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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 25-05-2000

PART #3/3 - From SENEGAL  to ZIMBABWE

 * Sénégal. Abdoulaye Wade en France — Le 21 mai, à la veille de sa visite officielle en France du 22 au 28 mai, le nouveau président sénégalais M. Abdoulaye Wade a affirmé qu’il souhaitait être regardé “comme un ami” et ne pas jouer les “mendiants qui tendent la main à l’extérieur”. “Fonder le développement indéfiniment sur l’aide extérieure n’a pas de sens”, a-t-il ajouté. Il a toutefois reconnu qu’il y a des domaines où le Sénégal a besoin de la France et de l’Occident, citant les nouvelles technologies de l’information, l’éducation et la formation, et la construction de routes. Le chef de l’Etat a aussi annoncé la tenue d’élections législatives ou d’un référendum le 26 novembre, afin d’obtenir la majorité à l’Assemblée nationale. Dans une interview parue le 23 mai dans Jeune Afrique-L’intelligent, le président Wade annonce aussi son intention de demander à la France des armes et des équipements militaires pour sécuriser ses frontières avec la Guinée Bissau. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 mai 2000)

* Sierra Leone. Foday Sankoh — the path to war — A journalist in Sierra Leone has sent us the following notes on Foday Sankoh: «At the end of 1999, Foday Sankoh had gone to South Africa on the pretext of getting medical treatment. Some people said he in fact went to sell diamonds and buy arms and ammunition with the proceeds. He had also asked for permission to go to Côte d’Ivoire for medical treatment. When he returned, it was discovered that he had imported vehicles and motor cycles for campaigning in the elections scheduled for 2001. (His Revolutionary United Front [RUF] had already been registered as a party under the name of the Revolutionary United Front Party [RUFP]). Many people had misgivings about Sankoh’s explanation, fearing he was resorting once again to armed conflict. The fact is, three-quarters of Sierra Leone’s diamond mining areas are controlled by the RUF and after the signing of the peace accord, Sankoh was given the post of Chairman of the Commission for Strategic Resources, Reconstruction and Development — a Commission created especially for him! Sankoh then banned all diamond mining in the country, but at the same time, his rebels were engaged in mining. He was reported to be selling diamonds to foreign businessmen in Freetown who smuggled them abroad and then used the cash to buy arms and other supplies. At one time, he was reported to be giving out large sums of money to people, so that they would support his political party. Many say he would have done better continuing with this practise rather than choosing the path to war. In any case, he was known to be “filthy rich”». (Alpha R.Jalloh, (ANB-BIA), Sierra Leone, 18 May 2000)

* Sierra Leone. Human rights concerns — 17 May: Jesse L. Jackson, President Clinton’s special envoy to West Africa, says just before his departure for Nigeria and other West African countries: «The Revolutionary United Front must no longer have the military option to hold a democracy hostage». Following today’s arrest of Foday Sankoh, Amnesty International reiterates its call for all those responsible of committing human rights abuses, to be brought to justice.18 May: The question of what to do with the captured rebel leader, Foday Sankoh, returns to the centre of the crisis in Sierra Leone, where 270 UN peacekeeping troops are still being held hostage. The British decision to hand him over to the Sierra Leonean police, after flying him to a secret location for his own safety, coincides with a Human Rights Watch report that government soldiers have been torturing and executing RUF rebels, including some who had demobilised in line with the 1999 peace accords. Human Rights Watch warns that a «descent to mob justice» in Sierra Leone could encourage the RUF to return to full-scale fighting. The international force is to be boosted by reinforcements from West African states and Russia. The RUF still controls the diamond mines in the north and east. It also has bases in neighbouring Liberia, whose President, Charles Taylor, will be a vital party to any peace agreement. In the light of Foday Sankoh’s arrest, the UN calls for a ceasefire. In a Press Release, Amnesty International says that the UN Security Council must ensure the protection of the human rights of all Sierra Leoneans. 19 May: The rebels accuse Britain of joining what they call a «criminal conspiracy» against them, and now seem to be targeting British troops in the belief that causing casualties among the 800-strong UK contingent will force it to withdraw. The UN Security Council has endorsed plans to expand its peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone by an additional 2,000 troops. 21 May: Rebels have freed 54 more UN peacekeepers. 22 May: the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the US special envoy to Africa, urges the US Congress to provide financial support for peacekeeping efforts in Sierra Leone. A high-level Kenyan delegation holds face-to-face talks with Foday Sankoh, focusing on the fate of some 300 UN peacekeepers still being held captive. The decomposing bodies of at least six UN peacekeepers believed to have been murdered by rebels have been discovered. They are wearing Nigerian, Zambian and Kenyan uniforms with UN patches. 23 May: The UK is to supply light weapons and ammunition to the Sierra Leonean army at the request of the Freetown Government. 23 May: The UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) is to set up its own radio station as part of efforts to expand its public information office. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 May 2000)

