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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 26-02-1998      PART #1/  

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Cameroon: A letter from the
jailed editor of Le Messager, Pius Njawe, explains that he is
unable to attend a 16 February meeting in Paris of the advisory
committee that annually selects the winner of the UNESCO/Guillermo
Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Djibouti: On 17 February, two
journalists were arrested and placed in detention in the prison in
Gabode. They will appear in court on 26 February, to answer charges
stemming from articles which were critical of the Djibouti
leadership. Ethiopia: Abay Hailu, editor of the Wolafen, dies. He
had been incarcerated on 22 February 1996 for alleged crimes in
relation to articles relating to the threat of Islamic
Fundamentalism. His health deteriorated and subsequent medical
treatment failed to save him. The Gambia: On 12 January, Baboucar
Gaye, proprietor of the Citizen FM radio station, was charged with
operating an unlicensed radio station. Citizen FM remains off the
air. Namibia: On 19 February 1998, Hannes Smith, the jailed editor
of the weekly Windhoek Observer, was granted bail pending the
outcome of an appeal against his conviction for contempt of court
and sentence of four months' imprisonment. Nigeria: 20 February:
The military authorities have again warned journalists to be
careful in reporting issues of the alleged coup plot. South Africa:
24 February: The Freedom of Expression Institute, Johannesburg,
says it is appalled by reports that there may be attempts in
Parliament to amend the Constitution, to facilitate the merger of
the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the South African
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Zambia: On 17 February,
Fred M'membe, editor-in-chief of The Post, demanded that Parliament
refer the contempt case against him, to the Director of Public
Prosecutions to decide whether he (M'membe) should be prosecuted.
Zimbabwe: 24 February: Media workers have called on the government
to ensure that the proposed Independent Broadcasting Authority, to
be established under Zimbabwe's new Telecommunications Bill, is
legally and actually free from state, government or party political
control.   (IFEX, Canada, 19-25 February 1998)

* Horn of Africa. Disease outbreak  -  The governments of Sudan,
Ethiopia and Eritrea have sent an urgent appeal to the World Health
Organisation (WHO), for help in combatting an epidemic of "Visceral
Leishmaniasis", a parasitic disease, transmitted by the female
sandfly. WHO says it has limited data on the number of cases and
deaths from Leishmaniasis. But it says it can guess at the extent
of the problem by comparing figures from 1997 with those of the
year before. For instance, over 2,500 confirmed cases of
Leishmaniasis were registered in just one treatment centre in
eastern Sudan from October to December. WHO says this represents an
increase of 439% compared to the same period in 1996. The mortality
rate for the disease is close to 100% in these areas.   (VOA, 16
February 1998)

* West Africa. Oil majors forge ahead  -  West Africa looks set to
become one of the world's fastest growing new oil producers, with
output expected to climb over the next decade as a new generation
of deep-water wells come on stream, analysts said on 19 February.
Oil companies are investing millions of dollars a year, in a
scramble to find crude in deep waters off the West African coast
which have become among the hottest spots on the international
exploration map. While estimates of potential output vary, even
these figures may prove conservative as more exploration successes
push reserves higher. Although most attention has been focused on
Angola where a number of big finds have been made in the last two
years, companies have made deep-water discoveries in neighbouring
Congo and are looking further north to Senegal and Benin.  
(Reuters, 19 February 1998)

* Monde. Rencontre Banque Mondiale et religions  -  Une rencontre,
sans precedents, s'est deroulee a Londres les 18 et 19 fevrier.
Elle a reuni le president de la Banque mondiale et les
representants de neuf grandes religions: chretiens, juifs,
musulmans, bahais, bouddhistes, hindous, jainistes, sickhs et
taoistes. Le but etait d'ameliorer les rapports entre le monde
financier et le monde religieux, et d'etudier le probleme de la
pauvrete. On devait y etudier les termes de pauvrete, richesse, et
developpement social et mondial, et fixer un plan d'action pour
l'avenir.   (Fides, Rome, 20 fevrier 1998)

* Algeria/South Africa. Future defense agreement  -  South Africa
and Algeria have moved a step closer to finalising a defense
cooperation agreement. South African defense Minister Joe Modise
and Algerian Army-Chief-Of-Staff General Mohammed Lamari, have
signed a Letter of Intent, which the two countries hope will lead
to the conclusion of a formal defense cooperation agreement. The
Letter of Intent was signed in Pretoria, South Africa, on 16
February, as the Algerian General began a four-day visit to South
Africa.   (VOA, 16 February 1998)

* Algerie. Les attentats continuent  -  20 fevrier. Apres deux
attentats au centre l'Alger le 19 fevrier dans l'apres-midi, un
troisieme engin a explose le 20 a l'interieur du marche couvert de
Birkhadem, dans la banlieue sud de la capitale, faisant 2 morts et
32 blesses, selon un bilan officiel. Selon les habitants du
quartier, l'explosion etait extremement puissante et le nombre de
victimes pourrait etre plus eleve. -- Par ailleurs, 27 militaires
ont ete tues le 20 fevrier en Kabylie, a l'est d'Alger, lors d'une
attaque a la bombe contre un camion, a rapporte le quotidien "El
Watan". L'attaque s'est deroulee en plein jour, a une trentaine de
km au sud de Tizi-Ouzou. Il n'y a pas de confirmation officielle de
cette attaque, une des plus sanglantes menees dans cette region.
Selon la presse privee, 19 personnes (selon certaines sources des
militaires) ont encore ete tuees et 7 autres blessees dans une
autre embuscade pres de Jilel (est). -22 fevrier. Dans la nuit du
21 au 22 fevrier, 12 bergers ont ete egorges dans le hameau de
Medghoussa et un gazoduc a ete sabote. La meme nuit, un attentat a
la bombe contre un train reliant Alger a El-Affroun a fait 18 morts
et 25 blesses. - 24 fevrier. La presse algerienne fait mention de
nouvelles violences en divers parties du pays. Dans la province de
Tlemcen, des unites de l'armee ont tue 42 rebelles, dans une action
ou meme l'armee de l'air aurait ete impliquee. Au sud d'Alger, des
extremistes ont tue cinq villageois. Entre-temps, le nombre des
victimes de l'attaque du train est monte a plus de 20 morts et on
estime le nombre de blesses entre 30 et 50. - 25 fevrier. Treize
personnes ont ete blessees, dont deux grievement, par un engin
explosif lance contre un bus au centre d'Alger. Au sud-ouest de la
capitale, sept civils ont ete assassines. D'autre part, quatre
organisations humanitaires internationales (AI, FIDH, HRW, RSF) ont
a nouveau reclame une enquete internationale sur la situation en
Algerie.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 fevrier 1998)

