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: 28-10-1999 * Africa. 1999 NOMA Award - The NOMA Award was established in 1979 as an annual book prize for an oustanding new book from Africa. It is open to any author who is indigenous to Africa, and the work must be published by an indigenous African publisher. The 1999 NOMA Award Winner is "L'interpretation des reves dans la region Senegambienne. Suivi de la clef des songes de la Senegambie, de l'Egypte pharaonique et de la tradition islamique", by Djibril Samb. The book, in the French language, has been published in Dakar in 1998 by Les Nouvelles Editions Africaines du Senegal. The jury cites the book as: "An original, innovative scholarly study, entirely independent of the culture-bound and narrow Freudian dream analysis. It is extremely well organised, with vivid examples, displaying a consistently high level of formulation". (The NOMA Award, 18 October 1999) * Afrique. Les ventes d'armes ont double - Selon le rapport annuel de l'Institut international d'etudes strategiques (IISS), les livraisons d'armes ont quasiment double en Afrique subsaharienne en 1998, alors qu'a l'echelle mondiale elles sont restees globalement stables. Le commerce d'armes a atteint 56,9 milliards de dollars en 1998. En Afrique subsaharienne, la part du marche mondial est passee de 1,8 a 3% en 1998 et ce malgre la faible croissance economique dans la region. Plus de la moitie des conflits recenses dans le monde concernent cette region. (La Libre Belgique, 22 octobre 1999) * Africa. Action against the Media - Djibouti: In a letter to President Guelleh, Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) has protested the detention and expulsion of two French journalists in Djibouti. RSF demanded that the authorities "do everything possible to assure that foeign journalists can work freely in Djibouti". South Africa: Reuters has closed its office in Cape Town after months of receiving threats. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 October 1999) * Afrique/France. L'affaire Elf - Une enquete menee a Geneve par le juge d'instruction Paul Perraudin a permis de lever le voile sur les secrets africains du groupe petrolier Elf Aquitaine. De 1990 a 1997, plus de 600 millions de francs francais ont transite sur les comptes suisses de l'ancien "M. Afrique" du groupe, Andre Tarallo. Celui-ci a affirme que ces sommes provenaient de "l'execution d'engagements" du groupe Elf, en vertu desquels des "remunerations" occultes devaient etre versees aux presidents africains, dont le chef d'Etat gabonais Omar Bongo. Ce dernier a reagi en affirmant que "des bonus ont ete verses par Elf a l'Etat gabonais, mais jamais a son president directement". (D'apres Le Monde, France, 24-28 octobre 1999) * Afrique. Violations des droits de l'homme - L'Afrique arrive en tete d'un classement publie le 24 octobre par l'hebdomadaire britannique The Observer sur les pays connaissant les pires violations des droits de l'homme. La Republique democratique du Congo, suivie par le Rwanda et le Burundi occupent dans l'ordre les trois premieres places pour ce qui est des executions extrajudiciaires, des cas de torture et des disparitions, ecrit le journal. Ces trois pays sont suivis par l'Algerie, la Sierra Leone et l'Egypte. Un autre pays africain, le Soudan, est en huitieme place. (Le Soir, Belgique, 25 octobre 1999) * Afrique. Affaires a risques - La lettre d'information francaise "Nord-Sud Export" publie un numero special intitule "Cent pays a l'an 2000" pour evaluer les possibilites et risques presentes par les pays emergents. En ce qui concerne l'Afrique, les possibilites d'affaires les plus elevees sont offertes par l'Afrique de Sud et les plus basses par le Niger. Le Congo-Kinshasa remporte la palme du plus grand risque, que ce soit pour les investisseurs ou pour les exportateurs. En revanche, le Botswana offre le risque le moins eleve pour les deux activites, suivi de pres, pour les investissements, par l'ile Maurice. (La Libre Belgique, 28 octobre 1999) * Southern Africa. Conservation boost - Officials from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have agreed to create one of the biggest conservation areas in the world by joining together three of their own national parks. A technical committee will oversee the arrangements, and submit a detailed plan by 2001 for joint management of Gaza Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park and Gonarezhou in Zimbabwe. The agreement was signed in Maputo by ministers from the three countries -- Valli Moosa of South Africa, Carlos Agostinho d'Rosario of Mozambique, and Edward Chindori -- Chininga of Zimbabwe. It pledges trans-border cooperation to "promote biodiversity and socioeconomic development in the area," a statement from South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs said. However, one of the problems that needs to be addressed is the steady flow of illegal immigrants, mainly from poverty stricken Mozambique, who circumvent barbed wire fences and risk attacks from lions to get to South Africa. Earlier this year, South Africa and Botswana signed a similar treaty to jointly manage a conservation area in both countries. (BBC News, 24 October 1999) * Algeria. Horrors continue - 24 October: 17 people, including 3 children, were killed in two rebel attacks and in a military operation against a guerrilla base in Algeria in the last two days. Muslim rebels from the hardline Armed Islamic Group (GIA) slashed the throats of three brothers aged six, 12 and 13 in a forest 225 km southwest of Algiers. The three children, from a peasant family were killed on 22 October while they were collecting kindling in the forest. In another attack, rebels shot dead one pro-government militiaman and wounded another in an ambush on 23 October, 60 km west of Algiers. Government troops, backed by artillery, killed 13 GIA rebels among about 120 guerrillas besieged since 20 October in Ain Fekan forest in Mascara province, 300 km west of Algiers. (CNN, 24 October 1999) * Algerie. Bouteflika et Mgr Duval - Le 22 octobre, le president Bouteflika a "suggere" la canonisation par l'Eglise catholique de l'ancien archeveque d'Alger, Mgr Duval, decede en 1996, qui fut "constamment aux cotes de son peuple, le peuple algerien, sans compromis, ni compromissions". Archeveque d'Alger depuis 1954, Mgr Duval avait pris parti pour l'independance et n'avait cesse de denoncer, au cours de la guerre, la violation des droits de l'homme par les forces francaises, mais aussi les attentats du FLN. Il avait pris la nationalite algerienne. (La Croix, France, 25 octobre 1999) * Algerie. Nouvelles victimes - Dix-sept personnes, dont trois enfants, ont peri ces dernieres 48 heures lors de deux attaques et d'une operation de nettoyage des forces de securite en Algerie, a rapporte le 24 octobre la presse nationale. (La Libre Belgique, 25 octobre 1999) * Algerie. Redditions - Le 24 octobre, 65 elements