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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 11-06-1998   PART #1/ 

* Africa. Action against the Media - Chad: On 3 June, Koumbo Singa
Gali and Polycarpe Togmissi, respectively director of publication
and reporter for the privately-owned bi-monthly L'Observateur, were
placed under a committal order at N'Djamena prison, following a
complaint lodged by the president of the national assembly.
Equatorial Guinea: On 31 May, the government ordered the expulsion
of eight correspondents for the Spanish newspapers El Pais, La
Vanguardia, El Heraldo de Aragon, the news agency EFE, as well as
for the state television channel TVE. Since 25 May, these
journalists have been covering the trail in the war council of 115
opposition activists. Ethiopia: On 7 June, Tesfaye Tadese, owner
and editor of the magazine Mestawet and the newspaper Lubar (both
presently out of circulation), was murdered in front of his
residence. Namibia: Simaon Roberto, a journalist for the
government-owned Journal de Angola, was gunned down in Luanda on 5
June. Roberto was returning from the State House, where he had
covered a meeting of the Council of Ministers. Nigeria: On 25 May,
Mrs Mosun Mosunro, an editor with the Ogun State Television, was
suspended indefinitely for allegedly approving the broadcasting of
a press release from the Ogun State Chapter of the Christian
Association of Nigeria, which ordered members to boycott Abuja
prayers on the station. Tanzania: On 3 June, police in Dar es
Salaam beat and briefly detained Mtanzania photojournalist, Ally
Mwankufi. Zambia: On 1 June, the Attorney-General told the Lusaka
High Court, that the state had no intention of proceeding with
contempt of court proceedings against the Post newspaper.  (IFEX,
Canada, 4-10 June 1998)

* Afrique centrale. Faible reponse d'aide - Plus de 90% des
programmes humanitaires proposes par l'ONU pour 1998 en Afrique
centrale ne sont toujours pas finances. Les chiffres publies le 4
juin par le bureau d'OCHA (le bureau de coordination) montrent que
seulement 49 millions de dollars ont ete recus par rapport aux 574
millions demandes. Les programmes d'autres organisations ont recu
une meilleure reponse avec 79,8 millions. Plusieurs agences de
l'ONU n'ont recu aucune reponse de dons, et aucune n'a recu plus de
17% de ses besoins. Le Haut Commissaire aux refugies a declare
qu'elle etait tres inquiete concernant les financements du HCR. --
D'autre part, l'OCHA indique que les populations touchees en
Afrique centrale et l'Afrique de l'Est (refugies, retournes et
deplaces) totalisent plus de 2,5 millions d'individus. Les
personnes deplacees representent 1,7 million; les refugies sont
760.000.  (IRIN, Nairobi, 4 juin 1998)

* Afrique du Nord. Conference episcopale regionale - La Conference
episcopale regionale d'Afrique du Nord (CERNA) s'est reunie a Tunis
du 2 au 5 juin. Dans un communique final les eveques ont souligne
quelques problemes de leurs pays, et notamment l'espoir d'une
solution juste a l'embargo de la Libye, d'un retour progressif a
plus de securite en Algerie, et d'une nouvelle ere au Maroc apres
la nomination du nouveau gouvernement.  (Fides, Rome, 8 juin 1998)

* Algerie. Retour des trappistes? - Alger, 27 mai. Deux ans apres
l'assassinat des sept moines trappistes de Tibhirine, quatre
religieux veulent retourner au monastere, situe a une centaine de
km au sud d'Alger. La date precise pour ce retour n'est pas encore
fixee, a indique l'archeveche d'Alger. Le ministere algerien de
l'Interieur a de son cote mis en garde contre une reoccupation du
couvent, pour des raisons de securite. Les quatre moines, un
Algerien, un Francais, un Espagnol et un Polonais, se trouvent
actuellement a Alger pour se preparer a leur nouvelle tache en
apprenant l'arabe et le francais. Par ailleurs, le quotidien
francais "Le Monde", dans son edition du 6 juin, affirme que la
securite militaire algerienne pourrait etre impliquee dans les
assassinats des moines et de Mgr Claverie, eveque d'Alger.  (CIP,
Belgique, 4 juin, et ANB-BIA, 7 juin 1998)

* Algerie. Derniers bilans - 6 juin. Des quotidiens prives d'Alger
rapportent qu'au moins 35 personnes, dont 28 islamistes armes,
auraient ete tuees en Algerie au cours des derniers jours. Le
quotidien "Le Matin" donne un bilan de 15 morts dans les rangs des
islamistes lors d'une operation de l'armee en cours depuis une
quinzaine de jours dans la region de Lakhdaria. - 9 juin. Des
journaux prives rapportent l'assassinat de onze personnes, le 8
juin, par des groupes armes dans les regions de Blida, Medea et
Tlemcen. -- D'autre part, pour la premiere fois, un membre des
services de securite, engage dans la lutte contre les islamistes,
est condamne a mort par contumace par un tribunal civil a Tizi
Ouzou. En aout 1997, en represailles contre un attentat, il avait
tue trois personnes et incendie des maisons de familles soupconnees
d'etre proches des islamistes. 10 juin. Selon les journaux d'Alger,
24 personnes, dont 12 membres de groupes d'autodefense, ont ete
tuees entre le 7 et le 9 juin. Au moins 96 personnes, dont 59
islamistes armes, ont ete tuees depuis le 4 juin, selon un decompte
etabli a partir des bilans de presse non confirmes officiellement. 
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 juin 1998)