* Sierra Leone. Lent redressement — 18 mai. La Communauté économique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) a décidé de dépêcher 3.000 soldats supplémentaires en Sierra Leone dans le cadre de la force ouest-africaine Ecomog. De leur côté, les rebelles du RUF ont procédé, via le Liberia, à de nouvelles libérations de casques bleus; selon le porte-parole de la Minusil, un nouveau contingent de 44 otages libérés a regagné Freetown. D’autre part, l’incertitude demeurait sur le sort qui sera réservé à Foday Sankoh, le chef historique du RUF; le gouvernement n’a toujours pas dit s’il comptait le traduire en justice. Human Rights Watch réclame pour sa part un procès équitable pour crimes contre l’humanité. - 19 mai. Le Conseil de sécurité a décidé de porter le nombre des casques bleus en Sierra Leone à 13.000; Kofi Annan voudrait même l’augmenter à 16.500. D’autre part, les rebelles du RUF exigent, pour reprendre les négociations, que leur chef Foday Sankoh soit libéré, a déclaré leur porte-parole. -21 mai. L’Onu a annoncé que 54 nouveaux casques bleus avaient été libérés par le RUF. Le président Kabbah a annoncé que Foday Sankoh faisait l’objet d’une enquête et pourrait comparaître devant un tribunal. - 22 mai. Les rebelles ont encore relaché 29 casques bleus zambiens, mais retiennent toujours quelque 250 soldats de la Minusil, annonce l’Onu. Ils ont exigé la libération d’ici 13 jours de leur chef Foday Sankoh. D’autre part, des soldats sierra-léonais ont annoncé avoir découvert une dizaine de corps mutilés qui pourraient être ceux de casques bleus zambiens avec, dans leurs uniformes, des passeports zambiens et des cartes d’identité militaires. La journée a aussi été marquée par le lancement d’une offensive pro-gouvernementale sur les positions rebelles; les forces loyalistes se dirigeaient vers l’est en direction de Lunsar, à une centaine de km de Freetown. - 23 mai. La Grande-Bretagne a donné le coup d’envoi du retrait de son dispositif militaire, mais s’est déclarée prête à fournir armes et encadrement à l’armée gouvernementale; les parachutistes seront remplacés par des commandos de marine. - 24 mai. Deux journalistes étrangers, un Espagnol et un Américain, ont été tués dans une embuscade près de Lunsar et deux autres, un Sud-Africain et un Grec, ont été blessés mais ont pu s’enfuir. D’autre part, Kofi Annan a dit espérer que la plupart des quelque 250 casques bleus encore retenus par les rebelles seraient libérés avant la fin de la semaine. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25 mai 2000)

* South Africa. Crime on the decrease — Murder and other serious crime in South Africa, has decreased dramatically since the beginning of the year, says Steve Tshwete, Minister for Safety and Security. Murder has decreased by 22 per cent in the first three months of the year, he says, and in some areas, other crimes have dropped by 20 per cent, following the implementation of new anti-crime strategies by the South African Police Services. Since «Operation Crackdown» was introduced in March to target organised crime, 82,553 suspects have been arrested and detained. Police have also seized 3,473 stolen vehicles, 2,509 illegal firearms, 38,261 kilograms of dagga and 68,019 Mandrax and Ecstacy tablets. «Our operations are bearing fruit,» he says. «Let criminals know we shall give them no quarter.» (James Brew, ANB-BIA, South Africa, 20 May 2000)

