* Sierra Leone. Freetown calm after shooting — 13 January: Sierra Leone’s hard-earned peace and stability is put into question when shooting breaks out in the capital, Freetown. Gunfire is heard in the east of the city, putting UN peacekeepers and local authorities on high alert. But the situation is soon brought under control and has since been downplayed. The shooting began in the early hours in eastern Freetown, in and around an army barracks. It provoked numerous rumours that Sierra Leone was suffering yet another coup. But such rumours are at this stage alarmist, and police are treating the incident as nothing more than criminal activity. The situation was quickly brought under control by the army with support from United Nations peacekeepers and the police. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 13 January 2003)

* Sierra Leone. Systematic rape committed during war — All sides in Sierra Leone’s 10-year civil war committed «widespread and systematic» sexual violence, the New York-based organisation Human Rights Watch says. Thousands of women and girls were subjected to individual and gang rape, according to a report issued by Human Rights Watch on 16 January. The 75-page document describes alleged abuses committed by the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF), as well as other rebel, government and international peacekeeping forces. The report — entitled «We’ll Kill You If You Cry» — is based on hundreds of interviews with victims, witnesses and officials. «We have documented unimaginable atrocities against women in Sierra Leone,» said Human Rights Watch‘s Peter Takirambudde. The report says most of the sexual violence was committed primarily by soldiers of various rebel forces — the RUF, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), and the West Side Boys. The document also examines crimes by government forces, and gives details of alleged rapes by foreign peacekeepers — including soldiers from Guinea, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Bangladesh. Sexual violence was characterised by extraordinary brutality, and frequently accompanied by other abuses against the victim, her family and her community, according to the report. «Child combatants raped women who were old enough to be their grandmothers, rebels raped  pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and fathers were forced to watch their daughters being raped,» it says. Mr Takirambudde said: «The war in Sierra Leone became infamous for the amputation of hands and arms. Rape may not be visible in the same way, but it is every bit as devastating.» About 30,000 people were killed - and many thousands were maimed — during the conflict between 1991 and 2001. (BBC News, 16 January 2003)

* Somalia. Peace talks in jeopardy — 7 January: Somali political groups participating in the Eldoret peace talks call on Kenya’s new president, Mwai Kibaki, to save the talks from collapse. In a statement issued today, the leaders’ committee said the talks are being mismanaged and conducted contrary to agreements. They also complain about the allocation of extra seats over and above the agreed 300. The statement says the number of delegates, which currently stands at 400, «should remain as already fixed and without further change or increase». They also accuse the organisers of continually changing the conference procedures, and «therefore the slow progress of the process lies squarely with the chairmanship of the technical committee of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)». (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 7 January 2003)

* Somalia. Boat tragedy — 15 January: At least 80 people, mostly Somalis, are reported to have died when their boat caught fire on its way to Yemen. Survivors said the boat capsized after it caught fire, leaving them adrift for eight days. None of the children on board are reported to have survived. This is one of the worst known tragedies in the Gulf of Aden which separates Somalia and Yemen. A passing vessel rescued 23 Somalis and Ethiopians from the boat which was carrying up to 120 people. The Somalis, together with about 20 Ethiopians, were taken from the town of Bossaso in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, by agents who arranged their voyage to Yemen. The voyage is said to take four to five days, and costs around $500 per person. The tragedy is only the latest to befall Somalis attempting to reach Yemen, before going on to Saudi Arabia. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 15 January 2003)

* South Africa. Govt to roll-out food security programme — South Africa has identified 150,000 households urgently in need of food aid and other assistance, and the government has set aside R400 million (about US $46.2 million) to deal with the impact of rising food prices on the poor. Rapidly rising food inflation, blamed largely by supermarket chains and suppliers on the decline in the value of the rand earlier last year, had sparked concern that the poorest of the poor would be unable to access basic commodities. A spokesman for the Ministry of Social Development, Mbulelo Musi, said the government was already into phase two of its intervention programme. «Last year the  government took a decision in October that — given the situation of food price increases, which were going to impact on the poorest of the poor in a very negative way — there was need for an interim intervention to cushion the blow,» Musi said. Late last year Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced that government would set aside R400 million for this purpose.The government had already had a strategy in place, the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme, which was aimed at targeting the worst affected for assistance. (IRIN, Kenya, 14 January 2003)

