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
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IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup of Main Events 46 in West Africa covering the period (Friday-Thursday) 24-30 April 1998
NIGERIA: Opposition calls for May Day protest
The Nigerian opposition is preparing a series of protests against military rule on May Day. A statement by the United Action for Democracy (UAD), a coalition of 26 pro-democracy and human rights bodies, on Wednesday confirmed the May Day protests would go ahead as planned. The protests are expected to take place in several centres, in particular Lagos/Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, Port Harcourt/Yenagoa, Enugu/Nsukka and Ilorin. Lagos police chief Abubakar Tsav warned police would "deal ruthlessly with any person or group who may attempt to cause disorder," Reuters reported.
Death sentences issued in coup trial
Nigeria's former number two, General Oladipo Diya, and five other defendants were found guilty of plotting a coup last December to overthrow Nigerian leader General Sani Abacha and were sentenced to death on Tuesday, AFP reported. Those found guilty also include General Abdulkarim Adisa, former minister of public works; Tajudeen Olarewanju, former minister of communications; Major Olusegun Fadipe, Diya's head of security; and Bola Adebanjo, a civilian said to be close to Diya. Found guilty of information-gathering and implication in the alleged coup and sentenced to life imprisonment were Colonel Edwin Jando, former head of the artillery brigade at Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria; Niran Malaolu, editor of the independent daily 'The Diet', Shola Shoinde and Isaiah Adebowale. 14 defendants were acquitted on unspecified charges.
Only the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), the military government's highest decision-making body headed by Abacha, can modify the judgement.
Appeals for clemency
Church and human rights groups in Nigeria called on Abacha to grant clemency to those sentenced to death, news sources reported on Tuesday. The Methodist Archbishop of Abuja, Ola Makinde, warned that if carried out, the executions would be ominous for Nigeria, the BBC reported. The opposition National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) said the trial had not been fair, according to Nigerian 'News du Jour'. NADECO also said judging from the government's past performance, it was futile to plead for clemency.
International reaction
The South African government on Wednesday strongly warned Nigeria of an "adverse reaction" from the international community should the six alleged coup plotters be executed, AFP reported. It urged Abacha to consider the effects of carrying out the sentence "at this critical juncture in her history". The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, expressed the Commonwealth's serious "concern" at the verdict and pleaded for Abacha's government to show "utmost restraint and humanitarianism".
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman voiced unhappiness that the trial was "mainly conducted in private", adding that the defendants should have the right to seek pardons and to appeal. The US also called for a swift review of the decision, AFP reported, quoting White House spokesman Michael McCurry.
Meanwhile, the London-based human rights NGO, Amnesty International (AI) said in a statement the trial had been "grossly unfair" and in contravention of Nigeria's own Constitution and its international commitments.
Elections marked by low turn-out, UNCP in the lead
National assembly elections held last Saturday, 25 April, in an atmosphere of general apathy were marked by an extremely low turnout, media organisations reported. Movement in all major cities was restricted and all commercial activity banned from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The BBC quoted officials from the election commission as saying privately it may have been the lowest voter turnout since independence. The minister for the federal capital territory Abuja, General Jeremiah Useni, said: "I expected to see a large turnout of voters. I do not know really the reason for this turnout."
The UAD had called for a boycott of the vote last Friday. But according to local media sources, the ordinary Nigerian was indifferent to the electoral process and was not prepared to go the poll. There had been no proper campaigning. Reuters reported that in many areas, the approved list of candidates was not released until just prior to the polls.
Meanwhile, the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), one of the five official parties contesting in the elections, was in the lead so far, Nigerian state radio reported on Tuesday. The National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) confirmed UNCP had won all three seats in the federal capital, Abuja.
Prisoners to be released
Nigerian newspapers on Thursday said the military government had ordered the release of some 120 to 140 prisoners, media organisations reported. David Attah, Abacha's chief press secretary, told Reuters a number of detainees had already been freed but could not confirm how many or provide a list of names. He denied the releases were prompted by international pressure. It was not clear whether those released were included in an unpublished list of 60 detainees Pope John Paul II had submitted to the government a month ago.