* South Africa/USA. Clinton and Mbeki meet for AIDS talks — South African President Thabo Mbeki and President Clinton spent several hours on 22 May, discussing the need to combat Africa’s widespread poverty and disease, but Mbeki continued to express doubts that HIV causes AIDS, a stance that has caused consternation in political and medical circles, White House officials said. Administration spokesmen painted a generally positive picture of the talks, saying the two presidents explored ways to involve regional powers, such as Nigeria, and Britain and other Western nations in dealing with Africa’s most severe problems. When pressed by reporters, however, they acknowledged that Mbeki continued to question whether AIDS — which some experts predict will kill one-fourth of his nation’s people by 2010 — is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Most researchers consider the HIV-AIDS link irrefutable. Mbeki’s scepticism has broad policy implications, because he also has questioned the use of AZT, a drug widely employed in the West to slow the onset or progress of AIDS. His administration has refused to distribute AZT to pregnant women with HIV, even though doctors say it could significantly reduce the chances that their children would be born HIV-positive. (Charles Babington, Washington Post, 23 May 2000)

* Sudan. Attack in Nuba Mountains — During Government-sponsored raids, which wreaked havoc on villages in the Lumun area of the Nuba Mountains in April, more than 1,000 Nuba civilians were abducted by government troops, including two catechists. One catechist managed to escape during the raid, according to Gabriel Meyer of the Sudan Relief and Rescue organisation. The destruction of villages and agriculture has left 5,000 people in Lumun risking starvation and exposure in the coming months. The attack occurred in mid-April as part of a two-month long government offensive against «rebel strongholds» in the Nuba Mountains. The 5,000 survivors face grim months in the future unless relief supplies reach them soon. (Zenit, Italy, 16 May 2000)

* Sudan. Women prisoners released — On 22 May, prison authorities in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman released 563 female prisoners following a pardon by President Omar el Bashir. Police spokesman Major Abubakr Abdulgadir said in Khartoum that 83 percent of the freed inmates had been convicted for offenses related to the illegal brewing and trafficking in liquors. He said the rest were convicted for «violating general morality law» the term used in Sudan to imply prostitution. Abdulgadir said the ministry of the interior has directed prison administrations nation-wide to release women jailed for such offenses. Bashir told women in a meeting on 20 May that he had directed concerned authorities to release women inmates with minor offenses. He had also said the ministry of education would soon set a separate administration for girls’ education. (PANA, Dakar, 23 May 2000)

* Sudan. Eritrean refugee crisis spreads — The Ethiopian advance into western Eritrea has sent a wave of refugees fleeing to already vulnerable Sudan. Military units have withdrawn from major towns including Tesseney close to the Sudan border, as well as Haicotaa on the road between Tesseney and Barentu. According to the Sudanese authorities, over 50,000 people have now crossed into Sudan’s Kassala province, of whom 18,000 are soldiers. Numbers are said to be increasing at the rate of 4,000 a day and Sudan says numbers may rise as high as 200,000.The authorities and aid workers in the eastern Sudanese state of Kassala are bracing themselves for tens of thousands more Eritrean refugees. Sudanese rebel forces based in western Eritrea have been abandoning their camps and returning to Sudan. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 May 2000)

* Tchad. Un chef rebelle acquis à la paix — Jean Ngarandoh, leader du commando Justice et Egalité, actif dans la région de Logone au sud du pays, a déposé les armes, estimant que le Tchad “n’a plus besoin d’activité rebelle”. Lors d’une conférence de presse le 18 mai dans la capitale, il a déclaré qu’il avait entendu le voeu de paix du président Déby. Il a aussi invité un autre chef rebelle, Youssouf Togoimi, qui opère dans le Tibesti au nord, à suivre son exemple. (D’après IRIN, Abidjan, 19 mai 2000)

