* Libya. Gadaffi quits Juventus board — 2 October: Al-Saadi Gadaffi, son of Libyan leader Muammar, has resigned from the board of Juventus. Gadaffi’s company, the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (Lafico) has held a 7.5 per cent stake in the Serie A club since October 2002. His decision to end his involvement with the Italian champions paves the way for his long-awaited league debut for Serie A rivals Perugia. The 30-year-old signed a contract with the club in the summer. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) have been reluctant to give Gadaffi clearance to play for Perugia as his business ties with Juventus were regarded as a conflict of interest. Gadaffi, a Libyan international and vice-chairman of his national football federation, was also linked with a move to buy cash-strapped Rome giants Lazio earlier this year. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 2 October 2003)

* Malawi. School children killed under a tree — Due to a lack of infrastructures in Malawi’s education sector, such as lack of classrooms, many classes have to be given outside under trees. But on 30 September, disaster struck the Mkomachi Primary School, Lilongwe, when a trunk of a tree snapped and fell on the pupils killing two and wounding seven others. The seven injured children were rushed to the Lilongwe Central Hospital after sustaining various injuries from branches of the tree. The school’s headmaster, Austin Kamzati, said that the school has 3,200 pupils in 27 classes. But there are only 8 classrooms which means the remaining 19 classes have to have their lessons outside. Each class has well over 100 pupils. Free primary school education was introduced by the United Democratic Front government when it came to power in 1994. (Frank Jomo, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 2 October 2003)

* Malawi. High Court nullifies constitutional provision — On 6 October, the Blantyre High Court declared «invalid and unconstitutional», Section 65 of the Malawi Constitution, describing the provision as an «oppressive monster» that limits rights to freedom of association in a democratic country. In his landmark ruling, Justice Anaclet Chipeta said he saw a heavy threat of oppression in the piece of legislation. Responding to Attorney General Peter Fachi’s argument that the June 2001 amendment was designed to stop MPs from crossing the floor of the House at will, Chipeta said the issue of discipline should be left to individual political parties and not the national Constitution. Section 65 empowered the Speaker of Parliament to declare vacant the seat of MPs who leave their original parties to join another party, organisation or association «whose objectives are political in nature.» But lawyers Ralph Kasambara and Chifundo Ngwira countered that the legislation contradicts the Bill of Rights in the same Constitution that guarantees freedom of association for every Malawian. Opposition figure Green Lulilo Mwamondwe who was among the latest victim of the controversial law after breaking ranks with the opposition Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) after its leader, Chakufwa Chihana and four aides joined the government, welcomed the ruling. (PANA, Senegal, 6 October 2003)

* Maroc. Visite de Jacques Chirac — Le président français Jacques Chirac se rend aujourd’hui, 9 octobre, au Maroc pour une visite officielle de trois jours, au cours de laquelle il devrait apporter un soutien de la France à la politique de réformes et de modernisation du roi Mohammed VI. M. Chirac a notamment exprimé sa volonté de poursuivre le “renforcement” de la coopération dans la lutte contre le terrorisme, après les attentats meurtriers en mai dernier à Casablanca. Ces derniers mois, la justice marocaine a condamné à la chaîne des islamistes radicaux. Mohammed VI est aujourd’hui confronté plus que jamais à deux problèmes: une pauvreté, qui fait le lit des intégristes, et le Sahara occidental. Ces enjeux seront de toute évidence au coeur de la visite de M. Chirac. Paris a déjà annoncé un doublement, pour les trois années à venir, des financements de l’Agence française de développement, qui atteindront 300 millions d’euros. Sur la scène diplomatique, le soutien français sur l’interminable conflit du Sahara occidental se révèle aussi déterminant. (D’après Le Figaro et Libération, France, 9 octobre 2003)

