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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 14-03-2002

PART #2/4 - From CONGO RDC  to  MADAGASCAR

* Congo (RDC). Navigation commerciale — Les rebelles du Mouvement pour la libération du Congo (MLC, soutenu par l’Ouganda) ont accepté de rouvrir à la navigation commerciale la portion du fleuve Congo qu’ils contrôlent dans le nord du pays, a annoncé l’Onu le 7 mars. En revanche, les rebelles du Rassemblement congolais pour la démocratie (RCD, soutenu par le Rwanda) ont refusé d’en faire de même sur la portion fluviale qu’ils contrôlent dans l’est du pays, a déploré le général Martinelli de la mission de l’Onu, la Monuc. L’officier s’exprimait à Kindu, où se trouvent déjà 140 casques bleus uruguayens et où 400 autres hommes du génie et une unité mécanisée seront déployés avant la fin de mars afin d’établir une base pour la mission onusienne chargée de désarmer, démobiliser et réintégrer les groupes rebelles dans la vie civile. La réouverture au trafic du fleuve Congo, long de 4.700 km, est cruciale pour le bon déploiement des casques bleus. (AP, US, 7 mars 2002)

* Congo (RDC). Inter-Congolese Dialogue — Delegates at the Inter-Congolese Dialogue being held in Sun City South Africa, have agreed to a change in procedure and an amendment to the agenda. The Talks have now been going on for two weeks, and have been delayed by disagreements over representation of opposition parties. Now the Talks’ Facilitator, Sir Ketumile Masire, says he has secured an agreement for the adoption of new rules of procedure and amendments to the agenda. Parties are reported to have agreed to work towards reconciliation and to form Commissions to begin work on various areas of the peace talks, covering constitutional, security, finance and electoral issues. The Commissions will make recommendations for periodical assessment by the leaders. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 March 2002)

* Congo (RDC)/UE. Les arriérés de dette — Le 11 mars, les ministres des Affaires étrangères des Quinze ont accepté d’étudier la demande belge en faveur d’une solution à l’apurement des arriérés de la dette extérieure de la RDC, mais sans pour autant prendre des engagements à ce stade. La Belgique souhaiterait cet apurement afin de permettre à la RDC d’être remise en programme par la Banque mondiale et le FMI et bénéficier ainsi de nouvelles aides. La dette extérieure du Congo s’élève à plus de 12 milliards d’euros, dont 1,3 milliard vis-à-vis de la Belgique. (La Libre Belgique, 12 mars 2002)

* Congo (RDC). Combats au Katanga et au Kivu — 11 mars. Plus de 50.000 réfugiés venus de la RDC ont franchi la frontière avec la Zambie ces deux derniers jours, confirmant les craintes d’une reprise des combats dans ce pays, indique l’agence PANA. Selon le représentant par intérim du  HCR en Zambie, Martin Bucumi, 10.000 réfugiés ont été reçus dans le district de Chiengi, tandis que 40.000 autres ont tout simplement rejoint des villages zambiens isolés. Cet afflux de réfugiés est la conséquence de la reprise des combats entre les forces gouvernementales et rebelles dans les villes de Pepa et Pweto, a-t-il indiqué, prévenant que si la situation ne se stabilise pas, il y a des risques de voir de nouveaux réfugiés affluer en Zambie. -13 mars. Selon l’agence Misna, des combats sont en cours sur la route reliant Kitutu à Kamituga (sud-ouest de Bukavu, Sud-Kivu), opposant des formations Interahamwe (ex-miliciens rwandais) à des détachements du RCD et des militaires rwandais. Il y a quelques jours, les Interahamwe ont pris la ville de Kitutu avec l’appui des Maï-Maï, qui sont restés dans la ville occupée. Les miliciens rwandais chercheraient à rentrer au Rwanda. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 13 mars 2002)

