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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 18-04-2002

PART #3/4 - From  GABON to  SOUTH AFRICA

* Gabon. Recent Ebola cases because of contact with gorilla — The recent cases of Ebola fever in Gabon resulted from contact with a gorilla whose remains were found to be positive for the virus when tested at the Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on 9 April. In its latest update, WHO says the cases were reported in villages north of Mekambo in the northern Ogooue-Invindo province. No cases had been reported in the area since February. In total, 65 confirmed cases including 53 deaths have so far been reported by the Gabonese Ministry of Health. In nearby Congo-Brazzaville, 32 cases including 20 deaths had been reported as at 29 March in Mbomo district, in the western Cuvette region while 23 deaths were reported in Kelle district. No indication of further disease activity was found in Mbomo. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 April 2002)

* Gabon. L’épidémie Ebola s’éteint — L’épidémie de fièvre hémorragique due au virus Ebola, qui sévit depuis l’année dernière dans le nord-est du Gabon, est en voie d’extinction, selon les données du dernier bulletin du ministère gabonais de la Santé. Celui-ci fait état de 53 morts et 12 convalescents, mais ne recense plus de “cas suspect”. (La Croix, France, 17 avril 2002)

* Ghana. Africa tackles water crisis — 15 April: An African regional conference on water is due to begin in the Ghanaian capital Accra. Sponsored by the African Development Bank, the conference aims to come up with a vision of how to address the problem of providing clean water to all people across the continent at an affordable price. Two million people, mostly in Africa, die needlessly each year, because water supplies are not being properly managed. This is the stark message from a United Nations report which will be presented to the conference. The report says that more than one billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water, and also says that half of the global population lacks adequate sanitation. In Africa the problem is stifling development, and the challenge for the conference is to come up with ideas which involve all sectors of society -government, private companies and water management experts -but which do not cost a lot of money. The emphasis is on sustainability rather than short-term fixes, and on co-operation rather than competition for scarce supplies. The UN has warned that unless Africa confronts the problem of proper water management, it will never escape the poverty trap. (BBC News, UK, 15 April 2002)

* Guinea. Liberian refugees still crossing to Guinea — The United Nations refugee agency has said that a steady stream of Liberians is continuing to cross into Guinea to escape fighting between government troops and rebels in their country. The agency said groups of up to 150 Liberians were crossing the border each day. It said some were in extremely poor physical condition, after having marched for weeks before reaching safety in Guinea. The UN agency said among the new arrivals were former Liberian refugees who had previously been repatriated from Guinea. It said there were now more than 70,000 Liberian refugees in Guinea, and more than 80,000 Sierra Leonean refugees (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 April 2002)

* Lesotho. Emphasis on conflict resolution in run-up to election — 11 April: With Lesotho’s elections set for 25 May the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is focusing on conflict resolution initiatives to avoid a recurrence of the unrest that followed 1998’s poll. The UNDP says special emphasis will be placed on the mobilisation of political parties, NGOs, traditional leaders, church and women’s groups to «play an active role in the electoral and democratisation processes. The UNDP itself will remain committed to maintaining its role as a neutral mediator and facilitate dialogue within Lesotho». The UNDP says that Lesotho faces vast economic and social problems, and political stability and good governance are fundamental for effectively addressing these challenges. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 12 April 2002)

* Liberia. Rétablir la paix — Le 17 avril, le Liberia a déployé d’importantes troupes militaires le long de sa frontière ouest, qu’il partage avec la Sierra Leone, a déclaré un porte-parole du ministère de la Défense. Ce déploiement s’est fait conformément à l’accord signé avec les autres Etats membres de l’Union du fleuve Mano (UFM), à savoir la Guinée et la Sierra Leone. Les trois pays ont conclu cet accord la semaine dernière à Agadir (Maroc), lors de leurs pourparlers de paix. La région de l’UFM connaît des remous politiques depuis une dizaine d’années. Selon le porte-parole, des troupes libériennes qui se sont déployées il y a quelques jours le long de la frontière nord, commune avec la Guinée, collaborent avec leurs congénères de ce pays déjà établis dans la zone. (PANA, Sénégal, 17 avril 2002)

