People, Places and Events
NIGERIA
Soldier killed in market
A soldier died of gunshots in the Jos market during a scramble by soldiers and civilians to force down prices of essential commodities on Monday 2nd January, the public relations department of the Third Armoured Division said in Jos.A statement from the department said that the soldiers who took part in the scramble were off duty and acted without authority. He claimed that in a bid to contain the situation, some troops were deployed to the market and during the confusion, an officer had "an accidental discharge" which hit the soldier.
A regimental board of inquiry had been set up to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, armed soldiers have been drafted to main markets in the city to ensure law and order, the statement concluded.
No more passports
Renewal of old and issuance of new passports have been suspended indefinitely, following directives from the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs to all passport offices in the country on 5th January. A reliable source close to the passport office in Maiduguri told a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the message directed that issuance of passports should be suspended until further notice and those brought for renewal should be withheld. The source said that the message did not indicate the reason for the action but only stressed 'that the new order should be strictly complied with.On the run
According to the Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr Nuhu Aliyu Chief Adisa Akinloye had escaped to London. He told newsmen that the former NPN Chairman escaped through Shari town in the northern part of Oyo State on the border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. The Police Commissioner said that the police was reliably informed that Chief Akinloye left Nigeria on 31st December, soon after the military coup.Road checks for wanted men
Personnel of the military intelligence are out at strategic road junctions as search for former President Shehu Shagari's aides continues.Motorists plying the roads, particularly those leading into and out of Lagos, were stopped by armed soldiers. Military officers, apparently working with lists of the names of wanted men and their photographs, looked searchingly at the faces in each vehicle.
With military officers still on the roads, observers hinted that many brought. 'important' names in the new administration's wanted list were still at large.
Former military chiefs under arrest
According to National Concord former chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy and the Air-Force who voluntarily retired from service immediately after last Saturday's coup are under arrest.It said that they are being detained, along with former Governor Lateef Jakande of Lagos State in a military fortress in the Lagos metropolis, while a large number of key functionaries in former President Shagari's cabinet are being detained at Bonny Camp, Lagos Island.
Meanwhile a large number of firearms which were impounded from paramilitary policemen during the early hours of the Saturday coup were stockpiled at the Army Cantonment, Ikeja.
Judiciary pledges support
The chief Justice of Nigeria has stated that the judiciary supports the govern- ment of the day and dispenses justice according to any law which it enacts without any impartiality.Justice George Sodeinde Soweimimo, Chief Justice of the Federation said this at the swearing in ceremony of two newly appointed justices of the Federal Court of Appeal.
The two are Justice Bolarinwa Oyegoke Babalakin and Justice peace. Sylvester Umaru Onu of the Benue State High Court. They also promised to uphold the country's constitution as amended by the Federal Military government without fear or favour.
Politicians refuse food
The Concord newspaper has reported that some politicians held in custody at the assembly village since the coup refused to eat the food brought to them from the hotel in Calabar which is one of the Nigerian Hotels Limited group. They were said to have refused the food, suspecting it to be poisoned and insisted that they had to eat food cooked and brought to them by members of their families.Soldiers on guard at the village however, refused the detainees' friends or relatives from entering the village with food which some of them had
Those detained in the assembly village include ousted Governor Donald Etiebet's deputy, Mr Fedelis Nnang, Senators Victor Akan, Ime Ikpatt, Joseph Ansa, first and second speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Christopher Udomesiet and Chief Ndaeyo utta as well as members of the state House of Assembly.
Ex-governors Clement Isong and Donald Etiebet are being detained at the government guest house under heavy military guard and the former UPN state chairman, Chief U.U. Esuene who retired as an air force brigadier, was kept at the brigade guest house.
Submit passports
Kwara State police command has directed all public office holders from 1979 and those of 1983 to submit their passports without any further delay. A statement directed that those of them in possession of official/ diplomatic passports should as well submit them to the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO).Warning about martial law
The military authority in Oyo State says it will not hesitate to impose martial law in any area of the State where peace is threatened. In a statement in Ibadan, the military authority said it had received information that thugs of banned political parties were taking the law into their hands by attacking their opponents. It said that it has directed the army and the police to arrest any person disturbing publicPhase out Abuja project
The Nigerian Council for National Awareness has said that the Abuja project should be phased out to cover a period of 15 years in view of the current economic plight. In a statement on the military intervention the council also said that the petro-chemical industry and the LNG project must be given top priority. It called for the dissolution of parastatals and government companies especially the Nigerian National Supply Company stressing that rice should be sold for less than 30 naira per bag all over the country.Mugabe expresses surprise
The Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Mr. Robert Mugabe, in Harare said that Zimbabwe would respect the new military administration of General Muhammadu Buhari "if the change of government is the wish of Nigerians".Mr. Mugabe said that although he was surprised at the coup which toppled the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Zimbabwe had no intention of interfering in the affairs of Nigeria which he described as Zimbabwe's "big brother".