* Congo (RDC). Le dialogue à Sun City — 7 mars. D’emblée, les discussions à Sun City ont buté sur le statut du gouvernement de Kinshasa et son rôle dans la phase de transition. Le gouvernement considère qu’il doit rester en place durant cette transition (quitte à partager ses pouvoirs avec ses adversaires), alors que les mouvements rebelles veulent que le dialogue de Sun City instaure un gouvernement intérimaire menant à des élections. - Le samedi 9 mars, les discussions se sont encore poursuivies pour fixer le règlement intérieur et l’ordre du jour. Le premier dossier est quasi bouclé, à l’exception d’un litige à propos des observateurs. Mais les obstacles à l’adoption de l’ordre du jour sont plus fondamentaux, portant sur le “nouvel ordre politique” pendant la période de transition. Le dimanche cependant, l’optismisme prévalait sur une issue possible le lundi. -Lundi 11 mars. Les participants ont lancé les discussions de fond sur l’avenir de la RDC, après avoir adopté les derniers articles de l’ordre du jour et du règlement intérieur. Finalement, comme observateurs admis à suivre les travaux du dialogue, seuls ont été retenus l’ONU, l’OUA, l’Afrique du Sud et la Zambie (et donc ni les pays alliés des belligérants, ni les parrains occidentaux du processus de paix). Quant au “nouvel ordre politque”, les délégations ont confié à une commission politique la tâche de trouver un terrain d’entente sur le statut du gouvernement lors de la phase de transition. -12 mars. Les délégués, répartis en cinq commissions, ont commencé à émettre des propositions concrètes. Ils doivent poursuivre leurs travaux à huis clos pendant le mois à venir, avec au moins un compte-rendu hebdomadaire. Les commissions sont chargées de la paix et la réconciliation, la défense et la sécurité, les enjeux politiques et juridiques, les questions humanitaires et sociales, l’économie et la finance. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 13 mars  2002)

* Côte d’Ivoire. La carte de résident — Les ressortissants de la Communauté économique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO), installés en Côte d’Ivoire, devront désormais payer 35.000 FCFA pour pouvoir bénéficier d’une carte de séjour, a annoncé le 8 mars le ministre de l’Intérieur. Contrairement à l’ancien titre de séjour qui coûtait 15.000 FCFA pour une durée d’un an, la nouvelle carte de résidence sera valable pour une période de cinq ans. A titre de comparaison, la carte de séjour étranger hors CEDEAO, qui coûtait  150.000 FCFA, passe à 300.000. Estimée officiellement à 26% des 15 millions d’habitants de la Côte d’Ivoire, la population étrangère est composée, pour sa majorité, de ressortissants des 15 pays membres de la CEDEAO et de la Mauritanie. (PANA, Sénégal, 12 mars 2002)

* Djibouti. UN team arrives to assess environmental damage — A UN team has arrived in Djibouti to assess the environmental and humanitarian situation at Djibouti port, where a toxic pesticide began leaking out of shipping containers in January. On 5 March, the Djibouti authorities announced that the situation had been «brought under control». The Environment Minister, Abdallah Abdillahi Miguil, told a news conference there has been a phased approach to try and contain the situation. «The first phase is an emergency phase and it is almost over,» he said. «The second phase, which has not yet begun, is linked to an appeal we issued to friendly countries, as well as international and regional organisations, to help us with the expertise and the finances to tackle the pollution.» The FAO announced last month that 10 shipping containers in Djibouti port were leaking a toxic pesticide — chromated copper arsenate — which was causing serious health and environmental problems. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 6 March 2002)

* Egypte. Homosexuels condamnés — Le 11 mars, le tribunal correctionnel de Damanhour (nord du pays) a condamné cinq Egyptiens à trois ans de prison, assortis d’une peine de trois années de mise à l’épreuve, pour homosexualité. Les cinq personnes, dont trois fonctionnaires, avaient été arrêtées début février par la police des moeurs. Reconnus coupables de “pratiques sexuelles contraires à l’islam”, les accusés peuvent faire appel de la décision. L’homosexualité ne figure par explicitement parmi les crimes sexuels évoqués par la loi égyptienne, fondée sur la charia (loi islamique). Mais plusieurs textes législatifs peuvent s’appliquer à l’homosexualité. C’est la deuxième condamnation de ce type en Egypte en moins de six mois. (Libération, France, 12 mars 2002)

