* Kenya. Hotel attack: 2 more charged — On 14 October, Kenyan state prosecutors charged two more suspects with murder for their alleged role in last year’s attack on an Israeli-owned hotel which the United States blamed on al Qaeda. The pair were charged in a Nairobi court with 15 counts of murder —the number of people prosecutors say were killed by an unknown number of suicide bombers in the attack. «We have charged two more people with 15 counts of murder in relation to last year’s attack on the Mombasa Paradise Hotel,» John Gachibi, a senior state prosecutor said. The charges brought against Hassan Mohammed and Abdullah Shariff bring to eight the number of suspects accused of the attack, which took place in November. They were not required to enter a plea for the charges until 15 October. The other six suspects have all pleaded not guilty to murder charges. The Paradise Hotel near the east African country’s tourist resort of Mombasa was bombed within minutes of a failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli airliner leaving Mombasa airport. (CNN, USA, 14 October 2003)

* Kenya. Judges suspended — 16 October: President Mwai Kibaki appoints two tribunals to investigate corruption allegations against half of Kenya’s most senior judges who have been suspended. Local newspapers have printed the photographs and names of the 23 suspended judges. The President says in a statement the tribunal will investigate «allegations that the said judges... have been involved in corruption, unethical practices and absence of integrity in the performance of the functions of their office». A report released last month said corruption was rampant in the Kenyan legal system, with almost half of the country’s judges and close to a third of its magistrates said to be corrupt. President Kibaki, who was elected last year, vowed to rid the country of corruption to win back donor support and made cleaning up the judiciary a key target. The International Monetary Fund stopped lending to Kenya three years ago because of the country’s corruption. President Kibaki says the tribunal will investigate six of the country’s nine judges in the Court of Appeals — the highest court — and 17 judges out of the 36 in the High Court. The judges, who were named for the first time, have been suspended with immediate effect while the investigations are being conducted. The tribunal investigating the High Court judges is to be chaired by influential Kenyan constitutional lawyer Lee Muthoga, while the panel investigating the Court of Appeal judges will be headed by prominent Ghanaian Judge Akilano Akiwumi. The President’s decision to name the tribunals comes after the judges implicated in the Ringera report released at the end of September, are given the option to either resign and leave quietly or be investigated by tribunals. Confusion reigns in the courts. Nairobi High Court is a beehive of activity as judges hurriedly pack their personal belongings ready to vacate their chambers. Scores of people sit idly outside after being informed that their cases cannot not be heard, or just watching the unfolding drama. One of the few judges who has escaped the purge looks overwhelmed after several urgent civil cases are moved to him. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 16 October 2003)

* Kenya/UK. Claims of gang rape by British troops rape are being taken seriously — Claims that British troops gang raped scores of African tribeswomen while serving in Kenya were given fresh credibility by the Army on 20 October. A senior officer in the military police confirmed the allegations against British soldiers were being taken seriously, despite recent attempts to undermine the testimony of their «victims». Last month, the British High Commission in Nairobi announced, after a forensic examination, that all police records alleging rape of about 600 women by troops in the 1980s and 1990s were forgeries. But a letter from Brigadier Maurice Nugent, of the military police, confirmed that, although a «large proportion» of files had been «altered», there were numerous cases «where we are confident the evidence has not been fabricated». A team of 40 investigators from the British military police, Kenyan police and civil service has recently completed initial checks on police files of rape claims by women from the Masai and Samburu tribes. As many as 100 cases are likely to be pursued. Police have proceeded to interview 37 women in the Dol Dol area and are continuing investigations in Archers Post and Womba — areas in northern Kenya where the British Army has trained since Kenya gained independence from Britain in 1963 — now they are satisfied the claims have not been forged. In the letter to the women’s solicitor, Martyn Day, dated 6 October, Brigadier Nugent adds: «We should be able to link an incident with a particular unit since we have records detailing who was in Kenya training during any given period. However, identifying potential suspects is likely to be protracted. Investigations into the assertion that members of the Army failed to act on reports are also under investigation.» (The Independent, UK, 21 October 2003)

