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: 27-01-2000 PART #1/2 (Africa -> Kenya) ====> (From Lesotho to Zimbabwe see 27b_02_2k) * Africa. Poverty Summit ends - African leaders' summit in Libreville, Gabon, on "Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Africa: Africa's Economic and Social Agenda", ended on 19 January with the adoption of the "Libreville Declaration" and a resolution on AIDS. In the 19-point document, the leaders spelled out guidelines for future action geared towards poverty reduction in Africa. A follow-up committee, led by Gabon's President Omar Bongo, was created with a view to implementing the recommendations of the summit. Closing the summit, President Bongo urged his peers to give "new impetus to our action and to improve Africa's economic performance". (PANA, Dakar, 20 January 2000) * Afrique. Sommet contre la pauvrete - Le 19 janvier, a l'issue du sommet de Libreville (Gabon), un consensus s'est degage entre dirigeants africains et bailleurs de fonds pour eriger la reduction de la pauvrete en Afrique au rang de finalite economique. Les participants ont adopte une resolution dans laquelle ils s'engagent a affecter le produit de la reduction de la dette a cet objectif. Ils ont aussi "approuve" les nouveaux mecanismes du FMI et de la Banque mondiale, dont les dispositifs amorcent une vision plus sociale du developpement africain. (La Croix, France, 21 janvier 2000) * Africa. "The AIDS Pandemic" - In December 1999, the Catholic Bishops of Kenya issued a Pastoral Letter entitled: "The AIDS Pandemic and its Impact on Our People: Seeking Solutions and Solidarity in these Difficult Times". The Pastoral Letter is aimed at creating spiritual awareness and responsibility against the scourge. The Letter concludes with the exhortation from the bishops: "We wish to express our hopes that even in these difficult times, the human spirit will find ways to conquer the ravages of this disease which poses such a challenge to all". (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 21 January 2000) * Africa. Action against the Media - Angola: In a report dated 19 January, according to information received by the Media Institute of Southern Africa, Andre Domingos Mussamo, chief editor of the Cuanza Norte provincial branch of the Angolan National Radio, who is also a correspondent for the independent bi-weekly Folha 8, is being held in the Cuanza Norte provincial capital, N'Dalatando. To date, no formal charges have been brought against him. Congo RDC: On 18 January, it was reported that contrary to previous information that was widely disseminated, Freddy Loseke Lisumbu la Yayenga, editor of the newspaper La Libre Afrique, published in Kinshasa, is still being detained in the Kokolo military camp. Once again, the Committee to Protect Journalists has written (on 20 January) to President Kabila, expressing concern over the appalling press freedom situation. On 25 January, Jerome Debo, a member of Journalists in Danger's investigations bureau, escaped abduction at a bus stop in Kinshasa, while on his way to work. Egypt: On 19 January, the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights learned that the Governor of Cairo had issued an administrative decree on 20 September 1999, to close 14 newspapers and newsletters. Ethiopia: 26 January -- News of the suicide of a young journalist in Ethiopia has shocked the press community in Addis Ababa. A press statement issued by the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association, states that Makonnen Worku, 29, deputy- editor of the private weekly Maebel newspaper, hanged himself last week. He had been having a great deal of trouble with the government and had gone into hiding. Ghana: On 17 January, the International Federation of Journalists wrote to President Rawlings, expressing astonishment at the detention of Kabral Blay Amihere, a member of the executive committee of the Federation and president of the West African Journalists Association. Kenya: On 18 January, Managing Editor Vitalis Musebe and News Editor Mukalo wa Kwayera of the independent People daily, were charged with publishing information contravening the Officials Secrets Act. Nigeria: On 20 January, the International Federation of Journalists condemned a police raid on the International Press Centre in Lagos (19 January), in which some of Nigeria's leading independent journalists were detained. Zambia: On 17 January, Rachiel Chiuya, a reporter working for the privately-owned Radio Phoenix, and Kwangwa Mulenga, from the privately-owned Monitor newspaper, were roughed up by police. On 19 January, Brighton Phiri, a reporter working for the Post newspaper, was asked to leave a press briefing addressed by the director of civil aviation. