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IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup 01-98 of Main Events in West Africa covering the period (Monday) 29 December 1997 - (Thursday) 1 January 1998
[The weekly round-ups are based on relevant information from UN agencies, NGOs, governments, donors and media. IRIN issues these reports for the benefit of the humanitarian community but accepts no responsibility as to the accuracy of the original source.]
NIGERIA: Panel to investigate alleged coup plot
The Nigerian government has established a special panel to investigate those arrested for their alleged involvement in last month's failed coup to overthrow General Sani Abacha. Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Godwin Ugbo said that the special investigation panel set up at the weekend would be headed by an army general.
Following the completion of preliminary investigations, the panel has been given one month to conduct the investigation. General Oladipo Diya, Abacha's deputy, and General Abdulkarim Adisa, former minister of works and housing, were arrested with nine other military officers and a civilian for their alleged involvement in the foiled coup.
NIGERIA: Opposition newspaper editor arrested
As the authorities announced a further round-up of coup suspects over the New Year holiday, the editor of the opposition newspaper, 'The Diet', was detained. However, no reason was given for the arrest of Niran Malaolu. Neither was there any indication of a link between his arrest and the alleged coup plot. The Nigerian military, however, warned journalists against "irresponsible" reporting when it announced the coup plot on 21 December.
Six killed in ethnic clashes
Meanwhile, six people died this week in clashes between the Ife and Modakeke in the southwestern state of Osun. The latest clash occurred on Monday in Aba Josua village which was set ablaze by unknown arsonists. The fighting came three weeks after community leaders signed a peace accord. The two communities have been in dispute over new local boundaries since March last year.
SIERRA LEONE: Nigeria accuses AFRC of arms build-up
Nigerian defence ministry spokesman Colonel Godwin Ugbo this week accused Sierra Leone's Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) of starting an arms build-up in a move to "derail" the peace process. The AFRC was acquiring jets, developing airfields in Bo, Kenema and Magburaka and training new militia.
Although he declined to give further details, he said the build-up was in breach of the Conakry accords for "reconciliation and peace" in Sierra Leone. Under the Conakry accords signed in October, the AFRC is scheduled to restore power to ousted president Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah in April 1998. The commander of the West African ECOMOG peacekeeping force, General Victor Malu, also said that the AFRC had also been engaged in an army recruitment drive over the last few months.
SENEGAL: Casamance tense
Attacks over the Christmas period exacerbated tensions in Senegal's southern Casamance region. The attacks were reported in the northern sector of Casamance near Thionk Essyl, where the city hall was destroyed in a Christmas day bomb attack. No-one was hurt in the incident. Earlier, two people lost their lives and five were wounded when they detonated an anti-tank mine.
Separatists hold talks
Leaders from the separatist Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance, meanwhile, held a meeting chaired by Augustin Diamacoune, the movement's secretary general, to discuss President Abdou Diouf's offer of direct direct peace talks aimed at ending the 15-year rebellion.
Arms ban announced
The Senegalese government this week announced a nationwide arms ban during the general election campaign period from 1 January to 30 June. It said the ban would apply to all Senegalese citizens and foreigners even if they held permits for weapons.
GUINEA: Newspaper group closed
The Guinean government this week described the closure of two independent newspaper groups as a "routine operation". Le Lynx and l'Independant were closed down on 26 December. Together, the two groups publish five titles. The action followed the expulsion on Monday of Louis Esperant Celestin, an Ivorien who edited one of the titles, "l'Oueil". Another journalist, Foday Fofana, a correspondent of Reuters and the BBC, has been detained without charge since 23 October.
Security Minister Koureissy Conde said officials seized materials from the papers for "investigative purposes related to public security". The materials were returned to their owners on Monday. The operation did not constitute a curb on press rights in Guinea, the minister added.
GHANA: EU ends waste exports to Ghana
The European Union announced an end to all exports of "green waste" to Ghana as of 1 January. So-called "green waste" includes used clothing, tyres, as well as aluminium, iron and steel waste, and other scrap metal. It said the decision by Brussels followed Accra's rejection of a request by the EU to export other waste considered hazardous to the environment.
CAMEROON: Prison amnesties
President Paul Biya of Cameroon at the weekend issued a decree granting a wide range of amnesties to prisoners. They included the unconditional release of everyone currently serving a prison term of less than one year. He also reduced the country's life-imprisonment term to a maximum 20 years. People behind bars for "economic crimes" and those sentenced by military tribunals were excluded from the amnesty. He also refused to amnesty anyone serving sentences for murder, assassination and armed robbery.
Newspaper director detained
Meanwhile, the director of the newspaper, 'Le Messager', was still held in detention this week after the publication of an article about Biya's health. The arrest of Pius Njawe, was for alledgedly "propagating false information" in an article alleging that Biya might have heart problems.
Abidjan, 2 January 1998, 14:50 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-weekly]
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 14:58:54 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-West Africa Weekly Roundup 01-98, 98.1.2 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980102145339.1036A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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