CONTENTS:
COTE D’IVOIRE: Signing of ceasefire delayed
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: First woman prime minister named
CAMEROON-NIGERIA: ICJ verdict set for 10 October
SENEGAL: Burials begin of ferry victims
LIBERIA: IDPs face grave health risk
GHANA: President Kufuor names new committees
MAURITANIA: Another appeal for aid
COTE D’IVOIRE: Signing of ceasefire delayed The signing of a ceasefire between mutinous soldiers and the government of Cote d'Ivoire was delayed on Friday with both sides expressing discontent with the wording of the document. Sources in the capital Yamoussoukro told IRIN that the signing was likely to be delayed to a later date. The agreement was supposed to signed at 1600 GMT but by 1800 pm, none of the delegations had turned up yet to sign, sources said. The government, humanitarian sources told IRIN, was reluctant to commit to some provisions of the proposed agreement such as the suggestion of a peacekeeping force in the country. The mutineers on the other hand felt the proposed agreement did not grant them the status they deserved. The BBC reported that the draft text stipulated that the mutineers should lay down their weapons, and that the authority of the government should be restored to all areas but did not specify whether that meant civil or military rule. The mutineers were also uncomfortable that loyalist forces were sending troops from Yamoussoukro to Bouake, to reinforce their positions there or even to attack the city, which the rebels had held since their uprising on 19 September. The "ceasefire" came a day after ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met with six rebel representatives in the central rebel-held city of Bouake and persuaded them to agree to a truce. ECOWAS mandated Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo to form a mediation group, along with South Africa as current chairman of the African Union. On Wednesday, the French Foreign Ministry reiterated that its presence in Cote d'Ivoire was to safeguard the safety of its citizens, maintain the country's unity and sovereignty and to preserve regional stability and to support the African mediation efforts. "In this context I recall that the mission of French forces remains the safety of our nationals, and other foreigners. France supports the mediation ECOWAS has begun and all efforts for dialogue," the spokesperson said. "If the mediation team concludes that an ECOMOG peace-keeping mission is needed, France will contribute with logistic support." Meanwhile, the governor of Abidjan District on Friday announced a major rally of "all patriots", including women, men, youths, village chiefs, and dignitaries of Abidjan District, which will be held in the city centre. As humanitarian organisations are trying to get access to the declared war zones in order to evaluate the needs of those displaced, there were reports from the Solidarity, Health and Social Security ministry, of an eight-day suspension of burning of shantytowns. IRIN coverage on the Cote d'Ivoire situation SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: First woman Prime Minister named Sao Tome and Principe President Fradique de Menezes on Thursday appointed Maria das Neves as the archipelago's first woman Prime Minister, news agencies reported. Menezes who fired Gabriel Costa from the prime minister's job last week, said in a television address to the nation that he had asked Neves, a 44-year old economist to form a new government. She was proposed for the post by the Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement (MLSTP) party. Neves was Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism in the former administration. Before that she worked for the World Bank and UNICEF. She was expected to begin consultations to form a government of national unity on Friday with both her MLSTP party and other parties with seats in the 55-member parliament, Lusa reported on Friday. Menezes dissolved the government following complaints from the army over the promotion of two officers to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 5 September. The Minister of Defense Victor Tavares Monteiro was one of the officers promoted from reserve captain. He resigned last week. The other was Major Luiz Maria, who held the defense portfolio. De Menezes had appointed Costa to head a coalition government after elections on 3 March left the country's 55-seat parliament without a majority party. Sao Tome and Principe is an island chain just off the West African country of Gabon, and has a population of some 150,000 people. Other items on Sao Tome and Principle this week include: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: Unity government dissolved Full Report CAMEROON-NIGERIA: ICJ verdict set for 10 October The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced on Thursday that it would deliver its judgment on the Bakassi peninsula, which has been the object of a dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon, on 10 October in The Hague. The court’s ruling is binding and not subject to appeal, the court said in a statement. The case stems from a 1994 complaint filed by Cameroon, seeking a ruling over sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula and a determination of a maritime boundary between the two countries. The territorial dispute has been a thorn in bilateral relations, as the countries at times have traded accusations. Each believes it is the rightful proprietor of the peninsula located in an oil-rich area. On 6 September, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Paul Biya of Cameroon promised to abide by the ruling and to implement measures to respect it. Among others, they agreed to the demilitarization of the peninsula with the possibility of international observers to monitor the withdrawal of troops. SENEGAL: Burials begin for ferry victims Burials of victims of last week’s boat accident begun in the capital Dakar and in Ziguinchor, southern Senegal, sources told IRIN on Thursday. In Ziguinchor, where more than 1,000 people boarded the ferry ‘Le Joola’, 41 bodies were buried this week. Red Cross sources said burials have also begun in Dakar, the boat’s final destination, but did not disclose an exact number. BBC reported Interior Minister Mamadou Niang as saying that about 500 bodies had been recovered, although many cannot be identified by relatives because of decomposition. About 60 people have survived the accident. Those bodies that cannot be