The Prime Minister, who was answering a question by the Harare correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at a news conference, said that his government was still watching developments in Nigeria.
"Though Zimbabwe was not in favour of coups, we would respect the right of Nigerians to change their government", he said.
In an editorial, the pro-government Herald newspaper has said that the coup that toppled the Shagari administration had been unexpected.
Naira appreciates
An appreciation in the black market value of the Naira has been reported in several West African Francophone states following the change of government in Nigeria.The Abidjan correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that illegal currency traffickers in the Ivory Coast got nervous about the New Year eve coup and were selling off large stocks of the Naira to 1,000 CFA Francs, as against seven Naira fifty kobo to 1,000 CFA Nigerian currency at the rate of five the pre-coup rate of seven Naira or Francs. The rate quoted by the Dakar-based West African Central Bank (BCEAO) as at 31st December 1983 was one Naira to 591 CFA Francs.
Declare assets
The Supreme Military Council (SMC) has in Lagos, directed all its members, members of the National Council of States and the Federal Executive Council to declare their assets within six weeks.A directive issued at the end of its maiden meeting also included all public officers.
Wanted politicians
Wednesday, 11th January was set as the deadline by the Supreme Military Council on which leaders of former opposition parties must report to the police.They include Chief Obafemi Awolowo the Unity Party leader and Chief Namdi Azikiwe leader of the People's Party.
Unlike some key political figures who are known to have fled the country, Chief Awolowo and Dr Azikiwe were believed to be in the country.
Five former officials have been declared wanted by the Federal Military government according to a press bulletin issued by the Force CID. They are Chief Adisa Akinloye the NPN Chairman Alhaji Umaru Dikko, former Minister of Transport and Aviation, former Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, Alhaji Isiyaku Ibrahim a businessman said to be a top financier of the NPN., Alhaju Bello Maitama Yusuf the former Minister of Commerce and Mr Ralph Obiora who headed the House of Representative Committee on Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS).
Review of Shagari's budget
The Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari has urged newly- appointed Military Governors to ensure that salary arrears of all category of staff in their States were cleared within the next four months. Speaking after the swearing-in of the Governors at Dodan barracks, Maj- Gen Buhari said that he would call for Atukum reports to confirm if the arrears had been paid at the end of the four-month period.He said that by the end of April, he would expect a report from each of the SOKOTO: Brigadier J. Duba Governors on the action taken to review the 1984 budget prepared by the ousted administrations, adding that the OGUN: Col. O. O. Diya reports should contain proposals on efficient management of more resources.
The Head of State told the Governors that in performing their duties they must see themselves as servants and not as masters of the people. He said that although the problems in the states were enormous, the situation would not be accepted as a valid reason for failure by any Military Governor to record visible results in the achievement of the priority objectives of the administration.
Maj-Gen Buhari told the Military Governors to regard their assignments as service posting and that they could be redeployed at any time depending on the exigency of the situation. He said that the Governors were answerable to the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, who is responsible for the co-ordination of state administrations.
New Governors
Two new state governors for Rivers and Anambra have been sworn in to complete the list of nineteen.The Anambra governor was absent during the swearing in of the first seventeen in Lagos on 8th January due to transport difficulties. The Rivers state governor however had to be replaced following press reports about his wife who had been the secretary of the ousted civilian governor who is now in detention.
The full list of the military governors is as follows:
ANAMBRA: Commodore Allison Madueke BAUCHI: Brigadier Soni Sanni BENDEL: Brigadier J. T. Useni CROSS RIVER: Navy Capt. Edet Akpan Archibong BENUE: Brigadier John Atom Kpera BORNO: Major-Gen. A. Waziri GONGOLA: Major-Gen. Mohammed Jega RIVERS: Ag Commissioner of Police Mr. B. Netume IMO: Brigadier Ike Nwachukwu PLATEAU: Navy Capt. Samuel Bitrus KADUNA: Air Commodore U. Muazu KANO: Air Commodore H. Abdullahj KWARA: Group Capt. B. Latinwo NIGER: Lt. Col David Mark OYO: Lt. Col Dayo Popoola ONDO: Commodore Michael Bamidele Otiko LAGOS: Group Capt. Mudashiru In another development, the Supreme Military Council pegged the number of ministries at the Federal level to 18 while those of the states are fixed to nine.
