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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 17-04-1997      PART #1/  


* Africa. Malaria puts drugs to flight  -  On 9 April, leading
European, American and African scientists warned that disaster
looms over Africa as the malaria parasite becomes increasingly
resistant to drugs. It is estimated that malaria kills someone
every 12 seconds, taking between 1.2 million and 2.7 million lives
a year. Health experts reckon that between 300 million and 500
million people have the disease, and that one third of the planet
is at risk from malaria. In Senegal alone, deaths from malaria have
increased sevenfold in the last five years. The disease is
returning in many countries where it had once been almost
eliminated. "More than a million still die from it each year, most
of them young children," the report says. Nine out of 10 of these
deaths occur in Africa, where resistance to Chloroquine is
spreading, diminishing the impact of a drug which in the past has
helped to limit the damage wreaked by the disease".   (The
Guardian, U.K., 10 April 1997)

* Algerie. Encore des massacres  -  De nouveaux massacres et
attentats ont encore endeuille l'Algerie. Dans la nuit du 11 au 12
avril, 22 civils ont ete assassines pres de Boufarik, a 35 km
d'Alger, au douar Menaa. La veille, sept civils avaient ete
assassines aux gorges de la Chiffa, tandis que sept islamistes
etaient tues pres de Dellys et de Tiaret. Enfin, quatre personnes
ont ete tuees dans l'explosion d'un vehicule piege, le 11 avril a
Haouche Gros, egalement pres de Boufarik. Toutes ces morts
violentes portent au moins a 143 le nombre de civils assassines en
une dizaine de jours dans des massacres attribues a des groupes
armes presumes islamistes. En Europe, le FIS a appele le Parlement
europeen a reclamer l'ouverture d'une enquete internationale
independante sur les crimes abominables perpetres selon lui a
l'instigation du pouvoir algerien. - Dans la nuit du 12 au 13
avril, trente autres personnes, en majorite des femmes, ont encore
ete tuees dans le douar Chaib Mohamed, a 35 km au sud d'Alger.  
(Le Soir, Belgique, 14-15 avril 1997)

* Amnesty International. UN Human Rights chief  -  On 14 April,
Amnesty International said that the departing UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights, Jose Ayala Lasso, had "consistently failed" to
speak out against abuses. It urged the UN to choose a successor who
would do better. Amnesty also called on member states to increase
finance for UN field operations, which employs 250 rights monitors
in 12 countries, including Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda and Zaire. The
UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, is expected to appoint a
successor next month. But some UN sources defended Mr Ayala Lasso,
saying quiet diplomacy had enabled the UN to set up rights
monitoring offices in Rwanda, Burundi and Colombia. "It achieved
concrete results", said one UN source. "We would never have had
these reports from Burundi and Rwanda -- which not even Amnesty can
match --if the High Commissioner had not started quiet diplomacy
with those governments and made it possible to establish those
offices".   (The Guardian, U.K., 15 April 1997)

* Angola. L'UNITA au Parlement et au gouvernement  -  Les delegues
de l'ancien mouvement rebelle UNITA ont occupe, le 9 avril, leurs
sieges au Parlement angolais. Le 11 avril, le gouvernement d'unite
et de reconciliation nationales a prete serment a Luanda. Le
nouveau gouvernement, cle de voute du processus de paix initie par
les Nations unies depuis 1994 et qui met fin a vingt annees de
guerre civile en Angola, compte quatre ministres et sept vice-
ministres venant de l'UNITA. Le chef de l'UNITA, Jonas Savimbi, qui
s'est vu octroye le titre officiel de "president du plus grand
parti d'opposition", etait toutefois absent de la ceremonie, par
crainte pour sa securite personnelle. Le president angolais a fixe
au gouvernement comme taches prioritaires la restauration de
l'economie, le retablissement de l'autorite de l'Etat et
l'etablissement d'un climat de securite sur l'ensemble du
territoire angolais.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 12 avril
1997)

* Angola. Unity government  -  8 April: Parliament passes a Bill
giving UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi special status. The legislation
formally makes Savimbi, president of the largest opposition party
and gives him the right to regular consultation with the national
president, and an official residence in Luanda. The government and
UNITA will take another step nearer full reconciliation when they
inaugurate a power-sharing unity government on 11 April. 11 April:
The power-sharing government is inaugurated today. 14 April:
FormerUNITA fighters have begun to formally lay down their arms in
a step towards consolidating the peace that has been given shape by
the formation of the national unity government.   (Newspot, USA,
12/14 April 1997)

