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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 15-01-1998      PART #1/ 

* Africa. Amnesty International.  -  In the January 1998 issue of
Amnesty International News, attention is drawn to the following
African countries because of human rights concerns. Algeria: "A
country in terror". Rwanda: "Thousands killed while world remains
silent". Burundi: "Death penalty". (At least 215 prisoners are
currently under sentence of death in Burundi). Egypt:
"Disappearance". (Concern is expressed for Sayyid þAli Hassan
Ibrahim and Mohammed Ali Hassan Al-Battugu, both of whom have
"disappeared in southern Egypt, after being arrested by members of
the security forces).   (Amnesty International, January 1998)

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Zambia: On 6 January, police
barred four journalists from covering the habeus corpus hearing,
challenging the continued house arrest of Kenneth Kaunda. The
journalists were from Reuters, Agence France Presse, PANA, and the
Zambia Daily Mail. On 8 January, police barred a South African
Broadcasting Corporation television crew and a Zambian Information
Service cameraman from filming events outside the Lusaka High
Court. Congo RDC: Since the beginning of December 1997, the
editorial offices and printing house of the privately-owned "Le
Moniteur de l'Economie", are under military occupation, without any
official reason being given. On 29 December, three staffers of the
paper's printing house were arrested without charge. Their place of
detention is unknown. Liberia: On 6 January, the Liberian
authorities had the only printing works in Monrovia barred from
publishing the newspaper "Heritage". This ban is related to an
article published a week before, which was critical of the
government for its strained relations with the ECOMOG forces.
Mauritania:Reporters Sans Frontieres reports that according to its
information, the 12 January edition of the independent newspaper
"Le Calame" has been censored. In another case, the independent
weekly "Mauritanie Nouvelles" has been suspended for three months.
It had already been suspended for an equal length of time on the
eve of the presidential elections. Cameroon: On 13 January, Pius
Njawe, editor-in-chief of the weekly "Le Messager" was sentenced to
two years in prison and a fine, for spreading false information.  
(IFEX, Canada, 6-14 January 1998)

* Algerie. Massacres: condamnations et accusations  -  Alors que
certaines sources estiment le nombre des victimes des massacres
depuis le debut du ramadan a pres d'un millier, l'Organisation de
la conference islamique, dans un communique publie le 11 janvier,
condamne ces massacres qu'elle considere comme anti-islamiques, et
presse Alger de cooperer avec la prochaine mission de l'Union
europeenne. "La foi islamique rejette absolument de tels actes
malfaisants qui sont interdits par toutes les religions celestes",
affirme-t-elle. - D'autre part, dans son edition du 11 janvier,
l'hebdomadaire britannique The Observer rapporte les temoignages de
deux personnes se presentant comme des policiers algeriens refugies
en Grande-Bretagne, qui affirment que plusieurs massacres attribues
aux islamistes ont ete perpetres par les forces de securite. - Ce
meme jour, le 11 janvier, plus de cent villageois ont encore ete
tues par un groupe arme a Sidi Hammed, a une trentaine de km
d'Alger. Un bilan officiel fait etat de 103 tues et 70 blesses,
dont dix grievement; mais d'apres la presse algerienne le chiffre
des victimes pourrait depasser les 400.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 13 janvier 1998)

* Algerie. Troika europeenne  -  8 janvier. Les Quinze de l'Union
europeenne, lors d'une reunion des experts du Maghreb a Bruxelles,
se sont mis d'accord sur l'envoi d'une mission en Algerie pour
exprimer leur repulsion face a l'intensification des tueries,
etudier avec les dirigeants algeriens "la maniere d'aider a mettre
un terme a la violence" et proposer une aide aux victimes. Le soir
du meme jour, Alger a accepte la venue d'une troika, a condition
que ce soit pour parler de "cooperation contre le terrorisme",
excluant l'envoi d'aide humanitaire, le dialogue politique et une
mission de l'Onu. 13 janvier. Les directeurs politiques ont decide
formellement d'envoyer en Algerie une troika (Royaume-Uni,
Luxembourg et Autriche) de hauts fonctionnaires. Ceux-ci feront
rapport aux ministres des Affaires etrangeres le 26 janvier. 14
janvier. Le ministre algerien des Affaires etrangeres a refuse la
visite, estimant que le niveau de la mission etait trop faible et
que son mandat excluait desormais la cooperation contre le
terrorisme.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 15 janvier 1998)

* Algeria. Diplomatic moves, but killings continue  -  8 January:
The European Union (EU) decides to send a fact-finding mission to
Algeria. British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, announces that the
delegation will include diplomats from Britain, Luxembourg and
Austria. British officials admit privately that options are limited
because the Algerian government has angrily rejected calls for any
international investigations on killings. Algeria says it is
"prepared to meet EU diplomats to discuss confronting terrorism".
9 January: The Algerian government is making clear it will lay down
tough conditions for the EU delegation. 11 January: At least 120
people are massacred in the village of Sidi Hamed, 30 km from
Algiers. 13 January: The government accuses some local newspapers
of deliberately exaggerating death tolls in their reporting of some
of the country's worst massacres. French language dailies "Al
Watan" and "Liberte" say that 400 people had died in Sidi Hamed,
contradicting the government's official death toll of 103. The
Interior Minister questioned the "macabre accounting" and said it
was "surprised one more time, at the willingness to exaggerate a
situation which is already dramatic". 14 January: Foreign Minister
Ahmed Attaf announces that the level of the proposed EU delegation
is "not appropriate". He also makes clear that the government
resents foreign involvement that does not include "combatting
terrorism".   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 January 1998)