* Angola. UN envoy calls for new sanctions on rebels - On 5 June,
the UN envoy for Angola called for new sanctions against the
defiant UNITA movement, warning the Security Council that war might
break out if it did not take strong action. Measures under
consideration to pressure UNITA into compliance, include cutting
off some of Angola's diamond trade the rebels control. But council
sources say they were first evaluating how such a ban could be
enforced.  (InfoBeat, USA, 8 June 1998)

* Burkina Faso. Desertification inquietante - Interpelle par
l'Assemblee nationale, le ministre Salif Diallo a dresse, le 15
mai, un etat des lieux assez preoccupant. Il ressort de son expose
que l'environnement au Burkina est menace par quatre facteurs
principaux. Le feu apparait comme le premier ennemi de
l'environnement avec 8.300.000 ha qui brulent chaque annee, soit
30% du territoire national. La coupe abusive du bois detruit chaque
annee 40.000 ha de forets, tandis que le surpaturage combine a la
secheresse provoque la diminution ou la disparition de paturages
importants. Enfin, les defrichements anarchiques font disparaitre
par an 150 a 200.000 ha de forets pour des buts de travaux
champetres.  (Marches Tropicaux, France, 5 juin 1998)

* Burundi. Accord vers la pacification - Le 4 juin, l'Assemblee
nationale burundaise a adopte l'"Acte constitutionnel de
transition" et l'accord sur la plateforme politique de transition,
concretisant ainsi le "partenariat" politique propose par le regime
du major Pierre Buyoya. Cet accord intervient avant l'ouverture,
prevue le 15 juin a Arusha, des negociations inter-burundaises sous
la mediation de l'ex-president tanzanien Julius Nyerere.
L'Assemblee nationale, ou siegeaient 42 des 81 parlementaires, a
adopte ces deux textes par consensus. Ces textes ne devraient donc
pas avoir force legale puisque le quorum (54 deputes) n'etait pas
atteint. Un nouveau gouvernement devrait etre mis en place avant
juillet; il ne comprendra plus de Premier ministre, mais deux vice-
presidents. La Cour constitutionnelle sera restauree pour
interpreter l'acte constitutionnel de transition.  (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 5 juin 1998)

* Burundi. Transitional Constitution approved - On 4 June, the
national assembly approved a transitional constitution that would
bring about institutional change. Speaker Leonce Ngendakumana said
the move was an important step towards peace and reconciliation.
The new constitution -- described as a merger between the 1992
constitution and President Pierre Buyoya's decree law adopted in
1996 -- provides for replacing the prime minister's post with two
vice-presidents, reducing the government and increasing parliament
from 81 to 121 members. On 6 June, the President promulgated the
country's transitional constitution.  (IRIN, Nairobi, 5-8 June
1998)

* Centr.Afr.Republic. USA restores operations at embassy - On 3
June, the State Department said that the USA has restored
operations at its embassy in Bangui after a 14-month break. The
embassy closed down in March 1997 because of clashes between rebels
and African peacekeeping forces, and the embassy staff moved to
neighbouring Cameroon. A State Department statement said the US
Ambassador to Congo-Brazzaville, Aubrey Hope, will move to Bangui
as Charge d'Affaires in the CAR.  (InfoBeat, USA, 4 June 1998)

* Congo (RDC). La tension continue dans l'Est - La tension serait
elevee a Uvira, apres une attaque, le 31 mai, par des soldats
banyamulenge contre la prison locale, ou ils ont libere Ruhimbika
Muller, un des responsables de l'ONG Milima, arrete le meme jour
alors qu'il traversait la frontiere avec le Burundi. Il serait
maintenant en fuite et des mandats d'arret ont ete lances contre
d'autres Banyamulenge. D'autre part, selon la radio gabonaise, des
hommes d'affaires de Butembo et Beni ont exprime leur inquietude
quant au climat d'insecurite cree par les soldats et les policiers
"qui violent, volent, tuent et arretent les gens". Selon l'un
d'eux, la population locale est devenue une cible "sous pretexte
d'un soi-disant combat contre les Mai-Mai".  (D'apres IRIN,
Nairobi, 4 juin 1998)

* Congo (RDC). Cooperation europeenne - L'Union europeenne (UE)
n'est pas disposee a reprendre immediatement sa cooperation
structurelle avec Kinshasa, a affirme le 4 juin une delegation de
la troika europeenne. Toutefois, selon son chef, le Britannique
Tony Lloyd, l'UE a "une approche positive pour accompagner les
mesures du gouvernement de la RDC dans differents domaines et est
en train de mesurer les progres qui se realisent". Cent millions de
dollars ont deja ete mis a la disposition de la RDC sous forme
d'assistance dans les domaines de la sante publique et de la
rehabilitation des routes.  (La Libre Belgique, 6 juin 1998)

