POLITICS-SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: Coup Leaders Warn Foreign Powers to Stay Out

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, Jul 18 2003 (IPS) - Coup leaders, who seized power in the tiny West African island state of Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday, have warned foreign powers to stay out of the island’s problem, as rumours of military intervention to restore the ousted government intensify.

"This is purely an internal matter. It is a problem between the people of Sao Tome. We will resolve it among ourselves," a statement from the junta read in part.

The coup leaders, headed by Major Fernando Pereira – commander of the island’s military academy – have offered to enter dialogue so as to find a solution to the crisis. Whatever their demands are, have not been made public.

Their offer came just one day after Mozambique’s President Joaquim Chissano, who is also chairperson of the 53-member African Union (AU), flew to Nigeria for talks with President Olusegun Obasanjo on possible military intervention on the islands.

"The African Union condemns the overthrow of the elected government in Sao Tome and Principe and calls for its immediate reinstatement," said Chissano, without offering details.

Portugal, which colonised Sao Tome and Principe up until 1975, also condemned the coup.

Portugal is currently organising an emergency meeting of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries and the crisis on the islands is expected to feature high on the agenda.

Ousted President Fradique de Menezes, who was on an official visit to Nigeria when the junta seized power, said on Thursday that "the coup d’etat is inappropriate".

"This military action was undertaken by a few soldiers in connivance with a small opposition party, the Christian Democratic Front, which does not even have representation in parliament," he told journalists from Nigeria.

Menezes linked the unfolding coup to the oil prospects in his country. "It is all about the oil. They want to eat today what is there for tomorrow," he said.

But the reasons for the putsch go beyond oil prospects. There has been deep seated disgruntlement in Sao Tome and Principe. Unemployment is high, with poverty being the lot of the people.

The situation has been made even worse with the break-up of the cocoa plantations, and dwindling revenue from that agricultural sector. With no gainful job at hand and the prospects of higher education slim, many young people look forward to travelling abroad to seek greener pastures.

"Life is hard here. We cannot educate our children, our living condition is poor with virtually no affordable social services," Rafael, a small-scale cocoa farmer told IPS in a recent interview in Sao Tome.

Sao Tome’s army numbers 200, not enough to constitute a battalion, but had had an experience with a coup in the past, though unsuccessful.

Nigeria, which is Sao Tome’s powerful neighbour, with vested interest in the oil discovery, has also condemned the coup, warning that it will retaliate if any of its embassy staff or nationals in hurt by the junta.

Nigeria had offered to sign a mutual defence pact with its tiny neighbour, while the United States which also has keen interest in the island’s oil wealth has reportedly offered to set up a military base in Sao Tome.

As yet, there has been no firm decision on what step to take in dealing with the junta.

The new Central Africa Republic’s military leader Gen. Fancois Bozize, who toppled President Ange-Felix Patasse in Mar, has been suspended by the African Union.

The Sao Tome coup has also been condemned by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who called for "the speedy restoration of the constitutional order".

A source in Sao Tome told IPS on Friday: "The Prime Minister Maria das Neves, Speaker of the National Assembly Dionisio Dias, the Defence Minister Fernando Daqua, and the National Resources Minister Rafael Branco have all been detained."

"They are currently being held at the military barracks, and the Prime Minister has been hospitalised after collapsing during the course of her arrest," the source added.

There has been as yet no clear resistance to the coup plotters who have now seized key installations of the central bank and the national bank.