* Algerie. Hachani arrete  -  Abdelkader Hachani, un des hauts
responsables du Front islamique du salut (FIS), a ete arrete le 13
janvier par les autorites algeriennes, a affirme l'instance
executive du FIS a l'etranger, qui a lance un appel pour sa
liberation immediate. M. Hachani vit en Algerie. Dans des
entretiens avec des journaux europeens, il a exhorte les
gouvernements occidentaux a faire pression sur Alger pour qu'il
negocie avec le FIS.   (Le Monde, France, 15 janvier 1998)

* Angola. Slow progress towards real peace  -  On 8 January, the
Angolan government said it was in full control of diamond-mining
areas in the Cuango Valley. "We took over the last one on 31
December", says deputy territorial minister, Higino Carneiro.
Western diplomats confirmed that UNITA had withdrawn from its
Cuango mines, which produce some of the country's best gems. On 13
January, the UN Secretary-General recommended a three-month
extension, until 30 April, of the UN peacekeeping operation in
Angola, citing delays in carrying out the 1994 peace accords
between the Angolan government and UNITA. (Editor's note: It is
reported that Jonas Savimbi is to meet with President Dos Santos on
16 January in a step towards achieving the peace process).  
(InfoBeat, USA, 8 & 13 January 1998)

* Angola. Processus de paix  -  Suite a une communication
telephonique, le president dos Santos et le chef de l'UNITA, Jonas
Savimbi, se sont mis d'accord sur un nouveau calendrier pour
permettre l'aboutissement du processus de paix en Angola, dont la
date limite est fixee au 28 fevrier. Une rencontre en tete-a-tete
est prevue. Les deux hommes ont egalement discute de la necessite
de prolonger le mandat de la mission de l'ONU en Angola jusqu'a ce
que la paix soit consolidee.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 14 janvier 1998)

* Burundi. Hutu rebellion  -  7 January: The main Hutu rebel group,
the National Council for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD) calls for
an international commission of inquiry into civilian massacres, and
says it is not responsible for the 1 January killing of civilians
near Bujumbura Airport. The same day, the UN High Commissioner for
refugees, Mrs Sadako Ogata, condemns the escalating violence in
Burundi, saying it has major implications for hundreds of thousands
of returnees and refugees. 7-8 January: Hutu rebels kill seven
people when they attack Mubone village, north of Bujumbura. The
same night, rebels raid the town of Kinama in Mubimbi commune. 8
January: A joint UN-NGO mission to the villages of Rukaramu and
Maramvya is told by the governor of Bujumbura Rurale, that
displaced villagers are now returning to their homes. 9 January:
The US is sending a special envoy to Burundi, Howard Wolpe, in a
new bid to launch a peace process. 10-11 January: Over fifty people
are killed in fighting between the army and Hutu rebels in the
Nyambuye area, near Bujumbura. Fighting halted all traffic on the
main highway leading northeast from Bujumbura.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 13 January 1998)

* Burundi. La rebellion reclame une enquete  -  D'apres Le Monde du
9 janvier, la rebellion hutu reclame la creation d'une "commission
internationale d'enquete" sur les massacres de civils, selon un
communique publie le 7 janvier par le Conseil national pour la
defense de la democratie (CNDD), le principal mouvement hutu. Le
CNDD "reaffirme solennellement" que les rebelles ne sont pas les
auteurs des massacres commis le 1 janvier pres de l'aeroport de
Bujumbura. Selon l'armee, les combattants hutu avaient tue 286
civils. - Des sources fiables au Burundi confirment que les
massacres sur les populations de Rukaramu et Mutimbuzi,
pratiquement totalement hutue, seraient bien le fait de l'armee
burundaise, qui aurait rassemble les gens pour ensuite ouvrir le
feu, pour se venger de leurs propres pertes estimees a plusieurs
dizaines. La Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme, ITEKA,
attribue cependant le massacre aux rebelles, qui auraient tue ceux
qui refusaient de les aider. L'Union europeenne a suggere une
enquete neutre, ainsi que Mme Ndadaye, epouse du president
assassine; le ministre burundais des Affaires etrangeres a refuse
une commission d'enquete internationale. -Entre-temps, la peur
s'est installee dans la capitale. Selon le porte-parole de l'armee,
une cinquantaine de rebelles et deux militaires ont ete tues les 10
et 11 janvier dans des affrontements dans la zone de Nyambuye, pres
de Bujumbura.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 13 janvier 1998)

* Burundi. Envoye americain  -  L'envoye special americain, Howard
Wolpe, devrait arriver le 16 janvier a Bujumbura, ou il essayera de
faire avancer le processus de paix. Le porte-parole du Departement
d'Etat, James Foley, a declare que Washington pense que seule une
solution politique peut amener une paix durable au Burundi.  
(IRIN, Nairobi, 14 janvier 1998)

