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Department of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
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IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup 13-97 of Main Events in West Africa covering period 9-15 September 1997
[The weekly roundups are based on relevant information from UN agencies, NGOs, governments, donors and the media. IRIN-WA issues these reports for the benefit of the humanitarian community, but accepts no responsibility as to the accuracy of the original source. Please note IRIN-WA's daily round-up for Monday is included in this report.]
[This report has unavoidably been delayed due to communication problems.]
SIERRA LEONE: Commonwealth welcomes regional sanctions
The eight-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), after a two-day meeting in London, decided on a series of recommendations on Sierra Leone on Friday. These recommendations, which were not made public, will be presented at the Commonwealth heads of State summit in Edinburgh on 24-25 October, AFP reported. The CMAG also welcomed the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) decision to impose sanctions against Sierra Leone and supported ECOWAS' bid to obtain the UN Security Council's endorsement. The foreign ministers of the West African Group of Five, who are coordinating ECOWAS's action on Sierra Leone, are expected to seek the Security Council backing for sanctions in New York on 19 September. On 12 September, Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the United Nations, James Jonah, a former UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs, said that the Security Council must make it "very clear that the military junta will not be tolerated." In a similar vein, the wife of Sierra Leone's ousted president, Alhaji Tejan Ahmad Kabbah, called for international sanctions against the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) during her seven-city US tour.
ECOMOG enforces embargo
The West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, accused the AFRC on Friday of holding a Cypriot merchant vessel, the 'Proteus',hostage at the port of Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone. An ECOMOG statement noted that the ship had been prevented from sailing even after it had been granted safe passage to depart by ECOMOG. The crew of the ship, comprising of Greeks, Sri Lankans and Indians, had reportedly appealed to ECOMOG to prevail on the AFRC to release the vessel. The shipping company told IRIN that the three ships were loaded with rice, denying an ECOMOG claim they were carrying weapons. A spokesman of the London-based seafarer trade union, the International Transport Workers Federation, condemned the ECOWAS blockade on Sierra Leone.
On 12 September, a Nigerian army jet killed a chief engineer and another employee during the shelling of the Kissi Terminal at the port of Freetown. In a separate incident on Thursday, two oil workers were killed and two people wounded as Nigerian jets dropped three bombs on an oil barge. Troops loyal to Sierra Leone's AFRC meanwhile fired anti-aircraft guns on 11 September at high-flying Nigerian warplanes. ECOMOG force commander Victor Malu warned the AFRC that Nigerian warplanes would return fire if attacked. Malu also accused the AFRC of turning the Freetown port into "a military base and using the port facilities for weapons and ammunition storage."
Teachers to continue strike indefinitely
Teachers are to continue strike action until salary arrears are paid and security in the country improves. The Executive of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU), on 15 September, resolved not to return to the classroom for an indefinite period as a number of issues had not been resolved, SLTU Secretary-General Alpha Timbo said. The occupation of a number of school premises by soldiers of the People's Army (an alliance of former rebels and regular forces), the vandalising of school properties and the continued closure of major commercial banks had completely frustrated the effective operation of schools and other institutions, a communique said.
Former army chief defects
A former Sierra Leonean army chief of staff, who has defected to Nigeria, has called for the reinstallation of ousted president Tejan Kabbah. Colonel Komba Modeh urged AFRC chairman, Johnny Paul Koroma to hand over power to Kabbah "without delay".
UNICEF concerned over malnutrition rates
The health situation of children in Sierra Leone is "extremely serious and rapidly deteriorating", a spokesman for UNICEF said in Geneva. Malnutrition rates were running at an average of 10 percent, with pockets of severe malnutrition as high as 15 percent in some parts of the country. Unless a political situation is found, UNICEF says that the nutritional status of the population is bound to deteriorate, the health system will collapse, and a dramatic rise in morbidity and mortality will be inevitable.
LIBERIA: Economic solution sought
The one-week visit to Liberia by a joint IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank delegation ended on 12 September, reported AFP. The Liberian Finance Minister, Elias Saleeby, said that the visit would provide a joint approach to Liberia's future financial problems. Liberia's debt exceeds three billion US dollars, public workers have not been paid since January and revenue collection is non-existent. The government further requested advice on how to deal with Liberia's two currencies, the JJ Roberts and the Liberty notes, which are presently used in different parts of the country and are reportedly hindering economic stability.
On 8 September, Denmark announced that US$ 7 million in reconstruction aid had been earmarked for Liberia. However, China severed diplomatic relations and cancelled a US$ 3 million aid package to Liberia on 9 September following Monrovia's decision to maintain dual diplomatic ties with Beijing and Taiwan. A Taiwanese official condemned "Beijing's mentality of hegemony". Promising further grants, Taiwan gave US$ 90,000 towards the renovation of crumbling government buildings. The US support for Taylor remains "tepid", according to AP. For the most part, aid is channelled through NGOs. More direct US aid will depend on Taylor's human rights performance and his attempts to eradicate corruption. A seven-member Nigerian trade delegation also arrived in Liberia last week to assess investment opportunities.
