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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 29-01-1998      PART #1/ 

* Africa. "African Women and Economic Development"  -  The Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA) is to stage an international conference
aimed at promoting the pivotal role of women in Africa's economic
development. The Conference, entitled "African Women and Economic
Development: Investing in our Future," due to take place in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia, from 28 April-1 May 1998, is being organized in
the context of ECAūs mandate to follow implementation of the
regional Dakar, and the global Beijing Platforms of Action, which
place poverty reduction through the economic empowerment of women
as a top priority. The Conference is being organized in partnership
with the United Nations Development Association (UNDP), the World
Bank and a number of other sponsors.   (APIC, Washington, 23
January 1998)

* Afrique. Optimisme des financiers  -  Le 21 janvier devant la
commission du developpement et de la cooperation du Parlement
europeen, les dirigeants des organismes financiers internationaux,
FMI, Banque mondiale et Banque africaine de developpement (BAD), se
sont declares "optimistes" pour l'avenir economique de l'Afrique,
meme si les bons resultats restent "fragiles". M. Camdessus,
directeur general du FMI, a estime que "l'Afrique semble avoir
trouve les voies d'un progres encore lent, mais regulier". Le taux
de croissance annuel du PIB a passe de 2% (1993-94) a 4% (1995-97),
le taux d'inflation de 50% a moins de 20%, et le deficit public a
ete reduit de pres de la moitie a 4,8%. M. Wolfensohn, president de
la BM, egalement "afro-optimiste", a cependant souligne que
l'expansion demographique en Afrique (2,8% l'an) necessite un taux
de croissance superieur a 5%.   (Le Monde, France, 23 janvier 1998)

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Angola: In a letter sent by
Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) to President dos Santos, RSF
expresses concern at the lack of progress in the investigations of
the murders of two journalists, Ricardo de Mello murdered in 1995,
and Antonio Casimiro murdered in 1996. The RSF also denounces the
impunity enjoyed by the assassins of journalists in Angola, and the
rigorous control exercised by the state on the country's
independent media. Ethiopia: Berhanu Leyewe, deputy manager of the
Ethiopian weekly newspapers Keyete and Taime Fiqir is reported to
have been arrested on 22 January. Also, in a letter to Prime
Minister Zanawi (23 January), the Network for the Defence of
Independent Media in Africa, expresses concern over the
intensification of arbitrary arrests, harassment, persecution of
journalists and the destruction of their tools of business, by,
what it believes to be, the state machinery. Ghana: On 19 January,
Kweku Baako Jnr., editor of The Guide, a national weekly based in
Accra, was called to the CID headquarters for questioning in
connection with a letter printed in the 13-19 November 1997 issue
of the newspaper. He was then allowed to go after writing a
statement. Sierra Leone: Three journalists recently detained, have
been released without charge (21 & 22 January). Zambia: RSF is most
concerned about the plight of Frederick Mwanza, a freelance
journalist, who was served on 2 December 1997, with a presidential
detention order, allowing the police to hold him indefinitely under
the state of emergency currently in force in Zambia. The journalist
has been held for nearly two months, since his arrest on 14
November. Mwanza was tortured during interrogation over several
articles he had written critical of the government. Also, on 20
January, the Zambia Independent Media Association reports that
ruling MMD members of Parliament have demanded the arrest of the
Post newspaper's editor-in-chief, Fred M'membe.   (IFEX, Canada,
23-26 January 1998)

* Afrique. Cholera  -  Quelque 46.172 cas de cholera ont ete
enregistres dans les quatre derniers mois dans sept pays d'Afrique
de l'Est, dont 2.022 ont ete mortels, a annonce le 24 janvier a
Nairobi Medecins sans frontieres (MSF). L'epidemie continue, alors
que les inondations qui l'ont provoquee marquent une pause. La
maladie a ete egalement favorisee par le manque d'hygiene et les
conditions de vie deplorables de la population dans les
bidonvilles, selon MSF. Les pays les plus touches sont la R.D. du
Congo, Djibouti, le Kenya, le Mozambique, la Somalie, la Tanzanie
et l'Ouganda.   (La Libre Belgique, 26 janvier 1998)

* Afrique. Sommet economique regional  -  Les 13 pays (Ouganda,
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzanie, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Afrique du Sud,
Botswana, Zambie, Congo-RDC, Senegal, Erythree et Ethiopie)
participant au sommet sur le developpement economique en Afrique,
qui s'est acheve le 24 janvier a Kampala (Ouganda), ont lance un
appel a une plus grande cooperation regionale. Reunis autour du
president de la Banque mondiale, J. Wolfensohn, ils ont lance un
appel a la creation d'une nouvelle structure de cooperation entre
gouvernements africains et donateurs, avec des projets de
developpement s'etalant sur cinq ans ou plus et faisant l'objet
d'un suivi.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 janvier 1998)

