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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 09-04-1997      PART #1/  

* Algerie. Islamistes tues en Kabylie  -  Une centaine d'islamistes
armes ont ete tues dans une offensive engagee par les forces de
securite depuis le 29 mars en Kabylie (100 km a l'est d'Alger). Le
quotidien "El Watan" precise que l'operation a permis notamment de
decouvrir et de detruire un hopital de campagne et un important
laboratoire de fabrication de bombes. Les forces de securite ont
engage des troupes heliportees pour venir a bout du maquis le plus
impenetrable du pays dans la foret de Sidi Ali Bounab qui abrite
une des plus importantes bases arriere des groupes armes
islamistes, selon le journal. -- D'autre part, dans la nuit du 4 au
5 avril, 91 personnes ont ete assassinees a divers endroits pres
d'Alger. Le plus grand massacre a eu lieu a Thalit, dans la
province de Medea, ou 52 personnes ont eu la gorge tranchee. Dans
la nuit du 6 au 7, treize civils sont encore egorges a Mermiche,
dans le departement de Tlemcen, a l'extreme ouest de l'Algerie.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 avril 1997)

* Algeria. Slaughter on both sides  -  3 April: The newspaper El
Watan reports that Algerian soldiers have killed around 100 Muslim
guerrillas and wiped out a main rebel base in a huge operation in
the northeastern province of Tizi-Ouzou. Helicopters and special
airborne troops were used in the five-day operation in Sidi Ali
Bounab forest near Tizi-Ouzou. Algerian security forces have been
out in force for the past few weeks, carrying out search operations
against guerrillas, ahead of the 5 June parliamentary elections. 4-
5 April: Militants massacre up to 90 villagers in Algeria, in a 12-
hour period. The weekend death toll was one of the highest of the
five-year conflict between Islamic militants and government forces.
El Watan says that about 40 rebels surrounded the hamlet of Thalit
in Medea province, south-west of Algiers, and moved in to kill
everyone there. 52 people in the community had their throats slit.
In another raid, Liberte said that more than 40 militants armed
with Kalashnikov assault rifles and shotguns and led by the Armed
Islamic Group chief Antar Zouabri, hacked to death 15 villagers in
Amroussa community in Blida province, south of Algiers. In another
attack, five civilians had their throats cut and seven were
abducted in Sidi Naamane in Tizi-Ouzou province. 6 April:
Guerrillas storm Merchiche hamlet in the Western Tlemcen province
and kill 13 villagers.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 April 1997)

* Angola. Coalition government  -  On 31 March, a UN official said
that a new coalition government that includes former rebel leaders,
will take office in mid-April, concluding a UN-brokered peace
process that ended two decades of civil war. The government's April
11 swearing-in, the final step in the peace process, has been
postponed three times since December -- each time by the failure of
former rebels who are part of the planned government to arrive in
Luanda. A four-day visit last week by UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan provided the final push in the peace process, which began in
1994. Alioune Blondin Beye, the UN special envoy to Angola, made
the announcement after a meeting in Luanda between negotiators from
the government and UNITA. The two sides also agreed they would
resolve military issues before the new government takes office,
Beye said, without providing further details. The last of the 70
UNITA deputies entitled to seats in the new parliament arrived in
Luanda over the weekend. UNITAžs four ministers and seven deputy
ministers also were in the capital. Ahead of Annan's visit, the two
sides also finalized an agreement on Savimbižs future status. He
will have special powers as leader of the main opposition party,
including the right to consult with the president on political
issues.   (AFJN, Washington, 4 April 1997)

* Angola. Statut officiel pour Savimbi  -  Le Parlement angolais a
accorde, le 8 avril, un statut legal de "chef de l'opposition" a
l'ancien chef rebelle Jonas Savimbi. Cette decision de l'Assemblee
ouvre la voie a la creation d'un gouvernement de reconciliation
nationale qui devrait entrer en fonction le 11 avril.  
(Liberation, France, 9 avril 1997)

