* Ethiopia. Meles links Somalis to Kenya attacks — 7 December: Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said he has indications that a group operating out of Somalia may have been behind last month’s attacks on Israelis in Kenya. Mr Meles said that the Somali group with links to al-Qaeda -known as al-Ittihad — may have travelled to Kenya by boat to carry out their operation. He offered no evidence to substantiate these views. But with senior US officials due in Addis Ababa next week, Mr Meles will have every opportunity to convince them that the group had a hand in the attacks. The prime minister was speaking after his return to Addis Ababa from the United States, where he said he had discussed security matters with President George W Bush. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 7 December 2002)

* Ethiopie. Famine - nouvel appel d’aide — L’Ethiopie lance un nouvel appel à l’aide internationale pour obtenir 1,5 million de tonnes de vivres afin de nourrir en 2003 plus de 11 millions de personnes menacées de pénurie par la sécheresse. La directrice générale de l’Unicef a estimé que la situation en Ethiopie pourrait se transformer en un désastre comparable à la grande famine de 1984/85. A l’ouverture d’une conférence de donateurs, Simon Mechale, qui dirige la commission gouvernementale, a estimé que 11,3 millions de personnes auraient besoin d’une aide alimentaire l’an prochain et que 2,9 d’autres pourraient bientôt être menacées à leur tour de sous-nutrition. (Reuters, 7 décembre 2002)

* Ethiopia. Facing donor fatigue threat — 6 December: The world needs to act now to deal with the food crisis brought about by the drought in Ethiopia, a senior UN official has warned. Unicef executive director Carol Bellamy, who has just returned from one of the worst affected areas, warned of the dangers of donor fatigue, saying that the world must not wait for deaths from starvation. On 7 December, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is due to call for 1.4 million tonnes of food aid to meet the needs of just over 11 million people. The UN says it has enough food to last until early next year, but the needs for the rest of 2003 are still to be met. 10 December: The European Commission has pledged US $68.6 million towards providing food for the millions of Ethiopians facing starvation. — The head of the World Bank in Ethiopia urges a greater role for private industry as the country was pledged US $3.6 billion towards tackling poverty. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 10 December 2002)

* Ghana/UK. Boys’ bodies found on plane — 30 November: The bodies of two young African boys, aged between 12 and 14, have been discovered in the undercarriage of a Ghana Airways plane at Heathrow Airport. They were discovered in a gap beneath the wing. It is not clear whether they stowed away on the six-hour flight from Accra in Ghana to seek refuge, or if it was a prank that went wrong. Both boys were dressed lightly, one in a short-sleeved top and the other wore open-toe sandals. They carried only an empty wallet, an old padlock and two greetings cards. Police are working with Ghana police and Ghana Airways to try to identify them. 2 December: The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority says it has set up a panel to investigate the two boys’ deaths. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 2 December 2002)

* Guinée. Projet d’hydraulique rurale — Le 9 décembre, la Banque africaine de développement (BAD) et le gouvernement de Guinée-Conakry ont signé un accord de prêt de 15 millions d’unités de compte (près de $20 millions) pour le financement d’un projet d’hydraulique rurale dans ce pays. L’objectif est de satisfaire les besoins en eau potable des populations rurales dans cinq préfectures. Le projet prévoit la réalisation de 1.100 points d’eau modernes équipés de pompes manuelles et 6 systèmes solaires de mini-réseaux d’adduction d’eau potable. Il contribuera aussi à la construction de latrines. (PANA, Sénégal, 10 décembre 2002)

* Horn of Africa. US military bases — 10 December: The United States can have access to Eritrea’s military bases as part of its war against terror, President Isaias Afewerki has said. He made the offer to US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who began a four-nation tour of the Horn of Africa in the capital, Asmara. Mr Rumsfeld did not say whether the USA would take Eritrea up on its offer. The USA has more than 1,000 elite troops stationed on a warship off the coast of Djibouti, where Mr Rumsfeld is going tomorrow, acting as its regional terror command centre. But Mr Afewerki’s offer marks a change of tone in relations between Eritrea and the USA. In October, the USA accused Eritrea of human rights abuses. Eritrea responded by accusing the CIA of plotting against it. 11 December: The United States will retain its military base in Djibouti for several years, Donald Rumsfeld has said. Some 900 US troops are now based at former French Foreign Legion Camp Lemonier and hundreds are due to arrive in the next few days. However, President Omar Ismael Guelleh has said that he will only allow Djibouti to be used as base to attack Itaq if it is sanctioned by the United Nations. Djibouti also hosts some 2,700 troops from France. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 December 2002)

