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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 07-06-2001

PART #4/4 - From SENEGAL to ZIMBABWE

* Sénégal. Nouveaux mouvements de réfugiés — La tension en Casamance, dans le sud du Sénégal, continue de chasser les habitants vers la Gambie, a rapporté le 1er juillet à Genève le porte-parole du HCR. Plus de 200 réfugiés sont arrivés cette semaine dans des villages au sud de la Gambie, portant à plus de 2.500 le nombre total des réfugiés depuis la mi-mai. D’autre part, le HCR s’emploie à vérifier des informations signalant que les autorités de la Guinée-Bissau sont en train de forcer les réfugiés sénégalais à s’en aller. Selon des sources humanitaires, les réfugiés ont fui le nord de la Guinée-Bissau après que des soldats avaient incendié de nombreuses maisons dans un village dont les habitants étaient souçonnés de cacher des membres du Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance. Ces réfugiés y habitaient depuis une dizaine d’années. (IRIN, Abidjan, 1er juillet 2001)

* Sierra Leone. Discussions de paix — Les présidents de Sierra Leone, M. Kabbah, et de Guinée, M. Conté, devaient se rencontrer le dimanche 3 juin dans la ville frontalière de Kambia, au nord de la Sierra Leone, pour des discussions de paix, a annoncé un quotidien gouvernemental, le Sierra News. La rencontre devait porter sur la situation à la frontière, où ont lieu des affrontements entre les rebelles du Front révolutionnaire uni (RUF) et l’armée guinéenne. L’armée sierra-léonaise a récemment envoyé des renforts en hommes et en matériel dans la région frontalière avec la Guinée pour tranquiliser la population. Les responsables militaires guinéens ont salué ce déploiement dans la région de Kambia et affirmé qu’ils cesseraient les attaques contre le RUF. (Le Monde, France, 3 juin 2001)

* Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone-Guinea highway to re-open — The presidents of Guinea and Sierra Leone, Lansana Conte and Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, have said they want to re-open the road between Conakry and Freetown. The two leaders said that they had also agreed to deploy their troops on each side of their common border, after talks in the northern Sierra Leonean town of Kambia. Correspondents say that tension has increased sharply along the frontier recently, amid a series of cross-border attacks by the Sierra Leone rebel group, the Revolutionary United Front and counter-attacks by the Guinean army. Thousands of refugees have been trapped in the region, as they fled to get away from the fighting. Last week, the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, described the refugee crisis in the region as one of the most serious facing the international community at the present time. (BBC News, UK, 4 June 2001)

* Sierra Leone. 150 enfants soldats libérés — Le 4 juin à Kailahun (est de la Sierra Leone), les rebelles du RUF ont encore libéré 150 enfants soldats, dont 40 filles, tous âgés de 8 à 18 ans. Au total, ce sont 764 enfants soldats qui ont été relâchés par le RUF depuis l’accord de désarmement conclu il y a un mois avec le gouvernement sierra-léonais. L’organisation catholique Caritas a ainsi déjà récupéré 595 enfants libérés par le RUF. De nombreux enfants ont été enrôlés, souvent de force, au cours de cette guerre civile qui a fait plus de 200.000 morts depuis 1991. (Libération, France, 6 juin 2001)

* Somaliland. Oui à l’indépendance — Selon des résultats officiels publiés le 5 juin, 97% des électeurs de l’Etat autoproclamé du Somaliland se sont déclarés favorables à l’indépendance lors du référendum constitutionnel du 31 mai. Le Somaliland, situé au nord-ouest de la Somalie, a fait sécession en 1991, mais son indépendance n’est reconnue par aucun Etat ni aucune organisation internationale. (Libération, France, 6 juin 2001)

* South Africa. Nkosi dies — The 12-year-old boy whose plight dramatised the AIDS epidemic in South Africa has died in his sleep at 0540 local time (0340 GMT). Nkosi Johnson, who collapsed with Aids-related brain damage in December, had been praised by Nelson Mandela as an icon in the struggle against HIV/AIDS. A Johnson family spokesman said that Nkosi died after a desperate final battle against the disease. Nkosi will be remembered for a speech he made at the World Aids Conference in Durban last July. «You can’t get AIDS by hugging, kissing, holding hands. We are normal human beings, we can walk, we can talk," he told delegates. Nkosi was born with HIV and was the longest surviving child born with the virus in the country. His mother has since died of AIDS, and he was adopted when he was two by a foster mother, Gail Johnson. Speaking before his death Ms Johnson said: «We chatted about death... He had strong feelings about letting me down,» she said. «I told him I would miss him and no one could take his place.» (BBC News, UK, 1 June 2001)