Three journalists and civil rights activist Ogaga Ifawodo were among those released last week, the BBC said. Meanwhile, 'Tell' magazine's chief editor, Onome Osifo-Whiskey, imprisoned since November, was released from jail, AFP reported on Wednesday, quoting the independent daily 'Punch'.
SIERRA LEONE: Food shortages for aid programmes likely
Several NGOs implementing food aid and development programmes are in danger of running out of food by June or July, a humanitarian source told IRIN Wednesday. Vulnerable group feeding programmes, food-for-work agricultural programmes and seeds-and-tools programmes may all grind to a halt if donors are not found soon. WFP said it had very low food stocks. USAID, the primary donor for most of these programmes, has not yet approved its 1998 food commitment. An NGO source said when planning estimated food needs last year, the emphasis was on resettlement and development, not emergency feeding. However, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) had risen dramatically following last May's coup and the continuing fighting.
WFP estimated there are some 90,000 to 100,000 new IDPs in Sierra Leone. 48,000 vulnerable persons received food in Makeni and 14,000 in Massinge. Humanitarian agencies said their activities were also constrained by security and access problems in the east. Retreating junta forces still control several towns in the area and have blown up key bridges, hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Militia under ECOMOG
Sierra Leonean President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah announced on Tuesday that Civil Defence Forces (CDF) had been placed under the command of ECOMOG, AFP reported. Kabbah said the aim was "to make them more effective and make their demobilisation easier in the future". Meanwhile, a Kamajor leader, Allieu Kondowa, called for the registration of all CDF fighters because of growing "acts of lawlessness" among them, AFP reported. Kamajor fighters make up the bulk of the CDF, a humanitarian source told IRIN. 100 junta supporters killed in clashes
Some 100 supporters of the ousted junta were killed in clashes in Kailahun district, eastern Sierra Leone, AFP reported on Thursday, quoting the pro-government 'Freedom Now' newspaper. It said junta supporters were killed over the last weekend in a battle with militia forces under ECOMOG command. The paper also said Kamajor militiamen had sealed a key ferry route in the area to prevent junta leader Major Johnny Paul Koroma from reaching Kailahun district. It added that Guinean ECOMOG troops were also near Kailahun district "to flush out remaining junta forces".
Meanwhile, ECOMOG announced it had captured the mining villages of Jaiama Sewafe, Bumpeh, Tumbudu and Motema, near Koidu in eastern Sierra Leone, Reuters reported on Monday.
LIBERIA: Defence Ministry denies Sierra Leone involvement
The Defence Ministry again denied Nigerian allegations of Liberia's involvement in the Sierra Leone crisis, Star Radio reported on Thursday. Defence Minister Daniel Chea said the arrest of any Liberian for fighting in Sierra Leone did not mean that such action was sanctioned by the government. The Nigerian defence ministry alleged earlier this week that Liberians were fighting side by side with retreating Sierra Leone junta forces.
Officers arrested for WFP food seizure
Five security officers, including two soldiers were arrested for seizing a consignment of WFP relief food in Bomi County, Star Radio reported Thursday. The Minister of Defence said the accused would be tried by the Court Martial Board and more arrests were expected. The consignment, which was seized last week, was destined for internally displaced people in Tewor District, Grand Cape Mount County.
NIGER: President warns opposition
Nigerien President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara announced on Wednesday his "strong determination" to stop the wave of violence affecting Niger since the opposition launched a series of protests earlier this month demanding his resignation, AFP reported. Regional authorities were given firm instructions not to give in to any agitation and to take all necessary steps to ensure peace. Last Sunday, a dozen people were arrested and several others injured in Niamey, the capital, when opposition marches were forcibly broken up by government forces, news agencies reported. According to Reuters, anti-government protesters blocked key access routes with barricades of flaming tyres while police fired tear gas to break up the groups.