* Congo (RDC). Arrestations et limogeages - Le directeur de la
radio-television nationale, Jean-Paul Elenge Molayi, a ete arrete
le 2 juin, moins de deux semaines apres sa nomination, pour "acte
de sabotage et de negligence". Il avait omis de diffuser la
ceremonie d'investiture du nouveau gouvernement (pour raisons
techniques, selon la direction). M. Molayi aurait ete ensuite remis
en liberte provisoire. Son predecesseur, M. Kajangwa, avait
egalement ete arrete il y a quinze jours, a cause de la diffusion
d'images sur les massacres de refugies rwandais. D'autre part,
selon le journal kinois "La tempete des tropiques", le chef de
l'etat-major, le commandant James Kabarere, un Rwandais de
l'Ouganda, a du quitter le Congo, le 1er juin, par un vol des
lignes ougandaises, declare "en fin de mandat". -- Le 8 juin, le
ministere belge des Affaires etrangeres a recu une note verbale de
Kinshasa l'informant que l'ambassadeur congolais a Bruxelles, Mme
Kasa-Vubu, etait relevee de ses fonctions et qu'elle serait
remplacee par M. Kanengele, un ancien officier du president Mobutu.
Le 9 juin, la radio officielle annoncait la nomination de Vincent
Mutomb Tshibal, ancien ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports, comme
secretaire general de l'AFDL, en remplacement de M. Bugera, nomme
ministre d'Etat dans le nouveau gouvernement.  (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 10 juin 1998)

* Egypte. Tourisme - Sept mois apres l'attentat de Louxor, le
ministre egyptien du Tourisme multiplie les declarations optimistes
sur le retour des etrangers. A l'en croire, on serait meme, pour le
mois d'avril, a 86,2% de la frequentation normale. Les voyagistes
egyptiens, qui estiment avoir perdu 40% de leurs clients,
retorquent que les fetes religieuses musulmanes, en provoquant un
afflux de touristes arabes, ont artificiellement gonfle les
statistiques. Ils font aussi valoir que le nombre n'est pas tout,
et que les Occidentaux ont ete bien souvent remplaces par une
clientele beaucoup moins fortunee, d'Europe de l'Est notamment. 
(Le Vif/L'Express, Belgique, 5 juin 1998)

* Egypt. Overhaul in Banking and Insurance - On 10 June, Parliament
approved legislation which will lead to the privatisation of state-
owned banks and allow foreigners to own majority stakes in
insurance companies. The overhaul of the banking and insurance
sectors is expected to begin immediately, with plans to evaluate
and streamline the institutions in the coming months. The Bank of
Alexandria is the most likely candidate for a share issue, which is
expected to be completed by the end of the year.  (Financial Times,
U.K., 11 June 1998)

* Eritrea/Ethiopia. War escalates, no solution seen - 4 June:
Ethiopian and Eritrean troops appear locked in a fierce battle for
control of disputed territory. Ethiopia pummelled the Eritrean
villages of Mai Tsa'udu and Seha, near Zalambessa on 3 June with
120 mm shells, witnesses say. The opposing forces also battle for
most of the day with heavy artillery, mortars and small arms. Susan
Rice, US assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs who is
trying to broker a settlement in the border dispute, says Ethiopia
has provisionally accepted a peace plan drawn up by the US and
Rwanda. But Eritrean officials pour cold water on the initiative,
saying the proposals are unlikely to win local backing as they
commit Eritrea to removing its troops from the border zone
considered by the Eritrean government as belonging to Eritrea. The
same day, the EU denounces the border clashes, warning the conflict
will endanger regional stability and development. 5 June: Ethiopia
and Eritrea exchange air raids on towns -- Asmara Airport is
bombed. 6 June: Eritrea announces it will suspended air raids for
13 hours to allow foreign nationals to be evacuated. Ethiopia
announces it has retaken Zalambesa, driving out the Eritrean
brigade that had occupied it. 7 June: Foreigners are able to leave
Asmara. 9 June: People in Adrigrat, Ethiopia, are awoken by the
sound of battle. Journalists on both sides of the border report
intense shelling, mortar and tank fire. Ethiopian officials say the
Zalambesa area is being pounded by the Eritreans with an
"incredible array of heavy weapons". 10 June: African leaders have
decided to send a high-level mission to warring neighbours Eritrea
and Ethiopia to help restore peace. The leaders took the decision
on 9 June, on the eve of the closure of the OAU's Summit in Burkina
Faso, returning to an issue which had dominated preparations for
the Summit.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 June 1998)