* Africa/Europe. Persecution of students in Africa
A seminar is due to be held from 27 February-1 March 1998, at the
University of Graz, Austria with the theme: "European students
confronted with the issue of the persecution of students in
Africa". This seminar aims at giving Western progressive students,
an insight view of the problems that affect Africa. It is also an
opportunity for them to hear from their African colleagues -- as
principal actors of the democratisation process and victims of
persecution -- what kind of solidarity, aid and support they are
expecting from them. Many African regimes are opposing the wind of
democracy blowing through the continent, and they continue to
torture, imprison, expel, rape and slaughter student activists. As
such, the students more than ever, need the support of the
international community, to put pressure on those African regimes
which continue to violate human rights.   (SOS, Struggles of
Students, Austria, 26 January 1998)

* Afrique. Les villes et la decentralisation  -  A Abidjan (Cote
d'Ivoire), les elus des grandes villes africaines debattent, depuis
le 26 janvier, des problemes de decentralisation. Un millier de
participants assistent aux journees d'"Africites", consacrees aux
problemes des collectivites locales et de la decentralisation. Dans
vingt ans, la moitie des Africains vivront en ville. Les Etats
doivent prendre cette realite en consideration et organiser leurs
relations avec des autorites locales elues par les populations. Les
villes sont sous-equipees, polluees, violentes, sujettes aux
epidemies et aux embrasements. Les premiers debats ont souligne la
formidable disproportion entre l'ampleur des besoins et
l'etroitesse des ressources.   (d'apres Le Monde, France, 29
janvier 1998)

* Algerie. Ramadan le plus sanglant  -  22 janvier. Selon le
Premier ministre, Ahmed Ouyahia, la violence qu'a connue l'Algerie
depuis 1992 a fait 26.500 morts. Ce bilan officiel est considere
comme tres "sous-estime" par les chancelleries etrangeres. D'autre
part, le Premier ministre a annonce le renforcement de la politique
d'armement des civils en groupes d'autodefense et la creation de
cent nouvelles brigades de police devant prendre la releve de
l'armee face au terrorisme. 23 janvier. Au moins trois personnes,
dont deux poseurs de bombes, ont ete tuees a Alger et Blida. Un
autre attentat a ete evite de justesse dans un bus de la capitale.
24-25 janvier. Les services de securite ont annonce la mort de 20
personnes assassinees par un groupe terroriste pres de Frenda, a
250 km au sud-ouest d'Alger. Cette nouvelle tuerie porte a au moins
89 le nombre de civils tues en quatre jours. Plus de 40 islamistes
ont aussi ete tues par les forces de securite. 26 janvier. Les
ministres des Affaires etrangeres de l'Union europeenne reunis a
Bruxelles ont demande a l'Algerie de faire preuve de plus de
transparence. 28-28 janvier. Les services de securite annoncent que
34 villageois ont ete assassines par des groupes terroristes dans
les regions de Djelfa et Laghouat (sud algerien) et Blida (50 km au
sud d'Alger). Deux autres civils ont ete tues a la peripherie ouest
d'Alger. 29 janvier. Fete de l'Aid el-Fitr, et fin du ramadan le
plus sanglant en six annees de conflit: depuis son debut, plusieurs
centaines de civils, peut-etre plus d'un millier selon certaines
sources, ont ete massacres principalement dans l'Ouest et
l'Algerois. C'est le bilan le plus lourd depuis 1992.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 29 janvier 1998)

* Algeria. PM says over 26,000 have died  -  22 January: Prime
Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, under pressure from Parliament to speak out
on massacres, says more than 26,000 people have been killed in
Algeria's six-year conflict with islamic extremists. Ouyahia also
predicts that an upsurge in violence over the last three weeks,
will continue, although the authorities have made big strides
towards defeating terrorism. Previous estimates by diplomats and
human rights groups have put the death toll at between 65,000 and
80,000 dead. Some estimates by opposition leaders are as high as
120,000. The Premier says these figures were exaggerated. 23
January: Three bombs explode in and near Algiers, killing two
alleged bombers and a civilian, and wounding ten people. 26
January: The Press reports that at least 90 people have been killed
through terrorist action over the last four days. Also, Germany's
Foreign Minister says that western intelligence agencies have no
evidence that the Algerian government is involved in the massacre
of civilians, but Algiers should permit a UN investigation to clear
up any doubts.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 January 1998)