* Afrique du Sud. Nkosi est décédé — Le petit Nkosi Johnson, symbole de la lutte contre le sida en Afrique du Sud, s’est éteint le vendredi 1er juin à l’aube, à Johannesburg, a annoncé sa mère adoptive Gail Johnson. Il est mort à douze ans, après une agonie de plusieurs mois. Il ne pesait plus que 10 kilos. Nkosi était devenu un “héros” médiatique, donnant un visage au sida dans un pays ravagé par la pandémie, mais où cette maladie est encore taboue. Né séropositif, il avait prononcé, l’année dernière, un discours qui chavira le coeur des délégués à la conférence mondiale sur le sida à Durban, en suppliant de traiter les malades comme des gens normaux. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 2 juin 2001)

* South Africa. SAA cancels consultant contracts — South African Airways (SAA), the state-owned national carrier, said on Monday it was cancelling costly long-term contracts with international consultancy companies shortly after a revelation that it had paid its former chief executive R200m ($25m) over the past two-and-a-half years. The airline had halted contracts with Bain & Company, McKinsey and SH&E, a US revenue management company, with immediate effect amid concerns the government had lost control of the pay of highly paid foreign executives and consultants. Consultants are estimated to have earned R300m from SAA in the past year. Bain had been working for the airline since 1998 on fleet renewal and cost-cutting; McKinsey had advised on reservations and a US-based internet booking system. The use of consultants had characterised the management of Coleman Andrews, the American former chief executive of SAA, to bring about a financial turnround in the company. Concern had been expressed that the airline was relying too heavily on the services of consultants and that tender procedures had not been properly followed. Mr Andrews had his own contract cut short by 14 months in March. Officials in the Department of Public Enterprises said the government would prefer to see the airline led by a black executive. Last week, press reports said Mr Andrews had received a financial package of about R200m over the past two-and-a-half years, making him one of the top paid executives in South Africa. SAA said it had terminated the consultant’s contracts to cut costs and develop local expertise. «The whole point is cost-cutting. These guys charge dollars. They were costly and they had done their jobs,» said Victor Nosi, SAA‘s executive vice-president of marketing and communications. (Financial Times, UK, 5 June 2001)

* South Africa. IMF gives backing over economy — On 6 June, Stanley Fischer, the deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), gave the South African government a ringing endorsement of its handling of the economy since it took power in 1994. He said the ruling ANC had created an environment to achieve 6% economic growth in the short term, in spite of soft global growth projections. Mr Fischer praised the government’s adherence to prudent fiscal policies and the Reserve Bank’s handling of external shocks, including that of neighbouring Zimbabwe, saying they paved the way to breaking through the current level of 3% growth. (Financial Times, UK, 7 June 2001)

* Sudan. Rebels take government region — The Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) says it has captured all of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, 800 km south-west of Khartoum, from the government. SPLA spokesman Yasr Arman said that it made this latest advance in the country’s 18-year civil war over the weekend. The Khartoum Government has denied that it has lost control of the province and says that fighting is continuing. The BBC correspondent in Khartoum said independent sources have confirmed that the SPLA is in control. He said that the fall of Western Bahr el Ghazal opens up several opportunities for the rebel SPLA. As the district is on the border with the Central African Republic the SPLA can benefit from the lucrative trade. (BBC News, UK, 4 June 2001)

* Soudan. Combats et pourparlers — Les petites villes de Dem Zubeir et de Raga, situées dans la région sud-soudanaise du Bahr el-Ghazal, ont été conquises par les rebelles du SPLA. Selon son leader, John Garang, l’armée régulière a dû abandonner les deux localités, à travers lesquelles elle contrôlait la route reliant le nord du Soudan à Wau, bastion gouvernemental du sud du pays. La nouvelle a été démentie par l’armée, mais confirmée par des sources indépendantes. D’autre part, le sommet régional, tenu le 2 juin à Nairobi sous l’égide de l’IGAD (Autorité intergouvernementale pour le développement) pour relancer le processus de paix, s’est soldé par un échec. Pour le gouvernement, un cessez-le-feu doit être le tremplin des pourparlers, alors que pour le SPLA il n’est que le corrolaire d’un premier accord substantiel. (Misna, Italie, 4 juin 2001)