* Nigeria. Journalists harassed — On 5 October, the Nigerian government was facing questions over an alleged abortive threat to deport two foreign journalists including Jeff Koinange, West Africa bureau chief of CNN. Mr Koinange said he was detained for several hours on arrival at Lagos’ international airport on the night of 4 October was released only after the intervention of senior government officials contacted by himself and other journalists. The incident highlights continued concerns about the harassment of journalists and ordinary citizens by Nigeria’s security services, despite significant improvements since the return of civilian rule in 1999. «At least they corrected it quickly, and it was good to see that,» Mr Koinange said. «But if it was someone else less well-known, less recognisable, it could have been worse.» Mr Koinange, a Kenyan-American, said he and his colleague Simon Matiri, a Kenyan camera operator, were met on arrival from Ghana by a group of a dozen men, comprising immigration officers and secret police. The two correspondents were told that they would have to leave on the next flight out of the country, Mr Koinange said, adding that Mr Matiri was slapped to the ground when he tried to film the incident. Remi Oyo, spokesman for President Olusegun Obasanjo, declined to comment on Mr Koinange’s allegations. The US embassy also declined to comment. (Financial Times, UK, 6 October 2003)

* Nigeria. The All-Africa Games — 4 October: The All-Africa Games open today in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Fifty-three countries will send 7,000 athletes to compete in 23 sports, but the games are taking place under the shadow of a threatened general strike. The Games are the continent’s sporting equivalent of the Olympics and the Nigerian Government has taken its role as host seriously. It has spent at least $600m on a sports complex, athletes’ village and a stadium that seats 60,000 people. Officials say everything is more or less in place and they are ready for the grand opening ceremony which will be attended by President Olusegun Obasanjo. This is the second time that Nigeria has hosted the All-Africa Games which were initiated in the 1960s and are held every four years. The government hopes the games will entice investors and consolidate Nigeria’s image as a big brother of the continent. Critics say that in a country where most people live below the poverty line, the money would have been better spent on health, education and improving infrastructure. The government’s plan to showcase Nigeria may also be undermined by its decision this week to lift fuel price subsidies. 7 October: Abuja’s Daily Trust reports that South Africa continues to maintain a steady lead in the medal’s table, with seven gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Egypt is second with three gold, five silver and seven bronze. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 7 October 2003)

* Nigeria. Grève générale annoncée — Le Congrès des travailleurs nigérians, un des principaux syndicats du pays, a annoncé une grève générale pour le jeudi 9 octobre. La décision a été prise après que le gouvernement ait communiqué à l’improviste une augmentation du prix du carburant à la pompe, qui passe de 34 à 39 nairas le litre. Le syndicat a recommandé à la population de se ravitailler, car la grève pourrait durer au moins deux semaines. Deux autres syndicats pourraient se joindre au mouvement. Pour sa part, la police nigériane, qui en juin dernier avait tué plusieurs personnes durant une grève, a déjà promis de ne pas tirer sur les manifestants. - Le 7 octobre, le Sénat nigérian a demandé au président Obasanjo d’ordonner immédiatement l’annulation de la hausse des prix du carburant, estimant que cette hausse est “inopportune, inappropriée, et doit donc être annulée”. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 7 octobre 2003)

* Nigeria. Fuel prices controversy — 2 October: The price of fuel in Nigeria has gone up by 12% without the government making any kind of intelligible public announcement to explain just what is going on. Earlier this week, the petroleum pricing body said that in principle they supported deregulating the price of petroleum products, but it did not explain this would actually take effect the following day. «The government is just trying to trick us,» a despondent taxi driver said while standing in a one hour long queue for fuel in Lagos. The increase in fuel prices has outraged the Nigerian Labour Congress, which has warned that if the price does not come down they will call a general strike. A fuel price hike three months ago led to a 10 day nationwide strike which ended in a partial government back down. The price of fuel is a controversial issue in Nigeria. The country is among the world’s top 10 largest exporters of crude oil, but the government has until now imported the refined product and sold it at a subsidised fixed price. The government hopes that by lifting subsidies they will generate revenue which they can use to improve the country’s crumbling infrastructure. It is on the face of it an odd time to launch such a potentially explosive economic policy. On 4 October, Nigeria hosts the All Africa Games which are the continent’s equivalent of the Olympic Games. 4 October: Trade unions say they will begin a general strike next week in protest at the recent increase in the price of fuel which until now has been subsidised by the government. At the end of an all-day meeting, the Nigerian Labour Congress calls for an indefinite general strike from 9 October. The union leaders also urge Nigerians to stay away from the All-Africa Games. 7 October: The Senate calls on President Obasanjo to immediately direct the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency to return to the old prices of petroleum products. 8 October: Rilwanu Lukman, the top adviser on oil issues to President Obasanjo, leaves his position but gives no reasons for his departure. — The main trade unions suspend plans for a general strike on 9 October. The Nigerian Labour Congress says oil marketing companies have agreed to revert to the previous oil prices. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 8 October 2003)

