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IRIN-WA Update 78-97 of Events in West Africa, 7 November 1997
[As a supplement to its weekly round-ups of main events in West Africa, IRIN-WA will produce a daily synopsis of 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: Koroma-Malu meeting postponed
A meeting between Sierra Leone military leader Major Johnny Paul Koroma and commander of the west African ECOMOG peacekeeping force General Victor Malu, scheduled for Friday, was postponed until next week. Independent Star Radio quoted ECOMOG sources as saying the talks were cancelled by the Sierra Leone military authorities barely 24 hours before the two men were due to meet in Freetown's Lungi area. The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) requested the meeting be rescheduled for next Wednesday, adding that the talks should take place either at State House or at the military's headquarters in Cockerill. At Friday's meeting, General Malu had been expected to discuss the Conakry peace accord between the AFRC and west African states as well as Koroma's call earlier this week for the withdrawal of Nigerian peacekeepers. Sierra Leonean military sources said there was "no hitch" but cited their lack of preparedness as a reason for postponement of the meeting.
Malu says talks must be held in Lungi
On Thursday, Malu told Reuters his visit to Freetown would probably be cancelled due to the AFRC's new demands. "If they don't agree to hold the talks in Lungi, I'm not going anywhere else," Malu said, according to Reuters.
Fuel shortage affects electricity output
ECOMOG turned down a request by the Sierra Leonean authorities to allow a vessel carrying lubricating oil into Freetown port, AFP reported on Friday. The lubricating oil would have been used to generate electricity as Freetown has been suffering prolonged power cuts. Fuel exemptions are screened by a UN Security Council committee.
WFP says food stocks at "critical level"
WFP announced its food stocks had reached a "critical level", affecting some 200,000 people in Sierra Leone who urgently needed supplies. In a statement issued on Friday, WFP said it needed 2,400 mt of supplies each month to feed vulnerable people in hospitals, orphanages and displaced people in urban centres. Problems such as insecurity had prevented WFP from replenishing its stocks, the statement said. "Every month it gets more difficult. As our food stocks run out, we're forced to decide who will eat this month and who will go hungry," said Paul Ares, WFP's regional manager for the coastal area of west Africa.
WFP said it had a stock of 5,000 mt of commodities in Guinea and other neighbouring countries, which could feed all 200,000 people for the next two months. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Guinea will distribute 1,000 mt of WFP food aid per month during the next three months.
GABON: ACP declaration pledges strengthened unity
The two-day summit of African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) states in Libreville, which ends Friday, is expected to adopt a declaration on strengthening unity between the 71-member countries, PANA news agency reported. The declaration specifically calls for joint efforts to meet the challenges of poverty, under-development and the globalisation of the world economy. It also notes member countries should have a "common position" on international issues. Economically, the declaration stresses a commitment to developing the private sector, PANA said.
MAURITANIA: Refugee groups claim government abuses towards blacks
Mauritanian refugee groups, quoted by AFP, on Thursday claimed the government had executed 500 black troops and expelled 70,000 other blacks to Mali and Senegal. Spokesman Aldiouma Cissokho, attending a session of the African human rights commission in Banjul, Gambia, accused the government of slavery, detention without trial and discrimination in a bid to turn Mauritania into an exclusively Arab state.
Abidjan, 7 November 1997, 18:00 gmt
[ENDS]
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Date: Fri, 7 Nov 1997 18:43:23 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-WA Update 78-97 of Events in West Africa for 7 Nov 1997 97.11.7 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.971107183753.26415A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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