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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 11-04-2002

PART #3/4 - From  GHANA to  NIGERIA

* Ghana. A murdered monarch — A week after the gruesome murder of the Dagbon king in northern Ghana, no arrangements have yet been made for his funeral. Police have still not found his head and arm, which were hacked off from his body after he was shot. The region’s inhabitants are still in shock and nobody is even thinking about who might succeed him - for fear of reigniting the bloody dispute between rival clans which led to the killing of the king, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, and 27 others. Even now, some people do not accept his death, despite the daily reminder of the fighting. Soldiers and police are patrolling the streets and the state of emergency and curfew have been extended for another six weeks. But the truth is that the Lion of Dagbon, as he was known, is no more. It all started as a relatively minor dispute over the celebration of the annual Bugum or Fire Festival. The Fire Festival marks the beginning of the year. It starts in the morning of the ninth day of the first month of the Islamic calendar with the recitation of the Koran, after which a cow is killed and sacrificed to the gods. At night, people light torches along the road amid drumming and dancing. They finally converge at the chief’s palace where they are told  of what to expect in the coming year. It is also a period for individuals to sacrifice to their ancestors and gods and test their magical powers. People who are confident of their magical powers make others shoot at them or cut them with machetes. If they are not hurt, it means that their powers are working. It was the celebration of this festival, which dates back to the 15th century, that led to the shocking killing of the king, the first regicide in the 600 years history of the Dagbon state. The murder also has political undertones. The Abudu faction, who are aligned to the New Patriotic Party government, have constantly demanded that they should be rewarded for their role in the party’s December 2000 electoral victory by removing the Ya-Na - who is from the rival Andani clan — and replacing him with one of their own. But since the occupancy to the Dagbon kingship was decided by the Supreme Court, the government is powerless. Malik Alhassan Yakubu, the minister of the interior and Yendi MP, who has resigned over the Dagbon crisis, and several other government figures are all Dagombas from the Abudu faction. But Mr Yakubu denies that he had any involvement in the factional dispute, which has been raging since the 1960s. (Editor’s update: On 5 April, Parliament extended by six weeks the state of emergency imposed in the Dagbon traditional area.) (BBC News, UK, 5 April 2002)

* Guinée-Bissau. Ligue des droits de l’homme sous censure — La semaine dernière, le procureur de la République de Guinée-Bissau, Caetano Intchama, a émis un ordre à tous les médias leur interdisant de publier toute information émanant de la Ligue guinéenne des droits de l’homme (LGDH). Selon le vice-président de la ligue, il s’agit d’un nouveau pas en vue de réduire la LGDH au silence. L’organisation projette une manifestation, le 9 avril, pour protester contre une série d’actions entreprises contre la ligue. Ainsi, le 4 avril, deux responsables de la LGDH ont été jugés coupables par un tribunal à Bissau d’une accusation de “manque de respect présumé” à l’égard de M. Intchama au cours d’une enquête en rapport à une malversation de fonds. Au début de février, Amnesty International a déclaré que les militants des droits de l’homme et les opposants politiques en Guinée-Bissau sont confrontés à “un assaut soutenu” contre leurs activités. (IRIN, Abidjan, 8 avril 2002)

* Equatorial Guinea. Applies to join WTO — The West African nation of Equatorial Guinea has asked for observer status at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and plans to apply for full  membership. The government was acting because it could not «remain on the fringes of the globalisation and development of the world’s economy», the WTO said in a statement. «At the international level, Equatorial Guinea’s political philosophy is a free market economy within the context of trade liberalization, which is also one of the principles underpinning the creation of the WTO,» it added. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo — a former brigadier general who seized power in a military coup in 1973 — has begun to liberalise the economy and tried to encourage US investment. Equatorial Guinea’s economy was dependent upon agriculture but this situation was drastically changed with the discovery of large oil reserves. The country now depends on oil for 90% of its exports with cocoa, coffee and timber accounting for the remainder. Its biggest export partners are the US, China, Japan, France and former colonial power Spain. (BBC News, UK, 4 April 2002)