* Burundi. Noose on Press tightened  -  The authorities in Burundi
have promulgated a new law, imposing harsh penalties against
violations of existing legislation on the operations of the local
Press, official sources said on 3 April in Bujumbura. According to
the new law, journalists and newspaper publishers found guilty of
slander against the Head of State, will now be liable to prison
terms of between six months and five years, plus a fine ranging
from 50,000 to 100,000 Burundian francs. Similar penalties will be
meted out to media organisations disseminating false information to
undermine national unity, peace, security and public morality.
Authors of communiques, calls and announcements which encourage
crime, blackmail of innocent persons, fraudulent acts and racial or
ethnic hatred, will also be punished.   (PANA, 3 April 1997)

* Burundi. Bombardements de villages  -  Quelques centaines de
personnes ont ete tuees a Rumonge, dans la province de Bururi, le
27 mars, lors de combats entre l'armee gouvernementale, dominee par
la minorite tutsi, et la rebellion hutu. L'armee a bombarde des
villages dans la commune de Rumonge. Jusque-la, l'armee burundaise
ne s'etait servie de ses petits avions bombardiers que dans la
foret de la Kibira, supposee etre la base de repli des FDD (Forces
de defense de la democratie). Les premiers obus sont tombes le 26
mars vers 18h.30 sur la colline de Mitonto. Tard dans la soiree, 48
roquettes avaient ete lancees. Le 28 mars, l'intervention d'unites
de commandos a fait entre 200 et 250 morts, tous des civils tues a
l'arme blanche. Les victimes des bombardements ne sont pas encore
connues. L'armee a explique qu'elle visait le demantelement des
bases des FDD. Interroges sur la veracite de ces evenements, des
temoins ont parle de tueries gratuites perpetrees contre des civils
non armes. Quelques jours auparavant, au moins 100 Hutu,
majoritairement des femmes et des enfants, avaient ete tues par des
militaires dans les zones de Kizuka et Mudende et a Minago.  
(Burundi-Buro, Bonn, 3 avril 1997)

* Burundi. Reexamen de l'embargo  -  Le sommet regional prevu a
Arusha pour examiner une eventuelle levee des sanctions economiques
contre le Burundi a ete reporte du 14 au 16 avril. Le gouvernement
tanzanien envisage de convier le major tutsi Pierre Buyoya, pour
qu'il explique sa position, ainsi que le demandent "certains
groupes". Lors du sommet a Dar-es-Salaam, en octobre, les Etats de
la region, bien que divises, avaient opte pour le maintien de
l'embargo, dans lequel certains dirigeants africains voient un
obstacle, et non un encouragement, a des pourparlers de paix.   (La
Libre Belgique, 9 avril 1997)

* Cameroon. No Independent Electoral Commission  -  Repeated calls
for an Independent Electoral Commission have been officially
discarded by the Government. A National Union for Democracy and
Progress (UNDP) sponsored bill on the Commission was not accepted.
The ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM), held the
majority in the 180-seat four-party parliament. Following the 1992
elections in which four parties emerged with seats in the house,
the ruling CPDM forged an alliance with the Union of the
Cameroonian people (UPC) (18 seats) and the Movement for Democracy
and the Republic (MDR) against the UNDP, to control parliament.
Political observers are of the opinion that very little has been
achieved democratically during this present government's mandate.
This view is not shared by President Paul Biya and his ruling CPDM
who say they have greatly enhanced and advanced the democratic
process. Parliamentary elections have been announced for May, but
no specific date has, as yet, been given.   (Tamfu Hanson Ghandi,
Cameroon, 24 March 1997)

* Cameroun. Journaliste libere sous caution  -  Le 27 mars, la Cour
supreme du Cameroun a rendu un verdict favorable a la liberation
sous caution d'Eyoum Ngangue, de l'hebdomadaire satirique Le
Messager Popoli, qui etait detenu depuis le 22 janvier. Il avait
ete condamne en octobre 1996 a un an de prison ferme pour "outrage
par injure au president de la Republique ainsi qu'aux membres de
l'Assemblee nationale, et propagation de nouvelles fausses" pour un
editorial et deux bandes dessinees brocardant notamment le projet
de loi de revision constitutionnelle.   (Reporters sans frontieres,
France, 7 avril 1997)