* Kenya. Aftermath of terrorist attacks — 4 December: Despite the recent bomb attack on a hotel in Mombasa which killed 13 people, Kenyan tourism seems to be unaffected for the moment. Though only a week after the bombing of the Paradise Hotel, the atmosphere is calm among foreign tourists visiting the country. A British tourist explained: «We think that the incident was isolated, it was targeted specifically at Israelis. We recognize that Britain is becoming increasingly more of a target but I think in this particular case we were OK.» More than half a million tourists visited Kenya in 2001. Around sixty percent came to the coast — Israelis make up just one percent of the market. And while the bombing sent shockwaves around the world, tourism to Kenya doesn’t appear to have been shaken, yet. 5 December: Confusion surrounded the investigation into last week’s attack on two Israeli targets in Kenya as police struggled today to determine whether four of the 15 men being held for questioning had anything to do with firing two missiles that barely missed an Israeli airliner as it took off from Mombasa airport. «There’s much confusion,» said Deputy Police Commissioner William Langat, complaining that the reports of witnesses on which the detentions were based «go from here to there.» In addition, all four men had given «reasonable» explanations for being in the area near the site from where the missiles were fired, he said without elaborating. Another man detained because of his connection to those four was released late today. Rahdi Idha, who was picked up on 3 December, said he expected the others to be released soon. The four men were detained on 2 december. Islam Idha, Rahdi’s brother, and Twaya Sufiyan, both Kenyans of Yemeni descent, were nabbed as they were returning home from evening prayers at a nearby mosque. The other two — Mohammed Sbur and an unidentified Kenyan — were friends of those men who went to check on them late that night at the Mombasa police station where they’d been taken, Langat said. 6 December: Human Rights Watch has accused police in Kenya of using last month’s attacks on Israeli tourists in Mombasa as an excuse to crack down on refugees in Nairobi. The rights group says that since 28 November the Kenyan police have conducted three large raids and made «dozens of arbitrary arrests,» detaining refugees from Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Congo RDC. A Kenyan senior police official describes the accusations as «unfair». 9 December: The police announce a $6,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of two men suspected of carrying out the failed missile attack. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 9 December 2002)

* Kenya. Al Qaeda revendique Mombasa — Le porte-parole du réseau al Qaeda d’Oussama Ben Laden a renvendiqué les attentats anti-israéliens perpétrés à Mombasa le 28 novembre et menacé d’attaques “plus graves” contre les intérêts américains et israéliens, dans un enregistrement sonore diffusé le 8 décembre par un site islamiste. Dans cet enregistrement diffusé par le site www.jehadonline.org, Soulaimane Abou Ghaïth affirme que “les deux opérations à Mombasa sont l’oeuvre d’al Qaeda”. Ce site diffuse régulièrement des communiqués et des enregistrements d’al Qaeda. — Le 9 décembre, la police kényane a transmis les portraits-robots de deux suspects des attentats, effectués à partir de la description de témoins, et offert une récompense pour toute information permettant leur arrestation. - Le 10 décembre, la police a identifié le dernier propriétaire de la voiture piégée utilisée dans l’attentat-suicide, mais admet ignorer s’il fait partie de l’équipe de kamikazes. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 décembre 2002)

* Kenya. Campagne électorale houleuse — Le 11 décembre, les dix principaux partis politiques kényans ont signé un code de conduite électorale, le second en un mois, alors que les violences, les injures et les accusations d’achat de voix dominent la campagne des élections générales du 27 décembre. Plusieurs cas de violence ont été enregistrés dans le pays depuis les élections primaires les 25 et 26 novembre, bien que les partis aient signé un code de conduite similaire à la mi-octobre. De nombreuses accusations d’achat de voix, l’intimidation et l’utilisation d’un langage injurieux dominent l’actuelle campagne électorale. Les partis ont décidé de condamner et de dénoncer publiquement et systématiquement la violence et l’intimidation. La Commission électorale a mis sur pied des conseils pour la paix dans les circonscriptions, dirigés par les leaders communautaires et religieux, qui vont collaborer avec la police pour éviter les actes de violence électorale. (PANA, Sénégal, 11 décembre 2002)