* Kenya. «Day of reckoning» for those thriving on corruption — 20 October: President Mwai Kibaki says the «day of reckoning» has arrived for those used to thriving on corruption. Ruling out the possibility of pardoning the culprits, President Kibaki says that his government’s war on corruption is a serious one and that nobody should treat the crusade as a joke. «Corruption has been one of the key problems with governance in the country,» President Kibaki said on 20 October in a speech to mark Kenyatta Day, a public holiday set aside to honour Kenyans who fought for the country’s independence. «The writing is on the wall...those who choose to engage in this vice must know they will be called to give an account of their actions,» says Mr Kibaki. 22 October: An inquiry into Kenya’s biggest corruption scandal has been abruptly adjourned because its vice-chairman has been suspended following the investigation into malpractice in the judiciary. Justice Daniel Aganyanya is among the 23 senior judges suspended by President Kibaki. The Commission of Inquiry into the Goldenberg scandal, in which Kenya lost up to $600 million through questionable exports of gold and diamonds between 1990 and 1993, was appointed by President Kibaki in February. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 22 October 2003)

* Liberia. Arms to be surrendered — 16 October: The disarming of some 45,000 fighters is due to begin today, with out-going President Moses Blah handing over a «big quantity» of weapons he has collected from pro-government militias. The head of the United Nations mission, Jacques Klein, says that the two rebel groups and government militias will start giving up their weapons in mid-November. The man who replaced Mr Blah on 14 October, Gyude Bryant, has met the rebel leaders to urge them to disarm and to nominate the people they want to be part of the power-sharing government he heads. Each group has five of the 21 new ministers, including foreign affairs, justice and finance. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 16 October 2003)

* Liberia. Nouveau gouvernement - nouveaux heurts — 16 octobre. M. Gyude Bryant a formé son nouveau gouvernement de large ouverture, composé de 21 membres. A noter en particulier que M. Daniel Chea, qui était ministre de la Défense de l’ex-président Taylor et avait dirigé la guerre contre les mouvements rebelles, a été confirmé à ce poste. L’autre ancien ministre à avoir gardé son poste est M. Peter Coleman, ministre de la Santé. - D’autre part, l’envoyé spécial de l’Onu, Abou Moussa, s’est dit inquiet de rapports faisant état de reprises de combats entre les forces du LURD (Libériens unis pour la réconciliation et la démocratie) et du gouvernement près de Gbarnga, à 150 km au nord de Monrovia. La force de maintien de la paix de l’Onu (Minul) a déjà déployé la majorité de ses 4.000 militaires à l’intérieur et aux alentours de Monrovia. Elle garantira la sécurité de tout le Liberia lorsqu’elle aura atteint son plein effectif de 15.000 hommes dans environ trois mois. —19 octobre. L’ancien président Moses Blah a remis aux forces des Nations unies un important stock d’armes, entreposées dans un abri de sa résidence à Monrovia, déclarant “nous ne voulons plus nous battre”. D’autres armes ont également été remises aux Casques bleus, provenant notamment du camp des forces armées de Sheffelin, près de l’aéroport international. — 20 octobre. Un membre fondateur du LURD, George Dweh, a été élu président du Parlement de transition du pays. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 octobre 2003)

* Liberia. New Speaker elected — 20 October: Liberia’s transitional assembly has elected George Dweh — a founding member of the former rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) — as its new speaker. Mr Dweh — who belongs to the movement’s political wing and was the only candidate for the post — garnered 49 votes out of a possible 72. He said that his first task in his new capacity would be to promote the process of national healing and disarmament in Liberia. «I will go beyond the factional level so as to reach all the members of the assembly,» Mr Dweh said. His election comes six days after businessman Gyude Bryant was sworn-in as Liberia’s new interim leader, tasked with steering the war-torn West African country to elections in 2005. Officials to be appointed by Mr Bryant will have to be confirmed by the National Transitional Legislative Assembly before assuming office. The country’s three armed factions and 18 political parties signed a power-sharing agreement on 18 August after the then president Charles Taylor’s departure for exile in Nigeria. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 20 October 2003)

