* Sudan. Truce and Peace Talks — 17 October: Sudan’s main rebel group, the SPLA, has accused the Sudanese Government of violating a truce between them only 10 minutes after it came into effect. SPLA spokesman Yasser Arman says that government forces have attacked rebel positions in eastern Sudan and he warns that the incident would damage renewed moves towards peace. The agreement to suspend hostilities was signed two days ago and comes into force today at 0900 GMT, as peace talks resumed in the Kenyan town of Machakos. The two sides have begun discussing a political settlement to end 19 years of conflict between the Arab and Muslim dominated north and the mainly Christian and animist south. Mr Arman, speaking by telephone from Eritrea, said an attack was launched at 0910 GMT on Rassai, near the Eritrean border, which rebels had taken in a recent offensive. 18 October: Sudan denies it has broken a truce signed with rebels this week and insists it is committed to peace negotiations. Truce violations have been reported in eastern Sudan, where the SPLA said its positions had been attacked by government forces just 10 minutes after the truce came into force. However, the government says the  rebel forces in the east get their real backing from Eritrea rather than from the SPLA. The Sudanese delegation at the peace talks in Kenya says in a statement issued in Nairobi that the government «reiterates its commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding on resumption of talks and cessation of hostilities... and categorically denies all claims of violations.» But it says the agreement does not stop Sudan «repulsing aggression» from Eritrea, which it accuses of having attacked and occupied territory in eastern Sudan before the cease-fire. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 19 October 2002)

* Soudan. Difficiles négociations — 19 octobre. Le gouvernement soudanais a réfuté les accusations du Mouvement de libération du peuple du Soudan (SPLM) selon lesquelles il aurait violé l’accord de cessez-le-feu signé le 15 octobre, avant la reprise des négociations de paix à Machakos. Selon le gouvernement, l’action militaire n’était pas dirigée contre le SPLM, mais contre les forces de l’Erythrée qui ont occupé la ville frontière d’Old Rasai. Mais selon le SPLM, l’accord de cessez-le-feu couvre tout le Soudan et pas uniquement les régions sous son contrôle. - 21 octobre. Une mission d’information de l’Union africaine est à Khartoum pour enquêter sur les allégations du Soudan concernant l’agression militaire de la part de l’Erythrée. D’autre part, le président El-Béchir a menacé de se retirer des négociations de paix à Machakos, après avoir pris connaissance de certaines positions de l’IGAD (Autorité intergouvernementale pour le développement, médiateur dans le conflit) au sujet des violations présumées du cessez-le-feu par l’armée soudanaise. (PANA et Misna, 19-21 octobre 2002)

* Sudan. Equatoria relief ban lifted — 20 October: Sudan’s government has lifted a ban on relief flights to the southern Equatoria region after it signed a cease-fire with southern rebels. «We believe that the reasons behind the ban are no longer valid,» the commissioner for humanitarian relief, Sulaful Deen Mohamed Salih, said. «The signing of the memorandum of cessation of hostilities has paved the way and we have not noticed any violations now in Equatoria region.» A spokeswoman for the UN World Food Program in Kenya, Laura Melo, said the United Nations had only been notified that it could resume flights to the government-held town of Juba in Equatoria. She said talks between the government, rebels and the United Nations to resume humanitarian flights to the rest of southern Sudan were scheduled for 23 October in Kenya. «We sincerely hope that the agreement to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid will be implemented as soon as possible,» Melo said. Sudan banned flights to the area after the Sudan People’s Liberation Army overran the town of Torit on 31 August. (CNN, USA, 21 October 2002)

* South Africa. Pretoria acts on cash laundering — South Africa is to enforce strict financial regulations, Trevor Manuel, finance minister, said on 18 October at the launch of the Money Laundering Advisory Council in Pretoria. The council will examine draft regulations to curb dubious financial activities. The new rules will be published before the end of the year and will take effect at the beginning of 2003. (Financial Times, UK, 19 October 2002)