* Algeria. Ambushes  -  21-22 February: The Press reports that a
gas pipeline has been blown up. 22 February: Newspapers report that
an armed group attacked and killed 19 people travelling in truck on
a deserted mountain road in the Ziama Mansouri area of Jijel
province in eastern Algeria. It was the second such ambush reported
in recent days. In a similar attack, also on Friday, Muslim
militants killed 27 soldiers near the town of Boghni in Tizi-Ouzu
province, setting off an explosive in the road and then firing on
their truck. No one claimed responsibility but suspicion fell on
Muslim militants. 23 February: 18 people are killed and 25 wounded
in a bomb attack on a train between Algiers and El-Affroun. 24
February: Fifteen trucks carrying nearly 60 tons of food, clothing
and school equipment, leave Algiers to help survivors of three
massacres carried out over the past six months, in Bantalha, Sidi
Rais and Sidi Hamed. 25 February: Amnesty International and other
organisations issue a News Release, in which they express their
regret that upon its return from Algeria (from a visit made 8-12
February), the delegation of the European Parliament opposed an
international investigation into the massacres.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 26 February 1998)

* Angola. Peace process may be in danger  -  There are ominous new
signs indicating Angola's more than three year-old, often-delayed
peace process may be in new jeopardy. The Angolan rebel movement
UNITA was to have demilitarized completely by the end of January,
but security sources say it continues to mobilize men, weapons and
other resources. Sources tell Voice of America that since the new
year, UNITA has opened a new training camp in Congo RDC, close to
the border with Angola's diamond-rich Lunda Norte Province. About
five thousand soldiers are undergoing training, and both Chinese
and Moroccan advisors have been seen at the camp. UNITA leader,
Jonas Savimbi may fear a government offensive aimed at overrunning
the rebel group's positions militarily. Uncertainties about the
government's intentions have been heightened by the absence from
public view, of President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, who have
reportedly been in poor health.   (VOA, 18 February 1998)

* Angola. Combats a Cabinda et violence ailleurs  -  La radio
portugaise "Renascenca" a rapporte, le 23 fevrier, que les
affrontements s'intensifiaient dans l'enclave de Cabinda entre
l'armee angolaise et les forces separatistes du "Fronte de
Libertacao do Enclava de Cabinda" (FLEC). Les combats se seraient
propages depuis une region situee a 70 km de la ville de Cabinda
jusqu'a sa peripherie. - D'autre part, le gouvernement angolais
estime que le pays entier est plonge dans un climat de violence. Le
general Carneiro, vice-ministre charge des accords de paix, a
accuse, le 24 fevrier, l'Unita d'etre responsable d'incidents sur
tout le territoire et l'a mis en demeure d'achever sa
demilitarisation avant le 28 fevrier, date fixee par les accords de
paix.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 24 fevrier 1998)

* Burkina Faso. Coupe d'Afrique - demi-finales  -  Le mercredi 25
fevrier, aux demi-finales de la Coupe d'Afrique des nations, les
deux outsiders se sont fait eliminer. A Bobo-Dioulasso, l'Egypte a
battu le Burkina Faso 2-0. A Ouagadougou, l'Afrique du Sud a
elimine la Republique democratique du Congo par 2-1. En finale,
l'equipe des Bafana Bafana sud-africains defendra donc son titre
contre l'Egypte.   (ANB-BIA, 26 fevrier 1998)

* Burundi/Rwanda. Appel des eveques  -  Les eveques du Rwanda et du
Burundi, reunis a Bujumbura dans le cadre de l'Association des
conferences episcopales de leurs deux pays, ont lance, le 17
fevrier, un appel pour lever l'embargo et le blocus economique qui
isole le Burundi. Ils ont aussi lance un appel a leurs communautes
chretiennes pour les encourager a pratiquer la justice, le pardon
et la reconciliation, et a lutter contre l'ethnocentrisme. Ils
demandent aux dirigeants de leurs pays de chercher les voies pour
restaurer la paix et la concorde par un dialogue sincere et
constructif.   (ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 19 fevrier 1998)

* Burundi. Bishops call for embargo to be lifted  -  The Bishops'
Conference of Rwanda and Burundi has demanded that the embargo
against Burundi be lifted. The bishops claim that the embargo has
done nothing to stop the flow of arms into the country. Although
food and medicine cannot be imported to the people, Human Rights
Watch reports that arms and military assistance have been provided
to the various factions by France, the United States, the Russian
Federation, China, North Korea, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Congo
RDC.   (ZENIT, Rome, 25 February 1998)