* Liberia. UN dilemma on sanctions — 17 April: A UN expert panel has recommended the Security Council retain some sanctions against Liberia, although it acknowledges Monrovia is no longer fuelling a civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. The sanctions, including a diamond, weapons, and travel ban, were imposed a year ago to prevent Liberia from supporting rebels in Sierra Leone by supplying the brutal Revolutionary United Front with arms in exchange for diamonds. The report, commissioned by the UN Security Council and obtained by Reuters, is expected to be released on 19 April. The Council has to decide by May 7 whether to renew the sanctions. Saying it faced a «dilemma,» the panel noted the Sierra Leone government had declared that the decade-old civil war had ended and the RUF had been transformed into a political party. But it said a hard core of RUF members now serve as mercenaries for the Liberian government or fighters opposing it in an ongoing internal conflict as well as border skirmishes. «Under the changed set of circumstances, a question of reasonableness has been raised as to the continuation of sanctions against Liberia,» the panel said. «The main concern of the panel is the continued presence in Liberia of hard-core elements of the RUF, known as Independent RUF, and its possible repercussions for the whole subregion,» the report said. (CNN, USA, 17 April 2002)

* Madagascar. Tensions rise — 12 April: A Canadian missionary, Brother Roger Morin of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart of Lione, has been killed as forces loyal to Marc Ravalomanana try to seize control of Madagascar’s third town, Fianarantsoa. Troops backing the town’s incumbent governor in his hill-top residence exchange fire with the attackers. Reports indicate that the monk was hit by a stray bullet. 15 April: At least 37 people have been wounded in fresh clashes between security forces loyal to incumbent president Didier Ratsiraka and supporters of his rival, Marc Ravalomanana. The clashes occurred in the town of Mahajanga, about 600 km north-west of Antananarivo. It is the latest incident in an increasingly violent confrontation between the two sides. 16 April: NGOs warn that «time is running out for finding a peaceful solution in Madagascar». 17 April: Further violence has flared in Madagascar as the island’s rival leaders prepare for renewed mediation efforts to end the political crisis. Three people including an army general were killed in the second city, Fianarantsoa, which has become a serious flashpoint in recent weeks. — The incumbent president, Didier Ratsiraka, and the self-declared president, Marc Ravalomanana, flew to Senegal, yesterday, for proposed peace talks. — The Supreme Court has annulled the elections results. The Court declared void a previous decision by the High Constitutional Court. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 April 2002)

* Madagascar. Violences et espoirs — 10 avril. Le Conseil chrétien des Eglises de Madagascar (FFKM), resté silencieux depuis des semaines, a adressé un message au peuple malgache dans lequel il “s’oppose et condamne tout acte de violence irréfléchi entraînant des morts d’hommes, ainsi que toute destruction de biens d’autrui”. Il demande “à tous les Malgaches de mettre fin aux actes de violence où qu’ils soient et quels que soient leurs auteurs et commanditaires”. Pour la première fois depuis le début de la crise à Madagascar, le FFKM, très influent, semble critiquer les actes de violence du camp du président autoproclamé Marc Ravalomanana. - 12 avril. A Fianarantsoa, la troisième ville du pays, à 400 km au sud de la capitale, des combats ont opposé des militaires ralliés au président autoproclamé M. Ravalomanana, épaulés par des civils, à des gendarmes et des militaires qui défendent le palais du gouverneur Emilson, fidèle au président sortant Didier Ratsiraka, qui s’y est retranché. Un missionnaire canadien de la congrégation des Frères du Sacré Coeur, le frère Joseph Morin-Roger (76 ans), habitant une maison voisine, a été tué de plusieurs balles. Le 13 avril, 5 soldats “loyalistes” y ont été tués et 18 autres blessés dans une embuscade dressée par des partisans de Ravalomanana. C’est la première fois depuis l’indépendance que des militaires malgaches s’entretuent, commente une source locale, et la sacro-sainte unité de l’armée ne semble plus qu’une illusion. - 15 avril. Les forces de police ont dispersé une manifestation d’opposants à Mahajanga (nord-ouest); 37 jeunes, partisants de Ravalomanana, ont été blessés. L’évolution de la crise reste suspendue à l’éventualité d’une rencontre entre Ratsiraka et Ravalomanana à Dakar, où se tient la conférence internationale sur le Nepad. Les deux hommes s’y sont rendus. - 16 avril. Dans la nuit, un pont a été détruit à l’explosif à environ 90 km au sud d’Antananarivo, sur une route nationale reliant la capitale aux villes du sud, afin d’accentuer le blocage de la capitale. A Fianarantsoa, deux femmes ont été tuées par des tirs à l’aveuglette des militaires pro-Ratsiraka, et un général loyaliste a été assassiné dans un hôpital. Le soir à Dakar, les deux dirigeants rivaux ont finalement accepté l’idée d’une rencontre. Un certain nombre de chefs d’Etat africains se sont succédé pour trouver une solution. Au même moment, la Cour suprême de Madagascar annonçait l’annulation des résultats de la présidentielle du 16 décembre, laissant le soin d’un nouveau décompte à une autre instance. - 17 avril. A Dakar, après plus de sept heures de discussions entre les deux protagonistes de la crise, le président sénégalais M. Wade s’est dit “très optimiste”. MM. Ratsiraka et Ravalomanana se sont même donné l’accolade. On apprenait de bonne source qu’un accord pourrait reposer sur “le partage du pouvoir, le temps d’une transition” devant déboucher sur l’organisation d’un “scrutin susceptible de rétablir la légalité institutionnelle”. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 avril 2002)