Strikers shot
At lease six people were injured when ECOMOG-backed government security forces opened fire to quell a strike by some 7,000 workers at the Japanese-owned Firestone rubber plantation, 45 km east of Monrovia. The strikers were demanding improved benefits and the reinstatement of some 8,000 former employees. Deputy Labour Minister Emmanuel Lomax announced a government committee to work with the union and management.
Kromah "flees" to Guinea
Two pro-Taylor news services on 8 September claimed that Alhaji Kromah, leader of the All Liberian Coalition Party, had fled to Guinea the week before. Officials at Kromah's party headquarters refused to confirm or deny the report. No one has seen Kromah since the allegations were made.
Sierra Leonean refugees continue to arrive
President Taylor on 5 September claimed that some 200,000 refugees fleeing violence in Sierra Leone had crossed into Liberia. He said Liberia "must act now" to strengthen border security and avert a spillover of Sierra Leone's political crisis. However, humanitarian sources said the number of refugees was probably under 20,000 although it continued to rise.
Liberian refugee repatriation regional meeting
The voluntary repatriation of an estimated 479,000 Liberian refugees in West Africa is to be discussed at a regional meeting convened by UNHCR in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, from 15-16 September. According to UNHCR, there are an estimated 235,000 Liberian refugees in Guinea, 210,000 in Cote d'Ivoire, 14,000 in Ghana, 14,000 in Sierra Leone and 6,000 in Nigeria.
NIGERIA: Commonwealth approves "robust" report
After a two-day meeting which ended on Friday, the Commonwealth ministerial Action Group (CMAG) drew up a report on the situation in Nigeria. The group stated that it was "deeply concerned about the lack of progress toward the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights". The Foreign Office minister of state, Tony Lloyd, told "The Guardian" during the week that the range of criticism of Nigeria "has been stark and unremitting". Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth summit at Auckland in November 1995. Britain pressed its partners to support the immediate implementation of an April 1996 package of measures against the Nigerian regime, which included visa and other restrictions on the Nigerian military regime, an arms ban, the downgrading of diplomatic missions and suspension of military training and sporting contracts. The CMAG reportedly has stopped short of requesting the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth.
Fifty oil rig workers released
On 13 September, Nigerian oil rig workers held 50 staff, including expatriate staff, aboard a drilling platform off the southeast coast of Nigeria. The crisis began when 24 Nigerians employed by an oil company conducting off-shore drilling for the US firm Mobil launched a "strike" early on Friday on the rig off the coast of Akwa Ibom state. At the Mobil headquarters in Virginia, USA, company spokesman David Dickson told IRIN by telephone that the company would "not characterise this as a hostage situation - but a labour strike by 23 employees". He confirmed that strikers had prevented a company helicopter from landing on the platform but added that there had been no violence. The incident was resolved after negotiations in Port Harcourt on Friday. Details of the labour settlement were not available.
Police raid home of Abacha story editor
Armed Nigerian security agents on 11 September searched the home of the editor of the weekly news magazine 'Tell' who reported that Nigerian head of state General Sani Abacha was "very ill". Today (Monday) the independent weekly 'The News' reported that Abacha was too ill to manage the affairs of the state. The paper claimed that the ailment was "terminal". On Wednesday 'This Day' reported that Abacha was "looking healthy" at a rare public appearance in Abuja.
GUINEA: Shooting by deranged soldier, claim military sources
The Commander of the Alpha Yaya military camp, Colonel Panival Bangura, said in a television address on Saturday that a deranged soldier seized a weapon and shot in the air before being brought under control. This official statement contradicts press reports which claimed Guinean troops returning from ECOMOG missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone on Wednesday night protested at the non-payment of war-risk benefits by firing in the air. Other well-informed sources reported that four hours before the shooting started checkpoints sprang up around the Samory Toure military camp, President Lansana Conte's official residence.
MALI: Broad-based government
Malian Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita handed in his resignation on 12 September and was re-nominated to the post the following day. He said it was in keeping with "republican tradition" in which the current government resigns following general elections. President Alpha Oumar Konare met on 8 September with representatives of 20 opposition parties, including those of the radical collective, ten of whose leaders are in prison in connection with the death of a police officer on 11 August. At the meeting, Konare presented and requested input on a draft proposal for the formation of a broad-based government. According to AFP, the radical opposition said there would be no negotiations with Konare as long as members of the radical opposition remained behind bars, and called for Keita's dismissal.
SENEGAL: Rebel activities move north
Twelve teenagers were killed in an attack at a youth dance in the northern part of Senegal's troubled southern province of Casamance on 8 September. The raid, allegedly by members of the Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance (MFDC), followed a weekend attack on two villages in the region in which five people were killed. The attacks occurred near the borders of Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia. The northern and eastern parts of the region have generally not been associated with unrest since the main body of the MFDC signed a ceasefire with the government in 1991. Attacks in the north have also been coupled with reports that MFDC numbers have been beefed up by mercenaries of various nationalities of the subregion, notably Liberians.
The south, where the army is currently conducting an extensive "manhunt" for MFDC rebels, is viewed as the traditional base of MFDC hardliners led by Salif Sadio. Following heavy losses in clashes with the army in this region, some rebels reportedly surrendered to government forces on 8 September. On 8 September, the governing Parti Socialiste affirmed there would be no referendum on a possible Casamance separation.
