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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 30-10-1997   PART #1/ 

* Afrique. Arret des experiences americaines - Dans le New England
Journal of Medicine du 18 septembre, les docteurs Peter Lurie et
Sidney M. Wolfe dressaient un rapport accablant contre
l'administration et le gouvernement americains representes par
l'Institut national de la sante, les Centers of the Deseases
Control et le Programme national contre le sida, en les accusant
conduire en terre africaine des experimentations contraires a
l'ethique. Il s'agissait de confirmer l'efficacite de l'action de
certaines molecules antiretrovirales chez les femmes enceintes
seropositives, de maniere a prevenir la transmission du VIH entre
ces femmes et l'enfant qu'elles portaient. Les deux medecins
estimaient a un millier le nombre d'enfants nes contamines par le
VIH, parce que leur mere seropositive participant a une etude
medicale n'avait pas ete efficacement traitee. Ce rapport prend
encore plus d'importance suite a la decision annoncee a Washington
le 23 octobre d'arreter une partie des experimentations utilisant
des placebos contre le sida en Afrique.  (D'apres Le Monde, France,
23 sept. et 28 oct. 1997)

* Algerie. Elections et apres-elections... - Les Algeriens ont
choisi, le 23 octobre, leurs representants municipaux et
departementaux. La radio d'Etat annoncait que le vote s'etait tenu
dans de parfaites conditions de securite. Malgre une forte
abstention constatee sur le terrain, le taux de participation
"officiel" a ete de 66,19%. Les trois partis du gouvernement
obtiennent une ecrasante majorite: le RND (Rassemblement national
democratique, du president Zeroual) a obtenu 55% des sieges, le FLN
(ancien parti unique) 20%, le MSP (islamistes moderes) environ 10%.
Le FFS (Front des forces socialistes) arrive en quatrieme position,
mais obtient la majorite en Kabylie. Plusieurs partis ont conteste
la regularite du vote, faisant etat d'agressions physiques de
candidats, du renvoi de scrutateurs, de menaces, de l'impossibilite
pour certains controleurs de verifier les urnes avant le vote.
Malgre le risque d'attentats, plusieurs milliers de personnes,
repondant a l'appel du FFS de Hocine Ait-Ahmed, ont defile dans les
rues, lundi 27 octobre, pour protester contre "la fraude massive"
au profit du RND. D'autres partis d'opposition se sont joints a la
manifestation. L'envergure de la fraude semble avoir produit un
enorme ras-le-bol d'une population reduite au silence par la
terreur et la fraude.  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 octobre
1997)

* Algeria. Local Election results - 24 October: The National
Democratic Rally, the party of President Zeroual's supporters, tops
the polls in the local elections, winning 5.4 million votes,
according to the Interior Ministry. 25 October: The Islamic
Salvation Front vows to continue its struggl against the
government. The main opposition Socialist Forces Front urges
Algerians to stage a protest on 27 October against what the party
calls massive election fraud. 27 October: Demonstrations in Algiers
against fraud in the elections. 29 October: Mohammed Lamari,
Algeria's hardline army chief of staff, has removed Said Bey, head
of the first military region around Algiers, where the worst
massacres of civilians took place. Mr Lamari has appointed Rabeh
Boughaba, former commander of Algeria's fifth military region in
the east of the country, to replace Mr Bey. The same day,
newspapers report that gunmen have cut the throats of six farm
guards, murdered a restaurant owner and killed two government
soldiers in separate attacks.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 30 October 1997)

* Angola. Involvement in Congo-Brazza - 16 October: Residents in
the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, say that troops and equipment are
still being moved to the border with Congo-Brazzaville. Soldiers
are reportedly landing at Cabinda Airport. 17 October: The OAU
Secretary-General, calls for the immediate withdrawal of all
"foreign forces and mercenaries" from Congo-Brazzaville and the
implementation of a ceasefire. Angolan troops are believed to have
spearheaded the capture on 15 October, of the Congo-Brazzaville
city of Pointe-Noire. An Angolan military convoy is reported to be
heading towards the Congo-Cabinda border. Sources in Luanda say the
government admits its military involvement in the Congo-Brazza
conflict. 20 October: Security sources say that Angolan troops have
looted all they can from Pointe Noire, Congo-Brazza. President dos
Santos telephones Sassou Nguesso to congratulate him on regaining
power. 21 October: Angolan troops start flying heavy weapons out of
Brazzaville. 22 October: At last 1,000 Angolan soldiers are said to
be in Brazzaville. 25-26 October: Bill Richardson, the US
Ambassador to the UN, visiting Luanda, says that Angola intends to
withdraw its troops shortly from the Congo.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 23
October 1997)