* Centrafrique. Mutins au gouvernement  -  Dans le cadre de sa
politique de reconciliation nationale, le president centrafricain
Ange-Felix Patasse a confie deux ministeres a des hommes choisis
par la faction de l'armee qui s'etait mutinee a plusieurs reprises
au cours des derniers mois. Ainsi, le general de brigade Didace
N'Dayen devient ministre delegue aupres du ministre de la Defense.
Ces nominations s'inscrivent dans le cadre du plan de paix mis en
place en janvier dernier.   (Liberation et La Croix, France, 9
avril 1997)

* Ethiopie. Journalistes emprisonnes  -  L'organisation de defense
de la liberte de presse, Reporters sans frontieres, a proteste le
7 avril aupres du gouvernement ethiopien contre l'arrestation d'un
journaliste et la detention prolongee de huit autres. Atenafu
Alemayhu, redacteur en chef de l'hebdomadaire prive Tobia, a ete
arrete le 24 fevrier, en meme temps que deux autres journalistes
accuses d'avoir publie des informations sur les relations entre une
organisation humanitaire et des islamistes soudanais.  
(Liberation, France, 8 avril 1997)

* Gabon. President accused of international fraud  -  The President
of Gabon, Omar Bongo, has cancelled a visit to France and
threatened to end the privileged position of the French oil company
Elf in his country, over allegations that he has been a beneficiary
in an international fraud. Elf imports 16% of its oil from Gabon,
which itself owns a quarter of the oil company. There has been
constant suspicion that much of the revenue from the oil deals,
ends up in the hands of the presidential entourage. (...) Mr Bongo,
President of Gabon for the last 30 years, has frequently threatened
to favour the American oil industry whenever there has been a
dispute over Elf.   (The Guardian, U.K., 8 April 1997)

* Gabon. Le president Bongo mis en cause  -  Une enquete judiciaire
sur les montages financiers douteux du groupe petrolier Elf, aurait
mis en cause le president du Gabon, Omar Bongo. Selon l'homme
d'affaires Andre Guelfi, M. Bongo aurait touche, en 1992, une
commission de 2,5 millions de dollars. Au cours d'un entretien
telephonique, le president gabonais aurait proteste aupres du
president Chirac contre ces developpements de l'enquete, en les
qualifiant "d'atteintes a la souverainete de son pays".   (d'apres
Le Monde, France, 8 avril 1997)

* Liberia. Alliance Elects Presidential Candidate  -  On March 28,
delegates from an alliance of seven political parties Friday
elected Geologist Cletus Wortorson as presidential candidate to
represent them at the May 30 democratic elections in Liberia.
Wortorson defeated former University professor and economist Togba-
Nah Tipoteh of the Liberian People's Party (LPP) by 306 to 290
votes in the third round of voting at the Unity conference centre,
10 kilometres (six miles) west of Monrovia.   (AFJN, Washington, 4
April 1997)

* Malawi. "Radio Maria"  -  Mangochi Catholic Diocese is due to
open a Catholic Radio Broadcasting organisation in June this year,
called "Radio Maria". In an interview with the Malawi Broadcasting
Corporation on 13 March, Father Piergiogo Gamba, a Montfort
Missionary, said: "We see the opening of the first Catholic Radio
Station in Malawi as being relevant to this modern time, when mass
communication technology is playing a great role in informing
mankind across the oceans". He said that the radio station,
initiated by Bishop Alessandro Assolar of Mangochi Diocese, will be
used by priests, sisters, brothers, catechists and men and women
from all walks of life, in an effort to reflect true Christian
values. Malawi has only one national radio station, the Malawi
Broadcasting Corporation.   (Benedict Chimenya, Malawi, 13 March
1997)