* Kenya. Towards the elections — 5 December: Concern over the health of Mwai Kibaki, leader of the opposition National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) who has been injured in a car accident, has cast a cloud over the Opposition’s chances of winning the presidential election. 9 December: Further anxiety grips NARC after hearing that its vice-presidential candidate, Wamalwa Kijana, has been admitted to hospital in London. 11 December: Ten main political parties sign an electoral code of conduct, the second in a month, amid rising incidences of violence, foul language and claims of vote buying.12 December: Human Rights Watch says that the hotly-contested 27 December elections has highlighted serious human rights shortcomings in Kenya. In a new report, Human Rights Watch urges all candidates to adhere to clear human rights agenda, which would address the iniquities and abuses that persist in Kenya. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 12 December 2002)

* Lesotho. Court suspends bribery fine — 11 December: An appeals court has suspended a $2.2 million fine against the Canadian engineering firm at the heart of an alleged bribery scandal. Acres International has been vigorously defending itself in the high-profile corruption case, denying any knowledge of bribes allegedly paid in the 1990s. It has now won a suspension of the landmark fine while the controversial case goes through the appeals court. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 December 2002)

* Liberia. Civils en fuite tués — Le lundi 9 décembre, l’armée du Liberia a fait état d’un nombre indéterminé de civils tués ce week-end lors d’une offensive gouvernementale lancée contre la ville de Zorzor, près de la frontière avec la Guinée. Cette ville a changé de mains à plusieurs reprises en plus de deux ans d’affrontements entre forces gouvernementales et rebelles. Selon des responsables, l’offensive de samedi a été couronnée de succès et la ville a été reprise par le gouvernement. Des civils “ont été touchés principalement par des balles perdues alors qu’ils tentaient de fuir la ville au cours de l’attaque”, a déclaré un responsable de la Défense. Le bilan exact n’a pas été communiqué. (AP, 10 décembre 2002)

* Madagascar. Campagne électorale morose — Les Malgaches se rendront aux urnes le 15 décembre pour des élections législatives anticipées. Ce scrutin devrait permettre d’asseoir la stabilité politique du nouveau régime. Mais visiblement, ce rendez-vous électoral ne suscite pas franchement l’enthousiasme. Les habitants semblent attendre que les élections passent. Mais les autorités semblent vouloir qu’elles se passent bien. Ainsi, pour la première fois, le scrutin verra l’utilisation d’urnes transparentes dans tous les bureaux de vote, ce qui fait dire à beaucoup que pour la première fois aussi les élections seront vraiment transparentes, conformément à l’engagement du nouveau régime. Ce qui n’empêchera par nécessairement d’éventuelles irrégularités. (O. Péguy, Madagascar, 10 décembre 2002)

* Madagascar. 15 December polls — 5 December: Madagascar goes to the polls on 15 December, almost exactly a year since disputed presidential elections which plunged the island into a violent power struggle. The much-anticipated legislative elections are expected to legitimise Marc Ravalomanana’s presidency and pave the way for further economic reconstruction. The election is in line with demands by the international community and the African Union (AU) that fresh polls be held before the end of the year. This was part of a set of resolutions to defuse the stand-off between ex-president Didier Ratsiraka, who refused to accept his election defeat by Ravalomanana, who eventually declared himself president — a move endorsed by the country’s highest court. Although 40 parties are vying for 160 seats in the Malagasy National Assembly, analysts predict the elections will probably develop into a power struggle between Ravalomanana’s newly founded party Tiako i Madagasikara (I love Madagascar), and the traditional ruling AREMA party. 11 December: As the first anniversary of last year’s disputed presidential election approaches, Amnesty International calls for impartial and independent investigations into all reports of human rights violations and abuses unleashed in the context of the political unrest following the elections. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 December 2002)

