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 160
25 - 31 January 2003


CONTENTS:

COTE D IVOIRE: ECOWAS heads of state meet in Senegal
GHANA: UN humanitarian envoy on regional mission
WEST AFRICA: UN Under-Secretary General fears for children
WEST AFRICA: UNICEF appeals for $5.7 million for two months
LIBERIA: Security Council re-establishes compliance panel
LIBERIA: US to provide $3.6 million for refugees and returnees
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: Constitutional crisis averted
NIGERIA: Violence increasing in run-up to elections - HRW
WESTERN SAHEL: WFP appeals for $28 million to avert food crisis
MANO RIVER UNION: EC aid for vulnerable populations

COTE D IVOIRE: ECOWAS heads of state meet in Senegal

Heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), met on Friday in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, to
discuss a four-month-old conflict in Cote d'Ivoire.

The Dakar meeting, in which Ivorian state and non-state representatives
also participated, was held at the end of a week marred by violence in
various parts of Cote d'Ivoire. In the commercial capital, Abidjan,
protesters roamed the streets from Saturday to Tuesday to denounce an
agreement signed last week in Marcoussis, France, at a roundtable
involving Ivorian political parties and rebel groups. The protesters set
up roadblocks, burned tires on the city's main streets, roughed up French
nationals and attacked French interests, including the Embassy of France,
schools and businesses. They blamed France for the agreement which, they
said, favoured the rebels and was against the interests of the government.

On Friday, demonstrators gathered at the airport following reports that
Seydou Diarra, tipped to be prime minister under a power-sharing agreement
concluded in Marcoussis, was arriving in Abidjan on that day. The
protesters invaded the airport tarmac, temporarily interrupting the
departure of hundreds of French nationals from the country. The
demonstrators were later cleared from the airport and the flights resumed.

France has encouraged those of its nationals whose presence in Cote
d'Ivoire is not essential to leave the country. The French airline, Air
France, has doubled the passenger capacity of its daily flights out of
Abidjan.

Demonstrations against the accord were also held in inland towns,
including Agboville, 87 km north of Abidjan, where the protests led to
clashes between indigenous Abbeys and 'Dioulas' who originate from the
north. Some 15 people died and 40 others were injured. On Thursday, an
uneasy calm was reported in the troubled town.

Worried by the violence in Cote d'Ivoire, UNHCR announced on Tuesday that
it had temporarily suspended its operations in the country, including the
repatriation of Liberian refugees. It, however, resumed work on Wednesday.

The Marcoussis agreement, signed by the Ivorian government, various
political parties and rebel groups, was also criticised by the national
army, which said parts of it tended to "humiliate" the armed forces, the
state and the population. The military was particularly irked by reports
that key ministerial posts including Defence and the Interior would go to
rebel groups. Several leaders of political parties and cabinet ministers
also denounced the agreement.

For IRIN coverage of the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire go to:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=COTE_D_IVOIRE


GHANA: UN humanitarian envoy on regional mission

The UN Humanitarian Envoy on the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, Carolyn McAskie,
arrived on Wednesday in Accra to asses the impact of the crisis as a
result of which some 40,000 people have crossed into Ghana, most of them
en route for their home countries. McAskie met government officials,
international humanitarian organisations and representatives of civil
society.

Before leaving Abidjan, McAskie, who discussed the destruction of
shantytowns by Ivorian security forces with President Laurent Gbagbo,
visited the "Washington" shantytown on 25 January and heard first-hand
accounts of brutality there.

Attacks on shantytowns continued after her visit. On Monday, 50 homes were
razed in an area called Abdoulaye Diallo, and on Tuesday night, armed men
in uniform attacked Washington. Both areas are located in Abidjan.

McAskie left Accra on Thursday for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, before
traveling to Guinea, Liberia, and Mali.

The full IRIN story is available at:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=32027&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GHANA


WEST AFRICA: UN Under Secretary-General fears for children

A UN envoy expressed fear this week that children in the West African
region could become involved in the Ivorian conflict. Under
Secretary-General Olara Otunnu, who is also the Special Representative of
the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, told reporters in
Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, on Tuesday that there were unverified
reports that attempts had been made to mobilise youths for the Ivorian
conflict.

The envoy said at least 10,000 children were involved in a 10-year rebel
war in Sierra Leone that ended in January 2002. The war, one of West
Africa's most brutal conflicts, led to thousands of children being raped
and separated from their families. Otunnu's itinerary also included Dakar,
Senegal, and Freetown, Sierra Leone. In Dakar, he was scheduled to address
an ECOWAS heads of state and government on Friday, on the protection of
children affected by armed conflict in West Africa.

The full IRIN story is available at:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=31979&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=BURKINA_FASO-COTE_D_IVOIRE


WEST AFRICA: UNICEF appeals for $5.7 million for two months

Concerned about the plight of one million people forced from their homes
by the Ivorian conflict, UNICEF appealed this week for US $5.7 million to
cover emergency health, nutrition and education needs of displaced persons
in Cote d'Ivoire and neighbouring countries, especially women and
children, over the next two months. UNICEF said at least 150,000 of the
displaced had crossed into neighbouring countries, straining already weak
social services.

"Four months after the attempted coup in Côte d'Ivoire, the country is
teetering on the brink of a catastrophe that threatens to trigger massive
population upheaval if fighting between rebels and government forces
continues," UNICEF said. Another 500,000 people, 80 percent of whom would
be women and children, could be forced to leave Côte d'Ivoire over the
next 12 months, severely taxing the absorption capacities of the
communities that will host them in neighbouring countries, the agency
said.

