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_____________________________________________________________
WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 17-02-2000 PART #2/3  (Congo-RDC -> Malawi)
	====>   (From Africa to Congo-RDC see 17a_02_2k)
	====>   (From Mali to Zimbabwe see 17c_02_2k)

* Congo (RDC). Le mediateur a Kinshasa  -  Le mediateur en charge
du conflit congolais, l'ancien president du Botswana, Ketumile
Masire, est arrive le 11 fevrier a Kinshasa, ou il doit mener des
entretiens preliminaires destines a poser les bases d'un "dialogue
national" sur l'avenir du Congo-Kinshasa. Il doit rester dans la
capitale congolaise pendant cinq jours pour s'entretenir avec des
responsables du gouvernement, des representants de la societe
civile et des diplomates, avant de se rendre en Ouganda, ou il
rencontrera les chefs rebelles. Selon M. Masire, le dialogue
national pourrait commencer des mars. - Un sommet reunissant les
chefs d'Etat de la region pour discuter de l'accord de paix est
prevu le 24 fevrier dans la capitale zambienne Lusaka.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 14 fevrier 2000)

* Congo (RDC). Droits de l'homme  -  L'organisation de defense des
droits de l'homme Human Rights Watch a rendu publique, le 10
fevrier, une lettre ecrite au president Kabila pour lui demander de
suspendre les executions capitales ordonnees par la juridiction
d'exception, la Cour d'ordre militaire (COM), et d'abolir la
derniere. 61 executions seraient imminentes, apres 19 autres deja
survenues depuis le 28 janvier. La COM a ete creee en aout 1997
pour juger les infractions commises par les militaires et les
policiers, mais elle fut utilisee tres vite pour des proces
politiques et, depuis le 2 janvier 1999, ses competences ont encore
ete elargies. Ses decisions ne sont susceptibles ni d'appel ni
d'opposition. Amnesty International a egalement mis en garde contre
ces executions imminentes et rappelle que la RDC doit "respecter sa
declaration en juin 1999 aux Nations unies, selon laquelle elle
allait abolir la peine de mort". - De son cote, le Rapporteur
special sur la situation des droits de l'homme en RDC, Roberto
GarretĒn (Chili), a exprime sa profonde consternation au sujet des
19 militaires executes. Il s'est dit d'autant plus preoccupe que
ces executions sont intervenues six semaines seulement apres que le
ministre des droits humains eut annonce solennellement la decision
de surseoir a l'application de toutes les peines capitales
prononcees par la COM. D'autre part, M. GarretĒn s'est declare
vivement preoccupe par la tres nette deterioration de la situation
des droits de l'homme dans les territoires sous les deux factions
dissidentes du Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD): le
RCD-Goma et le RCD-Mouvement de Liberation. Selon les informations
qui lui ont ete transmises depuis le debut de l'annee, plusieurs
membres d'organisations des droits de l'homme ont ete harceles,
arretes, detenus et certains soumis a des traitements cruels,
inhumains ou degradants pour avoir publiquement denonce des cas de
violations des droits de l'homme dans les territoires sous controle
du RCD. Par ailleurs, il a aussi recu des informations alarmantes
selon lesquelles des atteintes systematiques et massives du droit
a la vie auraient ete commises a Mwenga et dans le district de
l'Ituri, entre autres. Ces allegations, si confirmees, pourraient,
de l'avis du rapporteur special, constituer des crimes contre
l'humanite. M. Garreton s'est dit egalement consterne par
l'arrestation de Mgr Kataliko, l'archeveque de Bukavu.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 15 fevrier 2000)

