U N I T E D  N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa

Tel: +225 22-40-4440
Fax: +225 22-41-9339
e-mail: irin-wa@irin.ci


WEST AFRICA
IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup 86
18-24 August 2001


CONTENTS:

SIERRA LEONE: RUF number two under UN protection
WEST AFRICA: Mano River states sue for peace
LIBERIA: Defence Ministry reports attacks near Guinean border
GHANA: Conflict prevention seminar
CAMEROON: UNHCR completes voluntary repatriation
CHAD: Increase in cholera cases
NIGER: Food aid pours in for 3.8 million hungry people
NIGERIA: Team to rescue victims of trafficking approved
BURKINA FASO: Former refugees complain of neglect
SENEGAL: Canadian aid for AIDS
COTE D'IVOIRE: GTZ donates medical equipment
THE GAMBIA: 98 NGOs registered, official says
TOGO: Rights watchdog condemns detention of opposition leader
GUINEA-BISSAU: Members of Islamic association expelled


SIERRA LEONE: RUF number two under UN protection

Revolutionary United Front (RUF) battle group commander Morris Kallon is
under UN protection after shooting and killing one of his commanders in a
dispute over stolen roofing materials, the UN Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) said on Wednesday.

On 18 August Kallon, the second-ranking RUF commander, apparently shot one
"Lt-Col" Christopher for refusing an order to stop molesting civilians and
stealing their property. UNAMSIL military spokesman Major Mohammed Yerima
told IRIN that RUF interim leader Issa Sesay had asked UNAMSIL to keep
Kallon so that the incident would not hamper Sierra Leone's peace process.

Meanwhile, UNAMSIL denied on Thursday reports that RUF spokesman Gibril
Massaquoi had sought its protection following a police raid on a friend's
Freetown home.


US reiterates support to peace process

The deputy commander of US European Command, General C.W. Fulford, visited
Nigerian peacekeepers at their headquarters in the northern town of Makeni
on Monday and reiterated his country's commitment to the peace process in
Sierra Leone.

He told soldiers of NIBATT 7 that the US would continue to train troops
from West African countries serving in the UN Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) so that they could perform their duties more effectively. He
said the peacekeepers had upheld UNAMSIL's mandate which included helping
the Sierra Leone government re-establish control in their sector of
responsibility, providing security to the public and disarming rival
fighters. UNAMSIL says just over 16,000 militia have been disarmed since
January.


NIBATT 7 is one of the battalions trained by the US for peacekeeping
duties in Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile the US government, under a programme known as Operation Focus
Relief, has donated US $4.8 million in military equipment to a Senegalese
battalion also due for peacekeeping duties in Sierra Leone, AP reported on
Monday. The donation includes vehicles, machine guns, mortars, tents and
helmets. The 650 Senegalese soldiers underwent 10 weeks of training by 70
US Army Special Forces troops.


WEST AFRICA: Mano River states sue for peace

A Joint Security Commission set up by Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone
agreed on Thursday to a set of security measures designed to lessen
tensions and end fighting in these countries.

At the end of the two-day meeting in Freetown, the commission recommended
that all dissident and paramilitary forces in the subregion be arrested
and turned over to authorities in their countries of origin. Moreover, the
commission called on the three countries to implement a non-aggression and
security treaty signed in Freetown on 20 November 1986. This treaty was
crafted by the Mano River Union, an economic development block to which
the three countries belong.

The commission's meeting was attended by ministers responsible for foreign
affairs, security, internal affairs, defence and justice, as well as the
secretary-general of the union. The countries agreed to frequent exchanges
of security and intelligence information and to disarm all unauthorised
groups.

The Freetown talks were a follow-up to last week's meeting of foreign
ministers in Monrovia, Liberia. The committee is to reconvene in Conakry
on 8 September, two days prior to another meeting of the foreign
ministers. Hopes are that these talks could eventually lead to a peace
summit, especially between presidents Lansana Conte of Guinea and Charles
Taylor of Liberia.

Each have accused the other of supporting dissidents trying to overthrow
their governments. Both deny the charges.

Lassa fever experts gather

World experts on Lassa fever ended their one-day meeting in London on
Monday on an integrated approach to the diagnosis, treatment and control
of the disease, a source at the Medical Emergency Relief International
(Merlin - an NGO) told IRIN.