* Angola. Le sommet de Luanda. - Le president angolais Jose Eduardo
dos Santos a recueilli, lundi 27 octobre, a Luanda, les premiers
fruits de ses interventions militaires, en obtenant de ses voisins
l'adhesion a un systeme de securite regionale. Selon le texte
adopte par les presidents Omar Bongo (Gabon), Denis Sassou Nguesso
(Congo-Bra), Laurent Desire Kabila (Congo-Kin), et Jose Eduardo dos
Santos: "Aucun des pays de la region ne peut permettre que son
territoire soit utilise par des groupes ou des mouvements armes
pour desta     biliser politiquement et militairement les pays
voisins". Les presidents des deux Congo ont souligne que leurs
relations etaient bonnes: "Il n'y a pas de problemes entre nous",
a declare M. Kabila. Luanda, de son cote, a promis de retirer
rapidement ses troupes du Congo-Brazzaville.  (D'apres Le Monde,
France, 29 octobre 1997)

* Burundi. Opposition says army killed 70 civilians - On 23
October, human rights and opposition sources said that Burundi's
army killed 70 civilians at a commune during an operation against
suspected Hutu rebels this week. But local military commander, Lt.
Col. Pontien Gaciyubwenge, denied on 22 October, that any such
killings took place, saying the area was calm. The sources say the
massacre took place at Gitenga Hill, Kabezi commune, on 20 October. 
(InfoBeat, USA, 23 October 1997)

* Burundi. Une paix encore lointaine - D'apres l'opposition et des
sources humanitaires, 70 civils ont ete tues, le 20 octobre au
soir, par l'armee burundaise a Gitenga, un village a 20 km au sud
de Bujumbura. Le chef militaire local, le lieutenant-colonel
Pontien Gaciyubgenge, a dementi ces allegations, declarant que la
region etait calme. Les services de "Burundi-Bureau" denoncent par
ailleurs d'autres massacres par l'armee ces derniers jours: le 16
et 19 octobre, 52 personnes dans la commune de Mutamba (Bujumbura
rural); le 21 octobre, 21 personnes dans la commune de Kanyosha
(Bujumbura rural); et les 21/22 octobre, pres de 100 personnes a
Rumonge (province Bururi). De son cote, l'armee burundaise a
accuse, lundi 27 octobre, les forces tanzaniennes d'avoir ouvert le
feu sur deux de ses positions a la frontiere entre les deux pays,
tuant deux soldats et en blessant trois autres. Les deux villages
se trouvent dans le district de Nyanza Lac, sur la rive du lac
Tanganyika, dans le sud du Burundi. "Face a ces agressions repetees
qui s'inscrivent dans une logique de la provocation, le Burundi
assumera ses responsabilites", a ecrit mardi 28 le ministre burundi
des Relations exterieures a son homologue tanzanien. La Tanzanie a
rejete les accusations burundaises, affirmant que l'armee
burundaise avait tire la premiere.  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses,
29 octobre 1997)

* Cameroun. Reelection sans surprise - La Cour supreme a annonce,
le 23 octobre, la reelection du president sortant Paul Biya pour un
nouveau mandat de sept ans, avec une majorite ecrasante de 92,57%
des voix, lors de l'election presidentielle du 12 octobre dernier,
boycottee par l'opposition.  (La Libre Belgique, 24 octobre 1997)

* Commonwealth. Contre le Nigeria - Les chefs d'Etat du
Commonwealth britannique, reunis en sommet a partir du 24 octobre
a Edimbourg (Ecosse), ont decide de ne pas renforcer provisoirement
leurs sanctions a l'egard du Nigeria, deja mis au ban de
l'organisation il y a deux ans pour ses violations des droits de
l'homme. Un groupe de travail publiera un rapport, donnant encore
une annee au regime militaire pour restaurer le pouvoir civil. Le
Nigeria n'est pas menace d'exclusion immediate, mais il reste
suspendu de l'organisation. Des activistes des droits de l'homme
ont deja marque leur deception et reproche au Commonwealth sa
politique d'"apaisement".  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25
octobre 1997)

* Commonwealth. Platitudes... platitudes - 23 October: Ministers at
the Commonwealth Summit fail to announce their promised concrete
response to the military regime of Nigeria's human rights abuses.
Last minute efforts continue, to achieve consensus among the 54-
member body. 24 October: Nigerian opposition groups scorn the
Commonwealth for insisting it is getting tough with General Abacha,
despite his regime being given another year before facing new
punitive measures. President Mugabe of Zimbabwe asks Britain to
fund the redistribution to black farmers, of half a million
hectares of white-owned farmland. The Commonwealth's small island
states serve notice that they see climate change as potentially the
most serious threat to their survival.26 October: Relatives of the
Lockerbie victims join Nelson Mandela in demanding that the two
Libyan suspects be tried in a neutral location -- not in Scotland
or the United States. The summit's economic statement entitled
"Promoting Shared Prosperity" reflects basic principles of economic
and social justice. Commonwealth leaders say they will not soften
their line on Nigeria, but differ over how to prod it into
improving human rights. Leaders reject a proposal from President
Mandela to send a new team to Nigeria to press for the realese of
political prisoners. 27 October: The summit agreees to impose oil,
financial and travel embargoes on Nigeria if the regime fails to
hold elections as promised by next October.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 28
October)

