UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
IRIN - West Africa Update 99-97, 12/8/97

IRIN - West Africa Update 99-97, 12/8/97


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 99-97 of Events in West Africa, Saturday-Monday, 6-8 December 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.]

NIGERIA : State assembly election results favourable to Abacha

The United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) took a huge lead in nationwide state assembly elections on Saturday despite a low voter turnout, media reported on Monday. Although the final results are to be announced in coming days, figures in showed that the party had already taken 67 percent of the 838 seats in the country's 36 states.The election was billed as the first phase of a new transition to democracy by Nigeria's military ruler, General Sani Abacha. It showed, Reuters said, that Nigeria could be on the road to becoming a one-party state.

The closest rival of the UNCP, which supports Abacha's candidacy for the presidency, was the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DCP). Also described as pro-Abacha, the DCP had taken almost 21 percent of the vote. Other parties were the centrist Committee for National Consensus (CNC), the National Centre Party for Nigeria (NCPN), and the opposition Grassroot Democratic Movement (GDM).

Up to now, Nigeria's states, like the central government, have been run by military administrators. In the next phase of the transition, Nigerians will vote twice next year. On 25 April, deputies and senators in the two houses of parliament will be elected. The transition process will culminate with a presidential election on 1 August 1998.

Low turnout

Nigerian newspapers attributed the low turnout to curfew restrictions imposed on voting day, a lack of information on the election and delays in getting election officials and documents to voting booths. Analysts also blamed a loss of faith in politicians and scepticism about the transition. But Nigeria's state radio cited "a large turnout in most centres" even if "initial turnout" at some was low.In one example of poor turnout, 'The Post Express' said the Lagos voting station near the residence of detained opposition leader Moshood Abiola had recorded a turnout of only 27 of the 600 registered voters. Abiola has been held for claiming the presidency after the 1994 election which he was widely believed to have won.

Limited election violence

Although the election passed off peacefully in most parts of the country, AFP reported the deaths of at least 15 people in clashes between the Ife and Modakeke clans in the southwestern Osun state forcing a postponement of voting. A similar postponement was ordered in the oil-rich Niger delta state of Warri because of fears of ethnic violence. The tension in both states is attributed to the demarcation of new local boundaries which can affect government subsidies.

SIERRA LEONE: Kamajors join peace talks

Kamajor militiamen loyal to ousted Sierra Leonean President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah joined the peace talks for the first time since the signing of the Conakry Accords in October, AFP reported Monday. The ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) recently accused the Kamajor of launching several attacks on military and humanitarian targets. A disarmament deadline initially set for 1 December failed because of disagreement over its implementation. Now, however, eight Kamajor leaders are participating in the talks aimed at resolving the issue.The report said two other ethnically based militia groups, the Kapras and the Tamborrahs, are also expected to join the disarmament committee. The West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, also participated in the talks held at Jui, 23 km north of Freetown.

Participants seek want child soldiers disarmed

Church leaders in Sierra Leone said child soldiers should also be disarmed immediately, the AFP dispatch added. The armed children are mostly recruits of the former rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) now alled with the AFRC. It has resisted the church appeal pending what it called "official orders" from the RUF hierarchy.

Kabbah gets pledges of European aid

In related developments, a clandestine pro-Kabbah radio station announced the creation of a committee "to run affairs of state" in preparation for Kabbah's return to Freetown, scheduled for April 1998 under the Conakry Accords. It said the committee was established following a meeting with the European Union (EU) in September at which it had promised a new Kabbah administration US$ 3.6 million in aid with a further US$ 217 thousand from Britain.

Food politics

AFP also reported that the AFRC had accused traders of creating an "artificial" food scarcity to discredit the government. The accusation followed the doubling of rice prices over three days. The AFRC has blamed shortages on the ECOWAS and UN sanctions enforced by ECOMOG. Humanitarian sources have told IRIN, however, that attempts are being made to evaluate the food situation in the capital Freetown.

LIBERIA: Washington condemns Dokie killing

The United States has condemned the killing of Liberian opposition leader Samuel Dokie, AFP reported on Monday. Calling on the Liberian government to find those responsible for the death of the former Taylor ally found brutally murdered on Wednesday, State Department spokesman James Foley said Liberia had to send a clear signal of its commitment to the rule of law and human rights. "These killings do a great disservice to a nation trying to heal its wounds," Foley said.

Arrests announced

In Monrovia, Information Minister Joe Mulbah announced some arrests, but declined to say how many had been detained, according to independent Star Radio. The report said the government was recruiting lawyers for an eventual trial.Mulbah warned the Liberian public and the media not to turn the Dokie killing into a political issue.

CAMEROON: World Court to mediate territorial dispute with Nigeria

In a dispatch from The Hague, AFP reported on Monday that the International Court of Justice will begin hearings next March on the dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula. The case will open with Nigerian objections to international jurisdiction.

Tensions reported in Bokassi

AFP, quoting the Cameroon daily 'Aurore Plus', said Cameroon and Nigerian troops had clashed recently in the Bakassi peninsula. Although the report was not independently confirmed, AFP said that Cameroon had not denied a "surprise attack" on its positions by Nigerian forces. In February 1994, armed clashes killed 34 people, 33 of them Nigerian.A media source in Yaounde told IRIN on Monday that he had no confirmation of fighting. "The whole area is very tense, though. Everyone is looking at it," he said.

New government formed

Cameroon President Paul Biya appointed his long awaited new government on Sunday evening, media sources reported. According to AFP, 26 new ministers were appointed headed by the previous prime minister Paul Mafany Musionge. Bello Bouba Maigari, one of three key figures to boycott the 12 October elections, was given the industry portfolio in a cabinet including members from four political parties.

SENEGAL: Fresh casualties in Casamance

Landmines claimed another two lives and wounded two more people in Senegal's troubled southern province of Casamance at the weekend, AFP said.The mines, located in the Niaguiss area, were allegedly planted by the separatist Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance (MFDC). Since the end of October, a dozen civilians have died and 30 others wounded by mines.

MAURITANIA: Gearing up for the election

President Maayouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya told the French daily 'Le Figaro' on Monday that Mauritanians would not heed opposition calls to boycott the 12 December presidential elections. He said he had addressed concerns about the credibility of the election. He also denounced opposition charges that he had allowed slavery to continue unchecked.Slavery was only recently abolished in Mauritania in 1980. Taya, who took power in a 1984 coup, was elected president in 1992 and is running for re-election.

TOGO: Editor released

The managing editor of the Togolese opposition weekly 'Le Nouveau Journal' was released on Monday, AFP said. He was held five days ago over an article accusing the government of assisting Zairean soldiers loyal to late president Mobutu Sese Seko. The editor of another opposition weekly 'Crocodile' was arrested on Friday and released the following day. He was accused of spreading false information and insulting the president in an article which also alleged government support for former Zairean soldiers.

WEST AFRICA: AIDS conference

The 10th African Conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases opened in the Cote d'Ivoire capital, Abidjan, on Sunday with delegates to be addressed by senior officials and experts from around the continent.

Abidjan, 8 December 1997 21:15 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-updates]

Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 21:22:28 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN - West Africa Update 99-97, 6-8 December 1997 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.971208211719.15461A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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