* Burundi. Decouverte d'un depot d'armes  -  Quatre personnes ont
ete arretees, apres que la police avait decouvert un depot d'armes
et de munitions, y compris des mines antichar et antipersonnel,
dans le quartier Buyenzi a Bujumbura. Selon un porte-parole de
l'armee, une enquete est en cours. "Si nos conclusions impliquent
l'ancien president Bagaza, nous vous le ferons savoir", a-t-il
ajoute. Le mois passe les autorites ont arrete huit membres du
parti PARENA de Bagaza, accuses d'un complot contre le colonel
Buyoya. Par ailleurs, apres une visite a un camp dans la province
de Karuzi, l'ambassadeur americain a attaque vigoureusement la
politique burundaise de regroupement des populations, tout en
reconnaissant la necessite d'une assistance humanitaire. Les Etats-
Unis craignent que le regroupement force s'etende egalement dans la
province de Makamba, ou des combats font rage entre les militaires
et les rebelles hutu; 140 rebelles y auraient ete tues dans la
semaine ecoulee. Cinq provinces sont deja affectees par cette
politique et les camps s'aggrandissent toujours.   (IRIN, Nairobi,
10-11 avril 1997)

* Burundi. Economic sanctions  -  8 April: A regional summit to
review economic sanctions against Burundi has been rescheduled and
will now be held in Arusha, Tanzania, on 16 April. The Tanzania
government is considering whether to invite Major Pierre Buyoya to
the summit which will be attended by leaders of the Great Lakes
region. 10 April: Burundi's Foreign Minister Luc Rukingama calls on
African countries and the international community, to remove the
economic sanctions imposed on Burundi since July 1996. 11 April:
Luc Rukingama lashes out at neighbouring countries, accusing them
of profiting from the embargo through illegal trade. 15 April:
Major Pierre Buyoya arrives in Arusha for the regional meeting. He
goes straight into talks with summit host, President Benjamin Mkapa
of Tanzania. A preliminary report by researchers from Brown
University in the USA, states that there is no concrete evidence
that sanctions against Burundi have been successful politically.
They are, however, having a significant impact on the Burundian
economy and causing considerable civilian hardship. 16 April: The
Arusha Summit eases sanctions against Burundi, especially those
affecting the ordinary citizen. Also the leaders call on Burundi's
military leaders to disband "regroupment camps" for hundreds of
thousands of civilians.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 April 1997)

* Burundi. Levee partielle de l'embargo  -  Reunis en sommet a
Arusha (Tanzanie), les chefs d'Etat de la region des Grands Lacs
ont leve le 16 avril une partie des sanctions economiques frappant
le Burundi. Toutes les sanctions economiques touchant "le citoyen
ordinaire" ont ete annulees. Echapperont desormais a l'embargo: les
produits alimentaires et agricoles, les medicaments et les
equipements medicaux, les materiaux de construction et les
equipements educatifs. Les chefs d'Etat exhortent egalement les
dirigeants burundais a demanteler tous les camps de regroupement de
civils et a favoriser l'ouverture de negociations dans un esprit de
reconciliation nationale.   (La Libre Belgique, 17 avril 1997)

* Cameroun. Elections legislatives  -  La date des elections
legislatives a ete enfin fixee par le gouvernement au 17 mai
prochain. Les elections pluralistes de 1992 avaient vu le parti
presidentiel remporter 88 sieges sur les 180, l'obligeant ainsi a
passer des alliances avec des partis d'opposition. La nouveaute du
scrutin de 1997 sera la participation de l'un des deux grands
partis d'opposition, le Social Democratic Front, qui avait boycotte
les elections de 1992. D'autre part, fin mars, la province du Nord-
Ouest a ete le theatre de graves incidents (incendies et attaques
de locaux de la police), dont les veritables mobiles ne sont pas
encore elucides. Ces attaques methodiques et ciblees pourraient
etre le fait des membres du Southern Cameroon National Council, qui
exige l'independance de la partie anglophone du Cameroun.  
(d'apres Marches Tropicaux, France, 11 avril 1997)

* Centrafrique. Nouveau couvre-feu  -  Un nouveau couvre-feu a ete
instaure a Bangui de 21 h. a 5 h. a annonce, le 14 avril, la
television centrafricaine, sans autres precisions, en citant un
decret presidentiel. Le nouveau couvre-feu vise a lutter contre la
delinquance devenue endemique dans la capitale et qui connait une
recrudescence depuis le 1er avril, date de la rencontre de
conciliation entre le president Patasse et les representants des
ex-mutins.   (Le Monde, France, 16 avril 1997)

* Egypte. Proces de corruption  -  Le plus important proces de
corruption des vingt dernieres annees, dans lequel sont impliques
trente-deux hommes d'affaires et banquiers egyptiens, dont quatre
deputes du parti au pouvoir, s'est ouvert le 8 avril devant la
Haute Cour de surete de l'Etat du Caire. Il leur est reproche
d'avoir fourni frauduleusement des prets et facilites bancaires
d'un montant de 340 millions de dollars environ, sans garanties
suffisantes et en infraction de la loi sur les activites bancaires.
Ils sont passibles de peines allant de 3 a 15 ans de prison ferme. 
 (Le Monde, France, 10 avril 1997)