* Comoros. OAU will not recognise Anjouan independence - On 27
October, the OAU condemned a referendum held on Anjouan and said it
will never recpgnise the result. Secessionist leaders say the
population has voted overwhelmingly for independence.  (InfoBeat,
USA, 27 October 1997)

* Comores. Vote pour l'independance - Les Anjouanais etaient
appeles a se prononcer le dimanche 26 octobre pour ou contre leur
independance, lors d'un referendum desapprouve par l'OUA. Le
referendum a tourne au plebiscite: selon les resultats rendus
publics lundi 27, 99,88% des electeurs se seraient prononces en
faveur de l'independance de cette petite ile de l'archipel des
Comores, dont les Anjouanais rejettent l'autorite du gouvernement
federal. Le gouvernement de la republique federale islamique des
Comores refuse d'accorder la moindre valeur a ce referendum qui n'a
d'ailleurs ete reconnu par aucun pays ni aucune organisation
internationale.  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 octobre 1997)

* Congo-Brazza. After the war - 20 October: The Burkina Faso
government says that ousted President Lissouba has been granted
asylum in Burkina Faso, on humanitarian grounds. 23 October: The
Red Cross says it is finding about 50 bodies a day, of victims of
the fighting, in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. The same day, Sassou
Nguesso arrives in Brazzaville. 25 October: Sassou Nguesso is
inaugurated as President. 26 October: Former residents of
Brazzaville stream back into their devastated city. Hundreds cross
the river by canoe from Kinshasa. Relief workers say that the city
is not ready to cope with a mass return and that the future for
many is uncertain.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 October 1997)

* Congo-Brazza. Vers un gouvernement d'union nationale - Sassou
Nguesso est arrive le 23 octobre a Brazzaville ou, samedi 25, il
s'est fait investir chef de l'Etat. M. Nguesso a promis de fixer
une duree a la "periode de transition" qui menera a de nouvelles
elections, mais a prevenu que cette duree "ne sera pas fixee sous
la pression". Les modalites de la periode de transition et la date
des elections seront fixees par un "forum national pour l'unite et
la democratie". Une douzaine d'ambassadeurs ont assiste a la
ceremonie. A l'exterieur de Brazzaville, ses forces ne semblent pas
controler totalement la situation; des poches de resistance
subsistent notamment au sud de la capitale. De son cote, selon
l'ambassadeur americain a l'ONU, Bill Richardson, en visite a
Luanda, l'Angola aurait l'intention de retirer ses troupes du Congo
dans un bref delai. D'autre part, le gouvernement de Kinshasa a
interdit la traversee du fleuve Congo pour "des raisons de
securite".  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 octobre 1997)

* Congo (RDC). Elections et enquete - Contrairement a l'annonce
faite par M. Kalonji sur le report probable des elections au Congo,
un decret a ete publie le 22 octobre a Kinshasa, portant sur la
creation de la Commission constitutionnelle chargee d'elaborer
l'avant-projet de Constitution de la R.D. Congo. L'ambassadeur du
Congo a Bruxelles, Mme Kasa-Vubu, a dementi formellement les propos
de M. Kalonji et reitere la determination de M. Kabila a maintenir
ses promesses electorales. La commission constitutionnelle devrait
rendre le 1er mars 1998 son projet de Constitution. Devraient
suivre en avril la convocation de la Constituante; le 30 juin
l'installation de la nouvelle assemblee constituante; en octobre
1998 la remise de la nouvelle Constitution au chef de l'Etat, avant
le referendum et les elections. -D'autre part, l'ambassadeur
americain a l'ONU, Bill Richardson, a annonce, samedi 25 octobre,
que Laurent-Desire Kabila acceptait qu'une enquete soit menee sur
les massacres de refugies hutu rwandais lors de sa conquete de
l'ex-Zaire. M. Kabila a souligne que l'enquete ne doit pas etre
liee aux promesses d'aide economique de la communaute
internationale. MM. Kabila et Richardson n'ont cependant signe
aucun document conjoint ou declaration commune. De retour a Geneve,
M. Richardson a souhaite, mercredi 29, que l'enquete, longtemps
retardee, puisse commencer debut novembre "pour que nous puissions,
en Afrique, parler des questions de la reconstruction et du
developpement, du commerce, de la democratie et des
investissements".  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 30 octobre 1997)

