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Subject: An Avoidable African War=
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 05:41:19 EST
Message-ID: <13.1992Nov9.054120@AmeriCast.com>

An Avoidable African War=

 THE LAST THING Africa needs is more war. Yet that is a likely
prospect should the situation in strife-torn Liberia grow any
worse. Three weeks of rocket and shelling attacks on the capital
of Monrovia by forces of Charles Taylor, an escaped federal in-
mate from a Massachusetts jail, and counter-bombing of Taylor-
controlled areas by the West African peace-keeping force have al-
ready cost thousands of lives. More innocent people will surely
die if, as the State Department says, Charles Taylor continues to
reject calls for a cease-fire and tries to conquer both the coal-
ition and Monrovia. For Liberia's sake, neither should be allowed
to happen.  Multinational forces, principally led by Nigerians,
are attempting to flush Taylor's forces out of the Monrovia area
and drive them beyond artillery and rocket range of the city.
With Monrovia already savaged by war and now swollen with re-
fugees from Taylor-controlled areas, ending the raids is a human-
itarian necessity. But at the same time security is being sought
through force of arms, international frustration with Charles
Taylor must be held in check.  Nigeria, having supplied the
lion's share of the coalition's men and materiel, is bearing the
brunt of the costs to the foreign troops. The pressure is on in
Lagos to do even more in light of the Taylor resistance. That
would be a serious mistake, if a disproportionately larger Ni-
gerian role leads to this bitter conflict taking on the semblance
of a Nigerian-Liberian war. To remain credible, the peace-keeping
effort must remain genuinely multinational.  That, too, is made
more difficult if, as charged by the State Department, a Franco-
phone member of the coalition, Burkina Faso, is undermining the
peace by arming Mr. Taylor's forces. The U.S. decision to recall
the American ambassador from Burkina Faso and to ask it to cancel
plans to send its envoy here underscores the seriousness of the
matter. As does the suspicion that Burkina Faso is only a conduit
for Libyan-supplied weapons. The main action, however, remains
with West Africa's leaders among whom a consensus is developing
for sanctions against Mr. Taylor and a direct U.N. role in the
conflict. Regional talks this past weekend in Nigeria seem to
have moved closer toward that end. Despite the obstacles, West
Africa's leaders should continue their efforts to bring about
peace and stability the Liberian people and the region
deserve.04:37 11-09C9999-----

Copyright 1992, The Washington Post.  This story is from the
Washington Post's Capitol Edition On-Line and is not to be ar-
chived or redistributed.

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