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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 05-06-1997      PART #1/  

* South Africa. "No forgiveness, no future"  -  "Without
forgiveness, we have no future. This is not just a spiritual saying
but a political reality", Archbishop Tutu, Chairman of the Truth &
Reconciliation Commission told the meeting of the Conference of
Major Religious Superiors (Catholic) in Mariannhill. "If you want
to enslave a people, deprive them of their history", said the
Archbishop. He told the meeting that it was a privilege to listen
to people who had committed atrocities, recount their deeds and ask
for forgiveness, and hear this granted by the victims and
survivors. In this he saw the working of God "who was crazy enough
about people to leave the 99 and go in search of an old
obstreperous ram that had wandered off".   (The Southern Cross,
South Africa, 25 May 1997)

* Afrique du Sud. Exportations d'armes  -  L'Eglise anglicane
d'Afrique du Sud, le 19 mai, a appele l'Etat a cesser les
exportations d'armes et a mettre fin aux activites de deux des plus
grandes firmes. L'Afrique du Sud est actuellement l'un des dix plus
grands producteurs d'armes dans le monde. Une centaine de firmes --
la plupart des micro-entreprises locales -- sont liees a
l'industrie de la defense sud-africaine, mais le marche est domine
par les grandes entreprises d'Etat, Armscor et Denel. Le ministre
turc de la Defense a revele que la firme Denel negociait la
livraison de 145 helicopteres de combat Rooivalk. Or, "les
exportations d'armements vers la Turquie ont ete interdites en
avril 1995 en raison des violations des droits de l'homme dans ce
pays", precisent les eveques, qui rappellent que l'Eglise anglicane
s'etait deja elevee contre la militarisation de l'Afrique du Sud
sous le regime de l'apartheid.   (Nouvelles oecum. internat.,
Suisse, 28 mai 1997)

* South Africa. TRC  -  30 May: In a Statement, Archbishop Tutu,
Chairperson of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission says: "As a
result of ongoing investigations being carried out by the
Commission, I have given instructions that a special public hearing
on the role of the State Security Council in the period 1985-1987
should be held in the near future. The need for such a hearing
became apparent at discussions held in my office in Cape Town
today, during which I was given a report about the most recent work
carried out by the Commission's Investigative Unit. 3 June: The
TRCžs focus on the role of children and youth during the apartheid
years, will culminate in the Western Cape with an interfaith
service on National Youth Day. During the fornight between 1 June
(International Day of the Child) and 19 June (the 21st
commemoration of the Soweto School uprising, now celebrated as
National Youth Day, a series of workshops are being held in the
Peninsula, to further consientise and heal young people. Also,
about 20 submissions from the health profession, including numerous
case studies of human rights abuses in the health sector, are
included in the programme for the TRCžs two-day Health Sector
Hearings, scheduled for 17-18 June. 4 June: The amnesty
applications of three more people are scheduled to be heard when
the TRCžs Amnesty Committee reconvenes in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, on
11-12 June.   (TRC, South Africa, 30 May-4 June 1997)

* Afrique du Sud. Greve generale  -  Des milliers de grevistes ont
envahi, le 2 juin, les rues des principales villes d'Afrique du Sud
pour repondre a un appel de la puissante confederation syndicale
Cosatu. La Cosatu, alliee traditionnelle du Congres national
africain (ANC) et du Parti communiste, reclame 40 heures de travail
hebdomadaire, six mois de conge maternite paye, l'interdiction
d'emploi des mineurs et un double salaire le dimanche.   (La Libre
Belgique, 3 juin 1997)

* South Africa. The Church's new agenda  -  In its editorial, the
June/July issue of Challenge says: "There is a growing consensus
amongst our church leadership and amongst most committed Christians
about the role of the Churches in South Africa today. It is to
combat the scourge of poverty. Just as the scourge of apartheid as
a crime against humanity brought the Churches (or most of them)
together in the past to combat racism, so now poverty as the
current great crime against humanity, is bringing Christians
together to take up the new struggle. Some would say that our
greatest problem in not poverty but crime. We must combat crime, of
course. And the Churches have a very important role to play in the
struggle against crime. But what many people forget is that the
dire poverty of so many, in the midst of such ostentatious wealth
is itself a crime -- a crime against humanity, a crime that cries
to heaven for vengeance, the crime that lurks in the background
behind all the other crimes we experience".   (Challenge, South
Africa, June/July 1997)

* Afrique du Sud. "New Nation" disparait  -  L'hebdomadaire sud-
africain "New Nation" a cesse de paraitre. Ce journal avait ete
fonde en 1986 par les eveques catholiques a l'epoque de
l'apartheid, mais connaissait des difficultes economiques.
Maintenant que le pays a recouvre sa liberte, les personnes peuvent
se faire entendre dans de nombreux journaux, estime l'episcopat.  
(La Croix, France, 5 juin 1997)

