549 updates found

31 Dec 1998

Burkina Faso + 4 others
IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup No 81 of Main Events for West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for West Africa
tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: Nigeria strengthens forces in fight against rebels

Nigerian reinforcements poured into Sierra Leone during the week to strengthen the West African intervention force ECOMOG fighting rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).

As the fighting neared the capital Freetown, foreign nationals were evacuated and the special committee on Sierra Leone

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

31 Dec 1998

Nigeria + 2 others
IRIN-WA Update 371 of Events in West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for West Africa
Tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: Roads in the north unsafe

Most of the main roads in Sierra Leone's northern provinces are unsafe because rebels dominate in the area which has become difficult for the state administration to access, a spokesman for UNOMSIL told IRIN today (Thursday).

"In all probability Lunsar is in

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

30 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
Civil war in Sierra Leone threatens to spill over its borders

Report

— Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The renewed civil war in the West African nation of Sierra Leone is threatening to spill over its borders... and become a regional African conflict.

David Hecht reports.

The growing concensus is that Sierra Leone's rebels have made their latest advance with the help of neighbouring Liberia. The US State Department has issued a statement urging it to stop despite its denials. The rebels have now taken Makeni, the main town in the north. Last week they came as close as 30-kilometres from the capital, Freetown. The rebels, together with Siera Leone's former army, already

Australian Broadcasting Corporation:

© ABC

30 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
Embattled S.Leone government clamps down on renegade troops

Report

— Agence France-Presse

FREETOWN, Dec 30 (AFP) - The government of embattled Sierra Leone has moved hundreds of surrendered renegade soldiers to maximum security jails in the heavily-guarded capital, UN and other sources said Wednesday.

The sources said that about 20 truckloads of such troops were brought from their Lungi garrison, 16 kilometres (10 miles) across the Sierra Leone estuary to the city itself in a three-day transfer.

The government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who returned to power in March after being ousted in May last year

Agence France-Presse:

©AFP: The information provided in this product is for personal use only. None of it may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the express permission of Agence France-Presse.

30 Dec 1998

Guinea-Bissau + 3 others
IRIN-WA Update 370 of Events in West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for West Africa
Tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: Nigeria reinforces ECOMOG

More Nigerian reinforcements have arrived in Freetown to strengthen the West African intervention force in Sierra Leone, ECOMOG spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jimoh Okunlola told IRIN today (Wednesday).

He would not disclose numbers but news reports said the 1,000 troops who arrived on Tuesday brought to 3,000 the

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

29 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
Extraordinary meeting of the Committee of Five on Sierra Leone

Report

Economic Community of West African States
Final Communique
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Committee of Five on Sierra Leone met in extraordinary session on 28 December in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, to review recent developments in Sierra Leone. They were joined by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Togo, the current ECOWAS chair.

2. The following members of the committee attended the meeting:

- Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
- Republic of Ghana
- Republic of Guinea
- Republic of Liberia
- Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Togolese Republic

29 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
SIERRA LEONE: West African Ministers condemn rebels

Report

— IRIN

ABIDJAN, 29 December (IRIN) - (The following is a special update on the situation in Sierra Leone. Your attention is drawn to the full ECOWAS communique, a US statement on Sierra Leone and a statement by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the situation in the country which have already moved on the IRIN-WA-Extra service.)
West African foreign ministers ended an extraordinary meeting in Abidjan yesterday (Monday) strongly condemning rebels in Sierra Leone for the atrocities committed against the civilian population.

In a communique issued at the end of

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

29 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
China calls for international support for Sierra Leone government

Report

— Agence France-Presse

BEIJING, Dec 29 (AFP) - China's foreign ministry called on the international community Tuesday to support efforts by the Sierra Leone government to restore peace and stability to the country.

Spokesman Zhu Bangzao told a bi-weekly news briefing the Chinese government was "deeply concerned about the situation in Sierra Leone and hopes it will remain peaceful and stable."

He said the Chinese government had all along appreciated and supported the popularly-elected government of Sierra Leone and efforts made by the Economic Community of West African States

Agence France-Presse:

©AFP: The information provided in this product is for personal use only. None of it may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the express permission of Agence France-Presse.

29 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
WFP concerned about renewed fighting in Sierra Leone

Report

— World Food Programme

Abidjan - The United Nations World Food Programme warned today that renewed fighting in Sierra Leone will seriously affect humanitarian assistance to tens of thousands of needy people throughout the country.
For the past two weeks, planned WFP food deliveries to war affected people in the interior have been halted due to insecurity on the main road linking Freetown to the rest of the country. However, the aid agency managed yesterday to move 90 metric tons of food out of Freetown for delivery to the southern towns of Bo and Kenema.