* Cameroun. Famine dans le nord  -  Des centaines de milliers
d'hectares de cultures ont ete ravagees par des insectes migrateurs
dans le nord du Cameroun. Les inondations de fin de saison de
pluies aggraveraient la situation dans les provinces frontalieres
du Tchad. Selon les estimations du ministere de l'Agriculture, les
besoins d'intervention d'urgence atteindraient 4,8 milliards de
FCFA. L'Etat camerounais n'a pu debloquer jusqu'a maintenant que
820 millions. Pres d'un million de personnes seraient menacees par
la famine.   (L'autre Afrique, France, 7 janvier 1998)

* Cameroun. Directeur de journal en prison  -  Deux jours apres
qu'un des journalistes du Messager avait ecrit dans un article paru
le 22 decembre que le president Biya aurait eu un malaise cardiaque
lors de la finale de la Coupe de football du Cameroun, le directeur
de la publication, Pius Njawe, etait arrete et emprisonne. Il a ete
condamne, le 13 janvier, a deux ans de prison ferme et a une amende
de 500.000 FCFA. En deux ans, quinze journalistes ont ete arretes
au Cameroun.   (Liberation, France, 15 janvier 1998)

* Centrafrique. Elections annoncees  -  Le president Patasse a
confirme, dans son discours a l'occasion du nouvel an, son
intention d'organiser en 1998 des elections municipales et
legislatives, sans toutefois fixer des dates precises. Sans donner
la date d'une Conference de reconciliation nationale, qui pourrait
avoir lieu en janvier 1998, M. Patasse a invite les gens a se
preparer a accueillir, a cette occasion, les chefs d'Etat
africains.   (Marches Tropicaux, France, 9 janvier 1998)

* Congo-Brazza. National Peace Forum  -  Congo-Brazza's post-war
transition to presidential elections, is likely to be set at three
years, participants at a National Peace Forum said. The Forum was
called by President Sassou Nguesso, saying he wanted national
reconciliation. Sources close to the Forum said a report by a
preparatory committee recommended three years transition to the
elections-- two years to improve security, foster peace and put the
economy back on its feet. The third year would be devoted to
preparations for elections. But, even the three-year deadline would
be open for review by the transitional Parliament. A general
consensus exists for the Parliament to be given the power to extend
the transition, if it sees fit. In addition to planning the
transition, delegates also worked on a document that would charge
former President Lissouba and his key supporters with genocide for
their roles in the civil war. Delegates also tackled more mundane
problems, like how to stabilize prices on basic food supplies, and
whether a memorial should be built to honour those who died in the
civil war. On 14 January, President Nguesso closed the Forum with
a plea for an end to ethnic rivalry and for national
reconstruction.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 January 1998)

* Congo-Brazza. Forum national  -  Un Forum national pour
determiner la duree et la forme de la periode de transition
necessaire pour remettre le pays sur la voie de la democratie s'est
tenu a Brazzaville. Apres une semaine de deliberations, les quelque
mille delegues ont decide, le 12 janvier, de fixer cette transition
a "trois ans flexibles". Un Conseil national de transition, sorte
de parlement interimaire, sera elu par les delegues. Les elections
generales seront preparees des 1998 et pourront avoir lieu en l'an
2000. Le Forum s'est egalement prononce en faveur d'un mandat
presidentiel de sept ans, renouvelable une fois.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 15 janvier 1998)

* Congo-Brazza/France. Plainte contre Elf irrecevable  -  Selon des
informations du journal þLiberation', la plainte de l'ancien
president Lissouba contre la compagnie petroliere Elf, accusee
devant le tribunal de grande instance de Paris d'avoir aide le
general Nguesso a executer son coup d'Etat, a ete declaree
"irrecevable". La notification de cette decision doit etre rendue
publique ces jours-ci.   (Liberation, France, 15 janvier 1998)

* Congo-RDC. Synode UEIC  -  L'Union des Eglises independantes du
Congo (UEIC) organisera en fevrier a Kinshasa le premier synode de
cette organisation, a annonce le 7 janvier son president, le
pasteur Nzinga Maluka. L'UEIC, qui regroupe 58 Eglises, s'est fixe
notamment comme objectif de favoriser la formation des pasteurs, de
promouvoir l'ethique sociale et de doter les Eglises independantes
de structures administratives organisees.   (Agence congolaise de
presse, 8 janvier 1998)

* Congo-RDC. Bemba arrete  -  L'homme d'affaires Bemba Saolana,
considere comme une des plus grosses fortunes de l'ex-Zaire, a ete
arrete le 10 janvier a Kinshasa. Il avait deja ete arrete durant un
mois l'ete dernier, accuse de detournement de fonds. D'autre part,
Mathieu Kalele, un proche du leader de l'UDPS Etienne Tshisekedi,
a comparu le 9 janvier devant la cour d'ordre militaire, accuse
d'atteinte a la securite de l'Etat.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 12 janvier 1998)

