IRIN-West Africa Update 01-98, 1/2/98

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER

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 21-73-54 Fax: +225 21-63-35 e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

IRIN-WA Update 01-98 of Events in West Africa, (Friday) 2 January 1998

[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.]

NIGER: Former prime minister detained

Police in Niger on Friday arrested former prime minister Hama Amadou on charges of plotting to assassinate President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara and other government officials, news organisations reported.

He was arrested while meeting with political allies to discuss a state television broadcast on Thursday which said four suspects had confessed to an assassination plot masterminded by Amadou. The television also showed arms it said had been purchased for the purpose in Burkina Faso. The programme also said that the suspects and others had also undergone training in Burkina Faso.

Amadou is currently general secretary of the Mouvement National du Social Developpement (MNSD), formerly the sole ruling party.

As he was led away, Amadou was quoted by AFP as saying the televised statements were a government fabrication and that he was not "a war lord" but the leader of an opposition party. It said Mamadou Issoufou, leader of the opposition Parti Nigerien pour la Democratie et le Socialisme (PNDS), had called the government's claim a "pack of lies" and an "unfounded montage aimed at incriminating opposition leaders".

NIGERIA: Military names head of coup plot commission

Defence Headquarters in Nigeria said Major General Chris Garba had been appointed chairman of the Special Investigations Board set up last weekend to investigate last month's failed coup attempt, Nigerian radio reported on Thursday. It said Garba will decide who is to face trial for plotting to overthrow Head of State General Sani Abacha. The suspect list includes Abacha's deputy, General Oladipo Diya, and 10 other senior officers arrested on 21 December.

According to the radio report, Chief of Defence Administration Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni told reporters in Lagos that the commission had been split into two parts to cover all aspects of the investigation. Porbeni said the accused would have legal representation, but lawyers had to come from the armed forces. Names of others who had been arrested in connection with the failed coup would be withheld to avoid "stigmatising" people found innocent, Porbeni added.

US Ambassador calls for public coup plot trial

The new US ambassador to Nigeria called on Thursday for the trial of Nigeria's alleged coup plotters to be held in public, AFP reported. Speaking in Kano, 350 km north of Abuja, William Twaddel said an open trial would guarantee respect for human rights. "We hope the trial will fully comply with Nigerian law," he said. Twaddel also reiterated the US desire to see presidential elections take place in Nigeria as scheduled in April 1998.

Coup aimed to de-rail transition programme

Abacha said on Thursday that December's failed coup aimed to derail Nigeria's promised transition to democracy by October 1998. Speaking on state television, Abacha said the coup planned to extend the transition programme for handover to civilian rule.

SIERRA LEONE: Kamajor successes reported in east Sierra Leone

Kamajor militia loyal to Sierra Leone's ousted civilian president Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah have reportedly had several successes in recent days against troops of the ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), independent Star Radio said on Friday. According to reports quoted by the Monrovia-based radio station, Kamajors have seized several roads in the north-east of the country. This comes a month after the reported launch of a Kamajor "Operation Black December" to return Sierra Leone's highways to ECOMOG control.

Sources in Kenema, 230km east of Freetown, confirmed to IRIN on Friday that travel to the capital had become more difficult. "The Kamajors warned civilians on local radio not to travel by road, and every now and again they launch an ambush," he said.

New Year greeted by hail of silence

Freetown remained unusually quiet at midnight on New Year's eve as soldiers followed orders not to fire celebratory shots into the air, AFP reported. According to the news agency, state radio broadcast warnings that soldiers caught firing their weapons to welcome in 1998 would face disciplinary action. Shooting reportedly killed about 10 civilians in Freetown last year.

The Sierra Leone Council of Churches said turnout for New Year's eve midnight services was "an unprecedented low", as the prospect of shooting incidents kept people away, AFP reported.