* Mali. Elections legislatives  -  Avec 1.506 candidatures validees
par la Cour constitutionnelle, les elections legislatives du 13
avril au Mali battent un record de participation. Ces candidats se
disputeront les 147 sieges de deputes a pourvoir contre 114 dans la
precedente assemblee. Selon un dernier pointage officiel, 34 partis
politiques presentent des candidats, contre une quinzaine lors des
precedentes legislatives en 1992. De plus, 19 listes de
candidatures independantes ont ete validees et se presenteront au
meme titre que les partis politiques, avec les memes droits d'acces
a la radio d'Etat pour leur campagne electorale.   (Marches
Tropicaux, France, 4 avril 1997)

* Mozambique. Construction d'un nouveau barrage  -  Le Mozambique
et l'Afrique du Sud ont signe le 20 mars un protocole d'accord sur
la construction d'un nouveau projet hydroelectrique sur le fleuve
Zambeze. Le chemin se trouve ainsi ouvert pour permettre de
realiser une etude de viabilite d'un barrage a Mepanda-Uncua,
quelque 70 km en aval de celui de Cahora Bassa. L'energie produite
par ce barrage permettra par exemple d'envisager la construction
d'une usile d'aluminium a Matola, dans les environs de la capitale,
Maputo. Cette usine aura une capacite de production de 245.000
tonnes d'aluminium, qui pourra etre rapidement doublee en cas de
besoin.   (d'apres Marches Tropicaux, France, 4 avril 1997)

* Namibia. Nujoma ready to accept a third term  -  According to a
news reports on 3 April, President Sam Nujoma (67), told the
Namibian parliament that he would accept a third term in office if
asked to do so. He said: "I am still young...and if the people of
Namibia want me to continue making a contribution, I will do so".
Political observers believe the subject will top the agenda at a
SWAPO congress scheduled for later this year.   (Johannesburg,
SAPA, 3 April 1997)

* Nigeria. Former oil minister decamps to Abacha  -  On 4 April,
former Oil Minister Don Etiebet has resigned from the political
party he has built up since a ban on politics was lifted last year,
and declared for the party that wants military ruler General Sani
Abacha as a presidential candidate. "It is necessary for me to be
seen to be participating in nation-building", Etiebet said. "I have
therefore decided, and it is my pleasure, to declare for the United
Nigeria Congress Party" (UNCP) which wants Abacha as its candidate. 
 (Newspot, USA, 4 April 1997)

* Nigeria. Ethnies et petrole  -  La creation de nouvelles
municipalites ravive les querelles interethniques. Ainsi, les
Nembe, une communaute appartenant a l'ethnie Ijaw, ont pris en
otage ces derniers jours 127 employes de Shell, obligeant le groupe
petrolier a fermer onze de ses sites dans les Etats de Bayelsa et
de Delta. Les Nembe protestent contre le decoupage administratif
qui a suivi la creation du nouvel Etat de Bayelsa et qui les oblige
a partager avec les Itsekiris l'administration d'une meme
municipalite. C'est pour manifester leur mecontentement face a
cette situation qu'ils ont pris des otages et exige la fermeture
des stations de pompage. Les derniers otages ont ete liberes le 27
mars. Mais de la prise d'otages, les deux groupes sont passes a
l'affrontement et un couvre-feu a du etre impose le 28 mars dans
l'Etat du Delta a la suite de violences qui ont fait 4 morts. La
marine nigeriane a evacue, le dernier week-end de mars, environ
2.000 membres de l'ethnie des Itsekiris de la region de Forcados,
ou ils risquaient d'etre attaques par l'ethnie plus importante des
Ijaws. Shell a annonce que sa production devait redevenir normale
au cours de la premiere semaine d'avril.   (Marches Tropicaux,
France, 4 avril 1997)

* Nigeria. Pressure groups condemn Nigeria  -  13 March: Human
Rights Watch/Africa says it is "deeply disturbed" to learn that the
Nigerian Government has charged Wole Soyinka and others with
treason. 8 April: A World Council of Churches report documents
oppression of Nigeria's Ogoni people. 9 April: Article 19, a
British-based human rights group, says that journalists in Nigeria
are the target for frequent attacks ordered by the government and
have faced torture, unfair trials and arbitrary detention.   (ANB-
BIA, Brussels, 9 April 1997)