* Congo RDC. Investigations into massacres - 28 October: US envoy
Bill Richardson, says that the UN Secretary-General has endorsed
"in principle", a deal to allow investigations into alleged
massacres of refugees in the Congo. Richardson began a six-nation
African tour in Kinshasa on 25 October. Later, in Nairobi,
Richardson says that the threatened loss of foreign investment,
finally persuaded President Kabila to agree to the UN probe.  (ANB-
BIA, Brussels, 29 October 1997)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Bedie inaugurates Council of Financial Markets -
On 20 October, President Bedie inaugurated the West African
Monetary Union (UMOA)'s Regional Council of Public Savings and
Financial Markets. The Chairman of the new body is Leon Naka, an
official of the Abidjan Stock Exchange. The Council's objective is
to safeguard the security and integrity of the financial market. It
is empowered to control all private structures of the market, as
well as to make calls for public savings.  (PANA, 20 October 1997)

* Kenya. Coastal belt declared a disaster area - Mombasa and
Kenya's coastal belt have been declared a disaster area by the
government. Torrential rain last week destroyed homes, roads and
bridges, killing 25 people. On 24 October, President Moi toured the
affected areas and announced the creation of an emergency task
force made up of army, police and provincial administration
members. He launched a disaster fund for flood victims which raised
5.5 million Kenyan shillings (about fifty thousand pounds sterling)
in contributions from Mombasa's business community and local
leaders. The government has pledged 2 million shillings. There is
little public confidence in the fund set up by the President and Mr
Moi faces criticism that his government has handled the disaster
poorly, with devastating results for the economy. (Editor's note:
On 26 October people in the coastal areas enjoyed their first
respite from a week of torrential rains.)  (The Guardian, U.K., 27
October 1997)

* Kenya. Salary increases/tough stand on corruption - 17 October:
President Moi announces a 25% salary increase for lecturers in the
five public universities, effective from 1 July 1997. 20 October:
President Moi increases by 10%, the salaries of civil servants, the
regular and administration police, the National Youth service and
prison officers. The increases are to take effect in November this
year. The same day, the President announces that the government
will from now on, declare war on corruption and tribalism. He
instructs the Anti-Corruption Squad to start work immediately after
a Bill on the same, is passed by Parliament. 27 October: Kenya's
East African says that Kenya will raise taxes to cover salary
increases.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 28 October 1997)

* Kenya. Constitutional reform - 18 October: Professor Ali Mazrui
says that President Moi's government is monarchial and riddled with
constitutional deficiencies which make it incapable of conforming
with multi-partyism. 19 October: Imenti South Member of Parliament
Kiraitu Murungi, warns there will be bloodshed if the Inter-Party
Parliamentary Group reforms are not implemented. The same day, the
deputy chief of mission at the American Embassy in Nairobi,
challenges the government to register the Safina party "if it is
seriously committed to constitutional reform". 21 October:
Parliament is currently debating the Constitution of Kenya Review
Commission Bill 1997, first published in August. Extensive
amendments have been introduced to it, making it cumbersome for
ease of reading and reference.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 28 October
1997)

* Liberia. Border with Sierra Leone closed - 23 October: Liberia
has ordered the closure of its borders with Sierra Leone closed, to
prevent a spillover of the crisis in that country. This decision
comes in the wake of intelligence reports that Sierra leone's
military junta and its Revolutionary United Front (RUF) allied
forces, control major border points between Liberia and Sierra
Leone, and that the risk of hot pursuit against Kamajors hunter
militia by the junta, into Liberia, is high.  (PANA, 23 October
1997)

* Libya. Mandela unable to shift Gadafy - On 29 October, Colonel
Gadafy repeated his refusal to extradite two Libyans wanted for the
1988 bombing. He was speaking after his second meeting with South
Africa's President Mandela, during which he apparently rejected the
South African's President's appeal for moderation in the search for
a way out of the impasse. At a news conference, Gadafy said:
"Mandela's advice was clear, he calls for joint efforts for peace.
But that Libya hand its sons to the United States or Britain,
this...is a ridiculous demand." He said Libya wanted a trial in a
neutral country.  (The Guardian, U.K., 30 October 1997)

* Libye. Mandela fait la lecon - Lors de la rencontre avec son
homologue libyen, mercredi 29 octobre, a Zouara, a mi-chemin entre
Tripoli et la fontiere tunisienne, le president sud-africain Nelson
Mandela a conseille a Mouammar Kadhafi de "moderer son language" a
l'egard des Nations unies. Nelson Mandela a mis en avant "les
efforts de l'ONU dans la consolidation de la paix mondiale, le
reglement des differends de maniere pacifique" et a appele "les
dirigeants du monde entier, quelles que soient leurs divergeances,
a aider l'ONU dans sa mission". La Libye est frappee par un embargo
international decrete par les Nations unies pour son refus de
livrer deux agents soupconnes dans l'attentat contre l'avion
americain qui a explose en 1988 au dessus de Lockerbie, en Ecosse. 
(D'apres Liberation, France, 30 octobre 1997)