* Erythree/Ethiopie. Escalade de la guerre - 4 juin. Les Etats-Unis
et le Rwanda proposent conjointement un plan de paix au conflit
entre l'Ethiopie et l'Erythree. Ce plan prevoit le retrait des
troupes erythreennes et des pourparlers entre les deux pays pour
fixer la frontiere. L'Ethiopie a donne son accord provisoire, a-t-
on indique a l'AFP; l'Erythree n'a pas encore fait connaitre une
reaction officielle. Toutefois, les echanges de tirs d'artillerie
se sont poursuivis dans la zone frontaliere de Zalanbessa. - 5
juin. L'aviation ethiopienne bombarde l'aeroport d'Asmara, la
capitale erythreenne, et l'Erythree bombarde celui de Mekele,
capitale de l'Etat ethiopien du Tigre. Un nouveau front est ouvert
a quelques dizaines de km du grand port erythreen d'Assab, sur la
Mer Rouge, et les affrontements entre les deux armees redoublent de
violence dans la region de Zalanbesa. Reuni a Ouagadougou, le
conseil des ministres de l'OUA appelle les deux pays a faire preuve
de retenue et a accepter un reglement pacifique du conflit. -- 6-7
juin. Addis Abeba accepte une treve de ses bombardements, le samedi
6 juin, pour permettre l'evacuation des etrangers d'Erythree. La
treve se prolonge le lendemain. Les appels a la paix se
multiplient. Les presidents egyptien et italien appellent les deux
pays a cesser les hostilites et a s'asseoir a la table de
negociations. Selon la television libyenne, les deux pays ont
accepte une initiative de paix proposee par Kadhafi. -- 9 juin. De
violents combats ont a nouveau oppose les deux armees pour le
controle de la ville frontiere de Zalanbesa. Les chefs d'Etat de
l'OUA, reunis a Ouagadougou, se sont accordes sur la necessite
d'une mediation pour resoudre le conflit. Asmara approuve cette
decision, mais Addis Abeba exprime la crainte que la multiplication
des mediations retarde une solution pacifique. -- 10 juin. Addis
Abeba affirme avoir repousse a l'artillerie lourde une offensive
erythreenne dans la region de Badme, a l'ouest de la zone
frontaliere. D'autre part, l'OUA a decide d'envoyer en Ethiopie et
en Erythree une delegation de chefs d'Etat, sous la direction de
Blaise Compaore, le nouveau president de l'organisation. Les
eveques des deux pays ont lance un appel a leurs gouvernements pour
mettre fin au conflit.  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 juin
1998)

* Ethiopia. Executions resume - On 4 June, Amnesty International
criticized the Ethiopian government's resumption of executions
after seven years of an apparent de facto suspension. the
organization appealed to President Negasso Gidada to halt any
further planned executions and to exercise his constitutional
prerogative of mercy in all cases of those sentenced to death. The
2 June execution in Addis Ababa's Central prison of Jamil Yasin
Mohamed, a prominent businessman, was the first carried out by
Meles Zenawi's government since the overthrow of the Dergue in
1991. Jamil Yasin Mohamed had been convicted of killing Major
General Hayelom Araya in Addis Ababa in April 1996. The Supreme
Court had rejected his appeal, and his recent petition for clemency
to President Negasso Gidada had evidently failed.  (Amnesty
International, 4 June 1998)

* Ethiopia. World Bank approves aid - The World Bank approved a US
$100 million credit for Ethiopia's Education Sector Development
Program. The credit will support the first five years of the
Government's 20-year plan to overhaul the country's education
system. The program covers education from kindergarten to higher
education and includes non-formal and special needs education. The
credit is the first in the education sector of a new generation of
lending by the World Bank in sub-Saharan Africa intended to support
broad sectoral development programs rather than traditional
investment projects.  (Addis Tribune, Ethiopia, 7 June 1998)

* Ethiopie. Des religieuses restent sur place - Selon des nouvelles
parvenues a ANB-BIA, des religieuses missionnaires ont decide de
rester dans le nord de l'Ethiopie, pres des zones de combats,
malgre l'appel de leurs ambassades de quitter le pays. Le danger
vient surtout des attaques aeriennes et du mitraillage
d'helicopteres. Les refugies affluent, souffrant de la faim et de
maladies endemiques, la malaria et le typhus. La nourriture manque,
ainsi que les medicaments.  (ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 10 juin 1998)
* Ghana. Rawlings endorses Mills - President Jerry Rawlings,
Ghana's Head of State for the past 16 years, has scotched
speculation that he will seek a change in the Constitution to run
for a third term as democratically-elected president, or encourage
his wife to stand in his place. Instead, he endorsed the candidacy
of John Atta Mills, his vice-president, to run for the ruling
National Democratic Congress in the presidential elections due in
2000.  (Financial Times, U.K., 9 June 1998)

* Guinee-Bissau. Mutinerie - 7 juin. Une dizaine de personnes ont
ete tuees au cours d'affrontements entre militaires qui ont eclate
a l'aube, a Bissau, lorsque des hommes armes ont tente de prendre
d'assaut le siege de l'etat-major de l'armee de terre. Dans une
declaration a la radio, le ministre de la Defense invite les
habitants a rester chez eux, en affirmant que les forces favorables
au gouvernement controlent la situation. -- 8 juin. Les forces
fideles au president Vieira donnent l'assaut a deux casernes aux
mains des rebelles, des militaires partisans de l'ancien chef
d'etat-major, le general Ansumane Mane. La mutinerie ferait suite
a des mois de tensions au sein de l'armee, apres l'implication de
plusieurs officiers dans un trafic d'armes destinees aux
independantistes de Casamance (Senegal). -- 9 juin. Le general Mane
se proclame chef d'une nouvelle junte militaire et exige la
demission du president et du gouvernement. L'agence portugaise
"Lusa" annonce que quelque 400 soldats de Guinee et 250 soldats
senegalais sont arrives a Bissau pour aider le gouvernement a venir
a bout de la tentative de coup d'Etat. 10 juin. Des parlementaires
bissauguineens ont tente une mediation pour trouver une solution
pacifique a la crise, mais celle-ci a echoue. Dans la soiree, les
nouveaux contingents de soldats et leurs hotes ont tente de deloger
les putschistes, qui occupent toujours des positions strategiques:
outre un quartier du nord de Bissau, ils tiennent la zone de
l'aeroport, ainsi que deux casernes.  (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 11 juin 1998)