* Congo-RDC. News round-up  -  7 January: The new government takes
the Oath of Office but before doing so, ten ministers have to clear
out of property not belonging to them, in accordance with President
Kabila's orders. Also, it is reported that America Mineral Fields
is launching legal action in the USA, against Anglo American, De
Beers and the Minorco Group, on the grounds that these are
orchestrating a well-financed campaign to interfere with the
Company's projects in Congo RDC. 10 January: The Transport Minister
says that Congo RDC is likely to reopen Ndolo Airport, situated in
a built-up area of Kinshasa. Two years ago, a plane crashed on a
crowded market there, killing more than 350 people. 12 January:
Family members say that Bemba Saolona, head of the business
association in former Zaire and a close ally of Mobutu, was
arrested and detained on 10 January. One family member says: "Up
until now, we don't know why he has been arrested". Also, Sylvain
Mutombo, a driver employed by the delegation of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is murdered in Kinshasa in the
course of his duties. Also, It is reported that a cholera epidemic
in Kisangani, which escalated after heavy flooding in the region,
is striking a growing number of children in Kisangani. 14 January:
President Kabila says that a group of foreign companies have signed
a consortium deal with state-owned Gecamines, to mine in Congo RDC.
Diplomatic sources in Kinshasa say that South African companies:
Anglo-American and Iscor; Australia: BHP; Canada: Falconbridge and
First Quantum; unspecified Angolan and Chinese companies were among
those involved in the discussions.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 January
1998)

* Cote d'Ivoire. SGS contract renewed  -  Societe Generale de
Surveillance (SGS), the world's biggest testing and inspection
company, has had its import inspection contract renewed by Cote
d'Ivoire's government for another two years. It is the third new
contract for SGS in the last month. Last month, Tanzania awarded
SGS an exclusive mandate to check all goods entering the country,
and the Cameroon government also renewed its contract with SGS.  
(Financial Times, U.K., 13 January 1998)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Students take over embassies  -  8 January:
Students from Mauritania and the Central African republic have
taken over their countries' respective embassies in Cote d'Ivoire.
The students are angry at not receiving their monthly scholarship
payments and have vowed to occupy the embassies until they get
their money.   (VOA, 8 January 1998)

* Ethiopie. Assistance alimentaire  -  Plus de 2 millions
d'habitants du nord de l'Ethiopie ont besoin d'une assistance
alimentaire apres la destruction de leurs recoltes par la
secheresse et les inondations. Le Commissariat national ethiopien
des preventions des desastres a demande au gouvernement d'acheminer
quelque 40.200 tonnes de vivres pour subvenir aux besoins des
habitants de la region septentrionale de l'Amhara jusqu'a fin 1998.
Le nord de l'Ethiopie a connu une importante vague de secheresse
avant que des pluies diluviennes s'abattent recemment sur l'Afrique
de l'Est.   (Marches Tropicaux, France, 9 janvier 1998)

* Kenya. Final Statement on elections  -  On 31 December 1997, the
Institute for Education in Democracy, the Catholic Justice and
Peace Commission, and the National Council of Churches of Kenya
issued their final Statement concerning the elections. These
observers reported that a total of 9,063,390 voters were registered
for the elections. "We believe that this figure should have been
higher..." There was a political consensus that a number of
significant problems were prevalent during the voter registration
and "the existing structure of the country's electoral
constituencies continues to be cause of great concern". The
Statement commented on such issues as media coverage, candidate
nominations and the political campaign. Regarding the voting
process: "In a preliminary statement, we had already commented on
the logistical and administrative mess that served to not only
cause serious disruptions to the voting and counting processes, but
also to decrease public and political confidence in the process..."
The Statement concludes: "Not withstanding all the problems, it
should be acknowledged that large number of voters did turn out to
vote and were, in the vast majority of cases, able to do so...The
voting process was generally well handled... The vote count, whilst
quite chaotic and slow, was also closely scrutinised by party
agents and observers. As a result, the organisations conducting the
observation of the elections have to conclude that the results do,
on the whole, reflect the wishes of the Kenyan voters.   (Mutavi
Musyimi, Kenya, 3 January 1998)

* Kenya. Political moves  -  8 January: President Moi names his new
cabinet. Musalia Mudavadi, regarded as a leading architect of
Kenya's economic reform programme, loses his job as Finance
Minister in a move certain to alarm foreign donors anxious to see
the country's faltering liberalisation continue. He becomes
Agriculture Minister, while his ministerial portfolio is
transferred to Simeon Nyachae, a veteran political player who held
the post of Land Reclamation Minister in the last government.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 January 1998)

* Kenya. Nouveau gouvernement  -  Le president Daniel arap Moi a
nomme, le 8 janvier, un nouveau gouvernement. Deux ministres
d'Etat, G. Ndambuki et M. Madoka, sont rattaches au cabinet
presidentiel, en remplacement du puissant N. Biwott, nomme ministre
de la cooperation est-africaine. L'ancien vice-president de
l'Assemblee nationale, B. Godana, devient ministre des Affaires
etrangeres. - Les resultats definitifs des legislatives ont donne
108 sieges au parti gouvernemental (KANU), contre 102 a
l'opposition, toutes tendances confondues.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 11 janvier 1998)

* Malawi Cholera outbreak  -  On 9 January, a health official said
that since 1 December 1997, a cholera outbreak in Malawi has killed
14 people in the northern district of Nkhata Bay on the shores of
Lake Malawi. In all, 80 cases have been reported. Also, 470 cases
of bubonic plague have been reported in central and southern
Malawi, but no deaths have been reported.   (InfoBeat, USA, 9
January 1998)

* Mali. Schools and colleges closed  -  On 8 January, the
government closed public and private schools and colleges
nationwide until further notice, after violent street protests by
students demanding increased grants. The government decided to calm
things after students built burning barricades on 6 January.  
(InfoBeat, USA, 8 January 1998)