* Burundi. Embargo maintenu  -  A l'issue d'un sommet regional, qui
reunissait a Kampala huit pays de la region (Ouganda, Kenya,
Tanzanie, Zambie, Ethiopie, RD Congo, Zimbabwe et Rwanda), il a ete
decide a l'unanimite de maintenir les sanctions en vigueur contre
le Burundi, contrairement a ce qu'esperait Pierre Buyoya, qui s'est
empare du pouvoir au Burundi en juillet 1996. Celui-ci a pu plaider
sa cause; il a ete brievement entendu, mais n'a pu assister au
sommet. L'embargo economique contre le Burundi est en vigueur
depuis 18 mois. Des millions de gens sont menaces par la famine.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 fevrier 1998)

* Burundi. 2eme Table Ronde  -  A l'issue d'une "deuxieme table
ronde", tenue a Gitega du 18 au 21 fevrier, les participants ont
publie une declaration commune. Reconnaissant que "des signes
inquietants remettent en cause l'existence d'un avenir commun
partage par les Burundais", ils font un appel dramatique a la paix
et la securite pour tous. Ils font aussi un certain nombre de
recommandations. Ainsi, concernant les institutions, ils suggerent
de "forger un systeme democratique inspire des realites de notre
pays divise sur des bases ethniques". Quant aux forces de securite,
"pour repondre aux preoccupations exprimees au sujet de la
composition ethnique des forces de l'ordre, il a ete recommande une
demarche progressive et realiste d'une solution appropriee". Ils
demandent finalement une "justice impartiale, independante". "Nous
recommandons que cette justice fasse l'objet de beaucoup
d'attention pour eviter les arrestations arbitraires et les
detentions preventives abusives et prolongees".   (ANB-BIA, 24
fevrier 1998)

* Burundi. Bagaza pourrait etre libere  -  Le conseil de guerre de
Bujumbura a ouvert la voie, le 25 fevrier, a la remise en liberte
de l'ex-president Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, en se declarant incompetent
pour juger le dossier des "comploteurs" contre le major Pierre
Buyoya, homme fort du Burundi.   (Liberation, France, 26 fevrier
1998)

* Centrafrique. Force de l'ONU?  -  Le secretaire general de l'Onu
recommande au Conseil de securite d'envisager la creation d'une
operation de maintien de la paix des Nations unies en Centrafrique,
pour prendre le relais de l'actuelle force interafricaine. M. Annan
estime que la mise sur pied d'une telle operation est le seul moyen
de "maintenir la paix et la stabilite" dans ce pays. La mission,
baptisee "Minurca", s'acheverait 90 jours apres l'annonce des
resultats des legislatives, que le president Patasse s'est engage
a organiser en aout-septembre.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 26 fevrier
1998)

* Congo (RDC). News roundup  -  18 February: Roberto Garreton, UN
Special Rapporteur on human rights in Congo RDC, expresses "deep
concern" over the "continuing deterioration of human rights" in the
country. 19 February: UN refugee chief Sadako Ogata arrives in
Kinshasa for what regional analysts say could be the toughest leg
of an Africa tour. Ogata's four-day visit follows months of
strained relations between the office of the UNHCR and President
Kabila's government. The same day justice officials say that at
least 16 former allies of the late President Mobutu, accused of
embezzlement and corruption, have been released from prison. Also,
Commandant James Kabare, interim army chief, accuses the BBCūs
French service and Radio France Internationale, of deliberately
campaigning to distract the Congolese people with false
information. 20 February: UNHCR says it has made progress in talks
on ending months of friction with Congo RDC. A UNHRCspokeswoman
says it has been agreed that the government will name an official
interlocutor to deal with refugee issues, and continue dialogue and
technical cooperation with the agency. 25 February: Humanitarian
sources speak of rising tension in Uvira, with reports of
Banyamulenge soldiers deserting the Congo RDC army and fleeing into
Rwanda.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 February 1998)
* Congo (RDC). Magistrat arrete  -  Un magistrat a ete arrete par
des hommes armes, le 18 fevrier a Kinshasa, apres avoir condamne un
responsable local de l'AFDL, le parti du president Kabila. Quatre
autres magistrats du tribunal de Ndjili, un quartier excentre de
Kinshasa, etaient recherches par les memes hommes, selon une source
qui requiert l'anonymat.   (Le Monde, France, 20 fevrier 1998)

* Congo (RDC). Conference territoriale  -  En remplacement de la
conference annoncee sur la reconstruction nationale, il s'est tenu
a Kinshasa, du 12 au 14 fevrier, une conference sur la
territoriale. Les autorites congolaises ont convoque pres de 500
agents de l'administration pour etudier comment "restaurer l'Etat
sur l'ensemble du territoire national". On y a decide de renverser
la pyramide des decisions. Au lieu d'attendre les decisions de
Kinshasa, ce sont les administrateurs de base qui resoudront les
problemes au niveau local, avant d'en referer a la capitale qui a
trois mois pour s'opposer. Un systeme de phonie (remplacant le
telephone) sera installe.   (d'apres La libre Belgique, 23 fevrier
1998)

* Congo (RDC). 380 soldiers die in camp  -  A number of army
officers have been arrested after at least 380 recruits died of
starvation and cholera at a barracks in the eastern part of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. On 23 February, State media said
the officers would face charges of illegally selling off food
destined for the Kapalata barracks where as many as 3,000 young
"Mai-Mai" traditional warriors joining the regular army were camped
until last week. Under pressure from international relief agencies,
as well as from some government members, military officials finally
began closing down the camp this month.   (InfoBeat, USA, 23
February 1998)