* Libya. Libya threatens to pull out of UTA talks — 20 October: Libya has threatened to pull out of talks to compensate families of the victims of a French airliner. Tripoli said Paris should honour a deal to compensate for Libyan deaths as a result of French involvement in Chad. France denies any such deal exists and has warned Tripoli it must compensate for the deaths of 170 people aboard a UTA airliner bombed in mid-air in 1989. The French want Libya to pay the same amount of money it is to give relatives of the Lockerbie air bombing victims. On the basis of commitments given by Libyan negotiators at earlier talks, France agreed to support the lifting of United Nations sanctions on Libya — imposed over the Lockerbie case — on 12 September. However, since the sanctions were lifted, talks on the UTA case have stalled. Correspondents say France has lost much of its bargaining power since it agreed, as a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, to the lifting of sanctions. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 20 October 2003)

* Madagascar. Projet de loi d’amnistie — Le 16 octobre, un projet de loi d’amnistie générale pour les faits liés à la crise politique de 2002, présenté par le parti AREMA fondé par l’ancien président Ratsiraka, a été adopté par le Sénat malgache par 54 voix pour et 13 abstentions. En 2002, après sa prise du pouvoir, le nouveau régime du président Ravalomanana avait procédé à plusieurs centaines d’arrestations et d’emprisonnement des partisans de Ratsiraka. Après le Sénat, la loi devra passer devant l’Assemblée nationale où son adoption sera sans doute plus ardue, le parti présidentiel y étant nettement majoritaire. (PANA, Sénégal, 16 octobre 2003)

* Madagascar. A la recherche de financements — Une importante délégation malgache, conduite par le Premier ministre Jacques Sylla, est actuellement à Paris pour rencontrer, le mercredi 22 octobre, les “Amis de Madagascar” (un club de bailleurs de fonds). C’est la seconde rencontre de ce genre, après celle du 27 juillet 2002, juste après la sortie de crise du pays. L’Etat malgache a notamment besoin d’investissements publics pour la période 2004-2006, afin de pouvoir réaliser son programme de réduction de la pauvreté. Paris apporte un “soutien résolu” au programme de réformes engagé par le gouvernement malgache, a déclaré mardi un porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères. Jeudi, deux conventions de financement seront signées avec l’Agence française de développement (AFD), portant sur des investissements dans le secteur de l’aménagement urbain et de l’éducation de base. (PANA, Sénégal, 20-21 octobre 2003)

* Malawi. Back in favour with IMF — Malawi’s return to good grace with the International Monetary Fund will unfasten the wallets of important donor nations. A decision by the IMF executive board to approve a US $9.2 million loan disbursement, plus an additional $6.6 million of what it terms as «interim assistance» to Malawi, will unlock previously withheld donor funding. The IMF had barred budget support for Malawi since 2001 as a result of government overspending. Major Western governments had also demanded greater transparency and frozen their funding. Up to 80 percent of Malawi’s development budget is provided by donors. A European Union spokesman in Lilongwe said the IMF‘s decision to approve disbursements, following an appraisal of Malawi’s recent fiscal track record, had given «us the green light» to follow suit. (IRIN, Kenya, 22 October 2003)

* Malawi. Le pays peut faire face à la famine — Le Malawi dispose de 100.000 tonnes de maïs dans ses réserves stratégiques de céréales afin de faire face à la famine, a-t-on appris le 22 octobre de source officielle. “Les Malawites ne devraient pas connaître un seul jour de pénurie”, a affirmé le chef de la délégation de l’Union européenne au Malawi, Wiepke van der Goot. “Les réserves peuvent assurer l’approvisionnement de 3,7 millions de Malawites dans le besoin pendant une période trois mois. Elles sont prêtes à être distribuées en cas d’urgence. Nous sommes loin des silos vides de 2002". (PANA, Sénégal, 22 octobre 2003)