Warning against hoarding
The military government has warned that it would not tolerate hoarding of essential commodities. According to National Concord, just as the warning was being given, the home of a top police officer was cordoned-off by armed soldiers, following hints that the place was being used for hoarding of Presidential Task Force Rice.Armed soldiers, working on an instruction from the Army headquarters, found over 1,000 bags of rice when they entered into the premises.
Also hundreds of cartons of sugar were found in the premises.
Within minutes of arrival of soldiers thousands of people in the neighbour- hood gathered around cheering the soldiers.
Less than one hour after surrounding the premises, the soldiers started selling the rice at N30 a bag.
Seize all jets
The Supreme Military Council has been called upon to confiscate the jets and various bank accounts of all former federal ministers and notable politicians being operated in Nigeria and some overseas countries without any further delay.The call was made in Ibadan by the Secretary-General of the Oshun Solidarity Joint, Mr. Diran Fagboungbe, who praised the courage of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and his team for staging the 31st December coup which overthrew the "selfish and planless government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari".
Mr. Fagboungbe maintained that millions of naira siphoned into the foreign bank accounts are public funds stressing that if the new Federal Military Government can recover them promptly, "they will go a long way in assisting to revamp the nation's ailing economy".
Surrender passports
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State Alhaji Usman Adeyemi has ordered all former members of the House of Assembly to surrender their passports to the National Security Organisation, NSO.Addressing newsmen in his office in Abeokuta, Alhaji Adeyemi said that the measure was to ensure that none of them travelled out.
He said that the situation in the state had been relatively calm and that people were going about their normal businesses.
The commissioner said that he would summon all the divisional police officers to inform them to comply with all the military instructions in their areas of command.
Meeting with diplomats
The Federal Military Government is determined to institute urgent corrective measures to guarantee the security of Nigerians as well as foreigners in the country, the Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, has given the assurance.Addressing members of the diplomatic corps at State House, Marina, Maj-Gen Buhari said the Government would also ensure improvement in the quality of life through the prudent use of resources in the country. He said that the Government attached the greatest importance to relationships between Nigeria and all countries, adding, "we are determined to maintain and strengthen the link" to promote mutually-beneficial co-operation.
Maj-Gen Buhari assured the diplomats that Nigeria's bilateral and multilateral commitment to the international community would be honoured. He said that the privileges and immunities of the members of the Alhaji diplomatic corps did not insulate them from the escalating cost of living nor did it protect them from the general insecurity "whereby lives became unsafe day and night as a result of the glaring activities of armed robbers".
The Head of State said that those who plundered the national treasury were the least able to check other lesser miscreants "their so-called ethical revolution programme notwithstanding".
He said that the economic mess, the corruption and the unacceptable level of unemployment could not be excused on the ground that Nigeria was a practising democracy. Democracy at that price, he said, was not in the interest of the people nor would it be acceptable anywhere.
He said that the intervention of armed forces therefore was to arrest the imminent catastrophe which would have been the inevitable result of the course being charted by the politicians.
Replying, the dean of the diplomatic corps, El-Haj Yerima Lamine, expressed gratitude to the Head of State for the meeting, El-Haj Lamine who is also the Cameroonian Ambassador to Nigeria, promised that members of the corps would relate the briefing they had received to their various countries without delay. He said that members of the corps appreciated the good intention of the Federal Military Government to continue the mutual relationship with other countries.
Maj-Gen Buhari told the diplomats to be objective in reporting the situation in Nigeria to their various countries. This, he said, would enable their countries to form the right judgement of the development of the last few days.
According to Lagos radio, General Buhari met with members of the diplomatic corps and took them into confidence over the status quo. He asked the diplomats to report the true situation to their own governments. He was not begging the issue though, because he made it known with military exactitude that although his administration wished to remain on friendly terms with foreign nations it will not condone any overtures and interference in its domestic affairs.
Alhaji Shagari under military protection
The ousted civilian president, Shehu Shagari, is in Lagos under military protection, hale and safe, the head of state Major-General Mohammedu Buhari has announced. Answering reporters' questions at a press conference in Lagos, Major General Buhari said that certain media reports that Alhaji Shagari was brought to Lagos in handcuffs were untrue.He said that the Federal Military Government intended to hold the leadership of the previous administration until some of the worst cases of mismanagement were cleared.
