Introduction
Introduction In addition to its specific activities in Mali and the Casamance region of Senegal, the regional delegation continued its cooperation with the National Societies of the region, conducting dissemination sessions for various target groups, encouraging instruction in humanitarian law, and on a practical level, helping to fight epidemics of cholera, promote public health and give first-aid training to local volunteers. Cape Verde Following an ICRC mission to Cape Verde, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deposited the instruments of accession to Additional Protocols I and II with the Swiss government on 16 March 1995. The government of Cape Verde also made a declaration recognizing the competence of the International Fact-Finding Commission. Gambia A new attempted counter-coup on 27January resulted in the imprisonment of a number of people accused of being involved, including the Vice-President and the Minister of the Interior. The ICRC visited 24 individuals arrested in this connection and a further 80 security detainees held at Mile 2 prison and in hospitals and barracks for reasons related to events in 1994. Guinea Bissau The regional delegate went on mission to Guinea-Bissau in mid-September in order to establish contact with the government and the National Society, particularly with the aim of reactivating the latter and enhancing its management structure. A confidential report concerning the ICRC's visit to 14 security detainees in December 1994 was presented to the relevant authorities in February 1995. Mali The violence among Tuareg and Arab rebel movements, which had widely affected the civilian population throughout 1994, abated in 1995 and the tension eased thanks to reconciliation efforts instigated by the affected communities. However, peace remained tenuous. On 8 March the ICRC reopened an office in Bamako with a permanent expatriate on staff, so that it could follow events in the north of the country more closely and monitor developments in Niger and Burkina Faso. It also set up an office in Timbuktu and this increased presence enabled the ICRC to establish contacts with the government and rebel movements, organize public health and clean-up campaigns in Timbuktu, give material assistance to health services to help fight cholera epidemics and conduct dissemination sessions for a variety of target groups. In May, 13 security detainees were visited in Bamako in accordance with the ICRC's standard procedures. The institution acted as a neutral intermediary in the release of one detainee held by one of the rebel movements. In July, the delegate based in Bamako visited the population in areas most affected by food shortages and lack of sanitation and shelter. The ICRC informed the authorities and other humanitarian organizations of the gravity of the situation and requested them to take action. In August, the ICRC carried out seed distributions and improved water supply systems, assisting over 10,000 beneficiaries. Dissemination sessions were held in Gao for members of the National Society's regional committee, first-aid workers, armed forces of the Gao military zone and members of the commission set up to follow the implementation of the national peace agreement of April1992. Niger The Niger government and the Tuareg rebellion movement signed a peace agreement on 24 April, which should have brought an end to four years of fighting and provided, among other things, for a general amnesty, the integration of rebels into the army and emergency assistance for the Tuareg community in the north. The last two provisions of the accord were not implemented, however, as a rift developed in May between the President and the Prime Minister, causing political turmoil in parliament. Also, new troubles were reported between the Toubous and the local population in the eastern region of Diffa. The delegate based in Bamako carried out missions to Niamey in May and again in August, meeting a number of government and rebel representatives. Dialogue was initiated with the Arab militia of Niger with a view to obtaining access to any detainees they might be holding. Senegal In late May, the ICRC cooperated with the Senegalese Red Cross Society in providing assistance for more than 2,800 people displaced as a result of fighting between the Senegalese army and rebels from the MFDC* in the border region with Guinea-Bissau. Fighting resumed in Casamance in January and several missions were carried out to assess the situation of the thousands of displaced people there. Over 130 individuals were arrested as a result of the disturbances. The ICRC made repeated efforts to obtain access to detainees and the authorities declared that they were open to ICRC visits in principle. At year's end discussions were still under way regarding access to detainees from Casamance. * MFDC: Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance
