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IRIN-WA Update 89-97 of Events in West Africa, Saturday-Monday 22 - 24 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.]
LIBERIA: ECOMOG to stay in Liberia
The West African peacekeeping force ECOMOG will stay in Liberia until the end of its mandate in February 1998. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) executive secretary Lansana Kouyate told reporters on Monday that ECOWAS would terminate the Nigerian-led force's presence according to the Abuja accord. Force commander Major General Victor Malu also told Reuters that ECOMOG's mission is not finished. "We're supposed to stay six months after the inauguration of the government", he said, adding ECOMOG was also due to assist in restructuring the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Liberian President Charles Taylor has asked ECOWAS to retain 5,000 troops but vowed to press on with his own army restructuring. According to independent Star Radio, Defence Minister Daniel Chea announced government approval this weekend for the first phase of its plans. Liberia has already sent 1,000 armed men to the Sierra Leone border against ECOMOG's wishes.
According to Kouyate, ECOWAS Chairman and Nigerian leader General Sani Abacha was holding talks with Taylor "to narrow down differences" on the ECOMOG issue. Taylor warned ECOMOG last week not to use Liberia as a staging post for any forced intervention in neighbouring Sierra Leone. A local source in Monrovia told IRIN on Monday that an operation based from Liberia has long been a possibility. "It would make military sense," the source said.
Nigerians claim mistreatment in Monrovia
Some 3,000 Nigerians returned home from Liberia on Monday complaining of police brutality. According to AFP, the Nigerians fled carrying only their personal belongings in two ships chartered by ECOMOG. One evacuee told local media that Liberian police "throw Nigerians into container cells on spurious grounds." According to the source, 700 Nigerians were currently being detained and 50 had so far died of hunger. The pro-government 'Daily Times' alleged that Taylor is trying to push out ECOMOG from Liberia.
SIERRA LEONE: ECOMOG frees 28 Sierra Leonean prisoners-of-war
ECOMOG released 28 Sierra Leonean prisoners-of-war on Friday. According to AFP, the soldiers were captured during recent clashes at Lungi Airport and Jui, east of the capital Freetown. Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) Director of Defence Administration Colonel Sammy Davies said the handover took place aboard a Sierra Leone naval vessel three miles from the airport. One detained AFRC soldier told AFP he and other soldiers had been roughly handled by Nigerian troops. "At one time, they lined us up, cocked guns and pointed them at our heads saying we are going to die." After the Conakry peace deal was signed, however, the prisoners were treated correctly, he said.
ECOWAS to meet AFRC
The ECOWAS Committee of Five will meet the AFRC in Sierra Leone this week. Kouyate told reporters on Monday that Nigerian Foreign Minister Chief Tom Ikimi had authorised him to reveal ECOWAS would "negotiate" the Sierra Leone peace deal with the AFRC. Malu will also attend the meeting, he said.
NIGERIA: EU maintains sanctions against Nigeria
The European Union (EU) agreed on Friday to prolong sanctions against Nigeria. The EU measures, brought in after the execution of writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other minority rights activists in 1995, maintain restrictions on visas for military officers, development assistance, sporting events and high-level visits. According to AFP, special dispensation was made for the Nigerian football team to play in the World Cup in France. The EU said there had been no positive changes in Nigeria either regarding democracy or human rights. Sanctions were extended until after the handover to civilian rule scheduled for October 1998 by the Nigerian head of state General Sani Abacha.
Abiola may be freed
A list of 75 prisoners to be freed by the Nigerian government reportedly includes Chief Moshood Abiola. According to a newspaper report on Friday, the opposition leader, believed to have won annulled elections in 1993, will be freed as part of an amnesty for political prisoners promised by Abacha last Monday. A member of the special committee set up to scrutinise detainees, quoted by the "Vanguard' newspaper, said the final decision would be taken by Abacha himself.
SENEGAL: Mortar attack kills one wounds three
A mortar attack in Casamance killed a 10-year-old girl and wounded three other people on Friday. According to AFP, the separatist Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance (MFDC) fired the shells. The Senegalese army retaliated by bombarding the supposed MFDC firing point. The government army recently launched a general offensive against rebel bases in southern Casamance. According to media sources, the MFDC has adopted terrorist style tactics since October including the mining of roads in the region, which have killed seven and wounded 35.
Disappointing turnout at peace-march
The turnout at an inter-faith march for peace in Casamance on Sunday disappointed many observers. Moslems and Christians numbering only about 2,000-2,500, led by the Bishop of Ziguinchor, walked in silence through the streets of the provincial capital. Many stayed away through fear of clashes between separatists and the army, according to local sources.
CAMEROON: 25 killed in land dispute
Twenty-five people were killed and over 100 injured in a dispute between two communities in western Cameroon. According to the Friday edition of a local newspaper 'Ouest Echos', the violence left some 500 persons homeless. The local gendarmerie told AFP the report was not true, but admitted there had been disturbances in the area. The violence between the Bamengam and Bangam, who are both members of the dominant Bamileke group, lasted two days. According to the newspaper, the two communities were involved in a similar dispute in May when at least three persons were killed.
Abidjan, 24 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]
Message-Id: <199711250842.LAA01358@dha.unon.org> Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 11:29:53 +0000 From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-WA Update 89-97 of Events in West Africa, 22-24 Nov 1997 97.11.24
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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