* Botswana. Differend avec la Namibie  -  Le Botswana s'apprete a
investir deux nouvelles iles dans la region de Caprivi, situee
entre le sud de la Namibie et le nord du Botswana, pour y etablir
des bases militaires, a indique la presse namibienne du 13 janvier.
Les deux pays se disputent deja la propriete et le statut d'un ilot
situe sur le fleuve Chobe, qui constitue la frontiere entre les
deux pays. Le conflit a ete porte devant la Cour internationale de
justice de La Haye, dont le verdict n'a toujours pas ete rendu.  
(Marches Tropicaux, France, 23 janvier 1998)

* Burkina Faso. Droits de l'enfant  -  Le Conseil national des
enfants du Burkina Faso, cree par l'ONG "Association de protection
et de sauvegarde de l'enfance en danger", a organise du 26 au 30
decembre 1997 a Ziniare le Sommet africain des enfants. 30 pays
africains y ont pris part. Themes: la jeunesse, facteur de paix;
l'enfant et l'environnement; droits de l'enfant et traditions
africaines. La rencontre s'est terminee par la creation d'un
Conseil africain des enfants. Le prochain sommet en 1998 aura lieu
au Ghana.   (Jeune Afrique Economie, France, 19 janvier 1998)

* Burundi. Negociations a Arusha  -  Alors que de nouveaux
affrontements sont signales dans le nord-ouest du Burundi, le
seminaire sur le reglement des conflits en Afrique, organise par la
Fondation Julius Nyerere, qui avait lieu du 21 au 23 janvier a
Arusha, est devenu un lieu de rencontre informelle entre les
principaux acteurs du conflit burundais. A cote des representants
du gouvernement de Buyoya, on trouvait des representants du CNDD,
le principal mouvement de guerilla hutu, et du parti d'opposition
Frodebu. Bujumbura accuse le mediateur Nyerere de partialite, mais
il reste soutenu par les chefs d'Etat de la region. A la suite de
ce sommet, M. Nyerere avait annonce qu'il renoncait a sa mediation.
Les chefs d'Etat ont presente de nouvelles exigences a Bujumbura.
D'autre part, le 26 janvier, le ministre belge des Affaires
etrangeres a demande a ses homologues de l'Union europeenne
d'accorder une plus grande attention a la tragedie que vit le
Burundi, en ce moment ou il y a des chances de relancer les
negociations. -- Pendant ce temps, les services de presse au
Burundi, selon qu'ils soient proches des mouvements hutu ou tutsi,
s'accusent mutuellement de fausses nouvelles sur les auteurs de
massacres. Une chose est certaine, c'est qu'il y a de nombreux
assassinats parmi la population civile, qui vit dans la terreur.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 janvier 1998)

* Burundi. Mort du ministre de la Defense  -  Le ministre burundais
de la Defense, Firmin Sinzoyiheba, a trouve la mort le 28 janvier
dans un accident d'helicoptere, vraisemblablement cause par le
mauvais temps. Le ministre se rendait a Gitega pour assister a
l'ouverture de la deuxieme phase du dialogue national, lorsque son
helicoptere a ete pris dans un violent orage et s'est ecrase au
sol. Quatre autres personnes sont mortes dans l'accident. Ministre
de la Defense depuis octobre 1994, M. Sinzoyiheba aurait pu prendre
la direction du pays apres le coup d'Etat de juillet 1996, mais il
s'est retire en faveur de Pierre Buyoya. Il n'etait pas considere
comme un extremiste et n'excluait pas des pourparlers avec
l'opposition. Sa mort relancera inquietudes et speculations.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 29 janvier 1998)

* Burundi. Defence Minister killed  -  On 28 January, Burundi's
Defence Minister, Colonel Firmin Sinzoyiheba, was one of four
killed, when his helicopter crashed in poor weather, in the Gihanga
Hills, south-east of Bujumbura. It was believed that the helicopter
hit a ridge obscured by fog.   (The Guardian, U.K., 29 January
1998)

* Centr.Afr.Rep. New peace bids  -  In its issue of 19 January, The
Standard (Kenya) reported that on 18 January, the Central African
Republic's bishops offered to mediate to secure reconciliation in
the volatile nation and urged President Ange-Felix Patasse to heed
opposition grievances. The bishops' conference made the offer in a
declaration read on state radio, after talks on 16 January with
Patasse. "Reconciliation which does not bring together all the
children of the country, would not be reconciliation", said Mgr.
Paulin Pomodimo, the new president of the bishops' conference. On
26 January, the UN Secretary-General recommended that the UN
express readiness to establish a peacekeeping operation in the
Central African Republic, to take over from one now backed by
France (which has been operating under the enforcement provisions
of the UN Charter until 6 February 1998).   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27
January 1998)

