the entire Lungi area around the airport. Koroma also accused ECOMOG forces of planting landmines and cluster bombs in the area, endangering the lives of civilians. Source: AFP.
Soldiers recalled to barracks
The Minister of Defence has ordered all uniformed men to return to their barracks for identification. According to Africa No 1 radio, men in uniform have been blamed for several attacks, thefts and assassinations in Freetown since the AFRC coup. The attempt to track down "fake soldiers" follows in the wake of the assassination in Bo of an official from ousted President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah's Sierra Leone People's Party who had recently joined the AFRC. Kamajor militia forces are being blamed for the execution despite the fact that their leaders are currently negotiating with the AFRC. Source: Africa No 1 Radio via BBC Monitoring.
AFRC seeks regional help on sanctions
An AFRC delegation went to Niger and Burkina Faso last week to seek support in convincing the Nigerian leader and ECOWAS chairman to adopt a more flexible approach to the embargo against Sierra Leone. On Friday, the presidents of Liberia, Burkina Faso and Niger released a joint statement from Ouagadougou calling for a quick and peaceful resolution to the crisis in Sierra Leone. Source: AFP.
LIBERIA: Taylor to restructure army
President Charles Taylor announced he would soon begin restructuring the national army. He said the plan would include a massive recruitment of able-bodied men and women. In September, Liberian Defence Minister Daniel Chea distanced himself from a similar statement when ECOMOG commander Major-General Victor Malu warned that under the peace agreement, this was the sole responsibility of the ECOMOG peacekeeping force. Taylor said: "We will wait for no one to restructure the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) because it is in my constitutional responsibility to do so." Source: PANA and AFP.
ECOMOG chief warns over attacks on troops
The ECOMOG Commander has warned that his forces will deal severely with any person who attacked or accused Nigerian soldiers of making their genitals disappear. Several ECOMOG soldiers have been severely beaten in Monrovia and have come close to being lynched over the past two weeks following rumours that strange men from Nigeria were capable of such witchcraft. Malu called on the Liberian police and security forces to arrest people spreading the rumours. Source: PANA and AFP.
UN economic conference starts
Liberian delegates presented the new government's economic recovery plans to the international community at a UN-sponsored conference in New York on Friday. In his opening address, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan reminded delegates of the enormous task facing Liberia. Most of the demobilised fighters were yet to be absorbed in reintegration programmes and basic institutions and services were not yet fully operational. Moreover, he said that the impact on Liberia of the situation in Sierra Leone remained a source of concern. Prior to the conference, Liberian Foreign Minister Monie Captan appealed to the international community for a debt waiver since Liberia did not have the capital to repay foreign debts and undertake its reconstruction programme. He assured donors that the government was committed to fiscal discipline and a free market economy. Source: Star Radio (Foundation Hirondelle) and UN.
SENEGAL: Twenty-five killed in army operation
Twenty-two separatists, two soldiers and a police officer were killed in the military operation launched on Friday. News organisations reported that over 2,500 Senegalese army soldiers were mobilised in the operation against the rebel Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance (MFDC) in southern Senegal, near the Guinea-Bissau border. The military claimed to have destroyed two MFDC bases in three days of fighting. This is the largest military campaign since the signing of the 1995 ceasefire. Resurgence in MFDC attacks over the last three months has resulted in 200-300 deaths. In a visit to Senegal on Saturday, Guinea-Bissau's minister of defence said economic integration between the two countries was impossible without stability in the sub-region. He offered Guinea-Bissau's assistance in finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Casamance. Dakar's archbishop, on Sunday, also called for talks but supported Senegal's territorial integrity. Source: AFP, Reuters and 'le Soleil'.
NIGERIA:Human Rights activist released
Charges against the chairman of Human Rights Africa, Tunji Abayomi, were dropped this morning due to "poor preparation" of the case by the prosecution, local sources told IRIN. News organisations had earlier reported that Abayomi and four other members of the Nigerian NGOs, detained on 25 September, had been charged with possession of seditious documents and taking part in an illegal meeting. Abayomi was chairing a conference on democracy in the central Nigerian city Jos when he was arrested. Source: IRIN, AFP and Radio France International via BBC Monitoring.
Opposition leader dies
The head of the pro-democracy umbrella organisation, NADECO, and a key player in Nigeria's struggle for independence, Michael Adekunle Ajasin, died of a heart attack at the age of 88 on Saturday. Ajasin supported non-violence to force the Nigerian military government to hand over to a civilian government. Source: AFP and Reuters.
Eight arrested with explosives
Eight people were arrested on Friday for possession of explosives in southwest Ondo State. The police commissioner said efforts were also being increased in the investigation of the latest explosion at the residence of the chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee two weeks ago. Source: Radio Nigeria via BBC Monitoring.
Nigeria apologises to US
Nigeria officially apologised for last month's raid on a farewell party for the outgoing United States ambassador, the US State Department said. It promised a written explanation of the incident. A State Department spokesman said: "We welcome this apology." Relations between the two countries have been strained over US demands for the restoration of civilian rule. Source: AFP, Reuters and Radio France International via BBC Monitoring.
CAMEROON: Ex-minister convicted, excluded from election
Former Cameroonian Health Minister Titus Edzoa was convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on Saturday. The president of the Cameroonian Bar Council claimed the trial was politically motivated. The sentence will preclude Edzoa from running in the 12 October elections. A former member of the ruling party and close associate of President Paul Biya, Edzoa had resigned his post and announced his intention to run for president. He was arrested shortly after on charges of embezzlement. Cameroon's three main opposition parties have announced a boycott of the elections, charging that they have been rigged and demanding an independent electoral commission. Biya will face only eight opposition candidates in the election. Source: IRIN and Reuters.
MALI: Opposition leaders released
Ten members of the radical opposition imprisoned since mid-August were conditionally released on Friday pending trial. They were accused of involvement in the death of a police officer at an opposition rally. The public prosecutor's office said investigations into officer's death were continuing. Source: AFP.
Abidjan, 6 October 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: <199710070640.JAA22327@dha.unon.org> Date: Tue, 07 Oct 1997 09:34:41 +0300 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 58-97, 4-6 October 1997 97.10.6
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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