Monrovia recalls ambassador from Guinea

Liberia has recalled its ambassador from Conakry in protest at what it said were continuing acts of aggression by the Guinean government, according to media reports confirmed to IRIN by observers in Monrovia.
The two nations have placed troops on their borders and continue to accuse each other of supporting armed anti-government rebels.

The Liberian Foreign Ministry said recently that Guinean troops made several incursions into Liberian territory last year. In addition, the ministry said, Guinean troops forced their way into the Liberian ambassador’s home in Conakry on 11 September 2000, ransacked it and burnt the Liberian flag. The ministry said Guinea was in violation of regional and international non-aggression pacts.

On the other hand, Conakry has accused Liberia of being behind the incursions by armed men into southern Guinea that have claimed scores of lives and displaced tens of thousands of refugees and Guineans. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided to send troops from Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal to monitor the borders between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

One political analyst who watches Liberia closely told IRIN on Thursday the government’s decision was untimely. “It will not serve any purpose except to escalate tension,” the analyst said.

Such a measure on the eve of the deployment of ECOWAS border monitors, the analyst added, “significantly diminishes” the chances of direct talks between presidents Charles Taylor of Liberia and Lansana Conte of Guinea. “Seems to me like the region will now have to brace itself for rough times ahead,” the analyst said.