* Afrique du Sud. Un espoir pour les séropositives — Les séropostitives sud-africaines pourront bientôt éviter de transmettre le VIH à leur bébé. Jusqu’à présent distribuée dans le service privé, la névirapine, l’antiviral réduisant la transmission materno-foetale du sida, le sera dans le public d’ici à un an, grâce à un accord conclu le 15 octobre entre la branche sud-africaine du laboratoire allemand Boehringer Ingelheim et Aspen Pharmacare, une firme locale. Le premier a autorisé le second à produire et à exporter une copie générique de cette molécule. Le gouvernement sud-africain, qui s’opposait à son utilisation, y a été contraint par la justice. Aspen pourra exporter son générique dans treize pays d’Afrique australe. (JA/L’Intelligent, France, 21 octobre 2002)

* South Africa. Mbeki visit encourages AIDS activists — South Africa’s government took another step away from its controversial policy on Aids at the weekend when President Thabo Mbeki publicly associated himself with the provision of the anti-retroviral drugs that keep people with HIV/AIDS alive. He visited a clinic in Johannesburg which provides the drugs to pregnant women and infants and posed for photographs while cradling a sick boy, reportedly the first time Mr Mbeki had signalled approval for anti-retrovirals in such a way. AIDS activists welcomed the visit as further evidence that the government had decided to drop its opposition to the drugs. After criticism that the estimated 4.7 million South Africans living with HIV were being left to die, the cabinet said in April that it endorsed the use of anti-retrovirals. Zackie Achmat, a spokesman for the Treatment Action Campaign, which has lobbied for the drugs to be distributed, welcomed Mr Mbeki’s visit. «It was PR, but it was a fairly substantive move. It was a sign that they are serious about changing the policy. We are very cautiously optimistic.» (The Guardian, UK, 21 October 2002)

* South Africa. A «Colossus» of Mandela planned — Soaring above Port Elizabeth harbour in South Africa, the monument would face the sea and stand 30 storeys tall — higher than the Statue of Liberty — to give the world a carved colossus of Nelson Mandela. Modest the man may be, but the proposed statue is decidedly not. It is intended to be gigantic, towering 110 metres to greet visitors to the Eastern Cape. After five years of discussion the provincial government has approved a feasibility study  to report back by March. The plan’s supporters hope the statue will be erected by 2006. A coalition of business and civic interests is determined to make it happen. The French government will be approached to see if it will pay for a French foundry to cast the monument, as it did for the Statue of Liberty more than 100 years ago. The steel construction is intended to be at least 65 metres high, compared with the 46.5-metre New York statute, and would stand on a 45-metre plinth which would house a «museum of freedom» celebrating national liberation struggles around the world. A 600-metre «long walk to freedom» — the title of Mr Mandela’s autobiography — would lead up to the monument. The idea was conceived by a local advertising executive. (The Guardian, UK, 21 October 2002)

* Swaziland. Mother-in-law sues king — A mother has taken the King of Swaziland, Mswati III, to court demanding her daughter’s return after she was selected as a royal bride. The mother, Lindiwe Dlamini, says her 18-year-old daughter, Zena Mahlangu, was taken away without parental consent and has called for her immediate release. A spokesman for the royal family said on 16 October that three young women, including Zena, were being held at one of the king’s palaces to carry out «royal duties». The 34-year-old king announced last month that he planned to marry once again, two months after marrying wives number eight and nine. Swaziland’s high court is expected to rule on the case on 21 October.Zena’s mother says her daughter has missed school and could waste her academic year if she is not allowed to write her end-of-year exams. «The continued detention of Zena without my consent is a criminal offence,» Mrs Dlamini told the court on 15 October. (BBC News, UK, 17 October 2002)

