ECOWAS moves to quell Tension between Liberia, Guinea

MONROVIA, Liberia
The chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, President Alpha Omar Konare of Mali, Tuesday commenced diplomatic shuttles from Liberia aimed at quelling growing tension among Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Tension brewed among the three neighbours when Guinean authorities Saturday declared Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees were supporting attacks on Guinean territory by armed dissidents.

That pronouncement sent Guinean security and civilians on a spree of violence, raiding, flogging and looting properties of thousands of Liberians and Sierra Leoneans in the Guinean capital, Conakry.

Within two weeks, Guinea had suffered three attacks by armed groups along its borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone that left some 80 persons dead and several homes destroyed.

Konare met President Charles Taylor in a closed-door session at the Roberts International Airport, 45 km east of Monrovia, before flying onto Conakry to continue the shuttle.

In a brief press statement, Konare expressed conviction that the Guinean and Liberian leaders would co- operate with ECOWAS to end the tension brewing in the sub- region.

He, however, did not say whether he would go to Sierra Leone as it seems the quarrel is more between Liberia and Guinea since that country claims that Taylor instructed the attacks from Liberia and Sierra Leonean territories.

Speaking to the press shortly after Konare's departure, Taylor said he had conveyed to Guinean President Lansana Conteh Liberia's position on acts of violence against its citizens, and reminded him of Guinea's duty under the Geneva Convention to protect foreign citizens and diplomats.

He added that Liberia was guided by that convention, and has therefore acted to ensure Guinean nationals were not violated. So Liberia believes "there should be reciprocity" in the protection of its citizens.

Taylor said he has also asked Konare to convey to Conteh his desire to make available an aircraft to bring its citizens home, but needed the Guinean government to stabilise the hostile environment to enhance the process.

Meanwhile, Guineans in Liberia have expressed fears of reprisal for acts of violence being meted out against Liberians and Sierra Leoneans in Conakry in recent days, the local press reports said.

The Guineans' fear may be attacks on their kinsmen in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, which also saw their businesses being looted by marauding youths.

But the Liberian government, in a statement, assured Guineans of "full protection," and has deployed troops at the Guinean embassy in Monrovia and in communities predominantly inhabited by Guineans.

But the government assurances may not have gone down well with the Guineans who, according to press reports, have begun scaling down their businesses as a preventive measure to reduce losses should anti-Guinean sentiments lead to raids on them.

A sizeable number of Guineans, particularly the Fulani, are engaged in a large scale business in Liberia, perhaps running an economic race with the Lebanese and Indians who are the mainstay of the current import-oriented Liberian economy.

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