* Rwanda. Grave doubts about the first trials  -  In a 25-page
report, Amnesty International has expressed "grave doubts" about
the fairness of the first trials conducted in Rwanda. The report
says that the trials of people charged with genocide have been
largely unfair -- with most prosecutors and judges having little
training, some trials lasting only a few hours, and an apparent
assumption that defendants are guilty unless proven innocent. "The
fact that the trials are being held at all, represents a
significant step towards restoring justice in Rwanda, but the
serious flaws in both law and practice, put at risk the lives of
those charged, and the attempts at rebuilding the Rwandese justice
system", the organisation said.   (Amnesty International, 8 April
1997)

* Rwanda. Commemoration du genocide  -  Le 7 avril, jour de deuil
national, le Rwanda a rememore le debut du genocide il y a trois
ans, par une ceremonie d'enterrement de 20.000 victimes a Muhororo,
dans la province de Gisenyi au nord-ouest du pays, en presence du
president Bizimungu. -- D'autre part, Amnesty International denonce
les proces pour genocide au Rwanda comme inequitables, les prevenus
etant presumes coupables a moins de pouvoir prouver leur
innoncence. Le code de procedure rwandais n'accorde que huit heures
a la defense pour preparer un proces et il est difficile aux
accuses de s'y preparer en raison de la surpopulation des prisons,
de l'absence de materiel pour ecrire et d'aide aux illettres,
souligne Amnesty.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 avril 1997)

* Sierra Leone. Editors jailed  -  On 24 March, three editors of
the Expo Times newspaper reappeared before Magistrate Naomi Tunis
of Freetown Court Number One, on a four-count charge of spying,
under the 1963 Treason and State Offenses Act. Publisher and
Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Sheaga Shaw, Acting Deputy Editor Charles
Roberts, and General Editor Gibril Gbanabom Koroma, were for the
second time refused bail, and ordered to be kept at the Pademba
Road Maximum Security Prison, until the next adjournment date of 2
April. The prosecution alleged that between 30 January last year
and 11 March this year, the accused received secret official
documents and secret military information, which they handed over
to the enemy. The journalists had originally been arrested after
the publication of a feature story entitled: "Abacha's Wild West
Gangsterism", dealing with the capture of rebel leader Foday Sankoh
in Nigeria. The article in question had been written by Gibril G.
Koroma.   (Cyphas Williams, Sierra Leone, 27 March 1997)

* Soudan. Succes des rebelles  -  Les forces rebelles soudanaises
ont annonce le 4 avril qu'elles ont pris la garnison militaire de
Jambo, au sud du Soudan, a 80 km au nord-ouest de Juba. Deux jours
auparavant elles avaient revendique la prise d'Aqiq, au nord-est du
pays, pres de la frontiere erythreenne. Au nord, les rebelles
tentent de couper la route qui relie Khartoum a Port-Soudan, sur la
mer Rouge. Le 1 avril, le gouvernement soudanais avait encore
affirme que ses troupes avaient arrete l'offensive rebelle. --
D'autre part, le 31 mars, la police soudanaise a detruit une eglise
catholique de Khartoum (a Terea) avec des bulldozers sur l'ordre
des autorites locales, a indique a Rome la societe missionnaire des
Comboniens. Deux autres eglises devaient etre detruites le meme
jour, mais des fideles l'ont empeche en bloquant la route d'acces
aux lieux de culte et en s'enfermant dans les chapelles. -- Le 6
avril, les autorites soudanaises ont exhorte les organisations
humanitaires a rester a l'ecart des zones de combat dans le sud du
pays, au risque d'etre sinon considerees comme alliees des
rebelles. Le gouvernement islamiste estime que l'aide alimentaire
fournie aux populations des zones controlees par les rebelles est
"une violation flagrante de la souvernainete du Soudan".   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 5-7 avril 1997)