* Mali. Affrontements entre Touaregs  -  Des affrontements entre
deux communautes touaregs ont fait cinq morts, fin decembre, dans
la region de Menaka (extreme nord-est du Mali), a-t-on appris le 5
janvier a Bamako. Les deux communautes, daousak et fourgoumisset,
revendiquent la zone de Tedjerat, une oasis fertile. Il y a deux
semaines, dans le meme secteur, pres de la frontiere avec le Niger,
des affrontements ont egalement eu lieu entre eleveurs peuhl
nigeriens et touaregs maliens pour le controle de points d'eau. Un
ancien chef rebelle touareg a demande aux autorites maliennes
d'assurer le developpement de la region "si l'on ne veut pas que le
nord-Mali s'embrase a nouveau".   (Marches Tropicaux, France, 9
janvier 1998)

* Namibia. Mine-clearance training  -  8 January: A team of US Army
special forces will arrive in Namibia today, to train Namibian
demining teams in the use of the latest advanced equipment. A
device called a "berm processor" will be used in Namibia, and is
part of the latest range of demining equipment developed by the US
Department of Defence. According to the Pentagon, the processor
"mechanically scoops up dirt and shakes out the mines from the
dirt, leaving them exposed on the ground for deminers to destroy
safely".   (The Namibian, 8 January 1998)

* Niger. Hama Amadou en liberte provisoire  -  L'ex-premier
ministre Hama Amadou, accuse d'etre le cerveau d'un projet
d'assassinat du chef de l'Etat Mainassara, a ete inculpe pour
"creation de milice", le 8 janvier, et mis en liberte provisoire. 
 (Le Monde, France, 11 janvier 1998)

* Rwanda. Attaques rebelles  -  Une attaque des rebelles, le 6
janvier, a Nyakabanda au centre du pays, a fait 52 morts, a
rapporte l'agence rwandaise de presse. La plupart des victimes
seraient des agents administratifs et des civils, ainsi que sept
enfants. Dans une autre attaque, des rebelles se nommant l'Armee de
liberation rwandaise ont tue 14 personnes a Nyabikenke, au centre-
ouest du pays. Parmi les victimes se trouvaient deux
administrateurs.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 9 janvier 1997)

* Rwanda. Detention prolongee  -  L'Assemblee nationale de
transition du Rwanda a recemment prolonge jusque fin 1999, en
violation des droits internationaux, le delai legal de detention
provisoire des detenus accuses de genocide arretes avant le 31
decembre 1997. Selon cette loi, toutes les personnes arretees avant
cette date pourront rester en prison pendant encore deux ans, sans
avoir fait l'objet d'un proces-verbal ni d'un mandat d'arret
provisoire, et sans etre passees devant un juge. La loi precedente
stipulait que l'ensemble des prisonniers dont le dossier n'avait
pas ete constitue avant le 31 decembre dernier devaient etre
liberes, disposition rendue impossible par la tension qui regne au
Rwanda a l'egard des quelque 130.000 prisonniers accuses de
genocide.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 10 janvier 1998)

* Rwanda. Nuns murdered  -  On 12 January, local officials said
that on 8 January, Hutu rebels had killed nine nuns at a convent at
Rwerere. The nuns -- three Rwandan Tutsis, three Rwandan Hutus and
three from Congo RDC were killed by attackers armed with guns,
machetes and axes. The rebels encircled the convent before breaking
into the nuns' homes and killing them. Catholic officials in Kigali
could only confirm the deaths of five nuns, who had already been
buried.   (The Guardian, U.K., 13 January 1998)

* Rwanda. Religieuses assassinees  -  Lors d'une attaque, le 8
janvier, contre la paroisse de Busasamana, diocese de Nyundo, dans
le nord-ouest du Rwanda, au moins cinq religieuses ont ete tuees.
Selon certaines sources, deux autres, grievement blessees, ont ete
transportees a Gisenyi; et cinq autres encore sont portees
disparues. D'autres sources parlent de neuf religieuses tuees, ce
qui a ete nie par les autorites. Les douze soeurs etaient
rwandaises et congolaises, et appartenaient au Prieure de la
Resurrection, de l'Association des Chanoinesses du St. Sepulcre.
Selon des sources officielles a Kigali, le massacre aurait ete
perpetre par des "infiltres", membres de l'ancienne armee et des
milices hutu. Selon l'Agence rwandaise d'information, au moins 35
civils et 18 rebelles auraient ete tues dans de multiples incidents
depuis le 31 decembre dans la prefecture de Gisenyi.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 13 janvier 1998)

* Rwanda. France accused of arming killers  -  On 12 January, the
French daily "Le Figaro", alleged that France continued to deliver
huge consignments of weapons to the Hutu authorities in Rwanda
after the massacre of the Tutsi minorities began in April 1994. "Le
Figaro" published a document showing an order for $8 million worth
of heavy machine-gun and mortar ammunition from France, and gave
details of operations in which tons of weapons and equipment were
flown to Kigali, or neighbouring Zaire, now Congo RDC. Some weapons
were said to have arrived after the UN imposed an embargo. (From
"The Guardian", U.K). 13 January 1998). The same day, Yves
Doutriaux, foreign ministry deputy spokesman, said France stopped
authorising arms exports to Rwanda even before the UN called for an
arms embargo against the then Rwandan authorities on 17 May 1994.
(From the "Financial Times", U.K., 13 January 1998).   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 13 January 1998)