* Eritrea/Ethiopia. Aftermath of the armed conflict — 7 March: The international ruling on fixing the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea has again been postponed and will now be announced on Saturday 13 April. According to a statement sent to both sides by the international Boundary Commission at The Hague, the announcement is set for 10.30 local time and should not take longer than one hour. The decision was originally due to be announced at the end of February, and was then postponed until the end of March for «technical reasons». A UN peacekeeping force was sent in to the disputed border area after a bitter war was fought between the two sides between 1998 and 2000. In New York, members of the UN  Security Council urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to desist from any unilateral action, noting that the upcoming border ruling was not the end of the peace process. The Council met on 6 March to discuss the report of the recent Security Council mission to the two countries. 13 March: Displaced children affected by the armed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea will be reunited with their families, the UN special representative for children, Olara Otunna, has said. Many families of mixed Ethiopian and Eritrean origin were torn apart in the war, as tens of thousands of epople were either deported or voluntarily repatriated by both sides. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 13 March 2002)

* Ethiopie. Dernier journaliste libéré — Reporters sans frontières (RSF) se félicite de la libération de Tamrat Zuma, directeur de publication de l’hebdomadaire Atkurot, détenu depuis près de 10 mois. C’est la première fois depuis septembre 1993 qu’aucun journaliste n’est emprisonné en Ethiopie, a indiqué RSF, tout en rappelant qu’une trentaine de professionnels de la presse sont actuellement poursuivis en justice et risquent d’être incarcérés à tout moment. L’organisation a appelé les autorités éthiopiennes à modifier la loi sur la presse de 1992, particulièrement répressive. (RSF, France, 7 mars 2002)

* The Gambia. Gambians wonder — Gambians are still wondering why former President Sir Dawda Jawara is still in exile in spite of earlier suggestions that he would have been a state guest during the country’s 37th independence anniversary on 18 February. In January, the Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, had said a red carpet reception was awaiting the former President if he should return. Then there’s a Member of Parliament who is wondering why President Yahya Jammeh has not yet formed a new cabinet almost two months after assuming office. Halifa Sallah is wondering why Jammeh had not announced his cabinet immediately after assuming office following the 18 December 2001 polls. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 March 2002)

* Guinea-Bissau. President imposes new head of Supreme Court — President Kumba Yala has promised to allow the country’s Supreme Court to elect its own officers, but has invoked strong protest from opposition parties for imposing his choice to head the body. Antonio Sedja Man was appointed President of the Supreme Court by presidential decree and took office on 6 March. It was at Man’s inaugural ceremony that Yala announced the court would soon be able to elect its own officers, as guaranteed under the constitution. The United Opposition, an umbrella of 10 parties, called Man’s appointment a «violation of the constitution». (IRIN, 7 March 2002)

* Kenya. Moi’s last address to Parliament — President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya has called on the country’s politicians to conduct a peaceful election and avoid making outrageous and inflammatory statements which are likely to fuel tribal hatred. In his last state address to parliament before retiring later this year, Mr Moi also spoke of rampant corruption, reviving the ailing economy and the need to continue with peace initiatives in the region. He urged all leaders and political activists to pursue peace and unity for Kenya’s success and prosperity. However, the opposition were not impressed with what they called the «usual rhetoric with nothing new to offer». «Generally, the president sounded tired. And I think it is time new managers took over the running of the country with vigour and new energies,» said the leader of the Ford Kenya Party, Wamalwa Kijana. Mr Moi, who became president under the one party rule in 1978, following the demise of Kenya’s first President, Jomo Kenyatta, is not allowed to run for another term under the constitution. (BBC News, UK, 12 March 2002)