* Sudan. Another church destroyed by police  -  On 31 March, the
police in Khartoum, with the help of a bulldozer, demolished the
Catholic Centre at El-Tereis, destroying the church, the school and
all the furniture in them. A courageous woman defied the police,
entered the church and removed the Blessed Sacrament from the
tabernacle. The Christian community, taken by surprise, protested
against the unexpected action of the police. No previous
information of the impending action had been given by the
government authorities; no document or permit for destruction were
presented by the police. The Centre is situated in a shanty town on
the southern outskirts of Khartoum, and is part of the St. Joseph's
Parish, entrusted to the Salesian Fathers.   (Comboni Press, Rome,
4 April 1997)

* Sudan. Hints at peace deal  -  6 April: The Sudanese government
announces that it is preparing to sign a full peace treaty (by 10
April at the earliest) with four rebel factions that broke away
from the mainstream Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). The
announcement by Mohamed Amin Khalifa, secretary-general of the
state-run Council for peace, comes as SPLA fighters are reportedly
closing in on the south's regional capital at Juba. Also, it is
announced that Major Nikrona Magar Ashiek, a commander in the Lakes
and Upper Nile areas in southern Sudan, has defected from the SPLA
and asked for peace with the government. The report does not say
when this took place.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 April 1997)

* Southern Africa. Round and about  -  Textile trade: South Africa,
through its High Commission in Zimbabwe, has announced that an
agreement reached last August between South Africa and Zimbabwe, on
reinstating preferential tariffs on Zimbabwean clothing and
textiles, under the 1964 trade accord, permits the resumption of
such exports by 1 March this year. It is understood that the date
for implementing the trade accord had been delayed until 1997, due
to "technical procedures". With these now resolved, Zimbabwe and
South Africa will be resuming this aspect of trade, within a month.
Malawi boosts its economy: Malawi is doing everything it can to
boost its economy. This is underlined in the recently published
1997/1998 Budget, where it is indicated that import duties on raw
materials used in manufacturing, will be scrapped. Generally
speaking, Malawi hopes to reduce its budget deficit to 7.8% and
boost an ailing economy. Battling with ivory trade ban: Following
the 1989 world ban on ivory trade, Southern Africa is currently
facing a critical elephant over-population crisis. The call to lift
the ban continues to grow louder and louder from Southern African
countries, including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and
South Africa. According to recent records, Zimbabwe has about
65,000 elephants, well above the 35,000 which ecologists say can be
sustained, without damaging the environment for other species.  
(Stephen Alumenda, Zimbabwe, 1 April 1997)

* South Africa. The Bishops and the Abortion Law  -  The Southern
African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACB) has no plans to
challenge the country's 1996 abortion laws in court, but will
instead lobby for change, said Father Sean O'Leary, head of the
Conference's Justice and Peace Department. "Although the Conference
has not taken a formal decision not to go to court, we have not
gone forward". Instead of taking the court route, the bishops'
conference will focus on lobbying for change to the Choice on
Termination of Pregnancy Act. The bishops' conference will review
the situation in June, said Father O'Leary.   (The Southern Cross,
S. Africa, 30 March 1997)

* Tanzanie. Menace de famine  -  Pres de quatre millions de
Tanzaniens, en plusieurs points du pays, vont etre victimes de la
famine s'ils ne recoivent pas d'urgence quelque 139.000 tonnes de
cereales, la prochaine recolte etant prevue en septembre, a annonce
le president tanzanien Benjamin Mpaka. La penurie a ete causee par
une longue periode de secheresse, interrompue il y a environ deux
semaines par des pluies torrentielles qui ont cause de nombreuses
inondations et retarde les operations de distribution alimentaire. 
 (Le Soir, Belgique, 9 avril 1997)

* Uganda. Rebel groups to merge  -  On 5 April, the New Vision
reported that two Ugandan rebel groups have agreed to merge. The
newspaper reports that leaders of the West Nile Bank Front (WNBF)
and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) flew to Khartoum to make the
deal. Another minor rebel group, the Uganda National Rescue Front
(UNRF-II), led by Ali Bamuze, was reported to have joined the
alliance.   (IRIN, Kenya, 7 April 1997)

