ANB-BIA - Av. Charles Woeste 184 - 1090 Bruxelles - Belg TEL **.32.2/420 34 36 fax /420 05 49 E-Mail: anb- bia@village.uunet.be _____________________________________________________________ WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 20-05-1999 PART #1/ * The Hague. Appeal For Peace - Nobel laureates joined UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan in The Hague this week with government officials, academics and peace activists around the world, to promote an end-of-the-century global drive for peace. The 11-15 May conference commemorates the First Hague Peace Conference 100 years ago which was attended by 26 governments. Speakers include Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Graca Machel. The Hague Appeal has developed an agenda based on four basic themes: Prevention, Resolution and Transformation of Violent Conflict; Disarmament and Human Security; International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law; Root Causes of War/Culture of Peace. (IRIN, Southern Africa, 12 May 1999) * Africa. Arms - Several arms factories are to be built in Portugal's former African colonies as part of a military cooperation project unveiled by top defence officials of the Community of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP). The project also is to include training of peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and a centre for strategic studies, according to a statement released here late 14 May after a two-day meeting of the Community's military chiefs. It was not immediately clear which African countries were to build the weapons factories under the project, which deepens the existing military cooperation among the seven member-states. Known by its Portuguese initials, the CPLP comprises Portugal and six of its former colonies -- Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe. The defence officials had gathered in the Angolan capital to discuss globalization in defense cooperation, new communication technologies and the military situation in each country. Two member-states, Angola and Guinea-Bissau are torn by conflict. (CNN, 15 May 1999) * Africa. Action against the Media. - Algeria: Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) deplores the 13 May 1999 suspension of the independent daily Demain L'Algerie. Ghana: On 18 May, Ebo Quansah and Mohammed Affum, editor and deputy editor, respectively of The Ghanaian Chronicle, were each fined US $400 for contempt of court. Madagascar: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is disturbed by recent attacks on freedom of expression in Madagascar (6 May). Nigeria: The Chairman of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Lanre Arogundade, is facing serious persecution by way of a trumped up murder charge. On 14 May, he was granted bail. Sierra Leone: The government has increased the special tax on the Media by approx. 380% and has required payment in full by the 14 May 1999 deadline, Tanzania: The ruling CCM party has threatened to take the private daily Heko to court over a report (3 May) which apparently outlined part of the CCM's election strategy for the year 2000. Togo: 12 May: The IFJ says it is disturbed by the continued detention of Romain Koudjodji, director of Le Reporter. Tunisia: On 3 May, the Committee To Protect Journalists named President Ben Ali as one of the world's top 10 Enemies of the Press. Zimbabwe: On 18 may, the Media Institute of Southern Africa said it was concerned that a new broadcasting Bill in Zimbabwe, will serve to tighten government control over the airwaves. (IFEX, Canada, 13-19 May 1999) * Algerie. Reglements de compte - Le 12 mai, le quotidien prive 'Demain l'Algerie' a ete suspendu de tirage par une imprimerie publique pour "non-paiement de ses creances", un pretexte deja avance pour suspendre l'hebdomadaire 'La Nation'. Ce journal passe pour etre tres proche de l'ancien conseiller de l'ex-president Zeroual, le general Betchine, contre lequel une violente campagne de presse s'etait dechainee a l'ete 1998. (Liberation, France, 14 mai 1999) * Algerie. Un manifeste des libertes - Le 14 mai, les six anciens candidats qui s'etaient retires a la veille de l'election presidentielle du 15 avril pour protester contre les fraudes, ont signe un "manifeste des libertes pour la democratie". Quoique tres eloignes politiquement les uns des autres, les six affirment que "l'inexistence des libertes, la negation des mecanismes democratiques et le mepris de la volonte populaire [empechent] toute perspective de sortie de l'impasse politique et securitaire actuelle". Ils appellent a debattre afin de "degager les moyens pacifiques pour mettre en echec toute velleite de soumettre par la force la societe a un ordre totalitaire". (Le Monde, France, 18 mai 1999) * Algerie. Embuscades et assassinats - Le 15 mai, des maquisards islamistes ont tendu une embuscade a un convoi militaire dans l'est de l'Algerie, tuant cinq militaires et en blessant sept autres, rapporte la presse locale, qui designe les Groupes islamiques armes (GIA). Trois militaires avaient peri il y a une semaine lors d'une embuscade similaire dans la meme region. D'autre part, le quotidien Liberte annoncait que l'armee a abattu, le 15 mai, deux rebelles lors d'une fusillade a Texena, dans la region de Jejel. -- Dans la nuit du 18 au 19 mai, sept personnes, dont six enfants, ont ete assassinees et deux blessees dans le departement de Medea (120 km au sud d'Alger) par des islamistes presumes, selon les services de securite. Par ailleurs, le 19 mai au matin, dans le quartier populaire de Bab el Oued a Alger, l'explosion d'un colis piege dans une rue commercante a blesse 17 personnes, dont une femme gravement atteinte. (Le Soir, Belgique, 17-20 mai 1999) * Angola. Aviateurs russes abattus - Le 12 mai, un avion Antonov 26 a ete abattu dans le district de Luzamba dans la province de Lunda Norte dans le nord-est de l'Angola. Apres avoir d'abord annonce la mort de l'equipage, l'Unita a communique, le 17 mai, que les trois aviateurs russes etaient detenus en bonne sante, tout en condamnant la Russie d'avoir "envoye des mercenaires en Angola". Le 18 mai, les autorites russes ont demande a l'ambassadeur d'Angola a Moscou de faire "tout son possible" pour aider a retrouver les trois aviateurs. (D'apres IRIN, Afrique australe, 19 mai 1999) * Angola. UNITA gaining the upperhand? - 12 May: UNITA says its forces are closing in on Luanda and advancing on key rural areas where foreign oil companies have installations, and will continue fighting under President dos Santos agrees to peace talks with its leader, Jonas Savimbi. The Minister for Assistance and Social Reintegration says that over the past two months, an estimated 200,000 people have flocked to Luanda. UNITA says its forces have shot down a civilian plane near Luzamba, Luanda Norte province. 13 May: A UN official in Angola, Robert Fowler, says the UN intends to make sanctions against UNITA really bite. At the same time, the UN intends to investigate the apparent failure of international sanctions to curb the activities of UNITA. 19 May: The South African government has assured the Angolan authorities that they will move to curb covert aid and trade with UNITA. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 May 1999) * Angola. Deep concern - The UN's senior humanitarian coordinator in Angola said the International community would soon face a new "human tragedy" in Africa if the Angola crisis became another "forgotten emergency". Francesco Strippoli, the UN humanitarian coordinator and WFP representative, said he was concerned that the Kosovo crisis, while every bit as dire, was diverting attention away from Angola. With nearly one million people internally displaced by fighting between government forces and the UNITA rebel movement since December, Strippoli warned that the country was now "on the edge of a human tragedy" in coming months. With most displaced people sheltering in besieged government-held cities, he said they depended more than ever on aid flown in because most roads in the country were too dangerous to use. "There will be a human tragedy if security now prevents us flying in", he said. Yet the response from the donor community had "not been really good", and donors, he said, were still to meet the UN's appeal last December for US $67 million. In the meantime, the magnitude of the crisis was now such that the appeal would have to be revised upwards to US $100-115 million. On 19 May, the WFP said it may be forced to halt food aid in some parts of Angola because of low supplies. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 May 1999) * Burkina Faso. Politicians and human rights activists arrested - 16 May: Three prominent politicians and human rights activists are arrested in Burkina Faso after protests over the murder of the journalist, Norbert Zongo. The French news agency says the Minister for Security, Colonel Bjibril Bassole accused one of those detained, Halidou Ouedraogo, who heads the Burkinabe human rights movement, of making defamatory remarks about the presidential guards, branding them as thugs. Mr Ouedraogo was released after questioning, but another of those picker up -- Hermann Yameogo, the son of a former president -- has now been charged with organising disturbances. 18 May: The Minister of Security defends the arrest of Herman Yameogo. Mass democratic organisations call for a one-day general strike on 19 May, to press for Herman Yameogo's release. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 May 1999) * Burundi. Death for Burundi assassins - 14 May: The Supreme Court has sentenced five soldiers to death for the assassination of the country's first democratically elected president during a coup attempt in 1993. The killing of Melchior Ndadaye, a Hutu, by hardline Tutsi soldiers, led to several years of civil war between the two ethnic groups, in which an estimated 200,000 people died. Others received jail terms of between one and 20 years, while 38 people were acquitted. (BBC News, 14 May 1999) * Burundi. Coup d'Etat de 1993: peines capitales - Cinq militaires (dont un officier, le lieutenant Paul Kamana, aujourd'hui refugie en Ouganda) des 79 accuses du coup d'Etat de 1993 au cours duquel le premier president hutu elu Melchior Ndadaye avait ete tue, ont ete condamnes a mort, a indique le 14 mai le ministere burundais de la Justice. A l'issue de ce proces qui s'etait ouvert il y a un an et demi, aucun des hauts responsables de l'armee n'a ete reconnu coupable de cette tentative de putsch. D'autres peines ont ete infligees allant jusqu'a 20 ans de prison ferme. 38 accuses ont ete acquittes, parmi lesquels figurent le ministre de la Defense et le chef d'etat-major general de l'epoque. Le dirigeant du CNDD a vivement critique ce jugement. Selon lui, les peines "ne visent que ceux qui ont commis le meurtre, alors que ceux qui l'ont prepare n'ont pas ete inquietes". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 mai 1999) * Cameroon. Seeking to end border dispute - Cameroon and its giant neighbour Nigeria have pledged to seek a peaceful resolution of their dispute over an oil-rich maritime border territory where their troops have clashed in recent years. Cameroon's President Biya said the Bakassi Peninsula row was discussed at length in his talks with Nigeria's outgoing military ruler, General Abubakar, who visited Yaounde on 17 May. "I believe that it is the joy of all, not only Africans, but all who are interested in Africa, to see us, two heads of state, standing side by side," Biya told reporters at Yaounde Airport as he saw off Abubakar. "Even if there are problems, notably the Bakassi problem, we have discussed it at length and decided to play our part in finding a good solution," Biya said. He noted that the Bakassi dispute was before the International Court of Justice in The Hague but added: "Nothing prevents Nigeria and Cameroon from seeking ways of easing tension and of fruitful cooperation between the two countries". (Reuters, 18 May 1999) * Comores. Tirs a Anjouan - Le 18 mai, un brusque regain de tension a ete enregistre a Anjouan ou des tirs d'armes automatiques ont ete entendus. Selon RFO-Tele-Mayotte, des miliciens mecontents, car sans solde depuis plusieurs mois, auraient occupe le depot d'hydrocarbures, privant l'ile d'electricite pendant une partie de la matinee. (Liberation, France, 19 mai 1999) * Congo-Brazza. Nouvel exode - Le 12 mai, les troupes regulieres ont pilone les abords du nord de Brazzaville, apres que les milices Ninjas aient avance en direction de l'aeroport international. De source humanitaire on indiquait que les affrontements ont cause de nouveaux deplacements parmi la population de la capitale. On estimait a 10.000, au bas mot, le nombre d'habitants qui depuis l'attaque ont fui la zone residentielle de Mukundu, proche de l'aeroport. Ils sont alles plus au nord, mais les organismes d'aide n'ont pu se rendre sur les lieux pour evaluer l'incidence des derniers affrontements. Selon Reuters, la plupart des Ninjas se sont retires dans la region du pool, alors que les autres se regroupaient et revenaient infiltrer la capitale. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 13 mai 1999) * Congo-Brazza. Civil unrest continues - 13 May: Reports from Congo-Brazzaville say government forces have repelled an advance by rebels on the northern outskirts of the capital. The army said the rebels, known as the Ninjas, have suffered heavy losses and some have been taken prisoner. The same day, the UNHCR say thousands of refugees, fleeing the fighting in the Congo Republic, are arriving in neighbouring Congo RDC. 14 May: About 750 people, fleeing conflict in the Pool region of Congo-Brazza, are being counted everyday in the western Congo RDC province of Bas-Congo. (ANB- BIA, Brussels, 15 May 1999) * Congo (RDC). Peace talks - A meeting in Libya chaired by Col.Muammar Gaddafi and involving several African countries has ended with reports of progress in efforts to halt the war in the Congo RDC. According to a Libyan television report, the Congolese government has agreed to hold direct talks with rebels opposed to President Kabila. The meeting was attended by both President Kabila and the Rwandan vice-President, Paul Kagame, whose country has been supporting the rebels in the Congo. It is the first time the two men have met since the Congolese government's was against Rwandan- backed rebels began last year. "A nearing of the points of view was achieved between the parties of the conflict, and the base of the understanding between them was broadened", the summit statement said. Rwanda, however, denies an agreement was reached at the summit. Its troops will remain in Congo as long as its security concerns are not satisfied. (BBC News, 16 May 1999) * Congo (RDC). Diplomatie en marche - 13 mai. La Communaute de Sant'Egidio annonce que des negociations entre les differentes parties impliquees dans le conflit en RDC debuteraient dans les prochains jours. Les facilitateurs de la reunion seraient l'ex- president du Benin, M. Zinzou, et le secretaire general de l'OUA. Cette annonce a surpris. Ce meme jour, les rebelles affirment que le nombre des victimes du bombardement de Goma, le 11 mai, est monte a 51 morts civils, dont 31 enfants et 14 femmes, 47 personnes grievement blessees etant toujours hospitalisees. Le chef militaire de la rebellion a dit que Kabila "demontre chaque jour qu'il n'est pas pret a negocier. Nous n'avons pas d'autre choix que de continuer a nous battre". Quant aux autorites rwandaises, elles accusent le gouvernement de Kinshasa d'avoir mobilise des milliers de rebelles hutu "dans le but de renverser le gouvernement rwandais". Et un porte-parole du Zimbabwe affirme que les raids aeriens sur la ville de Goma se poursuivraient desormais sans relache. 