* Guinée équatoriale. Vague d’arrestations — Les autorités de la Guinée équatoriale ont arrêté près d’une centaine de personnes soupçonnées d’avoir participé à une tentative de coup d’Etat le mois dernier, a annoncé l’opposition. Selon Placido Miko, du parti d’opposition Convergence pour la démocratie sociale, au moins 92 personnes ont été arrêtées, des soldats pour la plupart, mais aussi des femmes et des enfants. Selon Miko,  les prisonniers avaient été victimes de tortures, ce que le gouvenement a nié. Les autorités ont dit avoir déjoué un coup d’Etat destiné à chasser du pouvoir le président Obiang Nguema. Cette vague de détentions souligne la fragilité politique de ce pays d’un demi-million d’habitants, où on a démarré l’exploitation d’une plate-forme pétrolière off shore, donnant un gigantesque coup de fouet à l’économie. Les Guinéens sont toutefois très peu nombreux à profiter de cette manne, qui a théoriquement fait grimper le revenu annuel moyen de moins de 371 dollars en 1995 à plus de 2.000 aujourd’hui. (Reuters, 8 avril 2002)

* Kenya. Bartering for maize — Kenya’s National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has initiated a radical «in kind» payment system for small scale maize farmers after running out of money to pay them directly for their produce. Farmers will now receive seed, fuel and fertiliser directly from Kenya Seed Company, Norsk Hydro and Caltex Oil (Kenya) instead of cash. «We came up with this interim support package where we have gone directly to suppliers of seed, fertilizers and fuel and agreed with them to supply (to farmers) on credit, which we would guarantee,» Dr Julius Rotich, managing director of the National Cereals and Produce Board, said. «When we get the funds, we will pay where farmers have incurred expenses.» In the past, the NCPB has always played an important role in the Kenyan farming community by buying the crops of small farmers at a guaranteed minimum amount. The organisation then sells them on at a profit when prices are high and uses those profits to guarantee the minimum when prices are low. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 April 2002)

* Kenya. Déclaration de patrimoine — Les leaders kényans pourront bientôt être obligés de rendre publique la source de leurs revenus, dans le cadre des efforts visant à combattre la corruption, a-t-on appris le 5 avril de source sûre à Nairobi. En cas d’adoption du projet de loi qui sera soumis au Parlement la semaine prochaine, le président de la République, les ministres, les hauts fonctionnaires et les députés seront obligés de révéler la façon dont ils ont acquis leur patrimoine et l’origine de leurs avoirs. La corruption est considérée par la Banque mondiale et le FMI comme l’une des principales raisons de la rétention de l’aide extérieure au Kenya. Selon le projet, les responsables de l’administration seront contraints de soumettre chaque année en décembre une déclaration faisant le point de leurs revenus, biens et dettes, ainsi que de ceux de leurs conjoints et enfants à charge. (PANA, Sénégal, 5 avril 2002)

* Kenya. Air traffic strikers arrested — 8 April: Police have arrested at least 20 air traffic controllers in an attempt to break a strike that has lasted for nearly 10 days, according to  union leaders. Twelve were arrested today, and eight others appear before a court in the coastal city Mombasa on charges of incitement. The official say the arrests have forced some union members to go into hiding. The Kenyan Government has already sacked 32 air traffic controllers and suspended 82 others for going on strike over pay. The sackings follow a call by the Kenyan President, Daniel arap Moi, for retired air traffic controllers to return to work to replace former colleagues. Senior managers have been manning the control towers, preventing major delays to international flights, although some charter flights to the coastal resort of Mombasa have been cancelled. Those dismissed have been told they must vacate their government houses by this afternoon. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 April 2002)

* Kenya. Local herdsmen complain of British army ordnance being left around — Hundreds of Kenyan tribespeople who say they were maimed after recent British Army exercises in their country are likely to win compensation from the UK Government. The British Ministry of Defence (MOD) has agreed to negotiate with the Kenyans’ lawyers with a view to agreeing a settlement. The MOD has always rejected their claims and still denies liability but earlier this week the ministry agreed to enter court-sponsored mediation with the Kenyans’ lawyers. British regiments train in Kenya for several months each year but people who live near the training grounds say they have been careless about cleaning up afterwards. There have been 220 Masai and Samburu tribespeople suing in the UK courts after losing their hands, feet or legs. They say the injuries were caused by unexploded British bombs, shells or mines left lying around on their land. The negotiation process is one that nearly always results in a swift offer of settlement. Martyn Day, the Kenyans’ London solicitor, said the MOD had told him that they would make an offer. He hoped for and expected a substantial one, he said. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 April 2002)