* Liberia. Une ouverture de Taylor — Le président libérien, Charles Taylor, a fait des offres de paix aux membres de l’opposition politique, promettant de ne rien faire qui puisse obstruer le processus électoral de l’année 2003. Au cours d’une réunion organisée avec les leaders des partis politiques de l’opposition au palais de la présidence, le président Taylor a indiqué qu’il parlerait de paix et de réconciliation avec tous les Libériens à Abuja. Des pourparlers de paix devraient réunir le 13 mars à Abuja toutes les parties libériennes avec la médiation du président nigérian Obasanjo et sous les auspices de la CEDEAO. Toutefois, cette ouverture politique du président Taylor intervient à la suite de nouvelles menaces de sanctions onusiennes sur l’industrie nationale du bois et de nouvelles exigences posées par les Etats-Unis qui souhaitent que Taylor respecte les libertés d’expression et de mouvement dans le pays. (PANA, Sénégal, 11 mars 2002)

* Liberia. Hopefully, towards a better understanding — 11 March: Liberia welcomes on the appointment of a four-member panel by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to verify Monrovia’s compliance  with a UN resolution to end its support to Sierra Leonean dissidents. «We welcome the new composition of the panel. We are ready to cooperate with the panel,» Robert Lormic, the public affairs officer at the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says. In a letter to the UN Security Council president, Annan named Atabou Bodian (Senegal), Johan Peleman (Belgium), Harjit Singh Sandhu (India) and Alex Vines (United Kingdom) to constitute the panel. They will compile «a brief independent audit» of the government’s adherence to the Council resolution of 2001 and report their findings by 8 April latest. 13 March: Representatives of the Liberian government and rebels have begun arriving in Abuja, Nigeria, for their first direct peace talks since conflict flared up in northern Liberia last year. — Liberia has granted clemency and released from Monrovis Central Prison people who attempted to overthrow President Taylor’s government in 1998. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14 March 2002)

* Liberia. Human rights group condemns conditions of police cells — On 11 March, the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC)’s Director, Frances Johnson Morris, said that the conditions of inmates in police cells in Monrovia, are «life-threatening». Morris, a former Chief Justice of Liberia, said inmates were «inhumanely» treated and living under «dehumanising» sanitary conditions. She said the cells were also too small for the number of inmates per room, lacked sitting capacity and had no beds for detainees to sleep on. «Conditions in these cells are at variance with internationally acceptable standards and conditions of detention facilities, as well as rules on treatment of inmates,» she said. Inmates were being treated as though «they are sub-humans, caged like ferocious beasts, while others are almost nude». Morris said she had personally observed conditions in one of the cells, when she was detained for several hours by government early March, on the grounds of «mistaken identity.» She said she had written to the Justice Minister on 8 March, expressing the JPC‘s willingness to collaborate with the Ministry to help improve conditions in the cells. (PANA, Senegal, 11 March 2002)

* Liberia. Forced recruits — Hundreds of former child soldiers are being forced to return to the front in Liberia, weeks after President Charles Taylor called a state of emergency. Since 1999, the army has been battling a mixed assortment of rebels from the 1989-96 civil war, who call themselves Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy. On 8 February 8th, an attack on Klay Junction, just 35 km from the capital, Monrovia, set alarm bells ringing. And this appears to be prompting the forcible conscription of former child soldiers, who are now sleeping rough on the streets. Out of an estimated 15,000 child soldiers who fought during Liberia’s civil war, only 4,300 have been demobilised. Many boys as young as six were forced to fight for Charles Taylor’s NPFL (National  Patriotic Front of Liberia), and other rebel groups. In exchange for their years of fighting in the jungle, the former warlord promised them rich rewards when they helped him reach the capital. But five years after Mr Taylor was elected president, scores of young ex-combatants are on the streets of Monrovia, trying to eke a living from cleaning windscreens, begging or stealing. Some of them tried to return to their villages when the war was over, but they found their houses razed and their families dead or missing. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 12 March 2002)

