* Egypt. Liberal Eyptian editor missing — 17 August: Police in Egypt are investigating the disappearance of a prominent journalist, Reda Hilal. The Egyptian Union of Journalists says it is very concerned about the disappearance of Mr Hilal, the deputy editor of the daily newspaper, Al-Ahram. The BBC Arabic service says Mr Hilal was known for his liberal views, his criticism of the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, and his support for improved relations between Egypt and Israel. (BBC, UK, 17 August 2003)

* Ghana. Competition take over gold mine — 11 August: The competition to take over Ghana’s biggest gold mine hots up as London-listed Randgold confirms reports that it is entering the race with an initial bid worth almost $1.5bn. The new offer jumps well ahead of the main one currently on the table, which sees South Africa’s AngloGold - part of Anglo American, the world’s third largest mining concern -offering shares worth $1.1bn. Randgold is offering one share for every two Ashanti shares, while AngloGold’s bid offers 26 of its shares for every 100 Ashanti shares. «Because we are not as large as the other interested party, it retains the independence of [Ashanti through] any possible merger,» Randgold chief executive says. Anglo was quick to pour cold water on its rival’s offer, saying that Randgold’s relatively small size might lead to problems if the cost of the bid left too few resources to invest in improving Ashanti’s operations. «I will not surprise you by saying that I think we are overwhelmingly the right partner for Ashanti,» AngloGold chief executive Bobby Godsell says. «Our immediate reaction is that (Randgold) will have to increase their share capital very substantially and wonder what their existing shareholders will have to say about this,» says Jonathan Best, AngloGold’s Chief Financial Officer. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 August 2003)

* Kenya. Police fire tear gas at minister’s backers — On 18 August, Kenyan police fired tear gas and made 14 arrests to disperse demonstrators calling for cabinet minister Raila Odinga to be made prime minister amid a deepening rift in the coalition government. The protest outside a conference debating changes to Kenya’s constitution highlighted emerging tribally tinged factionalism in the East African country’s ruling National Rainbow Coalition that analysts say could threaten foreign investment. Supporters of Odinga, who enjoys strong support among his Luo tribe and slum dwellers in the capital Nairobi, accuse President Mwai Kibaki, from the Kikuyu tribe, of being scared to promote the former firebrand leftist in case he poses a threat. A police spokesman said the 14 people arrested had «wanted to disrupt» the conference, at which one of the major issues is whether a president or a prime minister should wield power. «All we want is (Odinga) to be given his right as prime minister,» said protester John Odongo. Kibaki promised the post to Odinga after he helped end 24 years of mostly one-party rule by President Daniel arap Moi at a general election last December when Kenyans voted for change in the hope it would give the country a much-needed economic boost. But Odinga, jailed for eight years by Moi for campaigning against one-party rule, remains public works, roads and housing minister. (CNN, USA, 19 August 2003)

* Kenya. Destruction des mines — D’ici la fin du mois d’août, le Kenya aura détruit la totalité de ses réserves de mines antipersonnel, soit 35.774 engins, à l’exception de 3.000 exemplaires destinés à la “recherche”, a annoncé le ministre de la Sécurité nationale, Chris Murungaru. “Le gouvernement kényan, en accord avec le traité d’Ottawa, aura détruit ces mines, d’une valeur de 400.000 dollars, d’ici le 26 août”, a-t-il précisé, soulignant que Nairobi “a pris d’importantes mesures pour éviter le développement futur de ce type d’armes”. Le traité d’Ottawa de 1997 interdit l’utilisation, le stockage, la production et le transfert des mines antipersonnel. Plus de 130 pays, à l’exception notable des Etats-Unis, de la Russie, de la Chine, de l’Inde et du Pakistan, l’ont jusqu’à présent ratifié. (Le Soir, Belgique, 21 août 2003)

