* Nigeria. Tensions continue — 21 November: At least 12 people have been killed in the Nigerian city of Kaduna after protests against next month’s Miss World beauty competition descended into bloody violence. Many more are also believed to have died, after thousands of Muslim youths rampaged through the suburbs of the city, erecting barricades of burning tires, setting fire to buildings, and attacking churches. The authorities in the northern city have declared a curfew with immediate effect. Protests started after the newspaper ThisDay published an article which said that the Prophet Mohammed would probably have chosen to marry one of the contestants if he had witnessed the beauty pageant, which Nigeria is hosting next month. Kaduna is one of Nigeria’s most volatile cities, and has been largely segregated into Christian and Muslim areas since clashes two years ago, in which more than 2,000 people died. 22 November: The number of deaths in Kaduna are now put at 100. Riots spread to the capital Abuja, when hundreds of Muslim youths go on the rampage following Friday prayers. 23 November: The Miss World contest is moving to London. The pageant’s organisers said the show would be held in London on 7 December instead of the Nigerian capital, Abuja. In Abuja, police say they have regained control of the streets after violent protests spread to the city over the plans to hold the contest there. In a statement, the pageant organisers said the change of venue was in the «overall interests of Nigeria and the contestants». Hours earlier, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo went on television along with religious leaders to appeal for national calm, blaming a media report, not the contest itself, for the violence. «It could happen at any time irresponsible journalism is committed against Islam,» he said. The Nigerian Government has assured Muslims that those responsible for the offending article, which appeared in ThisDay newspaper, will be brought to account. ThisDay has retracted it and has published apologies. — Further rioting has broken out in Kaduna. More casualties have been reported, and eyewitnesses say security forces  have been shooting to try to control a large crowd of demonstrators. 24 November: More than 200 people are now known to have died in violence between Christians and Muslims in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna, relief and civil rights workers say. The figure which emerged after four days of disturbances linked to the now-relocated Miss World beauty contest is double the previous estimate. In addition to 215 bodies counted on the streets and in mortuaries, others were thought to have been buried by their families. Thousands have been displaced by the violence. 26 November: President Olusegun Obasanjo says «irresponsible journalism» about the Miss World contest sparked mass communal bloodshed. He said fighting between Muslim and Christian communities in the northern city of Kaduna could have started at any time and blamed an article which was offensive to Muslims for provoking the violence. Calm has now returned to the city and mass funerals have begun for more than 200 people known to have died in the four days of rioting. Some 350 people arrested in the rioting have been charged with arson, rioting, culpable homicide and other offenses. — The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria condemns unreservedly the religious riots that took place in Kaduna and Abuja. 27 November: Christian leaders have warned that they will defend themselves if the authorities cannot protect them. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 27 November 2002)

* Nigeria. Fatwa is issued on journalist — An Islamist state government in northern Nigeria has issued a fatwa urging Muslims to kill the British-educated author of the newspaper article on the Miss World contest which triggered three days of religious rioting that left more than 220 people dead. Isioma Daniel, who studied journalism and politics for three years at the University of Central Lancashire, is understood to have fled Nigeria for the US before the deputy governor of Zamfara state announced the death sentence on the local radio station on the evening of 25 November. News of the fatwa was delivered as the Miss World organisation, which has evacuated its contestants to London, confirmed the beauty pageant will now go ahead on December 7 at Alexandra Palace in London. (The Guardian, UK, 27 November 2002)

* Rwanda. Carla Del Ponte accusée — Carla Del Ponte a-t-elle “diné” avec des génocidaires rwandais? C’est l’accusation portée par le gouvernement de Kigali contre la procureur générale du Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda (TPIR), aggravant encore un peu plus la crise larvée entre Kigali et la cour d’Arusha. Carla Del Ponte a rencontré, le 18 novembre à La Haye, des représentants de l’opposition rwandaise en exil, qui lui ont demandé notamment de poursuivre des membres du Front patriotique rwandais (FPR), aujourd’hui au pouvoir à Kigali. Le groupe  politico-militaire FDLR-ALIR, impliqué d’après le Rwanda dans le génocide, aurait assisté à cette réunion. Pour Kigali, Del Ponte a “perdu l’autorité morale” nécessaire. Depuis longtemps, les autorités rwandaises reprochent au TPIR ses dysfonctionnements et le mauvais traitement qui serait réservé aux témoins, pour la plupart des rescapés du génocide. Kigali ne veut pas entendre parler d’éventuelles inculpations de membres du FPR pour des crimes de guerre, commis lors du conflit qui a mis fin au génocide. (Libération, France, 23 novembre 2002)

* Rwanda. Genocide courts — 25 November: Rwanda is beginning the process of setting up a nationwide system of community courts to try more than 100,000 suspects in the mid-1990s genocide. Rwandan Radio says the trials will help Rwanda to eradicate its culture of denial about the killings and strengthen national unity. The Gacaca courts are based on a traditional Rwandan justice system, and will allow residents to deliver testimony against alleged killers before their communities and locally elected judges. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 25 November 2002)

