ANB-BIA - Av. Charles Woeste 184 - 1090 Bruxelles - Belg TEL **.32.2/420 34 36 fax /420 05 49 E-Mail: paco@innet.be _____________________________________________________________ WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 04-06-1998 PART #1/ * Afrique. L'Eglise et les refugies - Du 25 au 28 mai, les eveques de l'Afrique du Nord et de l'Ouest, responsables de l'assistance pastorale aux refugies, se sont reunis a Yopougon en Cote d'Ivoire, pour etudier le probleme des migrations forcees sur le continent africain et la contribution que la presence pastorale de l'Eglise peut leur apporter. Une consultation du meme genre s'est tenue a Maputo (Mozambique) en janvier dernier pour l'Afrique australe. Une autre, pour l'Afrique centrale et orientale, se tiendra au mois d'aout a Nairobi (Kenya). Le but en est de parvenir a des objectifs et des orientations specifiques, et notamment la formation de base des ouvriers pastoraux. On etudie egalement la creation d'un reseau regional et continental d'ouvriers pastoraux specialises, prets a se rendre dans les regions ou les Eglises doivent faire face a des situations d'urgence provoquees par des deplacements de personnes forces et massifs. (D'apres Fides, Rome, 29 mai 1998) * Africa. Action against the Media - Botswana: On 25 May, the Attorney General dropped all charges against the former editor of the Okavango Observer, Caitlin Davies, and reporter, Letswetswe Phaladi. They had been charged two years ago with publishing false statements. Cameroon: On 28 May, Aime Mathurin Moussi, publication editor of the private weekly La Plume du jour, was arrested at his home in Yaounde, by three men who identified themselves as police officers. The journalist was taken by force to an unknown location. Congo RDC: On 7 February, Albert Gilbert Bosanga Yema, editor of the opposition newspapers L'Alarme and L'Essor Africain, was arrested in connection with an article published in both newspapers calling for the release of jailed opposition leader, Joseph Olengankoy. RSF says that on 1 June, Albert Gilbert Bosange Yema was sentenced to one year in prison by the State Security Court for "threatening state security". Ghana: On 29 May, the immigration authorities invited Dee Roberts, a journalist of Liberia nationality, to their offices for questioning. This appears to be in connection with an earlier operation in which two other journalists, Bunmi Aborisade and Lewis Asubioja (both Nigerians), were picked up and released only after posting a bail bond. It is not yet clear if Dee Roberts was asked to put up a bail bond. The journalists have since been reporting daily to the authorities. Mauritania: According to information made available by Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) on 29 May, issue 23 of the Arab-language version of the weekly independent La tribune, has been censored. Somaliland: On 28 May, RSF said Hassan Said Yousuf, chief editor of the daily newspaper Jamhuria, was arrested by police for "insulting important personalities, circulation of false information and criticising the leaders of the Republic. He is detained at the Hargiesa central prison. Zambia: On 27 May, the administrator of the Lusaka High Court announced that only one journalist each from a selected number of local and international news organisations, would be allowed to cover the treason trials which began on 1 June. On 28 May, it was reported that the case in which the state has appealed against the release of The Post's newspaper's editor-in-chief, Fred M'Membe, and former managing editor, Bright Mwape, from indefinite imprisonment imposed by Parliament, has been adjourned to 27 August 1998. (IFEX, Canada, 28 May-1 June 1998) * Africa. OAU called on to ban landmines - On 3 June, Human Rights watch called on all the members of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and Morocco to declare themselves a landmine- free zone. A summit the OAU Heads of Government begins this week in Burkina Faso. "Africa is the most mine-affected continent in the world", says Alex Vines, researcher at Human Rights Watch. "That's one reason Africa has taken a lead in the global march to ban antipersonnel mines - and must continue to do so". (Human Rights Watch, USA, 3 June 1998) * Afrique de l'Est. $1 milliard pour reparer les routes - A l'issue d'une conference avec les bailleurs de fonds a Arusha, en Tanzanie, les 25 et 26 mai, les pays membres de la Cooperation est-africaine (EAC), le Kenya, l'Ouganda et la Tanzanie, ont obtenu que leurs partenaires s'engagent a consacrer plus de $ 1 milliard au reseau routier d'Afrique de l'Est. Un plan quinquennal de developpement du reseau routier elabore par l'EAC a ete presente aux bailleurs de fonds. Il identifie les cinq principaux axes retenus par les donateurs et les voies connexes importantes, soit au total 6.605 km de routes revetues et 8.668 km de routes en terre. Il chiffre a $ 4,6 milliards au total les besoins de cette zone pour remettre en etat les routes devastees par les recentes pluies torrentielles. (D'apres Marches Tropicaux, France, 29 mai 1998) * Algeria. Rebel plans in capital foiled - On 1 June, national newspapers said the security forces foiled a plan by Islamist rebels to step up attacks in Algiers, killing 26 guerrillas in the capital over the past two weeks. Al Khabar said: "The small groups sent by the Armed islamic Group's leadership to reactivate terrorist activities in Algiers did not survive more than two weeks before they were wiped out". (InfoBeat, USA, 1 June 1998) * Algerie. L'armee et les islamistes - * Selon la presse, entre 26 et 45 islamistes armes ont ete tues depuis le 27 mai dans une serie d'operations des forces de securite, notamment dans l'important ratissage des monts Hammam Melouane (30 km au sud d'Alger). Les services de securite ont annonce le 2 juin la mort du chef du GIA d'Alger, Mohammed Kebaili, dit "Ayachi", tue lors d'une operation de l'armee dans la banlieue de la capitale. Il aurait organise notamment les massacres de Rais et de Bentalha, ou plus de 400 villageois avaient ete assassines l'annee derniere. (D'apres Le Soir, Belgique, 2-3 juin 1998) * Angola. Retrocession des territoires - Le porte-parole de l'ONU, Fred Eckhard, a declare le 1er juin que l'UNITA avait propose le 25 juin comme date-butoir pour retroceder au gouvernement ses quatre derniers fiefs Andulo, Bailundo, Nhareya et Mongo, situes au