* Guinea Bissau. Military revolt - 7 June. Guinea Bissau's
government says it has put down a military revolt in the capital,
but rebels are reported to be still in control of a residential
complex, including a hotel where several dozen foreigners are
staying. About a dozen soldiers of both sides, along with
civilians, were killed in fighting which erupted in Bissau, the
capital of the former Portuguese colony, shortly before dawn,
according to the Portuguese news agency, Lusa. At the weekend,
Brigadier Humberto Gomes was formally appointed chief of staff, and
it was this reshuffle that apparently triggered the revolt. Among
the dead is Eugenio Spain, the head of presidential protocol, who
was killed as he headed for the airport en route to the
Organisation of African Unity summit in Ouagadougou. The
whereabouts of President Joao Bernardo Vieira, who is also due to
attend the summit, which opens today, is not presently known.
Lisbon's ambassador in Bissau, Francisco Henriques da Silva, says
the situation is still confused, although government troops appear
to be bringing the revolt under control. He says streets in the
capital are deserted after the government ordered residents to stay
indoors. Television programmes have been suspended and radios are
playing traditional Bissau music. Movimento Bafata, the leading
opposition group in the Guinea Bissau parliament, issues a
statement calling the revolt a "bloody settling of accounts" within
the formerly Marxist ruling party. 8 June: Heavy weapons' fire
resounds around part of Bissau where rebels are still entrenched in
a military complex. Troops are gathering near the complex
apparently preparing an attack. Later in the day it is reported
there are no signs of the quick blow President Vieira had pledged
would crush the revolt. In a communique, former armed forces chief
of staff, Ansumane Mane, now leader of the dissident troops,
demands the immediate resignation of the government. He says he
intends to set up a transition government to prepare for "free and
transparent elections in July 1998.". It is reported that Senegal
and Guinea have sent troops to aid Guinea-Bissau. According to
officials at the US embassy in Bissau, some 400 troops from Guinea
have been flown by helicopter to the presidential palace near the
centre of the capital. 250 troops from Senegal are also reported to
have arrived. 9 June: Peace talks have been taking place between
three representatives from Vieira's party, three from the
Opposition, and an unspecified number from Ansumane Mane's
supporters. Two local journalists and one press representative from
the international press were also present. -- A Senegalese official
confirms that soldiers from Senegal have arrived in Bissau, to join
up with forces already dispatched by neighbouring Guinea. The
official declined to give details on the level of military
involvement, but the Portuguese news agency Lusa says Senegal has
sent 1,300 soldiers backed by armoured cars. 10 June: Troops loyal
to President Joao Bernado Vieira and rebels fighting to overthrow
him, agree to a ceasefire to allow time for mediation. The
President had sworn from the start of the uprising, to "crush" the
bid to topple him.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 June 1998)

* Italie. Prix AIFO a un journaliste congolais - L'Association
italienne des amis de Raoul Follereau (AIFO) a consigne, le 4 juin
a Savona (Italie), le premier prix Raoul Follereau au journaliste
congolais Louis Kalonji Kalantanda. Motif "Pour son oeuvre de
journaliste africain qui, avec courage, vit le delicat role de
mediateur culturel dans un contexte social fortement repressif". Le
prix Raoul Follereau est octroye a des journalistes qui travaillent
sur le terrain dans des conditions particulierement difficiles. M.
Louis Kalonji, qui a deja fait de la prison en 1971 a cause de ses
prises de position, milite a plusieurs organisations pour le
respect et la dignite de l'homme (le groupe Amos, entre autres).
Collaborateur fidele de ANB-BIA depuis longtemps, il prete aussi
ses qualites au magasine nouveau-ne congolais "Afriquespoir". 
(ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 10 juin 1998)

* Kenya. City downpour - On 29 May, Kenya's Daily Nation reported
that 13 people died in the midweek torrential rains and flash
floods in Nairobi. The full horrific toll in a city lashed by
storms became clear as the people began the massive task of getting
th capital back to normal. At least 200 homes were destroyed in the
floods during the night, and trucks and cars were swept away. The
city was brought to a standstill as roads were blocked or washed
away, power lines crashed, causing blackouts. Telephone links were
cut. Kenya's East African Standard said that the Nairobi river had
burst its banks following heavy downpour. President Moi surprised
staff and guests at the New Stanley Hotel when he popped in and
took shelter. Commenting on the damage caused by the floods, the
President said he was dissatisfied with the drainage system in the
city. He said the system should be expanded to cope with flood
waters.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 June 1998)