* Algerie. Elections et proposition de dialogue  -  A quelques
jours des elections, le Front islamique du salut a propose, le 28
mai, "un compromis pour sortir du cycle de la violence". Intitule
"Pour une strategie de sortie de la crise en Algerie", le document
appelle a "un dialogue bilateral franc, transparent et serieux
entre les veritables detenteurs du pouvoir, a savoir les generaux
et les dirigeants legitimes du FIS". Leur offre, cette fois-ci,
n'est assortie d'aucun prealable. En particulier, ils ne reclament
pas la liberation des dirigeants de Front emprisonnes. Dans un
deuxieme temps, le FIS propose de prolonger le dialogue par une
conference nationale, a qui reviendrait la tache d'organiser la
transition et de garantir le respect des engagements pris. Aux yeux
du FIS, les prochaines elections ne regleront rien, faute de
participation du FIS au scrutin. -- Cependant, les attentats
continuent. 31 mai: l'explosion d'une bombe dans un cinema fait un
mort et 24 blesses. 1 juin: un premier attentat a la bombe fait au
moins 5 morts et 16 blesses en plein centre de la capitale; une
seconde explosion sur les hauteurs d'Alger fait au moins 17
blesses, dont 2 graves. ž Sous l'egide des Nations unies, 104
personnes observeront le scrutin du 5 juin. Des possibilites de
fraude existent cependant: les observateurs ne surveilleront qu'une
partie des bureaux et les resultats globaux seront collectes en
dehors de la presence de representants de l'Onu malgre leur
demande.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 30 mai-2 juin 1997)

* Algeria. Lead-up to parliamentary elections  -  1 June: Two bombs
explode in buses in the heart of Algiers, killing seven people and
wounding 77, bringing fear to the crowded capital. 2 June: A bomb
explodes in a crowded marketplace in Algiers, killing 10 people and
injuring 40. The election campaign ends. Nomads in the desert start
to vote. 3 June: The parliamentary elections represents the third
step in the regime's planned return to a constitutional state.
(Step one: Presidential election. Step two: Constitutional
referendum). The fourth step will be local elections scheduled for
the autumn. 4 June: Heavily armed police and troops start to deploy
around polling stations. 5 June: Parliamentary elections.   (ANB-
BIA, Brussels, 5 June 1997)

* Angola. Grande offensive  -  Les troupes gouvernementales ont
occupe la region diamantifere au nord-est de l'Angola, selon des
sources militaires et diplomatiques. Des milliers de civils ont fui
la region, qui etait sous le controle des ex-rebelles de l'UNITA.
Il s'agirait de la plus grande offensive depuis deux ans. Le
gouvernement nie que l'operation soit dirigee contre l'UNITA, son
rival depuis 1975, mais son partenaire au gouvernement depuis le
mois dernier. Selon lui, l'offensive doit mettre en securite la
frontiere avec le Congo, ou s'infiltrent des soldats de l'ex-armee
rwandaise et des troupes restees fideles a Mobutu. Ce dernier avait
appuye l'UNITA durant la guerre civile angolaise.   (d'apres De
Standaard, Belgique, 30 mai 1997)

* Angola. Major army attack  -  29 May: Angolan troops have overrun
the diamond-rich northeast, driving thousands of civilians from
areas held by the former rebel UNITA movement, in the biggest
military offensive in Angola for two years. The action, threatening
a fragile peace process, follows the change in government in Zaire,
which once supported UNITA and other Angolan rebels. Angolan
officials say the operation is aimed at securing Angola's northern
border with Congo (ex-Zaire). 3 June: Western diplomats say that
UNITA was caught off guard when government troops began the raid in
the Lunda Norte Province. Analysts say that if the government
continues its offensive towards UNITAžs stronghold at Lusamba, it
could mean the end of the movement. "If they lose Lusamba, it's all
over for UNITA", said one.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 4 June 1997)

* Burundi. Combats et massacres  -  Le Haut commissariat des
Nations unies pour les refugies a demande, le 27 mai, aux pays de
la region de ne plus rapatrier de refugies au Burundi, en raison de
nouveaux massacres, notamment dans les centres de regroupement ou
se trouvent plusieurs centaines de milliers de personnes, en
majorite des Hutu. La guerre civile a fait au moins 150.000 morts
dans ce pays en trois ans et demi, principalement des civils. Les
combats entre l'armee, dominee par la minorite tutsi, et la
rebellion hutu semblent s'etre intensifies ces dernieres semaines.
Ils se sont rapproches de la capitale. Des rebelles chasses de
Bururi et Makamba, provinces du sud du pays, en proie a des
violents combats, se sont replies sur Bujumbura-Rural. On
apprenait, debut juin, que l'armee gouvernementale bombardait par
avion des collines de Bujumbura-Rural: Buhonga, Nyamaboko, etc. Des
centaines de civils ont pris la fuite vers la capitale.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 4 juin 1997)

* Burundi. On-going strife  -  28 May: President Buyoya holds talks
with Rwanda's President Bizimungu in Kigali. 29 May: The army calls
on residents of Bujumbura to remain calm, after battles in the
surrounding hills yesterday. Mortar fire had been heard at various
times. Local journalists see the bodies of 40 rebels killed in the
fighting with the army. The army says that many more have been
killed. Tanzania's Prime Minister, Frederick Sumaye, denies that
Tanzania is supporting Burundian rebels from inside Tanzania.  
(IRIN, Kenya, 29 May 1997)