Cape Verde Following an ICRC mission to Cape Verde, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deposited the instruments of accession to Additional Protocols I and II with the Swiss government on 16 March 1995. The government of Cape Verde also made a declaration recognizing the competence of the International Fact-Finding Commission. Gambia A new attempted counter-coup on 27January resulted in the imprisonment of a number of people accused of being involved, including the Vice-President and the Minister of the Interior. The ICRC visited 24 individuals arrested in this connection and a further 80 security detainees held at Mile 2 prison and in hospitals and barracks for reasons related to events in 1994. Guinea Bissau The regional delegate went on mission to Guinea-Bissau in mid-September in order to establish contact with the government and the National Society, particularly with the aim of reactivating the latter and enhancing its management structure. A confidential report concerning the ICRC's visit to 14 security detainees in December 1994 was presented to the relevant authorities in February 1995. Mali The violence among Tuareg and Arab rebel movements, which had widely affected the civilian population throughout 1994, abated in 1995 and the tension eased thanks to reconciliation efforts instigated by the affected communities. However, peace remained tenuous. On 8 March the ICRC reopened an office in Bamako with a permanent expatriate on staff, so that it could follow events in the north of the country more closely and monitor developments in Niger and Burkina Faso. It also set up an office in Timbuktu and this increased presence enabled the ICRC to establish contacts with the government and rebel movements, organize public health and clean-up campaigns in Timbuktu, give material assistance to health services to help fight cholera epidemics and conduct dissemination sessions for a variety of target groups. In May, 13 security detainees were visited in Bamako in accordance with the ICRC's standard procedures. The institution acted as a neutral intermediary in the release of one detainee held by one of the rebel movements. In July, the delegate based in Bamako visited the population in areas most affected by food shortages and lack of sanitation and shelter. The ICRC informed the authorities and other humanitarian organizations of the gravity of the situation and requested them to take action. In August, the ICRC carried out seed distributions and improved water supply systems, assisting over 10,000 beneficiaries. Dissemination sessions were held in Gao for members of the National Society's regional committee, first-aid workers, armed forces of the Gao military zone and members of the commission set up to follow the implementation of the national peace agreement of April1992. Niger The Niger government and the Tuareg rebellion movement signed a peace agreement on 24 April, which should have brought an end to four years of fighting and provided, among other things, for a general amnesty, the integration of rebels into the army and emergency assistance for the Tuareg community in the north. The last two provisions of the accord were not implemented, however, as a rift developed in May between the President and the Prime Minister, causing political turmoil in parliament. Also, new troubles were reported between the Toubous and the local population in the eastern region of Diffa. The delegate based in Bamako carried out missions to Niamey in May and again in August, meeting a number of government and rebel representatives. Dialogue was initiated with the Arab militia of Niger with a view to obtaining access to any detainees they might be holding. Senegal In late May, the ICRC cooperated with the Senegalese Red Cross Society in providing assistance for more than 2,800 people displaced as a result of fighting between the Senegalese army and rebels from the MFDC* in the border region with Guinea-Bissau. Fighting resumed in Casamance in January and several missions were carried out to assess the situation of the thousands of displaced people there. Over 130 individuals were arrested as a result of the disturbances. The ICRC made repeated efforts to obtain access to detainees and the authorities declared that they were open to ICRC visits in principle. At year's end discussions were still under way regarding access to detainees from Casamance. * MFDC: Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance
Gambia A new attempted counter-coup on 27January resulted in the imprisonment of a number of people accused of being involved, including the Vice-President and the Minister of the Interior. The ICRC visited 24 individuals arrested in this connection and a further 80 security detainees held at Mile 2 prison and in hospitals and barracks for reasons related to events in 1994. Guinea Bissau The regional delegate went on mission to Guinea-Bissau in mid-September in order to establish contact with the government and the National Society, particularly with the aim of reactivating the latter and enhancing its management structure. A confidential report concerning the ICRC's visit to 14 security detainees in December 1994 was presented to the relevant authorities in February 1995. Mali The violence among Tuareg and Arab rebel movements, which had widely affected the civilian population throughout 1994, abated in 1995 and the tension eased thanks to reconciliation efforts instigated by the affected communities. However, peace remained tenuous. On 8 March the ICRC reopened an office in Bamako with a permanent expatriate on staff, so that it could follow events in the north of the country more closely and monitor developments in Niger and Burkina Faso. It also set up an office in Timbuktu and this increased presence enabled the ICRC to establish contacts with the government and rebel movements, organize public health and clean-up campaigns in Timbuktu, give material assistance to health services to help fight cholera epidemics and conduct dissemination sessions for a variety of target groups. In May, 13 security detainees were visited in Bamako in accordance with the ICRC's standard procedures. The institution acted as a neutral intermediary in the release of one detainee held by one of the rebel movements. In July, the delegate based in Bamako visited the population in areas most affected by food shortages and lack of sanitation and shelter. The ICRC informed the authorities and other humanitarian organizations of the gravity of the situation and requested them to take action. In August, the ICRC carried out seed distributions and improved