* Rwanda. Remaniement dans l'armee  -  Le general Kagame, vice-
president, a mis a la retraite son chef d'etat-major et opere
plusieurs changements au sein du commandement militaire. Il a
notamment nomme le lieutenant-colonel Emmanuel Habyarimana ministre
d'Etat charge de la Defense. Celui-ci est un Hutu qui a servi dans
les rangs des Forces armees rwandaises vaincues. Sa nomination en
fait le numero deux du ministere de la Defense, derriere Kagame.  
(La Libre Belgique, 14 janvier 1998)

* Rwanda. Dallaire au TPR  -  Le secretaire general de l'Onu a leve
l'immunite du general canadien Dallaire pour lui permettre de
temoigner devant le Tribunal penal international pour le Rwanda
(TPR). Le general commandait les forces onusiennes au Rwanda durant
le genocide de 1994. Le TPR a demande son temoignage au proces de
l'ancien bourgmestre Akayesu, juge pour le meurtre de milliers de
Tutsi. Une precision: cette levee est limitee a son temoignage dans
ce cas.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 15 janvier 1998)

* Sierra Leone. L'Ecomog triple ses effectifs  -  La Force ouest-
africaine de paix (Ecomog) va tripler ses effectifs en Sierra Leone
pour les porter a 15.000 hommes, a annonce, le 7 janvier, le
general nigerian Victor Malu, commandant de l'Ecomog. La junte
sierra-leonaise a qualifie cette annonce de "provocation", estimant
qu'elle "demontre les tendances agressives du Nigeria". Les Sierra-
leonais s'interrogent sur la validite du plan de paix signe en
octobre, qui prevoit une cessez-le-feu entre l'armee nigeriane et
la junte sierra-leonaise.   (Le Monde, France, 9 janvier 1998)

* Sierra Leone. Diplomatic moves  -  7 January: General Victor
Malu, commanding the ECOMOG forces, says that ECOMOG is going to
triple the number of its soldiers in Sierra Leone, bringing the
total to 15,000. The military junta says this is "provocation". 9
January: Britain is mounting a new diplomatic effort to restore
Sierra Leone's elected government. John Flynn, a retired Foreign
Office official and an old Africa hand, is to convene a meeting at
the UN next week to break the deadlock to allow President Kabbah to
return to Freetown from exile in Conakry, Guinea. The same day, the
Sierra Leonean government restates their commitment to restore
President Kabbah to power by 22 April after they had cast doubts on
the prospects of meeting the deadline. 14 January: A eight-member
UN fact-finding team, led by special envoy Francis Okello, arrives
in Freetown for talks with the military junta. The team is in
Freetown to assess prospects for sending peacekeepers and for
beefing up humanitarian aid.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 January 1998)

* Somalia. Flood situation report  -  6 January: The UN Resident
Coordinator for Somalia reports that the most recent death toll
(confirmed figures) stands at 1,855 (as of 31 December 1997), with
approximately 1 million people still remaining at risk. More than
33,364 livestock have been reportedly killed. Severe diarrhoea,
malaria, and respiratory infections are widespread and have already
taken a heavy toll. Cholera outbreaks have been confirmed in
Mogadishu (no exact figures known) and Merca (about 400 cases), and
sporadic cholera cases were also confirmed in Kismayo. The
situation is worsened by the fact that the water and sanitation
system has completely collapsed in most areas.   (DHA, Geneva,
Situation Report No.12, 6 January 1998)

* South Africa. Education state of emergency  -  The heartening
tale of a squatter camp boy, who overcame poverty to win academic
acclaim, was front-page news in South Africa. But shack-dweller
Raymond Maseko's mathematics distinction was almost eclipsed, as
the nation declared an education state of emergency after dismal
examination results scored by students leaving high school.
Economists warn that the low pass-rate, puts the country's long-
term economic future in jeopardy. Results from eight of the nine
provinces worsened sharply in 1997, with barely half of the 556,000
students passing exams for their high school diplomas --threatening
skill shortages with grave implications for economic growth.  
(InfoBeat, USA, 12 January 1998)

* South Africa. The TRC  -  7 January: A Statement issued by Dr
Alex Boraine, Deputy Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) states that Mr P.W. Botha has been given every
opportunity to cooperate with the TRC. The information he could
give the TRC is vital in order for the Commission to fulfil its
mandate. The Attorney-General of the Western Cape, Mr F.W. Kahn,
had decided that a prosecution is warranted in law, and has
summonsed Mr Botha to appear on 23 January 1998. Dr Boraine made a
last minute appeal to Mr Botha to change his mind and agree to
appear before the TRC. 9 January: Indications are that Mr Botha is
going to fight to the bitter end. This comes amid disclosures that
Nelson Mandela has intervened personally in the row by giving Mr
Botha extra public funding to deal with his fight against appearing
before the TRC. Mr Botha's lawyers will be paid more than twice the
going rate to represent him against the TRC. 12 January: Seventeen
more people are subpoenaed by the TRCþs Investigative Unit to give
evidence and/or answer questions in relation to the Commission's
investigations into the Mandela United Football Club. 13 January:
The TRC meets in full session following a beginning-of-the-year
retreat on Robben Island for Commissioners and Committee members.
The Commission is turning to the courts to resolve a dispute over
whether it was justified in granting amnesty to 37 ANC leaders. It
is asking for a declaratory order on its decision, which its
critics say, shows a lack of even-handedness.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels,
14 January 1998)