centre du pays. L'UNITA n'a pas respecte le delai du 31 mai fixe par le representant special de l'ONU, M. Beye. Jonas Savimbi avait demande a M. Beye une periode de reflexion afin de permettre a l'UNITA de faire des propositions concretes pour la mise en oeuvre des dernieres clauses de l'accord de paix de 1994. (IRIN, Nairobi, 2 juin 1998) * Angola. UNITA keeps armed units - The chief UN representative in Angola, Alioune Blondin Beye, has vented his frustration at delays in a four-year-old peace process, by openly accusing former UNITA rebels of still operating armed units. UNITA was legalized as a political movement, after declaring in March it had demobilized its whole army. Beye had warned that military- style operations by gunmen were destabilizing parts of the countryside, but declined to say who was to blame. (On 1 June, Amnesty International said it is alarmed by the recent increase in what appears to be politically-motivated killings and the displacement of thousands of people in Angola). (InfoBeat, USA, 3 June 1998) * Burkina Faso. Call to ban landmines - On 2 June, Alex Vines, researcher at Human Rights Watch presented his organisation's findings on landmines and Africa, at an inter-African seminar on landmines in Ouagadougou, hosted by the Burkina Faso-based Union Internationale des Droits de l'Homme and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. "Africa is the most mine-affected continent in the world", he said. "That's one reason Africa has taken a lead in the global march to ban antipersonnel mines, and must continue to do so". (Human Rights Watch, USA, 2 June 1998) * Burundi. Message des eveques - Le 28 mai, les eveques catholiques du Burundi ont adresse un message a leurs compatriotes et a tous les amis du Burundi, intitule "La ou il y a dialogue et concorde, la est Dieu". Pour les eveques, bien que des pas aient ete franchis dans l'amelioration de la securite et du rapatriement, la situation reste preoccupante. Ils condamnent la voie qui eternise les conflits et recommandent le chemin du dialogue dans le respect de la dignite de la personne humaine. Ils encouragent toute initiative qui favorise la rencontre et le rapprochement des esprits et des coeurs. (Ndlr.: Selon les observateurs, pour la premiere fois depuis des annees, il y a un espoir fonde de voir les negociations entre les diverses parties au Burundi aboutir a des resultats durables.) (ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 30 mai 1998) * Cameroon. Freedom of the Press - On 2 June, concerning the arrest and imprisonment of the journalist, Pius Njawe, Human Rights Watch said: "In a letter sent to the President of Cameroon today, Human Rights Watch welcomed his call to resolve the case of a wrongfully-imprisoned journalist. Pius Njawe, of Le Messager, was convicted of "spreading false information" after he published an article raising the possibility that President Paul Biya had suffered heart trouble during his absence from a soccer match. Njawe has been in prison in Douala since his arrest on 24 December 1997. His 13 January sentence to two years and 500,000 CFA francs fine was reduced on 14 April by a court of appeal to one year and 300,000 CFA francs fine, but the court upheld his conviction". Human Rights Watch called for his immediate and unconditional release. On 29 May, authorities reportedly arrested Aime Mathurin Moussi, editor of La Plume du Jour. Prior to this, fifteen journalists had been arrested in Cameroon during the past two years, according to Reporters sans Frontieres. (Human Rights watch, USA, 2 June 1998) * Centrafrique. Ministre limoge - Le 28 mai, le ministre centrafricain des Mines et de l'Energie, Joseph Agbo, a ete limoge, a rapporte l'AFP. L'agence a indique qu'il etait accuse "d'entrave a la justice dans l'affaire opposant l'Etat aux bureaux d'achat de diamants". Certains observateurs ont indique que cette decision faisait partie de la politique du Premier ministre de mettre fin a la corruption dans l'industrie du diamant. D'autres l'interpretent comme un signe de la lutte interne au sein du parti au pouvoir, dont M. Agbo est membre. (IRIN, Nairobi, 30 mai 1998) * Comores. Nouveau gouvernement - Le president comorien Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim a destitue son Premier ministre et le gouvernement, le 29 mai, selon la radio officielle. La semaine precedente deja, il avait denonce l'incompetence de ses collaborateurs, alors que les Comores sont confrontees a une crise sociale, qui s'ajoute aux velleites de secession de l'ile d'Anjouan. Le president a renouvele son gouvernement et fait liberer le separatiste Ahmed Charikane. La nouvelle equipe a pour principal objectif la "reconciliation nationale". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 2 juin 1998) * Congo-Brazza. Mise en garde aux eveques - Le 30 mai, le president Nguesso a lance une severe mise en garde aux eveques du Congo, mais sans les designer nommement. Le 16 mai dernier, les eveques, reunis en session annuelle, avaient demande la decheance politique des responsables des milices et partis armes apres la guerre civile. "Au moment ou nous pansons les plaies, nous mettons solennellement en garde tous ceux qui pourraient mettre de l'huile sur le feu", a dit le president Nguesso, qui a par ailleurs accuse les chretiens d'etre a l'origine de la creation des partis a base ethnique. Cette mise en garde accentue le malaise entre le pouvoir et l'Eglise catholique, qui predomine dans le pays. (AFP, France, 30 mai 1998) * Congo (RDC). Instabilite au Kivu - La situation securitaire dans la region de Kalehe au Sud-Kivu va "de mal en pis", selon un article publie le 26 mai dans "La Reference Plus". Selon le journal, la population civile est devenue "la cible preferee" de l'armee et les habitants sont pris entre les feux des soldats banyamulenge et des miliciens rwandais interahamwe. Les activites agricoles ont ete abandonnees et les gens emigrent vers les centres urbains. -D'autre part, des representants de l'armee ont annonce, le 30 mai, le lancement d'une operation de grande envergure, le long de la frontiere avec le Rwanda, contre les rebelles Mai-Mai soutenus par les ex-soldats des pays voisins. Ils ont declare que plus de 500 rebelles s'etaient recemment rendus. (IRIN, Nairobi, 28-30 mai 1998) * Congo (RDC). Major offensive against rebels - 30 May: Military officials announce the launch of "large-scale