* Kenya. Government must act now to stop violence - Amnesty
International is today (10 June) launching a report on the killings
in early 1998 in Rift Valley Province, Kenya, in which more than
120 people were killed, thousands displaced and hundreds of homes
destroyed. These attacks are reminiscent of the political violence
in the area during the run-up to the last election in 1992. The
difference this time was that the violence began after the
elections in December 1997 and for the first time, members of the
Kikuyu community retaliated to the attacks in an organised fashion,
following the failure of the government secutity forces to act. The
majority of the victims, many of whom were elderly, were unarmed
and were attacked in their homes. The report is based on the
findings of a joint delegation of Amnesty International, Article 19
and Human Rights Watch, which visited Kenya in March and April. 
(Amnesty International, 10 June 1998)

* Lesotho. Elections legislatives - Le royaume du Lesotho a elu le
23 mai sa nouvelle Assemblee legislative. Pour la premiere fois,
ces elections etaient organisees par une commission independante du
gouvernement. Selon les chiffres publies le 27 mai, 78 sieges sur
les 80 a pourvoir ont ete attribues au parti au pouvoir, le
"Lesotho Congress for the Democracy". Ce resultat a provoque la
colere de l'opposition, dont les partis ont affirme que ces
elections etaient entachees de fraude et ont demande l'annulation
du scrutin.  (Marches Tropicaux, France, 5 juin 1998)

* Madagascar. Resultats des elections - Les resultats des elections
legislatives du 17 mai, complets mais encore officieux, donnent une
nette victoire au parti Arema du president Ratsiraka, sans
toutefois lui donner la majorite absolue. Il pourrait cependant
obtenir une majorite "plurielle" en composant avec deux allies
ayant fait campagne pour le "oui" lors du referendum sur la
Constitution: le Leader Fanilo et le RPSD. Si ces resultats sont
confirmes, l'Arema detiendrait 62 sieges sur 150, le Leader Fanilo
16 et RPSD 10. Pour l'opposition, l'Avi de l'ancien Premier
ministre Rastirahonana en detiendra 13; le parti Affa de l'ancien
president Zafy 6. Les candidats independants, avec 36 sieges,
feront une entree en force; une partie d'entre eux seraient plutot
en faveur de l'actuel president.  (Marches Tropicaux, France, 5
juin 1998)

* Maroc. Retour a l'OUA - Le roi Hassan II a affirme que le Maroc
"comptait bien retourner" a l'Organisation de l'unite africaine. Le
Maroc avait quitte l'OUA il y a une quinzaine d'annees, lorsque la
Republique arabe sahraouie democratique avait ete admise au sein de
l'organisation.  (La Libre Belgique, 9 juin 1998)

* Nigeria. USA calls off diplomatic trip - 3 June: The US State
Department says it has cancelled a diplomatic mission to Nigeria
aimed at promoting democracy and civilian government, after Nigeria
imposed unacceptable conditions. State Department spokesman James
Foley says that Nigeria has demanded the lifting of visa
restrictions imposed by the USA on senior officials of Nigeria's
military government. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
Thomas Pickering was to have led the delegation. 4 June: Police say
they have stopped a demonstration against General Abacha in Lagos.
There was no sign of mass protests planned by pro-democracy groups,
and opposition leaders said key organizers had been arrested before
marches could take place.  (InfoBeat, USA, 4 June 1998)

* Nigeria. Mort du general Abacha - Le chef du regime militaire
nigerian, le general Sani Abacha, est decede le 8 juin d'une crise
cardiaque a l'age de 54 ans. Il a ete enterre le meme jour. Il
s'etait empare du pouvoir le 17 novembre 1993, a la faveur des
troubles causes par l'annulation d'elections presidentielles, en
renversant le gouvernement civil mis en place trois mois plus tot.
Pendant cinq ans, il a mene les affaires du Nigeria d'une main de
fer, en s'arrogeant des pouvoirs absolus. Apres des sanctions de la
part de la communaute internationale et la suspension du Nigeria du
Commonwealth, il s'etait engage a remettre le pouvoir aux civils le
1er octobre 1998. Mais il etait le seul candidat aux elections
presidentielles prevues le 1er aout prochain. Dans la nuit du 8 au
9 juin, le general Abdulsalam Abubakar, 55 ans, a succede a Abacha
a la tete du pays. Un membre du Conseil revolutionnaire provisoire,
instance supreme du regime militaire, a affirme le 9 juin que le
nouveau president respectera la date du 1er octobre pour le retour
a un regime civil. Dans son premier discours radio-televise, le
general Abubakar a annonce que son gouvernement mettrait
entierement en oeuvre le programme de transition socio-economique
de son predecesseur et il a solennellement appele la communaute
internationale a faire preuve "de comprehension et de cooperation".
D'autre part, le collectif de l'opposition a rejete, le 10 juin, le
regime du general Abubakar et appele a la creation d'un
gouvernement d'unite nationale dirige par Moshood Abiola,
principale figure de l'opposition nigeriane, detenu depuis juin
1994.  (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 juin 1998)