* Chad. Oil pipeline. Risk of failure? — A pipeline which will allow the oil reserves of Chad to be exploited by a consortium of oil companies, is due to be approved by World Bank directors despite the fact that its own confidential report says the plan has a 50% risk of failure. Fears about security, corruption and human rights abuses in Cameroon and Chad, as well as concern that poverty alleviation —the main purpose of funding the pipeline — will not be realised, have been played down in the report to the Bank’s directors. The decision by two of the original consortium members, Shell and Elf, to pull out of the project after it was widely criticised by environmental and human rights groups has also been glossed over in the Bank;s project appraisal. (The Guardian, UK, 20 May 2000)

* Togo. UNITA exiles expelled — Togo has expelled 56 members of the Angolan UNITA rebel movement, some of whom have lived in exile in the country for more than 20 years. Togo’s Communications Minister says the expulsions had been personally ordered by President Eyadema. He said 18 of those expelled were children, wives and relatives of the Angolan rebel leader, Jonas Savimbi. (BBC News, 19 May 2000)

* Tunisie. Le frère de Ben Brik libéré — Le 18 mai, la peine de trois mois de prison ferme prononcée à l’encontre de Jelal Zoghlami, frère du journaliste Taoufik Ben Brik, a été commuée en seize jours d’emprisonnement par la cour d’appel de Tunis. M. Zoghlami, en liberté provisoire depuis le 15 mai, est donc libre. Cette décision confirme la volonté d’apaisement des autorités judiciaires tunisiennes. (La Libre Belgique, 19 mai 2000)

* Tunisie. Campagne pour les municipales — Le 21 mai, le coup d’envoi officiel de la campagne des élections municipales a été donné. Près de 3,5 millions d’électeurs vont renouveler les 257 conseils municipaux pour un mandat de cinq ans. Au total, six partis et 339 listes sont en concurrence pour ces élections dont l’issue ne fait guère de doute: le parti présidentiel est assuré de rafler l’écrasante majorité des sièges. Omniprésent dans la vie politique du pays, le parti présidentiel, le Rassemblement constitutionnel démocratique, avec 2 millions d’adhérents, sera le seul parti en lice dans deux circonscriptions sur trois. Ce scrutin marque la première consultation électorale depuis la réélection du président Ben Ali avec 99,45% des suffrages. (AP, 21 mai 2000)

* Tunisie. Journaliste victime d’un attentat — Le 23 mai, le journaliste tunisien Riad Ben Fadhel a été blessé par balles par des inconnus devant son domicile à Carthage. Ancien rédacteur en chef de la version arabe du mensuel français Le Monde diplomatique, il est directeur d’une agence de communication Impact Media. Il est hors de danger et a été hospitalisé. L’association Reporters sans frontières rappelle que cet attentat survient à la suite de la publication le 21 mai dans le quotidien Le Monde d’une tribune libre de Riad Ben Fadhel, où il mettait directement en cause le président tunisien dans la question de l’affaire Ben Brik. De son côté, le président de la Ligue tunisienne des droits de l’homme a déclaré: “La plus grande prudence s’impose sur les mobiles de cette agression. Il faut savoir raison garder”. (AP, 24 mai 2000)

* Ouganda. Grave situation sanitaire dans l’ouest — MSF-France est la seule agence qui s’efforce de fournir des services médicaux à quelque 49 camps de déplacés dans la région de Bundibugyo et est submergée de travail, a rapporté OCHA. La situation sanitaire dans le district a absolument besoin d’un plus grand nombre d’interventions de la part des agences de l’Onu et des ONG, mais l’insécurité reste un problème et perturbe les activités humanitaires sur tout l’ouest du pays, a rapporté la mission. Les rebelles des Allied Democratic Forces sont de plus en plus actifs dans l’ouest depuis fin avril et ciblent régulièrement les populations et les camps de déplacés. (IRIN, Nairobi, 19 mai 2000)