* Centrafrique. Maintien de la paix  -  Le secretaire general de
l'ONU, Kofi Annan, a propose le 27 janvier le deploiement en
Republique centraficaine d'une force onusienne de maintien de la
paix. L'actuelle force africaine de 800 hommes manquera en effet
d'appui financier et logistique lorsque, en avril, les 1.400
militaires francais se retireront du pays. - D'autre part, les
eveques centrafricains ont offert une mediation entre le
gouvernement et les 11 partis de l'opposition pour permettre la
tenue d'une conference nationale de reconciliation, qui pourrait
avoir lieu le mois prochain.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28
janvier 1998)

* Congo-Brazza. War dead to be exhumed  -  Work will begin on 24
January, to exhume about 600 bodies buried in makeshift graves
across Brazzaville during last year's brief but bloody civil war.
The work will start after an opening ceremony. The aim is to rebury
the bodies in cemeteries and disinfect the ground where the dead
were hurriedly buried in streets of the capital.   (InfoBeat, USA,
22 January 1998)

* Congo-RDC. La commission d'enquete ONU  -  La commission
d'enquete de l'ONU, censee faire la lumiere sur les massacres dans
l'ex-Zaire et que tout le monde semble avoir oubliee, se trouve
toujours bloquee a Kinshasa. Une deuxieme tentative pour aller
enqueter a Mbandaka ces jours-ci a echoue, faute de documents
necessaires. Dans une interview du 22 janvier, le porte-parole de
la commission a indique qu'ils cherchaient a savoir qui etait leur
homme de liaison au sein du gouvernement, apres que le
fonctionnaire en charge ait ete nomme le 3 janvier au ministere de
la reconstruction. La commission se trouve a Kinshasa depuis cinq
mois. D'autre part, des fusillades ont oppose, le 22 janvier, des
groupes de militaires dans la ville portuaire de Matadi, a 350 km
a l'ouest de Kinshasa. Selon une source de la presidence, ces tirs
etaient dus a un probleme de paiement de soldes.   (d'apres De
Standaard, Belgique, 23 janvier 1998)

* Congo-RDC. Opposants condamnes  -  Un tribunal militaire a
condamne deux opposants a une peine de deux ans de prison pour
propagation de rumeurs seditieuses. Le Pr. Mathieu Kalele,
dirigeant national du parti UDPS, et Jean-Francois Kabanda, porte-
parole des jeunesses de l'UDPS, auraient signe un document accusant
le chef de l'Etat Kabila d'avoir brade son pays aux Tutsi rwandais
pour une somme de 100 millions de dollars.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 26
janvier 1998)

* Congo-RDC. Matters -- military  -  22 January: Unpaid soldiers
mutiny in the ports of Matadi and Boma, forcing people into their
homes while government soldiers from Kinshasa rush in to stop the
uprising. "It was just indiscipline among some troops. It's under
control now. Troops were sent in," a senior military source says,
adding that no one has been killed. Other reports suggest that two
soldiers are dead. 24 January: Detained Pastor Theodore Ngoy,
accused of "subversive preaching verging on insulting the head of
state, and of threatening state security", will be tried by a
military tribunal. He had been arrested on 6 December 1997,
released after four days in a cell and re-arrested six days later. 
 (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 January 1998)

* Congo-RDC. Mines  -  Le gouvernement du Congo-RDC a decide de
retirer des titres miniers a douze societes, titres qui les
autorisaient a effectuer des recherches dans des "zones
exclusives", selon un communique du ministere des Mines remis le 25
janvier a l'AFP. Ces societes n'ont rien entrepris cinq mois apres
l'octroi des droits miniers, ajoute le communique, qui ne precise
pas quelles sont les "zones exclusives" affectees par la mesure. Le
communique demande a toutes les societes qui n'ont pas debute leurs
travaux apres trois mois de justifier ce retard avant le 10
fevrier, sous peine de voir leurs droits retires au profit de
nouveaux investisseurs.   (La Libre Belgique, 27 janvier 1998)

* Congo-RDC. Executions et liberations  -  La cour d'ordre
militaire de la R.D. du Congo a fait executer publiquement, le 27
janvier a Kinshasa, 21 personnes, des militaires et des civils
reconnus coupables de meurtres, de vols a main armee et de
constitution d'associations de malfaiteurs. Le president Kabila
avait refuse de leur accorder sa grace. - Par ailleurs, trois
dignitaires de l'ancien regime, detenus depuis six mois pour
detournements de deniers publics, ont ete mis en liberte
provisoire. Selon le quotidien "Le Soft", il s'agit du general
Kikunda Ombala, de Tshiongo Tshibinkubula et Patrice Djamboleka,
respectivement anciens PDG d'Air Zaire, de la Regideso (societe de
distribution des eaux), et du gouverneur de la Banque centrale.  
(Le Soir, Belgique, 28 janvier 1998)