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 January 2000) * Afrique. Football: Coupe d'Afrique des nations - Du 22 janvier au 13 fevrier, au Ghana et au Nigeria, seize equipes se disputeront la XXIIe Coupe d'Afrique des nations (CAN). Seront au rendez-vous: d'abord les anciens vainqueurs: l'Egypte, l'Afrique du Sud, le Nigeria, la Cote d'Ivoire, l'Algerie et le Ghana; ensuite les finalistes du Mondial 1998: le Cameroun, le Maroc et la Tunisie; enfin, une serie d'equipes moins huppees: RD-Congo, Burkina, Zambie, Gabon, Togo, Senegal et Congo-Brazzaville. Premiers resultats: Nigeria-Tunisie 4-2 ; Egypte-Zambie 2-0 ; Afrique du Sud-Gabon 3-1. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 24 janvier 2000) * Africa. The African Cup of Nations - 22 January: Less than a week before today's kick-off in the Africa Nations Cup, the continent's showpiece soccer championship, the top official and chairman of host Nigeria's football association was sacked for being "arrogant". Nigeria and Ghana are co-hosting the soccer tournament. However, the contest starts today at Accra, Ghana, with Ghana's Black Stars drawing 1-1 with Cameroon's Indomitable Lions. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 January 2000) * Africa. Africa-Europe Summit - 26 January: Uncertainty prevails at the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels, regarding the holding of an Africa-Europe Summit scheduled to take place in Cairo, Egypt, in April. Relations between the European Union and Africa, featured on the agenda of the Council of Development Ministers of the Group of 15, held on 21-22 January in Lisbon. At the end of the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers held on 24 January in Brussels, Jaime Gama, the Portuguese foreign minister, said it was "premature to determine a date for an Africa- Europe Summit meeting". (PANA, Dakar, 26 January 2000) * Algerie/France. Visite de M. Yousfi - Lors de sa visite en France, les 25 et 26 janvier, le ministre algerien des Affaires etrangeres, Youssef Yousfi, sera recu par les principaux personnages de l'Etat. Aucun chef de la diplomatie algerienne n'ayant fait le deplacement en France depuis six ans, Paris entend donner un lustre particulier a cette visite, qui s'inscrit dans la "refondation" - le mot est de M. Vedrine - des relations entre les deux pays. M. Yousfi devrait notamment preparer la visite en France, probablement au printemps, du president Bouteflika; (Le Monde, France, 23 janvier 2000) * Algeria. Peace hopes; violence continues - 20 January: 25 Algerian soldiers are killed and a number of other wounded during an operation against Islamist militants. The soldiers were caught in an ambush as they closed in on a rebel hideout in the northwest Relizane province. The army has transported considerable reinforcements to the area where members of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) are known to be active. 20-21 January: According to the daily Liberte, after a meeting, senior members of the Salafist group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) led by Hassan Hattab, have decided to accept President Bouteflika's peace offer.22 January: 6 bus passengers are reported killed at a false roadblock set up by Islamist militants in the Kadiria region near Algiers. 24 January: A group of attackers believed to be Islamic militants, fire on an ambulance carrying handicapped children, and a vehicle with their caregivers, killing 12 people and injuring three. The killings take place at Ouled Douaiche, near the town of Miliana, about 120 kms east of Algiers. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 25 January 2000) * Algerie. Operations antiterroristes - 102 islamistes et 25 soldats ont ete tues depuis le debut de l'offensive generale contre les maquis islamistes qui ont refuse l'offre d'amnistie du president Bouteflika, selon le quotidien algerien Le Matin. "Les troupes gouvernementales ont tue 70 terroristes le 22 janvier. 32 terroristes ont ete tues le 21 janvier", precise le journal. 25 soldats ont egalement ete tues. L'offensive - baptisee L'epee d'al- Hajjadj, du nom d'un calife redoute - a debute le 18 janvier dans la province de Relizane. Selon le quotidien, les combats se poursuivent entre l'armee et le "bataillon horreur" du Groupe islamique arme (GIA) dans la region de Bourabka, a 300 km a l'ouest d'Alger, ou des renforts ont ete depeches. Quelque 230 maquisards tiendraient encore tete aux troupes d'elite de l'armee. - D'autre part, le 24 janvier dans l'apres-midi, douze personnes ont ete tuees, trois blessees et trois autres enlevees a un faux barrage dresse par une dizaine d'islamistes pres de Miliana, a 120 km a l'est d'Alger, a rapporte la presse algerienne le 25 janvier. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 janvier 2000) * Angola/Zambia. Angolan refugees in difficult circumstances - 23 January: The UNHCR has to suspend its emergency airlift of Angolans trapped in Kalabo, in western Zambia, only hours after it begun, because fuel supplies have run out. 24 January: The airlift resumes after a fuel truck reaches the area. A spokesman for the UNHCR says that the agency hopes to evacuate around 400 people a day from the western bank of the Zambezi river where more than 5,000 refugees have been stranded by rising flood waters. 