* Egypt. Mustafa Amin  -  Mustafa Amin, who died in Cairo on 13
April, was the best known columnist and journalist in the Middle
East for decades, and was regarded as one of the fathers of Arab
journalism. He made the ideas of free press and democracy,
paramount in his widely read column. He never grew tired of proving
to his wide readership that his pen was mightier than the
dictator's sword, in spite of the fact that he was himself tortured
in jail during the time of President Nasser. The late President
Sadat freed Amin in 1974. Amin did not, however, spare Sadat's
government -- nor the current administration of President Mubarak.
In his last column, Amin took a spiritual view that hearts and
souls unite all humans whether they are friends or foes. To many
Egyptian intellectuals, his death has closed one of the most
important chapters in the history of the Egyptian press.   (The
Independent, U.K., 15 April 1997)

* Egypte. Mort de Moustafa Amin  -  L'ecrivain egyptien Moustafa
Amin, un pionnier du journalisme arabe, est decede le 13 avril a
l'age de 83 ans. En 1944, Amin a fonde le journal Al-Youm. Apres la
nationalisation de la presse, au debut des annees 60, il devint
redacteur en chef de la maison d'edition Dar al-Hilal. Condamne
pour espionnage en faveur des Etats-Unis sous le president Nasser,
il fut libere en 1970, sous Sadate, pour raisons de sante. Jusqu'a
sa mort il continua a ecrire sa colonne "Fekra" (une idee) pour
plusieurs journaux. Amin a ecrit egalement des romans, dont
plusieurs furent portes a l'ecran.   (De Standaard, Belgique, 14
avril 1997)

* Ethiopia. Bomb blasts in Addis Ababa  -  On 12 April, two members
of a British government funded police training team were seriously
injured when they threw themselves on to an exploding grenade to
protect their wives and other diners at a crowded restaurant in
Addis Ababa. They were among 41 people wounded in two separate
explosions that took place almost simultaneously in different
districts of the city, killing one woman. Observers said the timing
of the explosions -- others were reported in different parts of the
town -- together with the choice of targets, were the mark of an
anti-government armed group, but no one has claimed responsibility.
On 14 April, a hand grenade exploded in one of the largest and most
modern supermarkets in Addis Ababa, wounding 33 people. A police
statement said the grenade was lobbed into the supermarket in
Merkato, Addis Ababa's main market area. The attack took place at
about 5 p.m. local time, when the supermarket is usually busy.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 April 1997)

* Ethiopie. Attentats a Addis-Abeba  -  Les mesures de securite ont
ete renforcees dans la capitale ethiopienne apres trois attentats
a la grenade qui ont fait, depuis le 12 avril, un mort et plus de
70 blesses. En 1996 deja, des attentats a la bombe avaient fait
quatre morts et des dizaines de blesses. Ces attaques avaient ete
revendiquees par un mouvement integriste musulman, Al-Itihad al-
Islam, qui reclame l'independance de l'Ogaden. Cette fois, deux
restaurants et un supermarche prives ont ete touches. Six etrangers
(4 Britanniques et 2 Francais) figurent parmi les blesses. Les
autorites ethiopiennes restaient tres discretes, le 16 avril, au
sujet de l'evolution de l'enquete sur ces derniers attentats, qui
n'ont pas ete revendiques.   (Le Monde, France, 17 avril 1997)

* The Gambia. Outbreak of meningitis  -  The US Department of State
has issued a travel warning for those living or travelling to The
Gambia, concerning an outbreak of meningitis. It is generally
confined to the Basse area in the upper river division.
(Approximately 350 kms east of Banjul). The Ministry of Health has
undertaken a mass vaccination effort in the Basse region.  
(Peacelink, Italy, 14 April 1997)

* Kenya. Nairobi students protest  -  On 11 April, hundreds of
university students marched in Nairobi, carrying the coffin of
Anthony Chege, a 20-year-old student, to protest his killing by
police last month. The students marched to the gates of parliament
and police headquarters, followed at a distance by riot police, who
did not intervene. Chege was shot on 28 March, shortly before he
was to enter university as a freshman. He is the fourth student
killed by police since December. Police said he was a suspected
robber.   (Newspot, USA, 11 April 1997)

* Mali. 10 candidats a la presidentielle  -  Dix candidats ont ete
inscrits officiellement aux elections pour la presidence de la
Republique, dont le president sortant, Alpha Oumar Konare. Cinq
candidats se trouvaient deja sur la liste en 1992, cinq sont
nouveaux. Certains partis presentent plusieurs candidats. Le parti
de la mouvance presidentielle, la Convergence nationale pour la
democratie et le progres, presente un candidat unique, le president
sortant. "Il fait ainsi preuve d'une plus grande coherence et
pourra tirer profit de l'atomisation de ses adversaires, dont la
candidature de certains confine plus au folklore qu'a une volonte
de peser sur les evenements". Par ailleurs, on apprend le 15 avril
que les partis d'opposition ont decide de boycotter le second tour
des elections legislatives et de retirer leurs candidats a la
presidentielle, prevue pour le 4 mai. Ils entendent ainsi protester
contre le premier tour du scrutin, le 13 avril, aux resultats
"entaches d'irregularites".   (Le Republicain, Mali, 9 avril 1997,
et Liberation, France, 16 avril 1997))