* Rwanda. Une “gacaca” par commune — Le 25 novembre, une juridiction gacaca, tribunal local chargé de juger les exécutants présumés du génocide de 1994, a été ouverte dans chacune des 106 communes du Rwanda. 11.000 gacaca doivent être mises en place d’ici fin 2002. Un premier test de ces tribunaux locaux avait été lancé mi-juin dans douze juridictions. Un jury populaire de “personnes intègres”, élu par la population locale à chaque échelon administratif, devra se prononcer sur la culpabilité des accusés, après les déclarations à charge et à décharge des témoins présents dans le public. (La Libre Belgique, 27 novembre 2002)

* Somalia. Pressure for progress at peace talks — 25 November: Organisers and sponsors of the peace conference for Somalia in Eldoret, Kenya, have stepped up pressure for participants to make concrete progress this week. 26 November: The organisers of the peace talks are reported to be in a buoyant mood after three major clans and minority groups delivered lists of their participants to the six technical committees. 27 November: The peace talks are jeopardised by a row between the hotel where they are staying and the Kenyan authorities. The 800 delegates have not been provided with any food since 26 November in the morning, and some have threatened to walk out. The hotel says the Kenyan government, which is responsible for organising accommodation for the delegates, has not paid for their food for two weeks. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 27 November 2002)

* Sudan. USA offers Sudan peace talks — Washington has invited Sudan’s government and southern rebels to meet in the United States for discussions to iron out differences ahead of a new round of peace talks in January, a Sudanese paper said on 26 November. The latest round of formal peace talks ended this month with an agreement to extend a cease fire but no comprehensive deal on the sensitive issue of power-sharing, a key issue for any pact to end a 19-year civil war. The US, which has been a key player in the talks between the government and Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), said last week it would hold seminars to discuss wealth and power-sharing ahead of full talks in Kenya on January 6. (CNN, USA, 27 November 2002)

* Swaziland. Prosecutor stands firm — 21 November: Swaziland’s Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has said the government’s efforts to remove him from office are unconstitutional. Lincoln Ng’arua, whose post has been advertised by the authorities, said the move was an attack on the independence of the judiciary. Mr Ng’arua has been involved in a dispute with the government over a court case against the royal family. The case has gripped public imagination in Swaziland, pitting traditionalists against those who want change in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. It was brought by a concerned mother alleging that King Mswati’s aides had abducted her daughter whom he wanted as his 10th wife. Mr Ng’arua said he would not be intimidated into dropping sedition charges against the attorney-general, who has been accused of ordering the country’s chief justice and two other judges to throw out the case. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 21 November 2002)

* Tanzanie. Enquête à Zanzibar — Une enquête commanditée par le présidence de la République tanzanienne sur les violences post-électorales qui se sont produites l’année dernière dans les îles de Zanzibar, a recommandé d’importantes réformes politiques pour renforcer la démocratie multipartite dans ce pays. L’enquête demande au gouvernement de revoir son approche en matière de droits humains, après avoir établi que la police avait tué 31 personnes et utilisé la force sans modération. Les investigations font état de 294 blessés, dont 51 gravement, pendant une marche de protestation de militants du Front civil uni (CUF) contre les “élections frauduleuses” de 2000. La commission d’enquête qui insiste sur l’importance d’une gestion courtoise de la politique dans l’intérêt du peuple et de la nation, a également demandé aux politiciens d’adopter une culture de tolérance afin de consolider la démocratie. En outre, elle réaffirme le souhait de la majorité des Tanzaniens de continuer à oeuvrer ensemble en tant que nation. Depuis l’année  dernière, la situation politique à Zanzibar s’est améliorée, après la signature d’un accord entre le CUF et le parti au pouvoir, le Chama Cha Mapenduzi (CCM). (D’après PANA, Sénégal, 25 novembre 2002)

* Uganda. Bounty for rebel leader — 25 November: The Ugandan army has offered a reward for information leading to the capture or killing of the chief of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Joseph Kony. The army will pay $11,000 for information on the whereabouts of the leader of the 15-year old rebellion. It has also put a price on the heads of the top commanders of the rebel group, an estimated 38 of them, which is feared for its brutality and cruelty. Joseph Kony and his commanders are believed to be hiding in southern Sudan and northern Uganda. But the army statement says a three-year-old amnesty offer is still open to the rebel leaders. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 25 November 2002)

* Ouganda. Electricité sud-africaine — Le 26 novembre, le gouvernement ougandais et la société sud-africaine Eskom Enterprise ont conclu un contrat d’une durée de vingt ans. La société s’engage à prendre le contrôle de la société publique de production électrique du pays et prendra en charge les stations hydroélectriques des barrages de Nalubale et Kiira. Eskom, un géant de la production électrique, intervient dans 32 pays africains. (PANA, Sénégal, 26 novembre 2002)

* Zambia. Chiluba in court — 21 November: Former President Frederick Chiluba has appeared in court in the capital, Lusaka, to challenge parliament’s decision to lift his immunity from prosecution so he can face accusations of corruption. The beleaguered former Zambian president appeared relaxed as he turned up at the High Court for his appeal hearing. The current president of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, although hand-picked by Mr Chiluba to succeed him, has aggressively investigated Mr Chiluba for alleged corruption during his term in office. The Zambian parliament voted in July to remove Mr Chiluba’s immunity to clear the way for investigations into whether the former president had misappropriated large amounts of state funds. In court, Mr Chiluba’s lawyers argued that the constitution did not allow for the removal of his immunity on the basis of allegations. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 21 November 2002)