* Liberia. Rebels strike again — 4 April: Government forces have regained control of Kakata - about 50km from, Monrovia — after the town was attacked by rebels known as Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) on 3 April. The Liberian authorities say at least three civilians died in the fighting. Many of Kakata’s residents fled to neighbouring rubber plantations. Lurd rebels based in northern Liberia have waged a sporadic campaign against the government of President Charles Taylor since mid-2000, but have pushed south towards Monrovia in recent months. — The Lurd rebels launch a fresh series of hit-and-run attacks near the capital Monrovia, attacking the town of Tubmanburg, 60km north-west of Monrovia. In the attack on Tubmanburg, the rebels appeared to have come from the direction of Bopolu, their main stronghold. There are no details on  casualties. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 April 2002)

* Liberia. «Conflict timber» — The organisation Global Witness says that one of the world’s leading timber buyers, D.L.H. Nordisk, has misled the international community over its purchases of «conflict timber» from Liberia. Global Witness has called upon the company to stop dealing with Liberian logging companies who, according to the UN, are said to be involved in arms trafficking. (Global Witness, UK, 8 April 2002)

* Madagascar. Evasion spectaculaire — Le 7 avril, la plus grande prison d’Antananarivo a été le théâtre d’une évasion collective. A la mi-journée, un violent incendie a éclaté à deux endroits distincts dans la prison d’Antanimora, afin de détourner l’attention des gardiens. Aussitôt, des prisonniers ont sauté par-dessus le mur de cet établissement. Le soir, 7 détenus étaient encore en fuite sur les 123 qui s’étaient échappés. Marc Ravalomanana a accusé le président sortant, Didier Ratsiraka, de vouloir “semer le trouble” dans la capitale. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 avril 2002)

* Madagascar. Crisis takes toll — 4 April: Fuel shortage and the road blocks erected in Antananarivo by pro-Didier Ratsiraka’s supporters, have complicated the political crisis in Madagascar. Economic activities have been crippled and could force many enterprises to lay off personnel if the situation persists. Apart from the roadblocks, strategic bridges linking many cities have been destroyed by loyalists of incumbent President Ratsiraka, after Marc Ravalomanana proclaimed himself President. The price of fuel in Antananarivo’s black market has risen to 35,000 Malagasy francs (MF) from 4,010 MF a litre. (6,500 MF =1 Euro). Prices of salt and sugar have also sky-rocketed, while cooking gas is out of stock, forcing the price of charcoal to triple. Air Madagascar run by a close associate of the Ratsiraka has suspended all flights and Ratsiraka has vowed that the blockade would not be lifted until Ravalomanana dissolved his government. 5 April: Marc Ravalomanana, has said the country is in «a state of war» after months of political division. A national security council would be set up to hunt down «enemies of the nation», he said in a televised address to the nation. This marks a dramatic change of tone after months of generally peaceful demonstrations and political stand-off. 9 April: Various neighbourhoods in Antananarivo are attacked by unidentified assailants. Houses belonging to 4 principal executives of the Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar (AREMA), President Ratsiraka’s political party, are attacked. 10 April: The Supreme Court cancels the appointment of six of the nine members of the Constitutional High Court, which had officially announced the election results. In an interview with MISNA, Ravalomanana says «this decision completely changes the political scenario of the nation». — The President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, has invited Madagascar’s two rival leaders to his country for urgent peace talks. Mr Wade said there was a danger that Madagascar’s incumbent President, Didier Ratsiraka, and his rival Marc Ravalomanana could destroy their country. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 April 2002)