* Centr. Afr. Republic. Mutineers recruit refugees  -  On 22 May,
the Central African Republic (CAR) accused mutineers in its armed
forces of recruiting from refugees fleeing the ADFL forces in
Zaire, now renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mutineers
have been defying the government in Bangui for a year, despite the
installation of an African peacekeeping force to keep the two sides
apart. In a broadcast statement, the office of President Ange-Felix
Patasse claimed the rebellious soldiers were recruiting refugees
from Zaire, Rwanda and Burundi. An informed source said they
included armed former government soldiers. Lieutenant Parfait
Mbaye, spokesman for the mutineers, denied the charges, saying it
was "a manoeuvre to raise tension" in Bangui. Up to 10,000 refugees
from the former Zaire have arrived in the Central African Republic
in recent weeks.   (AFP, 23 May 1997)

* Congo (Brazzaville). Petrole offshore  -  Sasol Petroleum
International, filiale de l'entreprise sud-africaine du petrole
Sasol, prevoit de lancer l'exploitation de son premier champ
offshore au Congo au mois d'aout 1998. Si tout se deroule selon les
previsions, la production devrait debuter l'annee prochaine avec un
volume de 4.000 barils. L'exploitation de ce champ devrait
permettre de fournir, pendant dix ans, un brut de haute qualite.  
(L'autre Afrique, France, 28 mai 1997)

* Congo (Brazzaville). Foreign troops begin to leave  -  Thousands
of US and European soldiers sent here to evacuate foreigners from
the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (ex-Zaire), have
begun leaving, some to go home, but many to head for another
trouble spot up the coast. The 1,200 US Marines aboard the USS
Kearsarge left a week ago for Sierra Leone. About 300 US Marines
flew out of Brazzaville on 26 May to return to their bases. The
last 200 of the 730 Belgian soldiers deployed here are expected to
leave next week. 200 British and about 70 Portuguese soldiers were
also due to leave in the coming days. Only France has no immediate
plans to withdraw.   (Andre M. Kapanga, Zaire News, 30 May 1997)

* Congo (Dem. Rep.). South Africa to give aid  -  22 May: South
Africa is to give official aid to the new Democratic Republic of
Congo (ex-Zaire) so the country can rebuild its devastated economy.
This was confirmed in Cape Town by the Governor of the Reserve
Bank, Chris Stals. He said that bank staff would be made available
to provide technical assistance to the authorities in Kinshasa. He
added that anyone sent to the Congo would form part of a South
African Government mission and would initially focus on a survey to
establish the new government's needs. Issues on which the South
African Reserve Bank could advise included the management of bank
regulations and foreign and gold reserves.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 29
May 1997)

* Congo (Rep. Dem.). Calendrier electoral  -  Apres sa prestation
de serment, le 29 mai, M. Kabila a promis des elections generales
pour avril 1999. Elles seront preparees selon le calendrier
suivant: 30 juin: annonce de la creation d'une commission chargee
d'elaborer un projet de constitution. 1 septembre: installation de
la commission. 1 mars 1998: remise au chef de l'Etat du projet de
Constitution. Avril 1998: convocation des deputes a une Assemblee
constituante. Juin 1998: election de l'Assemblee constituante. 30
juin 1998: installation de l'Assemblee constituante. Octobre 1998:
remise au chef de l'Etat de la nouvelle Constitution. Decembre
1998: eventuel referendum sur la Constitution. Avril 1999:
elections presidentielles et legislatives.   (Le Monde, France, 31
mai 1997)

* Congo (DR). Reactions from other parts of Africa  -  The Press in
Kenya has given wide coverage to the change-over in Congo RD (ex-
Zaire). The Daily Nation (21 May) said that "The West is not
morally qualified to demand that Kabila hold elections now" and
appealed -- "Give Kabila time to put his house in order". In a
special report, the Sunday Standard (25 May) described how Kabila
won the war. The same day, the Sunday Times admitted that there is
a "major task ahead for Kabila". The East African (26 May-1 June)
said: "It's a tough test for Kabila as Tshisekedi rejects Kabila's
government". On 29 May, Ugandažs President Museveni called for the
formation of an African Common Market now that the "big hole in the
middle of Africa has been filled up". Angolažs President dos Santos
stressed the desire to transform Central Africa into a region of
peace and security. Burundižs President Buyoya hoped for good
relations with Congo, particularly in security and trade.   (ANB-
BIA, Brussels, 31 May 1997)

* Congo (DR). Kabila's Government  -  28 May: Laurent Kabila gives
himself sweeping powers to run the Democratic Republic of Congo
(ex-Zaire), until the adoption of a new transitional Constitution.
29 May: Laurent Kabila is inaugurated as President of the
Democratic Republic of Congo. After his installation he says that
his victory marks the end of the flagrant violation of human rights
and the backward march of the Mobutu years. His two-year programme
covers the election of a constituent assembly and the writing of a
new Constitution, culminating in presidential elections in 1999. In
a Presidential Statement, the UN Security Council expresses its
support for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo as "they
begin a new period in their history", its respect for their
national aspirations to achieve progress to the benefit of all, and
opposes any interference in the internal affairs of that country.
The Security Council also calls for an immediate end to violence
against refugees in Congo. 31 May: The cabinet unveils its short-
term economic priorities, including plans for road and hospital re-
building, job creation and a national fuel supply pipeline. 1 June:
President Kabila leaves for the OAU Summit in Zimbabwe.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 3 June 1997)