operations" against Mayi-Mayi rebels, supported by ex-soldiers from neighbouring countries. The announcement was broadcast over RDC television. The announcement said over 500 rebels had recently surrendered. According to Major Kanou of the 10th Brigade who is in charge of military operations in eastern Congo RDC, the Mayi-Mayi were working together with ex-FAR and Interahamwe militiamen from Uganda, and Uganda rebels of the National Movement for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU). (IRIN, Nairobi, 30 May 1998) * Congo (RDC). Entretien Kabila-Tshisekedi - Le 30 mai, le president Kabila a rencontre pour la premiere fois, a Lubumbashi, son principal opposant Etienne Tshisekedi, a annonce le 1 juin a l'AFP un responsable du protocole d'Etat. La rencontre s'est deroulee dans une atmosphere "tres detendue et a porte sur le processus de reconstruction et de reconciliation", a ajoute le responsable. C'est la premiere fois que le president Kabila rencontre M. Tshisekedi depuis sa prise de pouvoir en mai 1997. M. Tshisekedi n'a jamais reconnu le regime de Kabila, reclamant au prealable la mise en place d'un cadre legal pour la gestion de la periode de transition. (Le Soir, Belgique, 2 juin 1998) * Congo (RDC). New ministers appointed - On 2 June, President Kabila appointed 13 new government ministers after purging his inner circle of five cabinet members and placing them under arrest, agencies report from Kinshasa. The cabinet was expanded from 27 to 37 ministers and included two new senior ministers of state, Pierre Victor Mpoy and Deo Gratias Bugera. No explanation was given for the appointments and the new ministers were to be sworn into office in a private ceremony the same day. Mr.Bugera was a co-founder of the rebel movement that swept the president to power over the late dictator Mobutu in May last year. His appointment at the top of the government, appeared to be a gesture toward ethnic Tutsis who spearheaded the rebellion. Asked about the reshuffle, Mr.Kabila said on 1 June: "We want to have a more efficient team". He was speaking to state television at Kinshasa airport on his return from a three-day trip to Lubumbashi. Mr.Kabila met Etienne Tshisekedi, the internally exiled opposition leader, at a military barracks outside the southern city on 30 May. The meeting was the first between the two men since Mr.Kabila came to power. There has been no official explanation for the meeting with the popular former prime minister, which has been widely called for in an effort to resolve the political stalemate. (On 4 June, Human Rights Watch said it welcomed President Kabila's decision to appoint a Minister for Human Rights in his new cabinet, but to go beyond this symbolic gesture by ordering the immediate release of all Congolese imprisoned or detained for the non-violent expression of their opinions). (Financial Times, U.K., 3 June 1998) * Congo (RDC). Remaniement ministeriel - Le president Kabila, par un decret-loi date du 1 juin, a forme un nouveau gouvernement, qui compte 37 ministres et vice-ministres contre 29 dans le precedent gouvernement. Six anciens ministres ont ete ecartes, dont cinq ont ete arretes pour malversations. On note 13 nouveaux venus, qui ne sont pas des politiques, mais plutot des "gens du terrain", susceptibles d'apporter une approche plus pragmatique. Deux anciens mobutistes font partie de la nouvelle equipe. La Defense reste aux mains de M. Kabila. Il faut noter finalement la creation d'un ministere aux droits de l'homme, qui devrait ameliorer l'image du regime. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 3 juin 1998) * Congo (RDC). Rapport d'enquete? - L'ONU hesite sur la publication du rapport de la commission d'enquete dans l'ex- Zaire. Sera-t-il publie in extenso ou edulcore pour ne pas envenimer les relations deja tendues avec le regime de Kabila? Ce rapport, que Kofi Annan doit rendre public dans les prochains jours, considere en effet, selon un responsable des Nations unies, que le massacre de refugies hutu rwandais en RDC "pourrait etre qualifie de genocide". La commission d'enquete y denonce vigoureusement le role joue, debut 1997, par les forces de l'actuel president de la RDC et celles de l'armee rwandaise tutsi lors de l'offensive contre l'armee de Mobutu. (Liberation, France, 4 juin 1998) * Cote d'Ivoire. Meeting of the AfDB - 29 May: During the second day of an African Development Bank (AfDB) conference held in Cote d'Ivoire, member states agreed to contribute an extra $8 billion in capital to the bank to help boost the organisation's strength. The increase comes despite concerns from some African members of the bank, that it will give more influence to non- African bank shareholders. The 35% capital increase will boost the bank's capital pool from about $21.7 billion to about $29.35 billion. The increase will give the bank additional resources and help protect it in the event of a large loan default. 1 June: The AfDB said it will rededicate itself to the task of poverty alleviation and wealth creation. However, a number of delegates from Africa's smallest and largest economies alike, complain that bank officials have been too keen to side with western powers in elevating commercial imperatives over development priorities. (Financial Times, U.K., 29 May & 1 June 1998) * Cote d'Ivoire. Conclave d'Air Afrique - Les ministres des Transports ou representants des Etats membres d'Air Afrique sont reunis depuis le 2 juin a Abidjan pour tenter de sortir la compagnie multinationale des "zones de turbulences". Le point principal a l'ordre du jour est la creation d'une "societe de patrimoine", dont le principe a ete adopte depuis novembre 1996 par les chefs d'Etat. Cette societe est censee racheter les quatre Airbus A310 de la compagnie et eponger ainsi une partie de sa dette faramineuse (environ 180 milliards de fcfa), mais elle "reste encore en projet", a deplore le ministre Ivoirien Adama Coulibaly. La reunion des ministres devait s'achever le 3 juin au soir. (AFP, France, 3 juin 1998) * Egypt. Cairo ban fuels media fears - Egypt has banned the printing of the country's leading independent English-language newspapers fuelling speculation that the government plans to silence media criticism of its policies. Two months after it banned the printing of 36 foreign-registered publications in industrial free zones near Cairo, the government has allowed publication of all