* Sudan. Khartoum’s massive military build-up — A report dated 9 January 2003 and published by AfricaFiles says that numerous highly reliable regional sources are now confirming that Khartoum’s National Islamic Front regime is violating the explicit terms of the 15 October 2002 Memorandum of Understanding concerning the cessation of offensive military action in Sudan. A steady flow of barges down the White Nile has brought an enormous augmentation of military equipment and manpower to Juba, the military centre of Khartoum’s presence in Southern Sudan. Such redeployment of offensive military capabilities is clearly prohibited under the terms of the 15 October agreement, and must be condemned forcefully by the international community as the gravest of threats to the Machakos peace process. (...) Immediate concern in Southern Sudan has focused in recent days on the extremely ominous outbreak of fighting near Tam, Leer and Nhialdiu in the oil regions of Western Upper Nile. Conscripted and hastily trained recruits from Juba and Khartoum (often selected on the basis of racial identity) were thrown into battle in several outbreaks of violence; they were accompanied by more regularly trained and Khartoum-equipped militians. (...) (Eric Reeves, AfricaFiles, 9 January 2003)

* Sudan. Peace talks under threat — 14 January: MISNA reports that Sudan’s government has announced its intention of deserting the peace talks with the SPLA due to resume on 15 January in Nairobi. The next round of negotiations was supposed to have resumed on that date after a one-month interruption. The future destiny of three areas in central Sudan — the Abyei district; the Nuba Mountains; and the Southern Blue Nile — are what casts doubt on the resumption of negotiations. Khartoum claims these areas are under government influence and therefore should not be included in the Nairobi talks dedicated to the future of southern Sudan. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 14 January 2003)

* Soudan. Pourparlers en échec — Le 12 janvier, l’envoyé américain pour la paix au Soudan, John Danforth, a prévenu Khartoum et les rebelles du Sud que Washington pourrait cesser de soutenir les négociations de paix si un accord n’était pas conclu dans les six mois pour mettre fin à 20 ans de guerre civile. Une troisième session de tractations devrait commencer le 15  janvier à Machakos, au Kenya. En juillet, les deux parties ont signé un protocole d’accord prévoyant la séparation de l’Etat et de la religion dans le sud du Soudan, et un référendum d’autodétermination de cette partie du pays dans les six ans. — Le 15 janvier, la reprise des pourparlers de paix à Nairobi n’a pas eu lieu comme prévu. Le gouvernement de Khartoum a affirmé qu’il attendait toujours une invitation officielle de la part de l’IGAD, chargée de jouer le rôle de facilitateur. Il a également affirmé qu’il tenait à ce que la question des trois zones litigieuses (les Monts Nouba, le Nil bleu et Abyei) ne soit pas examinée, car elle serait en contradiction avec l’accord signé en juillet dernier. Cependant, le gouvernement soudanais s’est dit prêt à reprendre les pourparlers après “la définition des modalités appropriées”. Notons que le gouvernement de Khartoum et le SPLA n’ont pas trouvé d’accord sur ces “trois zones”, le premier affirmant qu’elles appartiennent au Nord, le second qu’elles devraient être intégrées au Sud. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 15 janvier 2003)

* Tanzania. UK issues Zanzibar terror warning — 15 January: British citizens in Tanzania are being warned that they may be the target of «an international terrorist group». The UK Foreign Office issued the warning after receiving information that terrorists were planning an attack. Tourists staying on the island of Zanzibar, off the East African coast, were warned to take particular care in public places. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 15 January 2003)