* Ghana. Hilla Limann dies  -  Hilla Limann, President of Ghana
from 1979 to 1981, died on 23 January. Limann was one of the most
personable presidents Ghana has ever had. He was extremely modest,
yet never afraid to speak his mind. He was born at Gwolu, in the
Sissala District. After elementary education at Lawra and Tamale,
he trained as a teacher and enroled at Westminster College, London.
From there, he went to the London School of Economics, before
moving over to France to study at the Sorbonne in Paris. He
obtained a BA (Hons), a BSc. and a PhD, as well as a Diploma in
French, before returning home. He joined the Ghana foreign service
in 1965 and served at Lome and Geneva. He became President of Ghana
in 1979, but on 31 December 1981, he was removed from office and
imprisoned, when Flight-Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings staged his
"second coming".   (The Guardian, U.K., 27 January 1998)

* Kenya. Election aftermath  -  16 January: The Weekly Review
(Kenya) says: "The NCCK and the Episcopal Conference urge Kenyans
to accept the election results and get on with nation building. The
Churches are urging opposition leaders in the country to accept the
results of the recent multiparty general election and President
Moi's victory, regardless of the serious flaws in the electoral
process". 19 January: The East African Standard (Kenya) pinpoints
the fact that women failed to shine in the elections. There were
six women in the Seventh Parliament; now they are only four
elected. About 90 women expressed interest in vying for
parliamentary seats, but only 50 made it through the first round of
the nomination stage. 23 January: The Guardian, U.K, says that
bitterness at the re-election of President Daniel arap Moi has
erupted into political clashes in at least four districts, as the
opposition filed a court petition demanding the result be declared
void. Opposition Democratic Party leader, Mwai Kibaki, listed 76
points in his petition, lodged with the High Court of Kenya,
challenging the validity of the 29 December election". 26 January:
Kenya's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission reports that it has
strong evidence that ethnic Kikuyus are being driven out of the
Rift Valley's Laikipia District, to punish them for voting against
KANU in the elections. 27 January: The Guardian, U.K., confirms
that political clashes in Kenya's Rift Valley are spreading, and
that at least 50 people have died in Laikipia, where the violence
began, and more victims have been found north-west of the regional
capital, Nakuru.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 28 January 1998)

* Kenya. Floods and disease update  -  18 January: The East African
Standard reports that the vital highway linking Mombasa and
Nairobi, which has been closed over the past two days, has been re-
opened. Police announce that the road, heavily damaged by rains
caused by the El Nino phenomenon, can now be used by motorists,
transporters and passengers travelling from either way. A police
spokesman says that the death-toll from flood-related incidents,
has now increased to 89. The same day, The East African says that,
angered by what they consider to be an uncaring official attitude
to a worsening hunger situation in Kenya, a coalition of relief
agencies met twice last week and decided to seek greater
cooperation from the government. The exceptionally heavy rains have
confronted many parts of Kenya with emergency situations, with aid
agencies warning of starvation for marooned communities. 26
January: The World Health Organisation issues an update on its
previous disease-outbreaks reports. It says that the estimated
number of deaths in Kenya is now 350-400. 27 January: The UN food
agency warns that it will have to halt its emergency relief
operation for more than one million flood victims in Kenya and
Somalia, unless it receives immediate financial aid from donors.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 28 January 1998)

* Kenya. Violences ethniques  -  La spirale de violence ethnique
continue a ensanglanter le Kenya. Selon des sources diplomatiques,
22 personnes ont ete tuees et 23 blessees pres de Njoro, a 200 km
de Nairobi, dans la province centrale du Rift Valley. Depuis le 10
janvier, il y aurait eu officiellement 77 morts, mais une source
locale estime ce chiffre fort en-dessous de la realite. Des
centaines de paysans se sont enfuis de la region avec leurs
familles. L'opposition et des organisations civiles ont demande un
debat au Parlement pour faire le point sur la situation, mais le
president Moi nie toute implication de son parti KANU. Des sources
humanitaires affirment que les attaques, organisees par les
Kalenjins, ethnie du president, sont dirigees contre les Kikuyus
pour les punir de n'avoir pas vote KANU aux elections de decembre. 
 (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 29 janvier 1998)