but those it describes as "specialist magazines" dealing with cultural and consumer issues, but reimposed it on the independent newspapers. The new ban affects the twice-monthly Cairo Times and the weekly Middle East Times, Egypt's most widely read non-government English-language publications. Neither is banned from circulation, but both must now meet the high and potentially prohibitive cost of printing abroad which will add 20 per cent to their expenses. Staff on both newspapers believed the ban in April was directed specifically at them and that the blanket action on all foreign- registered publications printed in Egypt was a tactic to defuse suggestions that the government had no real commitment to press freedom. The Sahara Printing House, printer of all 36 publications, has now received specific instructions from the information minister that it cannot print the two newspapers. "We received instructions that the Cairo Times and the Middle East Times cannot be printed because they are newspapers not magazines", said Tarek Michel, company spokesman. However, the company has been permitted to print the Helio Times, a newspaper closely resembling the Cairo Times. This apparent contradiction has added further fuel to suggestions that the specification of the publication is barely relevant and that it is the newspapers' contents which has been targeted. (Financial Times, U.K., 3 June 1998) * Egypt. Rice crop sprayed with poison - Armed Egyptian troops are overseeing the use of chemical weed killers to destroy rice seedlings the government says have been illegally planted. For the past two weeks, the Egyptian government has been destroying rice nurseries in areas it has not designated for rice growing. The move has been triggered by a policy designed to save 3 bn cubic metres of water a year by limiting rice production, introducing less water-intensive varieties and forcing farmers to shift to corn production. Current rice production absorbs 12bn cubic metres of Egypt's Nile water -- 20% of the country's total quota, according to the 1959 agreement with Sudan. Up to 800 farms in the Qalyubia governorate north of Cairo have been visited by government officials guarded by troops. The officials have sprayed the seedlings with a non-selective herbicide, Basta 20 SL. (Financial Times, U.K., 3 June 1998) * Equatorial Guinea. Brutal justice - In Malabo, the capital of the former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea, 117 people went on trial on 25 May, accused of separatist violence. The defendants, many of whom face the death penalty, are being judged at a summary hearing under a code of military law that has remained substantially unchanged since it was imposed by the late Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco. Possibly, because four of the defendants are Spanish citizens, the government has allowed foreign journalists to cover the proceedings and has agreed to the presence of observers from Amnesty International. The defendants showed signs of apparent torture, but their complaints of mistreatment were dismissed by the judge. (The Guardian, U.K., 29 May 1998) * Equatorial Guinea. Death sentences - Amnesty International's Secretary-General Pierre Sane, currently visiting Morocco, today appealed to the President of Equatorial Guinea not to resort to executing 15 people who were sentenced to death on 1 June, on the basis of confessions extracted under torture in an unfair summary military trial. "Other detainees were asked to dig the graves for those present in court on the same day of sentence, and a firing squad had already prepared to shoot them on the beach, near the prison where they are detained," Amnesty International delegates reported on their return from Equatorial Guinea. "Although the President suspended the executions at the very last minute, no one knows how long the suspensions will last". (Amnesty International, 4 June 1998) * Ethiopie/Erythree. Combats - Le 31 mai, des combats ont eclate entre les troupes erythreennes et ethiopiennes dans la zone litigieuse a leur frontiere commune, a rapporte le 1er juin la "Voix de l'Amerique". L'Ethiopie affirme que les troupes erythreennes sont une nouvelle fois entrees au nord-ouest de son territoire dans la zone d'Alitena. Les combats ont dure 24 heures et ont fait plusieurs morts et blesses. Addis Abeba affirme avoir repris le controle du territoire. Trois mediations se sont mises en place: l'une menee par le president djiboutien, la deuxieme par les Etats-Unis, et la derniere par le Rwanda. Le 2 juin, une source humanitaire a Addis Abeba a assure que les combats du 31 mai avaient fait plus de 100 morts dans les deux camps. Apres une accalmie le 1er juin, des combats sporadiques ont repris, le 2, dans les environs d'Alitena, dans le nord de l'Ethiopie. Le 3 juin a l'aube, l'armee ethiopienne a lance une attaque soutenue par des chars et de l'artillerie dans le sud du territoire erythreen, dans la zone de Ambesete Geleba, selon un communique du ministere erythreen des Affaires etrangeres, qui souligne que cette attaque represente une nouvelle et dangeureuse escalade dans la crise. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 4 juin 1998) * Eritrea/Ethiopia. Border force mobilised - 28 May: Veterans of Eritrea's 30-year war for independence from Ethiopia, board trucks headed for disputed border areas, as the two countries raise the pitch of their verbal battle. Military sources say at least 200,000 Eritreans -- including regular army, veterans and youths doing compulsory military service -- have been mobilised since Ethiopia first publicised the conflict along its north- eastern border over two weeks ago. 30 May: Eritrea's President Afewerki says he welcomes international mediation to resolve the border row with Ethiopia. 31 May: Fighting erupts on the disputed border region. Ethiopian government officials refuse to comment on the report. There is no immediate word from the Eritrean side. 1 June: Commander Girmai Kidane, an Eritrean military commander, says Ethiopian troops have penetrated nearly 12 miles into Eritrean territory and the two sides have exchanged artillery fire. 2 June: It is reported that recent fighting on the border has resulted in more than 100 people killed or wounded. 3 June: Heavy fighting erupts between Ethiopian and Eritrean troops. Eyewitnesses report that full-scale artillery battle began at dawn at Zalamessa, a town at the heart of the triangle of territory being claimed by both countries. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 4 June 1998) * Lesotho. Fraud claim over elections - Evidence that the general election held on 23 May was rigged, is likely to bring more political turmoil to Lesotho. The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) won a landslide victory with 78 of the 79 seats contested. The poll was endorsed enthusiastically by observers from the Southern African Development Community, who described it as "free, fair and transparent", and more cautiously by Commonwealth observers. But opposition parties are planning protests. It is suspected that the main mechanism used to fix the result was the electoral roll. A South African firm of forensic consultants hired by the Basotho National Party, carried out a statistical analysis which threw up some curious anomalies, such as the fact that eight more voters were born on the first day of January than on any other day of the year. There was also a curious tendency for them to be born on the second day of the second month, the third day of the third month, the fourth day of the fourth month, and so on. (The Guardian, U.K., 29 May 1998) * Namibia. Angola human rights activist deported - 28 May: Human Rights Watch today condemned the Government of Namibia's forcible return of an Angolan refugee and human rights activist to Angola on 19 May. Manuel Neto, an Angolan with refugee status in Namibia, who has not lived in Angola for many years, was arrested on 18 May and deported the following day, according to a statement issued by the Namibian Interior Ministry on 27 May. Neto is the Executive Director of the Angolan Human Rights League which was established on 6 May and is legally recognised as a not-for-profit non-governmental organisation in Namibia. The Namibian authorities claim that Neto's activities constitute a threat to national security. (Human Rights Watch, USA, 28 May 1998) * Namibia. All aboard the "Desert Express" - The Namibians have produced a luxury train, the first of its kind in southern Africa. The multi-million Desert Express will carry tourists between the capital Windhoek and the coastal town of Swakopmund. It's a bit of local enterprise as the train was designed and manufactured entirely by Namibians. It is operated by TransNamib, the transport parastatal. The train is divided into two luxury classes. The luxury sleeper class with 24 compartments and luxury seating accommodation with 35 reclining, ergonomic seats and glass panelled roof to study Namibia's star-studded skies by night. There is also a restaurant, a lounge and two bars. (New African, UK, June 1998) * Nigeria. Human and environmental rights activist arrested - 1 June: Human Rights Watch has learnt with dismay of the arrest of Isaac Osuoka, an activist with the Nigerian human and environmental rights organisation, "Environmental Rights Action". Mr Osuoka was arrested at a roadblock in Lagos by a combined team of soldiers and police on 26 May, together with a visiting environmentalist from the Netherlands, Aaart van den Hoek. Mr van den Hoek was released on 27 May. Environmental Rights Action is the Nigerian Chapter of Friends of the Earth, and is also part of Oil Watch, a worldwide network of groups concerned about the effects of oil on the environment of the people who live in the oil producing areas. (Human Rights Watch, USA, 1 June 1998) * Rwanda. Situation dans le nord-ouest - Au moins 20 personnes ont ete tuees et 67 blessees depuis le 26 mai dans la prefecture de Gisenyi (nord-ouest), apres l'attaque de deplaces a Rwerere et une operation militaire dans les communes de Kanama et de Nyamyumba. Selon l'AFP, 20 rebelles hutu interahamwe ont ete tues par l'Armee patriotique rwandaise. D'autre part, l'Agence rwandaise d'information a annonce le 27 mai que le gouvernement a commence a reinstaller des milliers de villageois deplaces par la guerre dans le nord-ouest du Rwanda. Dans son dernier rapport hebdomadaire, le PAM a declare qu'il avait conduit, a la demande du gouvernement, des evaluations dans le but de venir en aide a plus de 95.000 personnes deplacees dans les prefectures de Ruhengeri et Gisenyi. Mais aucune organisation internationale n'y etant vraiment operationnelle, une evaluation detaillee reste difficile, precise le rapport. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 29 mai 1998) * Rwanda. Tribunal international - Le Tribunal penal international pour le Rwanda (TPIR) a Arusha sera en session pleniere du 1 au 9 juin et devrait examiner comment les procedures. Le TPIR fait l'objet de nombreuses critiques pour la lenteur de ses procedures, d'inspiration hybride entre le droit anglo-saxon et le droit continental. Cree en novembre 1994, il n'a encore prononce aucune peine. 25 responsables presumes du genocide sont actuellement emprisonnes a Arusha et aux Etats- Unis. Le seul verdict prononce a ce jour est du aux aveux de culpabilite de l'ex-premier ministre Jean Kambanda, le 5 mai dernier. Toutes les audiences seront suspendues pour la tenue de cette reunion pleniere. (Agence Hirondelle, Arusha, 29 mai 1998) * Rwanda. OAU sets up international genocide panel - On 3 June, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) announced the creation of a panel of seven eminent African and international personalities to investigate the root causes of the genocide in Rwanda. Secretary-general Salim Ahmed Salim said the panel, to be chaired by Botswana's former president, Sir Ketumile Masire, is expected to begin work in september and take about a year to report on its conclusions. (InfoBeat, USA, 3 June 1998) * Rwanda. Journal rebelle - Un journal des rebelles rwandais, s'appelant "Umucunguzi" (Le sauveur), est apparu a Gisenyi. Ecrit principalement en kinyarwanda, avec quelques articles en francais, il se refere a la branche politique du mouvement rebelle sous le nom de "Peuple en armes pour liberer le Rwanda" (PALIR ) et sa branche armee, "Armee pour la liberation du Rwanda" (ALIR ). Le journal decrit l'Armee patriotique rwandaise comme une armee d'occupation et exhorte les Rwandais a prendre les armes. (IRIN, Nairobi, 2 juin 1998) * Senegal. Resultats des elections - Alors que les premiers resultats des elections legislatives du 24 mai donnaient la majorite absolue au parti du president Diouf, le PS, malgre une participation mediocre