* Mali. Amnesty granted to opposition leaders - President Konare
has pardoned 16 opposition leaders detained on 23 July, following
the lynching of a policeman at Bafoulabe, 250 kilometres west of
Bamako, after the country's parliamentary elections. The amnesty
was contained in a presidential decree issued on 20 October. He
also announced that 10 other persons, imprisoned for the same
reason, had been released at San, about 400 kilometres east of
Bamako. Konare granted the amnesty in an effort to end the
political crisis which has plagued Mali since the parliamentary
elections on 13 April. The elections were cancelled by the
Constitutional Court because of irregularities.  (AFJN, Washington,
24 October 1997)

* Maroc. Nouvel ambassadeur au Vatican - Recevant le nouvel
ambassadeur du Maroc au Vatican, le pape Jean-Paul II a souligne la
"longue tradition d'ouverture et de tolerance" du Maroc, ou
catholiques et musulmans ont de nombreuses occasions de se
rencontrer pour chercher ensemble a ameliorer leurs relations.
Reprenant les termes de l'ambassadeur, le pape a insiste sur les
bienfaits de la cooperation entre chretiens et musulmans, "appeles
a travailler ensemble a l'edification d'un monde de justice et de
paix" et a "temoigner ensemble du respect qui doit etre porte a
tout homme, cree a l'image de Dieu".  (D'apres CIP, Belgique, 30
octobre 1997)

* Ouganda. Trafic de drogue en hausse - Les statistiques de la
repression du trafic de drogue montrent que l'Ouganda est devenu un
point de transit important du fait de la faiblesse des controles a
l'aeroport d'Entebbe. Selon le secretaire d'Etat a la securite, le
colonel William Omaria, la police a saisi 136 000 tablettes de
mandrax a cet aeroport, l'an dernier. Mais des sources policieres
estiment a l'equivalent de 150.000 $ le montant de drogue passee en
fraude, chaque semaine, malgre l'arrestation de plus d'un millier
d'etrangers pour ce trafic en 1996. Les donnees de la police
ougandaise montrent qu'un nombre croissant d'etrangers originaires
la plupart du temps d'Afrique de l'Ouest se lancent dans ce trafic.
Ainsi, le nombre des personnes arretees a augmente considerablement
ces dernieres annees: 465 en 1992, 866 en 1995 et 1.054 l'an
dernier. Ce qui donne a penser que le trafic est en hausse: c'est
l'avis de la police locale qui considere que l'Ouganda est devenu
un point de transit pour des narcotiques venant du sous-continent
indien et d'Amerique latine, en grande partie parce qu'ensuite leur
acheminement vers l'Europe est moins controle qu'une arrivee
directe en provenance des zones de production.  (D'apres Lettre de
l'Ocean Indien, France, 25 oct. 1997)

* Rwanda. Ruggiu plaide non coupable - Le 24 octobre, devant le
tribunal international pour le Rwanda, base a Arusha (Tanzanie), le
Belge d'origine italienne, Georges Ruggiu, a plaide non coupable
d'incitation au genocide et des accusations de crime contre
l'humanite lors de la guerre au Rwanda en 1994. Presentateur de la
radio extremiste RTLM (Radio television libre des Mille Collines),
il est accuse d'avoir tenu a l'antenne des propos incitant a la
haine ethnique contre les Tutsi.  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25
octobre 1997)

* Rwanda. Aveux et dementi - Dans un entretien publie par le
journal sud-africain Sunday Independent du 26 octobre, le vice-
president et ministre de la defense rwandais, Paul Kagame, a
reconnu que ses troupes etaient impliquees dans les tueries de
centaines de refugies hutu rwandais au Congo (RD). Il a toutefois
refuse de parler de "massacres", mais d'un "resultat de la guerre",
en accusant l'ONU d'etre responsable de cette situation car elle
n'a pas separe les combattants des vrais refugies. Mais l'attache
de presse du general Kagame affirme, dans un dementi publie lundi
27, que Kagame "n'a jamais dit que l'APR etait impliquee dans les
massacres de refugies", ajoutant que "l'existence meme des
massacres doit encore etre prouvee de facon impartiale".  (D'apres
Le Monde et la Libre Belg., 28 octobre 1997)

* Senegal. Dakar capitale des droits de l'homme - Du 20 au 24
novembre prochain, le congres mondial de la Federation
internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) se tiendra
a Dakar, a l'invitation de l'Organisation nationale des droits de
l'homme que dirige l'avocat senegalais Sidiki Kaba. En marge de la
rencontre, une premiere en terre africaine, et qui regroupera
quelque quatre-ving-dix ligues nationales et pres de trois cents
participants, se tiendra, sous la presidence du president Abdou
Diouf, un colloque sur le theme: droits de l'homme et
developpement.  (Jeune Afrique, France, 29 octobre 1997)