* Mali. Election chaos  -  Mali, widely praised for its democratic
transition in 1992, held elections for a new parliament on 13
April, but chaos disrupted the start of its second multi-party poll
since independence. Long queues gathered outside polling stations
in Bamako, but by midday many people had been unable to cast their
votes. Lack of voting material caused delays at many polling
stations. Differences between voting cards and voting lists or
missing names compounded the problems. A total 1,500 candidates
from 21 parties contested the 147 seats in the new National
Assembly. On 15 April, the Opposition said it will not take part in
the second round of parliamentary elections, nor take part in the
presidential elections scheduled for 4 May. On 16 April, police in
Bamako used teargas to break up protests by opposition activists
demanding new elections.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 April 1997)

* Nigeria. Abacha's extra powers  -  Newspapers reported on 10
April, that a new decree gives Nigeria's military ruler, General
Sani Abacha, absolute power over local governments recently elected
under a plan to restore democracy. The semi-official Daily Times
said that under the decree, the Head of State could remove any
local council head if he "is not satisfied that the affairs of the
council are being managed in the best interest of the
community...". The decree says that no civil court can challenge
the validity of the election or the decisions of a special election
tribunal. On 14 April, the Press reported that Nigeria's military
government has criticized groups urging General Abacha to become an
elected president next year, saying they were "underming its
programme to restore democracy". Newspapers have been awash with
advertisements from groups calling on Abacha to run as a candidate
in next year's election. On the other hand, on 15 April, exiled
Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka called Nigeria's military regime
"a gang of torturers and assassins. The catalogue of crimes being
committed against the Nigerian people during the current and
preceding insanities of power, has to be addressed at some time in
the future".   (Newspot, USA, 10/14/16 April 1997)

* Nigeria. Ethnic violence.  -  10 April: About 70 people are
injured in fighting at Gero village between ethnic Beroms and Hausa
immigrants. 11 April: At least 15 people are killed in a central
Nigerian village when residents attack immigrant farmers. The
violence has flared up because Beroms discovered the dead body of
one of their kinsmen and accused Hausa farmers, who moved to the
area in the dry season, of having killed him.   (Newspot, USA, 11
April 1997)

* Rwanda. Plus de 100.000 detenus  -  A la fin de mars, le Comite
international de la Croix-Rouge, qui doit suppleer au manque de
nourriture dans les prisons, avait enregistre 102.446 detenus au
Rwanda. Le nombre des prisonniers a augmente ces derniers mois en
raison du rapatriement de plus de 700.000 refugies du Zaire et de
Tanzanie et l'arrestation parmi eux de responsables presumes du
genocide de 1994.   (La Libre Belgique, 10 avril 1997)

* Rwanda. The Tribunals  -  On 9 March, a court in Nyamata, central
Rwanda, acquits Joseph Karega, accused of crimes of genocide and
other crimes against humanity. On 10 April, the UN International
Tribunal for Rwanda, sitting in Arusha, Tanzania, decided to start
its first joint trial of two Rwandans accused of genocide and
crimes against humanity in 1994. This trial will now start on 11
April. The Tribunal ordered the prosecution to revise indictments
for Clement Kayishema and Obed Ruzindana and have them ready for 11
April. The Prosecution had applied for a delay so that the
indictments of both men could be consolidated. Defense lawyers for
the accused said they were ready to start on 8 April as originally
planned.   (Newspot, USA, 10-11 April 1997)

* Rwanda. ICRC activities  -  The International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) says that its activities have continued gradually
to return to normal during the past few weeks. Delegates have
restarted their visits to between one and two-thirds of communal
lock-ups in all prefectures except Ruhengeri and Gisenyi. The ICRC,
at the request of the Ministry of Justice, provides supplementary
food assistance sufficient to meet at least some of the detainees
nutritional requirements. Delegates continue to register
unaccompanied children and look after others who have not yet been
reunited with their families. The Runyinya Project, under which
houses are being built for almost 400 women and children who
survived the genocide, continues and is expected to be completed by
the end of April. (Editor's note: According to a report in 14 April
issue of Kenya's "Daily Nation", Rwandese refugees repatriated from
Tanzanian camps last December under a UN-sponsored operation, are
flocking back to the abandoned camps in the Kagera region of
Tanzania.)   (Peacelink, Italy, 14 April 1997)