WFP food stocks in Bo and Kenema are

29 Dec 1998

Liberia + 1 other
Policy statement by the Government of the Republic of Liberia on allegations by the Government of Sierra Leone

Report

— IRIN

The following is the text of a Liberian government policy statement on Sierra Leone issued on 29 December and first referred to in IRIN-West Africa Update 370 of 30 December.
POLICY STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA ON ALLEGATIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE AND THE ECOMOG HIGH COMMAND AT THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE COMMITEE OF FIVE ON SIERRA LEONE OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA IN THE CIVIL CRISIS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE

MONROVIA, LIBERIA, DECEMBER 29, 1998

POLICY STATEMENT

The Government of Liberia views with

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

29 Dec 1998

Burkina Faso + 3 others
IRIN Update 369 of Events in West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa
Tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: ECOMOG commander accuses Liberia of arms shipments

ECOMOG Force Commander Major General Timothy Shelpidi told IRIN today (Tuesday) in Abidjan that the international community, especially the United States, should review policy towards Liberia to force Monrovia to stop helping rebels in Sierra Leone. "Charles

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

28 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
West African ministers to meet as fighting rages in S. Leone

Report

— Agence France-Presse

ABIDJAN, Dec 28 (AFP) - West African foreign ministers were poised to hold talks Monday in a bid to settle the conflict in Sierra Leone, where fighting between rebels and pro-government forces intensified over the weekend.

Foreign ministers from Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria, known as the Committee of Five, were due to attend the emergency meeting, along with Togo, whose President Gnassingbe Eyadema is chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Monday's talks, to open in Cote d'Ivoire's

Agence France-Presse:

©AFP: The information provided in this product is for personal use only. None of it may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the express permission of Agence France-Presse.

28 Dec 1998

Guinea-Bissau + 1 other
IRIN-WA Update 368 of Events in West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for West Africa
Tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: ECOWAS meets on upsurge of fighting

Foreign ministers of the Ecomomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were holding an emergency meeting in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, today (Monday) following heavy fighting in Sierra Leone between rebels and government troops. An ECOWAS statement received

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

28 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
U.S. State Dept. on Sierra Leone civil war

Report

— US Department of State

WASHINGTON - State Department Acting Spokesman Lee McClenny on December 28 commended the peacekeeping efforts of ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Cease-Fire Monitoring Group) "in defending the people and the legitimately elected government" of Sierra Leone.

In a brief statement, McClenny pointed to "the enormous sacrifices in lives and material" made by Nigerian and Guinean troops in combating the brutal RUF insurgency.

Following is the text of McClenny's statement:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman December 28, 1998

28 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
S-G appeals to rebels in Sierra Leone to lay down arms and join peace process without preconditions

Report

— UN Secretary-General

Press Release
SG/SM/6852
AFR/123
The following statement was issued on Sunday, 27 December, by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is extremely concerned by the latest news of rebel armed activities in Sierra Leone. He condemns the refusal of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and junta remnants to lay down their arms, as well as their continuing military actions. He wishes to take this opportunity to emphasize the unacceptability of attempting to overthrow duly-elected governments by force. He appeals to the rebels

24 Dec 1998

Chad + 8 others
IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup No 80 of Main Events for West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for West Africa
tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: Tension grows in Freetown as fighting nears capital

Tension grew through the week in the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown as military operations against rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) forces moved closer and people fleeing the fighting headed for the capital.

On Wednesday ECOMOG artillery pounded

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

24 Dec 1998

Burkina Faso + 7 others
IRIN Update 367 of Events in West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa
Tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: Freetown calm but tense

Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, remained calm but tense today (Thursday) following this week's rebel attack on the village of Waterloo, 30 km to the south, diplomatic sources and aid agencies told IRIN.

One ranking Western diplomat said Freetown residents were going about their business as usual, shops were full and

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

23 Dec 1998

Guinea + 3 others
IRIN-WA Update 366 of Events in West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for West Africa
Tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: ECOMOG artillery pounds hills near Freetown

ECOMOG artillery pounded hills overlooking the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, today (Wednesday) after security forces received what turned out to be false reports that rebels were in the area, Information Minister Julius Spencer said on state radio. The

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

22 Dec 1998

Chad + 5 others
IRIN-WA Update 365 of Events in West Africa

Report

— IRIN

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network
for West Africa
Tel: +225 21 73 54
fax: +225 21 63 35
e-mail: irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci

SIERRA LEONE: ECOMOG says it still holds Waterloo

ECOMOG forces are in control in Waterloo, 34 km south of Freetown, an ECOMOG source told IRIN today (Tuesday), contradicting reports that rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and military renegades had forced their way into the town centre.

The source, speaking from Freetown, said

IRIN:

A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une sélection d'articles d'IRIN sont publiés sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne reflète pas nécessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

22 Dec 1998

Sierra Leone
UNHCR operations in Sierra Leone

Report

— UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR is concerned about the upsurge in fighting in Sierra Leone, especially around Koidu in the district of Kailahun in the eastern part of the country. Although there are no reports of new flows of refugees into neighboring Guinea or Liberia, the fighting is reported to have caused new internal displacement. Refugees from Sierra Leone are already the largest single group of refugees in Africa, numbering 440,000 persons, sheltered in Guinea (350,000) and in Liberia (90,000).
There is also growing concern about the security situation in Freetown, following a number of rebel incursions

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