des groupes armes se sont rendus aux autorites et huit d'entre eux ont deja ete acquittes par le comite de probation d'Alger, a annonce le procureur general de la Cour d'Alger. Il s'agit d'une illustration de la concorde civile mise en oeuvre par le president Bouteflika. Le 21 octobre, le ministre de l'Interieur, Abdelmalek Sellal, avait affirme que 1.130 terroristes s'etaient rendus aux autorites ces derniers mois. (Le Soir, Belgique, 27 octobre 1999) * Angola. Offensive gouvernementale - Bailundo et Andulo, deux fiefs des rebelles de l'Unita situes a 600 et 700 km au sud-est de Luanda, ont ete repris par l'armee reguliere, a annonce le 20 octobre un communique officiel. L'armee gouvernementale a aussi repris Kalandula, Kalussengue (province de Manlanje), Londuimable (province de Huambo), Cangamba, Luwawu, Luakanu, Lumbalanguimbi (province de Moxico), Mussende et Tembwe (province de Kwanza-sul), selon le meme communique. L'offensive de l'armee avait ete lancee le 14 septembre. -Le 25 octobre, on apprenait encore de source militaire a Luanda que l'armee avait repris Nhareya et Mungo, deux autres fiefs rebelles proches d'Andulo. Mungo, en province d'Huambo, etait la principale base logistique de Savimbi. Nhareya etait une des places fortes vouees a la protection du quartier general de l'Unita. Les rebelles ont reconnu avoir perdu des positions cles, mais ils ont affirme qu'ils poursuivraient les combats. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 octobre 1999) * Angola. Government on warpath - The Angolan government on 26 October promised to destroy UNITA rebels, saying recent victories against Jonas Savimbi's guerrillas did not mean the war was nearing an end. State radio quoted senior government officials as saying last week's capture of the rebel strongholds of Andulo and Bailundo was not enough to end the nearly 25-year-old war in the oil-and-diamond-rich southern African nation. "The Armed Forces, the National Police and the Civil Defence have got the headquarters of Savimbi at Andulo and Bailundo. These seizures, and others too, cannot signify the end of our fight," the radio quoted David Dias, first secretary for the ruling MPLA party in Namibe province as saying. He was addressing a rally in his area. He also said government forces would continue with the war until Savimbi either surrendered or was killed. In a separate broadcast, state radio quoted Angolan Armed Forces Commander General Joao de Matos calling on UNITA fighters to surrender to government forces, saying he would guarantee their respect and safety. "The chief of staff of the FAA (government army) appealed today for the surrender of the military of UNITA in the entire national territory," the radio said. But regional political and military analysts have warned that Savimbi and UNITA retain the capacity to fight on for many years despite the loss of his two strategic strongholds. Other government officials like Paulo Kassoma, governor of Huambo city, believe that the capture of the two towns heralds a new era of peace. "The war is over," he told Huambo residents last week at celebrations called to mark the fall of the towns. But Western diplomats and political analysts in the capital Luanda doubt the end of the war is in sight, saying although Bailundo and Andulo's capture was significant, UNITA could still wage war across the country. (Reuters, 26 October 1999) * Benin. New Code of Ethics - Benin's new Code of Ethics has caused a stir among journalists in the small West African country. The most controversial section of the code, Article 5, specifies that, "a journalist must refuse money or any payment in kind, whatever it's value or provenance, for services rendered or expected. He must not cede to any pressure nor editorial directive other than that exerted by his company's editors," says the article. The Code has sparked a heated debate among Beninois journalists. Some, who have always been opposed to payoffs or any other gratuities offered journalists in the exercise of their profession, have suggested that a way to fight such temptations is to raise salaries. Others, justifying the practice, say raising salaries is impracticable because of the precarious financial situation Beninois press outlets find themselves in. "Something stinks in the Beninois press. It's us; Beninois journalists behave very badly," acknowledges Jerome Badou president of the Professional Media Code of Conduct and Ethics Monitoring Group (ODEM), the principal author of the code. Badou accuses politicians and businessmen of pouring money into the pockets of Beninois journalists, making many to forget the ethics and duty of their credo. Badou believes that journalists who take money for writing an article or broadcasting news no longer possess the necessary discretion to maintain objectivity, quickly finding themselves veering toward unadulterated praise or gratuitous slander. (All Africa News Agency, Kenya, 25 October 1999) * Botswana. Central Bank gets its first female boss - President Festus Mogae struck a blow for women's rights at the weekend when he appointed southern Africa's first female central bank governor. The 47-year-old Lena Mohohlo has served as one of two deputy Bank of Botswana governors since 1997 and replaces Baledzi Gaolathe, who was on 21 October appointed Minister of Finance in Mogae's new cabinet. President Mogae also announced that outspoken critic of government's economic policy, Englishman Keith Jefferis, would replace Mohohlo as deputy governor. Mohohlo has worked at the Bank since 1976, when she started her career as a secretary. "I have been through all the ranks," she said after hearing of her promotion. Mohohlo has a bachelor of economics degree from George Washington University and a masters in finance and investment from Exeter University, in the UK. The 42-year-old Jefferis was previously at the Central Bank as deputy head of research and left to join the government's economic think tank, the Botswana Institute of Policy Analysis. Jefferis confirmed at the weekend that Mogae had personally offered him the job. Mogae said he had chosen Jefferis for his reputation for frank, blunt, but objective criticism of government policies. "I do not mind [the criticism]. I said if he thought he could do better, he should come and try," said Mogae. Jefferis has a bachelor and masters degree in economics and a PH.D from the universities of Bristol and London and the Open University in the United Kingdom. Mohohlo is the tenth woman to be appointed to a senior government or State institution position in Botswana. One of her deputies is a woman, and there are also eight women on the government benches in parliament, five of them in the cabinet. The last government had four women members, three of them in cabinet; and the central bank two women deputy governors. Mogae said at the weekend he would soon announce the appointment of several more women as permanent secretaries -- the highest rank of the civil service. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 25 October 1999) * Burundi. Necessite d'un cessez-le-feu - Le 22 octobre, huit partis politiques burundais ont estime qu'il etait "devenu incontournable que soit d'abord negocie un accord de cessation des hostilites avant les negociations politiques", selon un memorandum adresse a l'Onu et a l'OUA. L'arret des hostilites et des violences etait une priorite au debut des negociations, mais pendant plus d'un an, ce point a ete ecarte. -Par ailleurs, plus de 50 personnes ont ete tuees cette semaine au Burundi, soit dans une attaque de la rebellion, soit dans des affrontements entre l'armee et la rebellion. Et dans la nuit du 24 octobre, d'importantes unites rebelles ont traverse la frontiere tanzanienne a destination de la province burundaise de Rutana; des informations concordantes font etat de tentatives de regroupements dans la region. On craint une attaque du centre de Rutana; les forces de l'ordre ont renforce leur dispositif de defense. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 octobre 1999) * Burundi. Civilians in danger - 21 October: Amnesty International appeals to all the military leaders of the government security forces in Burundi and of all the Burundian armed opposition groups, to urgently meet in a neutral environment to discuss ways of protecting the lives of civilians not taking part in the conflict. This appeal is issued in the face of the continued deliberate disregard for human rights, particularly the right to life by all parties to the armed conflict in Burundi. The same day, the military evict 8,000 displaced people from two camps near Bujumbura, after Hutu rebels killed two soldiers in a nearby army post. The army told the inhabitants of the Johnson's and Legentil camps to go home, saying the evictions were necessary for security reasons. 22 October: The US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has told Burundi's President Pierre Buyoya that peace talks with rebels must go ahead. The Burundian army denies evicting thousands of people from the camps, saying the move had been envisaged for a long time. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 23 October 1999) * Burundi. Peace initiative to continue - Parties to the Burundi peace talks, which were being mediated by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, are determined to continue the initiative in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the country's civil strife. The president of the main Hutu party, Dr Jean Minani, told The East African in an exclusive interview that after the demise of the internationally recognised facilitator, it was important that negotiations continue. "We Burundians are very grateful for the tireless efforts of Mwalimu Nyerere in trying to bring us to a round-table where we could iron out our differences and find a lasting solution," he said. He appealed to the interested parties to show their respect for the late Nyerere by undertaking to stop the fighting in their country through negotiations. "We should endeavour to carry on from where he left to show that his efforts were not in vain," he said. The Charge d'affaires of the Burundi embassy in Tanzania, Dr Emmanuel Rwamibango, said his government was fully committed to the peace initiative that were being chaired by Mwalimu Nyerere and his foundation in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha. Dr Rwamibango said: "Burundians are saddened at the loss. The office of the facilitator said they were having consultations to make a final decision on the (next date for the) talks." Dr Rwamibango added that the regime of President Pierre Buyoya was committed to the negotiations because it recognised it as the only way peace could be brought to Burundi. "My government is 100 percent committed to the negotiations aimed at bringing peace to our people and we will do everything in its power to see that the process continues. It is not in our interest to abandon the talks," he said. (J. Mwamunyange, The East African, Nairobi, 26 October 1999) * Cameroun. Pipeline Tchad-Cameroun - Depuis le 25 octobre, la Banque mondiale (BM) procede au Cameroun a la collecte des dernieres informations sur le projet de construction du pipeline Tchad-Cameroun. Les problemes sociaux, d'environnement et d'indemnisation des populations ou passera l'oleoduc, ainsi que le pret attendu de la BM constituent les principaux chevaux de bataille de la societe civile camerounaise. D'un cote, les ONG environnementalistes souhaitent un report d'au moins un an du demarrage des travaux; elles exigent notamment une etude complementaire dans le golf de Guinee. De l'autre cote, les ONG regroupees au sein du reseau pour la reduction de la pauvrete donnent leur feu vert, estimant que l'oleoduc constituera une manne pour les populations camerounaises. Le conseil d'administration de la BM se prononcera definitivement sur ce projet en decembre prochain. (Reporters Associes, Cameroun, 27 octobre 1999) * Cameroun. Le conflit de Bakassi - Le 21 octobre, la Cour internationale de justice de La Haye a autorise la Guinee equatoriale a intervenir dans le litige concernant la frontiere terrestre et maritime entre le Cameroun et le Nigeria dans la presqu'ile de Bakassi (partiellement occupee par le Nigeria depuis 1992), presumee riche en poisson, en petrole et en gaz. Par cette demarche, Malabo veut "proteger ses droits legaux dans le golf de Guinee". Le Cameroun a dit qu'il n'etait pas oppose a cette demarche, se reservant de donner son point de vue apres le verdict de La Haye. (Reporters Associes, Cameroun, 27 octobre 1999) * Congo-Brazza. Destitute civilians - The medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres, says more than 1,000 destitute people are arriving everyday in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville, after escaping fighting between government and rebel forces. A report compiled by doctors working for the charity, said people had taken advantage of a lull in the fighting around the capital to reach hospitals and feeding centres. The report also decried what it called the indifference of the international community to mass human rights abuses against civilians by both sides in the Congo-Brazzaville war. Doctors working for Medicins Sans Frontieres, said tens of thousands of people had been the victims of indiscriminate attacks by both the government army and rebel militias. It's estimated that more than 250,000 people fled the capital Brazzaville when fighting broke out there late last year between President Denis Sassou Ngeusso's forces and rebels known as Ninjas. The doctors said these civilians were trapped in the forests around Brazzaville by the Ninjas without access to food or medical care and were sometimes used as human shields against government forces. (BBC News, 26 October 1999) * Congo (RDC). Fosses communes