* Zaire. Towards Lubumbashi (via Mbuji Mayi)  -  3 April: The rebel
alliance refuses to have anything dealings with newly appointed
Prime Minister Tshisekedi. Also, Mobutu's own party condemns him
for allocating six government portfolios to the rebels. The
portfolios are: Foreign Affairs, Defence, Budget, Planning, Foreign
Trade and Agriculture. Tshisekedi also announces the dissolution of
the transitional parliament and the revival of the Sovereign
National Conference. 4 April: Continuing their advance, the rebels
capture Mbuji Mayi, Zaire's "diamond capital". Zaire's second city.
Lubumbashi is now described as "living in limbo" --its life has
been put "on hold" in the expectation that the rebels may burst in
at any time. The city treats their arrival as matter of time. 5
April: Delegations gather in South Africa to try and find a
solution to Zaire's civil war. 7 April: Reports from Lubumbashi
indicate that officers of the Zairian army in Lubumbashi, have
ordered their soldiers to lay down their arms and not loot. One
brigade is now wearing white headbands. There is a curious air of
expectancy in the city. It is said the rebels could be there "at
any moment". In Kinshasa, soldiers attack demonstrators opposed to
President Mobutu. Representatives of the Zaire government and the
ADFL continue their third day of talks at a secret location in
South Africa. 8 April: The talks in South Africa are adjourned.
Mobutu proclaims a state of emergency in Kinshasa and throughout
Zaire. 9 April: A demonstration in support of Prime Minister
Tshisekedi is planned for today in Kinshasa.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels,
9 April 1997)

* Zaire. Guerre et politique  -  3 avril. Le nouveau Premier
ministre, E. Tshisekedi, presente son nouveau gouvernement dans
lequel il propose six portefeuilles a l'Alliance de Kabila, mais
celui-ci a repousse ces avances. Le departement d'Etat americain
appelle Kabila a reconsiderer son refus. D'autre part, M.
Thsisekedi declare ne pas juger utile la rencontre prevue a
Pretoria, pour laquelle sont parties des delegations de la
rebellion et du president Mobutu. Tshisekedi a en outre dissous le
Parlement de transition au profit de l'ancienne conference
nationale. 4 avril Les forces de l'Alliance entrent dans la ville
de Mbuji-Mayi, le chef-lieu du Kasai et capitale du diamant. L'ONU
appelle solennellement le chef de la rebellion "a laisser les
organisations de secours faire leur travail et a arreter la tuerie"
des refugies rwandais. 5-6 avril. Les negociations entre des
representants de Kabila et du regime Mobutu ont commence dans un
lieu tenu secret, pres de Pretoria. A Kinshasa, Tshisekedi perd la
confiance tant de la mouvance presidentielle que de l'opposition
radicale. A Lubumbashi, l'armee zairoise recoit des renforts, dont
120 hommes de la Division speciale presidentielle. Sur le plan
humanitaire, Kabila accepte un plan de rapatriement par avion des
refugies rwandais du sud de Kisangani. 7 avril. A Kinshasa, des
partisans de Tshisekedi manifestent pour empecher la reunion du
Parlement de transition en vue d'un debat sur la destitution du
Premier ministre. Les forces rebelles sont aux portes de
Lubumbashi, ayant conquis Kipushi, a une trentaine de km de la. La
radio locale a lance des appels aux militaires gouvernementaux a se
rallier aux rebelles. D'autre part, Laurent Kabila s'est rendu a
Mbuji-Mayi. Les soldats zairois en deroute ont pille Kananga et ont
pris la direction de Tshikapa et Kikwit, vers la capitale. On
signale aussi, plus au nord, des pillages a Boende. 8 avril. Le
president Mobutu proclame l'etat d'urgence dans l'ensemble du pays
et nomme cinq gouverneurs militaires dans les provinces non encore
controlees par les rebelles. Ceux-ci ont pris la ville de Likasi au
nord-ouest de Lubumbashi, mais reconnaissent qu'ils rencontrent une
resistance farouche de l'armee zairoise autour de la capitale du
Shaba. Kabila annonce qu'apres Lubumbashi, son prochain objectif
sera Kinshasa. A Pretoria, les negociations entre les delegations
zairoises sont temporairement suspendues, sans qu'on ait pu
convenir d'un cessez-le-feu. D'autre part, a Geneve, le rapporteur
special de l'Onu sur les droits de l'homme au Zaire, R. Garreton,
a presente un rapport de 16 pages ou il donne une liste de 40
endroits ou il pourrait y avoir eu des massacres par les forces de
l'AFDL a l'est du Zaire. Le rapport decrit un "climat de peur" dans
lequel tous ses informateurs demandent l'anonymat et affirme que
des violations des droits de l'homme continuent toujours en
complete impunite. 9 avril. Diverses radios annoncent l'arrestation
a Kinshasa du Premier ministre Etienne Tshisekedi. Selon la BRTN
(Belgique) et la BBC (Grande-Bretagne), au debut de l'apres-midi,
la voiture de Tshisekedi aurait ete arretee par un blinde de
l'armee zairoise. Les soldats auraient employe des gaz lacrymogenes
et malmene les spectateurs pour eviter une emeute. Tshisekedi
aurait ete arrete et amene a son domicile. Mobutu aurait nomme
Premier ministre le gen. Likulia Bolongo. On annonce aussi que les
troupes rebelles seraient entrees a Lubumbashi.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 9 avril 1997)