* Congo (DR). Refugee crisis continues  -  29 May: Thousands of
Rwandan Hutus arrive in Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo) by
barge from their swampy refuge further north. The barge convoy took
a week to bring some 4,000 refugees down from the Litanga region,
but many more are still stranded in the marshlands. 90% of the
arrivals are young men. The refugees will be transported to a site
at Bilolo, just north of the capital. 2 June: An article in The
Washington Post (USA) states that international humanitarian
organizations are deeply worried by their inability to get the
authorities of the new Democratic Republic of Congo (ex-Zaire), to
take action to end the killing of civilians in that country's
forests. The article says that UN relief-aid officials have heard
from reliable sources about continued killings. refugees are being
"hunted down". New accounts are emerging concerning further
allegations of gross human rights abuses south of Biaro, 42
kilometres from Kisangani. 3 June: The UNHCR urges President Kabila
and the OAU Summit to take steps to protect Rwandan refugees, after
a Save the Children Worker and four refugees were killed on 29 May. 
 (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 4 June 1997)

* Congo (RD). Le president et les refugies  -  28 mai. Le ministre
des Finances, Mawampanga Mwanananga annonce que le zaire serat
bientot remplace par le franc congolais, mais, dit-il, il lui faut
d'abord avoir une vue plus claire sur la situation financiere du
pays. 29 mai. Laurent Kabila, qui s'etait autoproclame president de
la Republique le 17 mai, prete serment a Kinshasa, en presence des
presidents de l'Angola, du Burundi, de l'Ouganda et du Rwanda. La
veille au soir, il avait publie un decret-loi lui attribuant les
pleins pouvoirs, notamment: "Art.V - Le president est le chef de
l'executif et le chef des Forces armees. Il exerce le pouvoir par
voie de decrets... ... Art. VI, 6 - Le president releve de leurs
fonctions et, le cas echeant, revoque les magistrats... Art.VIII -
Le gouvernement conduit la politique telle que definie par le
president...". 30 mai. Une manifestation organisee a Kinshasa ne
rassemble qu'entre 200 et 400 personnes, qui defilent a travers une
foule indifferente: un camouflet pour Tshisekedi, leader de
l'opposition. D'autre part, le Conseil de securite des Nations
unies exige l'arret immediat des violences envers les refugies
rwandais dans la Republique democratique du Congo et le depart des
militaires etrangers. Il recommande egalement une transition
pacifique et des elections honnetes auxquelles pourraient
participer toutes les parties interessees. De son cote, le
gouvernement de Kabila denonce vigoureusement la "campagne
d'intimidation orchestree au sein du Conseil de securite" et dement
les accusations de "soi-disant massacres de refugies". 2 juin. Les
ministres europeens des Affaires etrangeres, reunis a Luxembourg,
decident d'envoyer une delegation au Congo pour parler de la
democratisation, des elections, des droits de l'homme et des
refugies. Le meme jour (qui est aussi le jour de l'ouverture du 33e
sommet de l'OUA), le sous-secretaire de l'ONU aux Affaires
humanitaires, Yasushi Akashi, affirme que les "massacres"
continuent et precise que le personnel de l'ONU qui aide au
rapartiement de refugies rwandais de Mbandaka a appris "par des
informateurs locaux dignes de foi que des tueries se poursuivent
dans les forets". 3 juin. Un porte-parole de l'HCR annonce une
nouvelle tuerie dans la region de Goma, ou des hommes armes ont
attaque un groupe d'enfants rwandais qui se faisaient rapatrier
vers leur pays d'origine. Un employe de l'organisation Save the
Children est tue avec quatre de ses pupilles. La veille, a Harare,
en marge du sommet de l'OUA, le president Kabila avait fait le
geste de nommer un ministre specialement charge du probleme des
refugies. Le secretaire general de l'ONU, Kofi Annan, y a annonce
egalement que M. Kabila a accepte une enquete internationale sur
les accusations de massacres de refugies dans l'est du Congo.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5 juin 1997)

* Cote d'Ivoire. African Development Bank  -  29 May: Africa faces
a rare opportunity in pursuit of economic growth and development,
which Washington fully intends to support, Mr Lawrence Summers,
deputy US treasury secretary, has told the annual meeting of the
African Development Bank (ADB) group in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. He
promised greater help for those countries pursuing structural
reform, new initiatives on primary health care and education, and
more aggressive support for infrastructure improvements needed to
support private sector-led growth.   (Financial Times, U.K., 30 May
1997)

* Equatorial Guinea. The USA, France and Equat. Guinea  -  Not much
is known about this former Spanish colony in West Africa. United
States, France and Equatorial Guinea --The Dubious "Friendships",
wishes to rectify this situation and to keep information flowing
concerning Equatorial Guinea. In its trilingual edition, the book
consists in a number of essays: 1) Les "Amities" douteuses; 2)
Eighteen years of the Second Nguemist Dictatorship (1979-1997); 3)
Sinopsis de las relaciones Guinea Ecuatorial -- Estados Unidos de
America; 4) Synopsis des relations Guinee Equatoriale -- France; 5)
A Bibliography. (Author: Max Liniger-Goumaz. Publisher: Les
Editions du Temps, Geneva, 1997)   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 3 June 1997)

* Eritrea. Constitution adopted  -  23 May: The Eritrean
Constitutional Assembly, at a meeting today unanimously adopted the
Eritrean Constitution after making the necessary amendments in a
two-day meeting. On this historic day, the Constitutional Assembly
unanimously adopted the draft Constitution, with no opposition, as
the free and sovereign law of the State of Eritrea. The
Constitutional Assembly, in line with the Constitution which is
being adopted, has empowered the Transitional National Assembly of
Eritrea to take all necessary legal steps for the formation of a
constitutional government. The 527 members of the Constitutional
Assembly adopted the draft constitution by signing.   (Asmara Voice
of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, 23 May 1997)

