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IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 59-97 of Events in West Africa, 7 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.]
LIBERIA:Refugees stranded in Sierra Leone
A refugee spokesman has appealed to the Liberian government to help some 11,000 Liberians stranded in Sierra Leone to return home. The spokesman told Star Radio that the refugees, who are in Bo, only 60 km from the Liberian border, lack food, medicine and shelter. He said there was an increasing incidence of disease and malnutrition among infants and the elderly. UNHCR said their refugee operations were suspended shortly after the May 1997 coup. Source: UNHCR and Star Radio (Fondation Hirondelle).
Sierra Leonean fighters cross border
The recent arrival of some Kamajor fighters from Sierra Leone has raised fears among border residents. The fighters are reportedly crossing over the Mano River, the boundary between Liberia and Sierra Leone, into Lower Lofa. The authorities in Tongo have already detained five fighters, a resident told 'The News' daily. He said the situation was a serious threat to national security and was compounded by the lack of ECOMOG and Liberian security forces to guard the border points. Source: 'The News'.
SIERRA LEONE: Teachers continue boycott
Only 40 percent of Sierra Leone's teachers reported for work when primary schools re-opened yesterday, a month behind schedule. Some teachers said they were continuing the four-month-old strike aimed at forcing the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) to restore democracy. A teacher who had returned to work asked why the children should suffer just because "some people have their own agenda". The president of the Sierra Leone Teachers' Union (SLTU) said the union was not "at war" with the military government but "peace and democracy are essential prerequisites for a stable political and educational climate". The Committee of Concerned Teachers, which called for an end to the strike, said they were "heartened" by the turnout and would campaign for other teachers to return to work. Secretary of State for Education Sahr Kaibanja said the government would now go ahead with the reopening of the secondary schools given Monday's "initial success". The SLTU and the dissident teachers dispute the actual attendance figure. Source: AFP.
CAMEROON: Opposition meeting banned
An opposition meeting scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in the Cameroon capital, Yaounde, was banned. According to AFP, the local authorities said that the meeting announced on Monday to explain the opposition election boycott might "disturb public order". The three main opposition parties have called on Cameroonians to boycott elections held under "a fraudulent system". President Paul Biya has accused the opposition of boycotting the 12 October polls because it was running scared.
France yesterday called for transparency in the elections. A French foreign ministry spokesman said that the main opposition leaders had told his ministry of their concerns about the electoral process and their decision to boycott the polls. He said France would be closely watching the conditions under which the polls would be held but it could not intervene in their organisation. He also said that France always favoured opposition participation in all elections. The absence of the three main opposition parties is expected to ensure a victory and a further seven-year mandate for Biya. Opposition calls for an "active" boycott of the forthcoming elections have given rise to fears of violence, news sources report. However, Africa No 1 radio reported an atmosphere of "almost general indifference". Source: Reuters, AFP, Radio France International, Africa No 1 radio and IRIN.
SENEGAL: One dead in Casamance attack
A policeman was killed in a fresh attack in Casamance, Radio France Internationale reported. Armed men killed the police officer on Sunday and looted a village in Marsamassoum Prefecture, 50 km east of the region's capital, Zinguichor. It is not known if the attackers were members of the Casamance separatist movement. Local authorities said their area had been calm for the last two years. They link the recent resurgence of violent incidents to mopping-up operations by the army in the Zinguichor area. Source: AFP and Radio France Internationale.
MALI: Bleak future for returning refugees
Tuareg refugees returning to Mali face a bleak future. According to Refugees International (RI), the economic and environmental viability of the Tuareg resuming their previous lifestyle is questionable. Their herds have been decimated and agricultural production is only feasible in a few of the settled areas. UNHCR told IRIN that the situation was further compounded by the poor response to the May 1997 donor appeal. Reintegration activities were estimated at US$ 15 million, of which only $6.5 million have been pledged, leaving a 56% shortfall. Inadequate UN and NGO resources are creating serious problems in meeting the most basic refugee needs, notably water and food.
RI said it had already seen cases of malnutrition among the most vulnerable. Food insecurity is expected to worsen in the future. Some refugees have migrated to the capital, Bamako, but strong family and land ties are expected to prevent most from leaving unless faced with extreme hardship. In some cases, mounting hardship and lack of resources have generated hostility towards the government and humanitarian agencies. Refugees told RI they are tired of charity and being international wards. They want to earn a living. Source: UNHCR and Refugees International.
GAMBIA: Former ministers free to move
Ministers of the ousted civilian government of President Dawda Jawara have regained the right to work and unrestricted travel. However, they are still banned from political activity. The ministers were barred from holding jobs and forced to restrict their movements to the capital, Banjul, following President Yahya Jammeh's 1994 military coup. Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction won a comfortable majority in the 1996 elections. Source: Reuters.
Abidjan, 7 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: <199710080759.KAA32562@dha.unon.org> Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 10:49:26 +0300 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 59-97, 7 October 1997 97.10.07
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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