SENEGAL: Gambian President offers to mediate Casamance conflict

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh on Thursday offered to act as a mediator in the separatist conflict in the Senegalese province of Casamance, AFP reported. In his New Year address, Jammeh appealed for peace in Casamance, which shares a border with The Gambia.

Calling for a negotiated settlement through "dialogue and mutual respect", he explained he was making the offer because of his "neutral" position and from a "purely humanitarian" point of view. It was the first time a neighbouring head of state had offered to mediate in the 15-year rebellion led by the Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance (MFDC).

Meanwhile, Senegalese President Abdou Diouf on Thursday reiterated a statement last week that he remained committed to dialogue aimed at resolving the conflict.

In recent weeks, there has been an upsurge of violence in Casamance, where some 20 people have been killed and more than 30 injured in mine explosions. Separatist fighters and some Casamance residents have fled into The Gambia to escape fighting.

CAMEROON: Detained editor attacked by inmates

The incarcerated editor of the independent paper "Le Messager', Pius Njawe, was attacked by fellow inmates on Wednesday, AFP reported. The prisoners allegedly threatened Njawe for preventing their meals being delivered because of stringent security measures. Security was tightened after a demonstration organised by a committee seeking Njawe's release. He was detained and charged with "dissemination of false information" after publishing an article suggesting President Paul Biya might have heart problems.

Government sources told IRIN, however, that reports of trouble in the prison were without substance. They added that Njawe had briefly been on hunger strike.

Meanwhile, AFP reported that five members of the Njawe support group were arrested at the demonstration seeking his release.

Abidjan, 2 January 1998 17:30 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]

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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 21-73-54 Fax: +225 21-63-35 e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

IRIN-WA Update 02-98 of Events in West Africa, (Saturday - Monday) 1-5 January 1998

NIGER: Appeal for international inquiry

The Front de Restaration et de Defense de la Democratie (FRDD) in Niger has called for an international inquiry into allegations that some of its members had plotted to assassinate President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, Reuters reported.

The FRDD, a coalition of eight opposition parties established in 1996 following Mainassara's military coup, denounced the allegations as a "crude frame-up". On 2 January, 11 people including former premier Hama Amadou, were arrested in connection with the alleged plot after public confessions by four members of an alleged hit-squad. The four claimed to be working for the FRDD. They named Amadou, currently leader of one of the coalition parties, the Mouvement National pour la Societe de Developpement (MNSD), as the mastermind behind the plot.

Opposition broadcasts banned

In a related move on 4 January, the government ordered private radio stations to stop broadcasting opposition statements on the plot, Reuters reported. Two other opposition figures, Issoufou Assoumane, leader of the Union Democratique des Forces Progressistes (UDFP), and Mohamed Bazoum, vice-president of the Parti Nigerien pour la Democratie et le Socialisme (PNDS) Union Democratique des Forces Progressistes (UDFP) were arrested for broadcasting denunciations.

Just prior to his arrest Amadou denounced the accusations as lies, while Mainassara claimed later he had admitted to several meetings at his home with with members of hit-squad.

EU to provide aid

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) on 5 January allocated US$ 7.865 million to Niger for urgent food needs, AFP reported. Half of the money will be used to distribute some 15,000 tonnes of food aid with the remainder allocated to the restructuring the National Food Production Office.

SIERRA LEONE: Fresh fighting near Bo

Troops from the ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and Kamajor militia loyal to ousted civilian president Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah clashed in Bo on Sunday, Reuters reported. Quoting international aid workers in the capital Freetown who had spoken by radio to colleagues in Sierra Leone's second city, Reuters said AFRC troops used heavy guns and rocket propelled grenades against hundreds of Kamajors armed with AK-47 rifles, machetes and spears. According to one aid worker, neither side had been able to make major gains.

AFRC claims Kamajors hunted down near Kenema

But AFP reported AFRC troops hunted down and killed 25 Kamajor militia in the east of Sierra Leone in another clash. Two AFRC soldiers were also reported killed in the fighting. Lieutenant Colonel John Milton told AFP the widespread clashes with the Kamajor militia had started over the weekend.