* Nigeria. Corruption rife — 7 October: Corruption remains rife in many of the world’s poorest countries and seems to be worsening in several key industrialised states as well, a new report has said. The annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI), published by anti-corruption group, Transparency International puts Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Haiti at the bottom of the 133-country list. At the top of the list — which measures the perception of corruption among both locals and expatriates — countries such as Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and New Zealand remain the cleanest places to do business. 8 October: A Nigerian minister tells a corruption investigation that two senators had asked him to pay $414,000 for them to confirm his appointment. Nasir el-Rufai says that when he said he did not have the money, he was told to recoup his «investment» from land sales. The two men he accuses are leading figures in the ruling People’s Democratic Party. They deny Mr El-Rufai’s claims. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 8 October 2003)

* Nigeria. Former English captain to coach Nigeria’s team — 8 October: Bryan Robson, the former England captain, has been appointed manager of Nigeria’s national team. His priority will be to prepare the Super Eagles for the African Nations Cup in January next year. Robson has signed an initial six-month contract, with the prospect of a longer deal if both sides are happy with the team’s progress. Robson has been out of work since he lost his job with Middlesbrough (UK) in 2001. He will be Nigeria’s 4th foreign manager since 1998. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 8 October 2003)

* Rwanda. Résultats des législatives — Selon les résultats définitifs annoncés le 3 octobre, la coalition autour du parti du président Kagame obtient une large majorité à la Chambre des députés. Le Front patriotique rwandais (FPR) et les quatre petits partis membres de la coalition obtiennent 40 des 53 sièges de députés attribués au suffrage universel. En outre, au moins un des deux représentants de la jeunesse appartient au FPR. Par ailleurs, une grande partie des 24 représentantes des associations féminines sont considérées comme proches de la mouvance présidentielle. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 3 octobre 2003)

* Sao Tome/Nigeria. Better terms offered in oil auction — The governments of Nigeria and Sao Tomé & Principe are to improve the terms on offer to oil companies in this month’s long-awaited auction of west African offshore oilfields thought to contain billions of barrels of crude. Leading oil companies have expressed interest in the fields, although some have raised concerns about the decision to grant preferential bidding rights to ExxonMobil of the US and Chrome Energy Corporation, which is controlled by Nigerian investors. In a memorandum to investors published on its website on 2 October the Nigeria-Sao Tome e Principe Joint Development Authority (JDA) said it had decided to make the offer more competitive by allowing companies additional tax reliefs on their investments. Hassan Tukur, the authority’s deputy director, said more than 15 companies had collected information on the auction of nine blocks in the joint development zone, which the JDA estimates contains 6bn to 11bn barrels of crude. Bids close on October 18. Mr Tukur said the improved terms were a recognition of risk factors such as the high capital cost of producing oil deep offshore, rather than a response to lack of investor enthusiasm. The auction underlines growing interest in west African oil and is a big test of promises of transparency made by the authorities managing the oilfields on behalf of Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude producer, and Sao Tomé, the continent’s newest petrostate. The auction has taken place against a backdrop of political turbulence in Sao Tomé, a tiny archipelago of fewer than 200,000 people where President Fradique de Menezes was briefly unseated in July after a military coup. Mr de Menezes was returned to power later in the month after the intervention of Nigeria and the signing of an agreement with the rebels, who demanded a greater role in developing the country’s oil reserves. (Financial Times, UK, 3 October 2003)