* Tchad. Accord de paix — Le 9 janvier à Libreville, l’Alliance nationale de résistance (ANR, rébellion armée) et le gouvernement tchadien ont conclu un accord de paix mettant théoriquement fin à une guerre civile larvée de près de sept ans dans le sud-est du Tchad. L’accord, signé en présence du président gabonais Omar Bongo, prévoit “la proclamation d’un cessez-le-feu immédiat sur l’ensemble de la zone de conflit et une amnistie générale en faveur de tous les militants, éléments et sympathisants” de l’ANR. Celle-ci s’engage à renoncer à la lutte armée. En revanche, elle obtient du gouvernement des garanties quant à la réintégration dans la fonction publique des fonctionnaires civils et militaires qui avaient rejoint ses rangs. Le gouvernement et l’ANR s’engagent par ailleurs à assurer la sécurisation des zones de troubles. S’agissant enfin du retour au Tchad des personnes réfugiées et de leur réinsertion sociale, un appel à l’aide a été lancé en direction des organismes humanitaires et à l’Etat gabonais. L’accord est censé ramener la paix dans le sud-est du Tchad, à sa frontière avec le Soudan, zone dans laquelle l’ANR opérait depuis 1996. Celle-ci, qui n’a pas été dissoute, devrait devenir un parti politique. - Le vendredi soir, 10 janvier, le président de l’ANR, le  colonel Mahamat Garfa, est arrivé à N’Djamena. “Après huit ans d’exil, je suis revenu pour consolider le retour de la paix”, a-t-il déclaré aux journalistes. Il a été ensuite reçu par le président Déby. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 janvier 2003)

* Chad. Peace deal in the east — 10 January: The government of Chad has signed a peace agreement with one of the main rebel groups, the National Resistance Army (ANR). The ANR is active in eastern Chad, near the border with Sudan and the Central African Republic. The accord, signed in Gabon, provides for an immediate ceasefire and an amnesty for all ANR supporters and fighters. Chad’s foreign minister, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, said former rebels would be integrated into the national army or be given support to go back to civilian life. He called on the other rebel groups to join the agreement. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 10 January 2003)

* Togo. 36 ans de pouvoir — Le 13 janvier à Lomé, des manifestations ont célébré le 36e anniversaire de l’arrivée au pouvoir du président togolais Gnassingbé Eyadéma. Militaires et civils ont défilé pendant plus de 4 heures sous la musique de la fanfare des forces armées, en présence du président. Contrairement aux années précédentes, aucun chef d’Etat étranger n’était cependant présent à ces cérémonies. Par ailleurs, un meeting de l’opposition prévu pour ce même jour a été interdit. La Coalition des forces démocratiques (regroupement des partis d’opposition) avait appelé la population à un “rassemblement de prières, de recueillement et de réflexion sur la situation togolaise”. (PANA, Sénégal, 13 janvier 2003)

* Tunisie. Libre de voyager — Sadri Khiari, artiste peintre et universitaire tunisien, qui a été empêché plusieurs fois de prendre l’avion depuis deux ans, s’est vu notifier, le 9 janvier, une autorisation de se rendre en France pour y soutenir une thèse de doctorat. M. Khiari est un des fondateurs du Rassemblement pour une alternative internationale de développement (RAID/Attac-Tunisie) et du Conseil national pour les libertés en Tunisie (CNLT, non autorisé). (Le Soir, Belgique, 11 janvier 2003)

* Tunisie. Intempéries - Marins disparus — Un chalutier ayant à bord 10 à 13 marins est porté disparu en raison des intempéries qui ont sévi sur la Tunisie pendant le week-end, a rapporté l’hebdomadaire Al-Bayane le lundi 13 janvier. Le bateau se trouvait à quelque 10 milles de l’île de Djerba lorsqu’il a disparu; des opérations de recherche ont été engagées. Ces intempéries étaient accompagnées de fortes précipitations sur tout le pays, causant des crues de plusieurs cours d’eau. L’oued Medjerdah, dans le nord-est, a atteint un “niveau record” et de nombreuses zones dans cette région  ont été inondées et isolées. De même, des chutes de neige exceptionnellement abondantes étaient signalées sur plusieurs hauteurs du nord-ouest et centre-ouest, en particulier sur Thala qui a été recouverte d’un manteau de neige de 30 centimètres. (AP, 13 janvier 2003)