* Somalie. Reconciliation?  -  Une conference des factions
somaliennes signataires d'un accord de reconciliation a Sodere en
janvier, regroupees au sein du Somali National Salvation Council
(SNSC), s'est tenue a Mogadiscio dans la semaine du 7 au 12 avril.
Il y a ete decide qu'un futur Parlement somalien serait forme de
151 membres, dont les modalites de designation n'ont toutefois pas
fait l'objet d'un agrement. Une nouvelle reunion doit avoir lieu le
10 mai, afin de preparer le congres prevu a Bosaso le 10 juin, en
vue de proclamer un gouvernement somalien. Neanmoins, outre
l'opposition des partisans de Hussein Aidid, des dissensions
semblent a l'oeuvre au sein du SNSC. Ainsi, les leaders de deux
factions parties prenantes de l'accord de Sodere, Osman Ali et le
colonel Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed, semblent avoir ete ecartes de la
conference tenue a Mogadiscio.   (Lettre de l'Ocean Indien, France,
12 avril 1997)

* Soudan. L'armee et le pouvoir divises  -  La lutte d'influence au
sein du regime de Khartoum est repartie de plus belle, face a
l'amplification de la guerre menee par les rebelles. Plusieurs
generaux en retraite ont ecrit, debut mars, au president al-Bechir,
pour lui rappeler qu'il lui revenait de mettre fin a la guerre
civile, ou d'ex-officiers gouvernementaux se battent deja aux cotes
des rebelles. Ils lui exprimaient leur crainte de voir l'armee se
diviser et une partie se rallier a la rebellion. Lors d'un
entretien qu'il leur accorda le 12 mars, le president Bechir a paru
sensible a leur analyse. Aussitot, Hassan al-Tourabi, le leader du
National Islamic Front, a invite les signataires de la lettre a un
debat parlementaire, le 24 mars, ou le discours jusqu'auboutiste
l'a emporte.   (Lettre de l'Ocean Indien, France, 12 avril 1997)

* Sudan. Military activity  -  9 April: An army spokesman says that
government troops have repulsed attacks by Eritrean forces in the
northeast, near the border with Eritrea. The same day, a government
newspaper says the country's armed forces have recaptured areas in
central Sudan which had been under rebel control for at least 10
years, and released hundreds of people trapped there. 10 April:
Rebels say they have captured three army garrisons in eastern
Sudan, north of the city of Kassala, after offensives in the
northeast and south. The SPLA says it took Koteneb and Gedemayeeb
garrisons north of Kassala on 9 April. Bakheet Ali al-Hassan,
Eritrea representative for the Sudan Alliance Forces, says the
rebels also captured Tokan garrison on 9 April. All three garrisons
are in the same area, not far from the Sudanese border with
Eritrea. 11 April: A Sudanese official says that Eritrean forces
have attacked areas in northeastern Sudan and are holding
prisoners. He says the attacks took place near the border with
Eritrea.   (Newspot, USA, 9-11 April 1997)

* South Africa. Apartheid era  -  9 April: The convenor of an
Investigative Task Board, appointed to oversee a special
investigation into "third force" activities under apartheid, says
investigators have uncovered official records linking former
president F.W. de Klerk to a 1986 plan to fight anti-apartheid
guerrillas "using their own methods". The records are part of a
150-page report. De Klerk said there had been a cabinet discussion
about a so-called third force, to deal with counter-insurgency
operations, but that the idea was abandoned. 14 April: A degree of
frenzy is developing in the ANC over allegations that the South
African cabinet is riddled with apartheid-era spies. Last week, the
ANC announced it was expelling the head of the party in the
Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, Sifiso Nkabinde, because it had evidence
he had been in the pay of the security forces from 1992. The
allegations triggered a new round of speculation about other
apartheid agents in the ANC leadership. Local newspapers reported
that several lists of spies were circulating, naming up to five
cabinet ministers.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 April 1997)

* South Africa. TRC  -  On 13 April the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) said it had issued its first summonses, compelling
former guerrillas of the African National Congress to testify about
attacks during the war against apartheid. A statement said that
subpoenas had been sent to Robert McBride and Greata Appelgren, who
set off a car bomb outside a bar in Durban in 1985, killing three
white civilians. McBride was sentenced to death but was freed under
amnesty for political prisoners. Appelgren received a lesser
sentence. On 15 April, the Amnesty Committee of the TRC granted
amnesty to another eight applicants, including members or
supporters of the ANC, the United Democratic Front, the End
Conscription Campaign and the Afrikaner Weerstandsbweging. On 16
April, the TRC published a statement concerning a submission to be
made on behalf of the previous South African Medical and Dental
Council.   (TRC, South Africa, 13-16 April 1997)

* Swaziland/South Africa. Sugar ties cut  -  Swaziland and South
Africa have finally cut ties on the exportation of Swazi sugar.
This means that Swaziland will no longer be allowed access to South
African export facilities such as ports, including research and
training institutions for the local sugar industry. The contract
between the two countries expired on 31 March and Swaziland refused
to renew it, opting to use the Maputo (Mozambique) port for sugar
exhorts to the European Union and the United States. The
relationship was cut following a trade "cold war" between the two
neighbours, in which South Africa slapped Swaziland with sanctions
on the use of its facilities -- after accusing the Swaziland Sugar
Association of giving the South Africa Sugar Association unfair
competition.   (AFJN, Washington, 14 April 1997)