25 January: The head of the UNHCR, Sadako Ogata, says that 7,5000 Angolan refugees trapped in the far south-west of Zambia are starving and in difficult circumstances. Aid agencies are trying to mount a relief operation to ease their plight, but this is a sensitive issue for the Zambian government. The UNHCR says that 60 tonnes of food bound for Sinjembela is stuck at Senanga, more than 50 km away, due to poor road conditions. On 24 January, Mrs Ogata visited some 5,000 refugees in Kalabo, more than 300 km north of Sinjembela, who were being moved from floods along the Zambezi river. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 January 2000) * Benin. Deces de Mgr Sastre - Mgr Robert Sastre, eveque de Lokossa depuis plus d'un quart de siecle, est decede le 17 janvier a l'age de 74 ans. Ne a Grand-Popo le 7 juin 1926, ordonne pretre en 1952, Mgr Sastre avait ete nomme au siege de Lokossa en 1972. Il est un des auteurs du livre "Les pretres noirs s'interrogent'", qui a donne une impulsion decisive a la recherche theologique en Afrique. "Il a grandement contribue a la croissance de la foi catholique au Benin, parfois aussi grace a ses reflexions critiques", note l'agence missionnaire Misna. (CIP, Belgique, 20 janvier 2000) * Benin. Warning against coup - President Kerekou of Benin has said that retired army officers working on behalf of political parties, are plotting a coup against his government. During an interview broadcast on 19 January, the President warned the alleged plotters that mutiny was no longer possible in Benin. He did not name the suspects and no arrests have been announced. Defence Minister Pierre Otcho has already promised an inquiry after former peacekeeping troops complained they had not all received all their pay and allowances. The ousting of President Bedie in Cote d'Ivoire in December began with similar complaints by former peace-keepers; and the authorities in Mali have transferred all serving generals to civilian duties after acknowledging a mutiny attempt, also by former peace-keeping troops. (BBC News, 20 January 2000) * Burkina Faso. Protocol officers embarrass President - On 20 January, Burkina Faso's protocol officers embarrassed President Blaise Compaore, when they sent him to meet a delegation from the Burkinabe Football Association whose plane was mistaken for that of Cote d'Ivoire's leader, Robert Guei. Airport sources said the confusion was due to an announcement by the control tower, of the landing of a Jinger plane, which was to carry Guei. When the control officers confirmed the presence of VIPs on board the plane, protocol officers promptly invited diplomats, government officials, the Prime Minister and the President to proceed to the aircraft to welcome their guest whose red carpet had been duly rolled out. But to the surprise of the welcoming party, it was football officials who emerged from the plane, every bit as surprised and embarrassed as their "hosts". The plane was immediately ordered to park elsewhere and the personalities went back to the VIP lounge to await the arrival of Guei. (PANA, Dakar, 21 January 2000) * Burundi. Mandela at the Security Council - Three days after meeting the fractious Burundian leadership in Arusha, Tanzania, Nelson Mandela told the UN Security Council on 19 January that there is capacity in that country for a peaceful resolution of its conflict. Mandela, the Burundi peace process mediator, said he had come away from the Arusha meeting impressed by the potential and quality of leadership in Burundi. His assessment to the Council contrasted with his scathing criticism of the Burundi leaders when he addressed them in Arusha on 16 January. Addressing the Council, Mandela said Burundi's leaders had already made some progress in their negotiations under his predecessor, Julius Nyerere. Out of four committees set up to negotiate the issues in contention, two have nearly completed their work. The two deal with the nature of the conflict and the issue of genocide on the one hand, and reconstruction and development on the other. Issues still to be resolved include the appropriate mechanism for dealing with the past, such as granting amnesty to perpetrators of violence and other crimes, as well as the recovery of property by returnees. Mandela said the remaining committees, one dealing with democracy and good governance, and the other with peace and security for all, still confront major problems, although they too had made some progress. President Clinton has pledged his personal support for Nelson Mandela's efforts to bring peace to Burundi. (Jerome Hale, PANA, 20 January 2000) * Burundi. Uncertainty over camps pledge - 20 January: Confusion surrounds the Burundian Government's promise to close 10 of its controversial "regroupment" camps. The closure was announced on 19 January in New York by Foreign Minister Severin Ntahomvukiye. The move came after the camps had been harshly criticised by Nelson Mandela. But Major-General Ntamahhungiro, governor of Bujumbura- rural --the province which surrounds the capital -- says the camps in his province will not be closed until security has been restored. And yet it is these camps, set up since mid-September, which were apparently condemned by Mr Mandela. The government says the camps in Bujumbura-rural were put in place following a request from local inhabitants whose property was regularly looted by rebels. The state news agency, ABP, quoted sources in the government as saying that it will start to dismantle protection camps in 15 days' time if conditions permitted. UN officials in Bujumbura, who provide aid to some of the inmates, say they know of 59 camps in the province, housing an estimated 330,000 civilians. Information Minister Luc Rukingama says he has no details about the camps or the closure policy. 22 January: The state-run radio says Hutu rebels have killed dozens of civilians in the eastern province of Rutana in this week's attacks on three districts. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 January 2000) * Burundi. Processus de paix - Le 19 janvier, devant le conseil de securite de l'Onu, Nelson Mandela, l'ex-president sud-africain et nouveau mediateur dans la guerre civile burundaise, a reproche a la communaute internationale de ne pas avoir reussi a mettre fin a cette guerre, dont il a par ailleurs impute la responsabilite aux dirigeants burundais. M. Mandela s'est toutefois dit confiant en la possibilite de mise en route d'un processus de paix. L'ambassadeur des Etats-Unis R. Holbrooke a insiste pour sa part sur la situation explosive au Burundi et les deplacements massifs des populations. - Le 20 janvier, le gouvernement burundais a declare qu'il fermerait 10 des "camps de regroupement", mais la decision n'inclut pas les dizaines de centres dans la province de Bujumbura rural, ou la situation des internes est la plus dramatique. Les autorites craignent que la rebellion se developpe sur les hauteurs qui entourent la capitale. - Le 24 janvier a Johannesburg, M. Mandela a declare que le president americain Bill Clinton avait donne son accord pour s'impliquer dans le processus de paix au Burundi et s'associer au prochain round de pourparlers interburundais. "S'il ne peut venir en personne, il pourra participer par videoconference", a dit M. Mandela. D'autre part, dans une interview radiodiffusee, le president burundais Buyoya a dit qu'il esperait la conclusion d'un accord de paix dans les six premiers mois de l'annee. -D'autre part, la radio burundaise a annonce que des attaques de rebelles hutu et des affrontements avec l'armee ont fait 44 morts dans l'est du pays. Selon un porte-parole militaire, les rebelles ont attaque le village de Musongati, le 19 janvier, tuant 20 civils; au cours de plusieurs affrontements qui ont suivi, les soldats ont tue 24 rebelles. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25 janvier 2000) * Cameroun. Francophonie, Commonwealth et democratie - "Democratie et societes plurielles" c'est le theme d'un symposium international conjointement organise, du 24 au 26 Janvier 2000, par le Commonwealth et la francophonie a Yaounde, au Cameroun. Pendant trois jours, les participants (constitutionalistes camerounais, canadiens, francais et autres) ont reflechi sur les voies et les moyens susceptibles de concilier democratie, pluralisme et identites nationales a l'heure de la mondialisation. Les resultats des differentes reflexions seront soumis a l'appreciation des chefs d'Etat des deux institutions -- dont le Cameroun, pays bilingue (anglais et francais) fait partie -- lors des prochains sommets respectifs. (Rep. Associes, Cameroun, 27 janvier 2000) * Centrafrique. Milice contre le president - Le 23 janvier au soir, la propre milice du president Patasse, que celui-ci avait creee pour faire face aux rebellions a repetition de son armee reguliere, s'est lancee a l'assaut de la residence du chef de l'Etat. A coups de rafales d'armes automatiques, les "Karako" ont livre bataille avec la garde presidentielle et la police. Ils avaient deja pris le siege du parti au pouvoir et envoye un detachement a la radio nationale. La raison de leur colere: malgre une promesse du president, ils n'ont pas ete integres dans l'armee. Le 25 janvier, le ministre francais de la Cooperation, Charles Josselin, doit entamer une visite a Bangui pour "faire le point de la situation" avant le retrait des casques bleus de l'Onu, prevu pour le 15 fevier. (Liberation, France, 25 janvier 2000) * Comores. Anjouan: referendum pour l'independance - Le dimanche 23 janvier, les habitants d'Anjouan ont du se prononcer par referendum sur l'independance de leur ile. En avril 1999, les deux autres iles des Comores ont paraphe un accord prevoyant une nouvelle federation avec une large autonomie pour chacune des iles, mais les separatistes anjouanais ont refuse de le signer. Selon des journalistes presents a Anjouan, l'organisation du referendum se serait faite dans la plus grande confusion, personne ne sachant ou et comment voter. Cependant, d'apres les premieres nouvelles, le vote se serait deroule sans incident. L'OUA a cependant annonce qu'elle ne reconnaitrait pas les resultats du referendum. - Selon les chiffres officiels publies le 26 janvier, 94,47% des Anjouanais ont vote contre le rattachement de l'ile au reste des Comores au sein d'une federation. La participation aurait ete de 90,13%, bien qu'un correspondant d'AFP ait constate sur place que l'affluence avait ete relativement faible dans 25 bureaux de vote qu'il avait visite. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 janvier 2000) * Comoros. Voting in Anjouan condemned by Mozambique - 23 January: The island of Anjouan votes on a referendum to endorse or abandon its 1997 breakaway from the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros. With no opinion polls and no external observers, there are no independent forecasts of the results. But local residents and members of the secessionist administration predict the 200,000 eligible islanders will return a "no surrender" vote despite the threat of international sanctions if they go it alone. 25 January: The Mozambican government denounces the 23 January referendum on the secession of Anjouan, as a threat to the territorial integrity of the archipelago. A press release from the Mozambican Ministry of Foreign Affairs made available to the Mozambican News Agency (AIM), says the Mozambican government is of the view that "the holding of the consultation of the inhabitants of the island, organised by the secessionist leaders, constitutes a great danger to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of this neighbouring country. The said popular consultation is a challenge to the decisions adopted by the heads of state and government of the Organisation of African Unity at their 34th Summit in Algiers, as well as to decisions aimed at an overall solution for the crisis prevailing in the Comoros. Maputo argues that the unilateral action is a grave setback to regional and OAU initiatives conducive for the implementation of the Antananarivo Agreement which was signed by the leaders of the three islands, Anjouan, Grand Comoro and Moheli. The Agreement is seen by the Mozambican government as a "fundamental instrument for the process of national reconciliation and democratisation in the Comoros." The release added that the referendum does not contribute towards a global solution and lasting peace in the Comoros. The Anjouan separatists unilaterally declared their independence from the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros in August 1997. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 January 2000) * Congo (RDC). Situation d'urgence en Ituri - Medecins sans frontieres (MSF), dans un communique de presse du 20 janvier, a exprime sa profonde inquietude devant la deterioration de la situation humanitaire dans le district de l'Ituri, dans le nord-est de la RDC. La region a ete frappee par un conflit ethnique opposant les tribus Hema et Lendu sur des droits fonciers. MSF dit qu'en raison de l'insecurite montante, il y a un grand nombre de victimes auxquelles elle ne peut acceder. Selon l'organisation, au cours des six derniers mois, la region a aussi ete ravagee par des epidemies telles que la rougeole, la peste et le cholera. MSF a ajoute que la poignee d'organisations humanitaires actives dans l'est de la RDC n'etaient plus considerees comme des elements neutres par des sections de la population. Une equipe de MSF a ete attaquee, le 14 janvier, au nord de Bunia, par une cinquantaine d'assaillants qui leur ont lance des pierres. MSF a demande que le debat de l'Onu, prevu la semaine prochaine sur la situation en RDC, prete la plus serieuse attention au probleme de l'Ituri. (IRIN, Nairobi, 20 janvier 2000) * Congo (RDC). Elections aux CPP - Selon le journal de Kinshasa Le Potentiel, les 19 et 20 janvier ont ete decretes journees chomees et payees afin de permettre aux citoyens de participer aux elections des representants des Comites de pouvoir populaire (CPP), organisation que le president Kabila refuse d'appeler un parti unique, mais qui en a toutes les caracteristiques. Les elections au sein des CPP ont suscite la surprise, a la fois parce que le projet semble avoir ete improvise et parce qu'il contrevient aux dispositions de l'accord de paix de Lusaka, qui prevoit que de nouvelles institutions seront mises sur pied a l'issue d'un dialogue intercongolais. Ce dialogue n'a toutefois toujours pas commence. (La Libre Belgique, 21 janvier 2000) * Congo (RDC). Congolese franc devalued by 100% - 25 January: The Congolese franc was devalued by 100% in relation to the US $ over the weekend, when Congo RDC's Central Bank said the currency would now exchange at 9 for one dollar from 4.5 per dollar the week before. A Central Bank statement from Kinshasa said the measure, which took effect from 22 January, was taken to reduce the gap between the official and market rates of currency which was re- introduced on 30 June 1999 to replace the new zaire introduced under the Mobutu regime. Before