* Congo (RDC). Troubles au Nord-Kivu  -  Des troubles graves ont
eclate dans la ville de Butembo, dans la province du Nord-Kivu.
L'armee s'en prendrait a la population locale, qu'elle accuse de
complicite avec des rebelles qualifies de "Mai-Mai", terme employe
desormais pour qualifier toutes les forces hostiles au regime. La
repression aurait deja fait une cinquantaine de victimes. Les
militaires recherchent des jeunes dans les maisons et les accusent
d'etre des rebelles. Les pretres sont egalement recherches, entre
autres ceux qui dirigent l'Universite catholique de Butembo. Deux
villages dans la region de Lubero ont ete brules par les
militaires.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 24 fevrier 1998)

* Congo (RDC). La sante de Kabila et de Tshisekedi  -  La
representation de l'UDPS a Bruxelles s'inquiete de la sante de M.
Tshisekedi. Celui-ci, relegue dans son village natal, a ete pris de
vomissements et on craint une tentative d'empoisonnement. Des
militaires interdisent tout contact avec lui. - Par ailleurs, le
president Kabila s'est rendu en Suisse pour une "visite privee",
selon le ministere suisse des Affaires etrangeres. Les agences de
presse ANP et Belga affirmerent, le 20 fevrier, qu'il y etait pour
raisons medicales et se trouvait dans une clinique privee a 20 km
de Geneve. Ceci a ete dementi par le chef de cabinet de Kabila, qui
affirme que le chef de l'Etat est en excellente sante. M. Kabila
est rentre a Kinshasa, le 24 fevrier, sans toutefois faire une
escale prevue au Caire, ou le president Moubarak l'a attendu en
vain durant deux heures. A Kinshasa, tout le monde s'interroge... 
 (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25 fevrier 1998)

* Egypt. Taming the Nile  -  Egypt has moved a step closer to
constructing the world's biggest pumping station, now that a
consortium led by Kvaerner of Norway and Hitachi Corporation has
won a $434m contract to build the plant over four years. The Toshka
project is the most ambitious being undertaken along the Nile
Basin. It will pump 5.5bn cu. m. of water a year into a 67km canal
to irrigate up to 500,000 acres of desert land. Egypt intends to
spearhead a region-wide strategy meant to ensure its access to an
increasing share of Nile water. Its plans are transforming the
"hydro-politics" of the river, with their origins in Egypt's
rivalry with Ethiopia, into an ever more complex regional
preoccupation.   (Financial Times, U.K., 20 February 1998)

* Kenya. Call for judicial inquiry  -  The Minister in the Office
of the President in charge of Internal Security, Major (Rtd)
Marsden Madoka, says that the Government has set up an inquiry into
the ethnic killings in the Rift valley Province. However, Major
Madoka did not disclose the composition of the team, let alone its
terms of reference. It is unclear, therefore, whether this is just
a routine police inquiry -- or investigation -- or a commission of
inquiry. If it is indeed the latter, then it must be the most
secretive such probe team in Kenya's history. It is most likely a
police inquiry and we feel this would be the most feeble and
redundant, considering the task ahead.   (Daily Nation,Kenya, 12
February 1998)

* Liberia. Difficultes au sein du gouvernement  -  Le president
Charles Taylor a congedie son ministre de la Justice, P.B. Jallah,
pour des "raisons administratives", a annonce le 13 fevrier un
communique de la presidence. Trois jours plus tard, c'est l'ancien
chef de guerre devenu ministre du Developpement rural, Roosevelt
Johnson, qui s'est oppose a M. Taylor, l'accusant de ne placer que
des ex-combattants de son groupe au sein des forces nationales de
securite. Selon un des accords du processus de paix, l'Ecomog
devait restructurer l'armee nationale; mais Taylor avait insiste,
au nom de la souverainete nationale, pour que cette restructuration
soit effectuee par son gouvernement.   (Marches Tropicaux, France,
20 fevrier 1998)

* Libya. Pope meets with Ambassador of Libya  -  On 16 February,
the Pope received Libya's Ambassador to the Holy See, Husein-Fuad
Mustafa Kabazi. The Ambassador invited the Holy Father to visit his
country, which is suffocating under the weight of the embargo. Pope
John Paul II granted this meeting with the Libyan diplomat, to
confront the challenges of peace in the world, and dialogue between
Islam and Christianity. At the end of their meeting, the Pope
insisted that Libya must become a country of dialogue. He said:
"Your country is without doubt, a place where meeting and dialogue
should become more and more an instrument of understanding and
peace. My desire is that this understanding and dialogue, although
occurring within Libyan society, would also extend to other
countries of Mediterranean Africa, and would begin to characterize
relations throughout the community of nations".   (ZENIT, Rome, 19
February 1998)

* Maghreb/Moyen Orient. Rencontre entre Eglises  -  Une rencontre
inedite a rassemble du 26 au 30 janvier, a Maadi pres du Caire, des
representants des Eglises catholiques du monde arabe, venus du
Maghreb, de Mauritanie et du Moyen-Orient, pour reflechir a leur
responsabilite apostolique commune. La diversite de ces Eglises est
grande: alors que les communautes chretiennes du Maghreb demeurent
"etrangeres" aux pays ou ils resident, celles du Moyen-Orient sont
issues des plus anciennes traditions et s'expriment dans une grande
diversite de rites. Les participants ont decouvert "un appel a
depasser leurs cloisonnements confessionnels et a s'ouvrir a la
responsabilite apostolique plus large". Des suggestions ont ete
avancees pour faciliter les echanges d'un pays a l'autre.  
(d'apres La Croix, France, 20 fevrier 1998)

* Mali. Deces de Mgr. Sangare  -  L'archeveque de Bamako, Mgr. Luc
Sangare, est decede le 11 fevrier a Abidjan, ou il devait
participer a une reunion du Comite permanent de la Conference
episcopale regionale de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Ne en 1925 a Segou,
il fut ordonne pretre en 1954 et devenait, en 1962, le premier
archeveque malien de Bamako. Aux funerailles a Bamako, il y eut de
nombreux temoignages de ses collaborateurs, mais egalement de
protestants et de musulmans. Le president malien y prononca une
oraison funebre et l'eleva, a titre posthume, au rang de commandeur
de l'ordre national du Mali.   (Alexis Kalambry, Bamako, 15 fevrier
1998)