* Sierra Leone. Plan de paix - Au terme de pourparlers, le 23
octobre a Conakry (Guinee), avec les ministres des Affaires
etrangeres des Etats membres de la CEDEAO, les representants de la
junte sierra-leonaise ont accepte un plan de paix. Ils se sont mis
d'accord sur un processus de transition, selon lequel la junte
militaire remettrait le pouvoir, d'ici six mois, soit en avril de
l'annee prochaine, au president democratiquement elu, Ahmed Tejan
Kabbah, a la tete d'un gouvernement d'union nationale.  (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 24 octobre 1997)

* Sierra Leone. Junta to step down within 6 months - On 23 October,
Sierra Leone's military rulers, and foreign ministers from its West
African neighbours, agreed on a peace plan, under which the junta
will restore power to elected President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. A
statement issued after the meeting Conakry said: "The committee of
five and the representatives of the junta have adopted a peace plan
for Sierra Leone, as well as a timetable for putting it into effect
over a period of six months, from 23 October 1997". The peace plan
would see Kabbah, ousted by a coup on 25 May, back in power ny next
April.  (InfoBeat, USA, 23 October 1997)

* Somalia. UN appeals for help - The United Nations has appealed to
international donors to assist its rehabilitation and emergency
programmes in Somalia. Relief operations are in a state of crisis
because of a serious lack of money. The UN says it has the
programmes to help Somalia get back on its feet, but it does not
have the money. Officials say the UN received only one-third of the
100-million dollars it sought this year.  (VOA, 23 October 1997)

* Somalie. MSF-France se retire - La branche francaise de Medecins
sans Frontieres va se retirer "definitivement" de Somalie.
L'organisation a suspendu toutes ses operations dans le pays apres
l'assassinat d'un medecin portugais de MSF-France, Ricardo Marquez,
le 20 juin.  (Liberation, France, 25 octobre 1997)

* Soudan. Crucifixions et esclavage - La presidente du comite des
droits de l'homme de l'ONU, Christine Chanet, a critique mardi 28
octobre des graves atteintes aux droits de l'homme au Soudan,
telles que des crucifixions de condamnes a mort, l'esclavage ou
encore l'enrolement force d'enfants dans l'armee. "Il ne faut pas
chercher d'excuses derriere la coutume ou la loi interieure" pour
ne pas appliquer les normes internationales auxquelles le Soudan
adhere, a declare Mme Chanet.  (La Libre Belgique, 29 octobre 1997)

* Sudan. Peace talks in Nairobi - 29 October: Peace talks between
the Sudanese government and the political wing of the SPLA, are due
to open in Nairobi today. A SPLA spokesman says he does not "see
any cause for optimism" in the talks.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 30
October 1997)

* South Africa. TRC - 23 October: The TRC proposes that the
government spend nearly $640 million over six years on reparation
payouts to survivors of apartheid abuses. Archbishop Tutu says:
"You cannot put a money value to suffering. The payout is largely
symbolic, showing the nation is sorry". The same day, three white-
wingers, convicted of two bombings near Cape Town that killed four
people last year, are sentenced to life imprisonment. 26 October:
The TRC says that its chief investigator, Dumisa Ntsebeza, is under
investigation in connection with an attack on a pub which killed
four people during the apartheid era.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27
October 1997)

* Swaziland. Teachers on strike - 22 October: There is an impasse
between striking teachers and the government. The government says
they will not be paid until they return to class. This tough stance
has caught the Swaziland National Association of Teachers
executive, and indeed, the entire teaching fraternity, off-guard.
28 October: Paramilitary police fire tear gas at about 2,000
demonstrators awaiting the return of King Mswati III on his return
from the Commonwealth Conference. The striking teachers and trade
unionists were on their way to the airport when police dispersed
them.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 29 October 1997)

* Tanzania. Finance for gold mine - The way has been cleared for
the completion of Tanzania's first large gold mine since
independence in 1961. Financing was arranged for the Golden Pride
open pit mine in the Lake Victoria gold fields district in the
north-west of Tanzania. Golden Pride is a joint venture between
Samax Gold listed in Canada, and Resolute of Australia. The mine is
expected to start producing in the middle of next year at an annual
rate of 170,000 ounces and at a cash cost of $210 an ounce. 
(Financial Times, U.K., 24 October 1997)