* Afrique du Sud/Congo-RDC. Generaux mobutistes liberes  -  Les
trois generaux de l'ex-armee zairoise, arretes le 13 decembre a
Johannesburg au retour d'une mission mysterieuse, ont ete liberes
par un arret de la Cour de Pretoria, qui a estime leur arrestation
"injustifiee et deraisonnable".   (Le Soir, Belgique, 15 janvier
1998)

* Soudan. Club catholique confisque  -  Les installations du club
catholique de Khartoum, le plus important cercle socio-culturel et
sportif de la capitale soudanaise, ont ete confisquees par les
autorites, selon des informations diffusees par les missionnaires
comboniens. Le club, gere par l'Action catholique qui y avait son
siege tout comme d'autres organisations catholiques, etait depuis
longtemps dans la ligne de mire du regime islamiste. Le decret
d'expulsion a ete notifie le 22 decembre.   (La Croix, France, 9
janvier 1998)

* Sudan. Thousands of rebels reported surrendering  -  8 January:
The number of southern rebels surrendering to the government is on
the increase, according to Khartoum media reports. Sudanese radio
reports that "thousands of fighters" have broken away from the
rebels in Bahr el-Ghazal, parts of Equatoria, the Nuba mountains
and Unity state. "Al Gamhouria" newspaper quotes army spokesman,
General Abdul, Rahman Siral Khetim, who describes the defections as
"an historic turnabout".   (IRIN, Nairobi, 9 January 1998)

* Soudan/Egypte. Rapprochement  -  Inquiete de l'appui des Etats-
Unis a la coalition des gouvernements d'Erythree, d'Ethiopie et
d'Ouganda contre le regime de Khartoum, l'Egypte vient d'operer un
rapprochement tactique avec le Soudan. Le president Moubarak
soupconne ces trois pays de vouloir installer a Khartoum un regime
plus "africain" qu'arabe, avec en arriere-pensees un nouveau
partage des eaux du Nil. L'Egypte et le Soudan ont decide de
poursuivre leurs efforts pour eliminer les obstacles entravant la
normalisation de leurs relations, au terme d'une visite, le 29
decembre, d'une delegation egyptienne de haut rang a Khartoum. Le
6 janvier, on annoncait a Khartoum que le Soudan et l'Egypte vont
discuter le 13 janvier au Caire des moyens de reactiver leur accord
commercial. L'ex-premier ministre soudananais, Sadiq al-Mahdi, a
pour sa part annonce, le 31 decembre au Caire, sa disponibilite a
negocier avec Khartoum a certaines conditions.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 10 janvier 1998)

* Tanzania. $1 million for roads and railways  -  Tanzania has
released $1 million in emergency funds to repair the country's
rain-damaged railway network, to allow the distribution of food and
medical supplies to areas affected by floods. Finance Minster
Daniel Yona said the funds were released by Prime Minister
Frederick Sumaye, once a preliminary report on the extent of the
damage caused to the road and rail network by the rains was
released. He said: "This is an emergency measure because we are
anxious the economy should not continue to suffer because of the
current communication breakdown. We are working on a long-term plan
which will involve bigger projects.   (The East African, Kenya, 5-
11 January 1998)

* Tanzanie. Tension politique a Zanzibar  -  Le president de
Zanzibar, Salmin Amour, a declare le 12 janvier qu'il existait un
complot exterieur pour destabiliser les iles. Le secretaire general
du Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, qui s'est rendu recemment a
Zanzibar, a mis en garde contre la tension politique qui pourrait
plonger les iles dans un conflit. Seize membres du parti
d'opposition Civic United Front (CUF) ont ete arretes le mois
dernier, accuses d'essayer de renverser le gouvernement. Le CUF
conteste les resultats des elections de 1995.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 13
janvier 1998)
* Togo. Nouvelle loi sur la presse  -  Le Parlement togolais a
adopte par 49 voix contre 32 une nouvelle loi sur la presse qui
autorise l'installation de radios et televisions privees, a-t-on
appris le 6 janvier. 51% au moins du capital social doivent etre
detenus par des nationaux. La nouvelle loi prevoit egalement un
allegement des peines de prison et amendes contre les journalistes
en cas d'offense, d'injure et de diffamation contre le chef de
l'Etat. Ils seront desormais passibles d'une peine de un a trois
mois de prison avec sursis et d'une amende de 1 a 2 millions de
FCFA. L'ancienne loi prevoyait une peine de prison ferme de 1 a 5
ans, et une amende de 1 a 5 millions.   (Marches Tropicaux, France,
9 janvier 1998)