* Libya. CEN-SAD Summit — 7 March: The 18-member Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), expresses «grave concern at the situation in Madagascar». In a declaration at the close of its 4th annual summit in the Libyan city of Sirte, CEN-SAD calls on both sides to open up to «sincere and constructive dialogue.» The declaration, also urged for a respect of «the country’s constitutional principles,» and for the OAU to continue the search for peace in Madagascar, and to ward off any external interference there. Concerning the Middle East, CEN-SAD expressed sympathy with President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian people. It denounced what it referred to as «state terrorism perpetrated by Israel against defenceless civilian populations.» CEN-SAD hailed what it qualified as the «the bold position of African delegations in favour of Zimbabwe at the recent Commonwealth summit.» It expressed total support for President Robert Mugabe in his tussle with what the bloc said was «the blatant interference of foreign powers in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs under the guise of election monitoring.» (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 March 2002)

* Madagascar. Fuel in short supply — The screens on the petrol dispenser at a garage in Ankadimbahoaka district of the Malagasy capital are blank. A blackboard blocks the entrance to the forecourt, «No petrol today» written in white chalk. Though the majority of the city firmly back Ravalomanana, Ratsiraka supporters have blocked roads leading to the capital, cutting off fuel supply routes and leaving petrol stations running on empty. «Because of the barricades, we can only find petrol on the black market, it is so expensive — about three times the normal price,» said Danny Hassan, pumping his accelerator to try and restart his white Renault on a near-empty tank. Streets normally clogged by heavy traffic are virtually empty as residents are forced to leave their cars at home. In fuel depots, empty orange barrels sit redundant. Gates are padlocked in front of gas canisters the owners are saving in the hope of getting a better price once stocks run completely dry. For those with money in their pockets, it is still possible to get some fuel. In the Tsaralalana district — meaning «good law» but known for its prostitutes and black marketeers — people buy petrol at three to four times its  usual price. Just 500 metres yards from an empty petrol station forecourt, grimy notes change hands as residents funnel pink liquid from black market jerry cans into plastic coca cola bottles. «Most of the stations in town are empty,» said Rivo Rasamison, who works as a driver and says he is only guaranteed fuel because of good contacts in the business. «And we hear that the barricades will get worse. Ratsiraka’s supporters have stopped everyone getting through.» (CNN, USA, 7 March 2002)

* Madagascar. Escalade — Le jeudi 7 mars, environ 200 officiers, dont une vingtaine de généraux, ont rencontré le président autoproclamé de Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, et ont fait “officiellement” allégeance à son ministre de la Défense, le général Mamizara. De sources diplomatiques on assure que 80% des militaires sont désormais passés dans le camp de Ravalomanana. - Le 8 mars, Ravalomanana et le général Mamizara ont investi le ministère de la Défense, sous les acclamations de la foule. Les militaires affectés à la garde du bâtiment n’ont pas réagi. Quelques heures après, le ministre de la Défense du président sortant Ratsiraka a donné sa démission. Par ailleurs, Ravalomanana a tenu son premier conseil des ministres dans l’hôtel de ville de la capitale, qui fait désormais office de palais présidentiel. -9 mars. Deux avions, en provenance d’Algérie et de Syrie, et suspectés de transporter des armes pour les sympathisants de Ratsiraka, ont atterri à l’aéroport de Toamasina (Tamatave). L’Algérie a rejeté toute accusation et affirmé qu’il s’agissait de matériel audio-visuel. Pendant ce temps, la circulation est toujours bloquée autour de la ville et la capitale commence à souffrir de ce blocus, car Toamasina est le plus important centre pétrolier de l’île. -11 mars. Les militaires malgaches partisans de Ravalomanana et ceux restés fidèles à Ratsiraka se sont, pour la première fois, retrouvés face à face à Antananarivo, dans l’enceinte du ministère de la Défense, sans que cela ne dégénère en incidents. Par contre, on apprenait qu’une attaque à la grenade, commise le vendredi 8 mars à Fianarantsoa (sud) pendant une réunion publique pro-Ravalomanana, a fait deux morts: une institutrice qui a succombé le samedi à ses blessures, et le commanditaire de l’attaque, lynché à mort par la foule. Par ailleurs, si la fin de la grève générale n’a pas encore été annoncée, la situation se normalise de jour en jour dans la capitale. -12 mars. Si Antananarivo reste calme, les incidents violents entre partisans des deux parties se multiplient dans les chefs-lieux de province, comme Fianarantsoa (sud), Toamasina (est) et Sambava (nord-est). Dans les deux dernières villes, les aéroports ont été fermés jusqu’à nouvel ordre. A Toamasina, fief du président Ratsiraka, les affrontements ont fait plusieurs blessés. D’autre part, pour sortir de la crise, le groupe de contact de l’OUA a proposé la mise en place d’un gouvernement de réconciliation nationale pour préparer une nouvelle  consultation électorale. Ce gouvernement intérimaire resterait au pouvoir six mois au maximum et organiserait une nouvelle consultation supervisée par l’OUA. Aux Malgaches à décider “de la forme que prendra cette consultation, référendum ou réorganisation du scrutin présidentiel”. - 13 mars. A Toamasina, des jeunes militants de Ratsiraka, armés de couteaux et de machettes, ont fait quatre morts, l’incident le plus meurtrier depuis les élections. D’autre part, le secrétaire général de l’OUA, Amara Essy, a reconnu que les efforts de l’organisation pour résoudre le conflit ont été un échec. Les propositions de l’OUA n’ont pas été reçues favorablement par les deux parties en conflit, a-t-il déclaré. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 13 mars 2002)