15 mai. Six chefs d'Etat africains (dont les presidents Kabila, de la RDC, Idriss Deby, Tchad, et le vice-president du Rwanda, Kagame), ainsi que plusieurs mediateurs internationaux, se sont retrouves a Syrte, en Libye, a un sommet reuni a l'initiative du colonel Kadhafi. A l'issue du sommet, on a communique que la RDC avait accepte de "dialoguer avec l'opposition". Le sommet a egalement arrete le principe d'une reunion a Lusaka des ministres des Affaires etrangeres des pays concernes par le conflit en RDC et d'un sommet pour "approuver une solution au conflit", sans fixer de dates a ces deux rencontres. Le texte du communique indique encore que la reunion a permis de "rapprocher les vues des parties en conflit" et d'"elargir leur entente" sur les moyens de parvenir a la paix. Toutefois, des representants rwandais ont dementi que le Rwanda ait signe le communique. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 17 mai 1999) * Congo (RDC). 2e anniversaire du regime - Le 17 mai, au 2e anniversaire de la conquete de la capitale par les troupes du president Kabila, Kinshasa etait quadrillee par les forces de l'ordre et des unites speciales militaires, selon l'agence Misna. Le climat dans la capitale etait fort tendu; ces derniers jours, des tracts avaient ete diffuses demandant a Kabila d'abandonner le pouvoir. Selon AP, plusieurs dizaines d'opposants ont ete arretes, tandis qu'un defile reunissant 200.000 personnes etait organise pour "celebrer" les deux annees de pouvoir du tombeur du marechal Mobutu. D'autre part, le chef de l'Etat a qualifie les colloques de paix ce week-end en Libye d'"inefficaces", et a designe Paul Kagame, homme fort du Rwanda, comme principal obstacle a une resolution pacifique du conflit. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 mai 1999) * Congo (RDC). Avancee des gouvernementaux - Selon l'agence Misna, un contingent de 4.000 hommes (soldats reguliers et partisans mai-mai) a reussi ces derniers mois a s'infiltrer dans le territoire controle par la rebellion, et est desormais a 30 km de Kasongo. Ils auraient repris le controle de Salamabila et Wamasa. (Misna, Italie, 18 mai 1999) * Congo (RDC). New offensive against Kabila - 13 May: Rebels say they have attacked a strategic diamond centre after government raids on 11 May killed 39 people and injured 47 in two eastern rebel strongholds. Rebel leaders said they launched a new advance against a government-held garrison in Mbuji-Mayi in southeast Congo after the air-raids on the eastern towns of Goma and Uvira. However, a Zimbabwean newspaper said on 12 May, that pro-Kabila forces had recently thwarted a rebel advance on Mbuji-Mayi and killed hundreds of Rwandan and Ugandan troops fighting alongside the rebels. The same day, Rwanda insists its troops will remain in Congo RDC. 14 May: A report from the press agency MISNA confirms that troops of the Congolese Democratic Coalition are gradually advancing towards Mbuji-Mayi. 18 May: The main rebel movement, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), is reported to have dissolved its ruling body and ousted its leader, Ernest Wamba dia Wamba. Mr Wamba dia Wamba said his opponents had no right to make the changes and described them as an internal coup. 19 May: The RCD appoints Dr Emile Ilunga as its new leader. (ANB-BIA, 20 May 1999) * Congo (RDC). La rebellion se divise - Le 17 mai, le Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD - rebellion) a dissous sa direction, excluant son president Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, selon la radio officielle rwandaise. Une commission interimaire doit designer de nouveaux dirigeants. Ernest Wamba dia Wamba et ses partisans avaient boycotte l'Assemblee generale. L'heteroclite rebellion congolaise, en lutte contre le regime de Laurent-Desire Kabila, est de plus en plus profondement divisee, notamment sur la maniere de gerer les zones liberees, soit la moitie du pays, et sur la presence d'hommes politiques ayant servi sous Mobutu. - Le 19 mai, apres trois jours de deliberations, le RCD s'est choisi comme nouveau leader M. Emile Ilunga, un medecin katangais charge jusqu'a present du departement de la sante. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 mai 1999) * Cote d'Ivoire. Gigantesque incendie - Un gigantesque incendie, qui s'est declare le 13 mai a Abidjan, ravageait toujours, deux jours apres, une cuve d'hydrocarbures situee a proximite des torcheres de la Societe ivoirienne de raffinage, l'une des raffineries les plus importantes de la region. Les pompiers de Paris sont arrives en renfort dans la nuit du 14 au 15 mai a la demande de leurs collegues ivoiriens, qui manquent cruellement de moyens. La cuve qui a pris feu contenait 23.000 metres cubes de carburant au moment ou l'incendie a eclate. - Le 18 mai, les sapeurs pompiers semblaient en passe de gagner la bataille qu'ils menaient depuis cinq jours. Selon un haut responsable, l'equipe "attaquait le feu pour la derniere fois". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 mai 1999) * Cote d'Ivoire. Oil blaze threatens Abidjan - 14 May: Firefighters from France have been flown out to Cote d'Ivoire to help tackle a huge blaze that is threatening vital oil stocks. The fire is reported to have destroyed about 30,000 cubic metres of petroleum products at the country's main oil storage depot near Abidjan. Two large storage tanks have been reduced to molten metal. The fuel depot is situated right next to the main oil refinery which not only supplies Cote d'Ivoire, but other states including Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. The firefighters manage to extinguish the fire. 16 May: Less than 24 hours after the fire was thought to be extinguished, it breaks out again. Reports say some petrol left in the tank that had originally ignited, burst into flames again. 17 May: Chemical foam supplies needed to smother the flames are nearly exhausted. The government must now import the foam before operations can continue. 19 May: The authorities say the fire appears to be out but the government wants to wait a few days before declaring the danger over. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 May 1999) * Djibouti. Detenus liberes - Le 10 mai,le president Ismael Omar Guelleh a ordonne la liberation d'une "quarantaine de detenus de droit commun", parmi lesquels figure l'avocat opposant Mohammed Aref, a annonce Radio Djibouti. M. Guelleh, 52 ans, est devenu le 8 mai le 2e chef d'Etat de la Republique de Djibouti. M. Aref, opposant afar de longue date, a ete condamne le 15 fevrier a deux ans d'emprisonnement, dont six mois ferme, par le tribunal correctionnel de Djibouti. (Le Monde, France, 13 mai 1999) * Egypt. Gas field discovery - BG Egypt, the U.K.