Of the countries covered by the regional delegation, Benin and Ghana were stable in 1998, while the three others – Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Togo – experienced some form of instability or unrest.

Tensions in Côte d’Ivoire

With two years to go before the presidential elections scheduled for 2000, tension was already mounting in Côte d’Ivoire. The government took a number of steps, including measures strengthening the role of the army in maintaining law and order and giving the Head of State greater powers over the postponement or cancellation of the electoral process. The opposition responded by calling on the civilian population to take to the streets in protest. Meanwhile, the military presence was increased in western Côte d'Ivoire, which is traditionally the focal point for opposition to the government and where some 150,000 Liberians had taken refuge.

Guinea affected by Sierra Leone conflict

In 1998, Guinea was involved militarily on two fronts. In June, it sent several hundred troops to Guinea-Bissau to help the government deal with the mutineers, [9] and Guinean forces clashed on several occasions with Sierra Leone rebels along the border in Guinea Forestière. The country also experienced internal tensions linked to the presidential elections in December.

More than 250,000 refugees fleeing the violence in Sierra Leone [10] sought refuge in Guinea Forestière. Their presence put additional strain on the fragile regional economy, and the wounded among them placed heavy demands on the local
medical infrastructure. In addition, the clashes between the Guinean armed forces and Sierra Leonean rebels drove residents from their homes. These displaced people in turn put pressure on the local communities where they took refuge.

The ICRC provided medical assistance to hospitals treating injured and mutilated Sierra Leoneans and expanded its network of volunteers in refugee camps in order to offer Red Cross message services to refugees separated from their families. It also pursued its efforts to gain access to all detainees covered by its mandate in the country, including Guinean military personnel accused of involvement in the 1996 coup attempt and captured Sierra Leonean fighters. The ICRC’s offer of services with respect to these detainees, made in July, had not, however, received a positive response by the end of the year.

Unrest in Togo

In Togo, presidential elections went ahead in June amid allegations of serious irregularities. Opposition groups joined forces and delivered an ultimatum to the government. Occasional armed clashes took place and army desertions increased.

Traditional tasks

At the regional level, the delegation continued to carry out its traditional tasks, targeting a number of specific groups. These tasks involved promotion of humanitarian law, and in particular its incorporation in the training of the armed forces in every country of the region; spreading awareness of the activities of the ICRC and the Movement and of the Red Cross principles through the media; and encouraging the teaching of humanitarian law in business, law and journalism schools throughout the region. The delegation actively supported the work of the Interministerial Committee for implementation of international humanitarian law in Côte d'Ivoire and encouraged the authorities of Togo and Benin to set up similar national bodies. It also continued its cooperation programmes with the region’s National Societies, concentrating on promoting structural development, training staff and volunteers and supporting activities to spread knowledge of humanitarian law.

IN 1998, THE ICRC:

	– conducted a nutritional survey of detainees at the central prison in Abidjan, in cooperation with the Red Cross Society of Côte d'Ivoire and MSF,* and rehabilitated the kitchen facilities (water supply and stoves); – carried out 1 follow-up visit to Gagnoa prison in Côte d'Ivoire, visiting a total of 35 detainees and registering 16 detainees arrested in connection with the election boycott in 1995;
	– exchanged 4,268 Red Cross messages in Côte d'Ivoire and in Guinea, mainly on behalf of Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees;
	– distributed around 400 kg of medical supplies to the hospitals in Guéckédou and Kissidougou in Guinea, where most of the wounded Sierra Leonean refugees were treated;
	– strengthened the capacity of the National Societies to take action in emergency situations by supporting first-aid training and providing first-aid materials; – covered the costs of publication of regular National Society news-letters in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Ghana and Guinea, and paid the salaries of dissemination and emergency coordinators; – supported the Togolese Red Cross during demonstrations linked to the electoral process in Togo, evacuating some 50 wounded;
	– continued its efforts to promote greater understanding and acceptance of humanitarian law and of the ICRC among various target groups in the region, namely the civilian and military authorities, the police, the armed forces, various organizations, academic circles and the general public; – promoted the "So Why?" [11] awareness campaign in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana; – continued to provide most countries of the region with support in regard to the adoption of laws protecting the emblem and the revision of legislation to repress war crimes.

Notes

9. See  pp. 54-58.
10. See  pp. 46-47.
11.See pp. 340-341.

*MSF: Médecins sans frontières