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IRIN-WA Update 86-97 of Events in West Africa, (Wednesday) 19 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: AFRC claims "tribal" plot foiled
The ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) officially claimed individuals arrested in Freetown were plotting a coup attempt. Speaking on Wednesday, Colonel Abdul Sesay, AFRC secretary-general said the foiled plot had "a tribal origin". Steve Bio, brother of former military ruler Brigadier Julius Madda Bio, and Gibril Masaquoi, spokesman for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), were detained on Tuesday. Some 15 people in total are now being held, according to AFP sources. Other sources suggested the two detained men had been attempting to dissuade the RUF, now allied with the AFRC, from disarming in line with last month's Conakry accord. Bio and Massaquoi reportedly tried to talk to Colonel Sam Bockari, deputy leader of the RUF, saying a coup had been "mandated" by Foday Sankoh, the RUF leader detained in Nigeria. It was at this point Bio and Massaquoi were arrested, the sources said.
Senior AFRC officials suspended
Major Johnny Paul Koroma, head of the AFRC, has sacked one senior AFRC official and suspended eight more. According to State House aides on Wednesday, Alfred Muna, a member of the AFRC Supreme Council of State, was dismissed for his involvement in "dubious activities". No official explanation was given for the dismissals of the other officials who are now under "mess arrest", however AFRC staff said the eight had "set in place a reign of anarchy inconsistent with state stability". According to AFP, mining ministry officials have refused to travel to diamond areas in the east because they fear senior AFRC members seen in the area with heavily armed bodyguards. The AFRC Principal Liaison Officer, Three Tamba Brima, was also reported to be under AFRC investigation for failing to hand over a large quantity of cigarettes confiscated at the port last week.
Vigilantes and criminals in pitched battles in Freetown
Western Area Security Patrol (WASP) vigilantes fought pitched battles with heavily armed robbers in parts of Freetown on Tuesday night. WASP Captain Manderah Kamara told AFP "anyone who challenges WASP and is caught will be executed". WASP agents claim seven armed robbers wearing military uniforms were captured while six got away in the battles. The vigilantes claim a further 120 robbers were captured in the eastern part of the capital after exchanges of fire. Kamara attributed the violence to factions "within or outside Sierra Leone" opposed to the military government. A local media source confirmed to IRIN that WASP had recently "beefed up its presence in and around the city".
NIGERIA: Abacha says mayors symbols of transition to democracy
Nigerian Head of State General Sani Abacha said local government chairmen (mayors) in Nigeria are the first symbols of a transition to democracy. Speaking at the opening of the three-day World Conference of Mayors in Lagos, Abacha told delegates the "duly elected" officials were "symbols of Nigeria's irreversible march to civil governance".
Three ministers to stay in new cabinet
Meanwhile, Abacha has retained only three ministers from his former cabinet as part of preparations for civil rule. Foreign Minister Chief Tom Ikimi, Finance Minister Anthony Ani, and the minister in charge of the federal capital territory, General Jeremiah Useni, were the only officials to stay in their posts, according to the BBC.
El Nino: WFP meeting on food shortages
WFP representatives will meet in early December to discuss possible food shortages as a result of the El Nino climatic phenomenon. WFP says some West African states including Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania could face food shortages if weather disturbances continue, but the situation will not be clear until next year. These states "seem to be affected by El Nino over and above chronic food shortages elsewhere in the Sahel region," WFP regional director Paul Ares told Reuters on Tuesday. In December, WFP will consider vulnerability and analysis mapping and contingency plans to place food stocks in threatened areas to prevent migrations.
Abidjan, 18 November 1997
[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-updates]
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 19:20:53 +0000 (GMT) Subject: IRIN-WA Update 86-97 of Events in West Africa, 19 November Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.971119191734.22768A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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