-based gas exploration and distribution company, has announced a big new gas discovery in its highly productive eastern Mediterranean concession off the north Egyptian coast. BG Egypt and its concession partner Edison International, registered a gas supply of 45m standard cubic feet of gas per day at their West Delta Deep Marine drilling operation. The discovery is the 10th successful find in the area in two years, further raising expectations of the 37,000 bn cubic feet of gas now estimated to be accessible off the Nile delta. (Financial Times, U.K., 17 May 1999) * Egypt. Controversial NGO Law - 17 May: Human Rights Watch has expressed deep concern that Egypt's parliament may swiftly pass a new law regulating non-governmental organizations (NGO)s in Egypt without soliciting the views of the NGO community itself. The proposed legislation will replace Law N_32 of 1964, the much- criticized statute that has been used to deny legal status to NGOs and, in several circumstances, to dissolve organisations. "Members of parliament should hear the voices of NGOs before voting on this legislation", said Hanny Megally, executive director of the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch. "It is the NGOs themselves that can describe how the law will unreasonably restrict their activities. It will be a terribly disappointing setback for freedom of association if parliament rubber-stamps this law without listening to those who will be most affected by its passage". (Human Rights Watch, 17 May 1999) * Erythree. Bombardements - Le 16 mai les forces aeriennes ethiopiennes ont bombarde le port erythreen de Massawa. Un depot d'hydrocarbures a notamment ete touche, provoquant un fort incendie. Trois bombes ont en outre explose sur l'arsenal du port. Le gouvernement ethiopien avait annonce, le 15 mai, qu'il avait bombarde des objectifs militaires dans la zone de Zala Anbesa, sur le front central entre les deux pays. Ces dernieres semaines, le front entre l'Ethiopie et l'Erythree etait reste relativement calme. - Le 16 mai, le president egyptien Moubarak a rencontre son homologue erythreen; il devait s'entretenir avec le Premier ministre ethiopien dans les prochains jours. L'OUA, par l'intermediaire du ministre burkinabe des Affaires etrangeres, poursuit egalement ses efforts de mediation. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 mai 1999) * Ethiopia/Eritrea. Air raids - 16 May: The Ethiopian air force bombed the Eritrean port of Massawa, inflicting "heavy and extensive damage to the naval base, the oil depot and the port", the Addis government claimed. Temani Gebremeskel, the Eritrean presidential spokesman, acknowledged the raid but claimed that Ethiopia had missed its targets, hitting only a commercial warehouse in the port area. "It is clearly an act of provocation", he said. The attack came as Isaias Afwerki, the Eritrean president, and Egyptian President Mubarak discussed ways to end the hostilities. The attack, the first upon the Red Sea port, appears to mark an escalation in the countries' year-old border conflict after a month-long lull. Ethiopia said on 15 May that it had carried out an air attack on the Zalambessa front, causing "heavy damage" to an Eritrean logistics centre and mechanised unit. Ethiopia troops in February ejected Eritrean forces from the disputed Badme area at the western end of the border, but failed to break through its defences near the border town of Tsorona the following month. 17 May: Massawa goes back to work. The port's central facilities, including the dock, cranes and ships, emerge unscathed and there's no report of damage to military installations. Ethiopia says its airforce has again attacked Eritrea. The latest attack targeted a weapons depot near the border town of Shambuko, damaging heavy artillery and trucks. 18 May: Ethiopia's Prime Minister Zenawi meets with Egypt's President Mubarak who is trying to find a way to end the border dispute. This comes two days after President Mubarak met with Eritrea's President Afewerki. 19 May: Ethiopia's prime minister says the war with Eritrea will continue unless Eritrea withdraws its troops from the disputed area. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 May 1999) * Ghana. African Americans show support for Africa - A big meeting has begun in Ghana of African American politicians and business leaders -- and their African counterparts to try to promote investment in Africa. Some 4,000 people are expected to attend -- among them 18 African Heads of State, the American civil rights activist, and the vice-president of Coca Cola. (BBC News, 17 May 1999) * Grands Lacs. L'epidemie du sida flambe - Les predictions des ministeres de la Sante des differents pays de la region concernant l'epidemie du sida sont alarmantes. Lors d'une conference de deux jours qui s'est tenue a Kigali pour lancer l'Initiative des Grands Lacs contre le sida (GLIA), les pays concernes ont annonce le deblocage d'une somme de 1,2 million de dollars destinee a financer un programme de prevention. Le ministre de la Sante du Burundi a declare que dans son pays les trois quarts des lits d'hopitaux etaient occupes par des malades atteints du sida et que 20% des habitants de la capitale etaient infectes du virus. Au Rwanda, selon M. Rwabuhihi, l'epidemie "se propage comme un feu de brousse". L'Ouganda est le seul pays d'Afrique a enregistrer une baisse (moins 50% en cinq ans). (Service Jesuite aux Refugies, Rome, 14 mai 1999) * Guinea-Bissau. Rebels take over government - 11 May: The rebels led by Ansumane Mane and political leaders say that deposed President Vieira must stand trial. They also appoint the Speaker of the National Assembly, Malan Bacai Sanha, as interim president ahead of elections later on this year. Francisco Fadul continues as head of government.12 May: The UN Security Council asks the rebels to ensure the safety of the deposed President. The same day, Gen. Mane explains that the borders with neighbouring countries are closed only as a precaution. 14 May: Sanha is officially sworn is as President. He has taken over the presidency under a clause in the Constitution which allows for the leader of parliament to replace a head of state in case of incapacity. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 May 1999) * Guinee-Bissau. Renforcement de la securite - La Guinee-Bissau a ferme ses frontieres terrestres afin de restaurer la securite dans le pays, a annonce le chef de la junte Ansumane Mane. De nombreux soldats en armes, fideles au president destitue, sont toujours en liberte et essaieraient de passer dans les pays voisins. En raison de la fermeture des frontieres, l'aide humanitaire ne peut plus atteindre le pays par voie terrestre, mais le PAM a repris ses transports aeriens. - D'autre part, le Portugal a fait savoir qu'il n'accepterait pas de remettre l'ancien president, M. Vieira, refugie dans l'ambassade portugaise, aux autorites judiciaires de Guinee-Bissau contre son gre. La junte militaire souhaite que M. Vieira soit juge, bien que d'autres forces politiques locales semblent avoir des opinions divergentes a ce sujet. Le Conseil de securite de l'ONU a appele les autorites de Guinee-Bissau a garantir la securite de M. Vieira. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 13 mai 1999) * Lesotho. Troops leaving - South African and Botswanan troops who marched into Lesotho last year to quell an army mutiny finally quit the tiny southern African kingdom, their mission to restore peace officially complete. Most of the 1,000 troops sent in under the umbrella of the Southern African Development Community on September 22 had already pulled out and the last of the force was treated to a colourful send off from a crowd of around 500 people. But some in Lesotho expressed concern that the country had not yet proved it had recovered from the bloody conflict of last September as they watched the 30 vehicles convoy depart. (Reuters, 15 May 1999) * Liberia. Cabinet reinstatement - Liberia's president reinstated most members of his Cabinet a day after he angrily sacked them for failing to attend a religious meeting. The ministers of education, security, health and several other agencies will resume their posts immediately, a government statement said. However, the dismissals of the ministers of defense, foreign affairs and justice will remain in effect, it said, without naming replacements or providing further explanation. In a live radio address on 14 May, President Taylor sacked the ministers for failing to attend a ceremony ending a three-day national period of prayers. "God is responsible for our survival", Taylor said in the public chastisement. "Anybody who does not love God will not serve on my cabinet". Taylor also fired heads of state companies who failed to attend the ceremony and promoted junior executives. The statement said many of the company heads also would be reinstated. (AP, 15 May 1999) * Liberia. Messe boycottee, ministres vires - Le president liberien Charles Taylor a renvoye 13 ministres, dont ceux des Affaires etrangeres et de la Defense, pour avoir omis de se rendre a une messe celebree en l'honneur de la nation le 14 mai. Le ministre de l'information a ete le seul membre du gouvernement a y assister. Sept autres membres absents ont ete maintenus dans leur fonction apres avoir fait amende honorable. "Quelqu'un qui ne connait pas Dieu ne servira pas dans mon gouvernement", a juge Charles Taylor. (La Libre Belgique, 17 mai 1999) * Maghreb. Magreb Union revival - Officials from five North African countries making up the Arab Maghreb Union have met in Algiers for the first time in more than three years to try to revive the organisation. It was formed in 1989 by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia in an attempt to set up a common market for the region, but a diplomatic row between the key members, Algeria and Morocco, led to a freeze on activities. (BBC News, 17 May 1999) * Malawi. Report des elections - Le president Muluzi a indique qu'il pourrait eventuellement convoquer le Parlement pour envisager le report des elections legislatives du 25 mai au 8 juin. Une delegation de dignitaires religieux avait declare a M. Muluzi qu'il serait irrealiste de maintenir ces elections et de s'attendre a un scrutin libre et equitable etant donne le desordre qui preside au processus d'inscription sur les listes electorales. Par ailleurs, le president de la commission electorale, M. Hanjahanja, a demissionne, invoquant des raisons de sante. Il a ete accuse de partialite et d'incompetence par les partis d'opposition et des ONG. Le juge James Kalaile a ete designe pour lui succeder. - Dans une ordonnance rendue le 14 mai, la Haute Cour a interdit a la commission electorale de maintenir la date des elections au 25 mai. Le president Muluzi a indique qu'il se conformerait a la decision de la Cour et convoquerait le Parlement pour modifier la legislation. Il s'agira du troisieme ajournement d'un scrutin initialement prevu pour le 17 mai. (IRIN, Afrique australe, 14-17 mai 1999) * Malawi. Elections suspended - 7 May: The Chief Electoral Officer, Stuart Winga, is removed from office after allegations of incompetence and bias towards the ruling UDF. 12 May: As opposition lawyers continue with their case in the High Court in Blantyre over the mishandling of the voters registration, Germany urges the government to postpone the polls to a later date. 13 May: Citing health grounds, the chair of the Electoral Commission, Justice William Hanjahanja, resigns. Justice James Kalaile is appointed to replace him. 14 May: Malawians turn out in large numbers to register for the elections. Presently, some 4.5 million voters have been signed up and this could rise to a record 5 million by the close of the day, the last day for voter-registration. 16 May: The High Court orders the Electoral Commission not to go ahead with the 25 May elections, until the 21 days set by the Constitution lapses between the end of registration and polling day. Justice George Chimasula Phiri says this will allow time for the verification of the voters' roll and for adjudication of any complaints relating to the electoral process. President Muluzi says that since the court has ruled, he will reconvene parliament to discuss the issue. 18 May: Parliament agrees to hold an emergency session on 21 May to set a new date for the elections. The High Court orders the Electoral Commission to ensure that the state-controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, provides fair coverage to all political players. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 May 1999) * Nigeria. The Constitution - 15 May: A Nigerian newspaper, This Day, says it has obtained a copy of the new Constitution and will publish it on 17 May. Politicians have been calling on the outgoing military government for several weeks to issue printed copies of the Constitution, which has been compiled in secret. The military leader, General Abubakar, said the Constitution -- which paves the way for a return to civilian rule in two weeks -- had been drawn up in line with the 1979 Constitution, but he said there had been some amendments. Correspondents say one sticking point in the new draft had been the status of Islamic law: more than 40% of Nigerians are Muslims. The newly elected civilian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is due to assume power at the end of this month. 17 May: Emerging details indicate that the new Constitution goes some way to meeting the demands of the people of the oil rich Niger Delta. Also, the new charter gives the 35 states in the Nigerian federation, a greater share of the income which they generate. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 May 1999) * Nigeria. Towards a handover of power - 9 May: Outgoing Head of State General Abubakar admits Nigeria is facing a very serious financial crisis. 13 May: Gen. Abubakar is scheduled to have two separate meetings with President-elect Obasanjo in preparations for the 29 May handover of power. These meetings will be the last between the two. The meetings are part of an on-going exchange, aimed at briefing the in-coming President on the nation's vital issues. 17 May: Disturbances break out in parts of Lagos after rumours that incoming President Obasanjo has been killed. He later appears on TV to assure people he is alive and well. 19 May: Nigeria is being allowed back in the Commonwealth after more than 3 years. It will formally rejoin the 54-nation body on 29 May. The announcement was made by the Commonwealth secretary-general, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, himself a Nigerian. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 May 1999) * Rwanda. Aide de l'UE - Le 18 mai, l'Union europeenne a alloue 50 millions de dollars d'aide au Rwanda. Selon certaines informations, cette aide avait ete gelee durant six mois en raison de la participation du Rwanda a la guerre en RDC. La Commission a toutefois precise avoir toujours dit ne pas vouloir penaliser isolement un pays implique dans un conflit sauf s'il y avait unanimite des membres pour le designer comme agresseur, ce qui n'etait pas le cas. Selon la Commission, le processus a ete plus long que d'habitude parce que cette aide entre dans le cadre d'un programme d'ajustement structurel. (D'apres La Libre Belgique, 20 mai 1999) * Rwanda. Changing flag to bury the past - The Rwandan government said it would introduce a new flag, coat of arms and national anthem because the old symbols carried echoes of a 1994 genocide. Officials said the red, yellow and green flag, with a capital R in its centre, was seen as a symbol of the previous Hutu-dominated government whose ideology lay behind the genocide, in which 800,000 tutsis and moderate Hutus perished. It will be replaced by a red, white and green flag with a new coat of arms in its centre, showing an ear of sorghum, a wreath and a bird. The old coat of arms, showing a hoe, a bow and arrow and a sickle, carried unfortunate echoes of the crude weapons used to carry out the genocide. "We judged it necessary to change the national flag, the anthem and the coat of arms to bury the divisive past and foster national unity and reconciliation", Rwanda's Local Government Minister Desire Nyandwi said. (Reuters, 18 May 1999) * Rwanda. Vatican defends jailed bishop - The Vatican's L'Osservatore Romano newspaper defended a bishop arrested in Rwanda's 1994 genocide, saying he had sought protection for the victims. Bishop Augustin Misago, arrested in April, is the highest ranking church official accused in the 1994 Hutu government- orchestrated killing of at least a half-million Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda. The Tutsi-dominated government now in power has arrested 19 priests on charges of taking part in the attacks on Rwanda's Tutsi minority. The priests are among 125,000 people in Rwanda's jails awaiting trial in the genocide. L'Osservatore Romano said Misago's arrest appeared part of a campaign "to render the Catholic Church in toto responsible for the genocide against the Tutsis". Church leaders say the government is trying to reduce its influence in the country and discourage reconciliation in the wake of the killings. Rwanda says the prosecutions are directed against individuals, not the church itself, which still has large numbers of followers among both Tutsi and Hutu. Tutsi genocide survivors say Misago refused them shelter from Hutu death squads, who shot and hacked to death hundreds of thousands of people in Gikongoro, 60 miles southwest of Kigali, where Misago headed the diocese. Misago was away from the diocese at the time of one of the instances cited by survivors, on April 11, 1994, L'Osservatore Romano said, citing Fides' accounts from Misago. (AP, 18 May 1999) * Rwanda. L'Osservatore Romano denonce - L'Osservatore Romano, le quotidien du Vatican, denonce une campagne contre l'Eglise et parle d'un "double genocide". Une "veritable campagne de diffamation a l'egard de l'Eglise catholique" se deroule au Rwanda, qui vise a "la faire apparaitre comme responsable du genocide de l'ethnie tutsi" de 1994: c'est ce qui ressort d'un article de l'Osservatore Romano annonce pour l'edition du 19 mai et qui se presente comme emanant d'une source officielle du Saint-Siege. L'article se penche en particulier sur l'arrestation, le 14 avril, de l'eveque de Gikongoro, Mgr Misago. Reclamant la verite, le quotidien signale par ailleurs que, si "l'attention de la population est actuellement polarisee sur le genocide de 1994", il faut souligner qu'il y a eu un "double genocide" au Rwanda: celui qui a provoque la mort de plus de 500.000 victimes a partir du 6 avril 1994, et celui qui a entraine la mort de Hutu (jusqu'a un million au total) a partir d'octobre 1990 et qui s'est poursuivi dans la foret zairoise. "Ces deux genocides sont horribles", insiste le quotidien, et "tous deux meritent d'etre rappeles". (D'apres CIP, Belgique, 20 mai 1999) * Sahara occidental. Referendum en l'an 2000 - Le 12 mai, le Maroc et le Polisario ont accepte le report du referendum d'autodetermination sur le Sahara occidental a juillet 2000, comme propose par Kofi Annan. Le 14 mai, le Conseil de securite a approuve a l'unanimite la prolongation pour 4 mois (jusqu'a la mi- septembre) de la mission de l'Onu chargee d'organiser le referendum. Le 17 mai, le secretaire general de l'ONU a fixe au 31 juillet 2000 la date du referendum; un calendrier conduisant a sa tenue a egalement ete fixe, ainsi que des directives sur l'identification des electeurs et le processus en cours. (ANB- BIA, de sources diverses, 18 mai 1999) * Western Sahara. UN force to remain - 13 May: The UN Security Council agrees on a draft resolution that will keep a UN force in Western Sahara for another six months to let both sides complete work towards a referendum on the territory's future. The draft resolution will extend the UN Mission for The Referendum in Western Sahara until 14 September to resume the identification process and start the appeals process and hopefully conclude all outstanding issues. 18 May: Kofi Anan has set 31 July 2000 as the date for the referendum. The UN is to resume registration of eligible voters in June, at which time an agreement is expected to have been reached by both sides on the repatriation of refugees. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 May 1999) * Senegal. Observatoire des droits des femmes - Un Observatoire des droits des femmes (ODF) verra bientot le jour au Senegal. Le decret de creation est a la signature du chef de l'Etat et le financement est acquis. En pointe dans la lutte contre l'excision, le Senegal se distingue ainsi par sa determination a combattre les violences faites aux femmes. L'ODF entend egalement aider a trouver des solutions par l'education des populations et oeuvrer au renforcement des capacies economiques des femmes. (A. Agboton, Senegal, 16 mai 1999) * Senegal. Le 3e age se rebiffe - Bien que faisant vivre 38% des menages senegalais, les 700.000 personnes du troisieme age se sentent discriminees et estiment n'etre pas considerees a leur juste valeur alors qu'elles sont encore d'une grande utilite a la nation. Une journee d'etudes organisee recemment a prone "un dialogue entre les generations", et les personnes agees ont demande un "meilleur statut". Elles souhaitent que la "question du vieillissement" soit desormais integree dans les plans nationaux de developpement. (A. Agboton, Senegal, 16 mai 1999) * Sierra Leone. Catholic Church burnt down - (NB - The following dispatch has recently been received from a journalist in Sierra Leone. It gives a general picture of the unsettled conditions still prevailing in that country) -- Rebels burnt down the Our Lady of Peace Church, in Freetown, as they fled from ECOMOG troops. The Bishop of the Diocese of Makeni, George Biguizzi, visited the town a few weeks later. The Catholic Church has been adversely affected since the intensification of hostilities between the RUF and ECOMOG in 19997. The situation was exacerbated when soldiers loyal to the Armed Forces Ruling Council joined the RUF. Three-quarters of Sierra Leone's northern province has been destabilised, making it virtually impossible for the Diocese of Makeni to function. The bishop had to flee when Makeni town was overrun by the rebels in December 1998. Catholic schools and hospitals were vandalised. (Alpha R. Jalloh, Sierra Leone, 8 May 1999) * Sierra Leone. Accord de cessez-le-feu - Le 12 mai a Lome, un porte-parole du Front revolutionnaire uni (RUF) a annonce ses conditions pour mettre fin au conflit arme: 1) la liberation de leur leader historique Foday Sankoh; 2) le retrait de la Sierra Leone de toutes les troupes etrangeres; 3) la nomination d'un gouvernement de transition pour une periode de quatre ans. En outre, les rebelles envisagent de former un parti politique qui se presenterait aux futures elections. Des sources proches du gouvernement estiment que le RUF est peu digne de confiance, ce qui rend fort improbable de possibles negociations. Cependant, le 18 mai, le president Kabbah et le chef du RUF Foday Sankoh ont conclu a Lome un accord de cessez-le-feu qui entrerait en vigueur le 24 mai prochain et serait suivi le lendemain de l'ouverture de pourparlers de paix. Les deux parties ont egalement accepte de liberer immediatement tous les prisonniers et de garantir aux organisations humanitaires un libre-acces a la totalite du territoire. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 19 mai 1999) * Sierra Leone. Talks about peace - 12 May: Rebel forces launch a hit-and-run raid on Masiaka, a village near Freetown. 13 May: Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels call for the formation of a four-year transition period at their just concluded meeting in Lome, Togo. The same day, it is reported that a large protest meeting is to take place in Bamako, Mali, over the continuous deployment of Malian troops in the ECOMOG forces in Sierra Leone. 13 May: ECOMOG says its forces have repelled an attack on Songo.14 May: Artillery and mortar fire shake Freetown overnight and residents say that rebels had attacked its eastern outskirts. 16 May: Human Rights Watch says in a Press Release, that RUF rebels have committed "scores of atrocities" against civilians. 18 May: A ceasefire is signed between the government forces and rebel leader Foday Sankoh. The agreement commences on 24 May with peace talks starting the day after. The peace accord allows for the release of prisoners of war and civilians kidnapped by the rebels, along with aid agency access to desperate people on all sides. 19 May: President Kabbah is visiting Togo where he is expected to meet Foday Sankoh. 20 May: The UN welcomes the ceasefire. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 May 1999) * Afrique du Sud. Observateurs aux elections - 10.000 observateurs seront nommes pour veiller au bon deroulement des elections generales par la "South African Civil Society Observer Coalition" qui a ete mise en place par la Commission Justice et paix de la Conference episcopale sud-africaine, le Conseil des Eglises d'Afrique du Sud et les responsables des communautes hindoue, juive et musulmane. (La Croix, France, 14 mai 1999) * South Africa. Run-up to elections - 12 May: South African publishers and broadcasters find themselves mired in political controversy with the ANC and its opponents, exchanging allegations of bias and intimidations. Cyril Ramaphosa, an ANC leader and chairman of Times Media Ltd, bitterly criticises an editorial in the Financial Mail magazine, in which Peter Bruce, the editor, voices support for the United Democratic Movement, a small opposition party. 14 May: The ANC has signed a peace agreement with Inkatha. The agreement establishes a code of conduct for the elections and calls for a joint election rally to be addressed by Thabo Mbeki and Mangosuthu Buthelezi. 18 May: Thabo Mbeki dismisses fears that the ANC will make radical changes to the Constitution if it wins the 2 June elections. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 May 1999) * Sudan. Four Catholic school risk demolition - The state authorities in Khartoum have decreed the demolition of four Catholic schools on the outskirts of Khartoum. 3,000 students risk remaining without an education, due to the absence of schools in the extremely poor area. The local population (all of South Sudanese origin), have occupied the buildings of the four schools in protest. (MISNA, Rome, 13 May 1999) * Soudan. Ecoles catholiques menacees - Les autorites de Khartoum ont revoque l'ordre de demolition de quatre ecoles catholiques de la banlieue de la capitale. A l'annonce du decret, la population chretienne locale, originaire du Sud, avait occupe les batiments pour protester contre cette mesure qui aurait laisse trente mille eleves a la rue. Soutenue par des ambassades et des associations humanitaires, elle a obtenu la revocation de l'ordre de demolition. D'autre part, la police a detruit de force une ecole episcopalienne et une eglise presbyterienne. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 mai 1999) * Sudan. Ceasefire broken - 16 May: Government forces have broken a ceasefire, by bombing a town, today,in the south of the country. Workers from the WFP say a young girl has been killed and a boy injured when a military aircraft dropped 24 bombs on the small town of Akakak, in Bahr el-Ghazal province. The attack took place while a WFP mission was in the town preparing an air drop of supplies intended to feed 16,000 people. 18 May: The WFP says it's reviewing its relief operation in southern Sudan, after a barge used to distribute food came under attack. 19 May: A UN plane picks up aid workers who had been wounded in the attack on their barge. They will be taken to Khartoum. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 May 1999) * Soudan. Guerre aux esclavagistes - A la veille de la venue dans le pays de Leonardo Franco, nouveau rapporteur special de l'Onu pour les droits de l'homme au Soudan, le gouvernement de Khartoum a annonce son intention de poursuivre les esclavagistes. Apres avoir longtemps ignore les protestations, il semblerait donc, sans doute dans le souci de briser son isolement, preter une oreille plus attentive aux critiques. Mais bon nombre d'observateurs restent sceptiques: l'esclavagisme releve au Soudan d'une politique "etatique" et aucune solution ne peut etre esperee dans l'immediat. Leonardo Franco remplace Gaspard Biro, qui a demissionne de son poste estimant qu'il ne pouvait mener a bien sa tache "avec le faible soutien recu de l'Onu". (CIP, Belgique, 20 mai 1999) * Swaziland. Sida - Au moins 70% des enseignants du Swaziland seraient porteurs du virus du sida, une situation qui met en peril le systeme educatif du pays. Selon l'hebdomadaire britannique The Economist, le Swaziland a le troisieme taux mondial de seropositivite: pres d'un tiers de la population serait infecte, ce qui fait chuter l'esperance de vie moyenne de 58 a 39 ans. Un comite charge de lutter contre l'extension de la maladie a ete mis en place par le Premier ministre Sibusiso Dlamini. (Liberation, France, 15 mai 1999) * Togo. Membre d'AI interpelle - Le 14 mai, un membre du bureau d'Amnesty International au Togo a ete interpelle a Lome avec son epouse. Antoine Koffi Nadjombe est accuse d'avoir travaille avec AI a la redaction d'un rapport qui affirme que des centaines de personnes ont ete tuees par les forces de securite apres le scrutin presidentiel de juin 1998. (La Croix, France, 17 mai 1999) * Tunisia. Opposition leader to run for presidency - Moderate opposition leader Mohamed Blehaj Amor announced his candidacy for Tunisia's presidential elections on October 24, party politicians said. Belhaj Amor, head of the centre-left Popular Unity Party, will challenge President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who also chairs the ruling party Constitutional Democratic Rally. Ben Ali, who was elected unopposed in 1989 and 1994, announced last year that he would be running for a third five-year term. A third candidate, Abderrahman Tlili, leader of the moderate opposition Unionist Democratic Union, was also expected to announce his intention to run for the presidency. It would be the first presidential poll with more than one candidate since Tunisia's independence from France in 1956, but political analysts said they expected Ben Ali to be re-elected given the weakness of the opposition parties. Belhaj Amor and Tlili, who have close political ties with Ben Ali, may run for the presidency under a constitutional amendment approved earlier this year. The presidential elections will be held at the