the move, 28 to 30 units fetched one US dollar in the parallel market. At inception, the Congolese franc was fixed at 2.5 to the dollar. It was adjusted to 4.5 to the dollar in October 1999. (PANA, Dakar, 25 January 2000) * Congo (RDC). Debat au Conseil de securite - Le 24 janvier s'est ouvert au Conseil de securite des Nations unies un debat sur le Congo-RDC. L'ambassadeur americain a l'Onu, Richard Holbrooke, qui preside ce mois-ci le Conseil de securite, a convoque cette reunion pour relancer la dynamique de paix des accords de Lusaka, dont le cessez-le-feu n'a jamais ete reellement respecte. Seuls les Etats qui sont partie prenante au conflit ont ete officiellement invites: le Congo et ses allies (Angola, Namibie, Zimbabwe) d'un cote, de l'autre le Rwanda et l'Ouganda qui soutiennent les rebelles. Toutefois, les deux factions rebelles du Rassemblement conglais pour la democratie (le RCD-ML de Wamba dia Wamba et le RCD-Goma d'Emile Ilunga) ont envoye une delegation. Le president Kabila, qui conduit personnellement la delegation de la RDC, est arrive le 22 janvier a New-York. Au premier jour de la reunion, le 24 janvier, dans son intervention qu'il avait annoncee comme "historique" et "conciliante", M. Kabila a exige a nouveau un cessez-le-feu immediat, le retrait sans conditions des forces non invitees et l'interposition des troupes de l'Onu aux frontieres du Congo avec les "pays agresseurs". Le president rwandais pour sa part a souligne le genocide et les preoccupations securitaires de son pays face aux extremistes hutu. En fait, toutes les parties participant aux conflit s'accordent sur un seul point: la necessite d'un deploiement de forces de paix de l'Onu pour assurer l'accord de paix de Lusaka; pour sa part, la communaute internationale maintient que ces parties doivent d'abord observer les accords signes. - Le 25 janvier, les membres du Conseil de securite ont entrepris la redaction d'une resolution autorisant le deploiement de casques bleus au Congo. Le secretaire general Kofi Annan a propose 500 observateurs militaires et quelque 5.000 soldats, en envisageant d'etendre encore ces effectifs. Encore faudra-t-il que cette operation, dont les frais incomberont en grande partie aux Etats-Unis, recoive l'accord du Congres americain. Le 26 janvier, le Conseil de securite s'est engage a deployer rapidement une force de 5.500 hommes en RDC pour y soutenir les accords de paix. Le conseil doit adopter "dans quelques jours" une resolution autorisant l'envoi de cette force, a precise M. Annan. Les quinze membres du Conseil ont adopte a l'unanimite une declaration presidentielle qui reaffirme les engagements de toutes les parties a respecter l'accord de paix de Lusaka. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 janvier 2000) * Congo (RDC). Le Sud-Kivu craint l'annexion - La fermeture de l'aeroport de Kavumu par le gouverneur de Bukavu fait monter la peur chez la population congolaise que le Rwanda veuille transformer son occupation du Kivu en une annexion. Selon des sources locales, des camions rwandais ont commence la semaine passee a verser de la terre sur la piste d'atterrissage et, peu apres, le gouverneur a decide la fermeture de l'aeroport. Tous les vols de et vers Bukavu seront desormais detournes vers l'aeroport de Kamembe, au Rwanda. Les habitants de Bukavu s'offusquent egalement du fait que les policiers sont obliges de suivre une formation dans l'armee rwandaise a Butare. (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 27 janvier 2000) * Congo (RDC). UN Security Council meeting - 24 January: President Kabila of Congo RDC pledges an all-out effort with leaders of other states in the Great Lakes area, to end his country's long war and rebuild the resource-rich region. Describing himself as "a man of peace", he accuses neighbouring Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi of waging aggression, and deplores the failure of international agreements, concluded in Lusaka, to end the conflict. The President is addressing the UN Security Council as it begins to debate on the crisis, following a request by Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, for authority to deploy more than 5,500 peacekeepers in Congo. Also participating, as the Council resumes its "Month of Africa" agenda, are seven other heads of state. The African leaders are expected to remain in New York for a week of talks. 25 January: Members of the Security Council have begun drafting a resolution that could lead to the despatch of a UN force to Congo. The role of the force, according to Mr Annan's proposal, would be to protect UN ceasefire observers rather than to act as full peace-keepers. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 January 2000) * Cote d'Ivoire. Referendum et elections annonces - 19 janvier. Les Nations unies attendent du nouvel homme fort de la Cote d'Ivoire qu'il favorise un retour rapide a l'ordre constitutionnel dans le pays apres le putsch de decembre, a declare un emissaire de l'organisation recu a Abidjan par le general Robert Guei. Pour leur part, des dirigeants africains ont averti la nouvelle junte militaire qu'elle doit organiser des elections avant la fin du mois de juin ou qu'elle sera exclue du sommet de l'OUA en juillet. Depuis sa prise de pouvoir, la junte ivoirienne avait promis une nouvelle Constitution et des elections pour retablir la democratie, mais elle n'avait pas donne de calendrier. - Le 21 janvier, le chef de la junte au pouvoir, le general Guei, a annonce l'organisation en avril prochain d'un referendum sur une nouvelle Constitution qui "ouvrira la voie" a une election presidentielle. Le gouvernement francais a declare noter le referendum comme un fait positif, mais a ajoute attendre un calendrier electoral precis. Le president du Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, a lance un appel a la communaute internationale l'invitant a soutenir la Cote d'Ivoire et a aider le nouveau gouvernement. - Le 24 janvier, le general Guei a declare que les elections se derouleront d'ici la fin octobre prochain. Le scrutin comprendra les elections municipales, parlementaires et presidentielles. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 22 janvier 2000) * Cote d'Ivoire. Referendum plan - The military rulers have announced plans to hold a referendum on a new Constitution and election law. The military junta has also indicated it is willing to renew cooperation with the International Monetary Fund. A government statement says the referendum will pave the way for presidential, legislative and municipal elections. An all-party Commission (27 members) is being set up to review the issues, and will help draw up a draft Constitution, new election law and measures for organising free and transparent elections. The Commission will be headed by a bureau of seven members. The decision was taken after a meeting of the Council of Ministers The bureau is to be presided over by a former cabinet minister, Mathieu Ekra, supported by six vice presidents who include renowned Ivorian writer Benard Dadier. The Commission is to make proposals to the government on a new Constitution, Electoral Law and other measures that will lead to the organisation of free and transparent elections in the country. According to a timetable, 31 January has been earmarked for the inauguration of the Commission which has till 31 March to submit its proposals to the cabinet which will then study them till the end of April. The adopted proposals will then be published in the media for debate and contributions before Ivorians vote in a referendum. A statement issued at the end of the cabinet meeting said the adoption of the new Constitution and Electoral Law by referendum, will open the gate for the holding of municipal, legislative and presidential elections which will mark the end of the transition. In a statement, General Guei said that the "general elections should be finished by 1 October 2000". On 25 January, it was reported that opposition leaders Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo have already begun campaigning for the elections. Ouattara is touring his stronghold in the north; Gbagbo is electioneering in the central Baoule region. There is some confusion as to when Cote d'Ivoire's transition to civil rule will actually end: 1 October or 31 October. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 January 2000) * Egypt. A new attack on civil society - In a sudden development, the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) learned on 19 January 2000, that the Governor of Cairo had issued an administrative decree on 20 September 1999, to close 14 newspapers and newsletters, including that of the EOHR, Hukouk Al-Insan (Human Rights). The decree is said to have been based on instructions from the former Council of Governors. The EOHR considers this decree as a new attack against civil society, and a direct violation of the freedom of opinion and expression. It re-emphasises that the Egyptian civil society is still under continuous suppression and urges the government to stop launching such legal and administrative assaults against civil society institutions. (EOHR, Egypt, 19 January 2000) * Egypt/Kenya. Egypt rejects Kenyan tea - Egyptian buyers made a last minute withdrawal on 24 January, from the Kenyan weekly tea auction in Mombasa, causing a major dip in prices, media reports said on 25 January. The East African Standard newspaper, quoting sources from the East African Tea Trade Association, said that the fall in prices was a big blow to farmers who are now expected to get low pay at the end of the year. The paper said buyers of the commodity from the UK and Pakistan markets also took the advantage of the lower prices -- which dropped from an average of 1.8 US dollars last week to 1.5 US dollars -- after 11 buyers for the Egyptian market withdrew, citing frustrations from Egyptian authorities. Out of the total of 6.5 million kg offered for auction on 24 January, 1.6 million, worth three million dollars, was withdrawn due to lack of buyers, the