water supply systems, assisting over 10,000 beneficiaries. Dissemination sessions were held in Gao for members of the National Society's regional committee, first-aid workers, armed forces of the Gao military zone and members of the commission set up to follow the implementation of the national peace agreement of April1992. Niger The Niger government and the Tuareg rebellion movement signed a peace agreement on 24 April, which should have brought an end to four years of fighting and provided, among other things, for a general amnesty, the integration of rebels into the army and emergency assistance for the Tuareg community in the north. The last two provisions of the accord were not implemented, however, as a rift developed in May between the President and the Prime Minister, causing political turmoil in parliament. Also, new troubles were reported between the Toubous and the local population in the eastern region of Diffa. The delegate based in Bamako carried out missions to Niamey in May and again in August, meeting a number of government and rebel representatives. Dialogue was initiated with the Arab militia of Niger with a view to obtaining access to any detainees they might be holding. Senegal In late May, the ICRC cooperated with the Senegalese Red Cross Society in providing assistance for more than 2,800 people displaced as a result of fighting between the Senegalese army and rebels from the MFDC* in the border region with Guinea-Bissau. Fighting resumed in Casamance in January and several missions were carried out to assess the situation of the thousands of displaced people there. Over 130 individuals were arrested as a result of the disturbances. The ICRC made repeated efforts to obtain access to detainees and the authorities declared that they were open to ICRC visits in principle. At year's end discussions were still under way regarding access to detainees from Casamance. * MFDC: Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance
Guinea Bissau The regional delegate went on mission to Guinea-Bissau in mid-September in order to establish contact with the government and the National Society, particularly with the aim of reactivating the latter and enhancing its management structure. A confidential report concerning the ICRC's visit to 14 security detainees in December 1994 was presented to the relevant authorities in February 1995. Mali The violence among Tuareg and Arab rebel movements, which had widely affected the civilian population throughout 1994, abated in 1995 and the tension eased thanks to reconciliation efforts instigated by the affected communities. However, peace remained tenuous. On 8 March the ICRC reopened an office in Bamako with a permanent expatriate on staff, so that it could follow events in the north of the country more closely and monitor developments in Niger and Burkina Faso. It also set up an office in Timbuktu and this increased presence enabled the ICRC to establish contacts with the government and rebel movements, organize public health and clean-up campaigns in Timbuktu, give material assistance to health services to help fight cholera epidemics and conduct dissemination sessions for a variety of target groups. In May, 13 security detainees were visited in Bamako in accordance with the ICRC's standard procedures. The institution acted as a neutral intermediary in the release of one detainee held by one of the rebel movements. In July, the delegate based in Bamako visited the population in areas most affected by food shortages and lack of sanitation and shelter. The ICRC informed the authorities and other humanitarian organizations of the gravity of the situation and requested them to take action. In August, the ICRC carried out seed distributions and improved water supply systems, assisting over 10,000 beneficiaries. Dissemination sessions were held in Gao for members of the National Society's regional committee, first-aid workers, armed forces of the Gao military zone and members of the commission set up to follow the implementation of the national peace agreement of April1992. Niger The Niger government and the Tuareg rebellion movement signed a peace agreement on 24 April, which should have brought an end to four years of fighting and provided, among other things, for a general amnesty, the integration of rebels into the army and emergency assistance for the Tuareg community in the north. The last two provisions of the accord were not implemented, however, as a rift developed in May between the President and the Prime Minister, causing political turmoil in parliament. Also, new troubles were reported between the Toubous and the local population in the eastern region of Diffa. The delegate based in Bamako carried out missions to Niamey in May and again in August, meeting a number of government and rebel representatives. Dialogue was initiated with the Arab militia of Niger with a view to obtaining access to any detainees they might be holding. Senegal In late May, the ICRC cooperated with the Senegalese Red Cross Society in providing assistance for more than 2,800 people displaced as a result of fighting between the Senegalese army and rebels from the MFDC* in the border region with Guinea-Bissau. Fighting resumed in Casamance in January and several missions were carried out to assess the situation of the thousands of displaced people there. Over 130 individuals were arrested as a result of the disturbances. The ICRC made repeated efforts to obtain access to detainees and the authorities declared that they were open to ICRC visits in principle. At year's end discussions were still under way regarding access to detainees from Casamance. * MFDC: Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance
Mali The violence among Tuareg and Arab rebel movements, which had widely affected the civilian population throughout 1994, abated in 1995 and the tension eased thanks to reconciliation efforts instigated by the affected communities. However, peace remained tenuous. On 8 March the ICRC reopened an office in Bamako with a permanent expatriate on staff, so that it could follow events in the north of the country more closely and monitor developments in Niger and Burkina Faso. It also set up an office in Timbuktu and this increased presence enabled the ICRC to establish contacts with the government and rebel movements, organize public health and clean-up campaigns in Timbuktu, give material assistance to health services to help fight cholera epidemics and conduct dissemination sessions for a variety of target groups. In May, 13 security detainees were visited in Bamako in accordance with the ICRC's standard procedures. The institution acted as a neutral intermediary in the release of one detainee held by one of the rebel movements. In July, the delegate based in Bamako visited the population in areas most affected by food shortages and lack of sanitation and shelter. The ICRC informed the authorities and other humanitarian organizations of the gravity of the situation and requested them to take action. In August, the ICRC carried out seed distributions and improved water supply systems, assisting over 10,000 beneficiaries. Dissemination sessions were held in Gao for members of the National Society's regional committee, first-aid workers, armed forces of the Gao military zone and members of the commission set up to follow the implementation of the national peace agreement of April1992. Niger The Niger government and the Tuareg rebellion movement signed a peace agreement on 24 April, which should have brought an end to four years of fighting and provided, among other things, for a general amnesty, the integration of rebels into the army and emergency assistance for the Tuareg community in the north. The last two provisions of the accord were not implemented, however, as a rift developed in May between the President and the Prime Minister, causing political turmoil in parliament. Also, new troubles were reported between the Toubous and the local population in the eastern region of Diffa. The delegate based in Bamako carried out missions to Niamey in May and again in August, meeting a number of government and rebel representatives. Dialogue was initiated with the Arab militia of Niger with a view to obtaining access to any detainees they might be holding. Senegal In late May, the ICRC cooperated with the Senegalese Red Cross Society in providing assistance for more than 2,800 people displaced as a result of fighting between the Senegalese army and rebels from the MFDC* in the border region with Guinea-Bissau. Fighting resumed in Casamance in January and several missions were carried out to assess the situation of the thousands of displaced people there. Over 130 individuals were arrested as a result of the disturbances. The ICRC made repeated efforts to obtain access to detainees and the authorities declared that they were open to ICRC visits in principle. At year's end discussions were still under way regarding access to detainees from Casamance. * MFDC: Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance
Niger The Niger government and the Tuareg rebellion movement signed a peace agreement on 24 April, which should have brought an end to four years of fighting and provided, among other things, for a general amnesty, the integration of rebels into the army and emergency assistance for the Tuareg community in the north. The last two provisions of the accord were not implemented, however, as a rift developed in May between the President and the Prime Minister, causing political turmoil in parliament. Also, new troubles were reported between the Toubous and the local population in the eastern region of Diffa. The delegate based in Bamako carried out missions to Niamey in May and again in August, meeting a number of government and rebel representatives. Dialogue was initiated with the Arab militia of Niger with a view to obtaining access to any detainees they might be holding. Senegal In late May, the ICRC cooperated with the Senegalese Red Cross Society in providing assistance for more than 2,800 people displaced as a result of fighting between the Senegalese army and rebels from the MFDC* in the border region with Guinea-Bissau. Fighting resumed in Casamance in January and several missions were carried out to assess the situation of the thousands of displaced people there. Over 130 individuals were arrested as a result of the disturbances. The ICRC made repeated efforts to obtain access to detainees and the authorities declared that they were open to ICRC visits in principle. At year's end discussions were still under way regarding access to detainees from Casamance. * MFDC: Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance
Senegal In late May, the ICRC cooperated with the Senegalese Red Cross Society in providing assistance for more than 2,800 people displaced as a result of fighting between the Senegalese army and rebels from the MFDC* in the border region with Guinea-Bissau. Fighting resumed in Casamance in January and several missions were carried out to assess the situation of the thousands of displaced people there. Over 130 individuals were arrested as a result of the disturbances. The ICRC made repeated efforts to obtain access to detainees and the authorities declared that they were open to ICRC visits in principle. At year's end discussions were still under way regarding access to detainees from Casamance. * MFDC: Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance
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