* Senegal. Separatist war is over — 7 October: A 21-year secession war in Senegal’s southern province of Casamance has finished, says the rebel leader. Jean-Marie Francois Biagui was speaking at a gathering of hundreds of rebel delegates in the Casamance capital, Ziguinchor. However, hardline factions did not turn up to the meeting, raising doubts about whether the fighting will stop. The war has killed hundreds and displaced many thousands from what is dry Senegal’s most fertile region. Casamance, with a mixture of Muslims, Christians and Animists and many different ethnic groups, is divided from the mostly Muslim north by The Gambia. Correspondents say that in recent years, much of the violence in Casamance has been robberies, rather than attacks on the army or state institutions. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 7 October 2003)

* Sénégal. Opposant agressé — Le 5 octobre, M. Talla Sylla, président du parti d’opposition, l’Alliance, Jëf Jël et ancien vice-président de l’Assemblée nationale, a été hospitalisé après avoir été blessé par quatre agresseurs à coups de marteau. Il souffre notamment de contusion pulmonaire et de fractures crâniennes. Quelques semaines plus tôt, M. Sylla avait demandé que le président Abdoulaye Wade soit traduit en justice, après les révélations du journaliste Abdou Latif Coulibaly, dans un livre paru en juillet dernier, qui avait critiqué la gestion financière et politique du chef d’Etat sénégalais. M. Sylla avait en outre diffusé une cassette dans laquelle il critiquait le président Wade de façon très virulente. La Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l’homme (FIDH) a demandé aux autorités sénégalaises de faire toute la lumière sur cette agression et de faire prendre des sanctions appropriées. (FIDH, France, 7 octobre 2003)

* Sénégal. Assises du MFDC sous le signe de la paix — Le 6 octobre, les assises du Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance (MFDC) se sont ouvertes à Ziguinchor, en vue d’harmoniser les positions du mouvement avant une rencontre prévue avec le gouvernement. Le secrétaire général, Jean-Marie Biagui, a déclaré la fin de la guerre entre l’armée sénégalaise et le mouvement indépendantiste, un conflit qui déchire la région depuis deux décennies. “La guerre pour nous est définitivement révolue”, a-t-il affirmé. “Dorénavant, la lutte du MFDC sera le combat contre tous les fossoyeurs de la paix en Casamance, afin que nous retrouvions tous une paix définitive”, a déclaré pour sa part l’abbé Diamacoune Senghor, président et figure historique du MFDC, sans parler une seule fois d’"indépendance" de la Casamance. Mais M. Biagui a fait remarquer que le combat que mène le MFDC est aujourd’hui plus que jamais légitime pour la poursuite de la lutte politique en faveur de l’"émancipation" socio-économique, politique et culturelle de la Casamance. Cependant, certains parmi les éléments les plus radicaux du MFDC ont fait savoir la semaine dernière qu’ils ne prendraient pas part à ces assises dont les conclusions, disaient-ils, n’engageraient que leurs organisateurs. — Le 8 octobre, les assises ont pris fin. La rencontre donne mandat aux responsables du MFDC pour entreprendre toute initiative de nature à assurer la cohésion et l’unité du mouvement, et leur recommande de ne ménager aucun effort en vue de la reprise effective des négociations avec le gouvernement. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 octobre 2003)