d'environ 40%, les principaux partis d'opposition ont convenu le 27 mai de deposer un recours en annulation aupres de la Cour constitutionnelle en raison de "l'utilisation massive de fausses cartes d'identite", le "detournement de cartes d'electeurs" et "l'utilisation massive des moyens de l'Etat aux fins de campagne electorale". Cependant, chacun s'est accorde a louer le travail de l'Observatoire national des elections, et le scrutin s'est deroule sans heurt a l'exception de la Casamance. - Selon les resultats provisoires officiels rendus publics dans la nuit du 29 au 30 mai, le PS obtient 93 sieges sur les 140 que comptera la nouvelle Assemblee nationale, avec seulement 50,12% des voix. Le PDS de M. Wade obtient 23 sieges, le RD 11 sieges, deux autres partis respectivement 4 et 3. Six autres petits partis d'opposition, sur les 18 en lice, n'auront qu'un depute. (D'apres Le Monde, France, 29 mai-2 juin 1998) * Sierra Leone. Aide internationale - Les Etats-Unis et l'Union europeenne ont condamne, le 23 mai, les terrifiantes actions des rebelles. La force ouest-africaine Ecomog n'est pas venue a bout des partisans de la junte qui sement la terreur et se livrent a de terribles exactions contre les civils. Le Departement d'Etat americain a approuve le versement immediat d'une aide de $3,9 millions afin d'aider a restaurer la securite. Les bailleurs de fonds internationaux sont egalement prets a reprendre leurs programmes en Sierra Leone. (D'apres Marches Tropicaux, France, 29 mai 1998) * Sierra Leone. UN envoy asks world to save the children - A UN official, Olara Otunnu, said Sierra Leone was safe enough for a major world reconstruction effort, aimed at women and children, despite a guerrilla war still affecting some parts of the country. Sierra Leone should become an international pilot project for crash programs to rehabilitate civilians after a civil war. He said that if the world waited until there was "perfect peace" in the country, there was a danger, that nation's fragile democracy could be jeopardized. (InfoBeat, USA, 3 June 1998) * Somalia. Positive developments - In recent months, most of the news from Somalia has been about factional fighting or floods. But the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says there are some positive developments as well. The agency is providing credit to help small-scale entrepreneurs rebuild their country. The UNDP-funded operation provides, what's called, "Micro-Credit" -- or very small loans -- to Somali men and women. The UN agency works with the community in deciding who's eligible, and the agency channels the money through the Somali community. They are the ones who receive the money. They are the ones who set up the list of beneficiaries, which is a very difficult task. In some areas it has taken seven months to produce the list because they have to make everybody happy. The process is a very selective one -- only about 120 people out of a thousand may qualify for credit. (VOA, 26 May 1998) * Somalie. Persecution des minorites - Des groupes ethniques minoritaires non armes sont expulses de Mogadiscio par des milices qui tuent et volent leurs biens, a affirme a l'AFP le 3 juin un militant des droits de l'homme. "Douze civils sans defense ont ete tues en mai a Mogadiscio et 31 maisons pillees par des groupes armes", a declare cette source sous couvert d'anonymat pour des raisons de securite. Les Somaliens d'ethnie bantoue, qualifies ouvertement d'esclaves, sont particulierement vises, a-t-il ajoute. Mais d'autres minorites ont egalement fait l'objet d'attaques d'autres grands clans, selon les journaux locaux et les observateurs des droits de l'homme. (AFP, France, 3 juin 1998) * Afrique du Sud. Pieter Botha comparait - Le 1er juin, six semaines apres sa derniere comparution, l'ex-president sud- africain Pieter Botha, age de 82 ans, s'est presente a nouveau devant le tribunal pour avoir refuse de temoigner devant la Commission verite et reconciliation (TRC) sur son role a la tete du Conseil de la securite de l'Etat, organe executif de l'apartheid. Selon le secretaire executif de la TRC, des documents accusent M. Botha d'avoir autorise l'assassinat de militants anti-apartheid a l'etranger. Dans les coulisses, on essayerait toujours d'arranger les affaires a l'amiable. (ANB- BIA, de sources diverses, 2 juin 1998) * South Africa. Botha on trial - 1 June: South Africa's spy chief during the apartheid era, confronted security force commanders with allegations that their men were murdering political opponents, it emerged on 1 June at the trial of P.W. Botha. The former president is charged with refusing to testify before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The court also heard that F.W. de Klerk, the country's last white president, tried to end human rights abuses. Mr Botha's case re- opened in the magistrate's court in George -- the Cape resort where he had retired -- with testimony which indicated the former president knew about the killings. 2 June: The TRC gives notice that P.W. Botha was directly implicated in the bombing of a church council's headquarters in 1988. 3 June: During Botha's trial, apartheid's most notorious assassin says he bombed civilian targets on orders from on high. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 4 June 1998) * Sudan. Children die in prison - Sudan's chief justice has freed 827 inmates from a women's prison after 16 children living there died because of poor conditions from overcrowding, the independent Sudanese daily al-Jumhuria said on 28 May. It said Obeid Haj Ali's order took place on 27 May after Minister of the Interior, Major General Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein inspected the prison in Omdurman. The newspaper reported that the children had died in epidemics, because of overcrowding at the prison which was built to hold 200 inmates but was housing 1,200. It said the women who were freed had ben charged with selling a local alcoholic brew, illegal in Sudan. (InfoBeat, USA, 28 May 1998) * Soudan. Cloture du scrutin sur la Constitution - Au bout de trois semaines de vote, le scrutin devant permettre au peuple soudanais d'approuver ou de rejeter le projet de constitution vient d'etre officiellement clos, le 25 mai. L'opposition ayant appele au boycott des elections, le taux de participation revet aux yeux du gouvernement une importance considerable. Il se situerait, selon des