reports said. "The current stand-off between Kenya and Egypt over the tariff charges is likely to deal a big blow to the Kenyan tea farmers, as we are likely to lose a major market," the association said. Egypt is currently the third largest buyer of Kenyan tea and the country takes about 20 percent of the total 250 million kg produced annually. Last week, the Association had accused the Egyptian Embassy in Nairobi of frustrating local traders by delaying the legalisation of tea shipment documents to the country. (PANA, Dakar, 25 January 2000) * Guinea-Bissau. Sanha concedes defeat - 19 January: Malam Becai Sanha concedes defeat to Kumba Yala (Social Renewal Party) who has won 75.25% of votes in the presidential election this month. "The trend that is emerging from the returns, shows that Kumba Yala is the winner. I solemnly declare that I will respect the verdict of the ballot boxes, the expression of the people;s will," Sanha says at a news conference. 23 January: President-elect Kumba Yala announces that fighting corruption will be one of his main priorities in office. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 January 2000) * Guinee Bissau. Presidentielles - 20 janvier. Selon des resultats partiels mais significatifs, le candidat d'opposition Kumba Yala a remporte le deuxieme tour des elections presidentielles. Le president interimaire, Malam Bacai Sanha, a deja reconnu sa defaite et declare qu'il accepte le resultat des urnes. Selon les observateurs etrangers, le scrutin a ete "libre, transparent et juste". - Le 22 janvier, la Commission electorale nationale a publie les resultats officiels: M. Kumba Yala a remporte 72% des suffrages. Selon le president de la Commission, le second tour, qui s'est deroule sans aucun des retards et incidents qui avaient marque le premier, a ete "un exercice de grande maturite politique". Cette election presidentielle, precedee d'elections legislatives ou le parti de M. Yala a remporte 38 des 102 sieges de l'Assemblee nationale, est une etape importante dans le retour a la paix et la democratie dans cette ancienne colonie portugaise, a l'issue d'une guerre civile de 11 mois, qui s'est achevee par le renversement du president Vieira en mai dernier. - 24 janvier. Le nouveau president a designe comme Premier ministre M. Caetano N'Tchama, qui etait depuis fevrier 1999 ministre de l'Interieur du gouvernement d'union nationale. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25 janvier 2000) * Guinea. Ministers sacked - 26 January: President Lansana Conte has sacked his finance and mining ministers after a disappointing economic performance in 1999. Three other cabinet ministers lost their jobs in a cabinet reshuffle. Guinea is the world's second largest producer of bauxite and is also rich in alumina, gold, diamonds and iron ore. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 January 2000) * Kenya. Staff cuts in overseas missions - Kenya has recalled key diplomatic staff working abroad, leaving only skeleton teams to man certain missions, amid speculation than on-going civil service retrenchment expected to affect 126,000 employees, has finally reached the country's foreign service. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has confirmed that seven key embassies in London, Washington, Vienna, Tokyo, Lagos, Khartoum and Kinshasa are vacant. Other sources said there is no Kenya ambassador to Kampala. The minister said the downsizing of diplomatic staff abroad was aimed at reducing costs, and that the failure to replace recalled ambassadors is some foreign missions was not due to the retrenchment exercise. He said they would be replaced once the "relevant procedural requirements were fulfilled". (The East African, Kenya, 17-23 January 2000) * Kenya. IMF talks resume - A team of International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials is in Kenya for talks which the government hopes will lead to the resumption of aid. Lending was suspended more than 2 years ago, after reports of official corruption. The IMF team will meet finance ministry and central bank officials, to follow up on talks held in Washington last year. Kenyan officials said the mission would be followed by another visit in March, to begin working on the details of a possible new loan deal. The IMF has already welcomed government attempts to reform the civil service and improve accountability. (BBC News, 24 January 2000) * Kenya. Church discuss Rift valley violence - Church leaders in Kenya's Rift Valley Province have been meeting to discuss an increase in ethnic violence in the district of Laikipia. Church officials say at least 7 people have been killed in recent weeks in a series of attacks on roads and farms, including rapes and the killing of livestock. One priest reported more than 30 deaths in six months in two of his parishes. the dead have been mostly Kikuyu, while the raiders are said to be mostly Samburu and Turkana cattle herders. (BBC News, 25 January 2000) End of part 1/2 (From Lesotho to Zimbabwe see 27_02_2k)