* Uganda. The burden of Uganda’s business tax — 9 January: Evidence is mounting that local government taxes are hurting small business badly. In recent surveys, small business in Uganda has blamed unfair taxes for their poor profits and in some cases, their business failure. «The plethora of local taxes and their maladministration is damaging local enterprise and undermining the credibility of government,» a report by the Ministry of Finance published in December read. It is the second participatory poverty assessment report. Business anger at this situation is real. A woman in Butema, Bugiri, told the Ministry of Finance report: «I brew kwete (local brew) and take it to the market. I am required to pay dues for the same jerry can of kwete today and tomorrow if it is left over. Sometimes, most of the kwete is not bought, it is goes stale and I have to pour it away. I make a loss, yet I have paid all the market dues.» Behind the initial anger at the damage to their profits, there is a deeper anger at where the taxes that are being paid are actually going. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 9 January 2003)

* Uganda. Kony offers peace talks — 13 January: Rebel leader Joseph Kony, has reportedly expressed interest in having ceasefire talks with the authorities. Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), also called for direct talks with President Yoweri Museveni. A member of parliament, Norbert Mao, said that Mr Kony had telephoned him and spoken for more than two hours on 11 January to make fresh proposals to end the conflict in the country. President Museveni has since expressed no objection to dispatching a military delegation to discuss a ceasefire with Mr Kony, but he vowed to pursue the rebels in the meantime, Mr Mao said. The LRA has been conducting a campaign of violence in northern Uganda since 1987 to overthrow Mr Museveni’s government. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 13 January 2003)

* Ouganda/Rwanda. Tensions? — L’Ouganda a promis de ne pas s’engager dans un quelconque conflit armé avec le Rwanda, en dépit du discours des autorités de Kigali, qualifié de “ton guerrier” à Kampala. Le ministre des Affaires régionales, le colonel Otaffire, a déclaré: “Nous devons observer une certaine modération et agir de manière responsable à la restauration des relations de bon voisinage avec le Rwanda”. Cependant, le ministre ougandais de la Défense, Amama Mbabazi, a confirmé que des troupes supplémentaires avaient été  envoyées la semaine dernière vers la frontière, à la suite de renseignements militaires qui parlaient de la possibilité d’une attaque du Rwanda. (PANA, Sénégal, 13 janvier 2003)

* Uganda. Cattle clashes leave 30 dead — 15 January: Fighting between rival tribesmen in a remote area of north-eastern Uganda has left dozens of people dead. The clashes erupted on 12 January when ethnic Pian Karamojong attacked ethnic Bokora in a bid to steal their cattle, army sources say. At least 30 people from the Bokora tribe were killed and a dozen injured during those recent ethnic clashes over cattle and grazing land. The clashes are a frequent occurrence, especially during the dry season when local communities move with their herds in search of pasture and water. Pian attackers made off with more than 600 heads of cattle. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 15 January 2003)

* Ouganda. Affrontements interethniques — Au moins 30 personnes ont été tuées et une dizaine d’autres blessées dans des combats interethniques dans la région de Karamoja au nord-est de l’Ouganda. Des tribus se seraient violemment affrontées pour le contrôle des pâturages et des points d’eau, devenus rares en raison de la forte sécheresse. (Libération, France, 16 janvier 2003)

* Zambia. Government completes GM guidelines — The Zambian government has completed its proposed guidelines on genetically modified (GM) food and expects to submit these to cabinet later in January, Abel Chambeshi, Minister of Science and Technology said on 8 January 2003. The guidelines, which are expected to fill a legislative void on the controversial subject, were drawn up after President Levy Mwanawasa banned the import of GM food aid last year, calling it «poison». The ban and the subsequent order to withdraw in-country stocks left food relief agencies cutting rations and scrambling to find alternate food sources for about 2.9 million people. «We’ve done all the preliminary work and as ministers have completed all the requirements. There may be a few amendments but the guidelines will be presented to Cabinet. It will then become a parliamentary bill and will then become law,» Chambeshi said. (IRIN, Kenya, 8 January 2003)