* Erythree. Nouvelle Constitution  -  La nouvelle Constitution de
l'Erythree a ete adoptee le 23 mai a l'unanimite des 527 membres de
l'Assemblee constituante, qui a en outre decide de mettre en place
un "Conseil national de transition", charge de former un
gouvernement. Le Conseil de transition comprend 150 membres: 75
issus du parti au pouvoir, 60 venus de l'Assemblee constituante et
15 representant les Erythreens de l'etranger. Selon le texte
adopte, l'Erythree est un Etat "unitaire", subdivise en unites de
gouvernement local. Le president est elu par le Parlement pour un
mandat de 5 ans. Il est dote de larges pouvoirs, mais peut etre
demis de ses fonctions si deux tiers de l'Assemblee nationale
l'exigent.   (Marches Tropicaux, France, 30 mai 1997)

* Kenya. Constitutional reforms urged  -  On 25 May, Church and
political leaders and a cross-section of other Kenyans, urged the
Government to heed demands on constitutional reforms before the
coming General Election. KANU Chairman Ndolo Ayah said the ruling
party was not opposed to constitutional reforms. He reiterated the
party's stand that the reforms were only feasible after this year's
elections. Opposition leaders Kenneth Matiba and Raila Odinga said
at a press conference, that time had come for Kenyans to take mass
action to force Government to accept the reforms. "Since President
Moi and KANU have refused to address the many issues that we,
Christians and people of other religions, envoys and ordinary
Kenyans have raised, we are now taking the first step towards
liberating our country," the leaders said in a statement read by Mr
Kimani wa Nyoike of FORD Asili. At another forum, the Pope's
representative in Kenya, Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci, CPK
Archbishop David Gitari, and PCEA clergyman Timothy Njoya defended
Church leaders from accusations that they were being dictatorial,
for demanding constitutional reforms before the next elections.  
(Africa Online Inc. and Nation Newspapers Ltd, Kenya, 26 May 1997)

* Kenya. Ultimatum des Eglises  -  Les Eglises catholique et
protestante kenyanes (qui representent environ 18 millions de
croyants sur 25 millions d'habitants) ont adresse un ultimatum au
gouvernement, en exigeant des reformes constitutionnelles avant les
prochaines elections, a rapporte la presse locale le 23 mai. Les
chefs des Eglises se sont inquietes que le gouvernement n'ait
encore rien fait pour reviser la Constitution dans la perspective
d'elections libres et honnetes, alors que le scrutin est prevu pour
la fin de l'annee. Le communique des Eglises enumere les reformes
minimales a mettre en oeuvre avant les elections, mais ces
exigences ont ete rejetees le meme jour par le president Moi.
Notons que les dirigeants musulmans avaient egalement appele
recemment a des reformes.   (Marches Tropicaux, France, 30 mai
1997)

* Kenya. "No constitutional reform before elections"  -  23 May:
President Daniel arap Moi reaffirms the government's stand on
constitutional reforms, saying the reforms will not be carried out
until after the general elections. The President says the
Constitution is a vital document which cannot be amended
haphazardly since it touches the lives of all Kenyans. He says
those agitating for the constitutional reforms should carefully
study its implications, saying such steps had plunged several
countries in Africa in turmoil. On security, the President warns
the government will deal ruthlessly with anyone, including
politicians, found indulging in violent activity. 31 May: Clashes
break out in Nairobi after an unlicensed opposition rally pressing
for constitutional reform, tries to get going but fails. Hundreds
of riot police charge demonstrators. 1 June: Four Kenyan
politicians are released from house arrest at the end of a rally
they threatened to disrupt. At the rally in Nairobi, President Moi
says there can be no constitutional changes before elections this
year. 2 June: Amnesty International calls for an end to Kenya's
"oppressive laws".   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 4 June 1997)

* Mali. Elections municipales reportees  -  Les elections
municipales prevues le 1er juin ont ete reportees sine die. Ce
report "va dans le sens du souhait exprime par la classe politique
et traduit le souci du gouvernement de reunir [...] les conditions
pouvant assurer la participation la plus large possible aux
differentes consultations", indique un communique officiel. Un
collectif de 22 partis d'opposition avait annonce qu'il ne
participerait pas aux muncipales pour protester contre les
"conditions antidemocratiques" dans lesquelles s'est deroule le
premier tour des legislatives du 13 avril, dont les resultats ont
ete annules par la Cour constitutionnelle.   (Le Monde, France, 1
juin 1997)

* Maroc. Syndicaliste assassine  -  Le secretaire general du
syndicat des marins-pecheurs d'Agadir, Mounacir Abdallah, affilie
a l'Union marocaine du travail, a ete enleve le 27 mai et son
cadavre a ete retrouve quatre jours plus tard, a annonce le 2 juin
l'Association des droits de l'homme au Maroc. Son corps etait
defigure, suite a des sevices, precise le communique.  
(Liberation, France, 3 juin 1997)