* Congo (RDC). L'archeveque de Bukavu deporte  -  Le 12 fevrier,
l'archeveque de Bukavu, Mgr Emmanuel Kataliko, qui revenait via
Nairobi de Kinshasa ou il avait participe a une reunion de la
conference episcopale congolaise, a ete arrete a son arrivee a
l'aeroport de Goma. Les militaires ont intime l'ordre au pilote de
l'avion de redecoller et d'aller debarquer l'eveque a Butembo, sa
region d'origine. Un communique du mouvement rebelle RCD a declare
l'archeveque "persona non grata" sur le territoire de son diocese
en raison de la lettre pastorale publiee a l'occasion de la Noel
1999 (ou il denoncait les exactions des forces armees qui occupent
la region). Dernierement, Mgr Kataliko avait aussi ete l'objet de
diverses accusations, notamment d'avoir ete un des instigateurs des
journees de greve a Bukavu et meme de propos racistes contre les
Banyamulenge. - A Bukavu, ou on a appris les faits avec
consternation, un college elargi de consulteurs de l'archidiocese
a publie, le soir du meme jour, une lettre ouverte exigeant le
retour de leur pasteur, et declarant notamment: "L'absence de notre
pasteur paralyse toute la vie de notre Eglise. (...) En attendant
le retour de notre archeveque, nous declarons la cessation des
activites liturgiques dans les eglises. Il en sera de meme pour
toutes les activites professionnelles et sociales du diocese". Elle
conclut en disant: "Nous demandons a la communaute internationale
(...) d'intervenir immediatement pour sauver une population prise
en otage". - Dans une interview donnee a la radio, le commandant
Ondekane (38 ans, originaire de la province de l'Equateur), du RCD
a accuse Mgr Kataliko de lourdes responsabilites dans les affaires
politico-sociales de la region. Mais les jours suivants, alors que
les reactions internationales commencaient a se multiplier, la
protestation s'intensifiait au Kivu. A Bukavu, les Eglises
protestantes ont signifie leur soutien. Les villes de Goma et
d'Uvira se seraient egalement mises en greve. A Goma, les bureaux,
les ecoles, le marche ont ete touches par des arrets de travail et
dans le quartier de Katindo des barricades ont ete dressees. Les
populations du Sud et du Nord Kivu semblent glisser vers un
soulevement general. - Le 15 fevrier, Mgr Mitima, de la curie
episcopale de Bukavu, a ete invite a une rencontre avec les
responsables du RCD. Pendant la rencontre, Jean-Pierre Ondekane a
insiste pour que Mgr Kataliko soit remplace, sa violence verbale
etant "intolerable". -Le 16 fevrier, au terme de l'audience
generale, le pape Jean Paul II a lance un appel concernant la
situation en RDC, ou "des evenements inquietants continuent a se
produire". Parlant de la deportation de Mgr Kataliko -- qu'il
defini comme "une grave violation qui blesse tous les chretiens" --
le pape se dit "solidaire du clerge et des fideles de Bukavu", et
lance un appel pour "la prompte application des accords de paix de
Lusaka, demandant au Seigneur unite et reconciliation pour cette
nation". Ce meme jour, a Goma, plusieurs personnalites ont ete
arretees, accusees d'avoir organise la greve en soutien de Mgr
Kataliko. D'apres les informations, il s'agirait surtout de
personnalites "banande", le groupe ethnique de l'archeveque. A
Uvira, la population a observe encore une journee 'ville morte'.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 fevrier 2000)

* Congo (RDC). Archbishop banned from Diocese  -  14 February:
Rebels in Congo RDC are facing fresh opposition from the Roman
Catholic Church after banning an archbishop from returning to his
diocese. Catholic priests in the rebel-held city of Bukavu are
refusing to perform ecclesiastical duties until Archbishop Emmanuel
Kataliko is allowed to return to the city. The archbishop has been
a prominent critic of the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy and
its Rwandan backers. He used his Christmas message to warn against
what he called the foreign occupation of Bukavu and the surrounding
region of south Kivu. Mgr. Kataliko's supporters say he has always
advocated peaceful protests and is now being targeted because of
the rebel's antipathy towards the Church. A rebel spokesman accused
Mgr. Kataliko of being a propagandist for the President, Laurent
Kabila. (Further details from ANB-BIA: The Vicar General of Bukavu
Archdiocese says: "I hope in a prompt resolution to the episode".
The Vatican's Press Office says the Holy See requests the
unconditional return of the Bishop among his people. In an
interview, a senior RCD member, Jean-Pierre Ondekane, directly
accuses the Archbishop of "serious responsibilities in the recent
political-social troubles in the South Kivu region".) 15 February:
Protests over the banning of Archbishop Kataliko have brought
Bukavu to a halt. 16 February: The Pope speaks out against rebels
who have prevented the Archbishop from returning to his diocese. He
calls the action taken by the rebels: "A grave violation of the
prelate's personal freedom that inflicts pain on all Catholics".
(Further details from MISNA: 16 February -- Various prominent
figures in Goma have been arrested, accused of organising a strike
carried out by the population on 14 February.   (BBC News, 14-17
February 2000)