* Uganda. No debt relief for the moment — On 21 May, debt campaigners accused western governments of political interference in a global plan to cancel the loans of some of the world’s poorest countries after it emerged that western creditors have postponed hearing the Ugandan government’s cade for a debt write-down. The Paris Club of 20 creditor nations have announced that it would not be considering Uganda at its meeting this month. Around 10% of its $3.2 billion foreign debts are owed to Paris Club nations. The group rarely explains its actions, but sources at the World Bank say concerns about clashes between Ugandan and Rwandan troops in Congo RDC are behind the decision. (The Guardian, UK, 22 May 2000)

* Uganda. From Uganda’s «New Vision» — 18 May: Despite World Food Programme attempts to ease the famine in Karamoja, the situation has continued to deteriorate, with new deaths from starvation. 19 May: Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala was a key player in the recent talks between Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. Prior to their meeting in Mwanza, the Cardinal met Museveni and then travelled to Kigali with he had talks with Kagame. 23 May: Uganda has started withdrawing its troops from the border with Uganda following the easing of tempers between the two countries. The Kisangani faction of the Congolese Rally for Democracy yesterday said they were moving their headquarters back to Kisangani «in order to put a stop to the chaos there». President Museveni has criticised Ugandan and Rwandan officials who make inflammatory comments about Kisangani. 24 May: The planned withdrawal of Ugandan and Rwandese troops has been delayed until 26 May. It will begin at Bangoka International Airport and the pullout will take three days, ending on 28 May. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 May 2000)

* Zambia. Zambia telecommunications Company — The Zambian Government is inviting the private sector to buy shares in the state-owned Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL). The South African telecommunications service provider (TELCOM) has already expressed interest in acquiring the minority shares on offer, but is still assessing the Zambian Government’s proposal. Last year, the Zambian Government approved the sale of 20% of the shares and management rights in ZAMTEL, a company that provides telecommunications services nation-wide. It is investing millions of dollars in new technology ahead of the partial privatisation, aimed at improving the quality of services provided to its customers. (Matte Sepo, ANB-BIA, Zambia, 10 May 2000)

* Zimbabwe. Threats, threats and more threats — Morgan Tsvangirai, president of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is appealing to the international community to guarantee his security before and after the elections. His appeal comes amid the escalation of political violence and persistent death threats directed specifically against him by President Mugabe whenever he addresses his supporters. The MDC has released a list of about 15 incidents of violence, one of kidnapping and nine of murder of its members; one of the nine murdered was Tsvangirai’s driver. Mugabe says there are people bent on sowing seeds of disunity among Zimbabweans and — «The MDC will never form the government of this country, never, never — not in my life time or even after I die». Mugabe has also warned foreigners working on the country’s farms to stop supporting the MDC if they want to live peacefully in Zimbabwe. He has threatened white farmers with «very, very severe violence» if they take any action against people who have invaded the commercial farmland. Dr John Makumbe is a political scientist at the University of Zimbabwe. He says it is incumbent upon the government and all political leaders to categorically condemn violence, and to urge their supporters to adopt the democratic ethics and high levels of tolerance, for the benefit of all Zimbabweans. «I fond it quite embarrassing to see the President raising a fist on national television and threatening he can knock down Tsvangirai with that fist», said Makumbe. (Tendai Madinah, ANB-BIA, Zimbabwe, 16 May 2000)