* Kenya. Les Eglises et les elections  -  Selon une depeche de
Nairobi du 26 janvier, des ecclesiastiques catholiques et
protestants du Kenya ont appele les partis d'opposition a accepter
le resultat des elections presidentielles et legislatives de
decembre 1997, remportees par le president Moi et son parti la
KANU. Cet appel n'a pas ete du gout de l'opposition. Les
responsables d'Eglise ont exhorte le gouvernement et l'opposition
a panser les plaies et a surmonter le traumatisme des elections.
"Nous ne sommes peut-etre pas d'accord avec les resultats, mais
nous devons les accepter. Je ne veux pas dire qu'il n'y a pas eu
d'irregularites, mais nous ne pouvons pas revenir sans cesse sur le
passe", a declare l'archeveque catholique de Nairobi, Mgr. Ndingi
Mwana'a Nzeki. En depit de nombreuses anomalies, "les resultats
refletent le choix des Kenyans", a affirme de son cote Mutawa
Musyimi, au nom du Conseil national chretien du Kenya.   (CIP,
Belgique, 29 janvier 1998)

* Kenya/Somalie. Operations de secours  -  Le Programme alimentaire
mondial (PAM) a declare, le 27 janvier, avoir besoin de 12 millions
de dollars supplementaires pour poursuivre ses operations de
secours aerien a plus d'un million de personnes isolees par les
inondations au Kenya et en Somalie. Des pluies torrentielles
attribuees au phenomene climatique el-Ni¤o se sont abbatues sur
cette region depuis la mi-octobre, provoquant la mort de 2.000
personnes et la disparition de 35.000 tetes de betail, et
detruisant 31.000 tonnes de reserves de nourriture.   (Le Monde,
France, 29 janvier 1998)

* Liberia. ECOMOG  -  The President of Liberia says that ECOMOG
forces can stay in his country beyond the 2 February deadline he
had announced earlier. President Taylor says that ECOMOG forces
must operate under a different mandate. The President says ECOMOG
had done an excellent job in Liberia and is still relevant and
welcome to stay. But, he adds, the mandate under which the force is
operating is no longer valid and should be changed to reflect the
political changes Liberia has undergone since July 1997. It is
inconceivable for anyone to believe that ECOMOG can continue to
operate in Liberia under a peacekeeping mandate, when, in fact,
there is an elected government in Liberia. It is logical that the
Mission should and has to change.   (VOA, 20 January 1998)

* Mozambique. Dette allegee de 80%  -  Le Club de Paris, qui reunit
les creanciers publics des pays en voie de developpement, a adopte
le 22 janvier un programme qui effacera plus de 80% de la dette
exterieure du Mozambique. Cette mesure inedite pourrait creer un
precedent. La dette du Mozambique s'eleve a 3,1 milliards de
dollars, apres deduction de la part russe. Sur ce montant 2,3
milliards sont dus aux creanciers bilateraux.   (d'apres Le Monde,
France, 24 janvier 1998)

* Nations unies. O.M.S.  -  Gro Harlem Brundtland, ancien Premier
ministre norvegien, a ete elue, le 27 janvier a Geneve, directeur
general de l'Organisation mondiale de la sante (OMS) par les
delegues du conseil executif de l'organisation. Son election devra
etre enterinee par les 191 Etats membres de l'OMS reunis en
assemblee generale en mai prochain. Premiere femme a acceder a la
tete de l'OMS, Mme Brundtland, 58 ans, est medecin. Premier
ministre pendant 10 ans, elle etait chef de la Commission de l'Onu
sur l'environnement et de developpement. Elle a promis de reformer
une institution malade apres dix ans de regne controverse du
Japonais Hirisho Nakajima.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28
janvier 1998)

* Nigeria. Jailed dissident ill  -  On 25 January, the Lagos Press
newspaper reported that one of Nigeria's leading human rights
activists, jailed in 1995 for plotting to overthrow Sani Abacha's
military regime, has been moved to a hospital after falling ill.
Beko Ransome-Kuti is being treated at a university teaching
hospital in Kaduna in the north. Journalists said he was coughing
incessantly. One of Mr Ransome-Kuti's alleged co-conspirators, the
former vice-president Major-General Musa Yar'Adua, died in a
hospital in Ibadan last month. Another imprisoned dissident, former
military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo, is in hospital in Yola.   (The
Guardian, U.K., 26 January 1998)

* Rwanda. Justice: bilan d'un an d'action  -  L'organisation
Avocats sans frontieres (ASF), presente au Rwanda pour defendre
accuses et victimes lors des proces sur le genocide, a fait un
bilan de son action. Depuis le 27 decembre 1996, 304 accuses ont
ete juges en premiere instance au cours de 94 proces. 108 personnes
ont ete condamnees a mort, 103 a la perpepuite; 17 ont ete
acquittees. 44% des accuses ont beneficie d'un avocat. Il reste
environ 130.000 detenus. Au rythme actuel, il faudrait environ 300
ans pour juger tout le monde... Si des formules alternatives
doivent etre imaginees, ASF estime cependant que les proces qui ont
eu lieu ne font pas partie d'une "justice de facade".   (d'apres La
Libre Belgique, 24 janvier 1998)