sources gouvernementales, entre 80 et 95%, atteignant meme 100% dans l'est du pays. Les observateurs restent extremement sceptiques. Une agence de presse aurait decompte en une journee 5 electeurs seulement qui seraient entres dans un bureau de vote de la capitale, alors que le president du bureau faisait etat de 500 personnes. Le depouillement des urnes doit prendre un certain temps et les resultats seront proclames vers le debut du mois de juin. (Vigilance Soudan, France, 29 mai 1998) * Soudan. La rebellion - Le chef de la SPLA John Garang a rencontre le commandant dissident Kerubino Kwanyin Bol, dans le Bahr el-Ghazal, pour la premiere fois depuis que ce dernier a rejoint les rebelles dans la guerre civile. M. Garang a egalement appele Riak Machar, le chef du groupe sudiste qui a signe un accord de paix avec Khartoum, a revenir dans le rang des rebelles. D'autre part, la SPLA a declare avoir repousse une offensive gouvernementale dans la province meridionale du Nil Bleu, a la frontiere avec l'Ethiopie, dans "la plus importante bataille depuis un an". 300 soldats gouvernementaux auraient ete tues lors d'affrontements, le 28 mai. Ce meme jour, le president soudanais Omar el-Bechir s'est rendu en visite eclair a Wau et a declare que le gouvernement etait determine a "liberer toutes les regions occupees par les rebelles, de facon pacifique ou par la force". (IRIN, Nairobi, 30 mai 1998) * Sudan. Is a charity appeal necessary? - The public emergency appeal which has raised millions of pounds for charities to feed the starving in southern Sudan is unnecessary and misleading, Britain's International Development Secretary, Claire Short, said on 3 June. In a speech which bewildered aid agencies, Ms Short insisted governments could fund all the aid required in that region. Negative images of famines in Third World countries were not set in the broader context, she said, claiming they would induce compassion fatigue -- a theme she revived last week in an attack on media coverage of overseas disasters. The British government contributed more than œ10 million to the UN aid efforts in southern Sudan earlier this year. The problem there was one of "access not resources", she suggested, adding that by launching fresh appeals "the pressure on the combatants to declare a ceasefire was relaxed...In the case of Sudan, there was no need to fundraise. Money was not the problem. We and other donors are providing substantial funds and we are prepared to provide more if that is required. Through its appeal, I believe that the Disasters Emergency Committee muddled the message about the cause of the problem: the persistence of civil war and the desperate need to end it". (The Guardian, U.K., 4 June 1998) * Soudan. Appel pour le Sud - M. Hall, membre democrate du Congres americain, apres une visite de quatre jours au Soudan, a declare le 31 mai a Nairobi etre choque par ce qu'il avait vu et a appele les Etats-Unis a prendre des mesures pour ameliorer les conditions dans le sud. "Si les Etats-Unis sont reellement desoles d'avoir fait si peu pour arreter les atrocites au Rwanda, nous devrions reagir tout de suite pour arreter celles au Soudan", a-t-il indique. (IRIN, Nairobi, 1 juin 1998) * Tanzania. Crisis over the National Electoral Commission - The Government owes the National Electoral Commission a total of 3,507,534,132 shillings in respect of the first multi-party general elections held throughout the country in 1995. A five- year commission report issued in Dar-es-Salaam on 12 May, warns that if the debt is not settled immediately, the forthcoming 1999 local government, and the 2000 general elections will be severely affected. The report recommends that the Government makes special efforts to ensure it settles the debts before next year's local government elections. Also, the National Electoral Commission will not finance polling agents in future elections because of chaos over claims for payments emanating from the October 1995 general elections. (The Guardian, Tanzania, 13 & 14 May 1998) * Tanzania. 18 religious groupings report to ministry - 18 out of 22 religious groupings in Dar es Salaam which were ordered by the government last month to explain why they should not be banned, have responded, the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Mohamed Ameir announced on 23 May. The minister said that only four were yet to reply but said "indications are that they will reply". In the wake of unrest in the Mwembechai mosque in Magomeni, Dar es Salaam, the ministry had last moth written to different religious groups in the city to justify their existence as legitimate NGOs or else be scrapped off. The minister said both Muslim and Christian groupings have replied, stating their mode of operation. (Sunday News, Tanzania, 24 May 1998) * Ouganda. Incursion de la LRA - Le chef d'etat-major de l'armee ougandaise a confirme une importante incursion de rebelles de la Lord's Resistance Army dans le nord de l'Ouganda. Il a ajoute qu'il croyait qu'un grand nombre avait traverse la frontiere depuis le Soudan, parce qu'ils craignent de perdre prochainement l'appui de Khartoum, avec lequel l'Ouganda essaie de normaliser ses relations. Le journal gouvernemental "New Vision" rapportait le 27 mai que les rebelles auraient ete pieges sur deux fronts par les troupes ougandaises dans le district de Lira, dans le nord, encerclant les rebelles dans les zones d'Apala et Olilim. Mais selon les agences de presse du 28 mai, un groupe de 150 rebelles ainsi que leur chef ont echappe a cet encerclement. Un autre groupe de rebelles aurait reussi a traverser la frontiere. Des representants de l'armee estiment a 800 le nombre de rebelles de la LRA actuellement en Ouganda. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 29 mai 1998) * Uganda. Kony escapes army trap - Rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony, had dodged government forces in Gulu district and crossed into neighbouring Kitgum, news agencies reported on 28 May. Another group of about 150 rebels are believed to have escaped encirclement by the army in Lira district and also crossed into Kitgum district. Army officials estimate a total of 800 LRA rebels are inside Uganda. (IRIN, Nairobi, 29 May 1998) * Vatican/Egypte. Dialogue islamo-chretien - Le 28 mai, un "Comite conjoint de dialogue" a ete cree entre le Conseil pontifical pour le dialogue interreligieux et l'universite cairote al-Azhar, la plus haute autorite theologique de l'islam sunnite. Des contacts s'etaient noues entre les deux institutions, apres que le cheick Mohammed Sayed Tantaoui, devenu grand imam d'al-Azhar en 1996, ait introduit dans son universite une volonte d'ouverture vers les autres religions, qui s'est concretisee par la creation du Comite permanent pour le dialogue avec les religions monotheistes. Ces contacts ont abouti maintenant a la signature au Vatican d'un accord instituant le "Comite conjoint de dialogue". Celui-ci, selon ses statuts, "s'engagera dans la recherche de valeurs communes, la promotion de la justice et de la paix, la promotion du respect pour les religions, et renforcera les echanges dans les domaines d'interet commun comme la defense de la dignite humaine et des droits humains". (D'apres La Croix, France, 31 mai 1998) * Zambia. Kaunda free - On 1 June, Kenneth Kaunda walked from court a free man, after the state dropped treason charges against him, signalling that it had taken on board foreign concerns about the government's deteriorating human rights record. "I feel simply great," said the 74-year-old opposition leader. He later hinted that he was planning to retire from active politics, saying that his UNIP party would be calling a special congress to decide its future. Within minutes of the start of the trial, the Attorney-General announced that the state was withdrawing all charges against Mr Kaunda who was arrested last Christmas Day and accused of failing to report a planned army coup against President Chiluba. (Editor's update: On 2 June, Human Rights Watch said it welcomed Kenneth Kaunda's release but calls on the government to take further steps to show a commitment to human rights protection). (Financial Times, U.K., 2 June 1998) * Zambie. Non-lieu pour Kaunda - L'ancien president zambien Kenneth Kaunda est sorti libre, le 1er juin, du tribunal de Lusaka apres avoir beneficie d'un non-lieu dans l'affaire du coup d'Etat militaire manque d'octobre 1997. M. Kaunda etait inculpe pour son role presume dans la tentative de putsch contre l'actuel president Frederick Chiluba, lancee par des officiers subalternes et qui n'avait dure que quelques heures. L'Etat a annonce qu'il abandonnait toutes les charges contre M. Kaunda. Selon certaines informations, le non-lieu dont a beneficie M. Kaunda serait le fruit d'un accord passe entre le president zambien Chiluba et plusieurs dirigeants des pays de la region dont le president sud- africain Mandela. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 2 juin 1998) * Zambia. Copper plans in disarray - Zambia's two-year struggle to revitalise its ailing copper industry, on which its economy heavily depends, is in disarray again following the rejection of a $1.1 billion offer from the Kafue consortium and the consequent withdrawal of two of its members. Noranda, the Canadian natural resources group, and Phelps Dodge, the US copper producer, quit the consortium, leaving it short of key technical expertise. The remaining members, Avmin, the South African mining group, and Commonwealth Development Corporation, the UK development financial institution, said they would urgently seek new talks with the government and hoped to be able to look for new partners. (Financial Times, U.K., 2 June 1998) * Zimbabwe. Ex-president en proces - L'ex-president du Zimbabwe, Canaan Banana, repondant de 11 chefs d'accusation (deux pour sodomie, trois pour tentative de viol homosexuel et six pour attentat a la pudeur) a decide de plaider "non-coupable de tous les chefs d'accusation". La sodomie est un delit au Zimbabwe, passible d'une lourde peine de prison. (Liberation, France, 2 juin 1998) * Zimbabwe. Harare protest turns violent - 29 May: Riot police fire tear gas and club students to break up an anti-corruption protest in central Harare against President Mugabe. 1 June: About 200 students protesting at President Mugabe's rule, smash shop windows in central Harare. The students wreck more than a dozen shop windows but disperse before the police arrive. The police keep a presence in Africa Unity Square, where the students congregated in the morning, and at parliament building. The students have urged Mr Mugabe to quit gracefully or face the same fate as Indonesia's ousted President Suharto. 2 June: The University of Zimbabwe in Harare is closed indefinitely. (ANB- BIA, Brussels,3 June 1998) * Zimbabwe. Canaan Banana in court - On 1 June, former president Canaan Banana sat in court on the first day of his trial, accused of sodomy and indecent assault. He was President from 1980-1987. Mr Banana, who faces evidence from nine other former bodyguards and presidential staff, is charged with 11 counts of sodomy and indecent assault. He pleads not guilty to the charges. On 3 June, a defense lawyer attacked the main state witness, Jefta Dube, saying his inability to recall key events showed he was lying. (The Guardian, U.K., 3 June 1998) * Zimbabwe. IMF aid - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to lend Zimbabwe $175m in the form of a 13-month stand-by credit which will allow Harare to draw $52m immediately to replenish its depleted reserves. The agreement coincides with student protests which have underlined protests which have underlined the country's continuing economic and political turmoil. The IMF risks being accused of double standards in lending to Zimbabwe when it will not lend to Kenya, whose reform track record, albeit unsatisfactory, is arguably better than Harare's. The Fund would no doubt claim that the situations are different and that a 13- month stand-by does not carry the same weight of conditionalities as a three-year Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility. Some believe the loan to be justified because it may give the Fund -- and the donor community at large -- greater leverage over Zimbabwe than in the past. The loan is likely to stabilise the Zimbabwe dollar, which lost 10% of its value in April but which has since steadied and was quoted yesterday at Z$17.95 to the US unit. On a trade-weighted basis, the Zimbabwe dollar has been devalued by a third over the past year. The disbursement of future tranches will depend on the government's ability to meet agreed targets that have been greeted with a mixture of cynicism and amusements by economists and bankers, who question their credibility. (Financial Times, U.K., 3 June 1998)