* Madagascar. Durcissement — 5 avril. Le président autoproclamé Ravalomanana, durcissant le ton, a appelé ses sympathisants à affronter ceux de son rival Ratsiraka, qui ont érigé des barrages autour de la capitale, empêchant son approvisionnement. “La nation est en danger et a besoin de ses enfants pour la protéger”, a-t-il affirmé, l’air fatigué et tendu, annonçant son intention d’instaurer un conseil national de sécurité formé de militaires et d’élus locaux. - Le lundi 8 mars, des militaires ont fait un mort et plusieurs blessés à Antananarivo en tirant sur des partisans de Ravalomanana (ou des pillards) qui marchaient sur la résidence d’un proche du président sortant Ratsiraka. Plusieurs résidences de proches conseillers ou de ministres de M. Ratsiraka ont été pillées ou incendiées dans la nuit du dimanche au lundi. D’autre part, selon l’agence PANA, une conférence internationale pourrait rassembler dans les prochains jours les deux rivaux, Ravalomanana et Ratsiraka. La rencontre devrait se tenir en terrain neutre, sous l’égide de la Commission de l’océan Indien (COI), de l’OUA et des Nations unies. Selon des sources proches de la COI, l’annonce officielle de la rencontre pourrait se faire dans les prochains jours. Ratsiraka et Ravalomanana ont tous deux assuré qu’ils participeraient à cette conférence. -9 avril. “Bavure” des partisans de Ravalomanana: un homme du clan de Ratsiraka, Gaby Roland Rajaonarivelo, est mort d’un traumatisme crânien, quelques heures après son arrestation à Antananarivo. Il s’agit du premier mort du camp adverse. Deux autres hommes interpellés en même temps que lui ont été hospitalisés. - 10 avril. La Cour suprême a annulé la nomination par le président sortant Ratsiraka de six des neuf membres de la Haute Cour constitutionnelle, qui avait proclamé les résultats officiels de l’élection présidentielle, à l’origine de la crise. Cette décision ne signifie pas pour autant automatiquement l’annulation des résultats officiels du premier tour de l’élection, a indiqué un magistrat. Mais selon M. Ravalomanana, elle “change totalement le scénario politique dans le pays”. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 avril 2002)

* Malawi. IMF delays aid to Malawi — 9 April: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has delayed the release of new money to Malawi, blaming the government’s failure to account for where funds were being spent. Only an initial $8m of a $55m poverty reduction and growth programme has been paid out to the southern African country, a local representative of the IMF said. The decision comes despite a declared state of national disaster in the country because of widespread famine which has affected 70% of the population. In a written statement, the IMF representative to Malawi, Girma Begashaw, said the money was withheld because the government had not complied with the agreed transparency conditions to receive the money. «Now the government will need to bring the programme back on track by implementing the agreed macroeconomic and structural reform measures so that disbursements can resume,» said Mr Begashaw. Finance minister, Friday Jumbe, said he was preparing strict budgetary controls to win back donor confidence. The IMF‘s decision comes after it praised Malawi’s financial sector liberalisation in February. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 April 2002)

* Malawi. Le FMI suspend son aide — Le FMI n’a débloqué que 8 millions de dollars sur les 55 qu’il avait réservés pour le Malawi en décembre 2000, évoquant des divergences avec le gouvernement de ce pays sur les réformes macro-économiques et structurelles. Selon le représentant du FMI au Malawi, M. Begashaw, le gouvernement du Malawi n’a toujours pas appliqué la plupart des conditions acceptées. La corruption, les politiques inadéquates et la mauvaise gouvernance rendent l’aide financière inefficace et même contre-productive, a insisté M. Begashaw. Le ministre des Finances du Malawi, Friday Jumbe, a indiqué quant à lui, qu’il élaborait des mesures strictes de contrôle budgétaire afin de regagner la confiance des donateurs. (PANA, Sénégal, 10 avril 2002)

* Mali. 24 candidats à la présidentielle — Le vendredi 5 avril, la Cour constitutionnelle a publié la liste de 24 candidats retenus pour l’élection présidentielle du 27 avril. Les responsables du ministère de l’Administration territoriale sont visiblement surpris par ce nombre pléthorique. “C’est un véritable cauchemar”, se lamente un haut cadre. “Où allons-nous trouver les fonds nécessaires?”. On estime en effet que chaque candidat coûtera 87 millions de FCFA au pays. D’autre part, quelques heures seulement après la publication de la liste, 17 recours en annulation de la candidature du général Amadou Toumani Touré ont été déposés. Cette candidature a suscité une vive controverse. Ses adversaires lui reprochent de n’avoir pas effectivement démissionné de l’armée, comme le veut la loi électorale. La Cour statuera sur ces recours le samedi. (D’après PANA, Sénégal, 5 avril 2002)