* Swaziland. Association for gay people  -  A newly-formed
Association for gay people in Swaziland has caused a heated debate,
as traditionalists and His Majesty, King Mswati III, have labelled
them as "sick and confused". The Gays and Lesbian Association of
Swaziland (GALESWA) was launched in March 1997. The day after
GALESWAþs launch, Prime Minister Dr Sibusio Dlamini declared that
the government does not, and will not recognise this Association.
He said their way of life is contrary to the customs and traditions
of Swaziland. The Human Rights Association of Swaziland (HUMARAS)
has strongly criticised the government on this issue, saying that
people have freedom of choice and a right to their own sexual
inclinations. GALESWA has joined forces with progressive and civic
groups which come under the Swaziland Democratic Alliance (SDA).
Such groups include the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, the
Peoples United Democratic Movement, the Swaziland Youth Congress,
the Institute of Democracy and Leadership, and others. The SDA is
lobbying the government to remove the 1973 Royal decree, which bans
political groupings and parties in the country.   (Sifiso Zwane,
Swaziland, 15 April 1997)

* Tanzania. Rinderpest outbreak  -  A rinderpest epidemic has
spread dramatically in Kenya and has crossed the border into
Tanzania, the FAO reported on 12 April. The outbreak, considered to
be the worst in the last 15 years, comes at a time when parts of
eastern Africa are suffering from serious drought and tightening
food supplies. The extension of rinderpest into Tanzania is a
matter of great socio-economic and ecological concern, threatening
the wildlife reserves of Ngorongoro and Serengeti, as well as the
livestock in southern Tanzania and beyond.   (Peacelink, Italy, 14
April 1997)

* Tanzania. Floods  -  A UN official said on 13 April that 60
people have died, and many others are missing and thousands are
homeless in southern Tanzania, after widespread floods following
torrential rains. She said: "These people are living a nightmare". 
 (Newspot, USA, 14 April 1997)

* Tchad. Nouvelle Assemblee  -  Le Tchad a installe officiellement,
le 4 avril, sa premiere Assemblee nationale issue d'elections
pluralistes apres trente ans de guerre civile. La nouvelle
Assemblee, qui compte 125 sieges, est dominee par le parti du
president Deby, le MPS, qui a la majorite absolue avec 63 sieges.
Suivent l'URD du general sudiste Kamougue, avec 29 sieges, et
l'UNDR de Saleh Kebzaboh, avec 15 deputes. Sept autres partis sont
encore representes. Il reste encore au Tchad a proceder a
l'election d'un Senat au suffrage indirect, a la mise en place d'un
conseil constitutionnel et d'une haute cour de justice, pour
achever la mise en place d'un Etat democratique.   (d'apres Afrique
Express, France, 10 avril 1997)

* Zaire. La suite des evenements  -  9 avril. Apres quelques
violents combats, mais sans pillages, Lubumbashi tombe aux mains
des rebelles; les soldats de la Division speciale presidentielle se
trouvent encercles sur l'aeroport de la ville. A Kinshasa, Etienne
Tshisekedi est destitue et conduit a son domicile par des
militaires, tandis que le president Mobutu nomme le general Likulia
Bolongo, precedemment vice-Premier ministre charge de la Defense
nationale dans le gouvernement Kengo, au poste de Premier ministre.
Washington souhaite "une transition dans l'ordre" et lache Mobutu,
qu'un porte-parole de la Maison Blanche qualifie de "creature de
l'histoire". Kabila proclame une pause de trois jours, le temps de
permettre a Mobutu de se retirer. 10 avril. La pression
internationale s'accentue sur le chef d'Etat zairois pour qu'il
quitte le pouvoir. La conquete de Lubumbashi se termine par la
prise de l'aeroport, les 300 soldats de la DSP ayant fui. 11 avril.
Le nouveau Premier ministre Likulia Bolongo forme son gouvernement,
ou les postes cles sont occupes par des militaires: le general
Mahele au ministere de la Defense, le general Ilunga au ministere
de l'Interieur, alors que Kamanda wa Kamanda reste ministre des
Affaires etrangeres. Kabila lance un appel a tous les etrangers
pour qu'ils quittent Kinshasa. 12-13 avril. Mobutu rejette
l'ultimatum de Kabila, mais se dit pret a le rencontrer. La ville
miniere de Kolwezi au Shaba et Kananga, la capitale du Kasai
occidental, tombent aux mains de l'Alliance. 14 avril. A Kinshasa,
une journee "ville morte" se passe sans incidents notables. Un
porte-parole du gouvernement declare qu'une rencontre entre Mobutu
et Kabila est prise en consideration. A Lubumbashi, le secretaire
general adjoint de l'Alliance, Gaetan Kakudji, est nomme gouverneur
interimaire de la province du Shaba-Katanga et annonce des
elections prochaines. 15 avril. Diverses sources affirment qu'un
groupe militaire de pres de 3.000 hommes, decrits comme "gendarmes
katangais", allies de Kabila, seraient entres dans le Bas-Zaire
venant de Cabinda (Angola) et se dirigeraient vers le port de
Matadi, ouvrant ainsi un troisieme front prenant Kinshasa en
tenaille. Selon d'autres sources, la ville de Lisala, au nord,
serait tombee aux mains des rebelles. A Kinshasa, on annonce que
l'ancien Premier ministre Kengo wa Dondo a quitte le pays et que le
gouvernement lancera un mandat d'arret international contre lui
"parce que les caisses sont vides". 16 avril. Kabila arrive en
Afrique du Sud, ou il est recu par le president Mandela. Une
rencontre entre le president Mobutu et le chef de l'Alliance serait
"envisageable dans les prochains jours". Le journal "La Libre
Belgique" signale la constitution au Sud-Kivu d'un front anti-tutsi
par des opposants zairois et des guerillas burundaises, le
Palipehutu et le Frolima; mais ces forces ne semblent pas
actuellement en mesure de menacer l'AFDL. Les responsables de
l'Alliance ont signe a Lubumbashi un contrat d'un montant de pres
d'un milliard de dollars avec la societe American Mineral Fields,
qui porte sur la rehabilitation de la mine de cuivre et de zinc de
Kipushi et sur le retraitement des terrils riches en cobalt qui
entourent Kolwezi.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 17 avril 1997)