Their agenda included ways of developing a simple rapid test for Lassa
fever, improving understanding of the disease, reducing its incidence and
promoting health education. The aims of the meeting also included
increasing partner collaboration in Sierra Leone where, since 1995, Merlin
has supported West Africa's only specialist Lassa fever isolation ward,
located in the eastern town of Kenema.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic condition endemic to West Africa. An
estimated 100,000-300,000 people contract the virus every year, yet little
accurate epidemiological information is known about the distribution, age
and sex of those who never reach hospital, Merlin said. Many parts of the
'Lassa belt' - from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea across to Nigeria -
are insecure conflict zones that restrict detailed assessments, the NGO
added.

The conference was being attended by representatives of the World Health
Organization, Sierra Leone Ministry of Health, International Committee of
the Red Cross and Lassa fever specialists from around the world. Illegal
immigrants drown off Canary Islands

Nine West Africans drowned near Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands after
they were forced to jump into the sea by the crew of a boat that was
taking them illegally to the Spanish territory, AFP reported Radio
nacional de Espana as saying on Thursday.

Eight other Cameroonians and Sierra Leoneans managed to reach the shore,
according to the Spanish radio, which reported that local authorities
recovered the nine bodies.

Fuerteventura is the closest island in the Canary archipelago to Africa.
In the last two years, it has become one of the principal destinations for
boats, piloted by Sahrawis, carrying illegal immigrants, AFP reported.

LIBERIA: Defence Ministry reports attacks near Guinean border

Liberia's Defence Ministry reported on Tuesday heavy fighting in and
around the northern town of Kpatazu, "where dissident forces burnt down
the entire town."

It added that fighting had intensified around Kolahun, another town in the
northern county of Lofa, and that government forces were trying to block
further rebel advances in the county. Liberia has maintained that armed
men who have periodically been attacking Lofa since 1999 are based in and
supported by Guinea.

GHANA: Conflict prevention seminar

The African Center for Strategic Studies, an arm of the US Department of
Defence, has just ended a weeklong seminar in Accra, Ghana, where
participants reviewed conflict prevention and security issues affecting
West Africa. Civil-military relations, defence economics and early
conflict prevention were also discussed, as well as strategies and
mechanisms that can implemented to maintain peace at the national and
regional levels.

Set up in 1999, the centre's objective is to support, through seminars and
conferences, democracy and security as means to development in Africa. It
also advises the US government in framing its foreign policy toward
Africa.

Spain to support provision of solar energy

The Spanish government is to provide Ghana with a US $15-million loan for
the installation of solar systems in the country, the state-owned 'Daily
Graphic' newspaper reported the national project director of the Renewable
Energy Services Project, Clement Abavana, as saying on Monday.

The loan will be used to install solar systems in schools, clinics and
water pumping stations. The systems are to be used for irrigation and
other purposes in rural and urban areas.

CAMEROON: UNHCR completes voluntary repatriation

A total 610 Chadians returned home from Yaounde, Cameroon, last week in
the second leg of a voluntary repatriation programme, the head of UNHCR's
liaison office in Yaounde, Marcellin Hepie, said in a report on the
operation.

The returnees crossed into Chad on 15 and 16 August and were transported
to their home areas, the capital N'djamena, and Moundou in the south. They
brought to 898 the number of former Chadian refugees repatriated by UNHCR
since the first operation in July.

Although the operation was completed successfully, Hepie said, information
was needed on the number of Chadians still in neighbouring countries, the
attitude of host governments towards the integration of those who do not
want to return home and Chad's ability to satisfy the basic needs of the
returnees.

UNHCR plans to close several offices in Africa, including Cameroon where,
according to Hepie, there could be as many as 40,000 Chadian refugees.

CHAD: Increase in cholera cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Wednesday that cholera
cases for this year had reached 2,458 by 21 August, up from 1,960 six days
earlier. It reported 88 people had died from the disease. At least 6,000
cases have been reported this year in Benin, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana
and Togo, according to WHO.

WFP food update

The World Food Programme (WFP) has between 18 July and 9 August delivered
5,168 mt of cereal to some 143,569 people in six Chadian provinces
threatened by shortages, WFP said its 20 August emergency report. It said
it expected to distribute more food in the coming weeks after an
assessment mission into other vulnerable areas with partners FAO and
Chad's Famine Early Warning Network.