* Swaziland. Pas de jet pour le roi — Le 18 octobre, le Parlement du Swaziland a rejeté l’idée d’acquérir un jet privé pour le roi Mswati III, déclarant que le pays avait des problèmes plus pressants à résoudre pour le bien du peuple. Les députés ont rejeté, par 25 voix contre 16, la recommandation du Premier ministre pour l’achat de ce jet, alors que le gouvernement avait déjà avancé 28 millions de rand (2,7 millions de dollars) pour cet achat. (PANA, Sénégal, 19 octobre 2002)

* Tanzania. Privatisation steams ahead — A steam locomotive number 2927, built in Scotland in 1955 is on a publicity tour around the country’s rail network. The government is hoping that an investor may be interested in buying the locomotive and more importantly, leasing the tracks on which it runs. The Tanzanian Railway Corporation is just one of around 400 state-owned companies that have been, or are, being privatised. These companies include everything from handicraft shops to regional trading and transport companies, as well as major industries like electricity, telecoms and the national airline. Mass privatisation began in 1993 and is turning out to be a mammoth programme because Tanzania’s socialist  past means the country is top-heavy with state-owned businesses. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 21 October 2002)

* Tchad. Nouveaux affrontements — Selon des communiqués de deux mouvements rebelles (le Mouvement pour la justice et la démocratie au Tchad [MDJT] et les Forces des organisations nationales armées pour la libération du Tchad [FONALT]) reçus le dimanche 20 octobre, une quarantaine de soldats gouvernementaux ont été tués et 15 faits prisonniers lors de combats qui se sont déroulés séparément samedi et dimanche matin dans le nord-est et l’est du Tchad. Le lundi, le parti du président Déby, le Mouvement patriotique du salut (MPS), s’est dit préoccupé par la situation militaire au Tibesti et a déploré les derniers affrontements. Le MPS a invité les rebelles “à accepter le règlement du conflit par la négociation et le dialogue, dans le cadre strict des accords de Tripoli du 7 janvier dernier”. Les affrontements ont repris de plus belle dans le nord-est et l’est du pays, après le décès du chef rebelle Youssouf Togoïmi le 24 septembre dernier. D’autre part, selon un communiqué adressé à l’AFP à Libreville par l’Armée nationale de résistance (ANR), plus de 200 militaires gouvernementaux, dont 18 officiers, ont rallié lundi l’ANR à Haraz Mangagne (sud-est du pays). Le 20 octobre, l’ANR avait affirmé avoir pris, le matin même, le contrôle de la localité de Haraz Mangagne, non loin de la frontière centrafricaine, que le mouvement rebelle affirmait encore contrôler mardi. — Par ailleurs, le 22 octobre, le Front national du Tchad rénové (FNTR) accusait le Fonds monétaire international (FMI) d’hypocrisie. Lundi 21 octobre, en effet, le FMI  annonçait le décaissement d’une tranche de 7 millions de dollars sur un prêt consenti au Tchad en janvier 2000, au titre du programme de réduction de la pauvreté et d’encouragement de la croissance (FRPC/PGRF ). Pour le FHTR, ce décaissement “relève d’une pure hypocrisie et malhonnêteté”. Si la situation économique au Tchad est catastrophique, par contre, “la situation économique des tenants du pouvoir clanique a bien évolué”, écrit le FNTR, pour qui le prêt FRPC/PGRF “n’a jamais été utilisé pour son objectif initial”. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 octobre 2002)

* Tunisie. Visite du directeur du FMI — Le Fonds monétaire international (FMI) est prêt à accompagner la Tunisie dans la poursuite de son programme de réformes, a assuré son directeur général Horst Koelher, le 19 octobre, au terme d’une visite officielle de deux jours. Il a salué “la croissance économique soutenue” réalisée par ce pays et “les progrès remarquables accomplis sur le plan social”. Il a toutefois invité les autorités tunisiennes à “maintenir la cadence des réformes, notamment par les privatisations, la libéralisation du secteur des télécommunications et le renforcement du système  financier”. Durant sa visite, M. Koelher a aussi plaidé en faveur de l’intégration économique des cinq pays du Maghreb, soulignant qu’un marché maghrébin de 100 millions d’habitants serait plus intéressant pour les investisseurs. (AP, 19 octobre 2002)