au Sud-Kivu - Les cadavres de 61 civils, parmi lesquels des vieillards, des femmes et des enfants, ont ete decouverts dans des fosses communes a Kashambi, non loin d'Uvira a la frontiere avec le Burundi, a annonce le 21 octobre l'agence Misna, reprise par AP. Selon des sources voulant garder l'anonymat pour raisons de securite, les victimes auraient ete massacrees par des soldats non identifies. L'information n'a pas ete confirmee par d'autres sources. (Misna-AP, 21 octobre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Mercenaires - Selon le rapporteur special de l'Onu, M. Bernarles-Ballesteros, l'Afrique reste le continent ou les mercenaires sont le plus actifs, la RDC etant le pays le plus affecte. Il ressort de son dernier rapport sur les activites des mercenaires que le conflit arme continue en RDC malgre l'accord de Lusaka. Les mercenaires seraient presents sur tous les fronts et dans les forces de toutes les parties. Le rapport affirme egalement que l'interet premier des mercenaires semble etre les centres diamantiferes de Mbuji-Mayi. La societe Defense Systems Ltd emploierait des mercenaires pour proteger les installations minieres et petrolieres. (IRIN, Nairobi, 22 octobre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Un opposant meurt en prison - Sangu Mutembi, membre du parti nationaliste Palu, est mort dans une prison de Kinshasa de sous-alimentation et par manque de soins medicaux, a annonce l'organisation des droits humains Asadho. Sangu etait en prison depuis deux mois, sans qu'aucune accusation n'ait ete formulee contre lui. "Il est mort sans avoir ete informe des motifs de son arrestation et sans avoir ete appele devant un magistrat", affirme Asadho. 95 autres membres du Palu sont encore emprisonnes au Congo. (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 23 octobre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Nouvelle cooperation francaise - Charles Josselin, ministre francais delegue a la cooperation, est arrive le 21 octobre a Kinshasa, derniere etape d'une tournee en Afrique orientale et centrale axee sur la recherche d'une solution negociee au conflit en RDC. Selon le Quai d'Orsay, la tournee de M. Josselin "a pour objectif de souligner l'engagement de la France a appuyer la mise en oeuvre de l'accord de Lusaka". Le 22 octobre, M. Josselin a annonce que la France va renouer "une vraie cooperation" avec la RDC apres "un embargo de fait depuis bientot dix ans". Comme la plupart des bailleurs de fonds, la France avait considerablement reduit sa cooperation, en la limitant aux seules organisations non gouvernementales au debut des annees 90. (ANB- BIA, de sources diverses, 23 octobre 1999) * Congo (RDC). L'accord de Lusaka en peril? - L'armee angolaise a depeche depuis quelques jours plusieurs milliers d'hommes et du materiel lourd au Congo-Kinshasa pour renforcer son contingent le long de la frontiere entre les deux pays, a-t-on appris le 25 octobre de sources concordantes. Un bataillon dote d'armements lourds a transite a Kinshasa. D'autres unites se sont deployees dans le sud-est de la RDC non loin de la frontiere angolo-congolaise. -D'autre part, selon AP, le ministre congolais des Affaires etrangeres a adresse une lettre ouverte a Kofi Annan, denoncant un complot parmi les observateurs militaires de l'Onu pour assassiner le president Kabila et porter les rebelles au pouvoir; un meurtrier se cacherait dans leurs rangs. La lettre rappelle la situation de 1961 et l'assassinat de Lumumba. Le porte- parole de l'Onu, M. Eckhard, a reagi en demandant au gouvernement congolais de se liberer des peurs du passe. -Par ailleurs, selon le journal belge De Standaard du 28 octobre, dans l'est du pays les troupes ougandaises se seraient liees aux Mai-Mai, des guerriers congolais opposes surtout aux Rwandais. Ceux-ci seraient formes et encadres par des militaires ougandais. Un diplomate occidental a reconnu que "ces rumeurs circulent. Ce que nous savons, c'est que les Ougandais ne s'opposent plus aux Mai-Mai et leur donnent libre passage". Selon AFP, le 25 octobre, des combats avec les Mai-Mai dans la region d'Uvira, au Sud-Kivu, auraient fait une quinzaine de morts, dont des civils. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 octobre 1999) * Cote d'Ivoire. Unique Gender Campaign - The Ivorian Association for Women's Rights (AIDF) is seeking 10,000 signatures as part of its petition drive campaign against violence toward women. The campaign, which began in July, had by early this month gathered 5,240 signatures, 3,000 from the capital here and 2,340 from the country's interior, according to AIDF president, Constance Yai. The AIDF's goal is to complete the petitions by 25 November, the International Day of Struggle Against Violence Toward Women. The petitions express the signatories' abhorrence of all types of violence against women, both in their homes and in their subjected to either psychological or physical violence, says Yai. Most of the women have either been beaten, raped, disowned, or are destitute widows rejected by their husbands' relatives and in need of the support and help of the association. The association, created in 1992, aims to combat harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, forced or under-age marriages, and wife- inheritance. It fights against all types of violence toward women, and lobbies officials to change those laws which continue to discriminate against women. In 1998, the AIDF rose to national importance when a law making female genital mutilation a crime was voted into existence. It also succeeded in changing a provision in the country's Constitution which gave special privilege to the fathers, but not the mothers, of presidential candidates. (All Africa News Agency, Kenya, 25 October 1999) * Cote d'Ivoire. La nationalite de Ouattara - Le 25 octobre, le juge ivoirien Epiphane Zoro Bi Balo a assure que le certificat de nationalite qu'il a delivre a Ouattara, candidat a la presidentielle d'octobre 2000, n'est pas un faux, contrairement aux affirmations du ministere de la Justice. Le camp presidentiel estime que Ouattara est burkinabe et ne peut donc pas briguer la presidence. Par le fait que le juge vient de valider le certificat, la procedure en annulation pourrait tourner court, offrant a l'opposant la possibilite de briguer la magistrature supreme. Cependant, le 27 octobre, le certificat de nationalite ivoirienne de Ouattara a ete annule par le tribunal de Dimbokro, son lieu de naissance. Une photocopie d'un duplicata de la carte d'identite du pere de Ouattara a ete jugee non valable... Le meme jour, les forces de l'ordre ont lance des grenades lacrymogenes pour disperser un defile des partisans de Ouattara a Abidjan; plusieurs personnes ont ete interpellees et des manifestants ont ete blesses. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 octobre 1999) * Djibouti. Correspondants de France 2 expulses - Le 22 octobre, Eric Monnier et Roger Motte, correspondants en Afrique de la chaine de television France 2 bases a Abidjan, ont ete expulses de Djibouti pour avoir cherche a "ternir l'image" du pays. Les cassettes du tournage ont ete saisies. France 2 a affirme que l'objet du tournage, l'utilisation des fonds apportes par la France pour le port de Djibouti, avait ete clairement porte a la connaissance des autorites. (Le Monde, France, 27 octobre 1999) * Ethiopia. Africa to bridge technology gap - Delegates from across Africa are meeting in Addis Ababa to discuss ways of narrowing the widening gap in information technology between the developed and the developing world. Ethiopia's President Zenawi warned that Africa would remain marginalised in the global economy, if more was not done to improve access to information technology and modern communications on the content. The delegates have gathered for a meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 October 1999) * Ghana. Le Nord sinistre - Les deputes du nord du Ghana ont demande que trois regions touchees par les inondations au courant de ce mois soient declarees zones sinistrees, afin de mobiliser les ressources necessaires a l'assistance de la population. Un montant d'environ 60 milliards de cedis (soit quelque $20 millions) serait necessaire a la reinstallation et la rehabilitation des communautes affectees, en particulier pour la reparation des routes et l'aide alimentaire et sanitaire. Un appel a l'aide internationale devrait etre lance, affirment les deputes. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 22 octobre 1999) * Guinee-Bissau. Candidats presidentiels - Le 20 octobre, la Cour supreme de la Guinee-Bissau a approuve les demandes de douze candidats aux elections presidentielles prevues le 28 novembre prochain. La liste des candidats devrait etre rendue publique prochainement. Le meme jour, la Cour a commence l'examen de quelque 2.600 candidatures aux sieges parlementaires. Par ailleurs, une delegation de la Communaute des pays de langue portugaise est arrivee a Bissau pour evaluer les preparatifs des elections et prevoir le nombre d'observateurs a envoyer pour surveiller le scrutin. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 21 octobre 1999) * Kenya. Religious groups form a new lobby - Catholic bishops, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, the Muslim Consultative Council (MCC), the Hindu Council of Kenya and Instituted Churches first met at the Nairobi Serena Hotel on 17 October and then on 21 October at Ufungamano House. The meetings were attended by the Chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church, Bishop John Njue, NCCK General-Secretary Mutava Musyimi, Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome (Supkem), Sheikh Farouk Adam (MCC), Mr. Shashi Raval (Hindu Council) and Archbishop Njeru Wambugu (Instituted Churches). The groups said they would oppose KANU's plans to return the constitutional review law to Parliament without consulting other stakeholders. Meanwhile, Kenya Human Rights Commission programmes coordinator, Ms Wambui Kimathi, said the civil societies are "regrouping" to resist any move to exclude them from the constitutional review process. (The Nation, Kenya, 22 October 1999) * Kenya. Moi visits the EU - 25 October: During a news briefing held at the end of an audience with President Moi, the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi reaffirms the EU's concern for Africa's development. However, he stresses that conflicts affecting African countries make it difficult to implement any development strategy. Prodi says he reminded Moi of the importance which the EU attaches to democracy, respect for human rights and good governance, for the continuation of co-operation between Brussels and Nairobi. (PANA, Dakar, 25 October 1999) * Liberia. Retrait de l'Ecomog - Les dernieres troupes de l'Ecomog ont commence leur retrait du Liberia, neuf ans apres leur premiere intervention pour mettre fin a la guerre civile, a informe le 21 octobre un porte-parole de l'Onu. Selon la presse, le Nigeria a acheve le 20 octobre le retrait de ses troupes. Celles-ci avaient essentiellement veille a la surveillance du stock d'armes deposees par les anciennes factions combattantes et dont la derniere tranche a ete detruite le 18 octobre. Selon AFP, le reste du contingent de l'Ecomog, notamment des Ghaneens, se retirera le 23 octobre. (IRIN, Abidjan, 22 octobre 1999) * Malawi. Foreign lawyers to battle it out in election case - An alliance of Malawi opposition political parties announced on 21 October it would use top British or other foreign lawyers to challenge the country's June 15 general election results. The alliance, comprised of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) said on 21 October that they had already held discussions with foreign lawyers. The alliance's legal advisor, Lovemore Munto, said: "We have already made contacts with the lawyers we want and we will engage them as soon as possible." Malawi's Justice Minister and Attorney General Peter Fachi responded saying that the government would also call in foreign attorneys to prevent the election results from being overturned. "We will get a Queens Council (QC) or a lawyer who specialises in these cases from elsewhere if necessary," Fachi said. A QC previously helped to get former Life President Hastings Kamuzu Banda and a number of his closest lieutenants off the hook after they were accused on arranging the death of three cabinet ministers and a member of parliament in 1983. The alliance court challenge to the 15 June elections has stalled after the Lilongwe high court ordered that electoral materials from 16 of the country's 26 districts should be handed over for inspection by the opposition lawyers. The Electoral Commission (EC) and the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) both appealed against the ruling, arguing that the exercise was unnecessary, costly and may open "a Pandora's box" for more litigation. The Supreme Court is yet to rule on the case. The opposition's defeated presidential contender, Gwanda Chakuamba, brought the case after accusing President Bakili Muluzi of defrauding him of victory. The claims sparked violence protests against Muluzi in largely rural northern districts. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 22 October 1999) * Malawi. Over one million affected by HIV - More than 1 million Malawians are infected by the HIV virus which causes AIDS. Latest statistics released by the country's National Aids Control Programme (NACP) indicate that at least 70,000 Malawians out of the nearly 12 million of the country's total population are expected to develop AIDS by the year 2000. The statistics show a high infection prevalence rate of 14% and increased deaths, having an adverse impact on Malawi's socio-economic development. The NACP says in the report that of the 265,000 estimated AIDS cases between 1985-98, there have been an additional increase of 735,000 HIV virus infections between 1998 and today. Infection is high in the wage- earning productive 15-49 age group. The report says that in 1998 alone, an estimated 46% of all new adult infections occurred in youths aged between 15-24. In this age group, the majority of the victims are females. Correct statistics are hard to come by as most cases are not reported to the health authorities and the National Aids Control Programme. (Aubrey Sumbuleta, Malawi, 26 October 1999) * Morocco. Liberal moves continue - The authorities have lifted the television ban on the country's leading satirist, Ahmed Sanoussi. He has been banned from public performances for 13 years and the move is the latest sign of the political openness triggered by the succession of Mohammed VI after the death of his father, Hassan II, in July. In typical Moroccan fashion, the lifting of the ban happened in the most discreet of ways -- an appearance in a television commercial for a campaign against poverty. (BBC News, 22 October 1999) * Maroc. Revendications des journalistes - Le 26 octobre, pres de deux cents journalistes de la presse officielle marocaine (television, radio, agence) ont manifeste contre leurs conditions de travail et pour une augmentation de leur remuneration et un nouveau statut devant le ministere de la Communication a Rabat. (La Croix, France, 27 octobre 1999) * Mauritanie/Israel. Relations diplomatiques - Lies par des sections d'interets depuis 1996, Israel et la Mauritanie vont elever leurs relations au niveau d'ambassades. Une ceremonie aura lieu le 28 octobre a Washington pour officialiser cette mesure. La Mauritanie sera ainsi le premier pays arabe a decider d'entretenir de pleines relations diplomatiques avec Israel, a l'exception de l'Egypte et de la Jordanie liees par des traites de paix avec l'Etat hebreu respectivement depuis 1979 et 1994. (Le Monde, France, 28 octobre 1999) * Mozambique. Prawn industry - Mozambique announced on 21 October that it planned to radically reduce the number of prawn fishing operators early next year in an attempt to make the industry more efficient and boost exports. Deputy agriculture and fisheries minister, Izidora Faztudo, said that the initiative would aim to reduce the number of prawn boats, cut back on the issue of prawn fishing licenses and implement a concerted drive to commercialise the remaining operators. Faztudo conceded that the government was still uncertain exactly what criteria to use for withdrawing existing licenses and said that independent studies may have to be conducted to determine the selection criteria. Industry experts are already warning that under-equipped subsistence fishermen will be hardest hit as they will be unable to offer the government the same kind of guaranteed catches and foreign revenue as fully mechanised commercial operators. There are currently 116 valid prawn fishing licences in Mozambique, 67 of which have been issued to large, well-equipped commercial operators. The rest are held by smaller family or village subsistence fishermen. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 25 October 1999) * Mozambique. 3 candidats aux presidentielles - Yacub Sibindy, leader du Parti independant du Mozambique, est le troisieme candidat aux elections presidentielles qui auront lieu les 3 et 4 decembre prochains. Les deux principales figures de ces elections sont Joachim Chissano, actuel president et leader du Frelimo, et Alfonso Dhlakama, leader du Renamo. Trois autres candidats ont ete obliges de retirer leur candidature parce qu'ils n'avaient pas reuni les 10.000 signatures authentifiees necessaires. (Misna, Italie, 26 octobre 1999) * Nigeria. Shell invests $1 billion - The Anglo-Dutch oil company Royal Dutch/Shell is to spend $1bn on developing an off-shore oilfield in Nigeria. The oilfield which is 90kms from the Nigerian coast was discovered in 1965 but it has become economically viable only recently with the development of new drilling technology. The field -- known as EA -- would come onstream in 2002 and produce up to 120,000 barrels of crude per day. The investment is the second stage of an $8.5bn scheme to develop the country's oil and gas fields over five years. Earlier this year, nearly $2bn was released for the expansion of a major liquified natural gas project on Bonny Island in south-eastern Nigeria. However, operations at the plant were disrupted when local protesters staged a blockade outside the site. The demonstrators said they were angry at what they saw as years of neglect and lack of resources to develop local infrastructure. Analysts say the latest move is further evidence of a shift to off-shore operations in Nigeria as political unrest makes onshore production more difficult. In a statement, Shell said the new field would be developed without investment from the government and that its private investment partners would bear the brunt of the costs. (BBC News, 25 October 1999) * Nigeria. Le cout de l'Ecomog - Le Nigeria a eu 500 soldats tues et plusieurs centaines blesses, et a depense au moins 8 milliards de dollars au cours des sept annees de l'operation de maintien de la paix au Liberia, a informe le president Obasanjo le 25 octobre. Il s'agit des premiers chiffres jamais fournis par un dirigeant nigerian. Le Nigeria a largement paye et a dirige la force de l'Ecomog, qui a debarque pour la premiere fois au Liberia en 1990 et avait atteint le chiffre de 15.000 hommes. Celle-ci est encore deployee en Sierra Leone, ou le Nigeria a entame son desengagement apres la signature des accords de paix de Lome. (IRIN, Abidjan, 26 octobre 1999) * Nigeria/Liberia. Peace cost - President Obasanjo of Nigeria has said that Nigeria spent eight billion dollars on peace-keeping operations in Liberia, a mission that lasted almost a decade. He said that more than 500 Nigerian soldiers were killed during the mission. This is the first time Nigeria has given details of the cost of its operation in Liberia, which could indicate its reluctance to shoulder a similar responsibility in Sierra Leone. (BBC News, 25 October 1999) * Nigeria. La sharia dans un Etat du nord - L'introduction de la sharia (loi islamique) dans le code penal de l'Etat de Zamfara, au nord du Nigeria, a ete prevue pour le 27 octobre. La decision a ete prise il y a un mois par l'Assemblee de cet Etat a majorite musulmane. Le gouverneur a explique que ce code ne sera pas applique aux chretiens. Ceux-ci ont toutefois eleve de nombreuses protestations. L'archeveque d'Abuja, Mgr Onaiyekan, est egalement intervenu et a lance un appel au president Obasanjo lui demandant de declarer anticonstitutionnelle l'adoption de la sharia. Selon l'agence Fides, la Haute Cour de Lagos aurait accepte le 23 octobre le recours de deux avocats pour retarder la mise en application d'au moins deux semaines, sinon la suspendre. Cependant, une depeche de Reuters signale que l'Etat de Zamfara a bien adopte officiellement la loi coranique le 27 octobre, lors d'une ceremonie solennelle dans sa capitale Gusau en presence de milliers de personnes en liesse. Quatre autres Etats nigerians songent deja a l'imiter. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 octobre 1999) * Rwanda. Reprise du proces de Mgr Misago - Le proces de l'eveque de Gikongoro, qui avait ete suspendu le 29 septembre, a repris le 26 octobre a Kigali. L'avocat de la partie civile a depose une demande de citation directe, c'est-a-dire qu'elle entend poursuivre l'accuse directement sans passer par le parquet. La partie civile demande que, outre les crimes allegues par le parquet, Mgr Misago reponde aussi des tueries qui ont eu lieu au Centre Christus de Remera et au Centre Saint-Paul, ou une dizaine de pretres tutsi ont ete assassines. Elle veut ainsi poursuivre Mgr Misago comme planificateur du genocide au niveau national. - Le proces s'est poursuivi le 27 octobre par l'audition des temoins a charge. Puis il a ete suspendu; il reprendra le 4 novembre. (D'apres l'agence Hirondelle, Arusha, 26-27 octobre 1999) * Sierra Leone. 4 ministeres aux rebelles - Les rebelles sierra- leonais ont ete invites par le president Kabbah a entrer dans le gouvernement, ou quatre ministeres leur seraient confies: Commerce et Industrie, Energie, Tourisme et Culture, et Planification. L'accord de Lome prevoyait que les hommes du RUF recevraient la charge d'au moins un poste cle; le porte-parole de la presidence a declare que le ministere du Commerce et de l'Industrie etait a considerer comme tel. D'autre part, les tensions dans le nord du pays entre le RUF et l'ex-junte militaire font douter de l'avenir politique. Le 18 octobre, des affrontements ont encore ete signales dans les environs de Lunsar (province du nord). Selon les observateurs, le destin de la Sierra Leone est en grande partie lie au processus de desarmement des nombreuses bandes armees disseminees dans diverses zones du pays. (D'apres Misna, Italie, 21 octobre 1999) * Sierra Leone. Casques bleus - Le 22 octobre, le Conseil de securite a vote a l'unanimite l'envoi de 6.000 casques bleus en Sierra Leone pour aider a faire appliquer l'accord de paix, signe en juillet entre le president Kabbah et le leader rebelle Foday Sankoh apres huit ans de guerre civile. La resolution donne a la Mission des Nations unies en Sierra Leone (Unamsil) un premier mandat de six mois. La force, qui devrait se deployer d'ici 30 a 60 jours, devra notamment aider a demobiliser et desarmer 45.000 combattants. Des centaines d'anciens combattants, pro et anti- gouvernementaux, ont d'ailleurs commence a rendre leurs armes, lors d'une ceremonie symbolique le 20 octobre. -Toutefois, selon un communique de l'agence Misna du 26 octobre, des combats se poursuivent toujours dans le nord, autour de la ville de Lunsar, entre des elements du RUF et des soldats de l'ex-junte militaire. Il y aurait de nombreuses victimes. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 octobre 1999) * Sierra Leone. Peace moves continue - October: About 800 former fighters have surrendered to ECOMOG. An estimated 45,000 former fighters are to be disarmed, including pro-government and factional militia, as well as members of the national army. Rebels have been brought into the government of President Kabbah -- but have been excluded from the senior ministerial positions they had been led to expect. Former members of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council have been granted four cabinet posts. they are: Trade and Industry; Land, Housing and Central Planning; Energy and Power; Tourism and Culture. The Nigerian government says it will begin the final pullout of all its troops from Sierra Lene, next week. The situation remains confused in the north, due to confrontations between units of the RUF and the former military junta of Major Johnny Paul Koroma. 22 October: A force of 6,000 United Nations troops is to be sent to Sierra Leone to support the peace agreement. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 23 October 1999) * Afrique du Sud. Enfants esclaves - Selon la police, des garcons sud-africains, parfois ages de sept ans, sont vendus aux fermiers du Lesotho pour travailler comme bergers. L'enquete sur ce "marche aux esclaves" a demarre grace aux temoignages de trois enfants fuyards. (Liberation, France, 25 octobre 1999) * Sudan. Pibor River Province faces evacuation - Pibor River Province in southeast Sudan faces evacuation after the worst floods for over 30 years caused devastation and brought life to a virtual standstill, a newspaper said on 24 October. Floods have submerged most of the province, wiping out cattle and wildlife and destroying schools and hospitals after a week of unseasonal heavy rains, Ismail Konyi, the commissioner of the province, was quoted as saying by the government-owned Al-Anbaa newspaper. Konyi said the floods were the worst to hit Pibor River, in Jonglei state in war-torn southern Sudan, since 1964, adding that not a single vehicle had been able to leave the province. Konyi said he was taking measures to prepare for the evacuation of the province. He also called on the relevant authorities to send emergency assistance. Although the rainy season in Sudan usually ends in early October, heavy rains and floods continue to cause havoc in some parts of the country. Reports from Pibor River say the province is almost entirely under water. (CNN, 24 October 1999) * Soudan. Aide americaine au Sud-Soudan. - De passage au Kenya les 22 et 23 octobre, la secretaire d'Etat americaine Mme Albright a annonce une aide accrue des Etats-Unis a la partie sud du Soudan. Elle n'a rencontre aucun des representants du regime islamiste soudanais a Nairobi, mais elle a eu des entretiens avec le chef de la rebellion sudiste John Garang, des representants de la societe civile soudanaise et des membres du comite de l'Autorite intergouvernementale pour le developpement (IGAD) charge de trouver une issue pacifique au conflit soudanais. Mme Albright a affirme que les Etats-Unis soutenaient uniquement les initiatives de l'IGAD, qui regroupe sept pays de l'Afrique de l'Est. Son comite pour le Soudan est preside par le Kenya et comprend l'Ouganda, l'Ethiopie et l'Erythree. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25 octobre 1999) * Tunisia. Elections - 24 October: Tunisia's 3.3 million voters go to the polls in the country's first ever multi-party election. The Interior Ministry says there has been a high turnout. There are 3 candidates for the presidency and 6 opposition parties have taken part in the parliamentary elections. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 25 October 1999) * Tunisie. Elections sans suspense - Les Tunisiens ont ete invites, le 24 octobre, a confirmer au pouvoir le president Ben Ali et son Rassemblement constitutionnel democratique lors d'elections generales sans suspense. Le scrutin a ete presente comme un nouveau pas vers la democratie en raison notamment de la pluralite des candidatures presidentielles, pour la premiere fois depuis 1956. Mais seulement deux petites formations moderees ont ete autorisees a presenter leur leader. Les deux hommes qui ne se faisaient aucune illusion, ont affirme n'etre en lice que pour briser le tabou de la candidature unique. - Les Tunisiens se sont rendus en masse aux urnes; le taux de participation atteignait 88% a 16 heures. La journee s'est deroulee sans incident. Le 25 octobre, le ministere de l'Interieur a annonce que le president Ben Ali avait ete reelu pour un troisieme mandat avec plus de 99% des voix. Le president sortant l'a emporte dans chacune des 25 provinces du pays. Aux elections legislatives, le RCD du chef de l'Etat a recueilli 91,59% des suffrages et rafle 148 sieges sur 182. A la suite d'une modification de la Constitution, 20% des sieges sont reserves d'office a l'opposition. 13 sieges ont ete attribues au Mouvement des democrates socialistes, 7 au Parti de l'unite populaire, 7 a l'Union democratique unioniste, 5 au parti Attajdid (l'ancien parti communiste) et 2 au Parti social liberal. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 octobre 1999) * Uganda. Ssebutinde Commission winds up - The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Corruption in the Police Force has closed its hearings so as to begin writing a report. Lead Commissioner Justice Julia Ssebutinde said over 5,000 complaints against the Police were submitted for hearing, but just over 2,000 were heard. On 22 October, Ssebutinde said Kampala alone had 1,000 complaints and over 70 were heard. She said the rest will be forwarded to the body to handle complaints against the Police, after the Commission. The three-member Commission and its support staff started working in Kampala in may, and went upcountry in September. (The New Vision, Uganda, 23 October 1999) * Vatican. Assemblee interreligieuse - Depuis le 24 octobre au soir, des representants de diverses religions sont reunis a Rome a l'invitation du conseil pontifical pour le dialogue interreligieux, a la veille du nouveau millenaire. Pres de 235 responsables religieux de 48 pays sont presents, representant non seulement les grandes religions monotheistes - judaisme, christanisme et islam - mais egalement le boudhisme, l'hindouisme, les religions traditionnelles africaines et americaines, et quelques nouvelles religions japonaises. Les themes de leurs echanges, qui prendront quatre jours, seront notamment la discrimination, les relations nord-sud, guerres et violences, drogues et injustices envers les femmes et les enfants. (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 25 octobre 1999) * Zimbabwe. Government commitment to a democratic Constitution in doubt - There is growing evidence that President Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF government is not committed to the re-writing of the Constitution. For years, the government has ignored opposition calls for a new Constitution. The Opposition boycotted the 1995 and 1996 parliamentary and presidential elections, arguing that the field of play was not level. The Opposition complains about the electoral laws and the sweeping presidential powers. Under current electoral law, before even a vote is cast, the President already has 30 Members of Parliament appointed by himself. He has powers to appoint the Electoral Commission. The President can also nullify any election result. He can suspend Parliament if it passes a "no confidence" vote against the President. He cannot be taken to court and he can set aside any court ruling. Civil society and the Opposition are calling for the establishment of an independent Constitutional Assembly. Civil society is afraid for the future, because the country's present Constitution is "flawed". (Tendai Madinah, Zimbabawe, 20 October 1999) * Zimbabwe. Presence militaire en R.D.Congo - Le 20 octobre, le ministere zimbabween de la Defense a affirme que les Forces de defense zimbabweennes en RDC se retireront lorsque les forces d'invasion cesseront les combats. Il serait naif, a-t-il dit, de s'attendre a un retrait avant que l'objectif politique ne soit atteint. Il estime cependant que les perspectives de paix n'ont jamais ete aussi brillantes, et affirme que son pays reste engage dans l'accord de paix malgre les provocations des envahisseurs. (Agence burundaise de presse, 24 octobre 1999) * Zimbabwe. The way forward - For the past eight years, Zimbabwe has been trying to implement a structural adjustment programme but with little success. The standard of living for many has declined, the percentage of households classified as poor has risen from 40 percent in 1991 to 60 percent in 1995, private consumption levels have declined by about a quarter, unemployment has continued to increase, gains made in education and health in the first decade have been wiped out. But though not so successful, the situation in all likelihood would have been much worse, so argues World Bank representative in Zimbabwe, Thomas Allen. He looks at lessons Zimbabwe should have learnt and the way forward. First, there is a need for a national commitment to the programme. The buy-in of civil society is very critical. In this respect, how we all work together matters. The situation calls for dialogue rather than confrontation. Ownership of reforms must be fostered through stakeholder dialogue, with leadership and stakeholders being willing to listen and debate. Ideally, the World Bank and other donors should be supporting programmes emerging from these consultations, and with real and timely released resources. In this respect, we should not impose conditions, but arrive at jointly- agreed performance targets and monitoring procedures. Second, growth needs to be inclusive. Partial deregulation without a restructuring of the dual economy creates social tensions and not enough jobs. In this respect, we need to: *Target policies better to labour intensive exports, small and medium scale businesses and small-scale farmers; *Promote asset redistribution through land reform and indigenisation. Third, social sector expenditures need to be better protected. An approach that provides basic social services to the poor is a necessary adjunct to the creation of employment opportunities through more rapid growth. Even with the adoption of this two-pronged strategy, many poor -- the sick, the old, those who live in resource-poor regions and other -- will continue to experience acute hardships. Many others will suffer temporary hardships through the period of transition. For both these groups, a programme of well targeted transfers and safety nets is an essential complement to the strategy. These targeted programmes should not be seen, however, as extras or add-ons to the adjustment programme, but as integral parts of them. (The Insider, Zimbabwe, 25 October 1999)