* Maroc/USA. Vers un accord de libre-échange — Le Maroc et les Etats-Unis sont “confiants” dans la signature d’un accord de libre-échange “d’ici à la fin de l’année”, a déclaré le 16 octobre le ministre marocain délégué aux Affaires étrangères. Cet accord, le premier du genre négocié par Washington avec un pays du continent africain, “s’inspire de ceux déjà conclus avec la Jordanie et le Chili, et devrait être signé au plus tard en janvier 2004", a déclaré une source diplomatique marocaine, alors que s’était achevé à Rabat le 5e round de négociations. L’accord négocié porte sur 12 volets: accès au marché, agriculture, douane, environnement, investissements, marchés publics, propriété intellectuelle, services, télécommunications, services financiers, textile, social. Une difficulté: l’accord de libre-échange conclu en mars 2000 entre le Maroc et l’Union européenne. (AP, 17 octobre 2003)

* Mauritania. Former President laid to rest — 18 October: A funeral service has been held in Mauritania for the country’s first president, Moktar Ould Daddah. He died in Paris on 14 October after a long illness. His body was flown to the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, where a prayer service took place in the central mosque. Mr Ould Daddah was president from 1961, when Mauritania won its independence from France, until he was overthrown in a bloodless coup 17 years later. (BBC News, UK, 18 October 2003)

* Mauritanie. Ouverture de la campagne pour la présidentielle — La campagne pour l’élection présidentielle du 7 novembre en Mauritanie a officiellement commencé mercredi 22 octobre, dans l’effervescence mais aussi dans la suspicion. Les trois principaux candidats de l’opposition — Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, candidat “haratine” (esclaves affranchis), Ahmed Ould Daddah, du Rassemblement des forces démocratiques (RFD) et l’ancien président Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidallah — avaient en effet réitéré mardi à Nouakchott leurs inquiétudes quant à la transparence du scrutin. Outre ces trois candidats de l’opposition, deux autres se présentent face au président sortant: une femme, Aïcha Mint Jeddane, et Moulaye Hacen Ould Jeyed, déjà candidat aux précédentes élections. De son côté, le pouvoir affirme que toutes les dispositions ont été prises pour assurer une élection libre et transparente. Un second tour de scrutin opposera éventuellement deux semaines plus tard les deux candidats ayant recueilli le plus de voix au premier tour. - A la veille de la présidentielle, une série d’inaugurations de projets à caractère social a été effectuée dans plusieurs villes mauritaniennes de l’intérieur. D’autre part, la presse est censurée. Le 19 octobre, l’édition de l’hebdomadaire “Le Calame” a été suspendue. Un article intitulé “La grande muette au centre des débats” serait à l’origine de cette censure. Dans la même édition, un article analysait la situation politique et n’hésitait pas à prôner l’urgence d’une réelle alternative démocratique pour investir un champ politique monopolisé par le président Taya. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 22 octobre 2003)

* Niger. Visite du président Chirac — Le mercredi soir 22 octobre, le président français, Jacques Chirac, est arrivé au Niger, où il séjournera deux jours avant de se rendre au Mali. D’entrée, il a évoqué la préservation du fleuve Niger et annoncé une contribution de 10 millions d’euros pour un projet de régulation de ses eaux. Long de 4.200 km, le cours d’eau irrigue neuf pays africains de la zone sahélienne. Au Niger, 3 millions d’habitants se pressent sur ses rives pour cultiver et pêcher. Mais le fleuve s’ensable et les jacinthes d’eau y prolifèrent. En trente ans, son débit a diminué de 30%. Jacques Chirac voit dans l’aménagement du fleuve Niger une manière de mettre en oeuvre les grands objectifs affirmés lors du sommet du Millénaire. Dans son déplacement au Niger, M. Chirac est accompagné par une douzaine de chefs d’entreprise. Rappelons que le Niger est le troisième producteur mondial d’uranium. Ce jeudi, M. Chirac se rendra à Tahoua, la porte du désert. Vendredi il entrera au Mali par Tombouctou. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 octobre 2003)