* Zimbabwe. La campagne électorale s’annonce violente — 18 mai. Depuis que le président Mugabe a fixé la date des élections aux 24 et 25 juin, la violence a repris ses droits dans les zones rurales. Deux sympathisants de l’opposition ont été tués le 17 mai lors d’affrontements avec des militants du parti de Mugabe. D’autre part, le président sud-africain Thabo Mbeki, en visite officielle à Londres, et le Premier ministre britannique Tony Blair ont prôné l’envoi du maximum d’observateurs pour les élections au Zimbabwe, au moment où M. Mugabe excluait la présence de tout observateur britannique. -19 mai. Le chef des anciens combattants, Hunzvi, a été condamné par la Haute Cour à trois mois de prison avec sursis pour outrage à magistrat, pour ne pas avoir mis fin à l’occupation des fermes de Blancs. En raison du dialogue initié avec le syndicat des fermiers, le juge a préféré lui infliger une amende. - 21 mai. Le Mouvement pour le changement démocratique (MDC), principal parti d’opposition, a annoncé qu’une vingtaine de ses partisans avaient été arrêtés avant une réunion politique dans la banlieue d’Harare. L’opposition affirme ne pouvoir faire campagne pour les législatives en raison des intimidations et violences dont ses candidats et partisans sont victimes. -22 mai. 46 anciens combattants et partisans du pouvoir ont comparu devant la justice, suite aux violences politiques de la semaine dernière; ils sont accusés d’avoir enlevé et torturé plusieurs membres du MDC, dont un est mort de ses blessures. -24 mai. Le gouvernement zimbabwéen a amendé les lois sur la propriété foncière afin de permettre au président Mugabe de confisquer 841 fermes de Blancs par proclamation et sans indemnisation. Mugabe a eu recours aux pouvoirs spéciaux présidentiels pour réviser cette loi. Il a fait de la domination foncière blanche un enjeu central de la campagne électorale. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 24 mai 2000)

* Zimbabwe. Lead-up to the elections — 18 May: South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki, on an official visit to London, calls for as many observers as possible to be sent as soon as possible to Zimbabwe, to help ensure that next month’s election is free and fair. Fearing defeat at the polls, ZANU-PF has deployed gangs of youths and guerilla war veterans to beat and shoot its opponents, smash and petrol-bomb their houses and steal their cattle. Police have usually refused to intervene or arrest those known to have carried out the attacks. Speaking in Mauritius, President Mugabe says: «Britain will have no part to play in ensuring that Zimbabwe’s elections are free and fair». 19 May: A team of 110 EU observers is to be sent to Zimbabwe ahead of the elections. MDC leaders files an urgent court application seeking to delay the deadline for the nomination of candidates for the elections. 21 May: Election campaigning begins. Speaking at an election rally outside Harare, Morgan Tsvangirai says his party is not condoning violence, but he is talking of legitimate self-defence. 22 May: The US-based National Democratic Institute says that political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe are so widespread and severe, that conditions do not exist at present for credible elections. 22 May: Britain will not insist on sending election observers to Zimbabwe. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 May 2000)

* Zimbabwe. Land dispute — 18 May: An intensified barrage of state-sponsored violence sweeps through Zimbabwe, killing three more opposition supporters. Two members of the opposition United Party (UP) are beaten to death by ZANU-PF supporters in the Mudzi area of north-eastern Zimbabwe. More than 30 other UP supporters are badly beaten in Mudzi. One more supporter of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is also killed. The UN announces it is to intervene to try and break the deadlock between Britain and Zimbabwe in the land dispute. The UNDP has been called in to investigate the issues at the heart of the dispute. 19 May: Veteran’s leader Chengerai Hunzvi is due to appear in court today as a result of failing to comply with a court demand last month to instruct his followers to leave the white-owned farms. He is found guilty and receives a fine and suspended prison sentence. Kofi Annan has asked the UN Development Programme to «explore the possibility of helping to facilitate Zimbabwe’s land reform programme. South Africa’s President Mbeki appeals to foreign donors to fund the transfer of white-owned land to black farmers. 23 May: The Government has gazetted legislation empowering the government to acquire 841 white-owned farms for resettlement by landless peasants. This move means the Land Acquisition Act is now in line with the Constitution. But because parliament has now been dissolved pending next month’s parliamentary elections, the new law will only be applicable for the next six months — unless it is ratified by the incoming parliament. 24 May: The British Government expresses alarm about the latest development over land ownership in Zimbabwe. British minister Peter Hain says he is extremely concerned that President Mugabe might be preparing to seize land quickly and without compensation — using powers under the new Land Acquisition Act. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 25 May 2000)