* Congo (RDC). Bemba menacé par ses soldats — Après leurs mésaventures en République centrafricaine, les soldats de l’Armée de libération du Congo (la branche armée du MLC de Jean-Pierre Bemba) se retrouvaient en “chômage technique” et sans le sou. Ils avaient pris l’habitude de se “payer sur la bête” dans les zones où ils opéraient. Ils réclament aujourd’hui leurs soldes pour services rendus. Et pour montrer leur détermination, ils ont pris le contrôle de la ville de Zongo, située sur la rive congolaise de l’Oubangui, juste en face de Bangui. Ils menaçaient même de marcher sur Gbadolite, où se trouve le QG de MLC. Face à cette mutinerie, le chef rebelle congolais a rappelé, le 16 mai, une centaine de fidèles de son corps d’élite pour sécuriser la ville. Et depuis, il ne cache plus son empressement à rejoindre Kinshasa, où l’attend un fauteuil de vice-président. (J.A.I., France, 25 mai 2003)

* Congo (RDC). Ituri: pacifier la région — Depuis ce week-end, une équipe de la Mission des Nations unies au Congo (Monuc) enquête sur les récentes violences interethniques à Bunia, chef-lieu de l’Ituri. Dans cette ville, 300 à 350 cadavres ont été retrouvés, mais le bilan pourrait être beaucoup plus élevé, a indiqué la Monuc. Selon un responsable de l’Unicef, près de 40.000 personnes fuyant Bunia se sont réfugiées à Beni (250 km plus au sud). Le secrétaire général adjoint de l’Onu, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, s’est rendu lui-même à Bunia. Le Conseil de sécurité examine actuellement la possibilité de déployer une force internationale pour pacifier la région. M. Guéhenno a déclaré qu’une intervention ferme est nécessaire de toute urgence afin de prévenir de nouveaux massacres. Le samedi 24 mai, le chef d’état-major de l’armée de terre française, le général Thorette, en visite au Gabon, a réaffirmé la volonté de la France de déployer ses troupes en Ituri, dans le cadre d’une opération humanitaire validée par les Nations unies. D’autre part, selon des sources locales, des troupes de Kinshasa, lourdement armées, continuent à arriver à Beni et se dirigeraient vers Bunia, alors que d’importants effectifs rwandais arriveraient dans la région pour soutenir la milice UPC des Hema. On craint donc de nouveaux affrontements. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 mai 2003)

* Congo (RDC). The situation in Bunia — 23 May: UN officials meet with rebel leaders in Bunia to try to quell the ethnic violence. The UN‘s Peacekeeping Mission in Congo (MONUC) is investigating the killings which have taken place in Bunia. MONUC says many of the corpses have body parts missing. 25 May: Desperate Congolese civilians plead with a top UN peacekeeper on Sunday for more protection from eastern Congo’s warring tribal militias, but the small UN force in Bunia has neither the mandate nor the firepower to intervene. The United Nations wants an international force sent to the Ituri region and the under secretary-general for peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno, flies into Bunia today to survey the situation. «I hope this deployment will happen as soon as possible and that the international community learns from this lesson,» he says. «A multinational force sends a message that enough is enough.» 27 May: There has been a further flare-up of fighting in Congo with mortar and small-arms fire around the north-eastern town of Bunia. Ethnic Hema militias of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) who took the town earlier this month said they repelled an attack by their Lendu rivals. A spokeswoman for the United Nations World Food Programme says that 50,000 refugees from Bunia had reached the town of Eringueti, 100 kilometres south of Bunia. Aid agencies are now trying to reach them to assess their needs. — Rwanda has voiced its opposition to France leading a peacekeeping force in Congo, saying it has no moral authority to intervene. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 27 May 2003)

* Congo (RDC). Tensions dans le processus de paix — Le Rassemblement congolais pour la démocratie (RCD-Goma, rébellion soutenue par le Rwanda) a décidé de suspendre “jusqu’à nouvel ordre” sa participation au Comité de suivi de la transition, a annoncé ce mouvement dans un communiqué le 26 mai. Le RCD invoque “un blocage et la mauvaise foi du gouvernement sur les questions de l’armée”. Un blocage était en effet intervenu dans la commission chargée de la répartition des responsabilités au sein de la future armée nationale. D’après certaines sources, ce blocage était attribué au RCD-Goma, seul signataire d’une proposition sud-africaine lui accordant, outre le ministère de la Défense, l’état-major des Forces terrestres et celui de la logistique. Le RCD refusait de revenir sur ce document. (La Libre Belgique, 27 mai 2003)