* Niger. Pratiques esclavagistes  -  L'association nigerienne des
droits de l'homme a interpelle le gouvernement de Niamey sur la
survivance "de pratiques esclavagistes residuelles" en depit de la
Constitution et de l'adhesion du pays a la convention de Geneve.
Elle cite notamment le cas d'un cultivateur de la region de Tanout,
qui reclame sa fille emmenee pour des travaux forces par un
notable, qui invoque un "droit de propriete" sur la fille, parce
que sa mere avait ete esclave.   (La Libre Belgique, 23 fevrier
1998)

* Niger. Mutineries et greves  -  Le ministre de la Defense, Yahaya
Tounkara, a confirme le 23 fevrier qu'une mutinerie avait eclate,
le 21, dans une garnison de la region de Diffa (1.150 km a l'est de
Niamey). M. Tounkara a precise que les mutins reclamaient "le
paiement d'un mois d'arrieres de solde et diverses indemnites".
D'autres sources affirment que les quatre camps militaires de la
region, ceux de Diffa, N'Gourti, N'Guigmi et Bosso, sont touches
par le mouvement. Le 25 fevrier, la garnison d'Agadez, dans le
nord-est, s'est jointe a la mutinerie. D'autre part, les
fonctionnaires ont entame, le 24 fevrier, une nouvelle greve pour
reclamer le versement de 6 a 7 mois d'arrieres de salaire, a
l'appel de l'Union des syndicats des travailleurs du Niger.   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 26 fevrier 1998)

* Nigeria. Pope's visit  -  "I have contrasting opinions regarding
the Pope's visit to Nigeria," Wole Soyinka states in an article in
the next issue of Nigrizia. The Nigerian Nobel prize winner for
literature expresses his hope that the "Pope will not be influenced
by the outer facade of President Abacha, who is a major liar, and
the personification of what Christian theology describes as the
"devil"". The Pope will visit Nigeria from 21-23 March. In Onitsha,
he will beatify the Cistercian monk, Iwegbunam Tansi (1903-1964).
A strictly pastoral visit therefore, in which Soyinka sees
"potentiality and danger". The African continent's most famous
writer asks himself: "How John Paul II will pronounce himself
regarding state terrorism, state murders and state persecutions?
Has he been informed that Sani Abacha is an African Pinochet?".
(Editor's note: The Pope's schedule is as follows: 21 March -- The
Pope arrives in Abuja and will meet with General Abacha. 22 March -
- The Pope flies to Enugu and then on to Onitsha for the
Beatification. He will meet with Muslim leaders at the nunciature
in Abuja that night. 23 March -- The Pope celebrates Mass in Abuja
and meets with the Nigerian Episcopal Conference. [Information from
ZENIT, Rome, 25 February])   (MISNA, Rome, 19 February 1998)

* Nigeria. 1997 worst year for Nigerian media  -  On 20 February,
a Nigerian rights group said that 1997 was the worst year ever for
local journalists, with 40 reported to be arrested or detained by
security forces. "More journalists were arrested and detained or
harassed and intimidated in other ways during the year, than any
other in the history of Nigerian journalism", Media Rights Agenda
said. The group said some journalists had been detained for only 24
hours, but many more remained in detention at the end of the year.
The report said worst affected, were journalists working for
opposition publications critical of the military government of
General Abacha. (Editor's update: The same day, Amnesty
International called on the government not to impose death
sentences in the current treason trials taking place.)   (InfoBeat,
USA, 20 February 1998)

* Rwanda. 9 people killed in attack on tea factory  -  On 20
February, officials said that nine people were killed when Hutu
rebels attacked a Rwandan tea factory near the border with Congo
RDC. They said the rebels attacked Pfunde tea factory, about 6
miles east of Gisenyi, as workers were preparing to go home on 19
February. Officials in Gisenyi said local residents and even
factory workers may have participated in the attack. Hutu rebels
are waging an insurgency against the Tutsi-dominated government,
and clashes have increased in the last three months.   (InfoBeat,
USA, 20 February 1998)

* Rwanda. Massacre  -  Au moins neuf personnes ont ete tuees et
cinq autres blessees dans une attaque menee le 19 fevrier par des
assaillants, miliciens hutu presumes, contre une usine de the a
Pfunda, pres de Gisenyi, au nord-ouest du pays.   (La Libre
Belgique, 21 fevrier 1998)

* Rwanda. Hearing delayed after judge hurt  -  On 23 February, one
of the most important hearings so far for Rwanda's genocide
tribunal was postponed because the judge was injured in a riding
accident, court officials said. Swedish Judge Lennart Aspegren, 67,
had been due to hear evidence from Canadian Maj.Gen.Romeo Dallaire
on the mass killings in Rwanda in 1994, but fell from his horse on
22 February, and was ordered by doctors to rest for a day. There
was no immediate word on when the International Criminal Tribunal
on Rwanda would hear evidence from Dallaire, who was head of the UN
Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) in 1994.   (InfoBeat, USA,
23 February 1998)