* Congo (RDC). Violences et guerre au Kivu  -  L'abbe Remis Pepe,
30 ans, ainsi que deux gardes de la paroisse locale, ont ete
assassines, mardi 15 fevrier a Kaliba (environ 25 km au nord
d'Uvira, Sud Kivu, ex-Zaire). Ces assassinats seraient a attribuer
a des rebelles banyamulenge. Deux autres pretres congolais, en
service dans la paroisse, auraient pu s'enfuir. Les assassins
auraient oblige le pretre a s'agenouiller pour ensuite le tuer de
sang froid. Avant de repartir, ils ont mis le feu a la mission. Ces
meurtres pourraient etre lies a un episode macabre remontant a la
semaine derniere quand, selon des sources de l'agence MISNA, de
nombreux temoins auraient vu, dans la zone de Sange (non loin de
Kiliba), de nombreux cadavres transportes par la riviere Ruzizi.
Par ailleurs, selon le directeur de la presse presidentielle,
Lambert Kaboye, qui citait le general Joseph Padiri, commandant des
FAC (Forces armees congolaises), quelque 380 combattants des forces
rebelles ont ete tues le 7 fevrier, lors d'une bataille dans la
localite de Shabunda (1.500 km a l'est de Kinshasa, et 200 a
l'ouest de Bukavu), au Sud-Kivu, au coeur d'une province tenue par
les rebelles et leurs allies rwandais.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 16 fevrier 2000)

* Congo (RDC). Priest and laymen murdered  -  Local sources have
confirmed to the Vatican Press Agency Fides, that a Catholic priest
and two civilian parish watchmen have been murdered. Rev. Remis
Pepe aged 30, ordained six months ago, and the two parish watchmen
were killed in the evening of Tuesday February 15th at Kiliba
parish which lies halfway between Uvira and Bukavu. The same
sources say it was a group of Banyamulenge rebels who launched the
attack, in which Kiliba parish church was torched. Two other
priests working in the parish were unhurt. Fides sources say a
number of people and priests from Bukavu are on their way to Kiliba
parish for the funeral. This is another page in the violence at the
hands of occupying Rwandan troops and local Congolese Rally for
Democracy (RCD) rebels against church personnel. It was in fact
rebels in the east who only days ago prevented Archbishop Emmanuel
Kataliko from returning to his diocese of Bukavu. Mgr Kataliko is
said to be in "good health" and is presently staying with the
Bishop of Butembo. Yesterday Mgr Mitima of Bukavu diocese was
invited to talk with the RCD rebels who decreed the expulsion of
Archbishop Kataliko. But so far no agreement has been reached.
According to our sources, Jean-Pierre Onkedane, first vice-
president of the RCD says he has "nothing against the Church or the
Vatican" but he wants Mgr Kataliko "removed because his verbal
violence is intolerable". The rebels and allies did not like
Archbishop's 1999 Christmas Letter in which he courageously accuses
"foreign powers, with the collaboration of some Congolese brothers,
of organizing wars with the resources of our country". The
Archbishop's situation resembles more and more that Bishop Misago
of Gikongoro (Rwanda) whom the Rwandan authorities have put on
trial, and whose dismissal has been called for by the Rwandan
President, before any sort of verdict has been reached. Reliable
sources contacted by Fides say "rebels in the East have stalled.
Their advance has been halted and they have lost several
strongholds. They and their Rwandan allies are angry with the
Church which refuses to support their cause and they are looking
for scapegoats to pay for their failure to win over the people. So
they take it out on Church leaders. Unfortunately where there is no
force of law, the law of force triumphs". Our source also said that
the Church protest strike, against the treatment of Archbishop
Kataliko, held last Sunday was a success. There were no Sunday
celebrations in the churches, people stayed at home to pray and
Bukavu was deserted. Furthermore, local sources say Catholics were
joined in the protest by Protestants and even Muslims: "Mgr
Kataliko is a leader for all the people".   (Fides, Vatican City,
16 February 2000)