identified would be buried in one of four designated mass cemeteries: two in Ziguinchor, one in Dakar and one in The Gambia. President Abdoulaye Wade has ordered an investigation into the accident. The minister for transport and equipment and the armed forces ministers resigned in the wake of public anger over the accident. Licensed to sail with 550 passengers, ‘Le Joola’ left Ziguinchor with over 1,000 passengers. LIBERIA: IDPs face grave health risk An international NGO, the International Rescue Committee, issued a health assessment on Tuesday warning that the health of internally displaced Liberians had sharply deteriorated in the last few months. To avoid further deterioration, humanitarian and health agencies needed to increase health facilities in the country. IRC’s assessment, conducted in July and August in IDP camps in Bong and Montserrado countries, showed among other things that mortality rates have risen above the emergency threshold; water and sanitation capacities were deficient and malaria and diarrhoea ranked as the leading causes of medical consultation. To meet the IDPs’ needs, the number of latrines needed to be increased to one latrine per 50 people, although this is still short of the minimum humanitarian standards of one latrine per 20 people. Trench latrines also needed to be built; water supply increased, and an aggressive hygiene promotion campaign conducted. An additional health post should also be built in one of the camps, the NGO recommended. According to IRC, Liberia currently has 14 IDP camps sheltering at least 100,000 people. IRC’s full assessment GHANA: President Kufuor names new committees Ghanaian President John Kufuor has appointed 11-member committees to run the daily affairs of six districts in Dagbon District, northern Ghana, where a state of emergency prevented the holding of regularly scheduled district elections. The state of emergency was imposed in March as a result of deadly ethnic clashes that broke in the northern district. While election for new district assemblies were held in August, they did not take place in Dagbon District. The incumbent assemblies were dissolved, creating an administrative vacuum that President Kufuor has filled by appointing the committees. The appointees have the same powers as elected officials and will be in office until elections can be held. The March clash opposed the Abudu and Andani clans, two neighbouring communities, whose covert rivalry, erupted as they were unable to agree on the holding on an annual festival. In other news, Ghana’s government has earmarked US $7 million to finance poverty reduction initiatives in the East, Upper West, Northern, Eastern and Central regions, the five poorest regions of the country. MAURITANIA: Another appeal for aid The World Food Programme has once again reminded the international community to come to the aid of Mauritania where food shortage, induced by lack of rain, is threatening thousands of people According to WFP regional director for West Africa Manuel da Silva, 750,000 Mauritanians are affected by lack of food. Consequently there is a growing rate of malnutrition. WFP conducted in September a wheat distribution in the six most affected regions, however it still expects to receive funding to feed all those in need. The UN agency had so far received 30 percent of the US $7.5 million it had appealed for.
COTE D’IVOIRE: Signing of ceasefire delayed The signing of a ceasefire between mutinous soldiers and the government of Cote d'Ivoire was delayed on Friday with both sides expressing discontent with the wording of the document. Sources in the capital Yamoussoukro told IRIN that the signing was likely to be delayed to a later date. The agreement was supposed to signed at 1600 GMT but by 1800 pm, none of the delegations had turned up yet to sign, sources said. The government, humanitarian sources told IRIN, was reluctant to commit to some provisions of the proposed agreement such as the suggestion of a peacekeeping force in the country. The mutineers on the other hand felt the proposed agreement did not grant them the status they deserved. The BBC reported that the draft text stipulated that the mutineers should lay down their weapons, and that the authority of the government should be restored to all areas but did not specify whether that meant civil or military rule. The mutineers were also uncomfortable that loyalist forces were sending troops from Yamoussoukro to Bouake, to reinforce their positions there or even to attack the city, which the rebels had held since their uprising on 19 September. The "ceasefire" came a day after ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met with six rebel representatives in the central rebel-held city of Bouake and persuaded them to agree to a truce. ECOWAS mandated Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo to form a mediation group, along with South Africa as current chairman of the African Union. On Wednesday, the French Foreign Ministry reiterated that its presence in Cote d'Ivoire was to safeguard the safety of its citizens, maintain the country's unity and sovereignty and to preserve regional stability and to support the African mediation efforts. "In this context I recall that the mission of French forces remains the safety of our nationals, and other foreigners. France supports the mediation ECOWAS has begun and all efforts for dialogue," the spokesperson said. "If the mediation team concludes that an ECOMOG peace-keeping mission is needed, France will contribute with logistic support." Meanwhile, the governor of Abidjan District on Friday announced a major rally of "all patriots", including women, men, youths, village chiefs, and dignitaries of Abidjan District, which will be held in the city centre. As humanitarian organisations are trying to get access to the declared war zones in order to evaluate the needs of those displaced, there were reports from the Solidarity, Health and Social Security ministry, of an eight-day suspension of burning of shantytowns. IRIN coverage on the Cote d'Ivoire situation SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: First woman Prime Minister named Sao Tome and Principe President Fradique de Menezes on Thursday appointed Maria das Neves as the archipelago's first woman Prime Minister, news agencies reported. Menezes who fired Gabriel Costa from the prime minister's job last week, said in a television address to the nation that he had asked Neves, a 44-year old economist to form a new