* Zaire. After Lubumbashi  -  9 April: The White House says that
President Mobutu should leave power because support for him is
insufficient to lead Zaire "into the next chapter of its history".
Kabila gives Mobutu "three days to leave office". In Kinshasa, the
newly appointed prime minister, Likulia Bolongo, tells a press
conference that the war in the east has "suspended the normal
course of the democratic process. This is why my government has
also been given the mission to finish the peace negotiations
currently underway, with positive results". Skirmishes continue in
Lubumbashi with pockets of Zairian troops still holding out, mainly
in the airport area. 10 April: Lubumbashi Airport falls to the
rebel army. Kinshasa is reported to be "tense, but calm". 11 April:
In Kinshasa, General Bolongo announces his government of "national
salvation". Western envoys meet with Bolongo in Kinshasa. Kabila
warns foreigners to leave Kinshasa. Belgium says "Mobutu's era has
been over for some time". 12 April: Since taking Lubumbashi, rebels
units have moved into a series of small towns along the border with
Zambia. They have met with small pockets of unexpected resistance.
Some analysts predict that as the rebels expand the territory they
control, they could face challenges from local groups who do not
belong to the Alliance. 14 April: The Opposition says it is going
to organise "Ghost Town" action in Kinshasa, today. Kabila arrives
in Lubumbashi. Rebels say they will not hold local elections
immediately in Shaba province (now called "Katanga province")
because of concerns about political instability in the region. In
other parts of Zaire captured by the rebels, it is reported that
elections have been held to select local officials, such as
Governor. A report published in Kenya's The East African (14-20
April), states that Zimbabwe has been supplying weapons and
uniforms to Kabila's forces. 15 April: Former Prime Minister Kengo
wa Dondo has fled from Zaire. The government might issue an
international arrest warrant against him as there is no more money
available in the state coffers to continue the war effort. The
government is holding Kengo wa Dondo responsible. The Opposition
effectively close down Kinshasa for a second day. 16 April: The
rebel alliance sign a $1 billion deal it hopes will resurrect the
fabled mineral wealth of Shaba province.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17
April 1997)