* Liberia. Peace Agreement — 11 August: President Charles Taylor goes into exile. 14 August: Rebel forces have handed control of the port in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, to West African peacekeepers. Although much of the food in the port’s warehouses has been looted during two months of fighting in Monrovia, deliveries of badly-needed food, water and medicines can now be stepped up. Rebel official Sekou Fofana formally handed control of the port to Ecomil commander Brigadier-General Festus Okonkwo in a ceremony also attended by US Ambassador John Blaney. The rebels are expected to move out to the River Po on the city’s outskirts. Earlier today, the first wave of some 200 US Marines arrived at Liberia’s main international airport to back up the peacekeeping operation. The US troops are supposed to help the Nigerian-led peacekeepers secure the port and deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid to the city. Although some 2,300 US troops are based on ships off the Liberian coast, the US insists that the main peacekeeping role in Liberia should be played by Ecomil, which currently consists of less than 800 Nigerian troops. Lorry-loads of Nigerian troops have entered rebel-held territory, where they were greeted by thousands of people cheering, dancing and punching the air. The Nigerian-led Ecomil force will stop government fighters moving in as the rebels withdraw. — Chaos has continued for a second day in the port area itself, as rebel fighters fired guns in a vain attempt to stop thousands of people looting food from warehouses there. There is very little food left in United Nations warehouses. Meanwhile, new interim President Moses Blah has arrived in neighbouring Ghana for a meeting with rebel leaders. A battalion of Nigerian peacekeepers arrived at Sokoto airfield in the north of the country, ready to be airlifted to join Ecomil. Meanwhile, new interim President Moses Blah has begun talks with Liberian rebel leaders in neighbouring Ghana. Interim President Blah, Mr Taylor’s former deputy, is set to rule Liberia until October. Lurd rebels have rejected his appointment but say they will respect the ceasefire. 15 August: Two United Nations vessels have docked in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, carrying the first shipments of aid to arrive by sea for several weeks. However, the first major food deliveries will not arrive until next week. Monrovia has been reunited after months of fighting, and thousands of people have been streaming across the bridges along the former frontline which divided rebel and government-held areas. Most were looking for food, which is more plentiful and cheaper around the port. Some Monrovians have also been trying to find friends and relatives after weeks of being divided by the bitter fighting. A WFP vessel delivered one container of high-energy biscuits and will also serve as a communications centre for the aid operation. A ship from the United Nations refugee agency has also docked, carrying plastic sheets and blankets for the tens of thousands of Liberians without shelter. Residents of the government-held southern parts of Monrovia had suffered from food shortages for several weeks after the rebels captured the port and the surrounding warehouses of United Nations food. 17 August: Liberia’s interim President Moses Blah has flown home after walking out of negotiations in Ghana over the setting up of a new Liberian Government. Negotiators had hoped to sign a deal on 16 August to create a government that would take over in October and lead the country to democratic elections in two years’ time. Mr Blah’s decision was prompted by rebel demands for key positions in the proposed government. On the humanitarian front, there is continuing concern over conditions for the people of the country’s second city, Buchanan, after a missionary who accompanied a first truckload of aid described conditions there as «disastrous». Thousands of people have been sheltering in a Catholic mission in Buchanan, but there is little food or clean water. Tens of thousands of Liberians are desperately in need of food after weeks of fighting between government forces and rebels. The main rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd), is demanding the posts of vice-president and speaker in the new administration. 18 August: The warring factions in Liberia should sign an agreement to set up an interim government later today,, says the United Nations representative to the country. Jacques Klein says a peace deal for Liberia is «very close». A breakthrough was achieved yesterday, when the country’s main rebel group dropped its demand for the vice-presidency in a new government. West African mediators had threatened to call off the talks in Ghana unless the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) gave in. Mr Klein said only one group is still holding out. 19 August: Liberia’s interim government and rebel groups have signed a peace agreement to end the 14-year civil war that has cost thousands of lives. The deal, signed in Ghana, provides for a power-sharing administration, due to take charge in October and pave the way for democratic elections to be held no later than 2005. The factions could soon begin naming members of the transitional administration, according to negotiators at the talks in Ghana. In the Liberian capital Monrovia, there is cautious optimism about the agreement — and hope that it will bring sporadic fighting to an end. In Washington, a White House spokesman said the deal provided Liberians with «an unprecedented opportunity to begin the process of healing and reconciliation toward a peaceful, stable and prosperous Liberia». 21 August: Government and rebel delegates have selected a businessman, Gyude Bryant, to head Liberia’s interim post-war administration. His appointment is due to be formally announced shortly by West African mediators in Ghana. Mr Bryant was chosen ahead of two other candidates. Interim President Moses Blah is due to stand down in October in favour of the new administration, which is supposed to organise elections in 2005. Mr Bryant, of the Liberia Action Party, is a leading figure in the Episcopal Church, one of Liberia’s main religious denominations. Under the power-sharing agreement, neither Liberia’s new leader nor the vice-chairman can come from either of the armed factions. The signing of the agreement, has raised hopes that Liberia’s bitter 14-year war may finally be over. However, there has been fighting in Bong County, 100 kilometres north-east of Monrovia, despite a ceasefire agreement. Aid agency Médécins Sans Frontieres warns that the frontline is now just 45km from camps where some 60,000 people have sought refuge. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 21 August 2003)