* Côte d’Ivoire. Loi d’amnistie — Le 22 mai, le nouveau Premier ministre Seydou Diarra a annoncé à Bouaké, fief des rebelles qui accueillait son tout premier conseil de gouvernement, une loi d’amnistie qui sera déposée dans dix jours devant le Parlement. “C’est une initiative déjà engagée et qui a seulement besoin d’être harmonisée à l’occasion d’une troisième lecture”, a précisé M. Diarra. Cette mesure d’amnistie doit permettre aux auteurs du soulèvement militaire du 19 septembre et à ceux qui ont participé à la rébellion de ne pas être poursuivis par la justice, mais également aux militaires qui étaient l’objet de poursuites dans le cadre des différentes tentatives de coups d’Etat depuis décembre 1999 d’être exempté des peines qui avaient pu leur être infligées. Quant au désarmement, dont certains dénoncent la lenteur, “il importe qu’il ne se fasse pas dans la brutalité”, a indiqué le Premier ministre. “Nous allons sortir de cette crise de façon douce et non de façon brutale ou précipitée”. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 22 mai 2003)

* Côte d’Ivoire. Opération conjointe dans l’ouest — Le 23 mai a débuté une vaste opération de sécurisation de l’ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire, en proie depuis plusieurs mois à des massacres. Elle associe les militaires français de l’opération Licorne, des forces ouest-africaines, mais aussi l’armée ivoirienne et les “forces nouvelles” (ex-rebelles) et vise à créer une zone de sécurité le long de la frontière avec le Liberia. Depuis le début des troubles en Côte d’Ivoire, en septembre, des mercenaires libériens ont combattu dans cette zone aux côtés des belligérants ivoiriens, se livrant à nombre d’exactions contre la population civile. Cette opération, qui implique quelque 800 militaires français et une centaine de véhicules blindés, devrait durer deux à trois semaines, selon l’état-major de l’opération Licorne. Elle marque une nouvelle avancée dans le processus de réconciliation initié par les accords de Marcoussis, signé en janvier. - Le 24 mai, un convoi des forces françaises et ouest-africaines est arrivé à Téapleu (ouest), dernière position des troupes gouvernementales qui ont commencé à se retirer. Les militaires français et ouest-africains devraient commencer à sécuriser la zone comprise entre Téapleu et Danané, pour mettre en place une “zone de confiance” démilitarisée, où les forces ivoiriennes ne seront plus autorisées à circuler en armes. Dans un délai de trois semaines, les supplétifs libériens et autres combattants étrangers recrutés par les deux parties devront aussi déposer les armes ou regagner leur pays. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 mai 2003)

* Côte d’Ivoire. Additions to peace force — 23 May: Hundreds of French and West African troops have been sent to the west of Côte d’Ivoire to end recent fighting. Two convoys of French armoured vehicles stretched for more than 10km as they headed for the region. On 22 May, the government of national unity met in the rebel stronghold of Bouake for the first time. Côte d’Ivoire remains divided between the rebel-held north and west and the south, which is under the control of forces loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo despite the power-sharing government. The largest rebel group — the Patriotic Movement of Côte d’Ivoire (MPCI) who are yet to disarm —now prefer to be called the new forces. The deployment follows a recent «full» ceasefire bringing western rebel groups into the peace agreement. The peacekeepers intend to establish a weapons-free «zone of confidence» in the areas around the Liberian border, which have seen the worst violence and looting of the eight-month conflict. 26 May: Rebel fighters have withdrawn from territory they control in the west. 27 May: Substantial progress appears to have been made recently towards bringing an end to the civil war. The United Nations has even taken Abidjan down a notch on its security alert rating, and the first cargo train has set off for Burkina Faso. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 27 May 2003)