* Mali. Bishops launch an appeal — In an Open Letter to the people of Mali in view of the forthcoming presidential election on 28 April and of future parliamentary elections, the country’s Catholic Bishops, without telling people how they should vote, urge all Malians to be vigilant and to exercise their democratic rights in a circumspect way. At least 18 candidates have presented themselves for election. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 6 April 2002)

* Maroc. Manifestation monstre pro-palestinienne — Le dimanche 7 avril, plusieurs centaines de milliers de personnes ont défilé à Rabat en faveur de la cause palestinienne. Des sources officielles évoquent plus d’un demi-million de personnes. C’est la plus grande mobilisation propalestinienne internationale. Alors que dans les autres pays arabes les rassemblements sont à peine tolérés ou strictement encadrés, le cortège marocain s’est ébroué librement. La tonalité de la manifestation était très antiaméricaine. Le nom du président Bush était conspué. Et une pancarte déclarait Colin Powell “persona non grata” alors qu’il est attendu ce lundi au Maroc pour le début de sa mission au Proche-Orient. - Le 8 avril, le palais royal a annoncé que le roi Mohammed VI a décidé d’annuler les festivités populaires qui devaient accompagner son mariage le 12 avril à Marakech, en raison des “drames” vécus par le peuple palestinien. Les festivités seront limitées à “une cérémonie familiale au palais”, a-t-on indiqué. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 9 avril 2002)

* Mozambique. Mozambique knows what it wants — Good, transparent government is distinguishing Mozambique from its Southern African neighbours and endearing it to donors, who are pouring millions of dollars worth of development aid into government coffers. On 9 April, donors said that legal and regulatory reforms, determination to rebuild a country devastated by war and natural disasters, and a good relationship with funders, helped secure aid for the country while its neighbours struggled to attract pledges. Recent boosts to the country’s recovery include US $30 million from the United States this month to help combat malaria and HIV/AIDS, and about US $ 67 million from Belgium in December for health care reconstruction. The World Bank said in October 2001 that international donors had pledged US $700 million to Mozambique. The country was also selected by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as one of the world’s few countries eligible for the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and a reduction in debt repayment. (IRIN, 9 April 2002)

* Niger/France. Coopération — Le 9 avril à Niamey, la 22e session de la Commission mixte nigéro-française de coopération a pris fin par la signature d’un document-cadre devant régir les relations entre les deux pays. Les grands axes du document sont la promotion de la bonne gouvernance et de la décentralisation, ainsi que le développement social et économique. Une attention particulière sera accordée au développement du secteur rural et la sécurité alimentaire. A l’occasion de la session, le Niger et la France ont signé quatre conventions de près de 3 milliards de fcfa (plus de 3 millions de dollars) destinés au développement rural et de l’agriculture au Niger, à la protection de l’environnement et à l’appui de la professionalisation des acteurs culturels. (PANA, Sénégal, 10 avril 2002)

* Nigeria. Une autre condamnée fait appel — Le 4 avril, Amina Lawal, une Nigériane condamnée le 22 mars à la peine de mort par lapidation, pour avoir eu un enfant alors qu’elle était divorcée, a fait appel pour “vice de procédure”. Cette affaire met en relief un fait peu connu: nombreuses sont les femmes nigérianes à être condamnées à mort par lapidation pour adultère par des tribunaux islamiques des Etats musulmans du nord du Nigeria. Toutes ne bénéficient pas d’un soutien international comme Safiya Husaini qui, ayant fait appel, a été acquittée le 22 mars. D’autres Nigérianes, moins médiatisées, ont cependant été acquittées. (La Croix, France, 5 avril 2002)

* Nigeria. Government wins battle for oil — 5 April: The Nigerian Government has won a legal battle in the Supreme Court over the control of revenue from the country’s offshore oil industry. The court ruled that money from offshore oil fields should be shared equally between the country’s 36 states. Oil-producing states already receive extra revenue from oil discovered on their territory — and they had wanted to receive additional cash for oil found offshore. The Supreme Court’s ruling declared that the seaward boundary of a coastal state is its low-water mark. So if an oil well is situated on shore, on the beach, or in an freshwater creek or lagoon, it is legally within the boundaries of the state. But if it is offshore, it is legally in federal Nigerian territory. The verdict is going to infuriate the governments of Nigeria’s six coastal, oil-producing states. The revenue from oil and gas is collected by the Federal government and shared out between the whole country. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 6 April 2002)