He declared: "We will look for those we have got something incriminating against". Adding that his administration would explore all avenues, including the use of diplomatic channels, to recover the ill-gotten gains from those who might flee the country.
GHANA
Worst is over
Professor Mawuse Dake, Secretary to the National Defence Committee (NDC), has declared that the worst period for Ghana is over because the PNDC has laid a strong foundation for the country's recovery.What is left is a show of penitence by the people coupled with hard work, honesty and loyalty to the cause of the revolution.
Prof Dake was addressing the 19th Christmas rally of the Ghana Blue Army of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a Christian Movement of devotees of the Virgin Mary at Kpando.
He said the first two years of the revolution had been devoted to the clearing of the debris of destruction caused by past maladministration and the laying of solid foundation for a sound country.
Prof Dake said "I am convinced that the worst period for Ghana is over and Ghanaians must pray for good rains during the coming year and work hard to build on the foundation laid".
He, however, warned that this encouraging process could be jeopardised and delayed if, like the Israelites under Moses, Ghanaians showed disloyalty and defiance to leadership.
Specific Import Licences
The government has decided to extend the expiry dates of Specific Import Licences (SIL) issued under the 1983 import programme to 31st March 1983.According to a statement issued in Accra by the Ministry of Trade, the extension covered import licences for which no letters of credit would have been established by the end of December 1983 and import licences in respect of which letters of credit might have been established fully or partially but against goods which could not be shipped on or before 31st December 1983.
The statement stated that the extension did not cover 1982 import licences whose expiring dates had previously been extended to 31st December 1983.
Those licences if still unutilized, should be forwarded to the Ministry of Trade for reconsideration.
1984 - year of action
The Deputy Volta Regional Secretary, Col. A. K. Amable, has said that 1984 would be a year of action to stabilize the national programme for the advancement of the aims of the revolution.He said that under the programme, idleness, laziness, apathy, individualism, dishonesty, smuggling and currency trafficking would not be allowed.
Vigilance needed
The Commander of the Aflao Border Guards, Captain S. A. Ashiagbor, has called on Security men along the borders not to give in to the activities of the detractors of the revolution.He asked them to be extra vigilant in the performance of their duties in order to maintain the trust and confidence reposed in them by the people and the government.
Captain Ashiagbor was speaking at an end-of-year party organised by the People's Border Guards at Aflao.
AFRC convict returns
The office of the Co-ordinator of Investigations, Vetting and Tribunals, has announced that the former Managing Director of the Ghana National Trading Corporation (GNTC), Mr Francis Akwasi Kuma, who was sentenced in absentia by the erstwhile AFRC, has arrived in the country to make a petition following the government's recent offer to review the cases of AFRC convicts.The co-ordinator of Investigations, Vetting and Tribunals Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, said Mr Akwasi Kuma was whole of 1982. granted bail in his own recognisance to report back on 8th January 1984.
According to the co-ordinator, other AFRC convicts who have applied to take advantage of the PNDC's offer include Mr E. A. Kissi, former managing director of GOIL, and Ex Captain Okine Kwei who has petitioned on his own behalf and on behalf of three other persons who were involved in the jail break during the Limann Administration. They are claiming that they were duly tried and acquitted by the ARFC,
P.N.P. chairman returns home
The former Upper Regional chairman of the defunct People's National Party (PNP), Alhaji Mahamadu Sidiki Gentleman, who fled into exile in Upper Volta on the advent of the 31st December Revolution has returned home.Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Wa, Alhaji Gentle man said he left the country for fear of being brutalised or incriminated by his enemies and soldiers.
He praised the PNDC for its reconciliation policy and said conditions in Ghana are better than in most West African countries in which he sojourned during his two years of self-imposed exile.
He has reported to the Wa Police and has been granted bail to report at the station daily pending directives from Accra.
Former MP back home
Mr William Kwesi Asamoah Tannor, former Member of Parliament for Aowin Amenfi Constituency, who also went into exile for two years has returned to Ghana.In a letter addressed to the National Investigations Committee (NIC) released to the press, Mr Tannor stated that he fled the country because of fear of being frammed up by some enemies.
Mr Tannor who said he was a teacher by profession pointed out that he had taken advantage of the magnanimity extended to those in exile by the Chairman of the PNDC, Fit-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, to come back to help rebuild the nation.