* Rwanda/Burundi. Aide reduite  -  Le Programme alimentaire mondial
(PAM) est oblige de reduire son aide de moitie a cause des pluies
et de l'insecurite. Dans le meilleur des cas, le PAM ne pourra
aider le mois prochain que la moitie des 600.000 et 200.000
personnes qu'il assiste respectivement au Rwanda et au Burundi, a
indique l'agence. Les pluies diluviennes qui s'abattent sur la
region et les combats au Burundi bloquent l'acces depuis le Kenya,
la Tanzanie ou l'Ouganda, ou le PAM a ses stocks.   (La Libre
Belgique, 27 janvier 1998)

* Sierra Leone. Reprise de Tongo Field  -  Les autorites militaires
de Sierra Leone ont affirme, le 20 janvier, avoir repris la veille
la ville diamantifere de Tongo Field (a l'est du pays), tombee le
17 janvier aux mains des Kamajors, chasseurs traditionnels
favorables au president dechu. Les combats ont fait une centaine de
morts, a annonce le porte-parole de la junte. Ce dernier a accuse
les troupes nigerianes du contingent de la force ouest-africaine
Ecomog de soutenir les Kamajors dans leur lutte contre la junte.  
(Marches Tropicaux, France, 23 janvier 1998)

* Sierra Leone. Clashes  -  On 27 January, Nigerian-led West
African peacekeepers and forces loyal to Sierra Leone's military
rulers, clashed on the edge of Freetown, the first such battle
since a peace deal in october. trick drivers, fleeing the area,
said the two sides had been firing rocket-propelled grenades and
heavy machine-guns at leach other in Jui, south-est of the capital. 
 (The Guardian, U.K., 28 January 1998)

* Somalia. Outbreaks of diseases  -  Voice of America, 19 January:
Reports from Mogadishu indicate that the capital's hospitals are
crowded with victims of a cholera epidemic, following recent
flooding. Hundreds of people are being admitted every day to
hospitals and camps in both north and south Mogadishu, where aid
agencies and local health workers are struggling to halt the spread
of disease. In Somalia, patients must buy their own intravenous
drips and drugs. Since the epidemic started, the price for one unit
of intravenous fluid has rocketed from US $1.50 to nearly US $ 16.
As a result, many patients will die for lack of treatment. FAO,
Rome, 20 January: An outbreak of haemorrhagic fever is occurring in
remote parts of southern Somalia and northeastern Kenya following
exceptionally heavy rains. Preliminary results indicate that Rift
Valley Fever virus is responsible for many of the cases in both
humans and domestic animals. Rift Valley Fever is a viral disease
transmitted primarily by infected mosquitoes and other biting
insects and occasionally with the blood or body fluids of infected
animals.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 January 1998)

* Afrique du Sud. Proces Botha ajourne  -  L'ancien president
Pieter Botha a comparu le 23 janvier devant la justice pour avoir
ignore a plusieurs reprises les convocations de la Commission
verite et reconciliation (TRC), chargee de faire la lumiere sur les
crimes de l'apartheid. L'audience a ete ajournee jusqu'au 23
fevrier et la date du proces est fixee au 14 avril. A l'issue de
l'audience, M. Botha a reaffirme qu'il n'avait pas a demander
pardon a la TRC. "Je demande pardon pour mes peches devant Dieu",
a-t-il declare, accusant la TRC d'attiser le racisme.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 24 janvier 1998)

* South Africa. P.W. Botha in court  -  23 January: Former
president P.W. Botha arrives in court for a hearing into charges of
contempt, for his refusal to appear before the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission. The case is adjourned until 23 February
when Mr Botha must plead guilty or not guilty. He also has to
appear in court on 14 April when a four-day hearing into his case
is due to start. 26 January: P.W. Botha's lawyer says that
officials will subpoena the TRCūs chairman, Archbishop Tutu, and
order him to appear in court next month, requiring him to present
the court with a list of documents relevant to the case.   (ANB-
BIA, Brussels, 27 January 1998)

* South Africa. TRC  -  27 January: The Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) says it cannot process thousands of outstanding
amnesty applications by its 30 June deadline, and will need more
time or a new body to finish the job. The Commission Chairman,
Archbishop Tutu, says the Commission, due to present its final
report to President Mandela on 31 July, does not want its life to
be extended, but outstanding cases have to be heard. 28 January:
Police admit to the TRC that they had evidence from telephone taps,
showing that Winnie Mandela had lied at her trial in 1991. Evidence
is also beginning to emerge which fuels suspicion that police may
have killed a white officer to protect Mrs Mandela.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 29 January 1998)