* Zambia. Officials charged with corruption — 8 January: Seven senior government officials have been charged with the theft of public funds, say Zambian police. Those charged include Treasury Secretary David Diangamo and a former official of the state-owned Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) Samuel Musonda. The move is significant, as it comes just days after Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa complained that an investigation into corruption which was launched last March, was  proceeding too slowly. The police say the seven officials are accused of diverting about $2.5 million from the bank and the Finance Ministry. They have been charged with a total of 59 counts for abuse of office and theft by public servants. 14 January: Police say they have detained former Foreign Minister Katele Kalumba for questioning as part of the widespread corruption probe. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 14 January 2003)

* Zambie. Ex-ministre accusé de corruption — Le mardi 14 janvier, l’ex-ministre des Affaires étrangères, Katele Kalumba, a été arrêté par la police pour être soumis à un interrogatoire dans le cadre d’une vaste opération anti-corruption lancée il y a quelques mois par le président Mwanawasa. M. Kalumba occupait la fonction de ministre des Finances sous le président Chiluba, et fut ensuite appelé à la conduite du ministère des Affaires étrangères par l’actuel chef de l’Etat. En juillet 2002, il a abandonné sa charge sans fournir d’explications. Il y a quelques semaines, le président Mwanawasa a dit que Kalumba et Chiluba sont impliqués dans des actes de corruption qui ont provoqué des dommages pour des millions de dollars aux caisses de l’Etat. Jusqu’à présent Kalumba a toujours rejeté ces accusations. (Misna, Italie, 15 janvier 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Food supply threatened — Zimbabwe appears headed for another season of food shortages in 2003-2004 with poor rains and reduced plantings likely to dent output, a US-based food monitoring organization said on 9 January. Although Zimbabwe was once the bread basket of southern Africa, sharply reduced domestic food production has forced the country into dependence upon food aid, and nearly half Zimbabwe’s estimated 14 million people now face starvation. In its latest update on the situation in Zimbabwe, the Famine Early Warning System Network known as FEWSNET said below-average rains ranging from 40 to 60 percent of normal, as well as hot, dry weather in late 2002 had cut plantings and exerted extreme stress on the staple maize crop already in the ground. «If things do not improve, food security will once again be of major concern in 2003-2004,» the group said, adding that «the (weather) prospects for 2002-03 are beginning to look quite gloomy.» (CNN, USA, 9 January 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Fuite de cerveaux — Environ 5.000 Zimbabwéens ont quitté leur pays pour rejoindre les rangs de l’armée britannique, alors qu’une fuite massive des cerveaux se poursuit, a indiqué la semaine dernière M. Mascule, porte-parole du Forum consultatif national économique. Des sources de l’ambassade britannique à Pretoria ont également confirmé ce fait nouveau. Concernant l’exode massif des compétences du Zimbabwe, Masuku a imputé ce phénomène à l’incertitude  politique et économique, aggravée par les programmes de réformes agraires. Selon lui, les Zimbabwéens ont été attirés par des propositions attractives. La plupart d’entre eux sont allés en Angleterre, en Nouvelle-Zélande, en Australie et au Canada. (PANA, Sénégal, 13 janvier 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Cricket World Cup controversy — 9 January: Zimbabwean exiles in Johannesburg call on countries to show their abhorrence of Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe’s policies, by boycotting next month’s World Cup cricket matches. However, Ali Bacher, the South African chief executive of the World Cup says any team that refuses to go to Zimbabwe will be penalised. And Dr Bacher says it is for governments — not cricket authorities — to decide whether there should be a boycott. Zimbabwe and sport are two highly emotive subjects in South Africa, so it is not surprising that the World Cup row is arousing strong feelings. In fact, most of the World Cup matches will be held in South Africa but six teams are scheduled to travel to Zimbabwe. —English cricket is facing its biggest crisis in 30 years after a crucial meeting today between ministers and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officials fails to resolve the impasse of the World Cup match with Zimbabwe. The government has called on the ECB to withdraw from the fixture because of human rights abuses by Robert Mugabe’s regime, but refuses to meet ECB demands to compensate it for losses of up to £1m it could incur by boycotting the match. After a «frank» exchange of views, the gulf between the two sides is as wide as ever. Tim Lamb, the ECB chief executive, says he is disappointed at the outcome of the meeting and says his first responsibility is to the financial wellbeing of English cricket. He criticises the government for making its views clear just six weeks before the game is scheduled. «If we sacrifice this match it will, in effect, be at the government’s request — and for the wider national interest,» he says. «We don’t understand therefore the government’s refusal to compensate us out of the national purse for any consequential losses we incur. These losses could damage cricket enormously. Surely, it is only fair that the government should at least discuss this with us». 