* Nigeria. All Africa Games — The 8th All Africa Games have ended in Abuja, Nigeria, with Nigeria heading the medals’ table. Final results are: Nigeria — 85 Gold; 90 Silver; 56 Bronze. In second place: Egypt — 81 Gold; 66 Silver; 71 Bronze. Third: South Africa — 63 Gold; 59 Silver; 52 Bronze. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 20 October 2003)

* Nigeria. Epidémie de poliomyélite — Une épidémie de poliomyélite se propage du Nigeria aux pays voisins et menace des millions d’enfants, a annoncé l’OMS le mercredi 22 octobre. “La polio continue de se propager à l’intérieur du Nigeria à des zones qui étaient jusque là épargnées, et aussi aux pays voisins”, a déclaré David Heymann, qui dirige la lutte contre cette maladie au sein de l’organisation. Une dizaine d’enfants se sont retrouvés paralysés au Burkina Faso, au Ghana, au Niger et au Togo. Le poliovirus responsable de ces infections provenait du nord du Nigeria, selon l’OMS. L’initiative mondiale d’éradication de la polio a lancé mercredi une campagne d’immunisation dans les quatre pays voisins du Nigeria, ainsi qu’au Bénin. Le but est de vacciner tous les enfants en trois jours. D’autres programmes sont prévus au Tchad et au Cameroun. (AP, 22 octobre 2003)

* Rwanda. Gouvernement au complet — Le nouveau gouvernement rwandais, au complet depuis dimanche soir 19 octobre, compte 9 femmes (4 ministres et 5 secrétaires d’Etat) sur un total de 28 membres (17 ministres et 11 secrétaires d’Etat). La plupart des membres du gouvernement de transition sortant y ont été reconduits; sept personnalités y font leur entrée. Les ministères-clés restent aux mains du FPR (Front patriotique rwandais), la plupart des autres postes allant à des “indépendants” souvent considérés comme proches de la mouvance présidentielle, note l’AFP. - Lundi, le principal opposant, Faustin Twagiramungu, a dénoncé l’absence d’ouverture du nouveau gouvernement et accusé le président Kagame d’être à la tête d’un “parti-Etat”. “Il n’y a plus d’opposition dans ce pays, il n’y a plus qu’un parti-Etat dirigé par le président de la République lui-même”, a-t-il estimé. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 octobre 2003)

* Rwanda. Women MPs — Rwanda has beaten Sweden by getting the highest proportion of women into parliament, voting them on to 39 seats in the lower chamber of deputies, a level amounting to 48.8% of the seats. In the voting, which began on September 30, women won 15 of the seats that were also open to men. Sweden’s women hold 45.3% of seats in the country’s single-chamber parliament. Denmark is third with 38%, followed by Finland with 37.5% and the Netherlands with 36.7%. Britain is in 50th place with 17.9%, and the US house of representatives ties at 60th place with Andorra, with 14.3%. The voting in Rwanda was the first multiparty legislative election in the country. Previously, Rwandan women had held 25.7% of the seats. In separate voting for the 26-seat senate, Rwandan women filled only the six seats allotted them by the constitution. A parliamentary union said it was working to make sure the constitution made many provisions guaranteeing minimum participation by women. «It is also clear that Rwandan women are enthusiastic about the political process and keen to be party to it.» (The Guardian, UK, 23 October 2003)

* Somali/Kenya. Somali politician killed in Kenya — 20 October: A delegate at the Somali peace talks in Kenya has been found murdered in a forest on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi. Sheikh Ibrahim Ali was one of three people discovered dead from gunshot wounds — the others were a business friend and a local driver. A wealthy businessman from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, Sheikh Ibrahim was also a member of the country’s transitional national assembly. A police officer interviewed on Kenya’s commercial Nation Television, which carried pictures of the bodies, said the victims had bullet wounds. The Kenyan authorities are trying to establish whether he was killed for political reasons. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 20 October 2003)

* Somalia. Aid workers killed in Somaliland — 21 October: Two British teachers working for the charity, SOS Children’s Villages, have been shot dead in Sheikh, Somaliland. Richard and Enid Eyeington were killed inside a school compound as they watched television. The couple were in their 60s and had been working in Africa for 32 years. The motive for the attack is unknown and an investigation has begun. Another aid worker was killed in Borama, Somaliland, near the border with Ethiopia on 5 October. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 21 October 2003)