* Rwanda. Le general Dallaire au TPR  -  Le general canadien R.
Dallaire, commandant de la Mission d'assistance de l'Onu au Rwanda
(MINUAR) au moment du genocide en 1994, a temoigne le 25 fevrier a
Arusha devant le Tribunal penal international pour le Rwanda (TPR).
M. Dallaire a ete appele a la barre par la defense dans le proces
de Jean-Paul Akayesu, ancien maire de Taba, dans la prefecture de
Gitarama. Durant son temoignage, il a lourdement charge la
communaute internationale, affirmant qu'une force avec un reel
mandat aurait pu arreter le massacre. "Nous avons tous une part de
responsabilite dans la continuation du genocide", a-t-il ajoute. -
D'autre part, AFP a affirme, le 20 fevrier, que deux officiers
superieurs francais, qui ont participe aux operations militaires
francaises au Rwanda, en 1990 et 1994, devraient egalement etre
auditionnes en mars a Arusha comme temoins de la defense.   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 26 fevrier 1998)

* Senegal. Attaque du MFDC  -  Six personnes ont ete tuees en
Casamance le 21 fevrier, au cours d'une attaque menee par des
hommes armes contre le village de Singhere, a une dizaine de km de
la frontiere avec la Guinee-Bissau. Les assaillants, soupconnes
d'appartenir au Mouvement des forces democratiques de Casamance
(independantiste), ont pille le village avant de se replier vers la
frontiere.   (Le Monde, France, 24 fevrier 1998)

* Sierra Leone. L'Eglise sous les attaques  -  La presse a deja
mentionne l'enlevement, le 14 fevrier, de quatre missionnaires a
l'hopital catholique de Lunsar, a 80 km au nord de la capitale.
D'autres institutions y ont egalement ete attaquees: le seminaire
des Josephins, la "Eye clinic" dirigee par l'Eglise baptiste, et la
mission catholique de St.Pierre Claver ont ete saccages. Makeni,
chef-lieu de la province du Nord, n'a pas ete epargne. Il semble
que les objectifs principaux y ont ete les institutions
catholiques, a cause, selon l'opinion de certains observateurs, de
l'attitude ferme de l'Eglise sur les questions de la justice et de
la paix. Le grand seminaire et le petit seminaire, la maison des
soeurs de Mere Teresa, et la leproserie de Stocco ont ete saccages.
La situation semble toujours echapper a tout controle.   (Fides,
Rome, 20 fevrier 1998)

* Sierra Leone. Effects of war  -  19 February: A boat carrying 850
tons of emergency food supplies for the people of Freetown, limped
into port after taking on water during its journey from Monrovia.
It was not clear if the food supplies had been damaged. Also,
Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Tom Ikimi, and UN officials end fact-
finding missions in Sierra Leone. 20 February: ECOMOG arrests
Sierra Leone's former president Joseph Momoh, when he tried to slip
through a checkpoint in the capital disguised as a woman. He has
been detained at ECOMOGūs base at Lungi Airport outside the
capital. 22 February: Reinforcements join the ECOMOG forces. The
ECOMOG forces have also been testing heavy weapons, including
artillery, on the beaches of Liberia, ahead of a full-scale attack
on Bo, Sierra Leone's second city, which is still partly controlled
by the junta. 23 February: Distribution of UN emergency food aid in
Freetown, is not due to start until 26 February, for "logistical
reasons". 24 February: The UNHCR says that about 1,000 refugees a
day are fleeing Sierra Leone on foot into neighbouring Liberia.
Renegade soldiers and rebels battling the ECOMOG forces in the
interior, are holding at least 25 foreign missionary workers.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 25 February 1998)

* Sierra Leone. Kabbah bientot de retour  -  Le president elu de la
Sierra-Leone, Ahmad Tajan Kabbah, renverse l'an dernier par un
putsch militaire, s'est rendu au Nigeria pour y rencontrer le
general Sani Abacha avant de regagner son pays, a rapporte le 24
fevrier la radio nigeriane. Les troupes nigerianes constituent le
gros de la force interafricaine Ecomog qui a chasse les putschistes
de Freetown, la capitale sierra-leonaise.   (La Libre Belgique, 25
fevrier 1998)

* Somalie. Morts a Baidoa  -  Au moins 37 Somaliens ont ete tues et
52 blesses dans des combats a Baidoa et Hudur entre l'Armee de
resistance Rahanwein (RRA) et des miliciens du chef de guerre
Aidid, a declare un porte-parole de la RRA le 25 fevrier. Baidoa,
a 250 km au nord-ouest de Mogadiscio, devrait accueillir le 31 mars
une conference de reconciliation nationale entre factions
somaliennes. La conference vise la mise en place d'un gouvernement
de transition pour mettre fin a 7 ans de guerre civile.   (Le Soir,
Belgique, 26 fevrier 1998)

* South Africa. ANC starts strategy talks  -  South Africa's ruling
African National Congress (ANC) started a three-day political and
economic strategy meeting on 20 February at a secret venue in
Johannesburg, officials said. The meeting of the ANCūs top policy-
making National Executive Committee (NEC) is being chaired by
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, in his new capacity as ANC, president
after President Mandela relinquished control of the party last
December. "The meeting has started, but as you know, it is a
private meeting and it is being held in secrecy", said an ANC
official.   (InfoBeat, USA, 20 February 1998)

* South Africa. Strike disrupts security industry  -  South
Africa's security industry was disrupted on 20 February, as
thousands of guards began a nationwide strike to demand improved
wages. "It's busy escalating throughout South Africa," acknowledged
South African National Security Employers' Association chairman,
Mick Bartman. Accusing strikers of intimidation tactics, Bartman
said employers were currently assessing their next step, as guards
left their posts at banks, shopping centres and even private homes.
Private security firms have mushroomed across South Africa, as
people try to protect themselves from murder, robbery and
carjackings at knife or gun-point, in a country described as the
most violent, outside a war zone.   (InfoBeat, USA, 20 February
1998)