* Eritrea, 10 years of independence — 25 May: The people of Eritrea celebrate 10 years of independence with street parties and a military parade in the capital, Asmara. The anniversary is marked by a speech by President Isaias Afewerki, the man who led Eritrean rebels to victory over Ethiopia after a bitter 30-year-long conflict. He has been in power ever since the founding of the new state, and went to war a second time with Ethiopia over their disputed border. That dispute is now in the hands of an international commission but relations are still tense, with President Isaias accusing Ethiopia of obstructing the border demarcation process. Economic problems and strained relations with neighbours Sudan and Yemen have also contributed to a difficult first ten years. «It is difficult to forget the past,» said one man among the crowds in Asmara. «Still the past preys on our mind but we have to look for what makes our life better.» (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 25 May 2003)

* Ethiopia. «Live Aid» — 25 May: Thousands of people pack an Addis Ababa square today, swaying and singing along to some of Ethiopia’s top musicians. This concert is a more modest, home-grown version of the Live Aid concert which, 18 years ago, raised $60 million to fight famine in the drought-stricken country. Named «A Birr for a Compatriot» -the birr is the Ethiopian currency, worth about 12 US cents — this event aimed to raise over $1 million to confront the fresh threat of starvation currently facing some 14 million people. The concert comes a day before Irish rock star Bob Geldof — organiser of the original Live Aid — makes a return visit to the country. It opened with a performance of the song «Negarit» («War Drum»), produced specially by a group of musicians to increase awareness of the situation in Ethiopia. 27 May: Bob Geldof has arrived in Ethiopia. He says he is determined to publicise the millions again facing starvation. His five-day mission, which begins in Addis Ababa, is timed to raise public interest ahead of the G8 summit taking place in Evian, France, on 1 June. He criticises the European Union response to Ethiopia’s food crisis as «pathetic». The musician and campaigner met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at the start of a five-day tour. After three years of failed rains, some 14 million Ethiopians are relying on food aid and Mr Meles has warned that his country faces a famine worse than that of 1984. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 27 May 2003)

* Ghana. Rawlings in new abuse probe — 23 May: A commission investigating human rights abuses in Ghana says it will give ex-President Jerry Rawlings a week to respond to allegations that he ordered the murder of four people, including three judges. The allegations were made at a hearing of the national reconciliation commission on 22 May by ex-Corporal Matthew Adabuga, who said he once plotted a coup with Rawlings. Adabuga, now working with the Red Cross in Russia, says Rawlings ordered the murders of three high court judges and a retired military officer in 1982 and said he was with Rawlings when the former president was told «the assignment» on the judges was finished. «Rawlings did not utter a word, and went to the refrigerator and opened champagne to drink,» Adabuga said. Ghana’s former president ruled for 19 years until 2001, winning foreign applause for economic reform and for giving a lesson in democracy to fellow African leaders by stepping down following the two elected terms he was allowed. The commission was set up to probe abuses in the former British colony by five military administrations from 1966, including those of Rawlings, who led coups in 1979 and 1981 and had three former heads of state shot on a beach for corruption. «We’ll send him a transcript of Adabuga’s testimony, and then we’ll give him a week to respond to the charge,» the commission’s executive secretary Ken Attafuah said. If Rawlings does not respond, Attafuah said he could be subpoenaed by the nine-member body. (CNN, USA, 23 May 2003)

* Kenya. Kenya wants security alert relaxed — On 23 May, a senior official in Kenya urged the United States and Britain to relax a security alert in East Africa, insisting that his country had «nipped in the bud» potential terrorist operations in Somalia and Kenya. He noted that Kenya had sent forces by helicopter to seize a senior Al Qaeda suspect in a raid on Mogadishu, the Somali capital. «This country is not as unsafe as the world is meant to believe,» Foreign Minister Stephen Musyoka said. He said that during the raid in Mogadishu in March, anti-terrorist forces captured a suspected Qaeda operative now believed to be in custody in the United States. Musyoka denied reports outside Kenya that the raid —which he first disclosed to the Kenyan Parliament in March — had been mounted by the US Central Intelligence Agency. Other officials said the raid had been mounted by Kenyan forces with allied groups among the feuding militias in lawless Somalia. At the time in mid-March, the suspect was identified as Suliman Abdalla Salim Hemed. He is also said to have used the alias Isse as a surname and some news reports here have identified him as a Yemeni citizen. American officials have declined to comment on the raid. Musyoka’s remarks were apparently intended to reinforce the argument that the United States and Britain should relax the alarm because Kenya was playing an active role in identifying and apprehending terror suspects. (International Herald Tribune, USA, 24 May 2003)