* Niger. Liberation des otages des Toubous  -  Le cooperant
canadien, Serge l'Archer, et un autre otage nigerien, enleves le 27
fevrier dernier par des rebelles Toubous dans la region de Bilma
(1.300 km au nord-est de Niamey), ont ete liberes le 21 mai. Les
combattants toubous exigent l'ouverture d'une enquete sur la mort,
en janvier dernier, de 14 de leurs elements lors d'accrochages avec
l'armee, ainsi que la tenue de discussions sur le developpement
economique et social de leurs regions, le Kawar (pres de la Libye)
et le Manga (pres du Tchad). Les combattants toubous auraient
accepte de liberer leurs otages apres que la Libye promette de
prendre en charge toutes leurs revendications et ait offert sa
mediation entre le gouvernement et les rebelles pour un reglement
politique de la question.   (Afrique Express, France, 29 mai 1997)

* Namibie. Le Corridor de Namibe  -  Le gouvernement namibien a
approuve le principe de la construction d'une liaison ferroviaire
entre Walvis Bay et le port de Namibe, dans le sud de l'Angola, ce
qui permettra au port namibien de concurrencer les ports sud-
africains de Durban et du Cap. Les Etats-Unis ont decide de
financer une etude de faisabilite. L'idee est de creer un corridor
de developpement entre Walvis Bay et Namibe, semblable au corridor
de Maputo. Ce corridor comprendrait l'extension du reseau de chemin
de fer au nord du pays, dont la ligne serait ensuite prolongee
jusqu'au port angolais de Namibe et apres a Chamutete, ou se
trouvent d'importants gisemenents de fer.   (Marches Tropicaux,
France, 30 mai 1997)

* Nigeria. Resultats du recensement de 1991  -  Le gouvernement
nigerian a enfin rendu publics les resultats du recensement de
1991. La Commission nationale en charge du recensement a publie les
resultats le 15 mai: le Nigeria compterait 104 millions
d'habitants. Dans le passe, ces denombrements "tres politiques" ont
renforce les antagonismes ethniques. Le recensement de 1991 elude
les questions les plus epineuses: celles relatives a l'appartenance
ethnique ou religieuse ont ete supprimees. Des mouvements de
contestation ont cependant vu le jour, notamment dans l'ouest de la
Federation. Des Yoroubas estiment que la population de l'Etat de
Oyo est etonnamment faible. Mais les protestations restent tres
circonscrites. Toutefois, des 1991 , les Nations unies estimaient
que la population nigeriane atteignait 122 millions. Selon la
demographe Elizabeth Omoluabi, "le recensement est avant tout un
enjeu politique".   (d'apres L'autre Afrique, France, 28 mai 1997)

* OUA. Le sommet de Harare  -  Le trente-troisieme sommet de
l'Organisation de l'unite africaine s'est ouvert le 2 juin a Harare
en presence d'une trentaine de chefs d'Etat, dont Laurent Kabila.
Une importante partie de l'ordre du jour sera consacree aux
conflits regionaux, notamment en Sierra Leone. Le secretaire
general des Nations unies, Kofi Annan, y a rendu hommage a Kabila
pour avoir assure la transition "dans un climat de paix relative".
Il a lance un appel aux nouvelles autorites de Kinshasa en faveur
"des faibles et des deplaces". A la veille de l'ouverture du
sommet, dans un entretien publie par l'hebdomadaire sud-africain
"Sunday Independant", le president ougandais Museveni avait
qualifie l'OUA de "bande de criminels". Dementant l'existence d'une
sphere d'influence regionale, il a cependant reconnu former une
"fraternite" avec Laurent Kabila du Congo, Paul Kagame du Rwanda et
John Garang, le chef de la rebellion sud-soudanaise. Les
participants au sommet ont eprouve des difficultes a trouver un
consensus pour approuver l'intervention militaire du Nigeria en
Sierra Leone. Celle-ci remet en question l'un des principes
fondateurs de l'organisation panafricaine, celui de la non-
intervention dans les affaires interieures d'un pays. Apres deux
jours d'hesitations, les dirigeants africains se sont dit toutefois
determines a isoler le Conseil revolutionnaire et ont annonce leur
soutien a l'intervention militaire. Seul le president du Burkina
Faso a emis quelques reserves.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5
juin 1997)

* OAU. Summit in Harare  -  2 June: The UN Secretary General, Kofi
Annan, and other leaders at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
summit in Zimbabwe, implicity endorse Nigeria;s action in Sierra
Leone, saying that all steps must be taken to restore democratic
government there. Some delegates privately express their disquiet
that the action was taken by Nigeria's military junta. The leaders
give a hero's welcome to Laurent Kabila as he enters the meeting
hall. Amnesty International urges African leaders meeting in
Harare, to demand that President Kabila investigates the latest
massacre in his country. (As many as 123 unarmed civilians were
reportedly gunned down on 26 May by members of President Kabila's
new army, in Uvira). Dr Salim Ahmed Salim is elected as OAUžs
Secretary-General for a third term. 3 June: Discussions on Sierra
Leone were due to be held this morning but were delayed as leaders
awaited the latest information. President Kabila of the DRC (ex-
Zaire) holds talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, during
which they discussed the plioght of refugees in the DRC. 4 June:
The Summit ends by endorsing efforts to restore democracy in Sierra
Leone and hinting that Nigeria and Burundi could be next to come
under reform pressure.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 June 1997)