* Afrique du Sud. Generaux ex-zairois disparus  -  Les trois
generaux de l'ex-armee zairoise, Kpama Baramoto, Mudima Mavua et
Ngbale Nzimbi, soupconnes de fomenter une rebellion contre le
regime du president Kabila, ont quitte l'Afrique du Sud pour une
destination inconnue, selon des sources diplomatiques. Les trois
avaient demande l'asile politique en Afrique du Sud, mais Kinshasa
avait demande leur extradition. Cette "fuite" convient donc tres
bien a l'Afrique du Sud, fort genee par cette affaire.   (d'apres
De Standaard, Belgique, 21 fevrier 1998)

* Afrique du Sud. Botha plaide non coupable  -  L'ancien chef
d'Etat, Pieter Botha, grand ordonnateur de l'apartheid dans les
annees 80, a ete inculpe le 23 fevrier pour avoir defie la
Commission verite et reconciliation, chargee d'enqueter sur le
passe du pays et a laquelle M. Botha a toujours refuse de cooperer.
Il a choisi de plaider non coupable. Le proces est prevu le 14
avril prochain.   (Le Monde, France, 24 fevrier 1998)

* South Africa. Truth and Reconciliation Commission  -  19
February: The Chairman of the TRC has appealed to white South
Africans to accept the work of the panel, which is probing
apartheid-era of human rights abuses. Archbishop Tutu called the
panel, the last chance for whites to deal with their burden of
guilt about the country's past. In an unheralded and unorthodox
fashion, many South Africans have already used a vehicle set up by
the Commission to express their regret for apartheid-era wrongs.
The Commission set up special registers of reconciliation at its
offices around South Africa, and created a special section on its
internet computer Website to post submissions by South Africans
wanting to demonstrate their commitment to reconciliation by
apologizing for the past. 20 February: The TRC faces the
unfortunate prospect of having to reject half of all amnesty
applications received from people claiming allegiance to the Pan
Africanist Congress (PAC). Of the approximately 260 applications
received from the PAC, 132 provide only codenames and political
affiliations of applicants. No real names or specifics of acts in
respect of which amnesty is sought, are given. Nor is there
sufficient information to enable the Commission to establish
further particulars, without further help from the party and/or
individuals. 23 February: P.W. Botha tells a court that he has
committed no crime by refusing to testify publicly about the war
against majority rule.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 February 1998)

* South Africa. Revealing their assets  -  Elected officials in
South Africa, from President Nelson Mandela on down, must make
public their assets and gifts they've received each year. The
publication of the latest list has occasioned much comment,
particularly about one gift received by Winnie Mandela. Winnie
Mandela last year received 40 thousands dollars from American boxer
and convicted rapist Mike Tyson. The gift has received widespread
publicity because it is the most valuable single gift given to a
South African politician. Mrs.Mandela has taken a strong and very
vocal stand on the issue of rape, which is the one crime still on
the increase in South Africa. Many South Africans are now asking
why she would accept any gift, and particularly such a large one,
from a convicted rapist. President Mandela did not have sufficient
room on the standard form to list all his gifts. He submitted a
separate list. But he did report ownership in three homes -- two in
Johannesburg and one in the rural village of Qunu, in the Eastern
Cape Province. Deputy President Thabo Mbeki also received numerous
gifts which he listed meticulously, from a sculpted silver and gold
ball to some Korean tea. He is widely known to derive great
pleasure in smoking a pipe, received a pipe in a leather pouch from
a Saudi Arabian official.   (VOA, 19 February 1998)

* Sudan. Future new Constitution  -  Sudan's National Congress have
begun discussions about a new Constitution, but some opposition
leaders are sceptical about promises of a return to multi-party
democracy. President al-Bashir said the Congress is guided by the
traditions of the Prophet and the will of the Sudanese people. The
delegates are discussing a draft Constitution that promises
significant changes in Sudanese life, including guarantees of
freedoms of expression and assembly. The new document is also
expected to lead to the re-introduction of political parties which
were banned when the military brought President al-Bashir to power
in 1989. Congress secretary, Sayed el-Khatib, says it is an
opportunity for Sudan to demonstrate the pluralism of a modern
Islamic state.   (VOA, 16 February 1998)

* Soudan. Aide d'urgence  -  L'ONU a lance, le 19 fevrier, un appel
d'un montant de 109 millions de dollars pour une aide d'urgence a
plus de 4 millions de personnes touchees par la guerre et la
secheresse au Soudan. La situation est particulierement
preoccupante au Bahr el-Ghazal, ou des signes de plus en plus
nombreux de maladie et de malnutrition apparaissent parmi les
100.000 deplaces. La population doit faire face a des penuries de
nourriture et d'eau. Les semences et les outils sont egalement
necessaires de facon urgente, ajoute le rapport.   (IRIN, Nairobi,
20 fevrier 1998)

* Sudan. Drought and war  -  19 February: The UN launches an appeal
for $109 million of humanitarian aid to Sudan, where drought is
exacerbating problems caused by 14 years of civil war. Four million
Sudanese need food, wells for clean water and medical care, says
Carl Tinstman, of UNICEF and Operation Lifeline Sudan. "A deadly
combination of intensified fighting and widespread drought is
threatening to displace hundreds of thousands and put entire
communities at risk". 25 February: The WFP says that the first
strucks have arrived in Bahr El Ghazal with food for thousands of
displaced people. Relief flights will resume on 26 February.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 February 1998)

* Tanzania. Salmin for a third term?  -  On 10 February, the
Zanzibar Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Iddi
Pandu Hassan, confirmed there was a scheme to change the islands'
Constitution to enable President Salmin Amour to contest for a
third time, but maintained the proposal was still informal.
However, lawyers and political analysts in Dar es Salaam, deplored
the suggestion and said, technically, it was doomed to failure.
"That would be an abuse of incumbency and a blow to democracy, but
there are adequate constitutional safeguards, which will ensure the
scheme remains a daydream".   (The African, Tanzania, 11 February
1998)

