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| Africa: West |
| Military coup in Sao Tome |
| 2003-07-16 |
| Efforts are under way to hold talks with the leaders of the coup which toppled the government of the West African island state of Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday. It’s two small islands way off the coast I never heard of before. Has a multiparty democracy with elected government and freedom of the press. 160,000 people, major religion is christianity. Rebel army officers in the tiny former Portuguese colony seized the prime minister and other cabinet members in the dawn coup which appears to have been largely bloodless. For Africa that means under 100 dead. Gunshots and exploding rockets and grenades were heard around 0300 GMT and sporadic firing continued throughout the morning but there are no indications of casualties. The Portuguese ambassador is due to meet the coup leaders later on Wednesday to discuss their grievances and Sao Tome’s foreign minister, speaking from Lisbon, said his government wished to open a dialogue. Portugal is calling for condemnation of the coup by its other ex-colonies and Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano has already appealed for a speedy return to "constitutional order". You might ask "Why would anyone want this shitty island?" Sao Tome and Principe, one of the world’s poorest states, has offshore oilfields which are due to begin producing within the next four years. Bingo, it’s all about the cash, er, oil. Alex Vines from the Royal Institute for International Affairs told BBC World that he suspects that control of the oil money is behind the coup. Me too. Last year, the United States was considering increasing military co-operation with the Sao Tome Government amid reports that the US was trying to buy more West African oil. The press will try to involve the US somehow. The rebels appear to have exploited the absence of President Fradique de Menezes who is reported to be on a private visit to Nigeria. Page 24 of "African Coups for Dummies". The rebels took control of government buildings, state TV and radio, the central bank and the airport. Page 27. Their leader, named by the Portuguese news agency Lusa as Major Fernando "Cobo" Pereira, made a speech on national radio ordering all members of the government and parliament to report to police stations. Page 30. Political analyst Antonio Agiar in Sao Tome told the BBC’s Network Africa programme that the capital was pretty calm by around 0700 GMT and the sound of shooting had stopped. "There are people on the streets but less than usual," he said. The Portuguese ambassador in Sao Tome, Mario de Jesus Santos, said there had been only sporadic shooting and that he was unaware of any "physical confrontations". Mr Santos was due to begin talks with the coup-leaders around midday, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz said in Lisbon. His Sao Tome counterpart, Mateus Meira Rita, said his government also wanted to engage in talks aimed at the "immediate restoration of constitutional order". Mr Meira Rita said the coup had been led by a unit of soldiers who had received training in South Africa. Page 14. The Portuguese news agency Lusa reports that Lisbon is set to urge condemnation of the coup at a meeting of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). A Portuguese "official source" told the agency that an emergency meeting of the CPLP had been convened to discuss the "unacceptable violation of a democratic regime". Along with Prime Minister Maria das Neves, National Assembly President Dionisio Dias, Defence Minister Fernando Daqua and Natural Resources Minister Rafael Branco were also seized. Mr Branco is considered a key member of the government as he handles the oil portfolio. Nobody would have noticed if it hadn’t been for the oil. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 It's all about O...I....L... according to some posters on the Independent newspaper's forum. As as American, I can feel the love there. And that's why they don't want us in Liberia. Because the grim reaper just takes and takes and takes. I then suggested that we don't need to go to Africa, all we need to do is make Alberta an offer it can't refuse.... |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-7-16 12:00:14 PM |
| #3 This just in: Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, the head of the African Union, on Wednesday condemned the military coup in the west African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe. "The government of Mozambique and the African Union condemn the coup and we demand the constitutional order be restored as soon as possible." "The AU does not recognise any government taking power through a coup or undemocratic means." Then his lips fell off. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-7-16 11:42:51 AM |
| #2 |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-7-16 11:28:50 AM |
| #1 Just another coup by African dregs trying to scam some cash for their own. It's only happened in oh, ALMOST ALL OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA!!! Best to pull all of the Westerners out and quarantine 'em. |
| Posted by: TJ 2003-7-16 9:21:33 AM |