NGOs warn of famine
Three million Nigeriens are facing famine for a second consecutive year, AFP reported, quoting French humanitarian agencies meeting in Paris on Tuesday. Action Contre la Faim (ACF), the French Red Cross and Secours Catholique appealed for international assistance over the next six months.
TOGO: Exiled leader registers in presidential elections
Gilchrist Olympio, leader of the opposition Union des forces de changement (UFC), returned to Togo from Ghana on Monday after six years of exile, news organisations reported. Thousands of supporters greeted Olympio as he crossed the border from Ghana. He reportedly registered as a candidate in the upcoming presidential elections. Olympio, the son of Togo's assassinated first president, Sylvanus Olympio, has been in exile in neighbouring Ghana since a 1992 attempt on his life.
CHAD: Youths protest planned Gaddafi visit
Hundreds of stone-throwing youths clashed Tuesday with paramilitary police in Chad's capital, N'Djamena, during a demonstration against a planned visit by Libyan leader Mu'ammar Gaddafi, news organisations reported. Students erected barricades and a number of people were wounded, police said.
SENEGAL: Guinea-Bissau leader denies support for rebels
Guinea-Bissau President Joao Bernard Vieira said on last Saturday he was ready to do his utmost to establish peace in Senegal's troubled southern Casamance region, AFP reported. He denounced recent accusations in the Senegalese press that his government was supporting the separatist Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance (MFDC).
US$ two billion in aid
Senegal is poised to receive US$ 2 billion in development aid from now until 2000, donor agencies meeting in Paris announced last Friday, AFP reported. The meeting, which included 11 donors and 27 international organisations, commended Senegal on its significant progress in macro-economic and structural changes.
MALI & BURKINA FASO: Rwandans refused refugee status
UNHCR in Mali on Monday refused to grant refugee status to two Rwandan military officers wanted by the UN War Crimes Tribunal in Arusha, Tanzania, news agencies reported. According to the BBC, there is no extradition treaty between the two countries but Mali would probably hand the two men over if requested. Colonels Francois Sibourama and Laurent Simpenzwe Serubuga were reportedly under police surveillance in the capital, Bamako, AFP added.
Meanwhile, a former Rwandan police chief and genocide suspect, Colonel Alphonse Ntezeryayo, was arrested in Burkina Faso and faces extradition to the Arusha Tribunal, the BBC reported.
MALI: Opposition to boycott municipal elections
Local elections in 19 Malian municipalities will be held on 21 June, while 682 newly created municipalities will hold their elections on 29 November, AFP reported on Thursday, quoting an official source. The radical opposition Collectif des partis politiques de l'opposition (COPPO) will be boycotting the elections. The US-based Carter Centre announced earlier this week that its attempts to mediate between President Alpha Oumar Konare and COPPO had foundered on COPPO's continued rejection of the 1997 election results and recognition of Konare as president. BURKINA FASO: Japan aid for food deficit.
Japan on Monday announced a US$ three million donation to purchase rice to offset the country's food shortage, AFP reported. Burkina's harvest showed a 19 percent shortfall from the previous year.
GHANA: Food shortages
The first consignment of government food aid arrived Monday in northern Ghana's Upper East region, where two years of erratic rainfall have caused crop failure and severe food shortages, AFP reported. The government announced on 15 April it would buy US$ 2.1 million worth of food to avert a food deficit crisis. Most of the 10,000 bags of rice, beans and maize will be sold on the local market at subsidised prices in an effort to bring soaring food prices under control.
New government figures indicate that the vulnerable population has exceeded WFP's initial projection of 30,000 persons eligible to receive food rations.
WEST AFRICA: Regional security meeting
Interior and defence ministers from ten countries met in Gabon Tuesday to begin a three-day meeting to define strategies and common actions against insecurity and the circulation of arms in the region, AFP reported. Participating countries included Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Sao Tome e Principe, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire). Rwanda did not attend.
Discussion focused on controlling the sale and circulation of illicit arms, which, according to the meeting's working document, prolong conflicts and aggravate banditry, drug trafficking and criminal activity.
Abidjan, 1 May 1998, 14:30 gmt
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