* Soudan. Defections rebelles  -  Pres de 1.600 rebelles du SPLA
ont deserte pour rejoindre les troupes gouvernementales dans la
province de l'Equateur oriental, a declare le gouverneur de cet
Etat le 22 janvier. Il a ajoute que ces defections etaient "le
resultat de l'accord de paix (du mois d'avril) qui a tenu compte
des demandes des sudistes". Le gouvernement a publie ces derniers
mois une serie de rapports sur la reddition d'un grand nombre de
rebelles. Le 23 janvier, une source rebelle a conteste les chiffres
et accuse Khartoum de faire de la propagande.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 23
janvier 1998)

* Tanzania. Commonwealth plan snubbed  -  Tanzania's ruling Chama
Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF),
have both rejected proposals by Commonwealth Secretary-General
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, to resolve their heated differences over
Zanzibar. The two parties have been locked in a political struggle
since the 1995 presidential and legislative elections in the semi-
autonomous twin Indian ocean islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. Senior
officials of both parties are reported as saying that they rejected
Chief Anyaoku's proposals, especially those asking the CUF to
accept five nominated seats in the Zanzibar House of
Representatives and two cabinet positions in the government. "We
can't accept that. The only thing we can accept is the resignation
of Zanzibar's President Salmin Amour from the presidency, leaving
room for CUF vice-president Mr Seif Sharriff Hamad to take over",
the CUFūs Secretary-General is quoted as saying.   (Daily Nation,
Kenya, 17 January 1998)

* Uganda. World Bank chief in talks with leaders  -  On 23 January,
World Bank president James Wolfensohn and African leaders, started
formal talks to try to work out a package to end economic and
political problems. The leaders intend to work through six sessions
before concluding their summit on 24 January.   (InfoBeat, USA, 24
January 1998)

* Uganda/Rwanda. Museveni urges tough action  -  12 January:
Kenya's Daily Nation (12 January 1998) reports the following:
"Ending a two-day visit to Rwanda, Uganda's President Museveni said
that Rwandese convicted of plotting the 1994 genocide that killed
more than 500,000 minority Tutsis, should be hanged. He urged
justice before reconciliation. He said: "I think you will have
reconciliation if you punish those who were the masterminds of this
historic crime...We Africans have to convince the UN that even
those convicted in Arusha (the International tribunal on Rwanda)
should be hanged. If they are not hanged, then how will the anger
go?" President Museveni also discussed with Rwanda's President
Bizimungu, bilateral and regional issues, including the economic
sanctions imposed on neighbouring Burundi". 26 January: In a news
release, Amnesty International describes President Museveni's
recent calls for executions of perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in
Rwanda. as "deplorable" and says that such calls will only serve to
perpetuate the cycle of bitterness and revenge in the Great Lakes
region.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 January 1998)

* Zambia. Minister denies ordering Kaunda's shooting  -  On 22
January, the Education Minister Godfrey Miyanda denied that he had
ordered police to shoot former president Kenneth Kaunda and Liberal
Progressive Front chairman Rodger Chongwe, during a political rally
last August. "I played no part in the shooting", he said.  
(InfoBeat, USA, 22 January 1998)

* Zimbabwe. Bilan des emeutes  -  Les emeutes des trois derniers
jours a Harare, lors des manifestations contre la hausse des prix,
ont fait entre 5 et 8 morts, dont 2 par balles, selon la presse.
2.300 personnes ont ete arretees. Le calme est revenu, mais le
pays, choque et inquiet, se tourne vers le gouvernement, qui a
largement sous-estime la gravite de la situation economique et
sociale. La presse privee critique le pouvoir qui cherche a
minimiser la situation ou a la mettre sur le compte de speculateurs
ou de la minorite blanche.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23-24
janvier 1998)

* Zimbabwe. Food riots  -  On 22 January, police said that three
people had been killed in the food riots that wracked Harare on 19-
20 January. Chief police spokesman Superintendent Wayne Bvudzijena
said that one child had been trampled to death, a second run over
while fleeing from police and a man had been shot by a shop-owner
repelling looters. "Up to now, we estimate we are holding about
2,000 people", he said, adding that 378 of the suspected looters
were already being prosecuted. The same day, President Mugabe said
his government would consult farmers and foreign donors on its
controversial plans to seize mainly white-owned commercial farms to
resettle peasants. Also, Amnesty International has condemned the
statement by Zimbabwe's Minister of Hone Affairs, Dumiso Dabengwa,
that troops quelling disturbances will be carrying live ammunition
and will not hesitate to shoot those engaged in looting or
"troublemaking". Police maintained their vigil in the rock-strewn
streets of Harare, on 23 January. The police now say that six
people were killed during the riots. In a further development, the
IMF has demanded that the Zimbabwean Government issue an
unequivocal undertaking to compensate white farmers fully and
fairly for land acquired compulsorily).   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24
January 1998)