* Kenya. Terror mobile phone texts cause panic — 26 May: Security has been tightened at shopping centres in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, following warnings of terror attacks sent out by mobile phone. All cars entering the centres are being checked, while policemen are patrolling inside the shops. The text messages started arriving on mobile phones on 23 May, leading to a huge decline in numbers of visitors to three shopping centres in the capital, Nairobi. There have been increased fears of an attack by al-Qaeda in East Africa, Kenya in particular, in recent weeks. British Airways has stopped flying to Kenya, while the United States has urged Americans not to travel to Kenya unless their trip is essential. The Yaya, Sarit and Village Market shopping centres were all mentioned as possible targets in the messages. Car parks at the Sarit Centre were reportedly deserted over the weekend, while security was stepped up. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 May 2003)

* Kenya. Kenya pleads for end to flight ban — Kenya’s tourism minister has appealed to Britain to lift its ban on flights to the east African country, claiming it is costing the economy about £600,000 per day. Tourism minister Raphael Tuju is in Britain for meetings aimed at convincing UK officials that it is safe to resume flights to Kenya. «Airlines are flying to Nairobi and Mombasa international airports normally, and it is now essential that the British flight ban is lifted,» he said. Britain halted all flights to and from Kenya by UK-based airlines 12 days ago, claiming there was an imminent threat of attacks from the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation. The Department of Transport said the ban would remain in place for now, while the Foreign Office has said its travel warnings are constantly under review. (BBC News, UK, 27 May 2003)

* Kenya. Arrestations — Durant le mois de mai, plus de 150 étrangers ont été arrêtés au Kenya, dans le cadre d’une vaste opération de police visant à circonscrire la menace de nouveaux attentats anti-américains et anti-britanniques. (Libération, France, 28 mai 2003)

* Liberia. Combats — Le 23 mai, le gouvernement de Charles Taylor a décidé d’envoyer des renforts dans l’est du pays pour tenter de reconquérir le port stratégique de Harper, tombé récemment aux mains des rebelles du Mouvement pour la démocratie au Liberia (MODEL). La prise de cette ville a provoqué l’exode de 15.000 Libériens vers la Côte d’Ivoire. Le 22 mai, le gouvernement avait ordonné la fermeture des ports maritimes de Greenville et de Harper, en raison de la situation précaire régnant dans le sud-est du pays. Par ailleurs, les pourparlers de paix interlibériens, prévus le 2 juin à Accra, ont été repoussés au 4 juin. -Selon des travailleurs humanitaires, les combattants rebelles progressent maintenant vers Buchanan, la deuxième grande ville du Liberia, à 120 km au sud-est de la capitale. Des affrontements ont été signalés à Cestos, à 53 km de Buchanan. Le gouvernement américain a exprimé sa préoccupation et invité tous les Libériens armés à cesser la violence. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 24 mai 2003)

* Liberia. Paving the way to full peace negotiations — On 26 May, one of Liberia’s two rebel groups began talks with a regional mediator to pave the way to full peace negotiations, but the other insurgent faction failed to show up. The meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, took place just over a week before planned talks in Ghana to bring together Liberia’s President Charles Taylor and the fighters trying to oust him. Members of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) — the oldest rebel group — met former Nigerian president Abdulsalami Abubakar who is representing the Economic Community of West African States. But the rebel Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) failed to send anyone. MODEL emerged in southeast Liberia in April, seizing key ports near the border with Côte d’Ivoire. Between them, the two rebel groups control around 60% of Liberia’s territory, and both want Taylor to step down. The same day, IRIN reported that the United States government has urged its citizens to leave Liberia in view of escalating fighting between the government and rebels. The announcement created panic in Monrovia, where residents said they believed that a rebel attack on the capital could be imminent. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 May 2003)

* Libye. Tripoli reste dans la Ligue arabe — La Libye renonce à se retirer de la Ligue arabe, a annoncé le 25 mai à Tripoli le président égyptien Hosni Moubarak à l’issue d’un entretien avec le dirigeant libyen Mouammar Kadhafi. “Cette décision a été obtenue après avoir personnellement insisté en ce sens auprès de M. Kadhafi qui est d’accord”, a déclaré M. Moubarak. Tripoli avait annoncé en octobre 2002 sa décision de se retirer de l’organisation panarabe, mais ce retrait avait été gelé pour absence de notification officielle. (Le Figaro, France, 26 mai 2003)