10 January: England’s World Cup fixture in Zimbabwe is to go ahead, however, the players will be told by the ECB not to shake hands with President Mugabe who is patron of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. 14 January: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says it will honour its commitment to play a controversial World Cup match in Zimbabwe next month. The decision, which follows a three-hour delay after protestors stormed Lords cricket ground in London, comes despite UK ministers urging the ECB to boycott the match on political grounds. Human rights groups claim that by going ahead with the match English cricket is supporting President Robert Mugabe’s controversial and often violent redistribution of white-owned farmland to landless blacks. But Tim Lamb,  ECB chief executive, says it is unfair to expect a sporting organisation, operating on commercial basis, to make political decisions. «It is not our role to make subjective moral judgements. These are matters for the elected government to consider and to take a decisive and early lead. We are fully aware of what is happening in Zimbabwe and we don’t condone or endorse the political regime in that country. But we don’t believe that the cancellation of one match would make any difference,» he added. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 14 January 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Rumeurs d’exil démenties pour Mugabe — Selon le quotidien britannique The Times dans son édition de dimanche, le président Mugabe accepterait de quitter le pouvoir en échange d’une impunité judiciaire pour les violations des droits de l’homme commises sous son régime. Le journal assure que des responsables du parti au pouvoir, la ZANU-PF, et de l’armée ont proposé au chef de l’opposition Morgan Tsvangirai un plan prévoyant la démission du chef de l’Etat et la mise en place d’un gouvernement d’union nationale. Mugabe, 78 ans, obtiendrait en échange la garantie de son immunité et la possibilité de trouver asile à l’étranger. Au Zimbabwe, le lundi 13 janvier, pouvoir et opposition ont démenti ces informations. “Les Britanniques prennent leurs désirs pour des réalités”, a réagi le porte-parole de la ZANU-PF. “Cet article est faux, c’est de la pure spéculation”, a également déclaré le porte-parole du MDC, le principal parti d’opposition. (Libération, France, 14 janvier 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Exit plan for Mugabe — wishful thinking? — 13 January: Zimbabwe’s ruling and opposition parties are considering proposals for President Robert Mugabe to step down. Two of the most powerful figures in Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party are allegedly involved in the plan which would allow a power-sharing government to address the country’s famine and economic crisis. There is nothing new about suggestions from Harare that President Mugabe is about to step down. But there are some key differences this time. Firstly, the main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party will back the new plan — including seeing Mr Mugabe granted immunity from prosecution for his alleged abuses of human rights. It is also reported that two top power-brokers from ZANU-PF are involved — parliamentary speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa and the chief of staff of the armed forces, General Vitalis Zvinavashe. But perhaps most importantly, Zimbabwe’s famine and economic crisis is worsening by the day. The crisis was sparked by Mr Mugabe’s programme of land seizures, and has been compounded by poor rainfall. Later in the day, senior ZANU-PF officials deny the reports. 14 January: President Robert Mugabe has denied he has any intention of stepping down and fleeing Zimbabwe until his land reform programme is  complete. Speaking on his return to Africa from a two-week holiday in Malaysia, Mr Mugabe said it would be foolish for him to leave office just months after he had been re-elected. «I am not retiring yet until this business is done [land reform],» he told reporters in neighbouring Zambia at a ceremony to honour their country’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 14 January 2003)