* Uganda. «The Monitor» issues apology — 18 October: In its first edition for a week, Uganda’s leading independent newspaper, The Monitor, has apologised for running a story which angered the army but has refused to retract it. The government only agreed to lift the blockade on The Monitor’s offices if it ran the apology. But the paper’s managers argued that admitting the story was false would prejudice the case of three journalists, charged with publishing false news and publishing information prejudicial to national security and likely to assist the enemy in its operation. The paper was closed down on 11 October after publishing a story, claiming that an army helicopter had been shot down by rebels. In an editorial in its «Come-back issue», the Monitor said that police conduct had been «impeccable» throughout the six-day closure. Press freedom body Reporters without Borders and United States-based Human Rights Watch have condemned the Ugandan Government’s closure of The Monitor, as a violation of press freedom. President Yoweri Museveni dismissed these accusations and said he had fought for press freedom. But he said that the freedom had been abused and «the police had gone to investigate the dangerous lies they were telling.» (BBC News, UK, 18 October 2002)

* Ouganda. Deux martyrs béatifiés — Le 20 octobre, le pape Jean-Paul II a béatifié deux jeunes Ougandais, laïcs, catéchistes et martyrs: Daudi Okelo et Jilro Irwa. Ils ont été tués en 1918 au nord de l’Ouganda, où ils s’étaient rendus lorsque l’évangélisation y commençait à peine. Agés respectivement de 12 et 16 ans, ils ont préféré la mort plutôt que de quitter la région et de renier leur devoir de catéchiste. “Ces deux courageux témoins sont désormais des modèles et des intercesseurs pour les catéchistes du monde entier”, a souligné le pape. “Puisse l’exemple de ceux qui ont été béatifiés aujourd’hui nous fortifier tous dans le service des autres”. (D’après Zenith, Vatican, 20 octobre 2002)

* Uganda. Pope beatifies martyrs — 20 October: Pope John Paul II has beatified two young Ugandan catechists, among the six people added to the swelling ranks of those on the path to possible sainthood. The Pope praised the six as role models for Catholics, saying their faith, humbleness and willingness to die for their religion was a source of strength. The two were brutally killed for the Faith on 18 October 1918. The beatification coincided with the Roman Catholic Church’s celebration of World Missionary Day. The ceremony in St. Peter’s Square included traditional African and Indian dancing and music. Among the six elevated on Sunday were  Ugandan teenagers Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa, who worked as missionaries in northern Uganda and were killed in 1918. The pope said: «They are given to the entire Christian community as examples of holiness and virtue, and as models and intercessors for catechists throughout the world, especially in those places where catechists still suffer for their faith, sometimes facing social marginalisation and even personal danger». (CNN, USA, 21 October 2002)

* Uganda. Rebels massacre civilians — 22 October: Details are emerging of the massacre of dozens of people in the north carried out by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). According to an Ugandan army spokesman, at least 34 people were killed when the rebels attacked the villages of Awolo and Latugitugi, in the Pader district. The Ugandan army says the villagers were either killed with machetes or clubs. MISNA sources have confirmed the massacre. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 22 October 2002)