* Sudan. Peace talks in Nairobi — Sudan’s President al-Bashir refused to meet Colonel John Garang, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), when the two were in Nairobi for peace talks at the weekend. He later told AP that he refused because Col. Garang had declined to meet him on three occasions previously. This was the first time since 1997 that the two Sudanese leaders have attended the same peace meeting. At the same time, Col. Garang told the BBC that the Government of Sudan announced the recent cease-fire but failed to address two important issues: that of Sharia Law in Sudan, and that of oil exploitation in the south. (CISA, Nairobi, 5 June 2001)

* Tanzania. UNHCR tells Mkapa to stick to voluntary repatriation treaty — The UNHCR plans to stick to an earlier agreement between it, Burundi and Tanzania on the voluntary repatriation of Burundi refugees living in Tanzania. The announcement follows last week’s order by President Mkapa to repatriate Burundi refugees residing in tanzania at all costs. Last week, the President had told a UN Security Council mission in Dar es Salaam that he was fed up of perennial accusations that his country was harbouring rebels from Burundi. He said: «My people are tired. I am of the opinion that once these refugees leave, we will be able to live in peace and continue with our development activities». (The East African, Kenya, 28 May-3 June 2001)

* Tunisie. Visite de M. Josselin — Le ministre français de la Coopération, Charles Josselin, est arrivé le 31 mai au soir à Tunis pour une visite de deux jours, placée sous le signe de la relance du dialogue franco-tunisien. Ce voyage, entrepris “dans un esprit constructif”, a pour objectif de “renforcer la coopération bilatérale et de la moderniser”, a indiqué le porte-parole du quai d’Orsay. Au cours de son séjour, M. Josselin sera reçu en audience par le président Ben Ali auquel il remettra un message du président Chirac, et aura des entretiens avec plusieurs ministres tunisiens. Il rencontrera également des représentants d’associations des droits de l’homme. Les frictions entre les deux capitales s’étaient aggravées après la prise de position très critique formulée en avril par le parti socialiste français à l’égard du parti au pouvoir en Tunisie, mais des signes de nature à détendre les rapports entre Tunis et Paris sont apparus ces derniers temps. (AP, 1er juin 2001)

* Uganda. Bombs rock Kampala — 5 June: Three bombs have exploded in separate areas of the capital, Kampala, injuring 17 people. Police say the explosions during the night of 4-5 June were caused by home-made pipe bombs. two of them had been put into taxis, and the third went off in a taxi park. Police say they have arrested three people in connection with the explosions. (BBC News, UK, 5 June 2001)

* Ouganda. Attentats à Kampala — Dans la nuit du 4 au 5 juin, Kampala a connu une série de trois attentats: deux bombes ont été placées dans des taxis collectifs et un troisième engin a explosé à l’une des principales stations de minibus de transports en plein centre-ville. La police a arrêté trois personnes. Les derniers attentats à Kampala s’étaient produits en mars, juste après l’élection présidentielle remportée par le président sortant Yoweri Museveni, et avaient été suivis d’arrestations. Attentats et explosions ont été attribués aux rebelles de l’Alliance des forces démocratiques (ADF). (La Croix, France, 6 juin 2001)

* Ouganda. Trève annoncée — Le 6 juin, la télévision nationale ougandaise a annoncé la conclusion d’un accord de cessez-le-feu entre les autorités de Kampala et les rebelles de l’Armée de résistance du Seigneur (LRA), actifs de long de la frontière soudanaise. Selon Walter Ochora, membre du gouvernement ayant conduit les pourparlers, la LRA se serait engagée à respecter une trève unilatérale et à libérer tous les prisonniers; l’armée aurait promis en échange de s’abstenir de toute offensive; le tout, en attendant la signature d’un accord de paix définitif. Des sources locales invitent cependant à la prudence, observant que l’interlocuteur d’Ochora, Kandulu Onen, est un des commandants locaux des rebelles et qu’il ne peut être considéré comme représentatif du mouvement tout entier. (Misna, Italie, 6 juin 2001)

* Zambia. Union leader says strike will continue — A prominent trade union leader in Zambia says that a strike by thousands of civil servants will continue until their demands for a 100% pay increase are met. The government has offered a rise of 35%. The trade union leader, Leonard Hikaumba of the Civil Servants Union of Zambia, said that 90% of the country’s 90,000 public sector workers had now joined the strike. The work of several ministries, along with some hospitals, has been paralysed by the stoppage, which began at the end of May. Mr Hikaumba said his members would disrupt the summit meeting of the Organisation of African Unity, which is scheduled to be held in Lusaka in July, if their demands were not met. (BBC News, UK, 6 June 2001)