* Congo (RDC). Cri d'alarme de Holbrooke  -  Evoquant la menace
d'un nouveau genocide au coeur de l'Afrique, Richard Holbrooke,
ambassadeur des Etats-Unis aupres de l'Onu, a demande, le 15
fevrier, au Congres americain de contribuer au financement d'une
force d'observateurs de l'Onu en RDC. "Une action est necessaire
pour empecher d'autres conflits et la resurgence d'un genocide et
de massacres massifs en Afrique centrale", a-t-il dit devant des
membres de la commission des Relations internationales de la
Chambre. "Sans une forte initiative de l'Onu face a cette
situation, il est hautement probable qu'une catastrophe politique
et humanitaire se produise en Afrique centrale".   (Le Soir,
Belgique, 17 fevrier 2000)

* Congo (RDC). Parlement de transition  -  Le president Kabila a
annonce la creation d'une Assemblee constituante et legislative de
300 membres, qui devrait etre un premier pas vers la
democratisation des institutions de la RDC. Cette decision
intervient a la suite de consultations avec des representants du
monde politique et de la societe civile, selon l'agence congolaise
APA. L'Assemblee devrait se constituer par des elections ou des
cooptations, selon M. Kabila; pour l'election eventuelle de
representants des territoires occupes, il a demande la
collaboration des organisations internationales.   (D'apres De
Standaard, Belgique, 17 fevrier 2000)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Cure d'austerite  -  Le Front monetaire
international, qui vient d'achever une mission d'une semaine a
Abidjan, a appele la Cote d'Ivoire a une severe cure d'austerite.
Selon un aide-memoire remis aux autorites et publie le 10 fevrier
dans la presse ivoirienne, l'examen de l'exercice 1999 revele "une
situation des finances publiques plus grave que prevu".   (Le
Monde, France, 12 fevrier 2000)

* Cote d'Ivoire. L'OUA ne reconnait pas la junte  -  L'Organisation
de l'unite africaine (OUA) a refuse, le 14 fevrier, de reconnaitre
la junte qui a pris le pouvoir en Cote d'Ivoire fin decembre. Le
secretaire general de l'organisation, Selim Ahmed Selim, en a
informe le nouveau chef de la diplomatie ivoirienne, Christophe
M'boua, en accord avec la ligne politique adoptee au dernier sommet
de l'OUA a Alger en juin, en vertu de laquelle l'OUA rejette tout
gouvernement issu d'un coup d'Etat. Le general Robert Guei a pris
le pouvoir a Abidjan a l'issue d'une mutinerie, renversant le
president Henri Konan Bedie par le premier coup d'Etat de
l'histoire ivoirienne. M. M'boua et d'autres responsables du
nouveau regime ont rencontre M. Selim au cours du week-end en
Ethiopie, l'assurant du prochain retour a la legitimite
constitutionnelle dans ce pays qui fut un exemple de stabilite en
Afrique.   (AP, 15 fevrier 2000)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Arrestation d'un ancien ministre  -  L'ancien
ministre de l'interieur sous l'ancien regime dechu, M. Emile
Constant Bombet, a ete arrete par les autorites militaires, ont
indique des sources proches de sa famille a Abidjan. M. Bombet
figurait parmi les anciens ministres detenus par les nouvelles
autorites pour des "raisons de securite", apres le coup d'Etat du
24 decembre, avant d'etre liberes a la fin du mois de janvier.
Selon les memes sources, "10 gendarmes, dont un capitaine, sont
alles chez l'ancien ministre pour lui demander de les suivre", sans
lui fournir d'explications. Ce dernier a obtempere. Toutefois, des
sources militaires ont souligne plus tard que M. Bombet etait
detenu au camp de l'etat-major des armees a Abidjan. Quatre
officiers militaires avaient ete arretes et detenus la semaine
derniere, au meme endroit que M. Bombet, avec l'accusation de
tentative de perturbation de l'ordre public et d'incitation a la
rebellion contre le nouveau regime.   (D'apres PANA, 16 fevrier
2000)