NIGER: Food aid pours in for 3.8 million hungry people

African countries have made the greatest contributions to Niger since its
food appeal in January for 3.8 million people threatened by famine, a
government official told IRIN on Thursday.

Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Nigeria have donated corn, millet and sorghum
amounting to 8,400 mt. France, Luxembourg and the European Union have
donated close to 5,000 mt, the official, Ada Chaifou, said from Niamey.
Chaifou, an adviser within the prime minister's Food Crisis Unit, said
non-governmental organisations CARITAS, the local Red Cross, World Vision
and a consortium of US NGOs had also responded well to the appeal. The
Roman Catholic Church donated 1,230 mt of millet.

China, the Swiss Cooperation, Niger's members of parliaments, private
investors and others have contributed money. The bulk of aid is destined
for residents of Difa, Maradi, Tillaberi and Zinder who were the most
hungry. Eight months after the appeal, Chaifou said, "there are no signs
of distress."

NIGERIA: Team to rescue victims of trafficking approved

More than 1,000 workers from 13 public companies took to the streets of
Ouagadougou on Thursday in response to a call from their unions for a
24-hour strike against the government's decision to privatise their
enterprises.

The strikers marched to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security where
they handed a message to Minister Alain Ludovic Tou. "In our message we
repeated our opposition to privatisation," said Issobié Soulama, a member
of the group of unions that called the strike. "We've seen the
consequences of the first privatisations, which brought about sorrow,
misery and death among workers."

The unions want parliament to revoke a bill on the privatisation of the
utilities, which it passed in July. However, in a declaration on
Wednesday, the government reiterated "its firm will" to pursue economic
reforms, including the privatisation programme which it started in 1991.

Rights commission urges government to rebuild devastated town

Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission has asked the government to
rebuild the southeastern town of Odi which the army destroyed almost two
years ago in an effort to arrest gang members who killed several
policemen, a member of the commission told IRIN on Wednesday.

The commission's governing council decided at a meeting in Yenagoa, in the
southern state of Bayelsa, to prod government into rebuilding homes for
the hundreds of residents made homeless by the attack. "Council called on
the federal government to live up to its promise," Lambert Opara, chief of
the commission's Media Unit, said. The government had promised to build
homes for 500 people, but has done nothing, he added.

The commission, a quasi-governmental body, has also called on the
government to provide schools, clinics and cash for the affected people.

Banned vigilante leader charged with murder

A leader of a banned ethnic militia group appeared in court in Lagos on
Friday on charges including murder, robbery and illegal possession of
arms, the BBC reported.

Ganiyu Adams, head of a hard-line faction of the Oodua People's Congress
(OPC), denied the 23 charges against him. The case has been adjourned
until 14 September. Adams, who has a legal defence team of 15, was
arrested on Wednesday after being on the run for 20 months. He resurfaced
recently holding rallies in several southwestern towns in a show of
defiance and impunity. Police declared him wanted in November 1999
following clashes, allegedly spearheaded by his group, between Yorubas and
Hausas in Lagos resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people.

The OPC was formed by Frederick Fasehun in 1995 to defend the interest of
the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. In 1999, following the election
of President Olusegun Obasanjo, a Yoruba, a split emerged within the OPC
with Fasehun heading a more moderate wing.

Hoteliers vow to maintain alcohol sales

Hotel and bar owners in the northern city of Kano have threatened to fight
back against a state-backed vigilante group, the Hisbah, that has vowed to
enforce a ban on the production, ownership and sale of alcohol, AFP
reported.

"We will take to self-defence against further assault from the Hisbah,"
George Ashiokhanele, spokesman for the hoteliers, told reporters in Kano.
AFP reported on Wednesday that Hisbah members destroyed at least 1,000
cartons of beer in Kano last weekend, prompting

Ashiokhanele to describe the attack as "an act of religious terrorism".

In Kaduna city, the Northern Christian Elders Forum vowed to resist
further demolition of churches in the drive to implement Sharia, 'The
Guardian' newspaper reported on Monday. The group charged the destruction
of churches had "become rampant in Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina and
Zamfara, with the government of the states providing support for such
action," the daily reported.

Meanwhile, Muslim leaders in the north have started talks with governors
of Nigeria's Sharia states on ways to implement Islamic law without
infringing on the rights of non-Muslims. The leaders, members of Jama'atu
Nasir Islam - described by 'The Guardian' as the leading Islamic umbrella
in the north - decided to meet because non-Muslims had been complaining of
constant harassment.