* Zambia. Sports minister sacked — On 26 November, President Levy Mwanawasa sacked a government minister who testified in court that he helped the president use state resources in his election campaign last year in violation of election  rules. Sports Minister Levison Mumba made the allegations when he gave evidence last week in the Supreme Court, which is hearing an opposition petition to have the election annulled on the grounds of bribery and abuse of public funds. «President Mr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa has terminated the appointment of Honourable Levison A. Mumba as minister of sport, youth and child development with immediate effect,» government spokesman Arthur Yoyo said in a statement. Mumba told the Supreme Court last week that he gave Mwanawasa a government car and Mwanawasa’s wife medicines to distribute to rural peasants in the run-up to the polls last December. Two former ministers have already testified that they were personally involved in distributing thousands of dollars in government money to win support for Mwanawasa. But Mumba, who was health minister at the time, was the first member of the current cabinet to testify in the case. Zambian laws prohibit the use of state funds for campaigning and the courts can nullify an election and order a fresh poll if it is proved state funds were diverted to a political party. Mwanawasa narrowly beat opposition leader Anderson Mazoka, who is challenging the polls. European Union observers said the election was marred by serious procedural irregularities. (CNN, USA, 27 November 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Mugabe holding back food — President Robert Mugabe’s government is withholding food from opposition supporters and prolonging the Zimbabwean food crisis to keep its grip on power, a human rights group alleged on 20 November. «The political abuse of food is the most serious and widespread human rights violation in Zimbabwe at this time,» the report by the Danish group, Physicians for Human Rights, said. The group said supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were denied the right to buy government grain in 16 districts and cities, many were thrown out of public meetings where grain purchases were discussed and the names of others were left off lists of approved grain buyers. In one district, 27 people accused of being MDC supporters were allegedly forced out of a food-for-work programme. In another, only ruling party supporters were allowed to buy grain at the government price. The local ruling party sold the rest for up to 10 times that price. The group criticised the government for keeping its monopoly on the import and sale of food, saying the grain shortage was being drawn out. An estimated 6.7 million people face starvation after severe drought in Zimbabwe, aggravated by Mr Mugabe’s controversial land reform policy. The report also said international food aid from the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which supplies the most needy in Zimbabwe, was being manipulated. One woman was told by community leaders who make lists of those needing WFP help that she would have to surrender her MDC card publicly and buy a ruling party card before she could be added. She agreed, the report  said. (Independent, UK, 21 November 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Party test for civil servants — 22 November: The government is looking at ways in which it can ensure that only «patriotic Zimbabweans» work for the civil service. According to the country’s Public Service Commission, anyone working for or wanting to join the civil service will be tested on their level of loyalty to the ruling Zanu-PF party. Perspective entrants who fail the test will not be employed. Those who are already employed could be dismissed. This latest move adds to criticism already levelled at the Zimbabwean Government, which has recently been in the news for denying food aid to starving opposition supporters. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 22 November 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Clash européen — Le 25 novembre, l’Union européenne et les pays ACP (Afrique, Caraïbes, Pacifique) sont entrés en crise ouverte sur le Zimbabwe. La réunion de l’Assemblée parlementaire UE-ACP prévue cette semaine à Bruxelles a été annulée de facto suite au refus européen d’accueillir deux ministres zimbabwéens. Ils figurent sur la liste de 72 responsables zimbabwéens, dont le président Mugabe, interdits de séjour par l’UE depuis février en raison de la dérive répressive du régime de Harare. Les pays ACP, notamment africains, mais aussi quelques députés européens, ont protesté contre la décision du Parlement européen d’interdire la participation du Zimbabwe à cette réunion. (Libération, France, 26 novembre 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Le directeur d’AFP doit quitter le pays — Le 26 novembre, le ministre de l’Information, Jonathan Moyo, a refusé de renouveler le permis de travail de Stéphane Barbier, directeur du bureau de l’AFP à Harare, sans préciser les raisons de sa décision. Le ministre avait déjà fait savoir à l’AFP cet été qu’aux termes de la nouvelle loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée, promulguée le 15 mars dernier, aucun journaliste non zimbabwéen ne serait désormais autorisé à résider et travailler dans le pays. Les journalistes étrangers ne peuvent désormais se rendre dans le pays que provisoirement, pour des périodes limitées, et après avoir reçu l’approbation du ministère. La loi sur l’accès à l’information donne à Jonathan Moyo le pouvoir de décider qui peut exercer le métier de journaliste au Zimbabwe. Depuis sa promulgation, le harcèlement de la presse étrangère s’est intensifié. De nombreux journalistes se sont vu refuser leur accréditation en début d’année, alors qu’ils comptaient couvrir l’élection présidentielle début mars. (RSF, France, 27 novembre 2002)