* Egypt. Message of Coptic Catholic Patriarch in preparation for
the Pope's visit to Egypt  -  "In the name of the Council of
Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, I have the pleasure and
the honour to announce to our good Catholic people that for the
first time in history a Roman Pope in undertaking a visit to our
dear homeland Egypt. This visit is made in response to the kind
invitation addressed to His Holiness by the President Mr Mohammad
Hosni Moubarak. It will take place during the period from 24-26
February 2000. This visit coincides with the commemoration of the
two thousand years of the Nativity of the Glorious Christ, who
blessed our country by his coming with his Mother the Virgin Mary
and Saint Joseph the Carpenter, flying away from the tyrannous King
Herodus" (...) Pope John Paul II's visit to Egypt is a true
pilgrimage to the Holy places that are abundant in our country.
(...) John Paul II is going to pay a visit to His Holiness Pope
Shenuda III, in response to the visit of the latter to the Vatican
in 1973. Together with His Holiness Pope Shenuda III, His Holiness
John Paul II is going to meet with the heads of the different
Churches in Egypt during an ecumenical and historic gathering. The
Pope is going to meet as well with the Grand Imam, Dr Mohammad
Sayed Tantawi, Sheikh of Al-Azhar. This meeting will crown the
endeavours undertaken by the joint commission between Al-Azhar and
the Vatican for Islamic-Christian dialogue. During his visit here,
His Holiness will be able to witness an exemplary and unique model
of national unity between Muslims and Christians. (...)"   (Fides,
Vatican City, 14 February 2000)

* Egypt. Human rights defender  -  15 February: In a statement made
today, six international human rights organisations condemned the
referral of prominent human rights defender Hafez Abu Sa'ada before
an (Emergency) Supreme State Security Court which denies defendants
the most basic right -- the right to a fair trial. "The case of
Hafez Abu Sa'ada, General Secretary of the Egyptian Organization
for Human Rights, clearly suggests that the Egyptian authorities
are trying to muzzle human rights defenders in Egypt", the
international human rights organisations said. They further noted
that this alarming development occurs as Egyptian human rights
organisations await with concern the implementation of the
controversial NGO law of 1990 regulating the status and activities
of NGOs in Egypt.   (Human Rights Watch, 15 February 2000)

* Egypte. Droits de l'homme  -  Le 15 fevrier, sept des principales
organisations internationales des droits de l'homme ont condamne la
decision du parquet egyptien de deferer le secretaire general de
l'Organisation egyptienne des droits de l'homme (OEDH), Hafez Abou
Seeda, devant la cour d'urgence du tribunal de la securite d'Etat.
M. Seeda avait deja ete place en garde a vue en decembre 1998,
apres la publication d'un rapport de l'OEDH sur des incidents entre
coptes et policiers survenus a El Kodech et accusant les forces de
securite de brutalites contre la population. Il avait ete libere
sous caution et l'affaire semblait classee. Mais l'inculpation a
ete reactivee a la veille de la publication par l'OEDH d'un autre
rapport sur les nouveaux incidents mettant aux prises coptes et
musulmans qui, en debut d'annee, ont fait 21 morts (dont 20 coptes)
dans la meme ville. Selon M. Seeda, la decision de le traduire en
justice vise a "intimider" l'OEDH.   (D'apres Le Monde, France, 17
fevrier 2000)