* Sierra Leone. Energising the youth — 1 October: The Firestone community in Freetown is surprisingly a drug-free and crime-free area. Surprisingly, because it was long reputed to be a haven for drop-outs and criminals. Armed robbery, street violence and mugging were all once synonymous with Firestone, which sits in the crowded east end of Sierra Leone’s capital city. The rebel invasion of Freetown in 1999 started on this side of town. Much was destroyed and roads are still rough, infrastructure almost non-existent. Thousands of people in this area may go for weeks without electricity and running water. «It is time for young people to take over, since the older generation has failed us», says Sulaiman «Suntus» Kamara who runs a youth organisation in Firestone district. Suntus, at 46, still looks much like the youths he serves. «We have had to take the tough decision of transforming our youths from the bad guys to the good guys,» he says. Slender and articulate, Suntus is transforming his marginalised and depressed community. «The goals speak of the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger as well as environmental sustainability. But look at our deprived and neglected community. These goals are purely idealistic,» Suntus laments. It was back in 1992 that Suntus’ enthusiasm was first sparked by the youthful military take-over of the civilian administration by a 26-year old army officer, Valentine Strasser. At that time, «I organised the youths to clean markets and cemeteries. This apparently got them involved in community development activities.» Ten years on, the Firestone community has moved a long way. There is now a primary school. The drug ghetto has been transformed into a skills training centre, including tailoring, carpentry and building skills. (BBC News, UK, 1 October 2003)

* Somalia. More twists in peace process — Members of Somalia’s Transitional National Government (TNG) attending peace talks in Kenya have called on the conference organisers not to accept «obstruction and delaying tactics». Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah, Speaker Abdallah Derow Isaak and other delegation members said they welcomed attempts to heal the rift in the talks by bringing back key leaders who had walked out. But, they said, in a letter to conference chairman Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat of Kenya, if the leaders refused to return «we should not accept obstruction and delaying tactics intended to derail the conference». The TNG is effectively split into two factions after President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan returned to Mogadishu, unhappy over the adoption of a transitional charter which will serve as a blueprint for future Somali institutions. In August, he sacked Abshir and Derow, and said the interim government would continue until new institutions were formed through free and fair elections. The TNG‘s mandate was due to end that same month, in accordance with the provisions of the Arta charter which established it. (IRIN, Kenya, 2 October 2003)

* Somalia. Aid worker shot in Somaliland — An award-winning aid worker has been shot dead in the breakaway northern enclave of Somaliland, officials said on 6 October. Annalena Tonelli, 60, who came from Italy, was visiting a ward for tuberculosis patients in Borama General Hospital late on 5 October when two men walked in and one shot her twice in the head. Witnesses said the men walked out, leaving patients and hospital officials in shock. Tonelli, who ran the 200-bed hospital, won the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) annual humanitarian award in April for her work with displaced Somalis. She had worked with Somalis for 33 years. Her clinic was set up to fight tuberculosis, raise awareness on HIV/AIDS and the harmful effects of female genital mutilation. Such was Tonelli’s prestige in Somaliland that other female aid workers were known as «annalenas» after her. (Editor’s note: Annalena Tonelli was a lay missionary). On 8 October, police said they had detained four suspects in connection with the killing. (CNN, USA, 6 & 8 October 2003)

* Somalie. Missionnaire laïque assassinée — Une missionnaire laïque italienne, Annalena Tonelli, 60 ans, a été tuée, le dimanche soir 5 octobre, au Somaliland, rapporte l’agence Misna. Médecin, elle vivait depuis 30 ans en Somalie, et travaillait à présent à Borama, dans le Somaliland (province qui s’est autoproclamée indépendante) dans la ville de Merca. Elle y avait remis sur pied un hôpital et un dispensaire pour le traitement et la prévention de la tuberculose, et avait également engagé des projets pour l’alphabétisation. En avril dernier, elle avait reçu pour son oeuvre le “Nansen Refugee Award”, le prix le plus prestigieux qui est attribué à ceux qui s’occupent de l’assistance humanitaire. Selon l’agence Fides, Mme Tonelli se trouvait dimanche soir dans son hôpital lorsqu’elle a été agressée par deux hommes armés, dont l’un lui a tiré un coup de revolver dans la tête. On craint que l’assassinat puisse avoir une raison religieuse. (Misna et Fides, Italie, 6 octobre 2003)