* Rwanda. Conditions des executions  -  Le gouvernement rwandais a
promulgue un decret detaillant les conditions dans lesquelles
doivent etre executes les condamnes a mort pour le genocide de
1994. Les executions ne devront pas se derouler en public et
personne n'aura le droit de filmer ou de photographier ces
executions, qui auront lieu dans la prison ou le condamne est
detenu et dans la ville ou le jugement a ete prononce. Le decret ne
donne pas les dates, mais 5 personnes condamnees a la pendaison ont
recemment vu leurs recours en appel rejetes. Une quarantaine de
personnes au total ont ete condamnees a mort et restent en attente
de la decision des Cours d'appel.   (Afrique Express, France, 29
mai 1997)

* Sahara occidental. Prolongement de la Minurso  -  Le Conseil de
securite des Nations unies a decide a l'unanimite, le 22 mai, de
prolonger pour quatre mois (jusqu'au 30 septembre) le mandat des
soldats de la Mission des Nations unies (Minurso) presents au
Sahara occidental pour le maintien de la paix. L'ONU a propose un
referendum portant sur l'integration de ce territoire au Maroc ou
bien son independance, mais la consultation a ete reportee a
plusieurs reprises depuis 1992 en raison des divergences sur les
criteres d'identification des electeurs appeles a voter. Le
representant special de l'ONU, James Baker, devrait effectuer une
seconde mission exploratoire dans la region au cours du mois de
juin.   (Marches Tropicaux, France, 30 mai 1997)
* Sierra Leone. After the coup  -  29 May: Mine owners from Canada,
Britain and Belgium are among hundreds of foreigners taking refuge
in hotels in Freetown, ready for evacuation by helicopter across
the wide estuary to Lungi airport. The evacuation has taken on
added urgency since Nigeria sent troops to Sierra Leone. The same
day, a Boeing 747, carrying 392 evacuees, leaves Freetown for
London, after a confrontation between Nigerian and Sierra Leonean
troops contesting control of the runway. 30 May: US marines
evacuate more than 800 foreigners by helicopter. Nigeria continues
to pour in troops. 1 June: The coup leaders reject proposals by
western diplomats and regional powers to peacefully step down.
Instead, they name members of a new Armed Forces Revolutionary
Council. Large numbers of rebel troops have joined the mutinous
soldiers in the capital and other key towns. 2 June: The UN
Secretary General and the OAU, meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe,
implicity endorse Nigeria's action in Freetown, saying that all
steps must be taken to restore democratic government in Sierra
Leone. Nigerian gunboats bombard Freetown, and fighting rages
between Nigerian troops, and Sierra Leonean soldiers and rebels
allied to coup leaders. The Nigerians are hopelessly outnumbered.
3 June: Sierra Leone's military leaders say that 300 Nigerian
troops surrendered to them on 2 June. This claim cannot be
confirmed. Nigeria flies in reinforcements to bolster efforts to
reinstate the civilian president. 4 June: France evacuates more
foreigners from Freetown and Sierra Leoneans stream out to the
provinces, as Ghana tries to avert a showdown pitting Nigeria
against coup leaders and their rebel allies. Ghana has sent a team
to try to negotiate a peaceful end to the showdown. A spokesman for
the coup leaders says they have freed 300 Nigerian soldiers
captured on 2 June.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 June 1997)

* Sierra Leone. Apres le coup d'Etat militaire  -  Apres le coup
d'Etat militaire du 25 mai, qui a renverse le gouvernement civil du
president Kabbah, le nouveau regime a annonce la dissolution du
Parlement. Les forces armees rebelles ont avance vers le centre du
pays pour prendre le controle de l'industrie diamantaire. On
signale egalement des combats dans le sud, dans la region de Bo. Le
Nigeria a condamne le coup d'Etat et a averti que, si les rebelles
ne renoncent pas, il pourrait intervenir militairement pour rendre
le pouvoir a Kabbah. 28 mai. Un millier de soldats nigerians venus
par bateau et par avion du Liberia voisin, ou ils sont stationnes
sous l'egide de l'Ecomog, sont deployes a Freetown. Le Nigeria est
lie par un accord de defense a la Sierra Leone. Les pays
occidentaux engagent l'evacuation de leurs ressortissants. 30 mai.
En depit de la fermeture des frontieres et de l'interdiction de
survol decretee par les putschistes, 900 ressortissants etrangers,
pour la plupart americains, sont evacues de Freetown par des
Marines et transferes a Conakry. Dans la matinee, un avion avait
evacue vers Londres 400 Occidentaux, dont 200 Britanniques. Les
evacuations se sont encore poursuivies le lendemain. 1 juin. La
junte militaire annonce des negociations avec le Nigeria (la
Grande-Bretagne servant d'intermediaire) pour un calendrier en vue
du retour d'un gouvernement civil. Mais ces negociations ont capote
quand les putschistes ont annonce la formation d'un Conseil
revolutionnaire des forces armees, dont Foday Sankoh, chef du Front
revolutionnaire uni (RUF) actuellement en residence surveillee au
Nigeria, etait nomme vice-president. Dans la soiree, quelque 600
civils assieges dans un hotel en flammes sont evacues grace a une
intervention de la Croix Rouge. 2 juin. Le Nigeria passe a
l'offensive en canonnant depuis ses bateaux la capitale Freetown.
Les tirs ont fait au moins 49 morts. Les troupes nigerianes
occupent egalement l'aeroport. Le Nigeria ne cache pas son
intention de retablir, y compris par la force, le president Kabbah,
en exil en Guinee. Kabbah avait remporte la presidentielle en 1996,
apres cinq ans d'une guerre civile qui a fait au moins 10.000
victimes, contraint la moitie de la population a l'exode et ruine
le pays. L'Organisation de l'unite africaine a condamne le coup
d'Etat, et Kofi Annan, le secretaire general des Nations unies, a
estime que "l'Afrique ne peut plus tolerer les renversements de
gouvernements elus". 3 juin. Les Nigerians semblent avoir subi un
premier revers. Confrontes a une forte resistance de la part des
troupes de la junte militaire, appuyees par des rebelles du RUF,
ils se sont vus obliges de conclure un cessez-le-feu. Les positions
occupees a l'aeroport ont ete perdues et plusieurs centaines de
soldats nigerians ont ete captures. Des Marines americains ont a
nouveau evacue plusieurs centaines d'etrangers. 4 juin. Le calme
regne a Freetown. La marine francaise a procede a l'evacuation des
derniers etrangers. Tous les prisonniers nigerians sont relaches et
reconduits a leur base, dans un "geste de bonne volonte". Le Ghana
a depeche une equipe de mediateurs, conduite par le vice-ministre
des Affaires etrangeres et le chef d'etat-major.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 5 juin 1997)