* Zaire. Tshisekedi dismissed  -  9 April: International radio
services, during the course of the afternoon, report that Prime
Minister Tshisekedi has been dismissed by President Mobutu and
replaced by General Likulia Bolongo. Tshisekedi is reported to have
been arrested and then taken to his residence in Kinshasa. This
took place during a demonstration in Kinshasa in support of
Tshisekedi. Also, rebel forces are reported to have entered
Lubumbashi.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 April 1997)

* Zimbabwe. Rehearsal for peace force  -  About 1,500 soldiers from
nine southern African armies -- some of them longtime foes -- have
begun 14 days of joint military manoeuvres in mountainous eastern
Zaire that could lead to the formation of a joint peacekeeping
force for African trouble spots.   (The Times, U.K., 5 April 1997)

* Zimbabwe. Women's freedom a day dream  -  This year, women all
over the world celebrated International Women's Day under the
theme: "Equality, development and Peace". In Zimbabwe, the gender
issue remains a matter of wish rather than a reality. Since
Independence, it must be said that Robert Mugabe's government has
done its best to improve the position of women. Nevertheless, the
government's efforts have been thwarted by religious, ethnic and
cultural pressures. Regarding our country's leaders, what is the
current situation? Out of 150 members of Parliament, only 21 are
women. Of 16 Cabinet Ministers, 3 are women. In local government:
Harare has 6 women out of 42 councillors; Bulawayo has 2 women out
of 25 councillors. Of Zimbabwe's 153 chiefs, only 3 are women.  
(Augustine Deke, Zimbabwe, 2 April 1997)

===== ARTICLES AVAILABLE - NOUS VOUS SIGNALONS...
= GREAT LAKES
Title: Statement of the OAU Lome Summit, 27 March 1997
Description: Statement of the Central Organ of the OAU mechanism
for conflict prevention, management and resolution, at the level of
Heads of State and Government, on the situation in the Great Lakes
Region, with particular reference to Eastern Zaire. The text is in
English. (When ordering, please quote: IRIN 8/4/97)

= RWANDA
Title: Rwanda: Grave doubts about the fairness of the first trials
Source: Amnesty International, 8 April 1997 (please quote when
ordering)
Description: A summary of a 25-page report by Amnesty
International, based on observation of trials in Rwanda in
January/Februay, and a review of the law governing genocide trials.
Amnesty details its concerns about this law.


COUNTRY