More accidents than 1982
The number of motor accidents recorded by the police as at November last year was higher than that of the The National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) recorded 9,917 accidents which claimed 739 lives and 8,714 injured.Two years ago, however, 1,000 lives were lost and 8,988 injured cases recorded in a total of 9,828 accidents which occurred that year.
Teachers refused entry
About 200 dismissed Ghanaian teachers in Nigeria were refused entry into Ghana when they arrived at Wudome through unapproved routes on the Ghana-Togo border at the week-end.They have however, been advised to enter the country through the Aflao border post and go through the normal customs formalities.
Staff Sergeant Francis Adzokey in charge of the Wudome border post who disclosed this to the 'Graphic' said his unit has been instructed not to allow any returnee to use unapproved routes for their homeward journey while the Aflao border is open for normal duties.
He said his colleagues have been reminded of the revolutionary punishment that awaits them if they break the laws of the country by aiding returnees to enter the country without going through the necessary customs formalities.
Makeba's advice to Ghanaians
Black South African Singer Miriam Makeba has stated that no matter what the problems of Ghana, it would continue to be the guiding light of African emancipation. Miriam Makeba made this observation in Accra where she was to join in the celebration of the second anniversary of PNDC rule.She recalled that in 1957 when Ghana gained her independence, black South Africa was so happy that most of the people took to the streets, dancing because even at the early stage Ghana represented Africa's 'light of dawn'.
Miriam said ups and downs were all part of the development process in a growing country. What could be done in such times of difficulties was to try and live with the problems, understand them and eventually rise above them, she advised.
Qadhafi greets Ghana
The Libyan Leader, Col. Muammar Qadhafi, has sent a message of congratulations and best wishes to Flt Lt. Jerry Rawlings and the people of Ghana on the second anniversary of the 31st December Revolution.In the message the Libyan Leader referred to last year as a dangerous year in which imperialist and Zionist forces carried out manoeuvres against the stability of the countries of the Third World. But Col. Qadhafi was confident of the success of the Ghanaian Revolution and the achievement of its objectives in the coming years.
Power targets achieved
A reduction in electricity consumption of about 30% has been achieved as a result of planned power cuts. The chief executive of the Volta River Authority, Mr Casely-Hayford, said that the target was 45%. Speaking at a meeting with manufacturers and the Electricity Corporation, he called to discuss how manufacturers could help in the conservation of power, he announced that efforts would be made within the next few weeks to reach the target.SENEGAL
Mercenaries arrested
Seventeen mercenaries and three recruiting sergeants have been arrested at Kolda, in the southern Casamance region of Senegal.The arrested men are alleged to have been recruited to mount operations intended to destabilize the regime of President Sekou Toure in neighbouring Guinea.
The arrested men have been taken to Dakar. Fifteen of the mercenaries are from Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony which adjoins Guinea to the west, two are from Senegal and the recruiting sergeants from Guinea.
Meeting on border dispute
A report on radio Lisbon said the Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau, Vitor Saude Maria was in Senegal with a message from President Joao Bernardo Vieira to his Senegalese counterpart. The subject of the message was not disclosed but it was thought to be connected with the deadlocked border problem between the two countries.The Guinea Bissau delegation was composed of the members of the National Borders Commission; the Minister of Internal Administration, Civil Service and Labour, Joao Cruz Pinto; Lt Commander Feliciano Gomes; the Minister for Information and Culture, Alexandre Nunes Correia; and the director general of the Petrominas company, Pio Correia.
Meanwhile, President Vieira of Guinea Bissau has chaired an emergency cabinet meeting to consider the situation on the border with Senegal. This follows the discovery by the Bissau authorities of foreign off-shore oil prospecting platforms in waters under dispute between the two countries.
UPPER VOLTA
Reasons for agricultural problems
The Minister of Rural Development Seydou Traore has attributed the country's current agricultural problems to late arrival of the rains which inevitably delays sowing.In a press interview the Minister noted that the harvesting season also ended early at a time when the crops were not yet ripe. Moreover, the poor rainfall in the interior also led to a considerable cereal shortage, estimated at 120,000 tonnes which he pointed out must be found outside Upper Volta.
The Minister, however, promptly added that if the problem ended there, there would be less difficulties. He said it was a general problem that also affects the neighbouring countries.
TOGO
Message from Senegal
Lome radio has reported that the Togolese President has received a message from President Abdou Diouf through Senegal's Armed Forces Minister, Medoune Fall. Asked about recent security problems in his country the Minister pointed out that Senegal had a political system unique in Africa. There were 15 well-known political parties, of which eight were Marxist Lenist and four of those were Trotskyite parties.Added to this there were several ethnic groupings. The 80,000 people of Casamance region considered that they were special with the right to single themselves out from Senegal's total population of 6,000,000. So it was a problem of national unity on which the President was very firm. In any case, the Casamance problem had been very much inflated, particularly by the international press, he concluded.