same time as parliamentary polls. The opposition holds 19 out of parliament's 163 seats and under a constitutional amendment will get at least 20% of seats in the October vote. (Reuters, 16 May 1999) * Tunisie. Vague d'arrestations - L'etau se resserre autour des opposants et des defenseurs des droits de l'homme en Tunisie. Le 12 mai au soir, apres l'interpellation d'une dizaine de dirigeants syndicaux les jours precedents, la police a arrete a son domicile Omar Mestiri. Le lendemain, sa famille etait toujours sans nouvelles de lui. M. Mestiri est membre du comite le liaison du Conseil national pour les libertes (CNLT) que les autorites refusent de reconnaitre et qui a publie, le 10 mai, une declaration titree "Que cesse l'arbitraire". De son cote, l'etudiant Nizar Chaari, detenu depuis plus d'un an, a ete condamne le 11 mai a trois ans de prison pour appartenance a une association de malfaiteurs par la cour d'appel de Tunis. Il lui est reproche en realite d'avoir participe au Bourget a une reunion publique de l'Union des organisations islamiques de France. - Le 15 mai, une vingtaine de juristes et d'observateurs etrangers etaient presents a Tunis pour le proces de maitre Radhia Nasroui, une avocate specialisee dans la defense des opposants politiques, et 19 etudiants. Mais le proces a ete reporte au 19 juin. Par ailleur, l'opposant Omar Mestiri a ete relache, tout comme douze syndicalistes. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 mai 1999) * Ouganda. Amnistie? - Le president Yoweri Museveni a propose une amnistie aux dirigeants rebelles qui combattent son regime. L'offre s'applique au chef de l'Armee de resistance du Seigneur (LRA) Joseph Kony. Museveni espere qu'une amnistie pour Kony mettra fin a la guerre. (Le Soir, Belgique, 15 mai 1999) * Ouganda. Reduction des depenses militaires - Le gouvernement prevoit de reduire ses depenses militaires de 22% dans son prochain budget, a rapporte le journal semi-officiel Sunday Vision. La decision doit permettre de financer d'autres domaines prioritaires tels que l'education et la lutte contre la pauvrete. Les depenses militaires de l'annee fiscale en cours devraient depasser 213 milliards de shillings et le gouvernement veut prendre des mesures draconiennes pour les ramener a 170 milliards. Les bailleurs de fonds se sont declares de plus en plus preoccupes par l'augmentation des credits de la defense. (IRIN, Nairobi, 17 mai 1999) * Uganda. Peace and security -- a far cry - 12 May: Uganda's The Monitor, reminds its readers that today is exactly three years since President Museveni was sworn in as elected president, but peace and security remain a far cry. Uganda's People's Defence Force (UPDF) disassociate themselves from Major Kakooza Mutale's mysterious military operations and activities. 13 May: President Museveni has offered rebel leader Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), an amnesty to end their vicious 12-year civil war. Museveni travelled to Kony's home village of Odek in northern Uganda, today, to make the surprise offer. The President said: "Tell Joseph Kony to come back home and stop disturbing people. Tell him that you people have the power to decide the future and who is to lead you through elections". 15 May: A little- known Ugandan rebel group, the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) claims responsibility for a series of bomb blasts that have killed 13 people in Collat this year. Museveni extends the amnesty to all those misled to commit criminal acts and those misleading them. The Press says that the army and sections of the public have hailed the President's move to grant amnesty. 17 May: The USA has suspended Peace Corps operations in Uganda because of concerns about volunteers' security. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 May 1999) * Zambia. Debt burden - Zambia's US $6.5 billion external debt is responsible for the country's poverty-stricken situation. Presently, about 70% of the people are living in abject poverty, exacerbated by the debt burden accrued over 27 years of one-party rule. Zambia's staggering external debt, most of it borrowed from as far back as the late 1960s, was used to purchase military hardware including sophisticated jet fighter planes, and the Katushya long-range tanks which now appear obsolete to the country's needs. The Catholic Church and the Christian Council of Zambia have now collected more than 200,000 signatures nationwide. This is part of the Jubilee 2000 campaign which intends to lobby the G7/G8 countries during their Cologne, Germany meeting, calling on them to cancel the crippling debt of developing countries. (Fred Chela, Zambia, 18 May 1999) * Zambia. Oil refinery burns - A fierce fire has put Zambia's only fuel refinery out of action, threatening supplies to its lifeblood copper mines and the neighbouring war-torn Congo RDC, a minister said. Eric Silwamba, presidential affairs minister said that the Italian-built 24,000 barrels per day (bpd) Indeni plant will be down for up to eight months, forcing Zambia to import oil products. "The damage is quite extensive. We estimate that the plant will be shut down for between seven and eight months. It will be necessary to import finished product", says Mr.Silwamba. The fire which started late on 17 May at Indeni, in Ndola, the provincial capital of Zambia's copper region, damaged the primary distillation unit and the main crude pipeline supplying the refinery from the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. "It will take us several months to repair what has so far been destroyed", Silwamba said. Many people in Zambia say they fear big fuel price increases and scarce as a result. Damage from the fire was extensive and key equipment was destroyed. This is the fourth fire at the refinery in ten years, but by far the most serious and correspondents say Zambians are questioning safety procedures there. On 19 May, the government said it had taken steps to import crude oil to pre-empt any shortages arising from the fire. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 May 1999) * Zambie/Zimbabwe. La guerre en RDC - Les relations commerciales entre la Zambie enclavee et ses voisins sont atteintes de plein fouet par le conflit de la region des Grands Lacs, ont indique des personnalites des milieux d'affaires. La guerre civile en RDC a destabilise l'economie des zones frontalieres et a egalement force quelque 28.000 ressortissants congolais a chercher refuge en Zambie. -Quant au Zimbabwe, son intervention armee en RDC lui a coute l'equivalent de 12,5 milions de dollars US, selon la Financial Gazette. Les operations de soutien au president Kabila coutent $1,7 million par mois et les fonds qui y ont deja ete consacres sont deux fois superieurs au budget annuel du ministere des Affaires etrangeres, ajoute le journal. (D'apres IRIN, Afrique australe, 13 mai 1999) * Zimbabwe. Greve reportee - Des tractations ont permis d'ecarter la menace de greve generale brandie pour le 14 mai par le Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), etant donne que les employeurs, dans l'ensemble, avaient donne satisfaction a la reclamation d'une hausse de salaire de 20% afin de rattraper le cout de la vie. Les dirigeants syndicaux restaient toutefois preoccupes par la situation dans la fonction publique, ou on attend toujours cette meme hausse des traitements. Le ZCTU a promis de s'asseoir a table, la semaine prochaine, avec le patronat et les pouvoirs publics pour une grande negociation sociale destinee a fixer l'echelle des salaires pour cette annee. (D'apres IRIN, Johannesburg, 13 mai 1999)