For further information on the UNICEF appeal go to: http://www.unicef.org/
For the full IRIN story go to:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=32003&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=COTE_D_IVOIRE


LIBERIA: Security Council re-establishes compliance panel

The mandate of an expert panel set up to investigate Liberia's compliance
with UN sanctions was this week extended by three months by the Security
Council.

Imposed in 2001 and renewed in May 2002, the sanctions include an arms
embargo, a travel ban on some officials, and a ban on the import of rough
diamonds from Liberia. The Council asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to appoint five experts to the Panel, which will report back to it by 16
April. They will investigate any violations of the measures and review
audits by the government to ensure that revenue from the Liberia Shipping
Registry and the timber industry is used for legitimate social,
humanitarian and development purposes.

Meanwhile Liberia's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission on Wednesday
reported details of extensive human rights abuses and violations including
arbitrary arrests of civilians by government forces in 2002. The
commission also said in its annual human rights situation report that the
government had misappropriated a Taiwanese grant that was to have provided
basic social services, including safe drinking water and electricity, to
the capital, Monrovia. The city has lacked running water and electricity
for over 10 years.

For the full IRIN story go to:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=32002&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=LIBERIA


WEST AFRICA: US to provide $3.6 million for refugees and returnees

The United States announced on Monday that it would provide US $3.6
million to UNHCR to help people affected by emergencies in Liberia and
neighbouring countries.

The US Embassy in Monrovia reported that US $2.1 million would address the
needs of refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries such as Guinea
and Sierra Leone. The remaining US $1.5 million would be used to respond
to the needs of Ivorian refugees and Liberian returnees fleeing the
hostilities in Cote d'Ivoire.

The full IRIN story is available at:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=31974&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=LIBERIA


SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: Constitutional crisis averted

The island nation of Sao Tome and Principe nearly experienced a
constitutional crisis following President Fradique de Menezes's decree
dissolving parliament last Tuesday and announcing fresh elections for 13
April. The decree came under strong criticism from all major political
parties and Prime Minister Maria das Neves and Chief Justice Alice Graca
met de Menezes to discuss the matter. On Friday, the president scrapped
his earlier decision, thus averting a crisis. The main political parties
said, however, that he had weakened democracy. De Menezes had accused the
55-member parliament of used "insulting language" instead of pursuing a
dialogue with him.

The full IRIN story is available at:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=31961&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=SAO_TOME_AND_PRINCIPE


NIGERIA: Violence increases in run-up to elections, says HRW

Political violence is on the increase in Nigeria ahead of general
elections scheduled for April and May, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported
on Wednesday. In a briefing paper titled 'Nigeria at the Crossroads: Human
Rights Concerns in the Pre-Election Period', HRW said Nigerian politicians
had used violence as a tool to acquire or retain political support, wealth
and influence. Many politicians, HRW said, had taken advantage of rampant
poverty and unemployment to recruit young men, who intimidated and even
killed opponents or opponents' supporters.

The paper also details preparations for the elections and makes
recommendations to the Nigerian government and the international community
on how to help prevent political violence and ensure that the elections
are free of human rights abuses.

Meanwhile Nigerian authorities unveiled a special memorial unveiled on
Monday to mark the first anniversary of explosions at a Lagos munitions
dump in which at least 1,000 people died.

For the full IRIN story, go to
:http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=32004&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=NIGERIA

WESTERN SAHEL: WFP appeals for $28 million to avert food crisis

The World Food Programme has appealed for US $28 million to avert a food
crisis in several Sahelian countries including Cape Verde, The Gambia,
Mali, Mauritania and Senegal. WFP urgently needs to help feed 420,000
people suffering from three years of severe drought in southern
Mauritania, and 160,000 drought-affected people in Cape Verde, The Gambia,
Mali and Senegal.

"The worst-hit country in the region is Mauritania, where people in the
poorest areas are facing the biggest food crisis in years and the number
of the needy is skyrocketing," Manuel da Silva, WFP's Regional Director
for West Africa said in Dakar, Senegal. WFP's assessments show that the
2002 agricultural production in The Gambia, Western Mali and Senegal had
been also very low and in the worst-hit areas, food would not be
sufficient to cover the needs of the rural population after January 2003.

The full IRIN story is available at:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=31963&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=CAPE_VERDE-GAMBIA-MALI-MAURITANIA-SENEGAL

MANO RIVER UNION: EC aid for vulnerable populations

Vulnerable people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are to benefit from
a 16-million-euro humanitarian aid plan which the European Commission
approved this week. The Commission said on Tuesday that the plan would
enable the EC Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), through partner
organisations working in the field, to provide assistance throughout 2003.
The plan will mainly target the re-integration of at least 220,000 Sierra
Leoneans returning home from other parts of their country and from Guinea
and 60,000 Liberian refugees. It will also provide humanitarian aid to
internally displaced and other vulnerable persons in Liberia.

For the full IRIN story go to:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=31964&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-LIBERIA-SIERRA_LEONE


IRIN-WA
Tel: +225 22-40-4440
Fax: +225 22-41-9339
Email: IRIN-WA@irin.ci

[This Item is Delivered to the "Africa-English" Service of the UN's IRIN
humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views
of the United Nations. For further information, free subscriptions, or to
change your keywords, contact e-mail: Irin@ocha.unon.org or Web:
http://www.irinnews.org . If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this
item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Reposting by commercial
sites requires written IRIN permission.]

Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2003


distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International Disaster Information

                                          web: www.cidi.org
                                     listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Africa                      www.cidi.org/humanitarian/irin/wafrica