* Zaire. Refugies  -  Dans une conference de presse donnee a
Bruxelles le 9 avril, le Dr. Goemaere, directeur general de
Medecins sans frontieres/Belgique, revenu recemment de la region de
Kisangani, affirme qu'au moins 10 a 20.000 refugies rwandais sont
morts les dernieres semaines. Des 130.000 refugies du camp de
Tingi-Tingi, la plupart sont partis vers le nord dans la direction
d'Ubundu et Kisangani. On estime a 80.000 le nombre d'entre eux qui
sont deja arrives pres de Kisangani dans un etat d'epuisement
total. Parmi ces gens, entasses dans trois camps provisoires le
long de la route au sud de Kisangani, on compte environ 150 morts
par jour, dit le Dr. Goemaere. Apres cette errance-cauchemar
atroce, tous veulent maintenant retourner au Rwanda. MSF demande
pour eux le droit d'assistance pendant 3 ou 4 semaines, le temps de
les rehydrater et de leur rendre des forces, pour ensuite les
rapatrier en avion. D'autres refugies se trouvent encore plus au
sud, dans la region de Lubutu, de Shabunda et ailleurs. Les equipes
de MSF n'ont jusqu'ici pas eu acces a ces regions. 11 avril. Un
avion des Nations unies transporte les premiers 240 deplaces
zairois de Kisangani a Goma, testant les possibilites. Pour le
rapatriement des refugies rwandais, on ne sait pas encore si on les
acheminera sur Goma, ou immediatement sur Kigali. L'OMS signale
d'autre part une epidemie de cholera parmi les refugies: dans le
camp de Kasese on a enregistre 120 cas, et d'autres camps seraient
egalement touches. Cette epidemie pourrait retarder d'un mois le
rapatriement. 14 avril. Un groupe de 65.000 refugies rwandais a ete
repere dans le centre du Zaire, a Ikale (270 km a l'ouest d'Ubundu)
et a Bokungu (50 km plus a l'ouest). Ils se dirigeraient vers le
nord, vers Mbandaka. Ces refugies proviendraient de l'ancien camp
de Tingi-Tingi. D'autre part, le HCR affirme que le gouvernement
rwandais refuse le rapatriement des refugies de Kisangani par avion
directement sur Kigali et qu'il se propose donc de les transporter
a Goma, d'ou ils rentreraient au Rwanda apres controle par les
autorites rwandaises.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 avril
1997)

* Zaire/Zambie. Aide a l'Alliance de Kabila  -  Selon des
temoignages unanimes d'habitants du sud du Shaba, les rebelles
zairois ont utilise le territoire zambien pour prendre Lubumbashi
et probablement d'autres villes zairoises. Des habitants de Kipushi
temoignent que les rebelles qui ont pris Lubumbashi sont venu a
pied de la Zambie et que les deux jours suivants des camions
charges de militaires ont regulierement traverse la frontiere.
Selon un temoin oculaire, l'AFDL disposerait meme d'une base
militaire en Zambie, a 30 km au sud-ouest de Kipushi. La meme
source affirme qu'environ 500 soldats sont arrives en avion du
Rwanda en Zambie, par l'aeroport de Ndola.   (d'apres De Standaard,
Belgique, 14 avril 1997)

* Zaire. Refugee crisis  -  10 April: Aid workers say they have
found 3,000 Hutu refugees in and near Ubundu, as an operation to
help them survive picks up pace. A UN refugee official describes
the refugees as "being in a very bad state". The UNHCR will now
attempt to move them to camps. A Rwandan delegation led by the
president of the Rwandan Repatriation Commission, continues its
visit to Kisangani to discuss the repatriation of some 80,000 Hutu
refugees gathered in the area. The rebel authorities in Kisangani
have already given the go-ahead for the use of Kisangani airport to
fly out the refugees. 14 April: At least 200 cases of Cholera have
been reported among the refugees in Kasese, south of Kisangani.
Some medical authorities think it better to wait until the epidemic
ends before evacuating the refugees.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 April
1997)

* Zimbabwe. Hunger and poverty  -  The Catholic Bishops of Zimbabwe
held their Annual General Conference 7-9 April in Harare. During
the conference, they met with leaders of Catholic organisations and
various church commissions to discuss "World Hunger: a Challenge to
All -- Development in Solidarity". The theme was taken from a
recent 80-page document of the same title published by the Vatican
department "Cor Unum" which deals with social and human
development. Brian Raftopoulos, acting director of the Institute
for Development Studies at the University of Zimbabwe, stressed
that development can only take place if the people have a part to
play in the decision-making. He asked the Church to accept a strong
advocacy role and speak up for those who are normally denied a
voice of their own.   (Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, 10
April 1997)

* Zimbabwe. The Ivory Trade  -  In June, Zimbabwe is to host a
meeting of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered
Species. Zimbabwe is presently carrying out a campaign to convince
Convention members to have the elephant down-graded from Appendix
I to II which allows a controlled trade. Zimbabwe has been praised
for conserving elephants during previous drought periods by moving
them to other areas. This was the first time that such large
numbers of elephants have been successfully moved to new habitats.
Zimbabwe now argues that it has a larger elephant population than
its ecosystem can support, and that proceeds from the sale of ivory
stocks, which have accumulated over the years, could go a long way
to fund its conservation programme.   ((Dumisani Kumalo, Zimbabwe,
21 March 1997

* Zimbabwe. Former President sued  -  Former Zimbabwean president,
Canaan Banana, has been sued for damage claims of $115,000 by an
ex-police aide, who accuses him of raping and forcing him into a
homosexual relationship. A lawyer acting for former police
inspector Jefta Dube, confirmed press reports on 10 April, that he
had filed a civil lawsuit with the High Court on 25 March. Banana,
61, who was a largely ceremonial president for seven years up to
1987, is under police investigation on charges that he abused Dube,
35, while he was Banana's aide-de-camp in the 1980s.   (Newspot,
USA, 10 April 1997)