BURKINA FASO: Former refugees complain of neglect

About 2,000 Malian refugees who remained in Burkina Faso after others were
repatriated are now complaining that they have been "completely abandoned"
by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Malians, who live in a camp in Djibo Mentao, some 200 km north of
Ouagadougou, claim they have received no help from UNHCR since June 1997.
"Today we are all starving, including the children and elderly people,"
the head of the camp, Alassane Ould Mohamed, said.

Thousands of them, mostly Tuaregs, fled Mali in the 1990's during a
rebellion in the north of the country. Following a peace agreement in
1994, about 20,000 of the 25,000 Tuaregs who had sought refuge in Burkina
Faso were repatriated under a UNHCR-sponsored programme that ended in
1997.

Marguerite Camara, deputy coordinator of the UNHCR office in Ouagadougou,
said those who chose to remain after the repatriation were no longer
refugees. "They were asked to report to the Foreign Ministry to regularise
their status but never showed up," she said.

Libya gives 5,000 mt to rural families

Libyan Foreign Minister Ali Triki has donated 5,000 mt of rice to Burkina
Faso for distribution to poor rural families. Agriculture Minister Salif
Diallo, who received the donation on behalf of the Burkinabe government,
said it would "bridge the gap" between the planting and harvesting season,
a period during which rural families often go hungry.

Insufficient rains in the 2000-2001 season caused cereal production to
drop by 31 percent. The total cereal deficit amounted to 442,000 mt,
equivalent to 20.15 percent of the national requirement.

SENEGAL: Canadian aid for AIDS

Canada agreed on Friday to disburse 1.45 billion CFA (US $2 million) to
enable Senegal to implement the third phase of its HIV/AIDS programme,
which will run from 2001 to 2006, 'Sud Quotidien' daily reported. Senegal
is one of eight West African countries benefiting from Canadian aid to
fight the pandemic under a regional project tagged 'Appui a la lutte
contre le sida en Afrique de l'Ouest' (Support for the fight against AIDS
in West Africa).

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: GTZ donates medical equipment

The German aid agency, GTZ, on Thursday donated medical equipment worth
135 million francs CFA (US $190,000) to the western Côte d'Ivoire regional
health district, a GTZ source told IRIN. The donation, mainly reproductive
health equipment, will be distributed to some 70 health centres, the
source said.

THE GAMBIA: 98 NGOs registered, official says

The Gambia has 98 officially recognised non-governmental organisations,
the deputy director of the country's NGO Affairs Agency, Jerreh Sanyang,
told IRIN on Wednesday.

He was responding to an article by 'The Independent', a Banjul daily,
claiming that there were 250 registered NGOs and that public concern was
mounting over the proliferation of "dubious charitable organisations and
non-governmental organisations". Sanyang said the registered NGOs,
two-thirds of which are local, were closely monitored.

TOGO: Rights watchdog condemns detention of opposition leader

The International Federation for Human Rights has called on Togo's
government to release opposition politician Yawovi Agboyibo, sentenced to
six months in prison for defamation, and to take action against the
perpetrators of human rights violations he denounced.

Agboyibo, president of the opposition Comite d'Action pour le Renouveau,
was found guilty of libelling Prime Minister Agbeyome Kodjo. The
federation said on Thursday that his right to a fair trial had been
violated. It said there were "serious doubts about the independence of the
court whose president is no other than the representative of the ruling
party on the National Electoral Commission."

GUINEA-BISSAU: Members of Islamic association expelled

Guinea-Bissau's police expelled three Pakistani members of the Ahmadiyya
Islamic group on Wednesday, leaving them at the Senegalese border without
identification documents, the Portuguese news agency, Lusa, reported
Hameed Ullah Zaffar, the group's national director as saying.

The Pakistanis are a doctor and two missionaries who worked in a clinic
the association opened in July in the eastern city of Bafata, Lusa
reported.

Their expulsion followed a presidential order on Monday accusing the
Ahmadiyya of causing "serious misunderstandings" within the Muslim
community and instructing it to leave Guinea-Bissau within 48 hours.

The Ahmadiyya are a moderate Islamic group which is active in about 50
countries, Lusa said. They have been in Guinea Bissau, nearly half of
whose population is Muslim, since 1995.


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