* Tanzanie. L'opposition se rassemble - Neuf partis d'opposition se
sont recemment reunis a Dar es-Salaam, a l'initiative du CHADEMA,
et ont decide de creer un comite commun afin de coordonner une
campagne en faveur de l'adoption d'une nouvelle Constitution avant
les elections generales de l'an 2.000. Chacun de ces partis (dont,
outre le CHADEMA, les plus importants sont le Civic United Front et
le NCCR-Mageuzi) a designe un membre pour participer a ce comite
commun. Une large part des discussions de cette reunion a ete
consacree a la designation du president dudit comite de
l'opposition. Finalement, c'est le secretaire general du CHADEMA,
Bob Makani, a l'initiative de cette rencontre, qui a ete designe a
ce poste. D'autres formations ont participe a cette rencontre, mais
aucune raison n'a ete donnee pour expliquer l'absence de trois
autres partis d'opposition (UDP, UMD et TPP). La prochaine reunion
du comite commun de l'opposition etait prevue pour le 4 novembre et
devrait commencer a discuter d'un programme d'action qui pourrait
aller jusqu'a l'organisation de manifestations de rue ou a des
appels a la greve, a l'instar de ce que font les opposants du
National Convention Executive Committee (NCEC) au Kenya voisin. 
(D'apres Lettre de l'Ocean Indien, France, 25 oct. 1997)

* Togo. Kodjo is still angry - Former prime minister Edem Kodjo,
whose offices were searched by gendarmes, is still angry. The
security forces were looking for weapons, but apparently did not
find any. Kodjo, who is also the president of the Togolese Union
for Democracy (UTD), sees himself as a victim of intimidatory
measures in the run-up to the next presidential election, due to be
held in August 1998.  (AFJN, Washington, 22 October 1997)
* Uganda. Editor charged - The Editor of the independent Ugandan
daily, The Monitor, and a reporter, appeared before a Kampala court
last week on charges of publishing false information. Mr Charles
Onyangbo-Obbo, who is a columnist for The East African, and Mr
Andrew Mwenda were accused of publishing an article in the 21
September edition of the paper, which was headlined "Kabila paid
Uganda in Gold".The daily had quoted the Paris-based Indian Ocean
Newsletter which had reported that Congo paid Uganda in gold for
Kampala's backing in the armed struggle against the late dictator
Mobutu Sese Seko. Mr Onyangbo-Obbo denied the charge. The case
comes up again on 17 November.  (The East African, Kenya, 27
October 1997)

* Vatican. Une date butoir pour la remise de la dette - Intervenant
devant le deuxieme Comite de l'Assemblee generale sur les
"Questions de politique macro-economiques: la dette exterieure et
le developpement", Mgr Renato Martino, observateur permanent du
Saint-Siege a l'ONU, s'est felicite que la question de la dette des
pays les plus pauvres soit maintenant affrontee de facon plus
"claire", grace a l'"International Institutions in favour of the
Heavily Indebted Poorest Countries" (HIPC ). Il y voit une
reconnaissance, a la fois de la part des gouvernements et des
organismes financiers internationaux, du handicap au developpement
que constitue la dette internationale des pays les plus pauvres. Ce
probleme ne peut etre resolu que par des "mesures d'annulation
substantielle de la dette", a-t-il dit. Mentionnant l'appel de
Jean-Paul II dans sa lettre "A l'aube du troisieme millenaire", Mgr
Martino a insiste pour que "les pays concernes puissent commencer
a beneficier d'une reduction concrete de la dette d'ici 2009". 
(D'apres CIP, Belgique,30 octobre 1997)

* Zambia. Trade cooperation with Rwanda - On October 24, Zambia and
Rwanda agreed to increase trade cooperation. The Foreign Affairs
ministries of the two countries said in a joint statement after a
four-day joint permanent commission meeting in Lusaka, that Zambia
will assist Rwanda in the training of personnel in the fields of
education, health, the legal sector, mass communications, science
and technology. Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Anastase Gasana,
said his country would increase imports of cement, sugar and coper
cables from Zambia.  (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 24 October
1997)

* Zambia. Failed coup d'etat - 28 October: It's early morning, and
a certain "Captain Solo" says that "Operation Born Again is
underway, to set up a "National Redemption Council". Lusaka Airport
is closed. By midday, the national radio announces that everything
has returned to normal. The Defence Minister, Ben Mwila, says that
troops loyal to the government have killed one dissident army
officer and arrested 15 others, after the rebels had staged a raid
on the national broadcasting station. The rebel leader was
reportedly found hiding in the grounds of Radio Zambia. A
government spokesman says: "Indications are, that a small group of
Zambian soldiers had too much to drink and decided to take over the
government". In a radio address, President Chiluba assures Zambians
he is in control. "I want to warn those who rise by the sword, they
will fall by the sword. I appeal to you, fellow Zambians, to unite
and be resolute. We can't go back to the Dark Ages". 29 October:
President Chiluba and his cabinet assess the impact of the
attempted coup d'etat. The Opposition are not suspected of
involvement in the failed takeover. A state of emergency is
declared.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 29 October 1997)