* Zambia. United Bank of Zambia closes — One of Zambia’s largest private banks, the United Bank of Zambia, has been closed with immediate effect. The country’s central bank, the Bank of Zambia, said that all United’s branches would remain closed until further notice. A statement said that the move had not been taken on account of financial unsoundness, but because of unsafe and unsound banking practices by the bank’s management. Earlier this week, Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission announced that it had uncovered alleged money laundering at the bank. (BBC News, UK, 6 June 2001)

* Zambie. Milingo et la secte Moon — L’archevêque catholique zambien Emmanuel Milingo, qui s’est mis hors de l’Eglise catholique en se mariant le 27 mai à New York lors d’une cérémonie collective présidée par le révérend Sun Myung Moon, espère travailler pour la secte en Afrique. Dans une interview accordée à l’agence américaine Catholic News Service, toutefois, Milingo dit qu’il attend que Moon et son organisation lui fournissent un cahier de charges. Bien qu’excommunié de facto, il n’a pas l’intention de quitter l’Eglise catholique, mais il ne peut pourtant renoncer au “mandat reçu de Dieu” de poursuivre ses actes de guérison et d’exorcisme, qu’il poursuivra en accomplissant les tâches que lui confiera le rév. Moon. (CIP, Belgique, 7 juin 2001)

* Zimbabwe, Land reform tops MDC agenda — The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the main opposition party in Zimbabwe, said this week it would pursue land reform policies to remedy historical distortions between whites and blacks should it win power in presidential elections next March. In an economic policy document, the MDC placed land reform alongside debt restructuring and remedying a foreign exchange shortage as urgent priorities to reverse Zimbabwe’s economic crisis. «The question of land reform is part of the unfinished agenda of independence," said the policy document. “It is not a party political issue and must be addressed on a national basis by any incoming administration... Agrarian reform must redress imbalances of ownership of land and the racial composition of land ownership in the large-scale farming sector.» The transfer of land ownership from whites to landless blacks in Zimbabwe has been at the centre of the political violence that has characterised a campaign by President Robert Mugabe and the ruling ZANU-PF to hold on to power. The government has earmarked 3,000 farms for expropriation and resettlement, many of which were occupied ahead of parliamentary elections last year by self-styled war veterans, apparently with official sanction. (Financial Times, UK, 31 May 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Mort de Hunzvi — Le 4 juin, Chenjerai “Hitler” Hunzvi, le chef des anciens combattants zimbabwéens, est décédé à Harare, à l’âge de 52 ans, probablement de la malaria. Ce personnage controversé s’était rendu célèbre en organisant la campagne d’occupation des fermes possédées par des Blancs. Ce bras de fer a entraîné le Zimbabwe dans une crise politique et économique dont il n’est toujours pas sorti. Devenu l’homme de main du président Mugabe, Hunzvi, qui aimait à se présenter comme le “Hitler noir de l’Afrique”, avait réussi le tour de force de devenir le leader charismatique des quelque 50.000 anciens combattants de la guerre contre la Rhodésie. Il s’était vu récompensé d’un siège de député par le parti au pouvoir. (D’après Libération, France, 5 juin 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Mugabe ally dies — The death on Monday of Chenjerai «Hitler» Hunzvi, the Zimbabwean war veteran who led last year’s invasion of white-owned farms, brings to three the number of prominent supporters of President Robert Mugabe to have died in little more than a month. The 51-year-old war veteran died, apparently of cerebral malaria, in a Harare hospital. His loss is seen by political analysts here as a severe blow to President Mugabe who in the last 18 months has come to depend increasingly on the war veteran movement amidst rising opposition to his rule. Dr Hunzvi came to prominence last year when leading self-styled war veterans in an illegal invasion of white-owned farms ahead of closely contested parliamentary elections. Up to 1700 farms have now been occupied by the veterans. More recently, under Dr Chenjerai’s leadership the veterans turned on white-owned businesses and foreign embassies, provoking condemnation from neighbouring South Africa and embarrassing the government into issuing security guarantees. Because Dr Hunzvi was something of a loose cannon, some government insiders believe that he can be readily replaced by a figure less likely to alienate moderate and international opinion. His death, following shortly after those of two other close supporters of Mr Mugabe and the resignation of the Trade and Industry minister however, is likely to revive speculation that moderate «young turks» will attempt to block Mr Mugabe’s renomination for the presidency. Elections must be held in the first three months of next year. Both Moven Mohachi, the defence minister and Border Gezi, the employment minister died in car accidents last month. (6 June — Editor’s update: Hunzvi has been declared a national hero by the ruling party, paving the way for his burial in Hero’s Acre.) (Financial Times, UK, 5 June 2001)