UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
IRIN-WA Update 79-97 of Events in West Africa, 11/10/97

IRIN-WA Update 79-97 of Events in West Africa, 11/10/97


U N I T E D N A T I O N S Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa

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

IRIN-WA Update 79-97 of Events in West Africa, 8-10 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: Malu ready to go to Freetown "at any time"

The commander of the west African peacekeeping force ECOMOG, General Victor Malu, has said he is willing to travel to Freetown "at any time" to meet members of Sierra Leone's military authorities. "I have no problem with where we meet," he told Voice of America radio on Saturday, according to Reuters. Reports last week quoted Malu as saying he would only hold talks in the Lungi area of Freetown. He was speaking after the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) cancelled a meeting scheduled for last Friday with its leader Major Johnny Paul Koroma. Another meeting has been fixed for Wednesday aimed at discussing a recently-signed peace accord in Conakry between west African states and the AFRC.

ECOMOG warns ships to leave Sierra Leone waters

Late on Friday, ECOMOG also warned two merchant ships in Sierra Leonean waters to leave or face attack. An ECOMOG statement, reported by AFP, said the two ships were heading for Freetown in violation of the fuel and arms embargo against Sierra Leone. In his VOA interview, Malu reiterated the warning, Reuters said.

AFRC slams international reaction

Meanwhile, the AFRC complained it was in danger of a takeover by Nigeria and criticised the stance of the international community, AFP reported on Sunday. "Silence for Zaire, silence for Congo, but for Sierra Leone, an international outcry," AFRC spokesman, Allieu Kamara, said. "Bombings and an embargo. Are we cursed?"

Food prices rising

Independent Star Radio, broadcasting from Monrovia, on Monday reported the prices of basic food commodities in Freetown were escalating due, it said, to the imposition of sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Many families were unable to afford the prices of available goods, and most basic commodities were scarce in any case. According to the radio, the AFRC has announced the rationing of petroleum products.

UN assessment team reduces security rating in Kambia

A UN inter-agency security assessment mission visited Sierra Leone from 3-5 November following which the security phase in and around Kambia, up to 20 km, was reduced from 5 to 3. However, the top security rating of 5 remains in force for the rest of the country.

Journalist detained

Winston Ojukutu, a correspondent for the BBC, was arrested by the authorities in Freetown last Wednesday, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). His arrest was in connection with ad-hoc interviews he held with the public on their reaction to an AFRC statement on its "unwillingness to disarm until ECOMOG forces followed suit", CPJ said. It added Ojukutu's whereabouts were not known.

NIGERIA: Rallies banned for Saro-Wiwa death anniversary

A pro-government rally was held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday, a day before the second anniversary of the execution of writer Ken Saro-Wiwa. The writer, whose home was in Rivers State, was due to be commemorated on Monday with several rallies, but the Nigerian authorities have banned any demonstrations planned for the day, AFP reported. Gabonese radio said security forces "armed to the teeth" had been deployed in Gokana, the chief town of Saro-Wiwa's Ogoni community. Sunday's demonstration was staged by "concerned citizens" of Nigeria, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Addressing the gathering, state military administrator, Colonel Musa Shehu, slammed the Commonwealth for suspending Nigeria over the executions of Saro-Wiwa and eight colleagues from the opposition Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP).

Nigeria invited to Francophone summit

Meanwhile, Nigeria has been invited to attend the forthcoming Francophone summit in Hanoi, AFP said, quoting diplomatic sources. The meeting is due to open on 14 November. AFP recalled that last December, Nigerian leader General Sani Abacha had announced his intention to promote French in the country following a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac.

Opposition journalists arrested

The editor of the Nigerian weekly 'The News', which is critical of the government, was arrested by security agents over the weekend, AFP reported. The editor, Jenkins Alumona, was reportedly arrested at the offices of the national Nigerian Television station in Lagos where he had gone to present his weekly sports programme. No reason has been given for the arrest, AFP said. In a related incident, the editor of 'Tell' magazine, Onome Osifo-Whiskey, was abducted in Lagos on Sunday as he was on his way to church. His colleagues said he was taken to an unknown destination.

NIGER: Nearly 30 dead in clashes

Nearly 30 people were killed after the Niger army raided rebel bases in northern Niger on Saturday, Defence Minister Issoufou Ousmane Oubandawaki announced. In a broadcast over state radio, he said the clashes had left 27 rebels and one soldier dead. Three more soldiers were reported wounded. The minister did not say exactly where the fighting occurred nor against which group, but noted the army had been conducting clean-up operations. Northern-based Tuareg and Toubou rebels formed an anti-government coalition in September. According to BBC radio, the minister said the authorities launched the raid after rebels ignored appeals for a dialogue.

Teachers strike over pay arrears

A three-day teachers' strike over pay arrears, which began on Monday, has closed down almost all of Niger's state schools, AFP reported. The new school year already got off to a difficult start in October when many teachers refused to resume classes because of pay claims.

MAURITANIA: First black candidate to run for presidency

Another candidate has put himself forward to contest the presidential elections on 12 December. Reuters said Kane Amadou Moctar, a retired nurse, was the first black Mauritanian in the predominantly Arab country to run for president. Incumbent President Maaouya Ould Taya is now competing against three other candidates for the presidency in a poll which the main opposition parties have said they will boycott. Moctar, who represents the Party for Legality and Justice, has said he will campaign for national reconstruction and reconciliation. Last week, prominent opposition politician Tidjane Koita, another black Mauritanian, withdrew from the race.

Abidjan, 10 November 1997, 18:00 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-list]

Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19971111082736.00b22c68@africaonline.co.ci> Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 08:27:36 +0000 From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Update 79-97 of Events in West Africa for 8-10 Nov 1997 97.11.10

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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