* Ghana. Ashanti Goldfields in deep financial crisis  -  10
February: An Accra High Court has ordered Ashanti Goldfields
Company, Ghana's multi-national gold mining firm, to convene an
extra-ordinary general meeting within 21 days to move and replace
the existing board of directors. The Court also restrained the
directors or any other officers of the company from contracting any
loan on its behalf before the convening of the meeting. The order
came in the wake of the company's debt, which stood at slightly
over US $4000 million at the end of 1999. 11 February: The Ghanaian
authorities say there will be a meeting with all stakeholders aimed
at seeking a resolution to all outstanding issues in the Ashanti
Goldfields crisis. 14 February: Ashanti Goldfields begins a week of
crisis talks with its creditors. 15 February: Ashanti Goldfields
appoint an acting board chairman and affirm that the company is
working tirelessly for a solution to the lack of liquidity caused
by the right of counterparts to call for a margin. 16 February:
Ashanti Goldfields announces details of an agreement with large
shareholders paving the way for a rescue package. The agreement is
between Ashanti, the Ghanaian Government and Aldryx Mining and
Metals. Board changes have also been announced.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 17 February 2000)

* Guinee. L'Assemblee appelle a la clemence  -  Dans une lettre
adressee au president et lue a la tribune de l'Assemblee le 14
fevrier, le Parlement guineen a demande au president Lansana Conte
de liberer Alpha Conde. M. Conde, president du Rassemblement du
peuple de Guinee, a perdu les elections presidentielles du 14
decembre 1998 et a ete arrete le lendemain du scrutin pres de la
frontiere de la Cote d'Ivoire. Depuis lors il est en detention,
accuse d'avoir tente de quitter le pays illegalement et de recruter
des troupes pour destabiliser le pays.   (IRIN, Abidjan, 15 fevrier
2000)

* Kenya. Leakey -- "Parastatal chiefs to go"  -  The majority of
State corporations and parastatal chiefs will go in the proposed
rationalisation programme, the Head of the Public Service, Dr.
Richard Leakey said on 10 February. Leakey said the Government will
make radical changes in the management of the corporations because
of dwindling finances. He said most parastatals were guzzling
public funds without making any returns. Leakey said the proposed
changes are part of the Government move to cut public expenditure
and improve services. Leakey was addressing more than 200 heads of
State corporations at a meeting convened at the Kenyatta
International Conference Centre. "I am not here to intimidate
anybody, but in the next five months we have to make radical
changes in the parastatal management in the face of dwindling
finances," Leakey said. He said many corporations do not have
properly constituted management boards because the term of office
for directors had expired. Leakey gave the highlights of Government
negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission to
Kenya during the past two weeks. He said the Government was eagerly
awaiting the outcome of the final communication from the
institution.He said the IMF team which left the country last week
was expected back by March to make a final communication on the
resumption of financial assistance to Kenya in the next five years. 
 (East African Standard, Kenya, 11 February 2000)

* Kenya. Frost disaster in tea industry  -  The crisis prone Kenya
tea industry faces a massive decline in production in the next six
months following last week's frost attack. The attack, which has
seen more than 5,000 hectares of the crop destroyed, comes in the
wake of an on-going trade dispute between Kenya's second largest
tea importer, Egypt, set against a background of extremely cold
labour relations in the sector. The major frost hit Nandi district
last week, destroying large tracts of the precious commodity. The
temperatures in the Kenyan highland tea zones dropped to below
freezing. Hot, dry weather and desiccating easterly winds have also
hurt production levels west of the Rift valley by compounding
moisture loss. The frost attack coincides with a growing discontent
that has escalated to infighting among the small scale tea farmers
with the large scale farmers, and the government's authoritarian
stranglehold in the marketing of the product in Kenya.   (Financial
Standard, Kenya, 14 February 2000)

* Liberia. Telecommunications restored after fire  -  10 February:
Local and international telecommunications links were partially
restored on 10 February, after the fire on 6 February which gutted
the offices of the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation in
Monrovia. The fire in the central exchange, considered the nerve
centre of the national telecommunications network, left the country
literally incommunicado for days. Prior to Liberia's civil war,
there were more than 10,000 telephone lines throughout the country.
Today, there are only 7,000 lines available, some 5,000 of which
were installed in 1962.   (Peter Kahler, PANA, 10 February 2000)