* Liberia. Accord de paix global — 14 août. Satisfaits du départ de l’ancien président Charles Taylor, les rebelles ont commencé à abandonner leurs positions à Monrovia et à se retirer à quelque 20 km du centre. Ceci a permis aux soldats nigérians de la force d’interposition ouest-africaine (Ecomil) de se déployer dans la capitale, où plus d’une centaine de soldats américains ont également débarqué. Pendant ce temps, des pourparlers se sont ouverts à Accra (Ghana) entre le président par intérim Moses Blah et le chef du mouvement rebelle des Libériens unis pour la réconciliation et la démocratie (LURD), Sékou Damate. — 15 août. Alors que le premier bateau transportant de la nourriture est arrivé à Monrovia, des dizaines de milliers de Libériens affamés se sont rués vers les ponts de la capitale pour rejoindre les secteurs abandonnés par les rebelles dans l’espoir de trouver de quoi nourrir leurs familles. Les ponts qui relient le port au centre de la ville ont été rouverts et la capitale a été ainsi réunifiée. Les bousculades monstres qui s’en sont suivies n’ont heureusement pas fait de victimes. — Le dimanche 17 août à Accra, les rebelles et le gouvernement libérien ont signé un accord garantissant le libre accès des organisations humanitaires à l’ensemble du pays. Le LURD et le MODEL (Mouvement pour la démocratie au Liberia) promettent de laisser l’aide accéder à tous les territoires qu’ils contrôlent, soit les quatre cinquièmes du Liberia. Le LURD renonce aussi à revendiquer la vice-présidence du gouvernement de transition. Cette exigence, assortie d’une menace de reprendre les combats, bloquait les pourparlers en cours. Le samedi, les délégués s’étaient entendus pour que les élections générales soient organisées en octobre 2005, suivies de l’investiture du gouvernement en janvier 2006. Ils ont aussi convenu de l’investiture, le 14 octobre prochain, d’un gouvernement national de transition, incluant toutes les parties, qui remplacera le gouvernement actuel dirigé par Moses Blah. Le projet de document devrait être signé lundi. — 18 août. Un accord de paix global et sur la transition politique a été signé dans la soirée à Accra entre les deux mouvements rebelles et le gouvernement intérimaire. Les discussions devaient reprendre pour choisir le président et le vice-président, mais, selon le porte-parole de la CEDEAO, ces postes seront attribués à des partis politiques ou des représentants de la société civile, les rebelles et les membres du gouvernement en étant exclus. Le document signé prévoit aussi la mise en place d’une Commission vérité et réconciliation, s’inspirant de l’institution sud-africaine. Il faut encore noter que la responsabilité de la communauté internationale et plus particulièrement des Nations unies dans le processus de paix, est clairement définie dans l’accord. Son rôle sera essentiel tant au niveau de la restructuration des forces de sécurité, que de l’organisation des élections en 2005. - D’autre part, l’aide humanitaire arrive désormais à un rythme régulier dans le port et sur l’aéroport de Monrovia, malgré le naufrage d’un navire d’aide affrété par l’organisation américain World Vision. La vie normale reprend son cours dans la capitale. — 19 août. Selon l’accord signé lundi, le gouvernement, les deux groupes rebelles, la société civile et les partis politiques pouvaient occuper cinq postes ministériels chacun. Le gouvernement a ainsi obtenu: la Défense, l’Intérieur, la Planification et l’Economie, Santé et Affaires sociales, Postes et Télécommunications. Le LURD: les portefeuilles des Finances, Justice, Travail, Transport et du ministère d’Etat. Le MODEL: Affaires étrangères, Agriculture, Commerce, Energie et Mines. D’autre part, les partis politiques et les organisations de la société civile ont proposé leurs candidats aux postes de président et de vice-président. — 20 août. Des accrochages ont opposé rebelles et forces gouvernementales dans le comté de Bong (à une centaine de km au nord-est de Monrovia), mais aucun des belligérants ne se risquait pour le moment de qualifier ces accrochages de violations du cessez-le-feu. —21 août. Selon AP, les rebelles et le gouvernement, après une nuit de délibérations, ont désigné un homme d’affaires de Monrovia, Gyude Bryant, pour diriger le gouvernement de transition. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 août 2003)

* Libya. US investors eye up Libya — 14 August: United Nations sanctions against Libya are expected to be lifted in a matter of days. The UN move is unlikely to have an immediate impact on Libya’s economy. Many European companies have been doing business with Libya since UN sanctions were suspended a few years ago. But American firms remained banned from doing business there because the US Government has its own sanctions. American officials say their sanctions will not end until the Libyans show they no longer support terrorism. But there are commercial interests at stake. A number of US oil companies have been lobbying hard in Washington to be able to return to Libya where they have claims on a number of important oil fields. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 14 August 2003)