* Tanzania. Two new Dailies  -  Competition for Tanzania's
readership and advertisement market intensified recently, with the
simultaneous launch of two English-language daily newspapers
published by rival organisations. The African published by Habari
Corporation and the Daily Mail by the IPP Media Group, entered a
scene already crowded with 70 registered publications appearing on
the newsstands every week. Both will appear six days a week leaving
out Sundays. The launch comes a few months after the Business
Times, a Tanzanian weekly, opened an office in Nairobi, Kenya. The
new development brings to four the English dailies appearing on
Tanzanian newsstands, and further entrenched the competition facing
the government-owned Daily News.   (The East African, Kenya, 16-22
February 1998)

* Tunisie. Droits de l'homme  -  Le president de la Ligue
tunisienne des droits de l'homme, l'avocat Taoufik Bouderbala, a
ete entendu par le procureur de la Republique apres la publication,
le 15 fevrier, par le conseil national de la Ligue d'une
declaration de "solidarite totale" avec son vice-president, Khemais
Ksila, condamne pour delits d'opinion. La Ligue voit dans sa
condamnation la poursuite par le pouvoir d'une politique
"d'affaiblissement de la Ligue, de son harcelement et de sa
marginalisation". Elle a exprime egalement sa solidarite avec Me
Nadhia Nasraoui, dont les bureaux ont ete recemment cambrioles.  
(Le Monde, France, 26 fevrier 1998)

* Uganda. Parliamentary squabbles  -  Kenya's The East African (23
February-1 March 1998) reports the following: "For two days last
week, all roads led to Parliament. The public queued early to get
into the House, and those who couldn't, hung at the windows of
parliament in their tens, to see daggers drawn against Minister of
State for Education, Brigadier Jim Muhwezi. A motion to censure
Brig. Muhwezi for alleged influence peddling, abuse of office and
corruption, came before Parliament on 17 February. Very early in
the debate, it became clear that Muhwezi would go down, if ever,
fighting like hell. The debate was adjourned to 18 February, on
which day a phalanx of Muhwezi's cabinet colleagues descended upon
Parliament and forced an adjournment to 24 February. If the
petitioners raise enough support to carry the vote against Muhwezi,
it will be a crucial indicator that the assumptions about power and
politics in Uganda are beginning to crumble".   (The East African,
Kenya, 23 February-1 March 1998)

* Zambia. 1998 Budget  -  On 30 January, Finance and Economic
Development Minister Penza, presented his 1998 Budget to
Parliament. 65% of the budget will be financed by local revenue and
only 35% foreign financed. He also said that the Gross Domestic
Product is expected to grow by 5.5% and inflation which presently
stands at 19%, is expected to decline to 9%. He has also slapped on
a wage freeze. The Minister told the House that the government has
set aside $95 for poverty eradication. He said that the government
is committed to reducing poverty among 70% of the total population,
down to 50% by the year 2004.   (Justin Mupundu, Zambia, 15
February 1998)

* Zambia. New Catholic radio station  -  The Catholic Church in
Zambia is setting up its second radio broadcasting station. The new
radio station is being erected in the Eastern Province rural centre
of Chipata. Archbishop Madando of Lusaka said that broadcasting
equipment has already arrived in Zambia from Italy, and technicians
are busy installing the equipment at a selected site in Chipata.
The radio station, will, among other things, evangelise and
broadcast development news to benefit the rural community.   (AANA,
Kenya, 16 February 1998)

* Zambia. Detainees tortured  -  The Churches in Zambia have voiced
their concern over the reported torture and prolonged incarceration
of political detainees, linked to last year's aborted military coup
in the country. Three organisations, representing major established
Churches in Zambia have said they are not happy about the
situation. The organisations are: The Christian Council of Zambia;
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia; The Zambia Episcopal
Conference.   (AANA, Kenya, 16 February 1998)

* Zimbabwe. Church and constitutional change  -  After 17 years
absence from political participation, the Zimbabwe Council of
Churches (ZCC) has finally woken from its slumbers, to challenge
President Mugabe's government over the abuse of the Constitution.
The ZCC is spearheading the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
which consists of pressure groups and other interested civil
groups. These have launched a "National Constitutional Discussion
Project" aimed at making the masses aware of their rights,
enshrined in the Constitution. Among other objectives, the NCA
seeks ways to overhaul Zimbabwe's flawed Constitution. Although the
Constitution has been amended 14 times since Independence, Mugabe's
government has rejected calls by opposition parties and civil
groups, for a debate on constitutional changes.   (Augustine Deke,
Zimbabwe, 18 February 1998)

* Zimbabwe. Ultimatum des syndicats  -  La Confederation des
syndicats du Zimbabwe (ZCTU) a donne au gouvernement jusqu'au 27
fevrier pour repondre a ses dernieres revendications sous peine de
faire face a un nouveau mouvement de protestation, semblable a
celui qui a ete a l'origine des emeutes de la faim de janvier
dernier. Ces revendications comprennent essentiellement
l'annulation de la hausse de 2,5% de la taxe a l'achat et de la
taxe de 15% sur les pensions de retraite, et l'abaissement des prix
des denrees alimentaires a leur niveau de juillet 1997. Cet
ultimatum a ete approuve a l'unanimite par les representants des
syndicats. Le Zimbabwe, qui connait un taux de chomage d'environ
45% et de tres lourds impots sur le revenu, est au bord de
l'explosion sociale depuis plusieurs mois.   (Marches Tropicaux,
France, 20 fevrier 1998)