government. She was proposed for the post by the Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement (MLSTP) party. Neves was Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism in the former administration. Before that she worked for the World Bank and UNICEF. She was expected to begin consultations to form a government of national unity on Friday with both her MLSTP party and other parties with seats in the 55-member parliament, Lusa reported on Friday. Menezes dissolved the government following complaints from the army over the promotion of two officers to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 5 September. The Minister of Defense Victor Tavares Monteiro was one of the officers promoted from reserve captain. He resigned last week. The other was Major Luiz Maria, who held the defense portfolio. De Menezes had appointed Costa to head a coalition government after elections on 3 March left the country's 55-seat parliament without a majority party. Sao Tome and Principe is an island chain just off the West African country of Gabon, and has a population of some 150,000 people. Other items on Sao Tome and Principle this week include: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: Unity government dissolved Full Report CAMEROON-NIGERIA: ICJ verdict set for 10 October The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced on Thursday that it would deliver its judgment on the Bakassi peninsula, which has been the object of a dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon, on 10 October in The Hague. The court’s ruling is binding and not subject to appeal, the court said in a statement. The case stems from a 1994 complaint filed by Cameroon, seeking a ruling over sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula and a determination of a maritime boundary between the two countries. The territorial dispute has been a thorn in bilateral relations, as the countries at times have traded accusations. Each believes it is the rightful proprietor of the peninsula located in an oil-rich area. On 6 September, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Paul Biya of Cameroon promised to abide by the ruling and to implement measures to respect it. Among others, they agreed to the demilitarization of the peninsula with the possibility of international observers to monitor the withdrawal of troops. SENEGAL: Burials begin for ferry victims Burials of victims of last week’s boat accident begun in the capital Dakar and in Ziguinchor, southern Senegal, sources told IRIN on Thursday. In Ziguinchor, where more than 1,000 people boarded the ferry ‘Le Joola’, 41 bodies were buried this week. Red Cross sources said burials have also begun in Dakar, the boat’s final destination, but did not disclose an exact number. BBC reported Interior Minister Mamadou Niang as saying that about 500 bodies had been recovered, although many cannot be identified by relatives because of decomposition. About 60 people have survived the accident. Those bodies that cannot be identified would be buried in one of four designated mass cemeteries: two in Ziguinchor, one in Dakar and one in The Gambia. President Abdoulaye Wade has ordered an investigation into the accident. The minister for transport and equipment and the armed forces ministers resigned in the wake of public anger over the accident. Licensed to sail with 550 passengers, ‘Le Joola’ left Ziguinchor with over 1,000 passengers. LIBERIA: IDPs face grave health risk An international NGO, the International Rescue Committee, issued a health assessment on Tuesday warning that the health of internally displaced Liberians had sharply deteriorated in the last few months. To avoid further deterioration, humanitarian and health agencies needed to increase health facilities in the country. IRC’s assessment, conducted in July and August in IDP camps in Bong and Montserrado countries, showed among other things that mortality rates have risen above the emergency threshold; water and sanitation capacities were deficient and malaria and diarrhoea ranked as the leading causes of medical consultation. To meet the IDPs’ needs, the number of latrines needed to be increased to one latrine per 50 people, although this is still short of the minimum humanitarian standards of one latrine per 20 people. Trench latrines also needed to be built; water supply increased, and an aggressive hygiene promotion campaign conducted. An additional health post should also be built in one of the camps, the NGO recommended. According to IRC, Liberia currently has 14 IDP camps sheltering at least 100,000 people. IRC’s full assessment GHANA: President Kufuor names new committees Ghanaian President John Kufuor has appointed 11-member committees to run the daily affairs of six districts in Dagbon District, northern Ghana, where a state of emergency prevented the holding of regularly scheduled district elections. The state of emergency was imposed in March as a result of deadly ethnic clashes that broke in the northern district. While election for new district assemblies were held in August, they did not take place in Dagbon District. The incumbent assemblies were dissolved, creating an administrative vacuum that President Kufuor has filled by appointing the committees. The appointees have the same powers as elected officials and will be in office until elections can be held. The March clash opposed the Abudu and Andani clans, two neighbouring communities, whose covert rivalry, erupted as they were unable to agree on the holding on an annual festival. In other news, Ghana’s government has earmarked US $7 million to finance poverty reduction initiatives in the East, Upper West, Northern, Eastern and Central regions, the five poorest regions of the country. MAURITANIA: Another appeal for aid The World Food Programme has once again reminded the international community to come to the aid of Mauritania where food shortage, induced by lack of rain, is threatening thousands of people According to WFP regional director for West Africa Manuel da Silva, 750,000 Mauritanians are affected by lack of food. Consequently there is a growing rate of malnutrition. WFP conducted in September a wheat distribution in the six most affected regions, however it still expects to receive funding to feed all those in need. The UN agency had so far received 30 percent of the US $7.5 million it had appealed for.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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