AFRC sacks six for looting Iranian embassy

The AFRC sacked up to six of its members for vandalising and looting the Iranian embassy in Freetown on New Year's eve, media sources reported on Monday. According to deputy defence minister Colonel Abu Kamara, the looters sealed off the embassy on 31 December and took away valuables in a military truck. Four of those sacked were on the Supreme Council of State and helped bring about the May coup which brought the AFRC to power.

LIBERIA: Guinea denies Kromah expelled

Guinea's ambassador to Liberia denied a newspaper report that his government had expelled former Liberian faction leader Alhaji Kromah from Guinea, independent Star Radio reported on Sunday. But Ambassador Ibrahim Sheriff Haidara said the government was trying to encourage Kromah to return home.

A Liberia analyst told IRIN on Monday that Liberia's President Charles Taylor is keen to have Kromah back in Liberia. According to the source, Taylor recently appointed Kromah to head the Liberian National Reconciliation Commission to pursuade him to return. "Taylor is very worried Kromah may be looking for opportunities to secure his own power base outside the country. If he can bring him into the government, he may be able to reduce this threat or at least keep a close eye on his nearest rival," the source said.

Foreign diplomats express human rights concern

Foreign diplomats in Liberia expressed their concern on Friday over frequent human rights violations in the country and called on the government to improve its record, local newspapers reported on Monday. Diplomats told Liberian Foreign Minister Monie Captan at a New Year's reception that the international community was ready to help Liberia rebuild itself provided the government upheld the rule of law.

NIGERIA: Diplomatic community to be briefed on coup plot

The Nigerian government has invited members of the diplomatic community to a special briefing on Tuesday to discuss the alleged 21 December coup plot, AFP reported. Last week, military administrators from 36 federal states and several representatives of the county's traditional were given a special briefing and shown videos supporting the coup allegations. They subsequently denounced the coup attempt and reitered their support for the Nigerian leader, General Sani Abacha.

Abacha praises France

In a communique released on 2 January, Abacha commended France's attitude towards Africa, AFP reported. He also called on France to help the EU get a better understanding of events in Nigeria. Efforts to enhance French relations with Nigeria have increased since Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth last year for human rights violations.

Journalist released

Akin Adesokan a journalist for the independent 'The Post Express' was released on 4 January after two months in prison, Reuters reported. No official reason was given for his arrest, or for his release.

SENEGAL: Casamance mediation offer welcomed

Senegal has welcomed the offer by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to mediate in the Casmance separatist conflict, AFP reported. It quoted the Senegalese ambassador in Gambia, Madieng Kharyf Dieng, at the weekend as saying Jammeh, who is of the same Diola ethnic roots as the Casamance rebels, could "bring the problem forward," Dieng said.

Last week, Jammeh offered to help mediate between the Senegalse government and Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance (MFDC) to help end the 15-year rebellion.

MFDC claims military buildup

Meanwhile, on Sunday the MFDC accused Guinea-Bissau of massing troops at the border in preparation for an attack on their bases, AFP reported. Quoting a statement issued by the MFDC in Paris, the dispatch said an estimated 3,000 soldiers had been deployed at the border since 26 December on standby for an attacks with 4,000 Senegalese soldiers. The report, which was not independently confirmed, was denied by the Senegalese government.

CAMEROON: Prison cordoned off

Security forces in the Cameroon capital, Douala, have cordoned off the New Bell prison following demonstrations demanding the release of a newspaper editor, AFP reported on Sunday. Pius Njawe, editor of the newspaper, "Le Messager", was detained last month following the publication of an article alleging that President Paul Biya had heart problems. The report said a committee seeking his release had been stopped twice in the past week from visiting Njawe. He is being held for "the propagation false information".

Abidjan, 5 January 1998 19:30 gmt

[ends]

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 10:27:10 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-West Africa Update 01-98, 98.1.2 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980105102311.15696A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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