* Mali. Projet d’irrigation — La Banque africaine de développement (BAD) a approuvé une allocation de 590 millions de fcfa (787.000 dollars) en vue du financement d’une étude de faisabilité d’un projet d’irrigation de 5.000 ha à Phedie et à Sabalibougou, dans le sud du Mali, a rapporté la BAD le 11 avril. “Le développement des plans de l’Office des zones du Niger va générer à long terme 30.000 tonnes supplémentaires de riz et 6.000 tonnes de produits de jardin pour le marché. La participation des communautés garantira l’émergence d’un projet viable. L’infrastructure planifiée permettra une couverture accrue des besoins alimentaires grâce à des cultures intensifiées”, a indiqué la banque. (IRIN, Abidjan, 11 avril 2002)

* Mali. Transparency at the core of presidential elections — 11 April: Mali has mandated two new bodies to ensure transparency in presidential elections due later this month, and allocated equal time on state radio and space in the government newspaper for each candidate, officials in the capital, Bamako, said on 10 April. Some 24 candidates are vying for the presidency. The National Electoral Independent Commission and the General Delegation for the Elections will supervise the 28 April polls, in addition to the Ministry of Territorial Administration. The three have distinct but complementary roles. The candidates have been allocated 10 minutes per week on state radio; a six-minute spot on state television, and an additional 10 minutes to field questions from a journalist on the state television. Candidates are also entitled to a quarter of a page free space in the state owned daily, l’Essor. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 12 April 2002)

* Maroc. Code de la presse controversé — Le 11 avril, la Chambre marocaine des conseillers (Sénat) a adopté un nouveau code de la presse controversé, après un léger amendement de la version adoptée à la Chambre des représentants. Le secrétaire général du Syndicat national de la presse marocaine (SNPM), Younes Moujahid, a qualifié le nouveau code de “régression déplorable en matière de libertés”. Le principal point controversé est le maintien des peines d’emprisonnement pour diffamation. Plusieurs ONG marocaines, dont des associations de défense des droits de l’homme, l’association des écrivains du Maroc et une association d’avocats, ont dénoncé le nouveau code et appelé à une mobilisation pour obtenir son amendement. M. Moujahid a indiqué que le SNPM décidera des moyens de protestation à adopter. (PANA, Sénégal, 11 avril 2002)

* Nigeria. Switzerland to give back Abacha millions — 17 April: Switzerland is to give Nigeria back hundreds of millions of dollars of embezzled state funds stashed away in the country’s banks by former military ruler General Sani Abacha. Swiss banks will be ordered to return $535m under an out-of-court settlement between the Nigerian authorities and General Abacha’s family and business associates, the Swiss Federal Justice Department said. Under the deal, a total of around $1bn will be transferred to Nigeria from banks around the world, the ministry said in a statement on 17 April. In return, the country’s authorities have said they will drop criminal proceedings against members of the former leader’s family. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 April 2002)

* Rwanda. Training of gacaca judges begins — On 8 April, the training began of almost 255,000 judges who will preside in Rwanda’s gacaca courts — a form of popular or traditional justice for those accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide. All but the highest category of genocide crimes will be judged by these courts. A total of 781 gacaca instructors were trained between 4 February and 14 March, all of them magistrates or final year law students, Hirondelle reported. The trainees are known as “les intégrés”, as they were chosen by their own communities as being people with integrity. Since 1996, Rwandan law has divided genocide suspects into four categories, who will be judged at four administrative levels by the gacaca courts, according to Hirondelle. Category four consists of those accused of looting or destroying victims’ property during the genocide; category three of those defined as «the person who has committed or became accomplice of serious attacks without the intention of causing death to victims»; category two of those accused of killing; and category one of those accused of rape and other sexual torture. Neither accused nor victim has the right to counsel, nor has the accused any right to appeal against the categorisation of his or her crime, a designation with great consequences in relation to possible punishments. Those assigned to category one will be sentenced to death if found guilty. (IRIN, 10 April 2002)