* Libya. Libya agrees Lockerbie deal — 14 August: Lawyers acting for families of the Lockerbie bombing victims say they have reached agreement with Libya on the payment of compensation. The deal to set up a $2.7bn fund was struck with Libyan officials after negotiations in London. Once the money is in place, Libya is expected to write to the United Nations saying it takes responsibility for the attack on Pan Am flight 103. The American State Department has invited families of victims to attend a meeting on 15 August. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns has cut short a trip to the Middle East to brief the relatives. It is expected that the Libyan government will send a letter to the United Nations Security Council the same day, accepting responsibility for the 1988 bombing in which 270 people were killed. Under the deal Libya was expected to start transferring the compensation money - up to $10m for every victim — into a Swiss bank account immediately. The US is then expected to write to the UN Security Council to say it believes Libya has met the conditions for lifting of sanctions, which were suspended in 1999. Britain will then circulate a draft resolution calling for that step to be taken. — France has indicated it will push for a settlement with Libya to equal that awarded to victims of the Lockerbie bombing this week. A French UTA airliner was blown up over Niger in 1989 with the loss of 170 lives. The compensation demand could mean Paris using its veto at the UN Security Council to stop the expected lifting of sanctions on Libya. US officials were quoted as saying on 14 August that Washington is furious with the French stance given that Paris had earlier reached a deal with Tripoli. 16 August: Libya has handed over a letter to a United Nations Security Council meeting formally taking responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing in 1988. The United States and Britain also delivered letters to the Syrian president of the Security Council declaring that Libya had met the conditions required to lift UN sanctions by accepting full blame for the Lockerbie bombing and renouncing terrorism. British ambassador to the UN, Emyr Jones Parry said the next step was for Britain to circulate a draft resolution lifting UN sanctions, possibly on Monday. 17 August: The British Government is calling for UN sanctions to be lifted on Libya after it accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. Foreign Office Minister Denis McShane says Libya had met the requirements of the United Nations to enable sanctions to be lifted including renouncing terrorism and agreeing to pay compensation to the victims’ families. But he reiterates the government’s condemnation of the worst terrorist attack in the UK. In a statement yesterday he says a draft resolution will be tabled shortly at the UN Security Council proposing a final end to sanctions. 20 August: Libya has begun to transfer the $2.7bn compensation it has agreed to pay to the families of those killed in the Lockerbie airliner bombing, US officials say. «Because it is such a large sum, it will not be deposited all at once. Some will go in tomorrow (Thursday). Some could go in Friday,» an unnamed official told Reuters news agency. The cash is being paid into an account at the Bank for International Settlements in Basle, Switzerland. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 20 August 2003)

* Libye. Lockerbie — La Libye reconnaît sa responsabilité civile dans l’attentat contre le Boeing 747 qui a explosé en vol, le 21 décembre 1988, au-dessus de Lockerbie, en Ecosse. Le 13 août, un accord entre Tripoli et les familles des victimes du vol de la PanAm a été signé à Londres. Il prévoit le paiement échelonné de 2,7 milliards de dollars, au fur et à mesure de la levée définitive des sanctions imposées à la Libye. Cet accord divise toutefois les ayant droits, dont certains estiment qu’une indemnité pécuniaire ne peut exonérer l’Etat libyen de sa responsabilité pénale, morale et politique. En France, les associations des familles de victimes de l’attentat contre le vol UTA, en 1989 au-dessus du Ténéré (Niger), exigent un traitement équitable. A défaut, les autorités françaises menacent d’user de leur veto au Conseil de sécurité de l’Onu, qui devrait voter une résolution sur la levée des sanctions onusiennes adoptées en 1992. — Le lundi soir, 18 août, la Grande-Bretagne a déposé devant le Conseil de sécurité de l’Onu un projet de résolution levant les sanctions imposées à la Libye, mais le vote ne devrait pas intervenir avant mercredi au plus tôt et vendredi au plus tard. La Russie est prête à appuyer le projet; la France, à l’inverse, laisse toujours planer la menace d’un veto. — Le 20 août, la Libye a commencé à transférer les $2,7 milliards de dédommagement aux familles des victimes sur un compte de la Banque des règlements internationaux à Bâle. D’autre part, avant de voter la levée des sanctions contre Tripoli, les diplomates des Nations unies ont décidé d’accorder un délai supplémentaire à la France pour qu’elle parvienne à un accord avec la Libye, mais ils ont souligné que Paris doit faire vite. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 août 2003)