* Ouganda. Massacres par la LRA — Le révérend Wilfred Kalama, 35 ans, pasteur de l’Eglise de l’Ouganda (de communion anglicane) a été tué dans la nuit du 16 au 17 octobre par des rebelles de l’Armée de résistance du Seigneur (LRA), dans la localité de Lalogi, à plus de 50 km à l’est de Gulu. Son frère et quatre autres personnes ont également été tués dans l’incursion. – Dans le district de Pader (nord), au moins 35 personnes ont été tuées avec des lances, matraques et machettes, lors de l’attaque de deux villages, Awalo et Latugitugi, par des présumés rebelles de la LRA , a déclaré un porte-parole de l’armée ougandaise. L’attaque a eu lieu mardi 22 octobre à quelque 380 kilomètres au nord-est de Kampala. La LRA se bat depuis 1988 pour renverser le président Yoweri Museveni et instaurer un régime basé sur les dix commandements de la Bible. Elle dispose de bases arrière au Soudan voisin. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18-23 octobre 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Farmers cross race divide — In the midst of all the stories of violent confrontation associated with Zimbabwe’s land reform, some farmers — black and white — are making it work in Zhombe, 220 km west of the capital, Harare. White farmer Neville Coetzee agreed to give up 6,000 ha of his 9,000 ha farm to new black settlers. Although he said it was hard to give up so much of the farm he had built, he is sure he did the right thing. «In this area, we’re very fortunate. We’ve had dialogue which took place right at the beginning of the land issue,» he said. «I can still be very viable with what I’ve got left. I’m very happy to stay in the country because I’ve still got a good life,» he said. Mr Coetzee’s new neighbour, Tichafa Chitate, is also pleased with the way things have gone. After a year on his new plot of land, his wheat crop is just as high as Mr Coetzee’s. «There is a lot of money in farming... I’m expecting a profit of over a million Zimbabwe dollars. Somebody who says we cannot do as good as the white farmers does not know what he is talking about. Come on the ground and have a look. I worked as a customs officer for 21 years but I grew up farming,» he said, adding that his father had always encouraged him to get some land and take up farming. Although Mr Chitate is luckier than most black farmers in that he had some money to invest in his new land, he still needs more equipment. He said banks had refused to give him a loan but at least the government had given them irrigation equipment. (BBC News, UK, 17 October 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Food aid halted in Insiza District — 18 October: The World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended food distribution in a district of Zimbabwe, alleging that supporters of President Robert Mugabe threatened their workers and seized donated grain. The United Nations agency say activists from Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party distributed the food from a centre in Insiza District in an unauthorised manner. The UN action came a day after a human rights research organisation, the International Crisis Group, warned that food supplies were being used as a political weapon against opposition supporters in Zimbabwe where half the population are facing starvation. The WFP said it would not tolerate the misuse of its resources for political ends and added that it was seeking urgent assurances from the Zimbabwean Government that such incidents would not happen again. It issued a statement saying: «Relief food distributions are not the place for any kind of political activity. WFP will only distribute its food on the basis of need without regard to partisan affiliation.» Insiza — about 560 kilometres south-west of Harare — has been wracked by political violence ahead of an upcoming by-election which is being contested by Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The Zimbabwean Government has accused Britain’s High Commissioner of trying to ensure that food aid only goes to opposition supporters. But the MDC said aid was being used against the opposition, with officials deliberately arranging distributions near MDC rallies to lure away starving voters who were then forced to chant ruling party slogans and surrender opposition party cards before being given food. (BBC News, UK, 18 October 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Violation des droits de l’homme — Dans une lettre adressée au président sud-africain Thabo Mbeki à l’occasion du 16ème anniversaire de la Charte africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples (21 octobre 1986), Amnesty International (AI), a exprimé sa préoccupation pour “la détérioration de la situation des droits de l’homme au Zimbabwe”. Après avoir relevé en particulier la participation de l’Afrique du Sud à la troïka du Commonwealth, et son rôle à la présidence actuelle de l’Union africaine, AI invite les dirigeants africains à intensifier leurs efforts pour condamner plus  fermement la répression et la violence perpétrées par le gouvernement au Zimbabwe. Par ailleurs, le leader du MDC (Mouvement pour le changement démocratique), Morgan Tsvangirai, a accusé le gouvernement d’avoir assassiné le député, Learnmore Jongwe dans le cadre d’un présumé complot destiné à réduire la force de l’opposition au Parlement et à permettre au président Mugabe de modifier la Constitution. Jongwe a été retrouvé mort le 22 octobre dans la cellule de la police où il était en détention provisoire, accusé d’avoir tué sa femme en juillet après une dispute conjugale. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18-23 octobre 2002)