* Somalia. Faction leaders agree to a ceasefire  -  On 29 May,
Hussein Aideed and Ali Mahdi Mohamed, agreed to observe a ceasefire
for the third time, and they called on other factions to join their
peace efforts. This pledge was made in a joint communique, called
the "Cairo Joint Agreement" after a meeting with Egyptian President
Mubarak, that followed two days of talks. The statement said that
the faction leaders also agreed to work together to achieve peace
in Mogadishu, and to abolish the Greenline, separating the city.  
(Newspot, USA, 29 May 1997)

* Somalie. Combats  -  Au moins 13 personnes ont ete tuees et 18
blessees, le 4 juin, dans des combats au sud de Mogadiscio entre
deux factions rivales appartenant au clan d'Hussein Aidid, selon
des temoins et des sources medicales. Les combats ont eclate a
l'aeroport de Ballidogle, a 90 km au sud de la capitale. Aucune
information n'etait disponible pour savoir quel clan controlait
l'aeroport, qui a ete ferme au trafic.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 5 juin
1997)

* Tanzania. Starvation in Kilimanjaro  -  25 May: More than 200
families in Lang'ata Ward, Mwanga District in Kilimanjaro Region,
northern Tanzania, could face starvation if relief food is not made
available soon. Reports reaching here indicated that for lack of
food, some residents of Kiti cha Mungu Village have deserted their
homes. One of the villagers, Regina Wesaeli, said government food
assistance was very minimal. We have so far been given only two
kilos of maize per family, how are we going to survive?, she
complained. Some villages alleged that officials mishandled the
relief food that was sent to the area, saying it did not reach the
targeted people. Leaders responsible for distributing the food take
a big share and leave us starving, claimed Paschal Paulo of Kiti
cha Mungu Village. According to John Tupa, the Mwanga District
Commissioner, the government has supplied 242 tonnes of food
against the demand of 3,000 tonnes of maize on the famine-hit area.
The Commissioner said the maize was freely given to people who
lacked the financial means to buy the food, adding that Mwanga
district needs relief food until about July, the harvesting period.
Due to lack of short rains, Mwanga district and more than a dozen
others are faced with food shortages. Government estimated that at
least four million of Tanzania's 30 million population will need
food assistance this year.   (PANA, 25 May 1997)

* Uganda. Lord's Resistance Army activity  -  The rebel Lord's
Resistance Army (LRA) has stepped up its attacks in Kitgum and Gulu
districts in the north, according to various reports. On 29 May it
was reported that four government soldiers were killed in an LRA
ambush on the Gulu-Kitgum road on 27 May. The same day, a Catholic
mission, 32 kms south of Kitgum was raided and a vehicle burned.
The army said it killed eight of the LRA raiders involved. Last
week, humanitarian sources reported a whole series of incidents.
The World Food Programme says that the current insecurity, destroys
the last hopes for a good harvest in the areas in July.   (IRIN,
Kenya, 29 May 1997)

@TIT_INF_1 = NOUS VOUS SIGNALONS... -- INTERESTING ARTICLES
@TIT_INF_2 = AFRICA
Title: "Small Christian Communities 20 years later"
Source: AMECEA Documentation service, June/July 1997
Description: Insights from an AMECEA Survey and Workshop on Small
Christian Communities in AMECEA countries.
@TIT_INF_2 = AFRICA
Title: Globalisation. A blessing or a curse?
Author: Anthony Egan S.J.
Source: Challenge, South Africa, April/May 1997
Description: "Globalisation is the latest buzz word. Every day we
hear people referring to it as the latest trend in economics. But
what does it mean? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? As
Christians, how should we respond to it?
@TIT_INF_2 = KENYA
Title: "Minimum Constitutional, Statutory and Administrative
Reforms: Prerequisites to Free, Fair and Informed General
Elections"
Source: The National Council of Churches of Kenya, 22 May 1997
Description: A document, signed by the Chairman of the Kenya
Episcopal Conference and the General Secretary of the National
Council of Churches of Kenya. The Churches are urging the
government to heed demands on necessary reforms, before the coming
General Election

COUNTRY