* Togo. Bilan positif  -  Le 6 janvier dernier, seize mois apres
son investiture, le chef du gouvernement togolais Kwassi Klutse a
presente son bilan au Parlement. En se rejouissant d'avoir atteint
certains objectifs de son programme, le Premier a porte a son actif
la mise en place de certaines institutions prevues par la
Constitution, telle la Commission nationale des droits de l'homme,
la Cour constitutionnelle, le Conseil superieur de la magistrature,
la Cour supreme et la Haute autorite de l'audiovisuel et de la
communication. Il a egalement fait remarquer les efforts fournis
par son gouvernement pour le renforcement du systeme judiciaire et
de la securite. Sur le plan economique, il a souligne que, grace a
l'action de son gouvernement dans le cadre de l'amelioration des
finances publiques, le decouvert aupres de la Banque centrale de
l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO), a ete ramene de 38 milliards de fcfa
a 18 milliards, au 31 decembre 1997. Les deputes presents au
Parlement, tout en jugeant postivement le bilan du chef du
gouvernement, ont fait remarquer qu'il reste encore beaucoup a
faire   (Pascal K. Dotchevi, Togo, 10 janvier 1998)

* Uganda. MPs trip to Burundi criticised  -  3 January: Mystery
surrounds the status and sponsorship of the visit of four Ugandan
Members of Parliament to Burundi, 2-6 December 1997. State House
has said it is interested to know who sponsored the MPs and what
they went to do. Members of Parliament are said to be unhappy about
a report made by the four MPs on their return, which claimed that
Sudan-backed rebels against Uganda, were in Tanzania operating on
the Mutukula-Kigoma axis. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said the government had nothing to do with the MPs'
journey.   (PANA, 3 January 1998)

* Vatican. La propriete de la terre  -  Le Conseil pontifical
Justice et Paix a publie, le 13 janvier a Rome, un document sur la
propriete et l'exploitation de la terre, qui est une premiere dans
l'Eglise catholique. Elle est en partie motivee par les conflits
lies a la terre en Amerique latine. Le Vatican denonce la
corruption, la servilite politique et la collusion entre groupes
dirigeants et interets etrangers. La politique abusive de
concentration des terres freine le developpement et aggrave la
misere de millions de personnes a travers le monde. Le document
s'etend ensuite sur les conditions ethiques et politiques a mettre
en oeuvre pour une reforme agraire efficace.   (d'apres Le Monde,
France, 14 janvier 1998)

* Zambia. Judge advises government to release detainees  -  On 8
January, The Chairwoman of Zambia's Permanent Human Rights
Commission (PHRC), Justice Lombe Chibesakunda, in a statement,
advised the government to either charge or release all detainees
implicated in the failed 28 October 1997 coup attempt. She deplored
the inaccessibility of detainees to the lawyers and the Media. She
also condemned the harassment of media personnel covering court
proceedings. On 5 January, the PHRC had visited former president
Kenneth Kaunda in his home. Justice Chibesakunda said Dr Kaunda
should have access to relatives and lawyers. His wife, Betty
Kaunda, complained to the PHRC that police had removed all her
relatives who used to help with household chores. "Mrs Kaunda
should be allowed to live her normal life because she is not a
restricted person. Relatives should live with her to help with
household chores", Justice Chibesakunda said.   (Africa Press
Bureau, South Africa, 8 January 1998)

* Zambia. The Kaunda case  -  8 January: Appearing before the
Lusaka High Court to challenge his detention, Kenneth Kaunda is
reminded that he had detained about 1,000 people without trial
during his rule. 10 January: Legal papers are served on Kaunda,
giving the reasons for his detention. He, and two other
politicians, are accused of paying junior army officers to carry
out the coup attempt. 13 January: In court, Kaunda dismisses
accusations against him as "utter rubbish". 14 January: Two
detained army officers, Captain Jackson Chiti and Major Musonda
Kangwa, tell a Lusaka court that state agents tortured them to make
them falsely implicate Kaunda.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 January
1998)

* Zimbabwe. Menaces contre les Blancs  -  Les fermiers blancs
seront tues par les paysans noirs s'ils n'acceptent pas la
redistribution de leurs terres, a averti le 11 janvier le ministre
de l'Information, Chen Chimutengwende. Celui-ci a par ailleurs
accuse des hommes d'affaires blancs, irrites par le projet de
confisquer 1.500 fermes, de provoquer une hausse des prix des
produits de premiere necessite pour rendre le gouvernement
impopulaire.   (Le Monde, France, 13 janvier 1998)

* Zimbabwe. Land plan  -  7 January: Britain says it cannot support
a programme by President Mugabe's government to seize some 1,500
white-owned farms and warns that takeovers will harm Zimbabwe's
international credibility. British Foreign Office minister Tony
Lloyd says the programme fails to meet conditions that will allow
Britain to contribute aid towards the resettlement of landless
blacks on seized properties. He says Britain is also dismayed that
some land, already been acquired by the state for resettlement,
lies idle long after it was vacated by owners. 11 January:
Information Minister Chen Chimutengwende warns that white farmers
who refuse to give up their land, will be killed by black peasants.
12 January: State radio says that President Mugabe has vowed to
seize, for a peasant resettlement scheme, some of the five farms
owned by South Africa's Oppenheimer family in Zimbabwe. 14 January:
Zimbabwean business and opposition leaders criticise the
Information Minister for his remarks made on 11 January. The
Commercial Farmers Union (CFU), the Confederation of Zimbabwe
Industries (CZI), and the opposition United and Zanu-Ndonga parties
say the Minister's statement were "irresponsible and inflammatory". 
 (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 January 1998)