* Nigeria. Nigeria without Abacha - 8 June: General Sani Abacha
dies from a heart attack leaving the country facing its most
serious crisis since the Biafran civil war. The General's funeral
takes place the same day and a new Head of State, Major-General
Abdusalam Abubakar, chief of defence staff, is appointed by the
Ruling Military Council. 9 June: General Abubakar is sworn in as
Nigeria's ninth military ruler. In a brief acceptance speech to the
Ruling Military Council in Abuja, Abubakar described his
appointment as a personal challenge. "All hands must be on deck to
move the nation forward", he said. "I will adress the nation in due
course". The new head of state declares seven days of national
mourning for Abacha during which flags will fly at half-mast. He
promises a return to civilian rule in October, as opposition
leaders call for national demonstrations on 12 June to press the
new ruler to reinstate democracy. General Abubakar is a career
soldier, little known outside military circles. He was chief of
defence staff until his appointment as head of state. His
appointment to full General, now makes him the highest rankinhg
soldier in Africa's most populous nation. "He has always kept
himself in the shadows. A real dark horse," said one Nigerian
politician on Lagos. In a Press Release (9 June), Amnesty
International says that the new leader should break with the
country's legacy of repression and give the Nigerian people hope
for the future.  (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 June 1998)

* Nigeria. General Abdulsalam Abubakar - General Abubakar was born
on 13 June 1942 in Minna, Niger State in Northern Nigeria. He had
his earlier education at the Native Authority Primary School in
Minna. Between 1957 and 1962, he was at the Provincial Secondary
School, Bida. In 1983, he was at the Technical Institute, Kaduna.
He enlisted first into the airforce before switching to the army.
Besides other local training, he was in the United States between
1975 and 1977. He was appointed, on his return, as commander of the
3rd Mechanised Brigade in Kano between 1969 and 1979. He also
served in the Nigerian contingent to the UN peacekeeping force in
Lebanon between 1981 and 1982, after which he was promoted to
Colonel in August 1984. He was appointed General Officer Commanding
(GOC) 82 Division, Enugu, by virtue of being a member of the Armed
Forces Ruling Council. From Enugu, he was moved to Kaduna, as GOC
of the strategic One Mechanised Division. On 17 November 1993, he
was appointed chief of defence staff, a position he held until his
appointed as Head of State.  (IFEX, Canada, 9 June 1998)

* Nigeria. General Abubakar addresses the Nation - On 9 June,
Nigeria's new Head of State, General Abubakar addressed the Nation.
In his speech he appealed to the international community for their
understanding and cooperation. He said that Nigeria demands fair
hearing and constructive engagement and not isolation. Nigeria will
honour all its international obligations and maintain its national
commitment to international peace and security, especially in the
West African sub-region. He insisted that his government remains
fully committed to the socio-political transition programme of
General Abacha's administration and will do everything to ensure
its full and successful implementation. (Editor's note: Abubakar
made no mention in his speech about detainees and he skirted the
issue of how to defuse opposition to the democracy plan).  (IFEX,
Canada, 10 June 1998)

* OUA. 34e sommet hante par la guerre - Le 34e sommet de
l'Organisation de l'unite africaine (OUA) s'est ouvert le 8 mai a
Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso, en presence de 29 chefs d'Etat. La
ceremonie d'ouverture a ete dominee par le conflit entre l'Ethiopie
et l'Erythree. Tous les intervenants ont deplore ce conflit
territorial sanglant. Le president burkinabe, M. Compaore, devenu
president en exercice de l'OUA, a lance un appel aux leaders des
deux pays. Le maintien de la paix en Afrique sera un des themes
centraux de ce sommet. D'autre part, le president sud-africain
Nelson Mandela, dont c'est la derniere participation, a ete
longuement ovationne et il a appele les plus jeunes participants a
"conduire nos peuples et notre continent vers le nouveau monde du
prochain siecle". Par ailleurs, il n'est pas impossible que M.
Kadhafi de Libye vienne participer aux debats, pour la premiere
fois depuis quinze ans.  (D'apres Le Soir, Belgique, 9 juin 1998)

* OAU. Summit in Burkina Faso - 5 June: African foreign ministers,
meeting in Burkina Faso as a crisis committee on conflict
prevention, urge restraint by both Ethiopia and Eritrea over their
spiralling border dispute. Sources at the 4 June emergency meeting
of the Central organ of the Organization of African Unity Mechanism
for Conflict prevention, Management and Resolution, say the
Ethiopian and Eritrean foreign ministers have done little more than
trade accusations. 7 June: African leaders arrive in Burkina Faso
for their annual summit. 9 June: The OAU says it will ignore
certain sanctions imposed on Libya, effectively clearing the way
for Muammar Gaddafi to defy an air embargo to join its annual
summit. In a separate statement, the OAU appeals to Nigeria's new
military ruler and its people, to maintain peace and stability in
that country and work for democracy.  (InfoBeat, USA, 5-9 June
1998)

* Rwanda. $ 250 millions d'aide - Les pays donateurs et des
institutions multilaterales qui se sont rencontres le 2 et 3 juin
a Stockholm, ont conclu un accord pour fournir quelque 250 millions
de dollars d'aide au Rwanda. Ces engagements doivent contribuer a
financer le programme de reforme economique 1998-2000. Les
participants ont estime que le Rwanda avait fait des progres
significatifs dans la restauration de la stabilite economique et
sociale depuis le genocide de 1994.  (La Libre Belgique, 5 juin
1998)