* Rwanda. Juger les crimes de 1994 — Le président rwandais Paul Kagame a demandé plus de soutien de la part de la communauté internationale pour arrêter les responsables du génocide de 1994 et les déférer devant la justice, rapporte La Libre Belgique. Selon un communiqué de la présidence rwandaise, “certains suspects vivent tranquillement en liberté malgré leur implication dans le génocide, dont ils sont parfois les instigateurs”. Il cite le cas de Séraphin Rwabukumba, résidant en Belgique, mais d’autres suspects vivent en France, en Italie et dans d’autres pays. -D’autre part, selon IRIN, le procureur du Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda, Carla del Ponte, a ouvert une enquête sur des membres de l’Armée patriotique rwandaise en ce qui concerne des crimes commis contre des Hutu en 1994, mais elle n’est “pas satisfaite” du niveau de coopération reçu jusqu’à présent par les autorités rwandaises. Selon sa porte-parole, Mme del Ponte avait demandé et reçu des garanties de coopération dans le cadre de toutes les enquêtes menées par le TPIR, notamment celles concernant les atrocités qu’aurait perpétrées le FPR, mais la réalité s’est avérée bien différente. “Nous n’avons pas reçu le soutien que nous attendions”, a-t-elle indiqué. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 avril 2002)

* Senegal. NEPAD talks begin without key men — 15 April: An African summit to court money for an ambitious revival plan opens without its anticipated fanfare, after three of the project’s main architects said they could not come. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) aims to propel the poorest continent from the margins of the global economy through massive investments from richer countries, in return for democracy and good governance. This week’s meeting in Senegal is to court business support and discuss financing for the plan, which is estimated to need $64 billion a year — more than four times aid to Africa in 1999 and seven times foreign direct investment. But the leaders of South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy, and Nigeria, its most populous nation, said they would not be able to come. Algeria’s president, another driving force behind NEPAD, will also not attend. There was no official explanation from Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade’s office, but conference sources said South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki was working on a peace deal for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had been due to open the conference on Monday, was staying at home for a visit by Chinese President Jiang Zemin. «There are many other heads of state. It will be a good occasion to see what kind of business we can do in their respective countries,» said Frank Savage of the US Corporate Council for Africa, a group promoting business ties. As well as asking hundreds of business representatives to come and discuss projects for roads, telecommunications, energy and agriculture, the meeting will serve to prepare proposals for a Group of Eight summit in Canada in June. The G8, the world’s main industrialised countries plus Russia, have given moral support to the Africa plan. In Canada, G8 leaders will discuss what they can do to ensure it meets with more success than failed Africa-wide development schemes of the past. In return for their support, rich countries expect African countries to make good on promises of greater respect for democracy, human rights and the fight against corruption. (CNN, USA, 15 April 2002)

* Sierra Leone. Second polio immunisation round ends — A second polio immunisation round targeting children under five years has ended in eight districts in the north and east of Sierra Leone, Alhassan Seisay, coordinator of the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation at the Ministry of Health, said on 10 April. At least 658,000 children were targeted in the 6-8 April round. However, it was expected that the actual figure could be higher due to an influx of people who fled fighting between rebels and government troops in neighbouring Liberia. «Because of the problems in Liberia there were lots of children coming in and so we expect more in the second round,» he said. In the first round, which took place 2-4 March, some 647,931 children were vaccinated, a coverage of almost 98 percent. Vitamin A, that helps help prevent night-blindness, measles, diarrhoea and chest infections, was also administered, he said. The programme covered districts that had become newly accessible following the end of hostilities between the Revolutionary United Front and the Government of Sierra Leone, namely Bombali, Kambia, Koinadugu, Port Loko and Tonkolili in the north and Kailahun, Kenema and Kono in the east of the country. Key partners in the programme were the World Health Organisation, the UN Children’s Fund and Rotary International, while secondary partners included NGOs. (IRIN, 10 April 2002)

* South Africa. Steeped in the culture of violence — 10 April: South Africa is so steeped in violence, it has become a way of life, a culture that holds a dangerous allure for today’s youth. «I was born in a cruel world, I’m living in a cruel world, and I’ll die in a cruel world. I haven’t got money so what must I do? I must steal that car to get money to support my wife and children and my brothers. They are all looking up to me.» So speaks «Killer», a gangster working for a car hijacking syndicate in Johannesburg. He is typical of the «amagents» — the streetwise gangsters motivated by need, and greed, who fuel the crime wave and the fear which pervades South Africa’s townships. They are mostly young, some only 12 or 13 years old, but they have already been initiated into violence. In 2000, the child protection organisation, Childline, ran a national art competition to raise awareness around the issue of child abuse. The theme was «Rainbow Kids». At least 70% of the pictures submitted by 2,000 children showed images of death, guns, abuse, drugs, drunkenness, poverty and despair. (BBC News, UK, 10 April 2002)