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IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 33-97 of Events in West Africa, 21 August 1997
[As a supplement to its weekly roundups of main events in West Africa, IRIN-WA will produce a daily synopsis of international media 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.]
SIERRA LEONE - Nigeria warns of trouble ahead
Nigeria has told Sierra Leone's military regime that it can expect trouble after next week's summit organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) unless it steps down. The summit, scheduled for 27-28 August in Lagos, will look at new measures to coerce the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) to hand power back to the elected government ousted in the 25 May coup. Measures are expected to include the strengthening of sanctions against the regime.
Nigerian Information Minister Walter Ofonagoro said at a pre-summit press conference that the AFRC, led by Major Johnny Paul Koroma, 'would not last 24 hours when ECOMOG (the West African peacekeeping force) fully engages Koroma militarily.' Sierra Leonean officials accused Nigeria yesterday of backing a planned militia attack on the capital, Freetown. Source: AFP.
LIBERIA - Code of conduct proposed for judges
A Code of Conduct to guide judges and judicial personnel has been proposed to curtail corruption and other types of malpractice in Liberia's judiciary. Associate Supreme Court Justice, Wilkins Wright told the Senate Confirmation Hearings that judges engaged in malpractice must be weeded out. Judge Wright proposed that rules governing court procedure should be reviewed to ensure speedy and transparent dispensation of justice. Justice John Morris called for logistics support and incentives for judicial workers and officers to attract more qualified lawyers to the profession. Source: Star Radio.
LIBERIA - Officials confirmed
Nine top officials nominated by Liberia's newly elected president, Charles Taylor, have been confirmed so far by the Senate. They are: Chief Justice Gloria Scott; Associate Justices, John Morris and Wilkins Wright; Justice Minister Peter Bonah Jallah; Defence Minister Daniel Chea; Public Works Minister John T. Richardson; Transport Minister Raleigh Seekie and Posts and Telecommunications Minister D. Maxwell Kaba. Sixteen local government officials have also been appointed in four counties. Source: Star Radio.
NIGERIA - Situation calms in Osun
The situation in Nigeria's trouble towns of Ife and Modakeke in Osun State was reported to be returning to normal yesterday, following disturbances which led to the deaths of at least 65 people. Fighting, however, continued yesterday in nearby villages and residents said that police had begun to mount heavy surveillance to stop the carnage. The two communities are fighting over a decision made last Thursday to relocate a local government headquarters from Enuwa to Oke-Ogbo, a locality controlled by Ife. Two opposing university professor have added to the tension by initiating a campus debate on the differences between the two ethnic groups amongst students. Their 'scandalous behaviour' has provoked criticism from their colleagues.
The media reported today that some people wounded in the clashes had resorted to witchdoctors for treatment because of over-stretched hospital facilities. Source: AFP & NTA TV via BBC Monitoring.
NIGERIA - Foreign minister slams West
Nigeria will not bow to blackmail by western nations and will 'resist tendentious attempts to slander her', foreign minister Chief Tom Ikimi warned. Ikimi said Nigeria particularly rejected the conclusions of UN rapporteurs who visited Nigeria to investigate claims of human rights abuses and to assess the independence of the Nigerian judiciary. The minister made his remarks while addressing members of the 'Vision 2010' committee, a think tank concerned with improving the country's external image. In a 45-page speech yesterday Ikimi also accused the European Union of meddling in Nigeria's affairs and expressed disappointment that relations between the two were at a low ebb. The EU imposed an arms embargo on Nigeria and visa restrictions for its top officials in reaction to the execution of writer and minority rights campaigner, Ken Saro-Wiwa in November 1995.
The situation in Nigeria will be discussed at the Commonwealth heads of state summit to be held in Edinburgh in October. In the run up to the meeting, South Africa called on 20 August for Nigeria's military leaders to make a political overture such as the release of political prisoners, permitting the foreign ministers to make a favourable recommendation to the summit. South African Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo said, 'If nothing happens, the suspension could be maintained, but that a number of countries were also pushing for the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth.' Source: AFP & SAPA News Agency via BBC Monitoring.
NIGERIA - Shell signs gas agreement
The Anglo-Dutch Shell oil company signed long-term gas agreements with the Nigerian Gas Company yesterday. The supply of gas will aid local industry and power generation in the southern Niger-delta area. Source: AFP.
SENEGAL - Troops missing after bloodshed
Twenty-six soldiers were still missing today following clashes Tuesday between the army and separatist fighters in Senegal's Casamance province. Some 30 rebels were killed during the security operation to flush out the rebels and six soldiers were reported to have been wounded. A search for the missing soldiers, including army officers, is underway. Fighting has escalated in the province over the past five weeks despite peace negotiations under the aegis of the French ambassador to Senegal. Tuesday's fighting was reported to have been the bloodiest exchange in the troubled province in the past six months. It was not immediately clear whether the latest clashes represented a serious set-back to the peace process. Sources: AFP & Radio France Internationale via BBC Monitoring.
MALI - 12 arrested in opposition march released
Twelve people arrested during an opposition group march on 23 July were released by the Bamako magistrate's court Tuesday because of lack of evidence. The 12 had been accused of acts of violence, assault and battery, causing injury to a security officer. Ten members of the radical opposition were arrested and charged with causing the death of a police officer on 11 August. The officer was attending an opposition rally at the time. Source: RTM Radio via BBC Monitoring.
BENIN - UAP to hold conference in Cotonou
The Union of African Parliaments (UAP) is to hold its 20th conference Friday in Cotonou, Benin on the problems of privatisation and the role of society in democratisation in Africa. The organisers are expecting delegations from all of the union's member parliaments, the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union and, for the first time, observers from Argentina, Mexico and Haiti. Source: PANA.
NIGER - Former rebels integrated into armed forces
The integration of former rebels into the national armed forces began yesterday in Agadez Province in Niger. According to the ministry of defence, some 200 demobilised rebels will be integrated into the army and 50 into the gendarmerie under the agreements of the 1995 Peace Accord. Source: Voix du Sahel via BBC Monitoring.
Abidjan, 21 August 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.]
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970821175500.006a20a0@pop.africaonline.co.ci> Date: Thu, 21 Aug 1997 17:55:00 +0100 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: IRIN-WA Daily Media Update 33-97, 21 August 1997 97.8.21
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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