* Morocco. Al-Qaeda trial — 9 December: The trial of three Saudi nationals accused of belonging to al-Qaeda and of plotting to blow up British and American warships in the Mediterranean resumes in Morocco today. Along with seven Moroccans, including two of the Saudi mens’ Moroccan wives, they are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and attempted sabotage. The trial is due to get underway at 0830 (0830 GMT) in Casablanca and if convicted the suspects could face the death penalty. The trial is fiercely controversial here, with two very different versions of what is behind the prosecution. The official account is of a major success in defeating attempts by al-Qaeda to recruit in Morocco and open a new terror campaign here, targeting both tourists and British and United States warships. The three Saudis were allegedly plotting to buy small speed boats, fill them with explosives and use them for suicide attacks against the ships as they crossed the narrow Straits of Gibraltar. It is also claimed they were planning bomb attacks on tourist buses and in a public square used by holidaymakers. The alternative accounts put forward by the defence in this trial and opposition figures in Morocco is that the Moroccan security services were over-eager to impress the Americans. That they arrested the three Saudis on a flimsy pretext — obtaining confessions through the use of torture. The same day, the trial is adjourned. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 9 December 2002)

* Maroc/Espagne. Reprise du dialogue — Pour la première fois depuis la crise qui a mis, en juillet, le Maroc et l’Espagne au bord de la guerre pour le contrôle d’un îlot désertique, les chefs de la diplomatie des deux pays doivent se rencontrer, ce 11 décembre, à Madrid. Mission: tenter de “rétablir une relation normale”. Depuis plus d’un an, Espagne et Maroc accumulent en effet les griefs: non-renouvellement par Rabat de l’accord de pêche, immigration clandestine ou trafic de drogue à partir des côtes du Maroc, prospection pétrolière entre les côtes marocaines et les Canaries et surtout soutien déclaré de Madrid au Front Polisario. La récente marée noire en Galice a permis au Maroc un “geste” remarqué à l’égard des Espagnols. Rabat s’est engagé “en tant que membre associé de l’UE” à contrôler tous les monocoques de plus de quinze ans transportant des produits à risque dans sa zone maritime. Une décision saluée par la Commission européenne. (Libération, France, 11 décembre 2002)

* Morocco/Spain. Resuming ties — 11 December: The Moroccan and Spanish foreign ministers are due to meet in Madrid — their first talks since tensions over the tiny island of Perejil erupted in July. Both sides hope tat today’s meeting will result in the normalisation of diplomatic relations and the return of their respective ambassadors. Relations between the two worsened when Spanish marines forcibly evicted some Moroccan soldiers from the island, which both countries claim. There are many issues which divide the two neighbours, and no-one expects the meeting to resolve any of the major problems between Spain and Morocco. But the fact the two foreign ministers — Spain’s Ana Palacio and Morocco’s Mohamed Benaissa — are talking at all signifies progress. Last time they were scheduled to meet in September, Morocco cancelled at the last minute, accusing Spain of having violated its airspace the previous day. This time, the climate seems more positive, with a desire by both sides to normalise relations. Spain withdrew its ambassador in July over the Perejil dispute, while Morocco had withdrawn its ambassador the previous October without giving a reason. In fact, Morocco’s complaints with Spain are many. The most important is over the former Spanish colony in Western Sahara which Morocco controls. Then there are the Spanish north African enclaves — Ceuta and Melilla and various islands including Perejil which Morocco regards as occupied territory. And there is the problem of Spain wanting to prospect for oil in the waters between Morocco’s Atlantic coast and the Spanish Canary Islands. For its part, Madrid complains that Morocco does not do enough to stem illegal immigration and drug trafficking into Spain. It also blames Rabat for the collapse of the European Union agreement that allowed Spain to fish Morocco’s rich waters. — Following the talks, Spain and Morocco have failed to restore full diplomatic relations, but both foreign ministers announce they are setting up working groups to address the main dividing issues. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 December 2002)

* Maroc. Vote à 18 ans — Le 10 décembre, le Maroc a abaissé l’âge légal du droit de vote de 20 à 18 ans, s’alignant sur la plupart des démocraties occidentales. Le roi Mohammed VI a pris cette décision pour intéresser la jeunesse marocaine au “projet de société démocratique moderniste” du pays. Les élections législatives de septembre ont été marquées par un taux de participation peu élevé (52%) et une montée des islamistes modérés. (Le Figaro, France, 12 décembre 2002)