* Somaliland. Deux Britanniques assassinés — Dans la nuit du 20 au 21 octobre, deux professeurs britanniques, un homme et sa femme qui travaillaient pour une ONG autrichienne, ont été assassinés par des hommes armés non identifiés à leur domicile dans la ville de Sheick, au sud du port de Berbera, dans la république autoproclamée du Somaliland (nord-ouest de la Somalie). (La Libre Belgique, 22 octobre 2003)

* Afrique du Sud. M. Mbeki en Inde — Le 19 octobre, le président Thabo Mbeki, accompagné d’une délégation ministérielle, est rentré en Afrique du Sud au terme d’une visite d’Etat de trois jours en Inde. Suite à des entretiens bilatéraux, les deux pays ont convenu de mettre en oeuvre des programmes dans des domaines tels que le tourisme, le secteur financier, la biotechnologie, l’énergie, la santé et les produits pharmaceutiques. Ils ont exprimé leur désir de créer un partenariat stratégique, avec un accent particulier dans les domaines de la médecine, la santé et les technologies de l’information et la communication. Un certain nombre d’accords bilatéraux ont été signés. (D’après PANA, Sénégal, 19 octobre 2003)

* South Africa. Empowering black finance — 20 October: Workers and shareholders in South Africa’s financial sector are digesting the impact of a Black Economic Empowerment charter released late last week. A feverish recruitment process could be about to take off as a consequence of the reforms, in part because all firms in the sector are expected to require more staff, experts predicted. «There is an element of competitiveness that will increase as a result of the charter,» Securities and Investment Professionals’ Kennedy Bungane said. «But the poaching of staff will not only be internal to the sector itself, but from other sectors, from academia, from other areas of industry in South Africa». The charter, which has been drawn up by the industry itself, has been described as a breakthrough document. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 20 October 2003)

* South Africa. Spy probe causes ANC split — 15 October: South Africa launches an official hearing, investigating charges of spying and abuse of power by top figures in the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Just months before general elections, allegations are swirling around close colleagues of President Thabo Mbeki. They spring from a probe over reports that Deputy President Jacob Zuma asked a French arms company for a bribe as part of a multibillion-dollar arms deal, which triggered one of the most damaging scandals since the ANC swept to power in post-apartheid elections in 1994. «It’s tearing the party asunder», says Xolela Mangcu, political analyst and director of the Steve Biko Foundation. He says the arms deal, dogged by corruption claims, has heightened a power struggle in the ANC. The party, which under Nelson Mandela led the fight against white rule, is expected to retain power easily. But its credibility has suffered from the string of corruption cases. The inquiry touches on a range of thorny and emotive issues from press freedom to collaboration with the apartheid regime. It focuses on claims that Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka spied for the apartheid government in the 1980s — claims that surfaced as Ngcuka’s FBI-style Scorpions unit investigated the corruption allegations against Zuma. 21 October: The investigation into Bulelani Ngcuka is rocked when a human rights lawyer confesses that she was the agent at the centre of the inquiry. It was reported that Mr Ngcuka had operated as agent RS 452. But lawyer Vanessa Brereton admits that she was undercover agent RS 452. Ms Brereton, now living in London, contacted investigators with the information, saying she no longer wants to live with any deceit. Ms Brereton, who was well known for defending anti-apartheid activists in court, says she was recruited by the former regime’s security police to inform on suspected «communist sympathizers» during the 1980s. She says she provided information about whites involved in the anti-apartheid movement. From 1985 until 1991, she told security police about the activities, meeting places and residences of people involved in the anti-apartheid movement. She says she ha been assured that her information would not lead to any brutal acts. But Ms Brereton said she became worried in 1989 when a car bomb, detonated by one of her police superiors, killed four black men. She later moved to England and did not even tell her husband or family of her double life. «We were very surprised that she came forward, but we are very glad that she did,» said commission secretary John Bacon. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 21 October 2003)