* Liberia/Guinea. Border re-opened  -  11 February: Liberia has re-
opened its border with neighbouring Guinea. The decision is "a
result of improved security conditions" along the border with
Guinea. Liberia closed its border last August after insurgents, it
claimed were coming from Guinea launched s second incursion into
its territory. In a statement, the foreign ministry said: "In order
to monitor and ensure the security of their common borders in line
with the provision of the Mano River Union Security Pact, Liberia,
along with other members states of the union, are taking measures
to establish a joint security committee".   (Peter Kahler, PANA, 11
February 2000)

* Liberia. Disparition d'un dirigeant islamiste  -  Le dirigeant du
Mouvement du Jihad islamique du Liberia, Lartin Konneh, qui a
appele la semaine derniere les musulmans a boycotter le
gouvernement du president Taylor, a disparu depuis une recente
intervention des forces de securite a son domicile, affirme sa
famille. Konneh protestait contre des incendies de mosquees "par
des elements opposes a l'islam". Le 15 fevrier, le president Taylor
a lance un avertissement contre "la propapation du fondamentalisme
islamique". Les musulmans representent 20% de la population au
Liberia.   (La Libre Belgique, 17 fevrier 2000)

* Malawi. Drug trafficking causes concern  -  Malawi has revealed
drug trafficking details which give cause for concern. Recent
police reports indicate that drug trafficking mostly involves the
shrub like drug Indian Hemp locally named Chamba. Police records
say that of the recorded cases, police managed to seize 36,569
killogrammes of hemp. Deputy police spokesman Felix Nkhalamba says
a total of 970 suspects have been arrested in connection with drug
trafficking and 384 of these were convicted. Nkhalamba says 27 of
the suspects are foreigners of which five were Britons, seven
Zimbabweans, five Tanzanians, four Mozambicans, two Zambians, a
South African, a Portuguese and a Canadian. He says police findings
have proved that 80% of Chamba produced annually, finds its way
outside the country where the drug is rumoured to be fetching
almost fifteen times more than Malawi's main exported cash crop,
tobacco, fetches.   (Aubrey Sumbuleta, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 9 February
2000)

* Malawi. Privatisation programme  -  Concern for the slow progress
of Malawi's privatisation is spreading. The Privatisation
Commission has now called on foreign consultants for guidance.
Since beginning work in 1996, the Commission has sold-off
government shares in 32 companies, realising US $9.6 million. But
now the Commission has announced it has engaged international
consultants to study the viability of a private company, to be
formed by splitting the Malawi Posts and Telecommunications into
the Malawi Postal Corporation and Malawi Telecom Limited. The first
phase will involve the consultants gathering the necessary legal
and financial details necessary for such a split, and for setting
up these new companies. Word has it, that in the new set-up, Mike
Makawa will become Postmaster General and Emmanuel Mahuka will head
Malawi Telecom.   (F.Hobbs Gama, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 11 February 2000)

* Malawi. Finance Minister probed  -  A recent report by the Anti-
Corruption Bureau has prompted Malawi's President, Dr Bakili
Muluzi, to order that government cancels a pre-shipment contract
with Intertek Testing Services (ITS) of the United Kingdom.
Following the presidential order, the Anti-Corruption Bureau said
the public watchdog body was probing Finance Minister Cassim
Chilumpha, Treasury Secretary Respicius Dzanjalimodzi and State
house Chief of Staff Wallace Chawawa, who were at the centre of the
deal. "We found that the public offices conducted themselves in a
manner conducive to corrupt practices. They also flouted
constitutional demands of openness, transparency and
accountability. The report found that the contract is tainted with
illegality," said the deputy director of the bureau, Alexius
Nampota. "The officers are being cooperative in the
investigations." Nampota said the bureau had not made any arrests.
He noted the report was made under section 10 (1) (c) of the
country's Corrupt Practices Act. "Under the Act, we have to make a
report to the minister responsible and the President happens to be
the minister responsible. The President was forced by our report.
But you know his attitude towards corrupt practices". He, however,
would not say how much Malawi would lose by dropping the ITS.  
(Brian Ligometa, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 16 February 2000)


END OF PART #2/3  (Africa -> Congo-RDC = 17b_02_2k)
	====>   (From Africa to Congo-RDC see 17a_02_2k)
	====>   (From Mali to Zimbabwe see 17c_02_2k)