IVORY COAST
Budget submitted
An Abidjan radio report has said that in the 1984 national budget, recurrent expenditure would amount to 426,850 million CFA francs while the special investment and equipment budget would be 241,949 million CFA francs.The budget was presented to the finance committee by the Finance Minister, Abdoulaye Kone.
Power cuts
Mr Konan Lambert, director general of the Ivory Coast Electric Power Company (EECI) which has a monopoly of power supply has called a news conference to explain the reasons for the recent power cuts in the country. He said that the hydroelectric dams on which the Ivory Coast counted are no longer operative and some of them have even been closed down. In order to remedy this situation, the EECI intends to buy gas turbines.The EECI director general also announced the publication of a planned power-cut distribution programme in order to allow consumers to make the necessary arrangements. The major outlines for the city of Abidjan are that in the industrial areas - Vridi, Yopougon, Koumassi - there will be a total power cut from 1800 to 2300.
The commercial and office areas Plateau, Zone 4 and the port, the administrative towers will experience total power cuts from 1900 to 0700 the following morning. During the week, power cuts will rotate among the different areas from 2300 to 0500 in the morning.
In the residential areas Port Bouet, Koumassi, Treichville, Cocody, Adjame, Yopougon, Riviera and Abobo - during the week power cuts will rotate among the areas from 2300 to 0500 in the morning. There will also be total power cuts in these areas from 0800 to 1200 and from 1500 to 1800. On Saturdays, power cuts will rotate from midnight to 0500 and total cuts will be from 0800 to 1200. Finally, on Sundays and holidays power cuts will rotate from 0200 to 0700.
GUINEA
Visit by Armed Forces Minister
Conakry has reported a visit to the Guinean capital on 6th January of Medoune Fall, the Senegalese Minister of Armed Forces. The Minister, who brought a message from President Abdou Diouf, the Senegalese head of state, was met on arrival by General Lansana Diane, member of the National Political Bureau and Ministerof the People's Army; Diawa Balde, member of the National Political Bureau and Minister of Domestic Trade; Gen. Soya Conde, Chief of Combined General Army Staff; and Mamadou Traore, deputy head of state protocol.
O.A.U.
OAU Chairman calls for aid
OAU Chairman, Col Mengistu Haile Mariam, has called on all OAU member states to help the People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea overcome the disaster to lives and property caused by the recent earthquake. Col Mengistu made the call in a message to member states in which he stressed his realization of the impor- ance of medical and food aid and called on member states to give more attention to that. He also called on the President of Guinea to alert member states to the disaster. Many villages were reduced to rubble by the earthquakeOAU meeting on Chad
Addis Ababa radio has reported that the leader of the Transitional Government of National Unity of Chad, Goukouni Oueddei, had arrived in the Ethiopian capital and had been welcomed by the OAU Chairman and Ethiopian Head of State, Haile Mengistu Mariam. On 9th January the radio reported that the Chad Minister of the Interior, Tahar Guinassou, had arrived in Addis Ababa the previous night and had been welcomed by the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Goshu Wolde. AFP had reported on 8th January that President Hissein Habre would not be participating in the coming meeting because of the welcome accorded to Goukouni Oueddei.Drastic budget cut
The toll of the country's internal strife on the economy is reflected in a drastically reduced budget presented for the year.According to the Zaire news agency, the Chad budget for 1984 amounted to 12,800 million CFA francs, about a third of the 1983 figure of 36,000 million. The Chad government has therefore called on all civilians to contribute to the reconstruction effort.
Membership granted
Madrid radio has reported that Equatorial Guinea has joined the Central African Economic and Customs Union (UDEAC) becoming the fifth member. Membership had been granted to the country at the union's 19th summit in Bangui.Chad accuses Libya
Chadian Foreign Minister, Idriss Miskine, has accused "Libya and maybe even the Soviet Union" of pressuring Ethiopian leader Mengistu Haile Mariam to torpedo the coming Organization of African Unity (OAU) meeting aimed at resolving the Chadian conflict.Mr Miskine said that "enormous concentrations of Libyan troops and Chadian rebels were active around Iriba in the north east of the country near the Sudanese border and that Tripoli was "preparing a major blow to demonstrate its existence to its proteges" before the OAU conference.