* Madagascar. Two Presidents — one State? — 7 March: African negotiators have held talks with the two men who claim to rule Madagascar. Few details have emerged but the leader of the delegation from the Organisation of African Unity said the meetings had been «very interesting and fruitful». The political crisis is threatening to split the African island state, with two governments declared and five provincial governors saying they now recognise an alternative capital to the opposition-controlled Antananarivo. The army is also split between supporters of incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka and his rival, Marc Ravalomanana, who says he won last December’s election. On arrival in Antananarivo on 6 March, the OAU team’s leader said: «We did not come to negotiate, we have come simply to renew contact and dialogue between the two parties». Shortly after former Cape Verde President Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro met Mr Ravalomanana, about 100 army officers entered the opposition leader’s officers via a back door. They met his defence «minister» General Jules Mamizara amid warnings of a possible civil war. The divisions look set to widen as the road linking Antananarivo to the rival «capital», Tamatave (Toamasina), has been cut by suspected supporters of incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka. According to two generals who have sworn allegiance to the new administration, 90% of the country’s soldiers now support Mr Ravalomanana. But a number of generals, including army chief of staff Ismael Mounibou, remain loyal to Mr Ratsiraka. General Mounibou warns that a split military could lead to civil war. 8 March: The United States has urged restraint on the two rival governments in Madagascar and called for a peaceful resolution to the political impasse that has developed since December’s presidential election. The State Department spokesman in Washington, Richard Boucher, also called on the country’s military to stay calm. He was speaking shortly after supporters the self-declared new head of state, Marc Ravalomanana, took control of the Defence Ministry in the capital, Antananarivo, today. 9 March: The Armed Forces Minister in the official government, General Marcel Ranjeva, has resigned. 10 March: On top of Madagascar’s political crisis, tropical Cyclone Harry skirts the east coast. Weather forecasters are hopeful it will remain at seas. 11 March: The defence minister appointed by self-proclaimed president Marc Ravalomanana was briefly denied access to his office on 11 March. General Jules Mamizara was only allowed into the building after negotiating with troops loyal to embattled President Didier Ratsiraka. It is not clear how much of the army — which analysts say is key to the battle for Madagascar — still remain loyal to Ratsiraka, but up to 200 officers have publicly pledged their support to Ravalomanana. The beleaguered president has remained almost entirely silent during the crisis. The only strategic building still remaining in Ratsiraka’s hands is the prime minister’s palace. 12 March: Clashes have broken out in eastern Madagascar with reports of a number of people being injured and killed in Tamatave (Toamasina). There has been fighting in the streets between President Ratsiraka’s supporters and those backing Mr Ravalomanana. The situation is reported as being tense. — The airports in Tamatave (Toamasina) and Sambava are shut down. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 13 March 2002)