* Zambie. Coup d'Etat dejoue - Le president zambien Frederick
Chiluba a rapidement mis fin mardi 28 octobre a une tentative de
coup d'Etat declenchee par un officier de l'armee, le "capitaine
Solo". Ce dernier, identifie comme le capitaine Steve Lungu, a ete
arrete avec sept autres officiers et une vingtaine de soldats. Pour
le capitaine Solo, un coup d'Etat etait le seul moyen de mettre fin
a la corruption du gouvernement. Mercredi 29 octobre, le president
Chiluba a proclame l'etat d'urgence dans tout le pays, pour au
moins sept jours. Cette mesure permettra a la police d'arreter des
suspects et de les maintenir en garde a vue pendant vingt-quatre
heures. Frederick Chiluba, un ancien predicateur de 54 ans, avait
ete elu president en 1991 par un electorat fatigue par 27 ans de
pouvoir de Kenneth Kaunda. "Bon eleve" du FMI, Mr Chiluba s'est
bientot laisse entrainer par la corruption, affaiblissant ainsi son
pouvoir. Obsede par un retour au pouvoir de K. Kaunda (ne de
parents originaires du voisin Malawi), il lui barre la route en
1996 en faisant voter un amendement constitutionnel interdisant aux
personnes nees de parents etrangers de se presenter a l'election
presidentielle. Depuis, "KK" s'est lance, avec les partis de
l'opposition, dans une campagne de desobeissance civile.  (D'apres
AFP et Reuter, 29-30 octobre 1997)

* Zimbabwe. OAU's military chiefs meet - 20 October: African
military officials begin their meeting in Harare, to enhance the
Organisation of African Unity's peacekeeping capacity, in the light
of continuing conflicts in parts of the continent. Sam Ibok, the
acting director of the OAUžs political department says: "We, at the
OAU, have now come to the conclusion that it is possible for
Africans to act, and act decisively to avert catatrophe on the
continent, if only we can muster the necessary political will". 
(AFJN, Washington, 20 October 1997)

*******************************************
DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST - DOCUMENTS DISPONIBLES SUR DEMANDE
*******************************************

===> COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE
Title: Press Conference Statement issued at the start of the
Commonwealth Summit, Edinburgh, 23 October 1997
Author: Pierre Sane, Amnesty International.  
--> (8 Kb - Ask for/Demander: DOC\AFR\AI10231.txt - ASCII text)

===> SECAM
Title: "Fulfilling the Prophecy"
Author: Father Joseph Faniran. SECAM Press Secretary
Description: A short Press Release on the recent Eleventh Plenary
Assembly of SECAM, held in South Africa.  
--> (5 Kb - Ask for/Demander: DOC\AFR\SECAM1.txt - ASCII text)

===> ALGERIA
Titles: 1) News Release: "Children caught in the conflict". 2) News
Release: "Human Rights have no borders". 3) News Release:
"Civilians caught between two fires".
Author: International Secretariat of Amnesty International. (All
dated 27 October 1997)
Description: In these 3 documents, Amnesty International draws the
attention of the international community to the horrific state of
affairs inside Algeria, where, as always, it is the defenceless who
are the first victims of violence.
--> (16 Kb - Ask for/Demander: DOC\ALG\AI10271.txt - ASCII text)

===> CONGO-BRAZZA
Title: Congo-Brazzaville. Briefing
Source: APIC, USA, 28 October 1997
Description: Background information on the crisis in Congo-
Brazzaville, following the takeover by former President Denis
Sassou-Nguesso. It analyzes the players, assesses the regional
impact, and provides historical background.  
-->(18 Kb - Ask for/Demander: DOC\CNGB\APIC1.txt - ASCII text)

===> SOUTH AFRICA
Title: Introductory Notes To The Presentation Of The Truth And
Reconciliation Commission'S Proposed Reparation and Rehabilitation
Policies. 23 October 1997
Author: Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize, Chairperson, Reparation and
rehabilitation Committee of the TRC.
Description: The proposals have been discussed with the Government,
but they nevertheless remain proposals at this stage. They will be
considered fully by Government and Parliament when the Commission's
final report is presented next year.
--> (9 Kb - Ask for/Demander: DOC\RSA\TRC1023.txt - ASCII text)

===> SUDAN
Title: Nuba Mountains Letter
Author: International Women's Committee in Support of Nuba Women
and Children. 24 October 1997
Description: A letter of protest to the international community, on
the tragic humanitarian situation of the people, and especially the
women and children, of the Nuba Mountains of southwestern Sudan. 
--> (15 Kb - Ask for/Demander: DOC\SUD\APIC1024.txt -ASCII text)