SENEGAL: New elections watchdog appointed
On 11 September, Senegalese President Abdou Diouf appointed a nine-member election observer body, Observatoire Nationale des Elections (ONEL), under the chairmanship of retired general Mamadou Niang.
NIGER: Pro-democracy protest
Police used force to break up demonstrations on 11 September in Tibiri and the capital, Niamey. Supporters of the Mouvement National pour la Societe de Developpement (MNSD) had gathered to welcome party leader Tandja Mamadou. Police tried to disperse the crowd, claiming the supporters had not applied for the appropriate permits. Three party members and seven police officers were injured, according to the national newspaper 'La Voix du Sahel'. Damage to the local police station was also reported.
In Niamey, several hundred people gathered to welcome the return of Mahamadou Issoufou, the leader of the Parti Nigerien pour la Democratie et le Socialisme (PNDS). Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. A third opposition party leader, Mahamane Ousmane, head of the Convention Democratique et Sociale (CDS), was reportedly still touring in the interior. The three leaders had announced several pro-democracy demonstrations throughout the country during the coming week.
Tuareg talks suspended
Mohamed Anako, head of the Union des Forces de la Resistance Armee (UFRA), challenged the 5 September timetable for implementation of the peace process. He said that the UFRA, which represents three of the Tuareg rebel groups, would not disarm until all its members had received jobs and the new policing force, Unites Sahariennes de Securite (USS), had been firmly established. The position of the remaining nine rebels groups is unknown.
The agreement signed on 5 September called for the immediate disarmament and integration of the rebels into the armed forces and national security services, the creation of a new policing force and greater regional autonomy in the north. Total implementation was estimated at US$ 31 million. Foreign aid had already been committed to the peace process, including US$ 2 million from the US government to be administered by AFRICARE and a further US$ 750,000 through CARE. The initial peace accord was signed in 1995.
Drought, food deficit feared.
Niger claimed that some 71,000 people in the southeastern district of Ouallam will be affected by a food deficit. Many farmers and herders are reportedly already fleeing to the capital, following successive years of drought in the region. Authorities estimated that some two million Nigeriens will face food shortages this year, reported Reuters. In 1996, Niger reported a cereals shortfall of 120,000 tonnes. The government of General Ibrahim Bare Mainassara said its appeal for aid has gone unheard. Traders claimed that the dietary staple millet had doubled in price since August. The US-based Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) also confirmed that despite an improved agricultural outlook for most of Niger, rainfall was critically lacking in the regions of Filingue, Say, Tahoua and Tanout. The 1997 harvest does not look optimistic in the chronic deficit areas of the southeast, such as Tanout, Ouallam and Goure, for a third year in a row, FEWS reported.
SAHEL: Rains may not be enough
According to the latest report from the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS), rains have returned to most areas of the Sahel: Senegal, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Mauritania, Niger, Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso. Early rains combined with reduced rains in July had adversely affected crop production in the west of the Sahel. However, the FAO report claimed that abundant rains in late August and early September improved prospects for crops that had not failed. It further stated that crops were generally growing satisfactorily in the centre and the east of the Sahel. Grasshoppers had been reported in Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Senegal and desert locust in Mauritania. The late rains are expected to increase their breeding potential. Assessment missions have been sent to the drought-affected areas of Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania.
A representative from FEWS told IRIN that the current rainfall offered no guarantees of future crop production as declining daylight hours may be insufficient to allow for any significant crop recovery. He said some areas reliant on rain-feed agricultural production, such as Tombouctou in Mali and some 60 percent of Mauritania's cultivated area, were still at risk.
WFP meeting on drought
WFP will be meeting in Burkina Faso from 15 to 19 September, with representatives of the nine Sahelian countries, UN agencies, donor governments, and NGOs. WFP hopes the conference will contribute to better cooperation and coordination in the event of a drought crisis, which could occur in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger.
Regional drought meeting ends
The Inter-State Committee for the Control of Drought in the Sahel (CILSS) concluded 12 days of meetings in The Gambia on 12 September. CILSS member states issued a statement calling for reduced reliance on foreign aid and the transformation of CILSS into "a sustainable tool for food security". The document was prepared in conjunction with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The "CILSS-OECD pact" would strive to promote a more positive image of the Sahel region. The Gambian President and newly-elected CILSS chairman said that these efforts needed "to be matched by moves towards a Sahel guided by the principles of democracy and good governance". CILSS members include Niger, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.
Abidjan, 15 September, 1997
[ENDS]
[Via the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA) Reports mailing list. The material contained in this communication may not necessarily reflect the views of the UN or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts from this report should be attributed to the original sources where appropriate. For further information: e-mail irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci, Tel: +225 217367 Fax: +225 216335.]
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 16:10:00 -0300 (GMT+3) From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@dha.unon.org> Subject: IRIN-WA Weekly Round-up 13-97 for 9-15 Sep 97 97.9.15 Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.95.970916160855.527A-100000@amahoro.dha.unon.org>
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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