* Rwanda. Aid -- new national anthem - 3 June: The World Bank and
other donors, at a meeting in Stockholm, agree to provide Rwanda
with US $250 million. The money will be used to support Rwanda's
three-year economic reform programme. In a statement, the World
Bank said participants in the meeting recognised Rwanda was an
exceptional case and needed "exceptional financing". 4 June: The
Rwanda News Agency reports that the main political parties and
government have agreed to change the country's flag and national
anthem. 9 June: The WFP has begun an emergency food distribution
for more than 100,000 internally displaced Rwandans in the
prefectures of Gisenyi and Ruhengeri.  (IRIN, Nairobi, 4-9 June
1998)

* Rwanda. Tribunal penal international - Cible de frequentes
critiques pour la lenteur de ses procedures, le Tribunal penal
international pour le Rwanda a adopte de nouvelles dispositions
pour accelerer ses proces, a-t-on appris le 8 juin. Selon des
informations fiables, la reunion pleniere du TPIR a notamment
decide que les juges prononceront desormais leurs jugements et les
peines correspondantes en une seule fois, conformement au droit
penal continental, en opposition avec la procedure d'inspiration
anglo-saxonne. Cette mesure devrait cependant rester sans effet sur
les deux premiers proces qui arrivent a terme. Les juges auront
aussi davantage de pouvoir pour controler l'audition des temoins,
afin de rendre ces auditions plus efficaces et de reduire "une
consommation de temps inutile".  (Agence Hirondelle, Arusha, 8 juin
1998)

* Rwanda. International Tribunal - On 10 June, the International
Tribunal said that six more senior figures implicated in the 1994
killings have been arrested in Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Togo.
The six were arrested between 5-7 June by governments working with
tribunal officials.  (InfoBeat, USA, 10 June 1998)

* Rwanda. Refugies assassines - Depuis le 7 juin, quarante
personnes ont ete tuees dans la region de Gisenyi. Le camp de
refugies tutsis de Kinihira a ete particulierement vise. Ce camp a
ete attaque par un millier de miliciens chantant des cantiques
religieux et clamant qu'ils appartenaient a l'armee du Seigneur. Ce
nom rappelle curieusement l'armee de liberation du Seigneur de
Joseph Kony, qui opere dans le nord-ouest de l'Ouganda et qui se
compose de foules fanatisees, chantant des cantiques et tuant
sauvagement des civils. On peut se demander si les terroristes
rwandais et ougandais n'auraient pas la meme base arriere et le
Soudan est souvent cite.  (D'apres C.B., Le Soir, Belgique, 11 juin
1998)

* Sahara occidental. Identifications - A la date du 29 mai, la
Mission des Nations unies au Sahara occidental (Minurso) a
identifie 121.221 Sahraouis dans le cadre du referendum
d'autodetermination prevu en fevrier ou mars 1999, a annonce le 31
mai la Minurso depuis son siege a El-Ayoun. Ces electeurs ont
jusqu'a present ete identifies dans differents bureaux au Sahara
occidental, au Maroc, a Tindouf dans le sud-ouest algerien, et en
Mauritanie. Dans son rapport mensuel, le secretaire general de
l'ONU a indique qu'il restait un peu moins de 50.000 personnes a
identifier issues des "tribus non contestees" et environ 65.000
venant de tribus "contestees" par le Polisario, pour lesquelles
"aucune solution de compromis n'a encore ete trouvee". Cette
identification doit decider qui peut participer au referendum. 
(Marches Tropicaux, France, 5 juin 1998)

* Sahara occidental. Gel - La question du Sahara occidental
continue a dechirer l'Organisation de l'unite africaine. Le 10
juin, les chefs d'Etat africains, reunis a Ouagadougou, n'ont pu
trancher le sort de la Republique sahraouie que certains pays
voulaient exclure de l'OUA a la demande du Maroc. La decision a ete
renvoyee au sommet de fevrier prochain.  (Liberation, France, 11
juin 1998)

* Sierra Leone. An endless nightmare - Kono District was one of the
strongholds held by remnants of the ousted Armed Forces Ruling
Council (AFRC) and their allies in the Revolutionary United Front
(RUF). Before these groups retreated into the forest, Kono was
largely destroyed. Witnesses reported that residents suffered
horrific atrocities -- some having hands, feet and ears cut off.
Houses were set ablaze, pregnant women were killed. Caritas is one
of the Catholic relief organisations which has been very active in
this area. 9,000 displaced persons have received relief aid. Mr
Thomas B. Sesay is Caritas' Field Officer. He says: "Most of the
displaced are women and children". Other reports received from the
interior state that men and teenage boys are usually abducted by
the rebels. They are then trained to fight and attack villages.
There have been reports that Johnny Paul Koroma, leader of the
rebels wants to surrender but these reports cannot be confirmed.
ECOMOG troops are finding it difficult to flush out the rebels as
they have divided themselves into smaller groups and hide in
forests. ECOMOG has appealed for reinforcements to be sent to
Sierra Leone, but so far, member-states have failed to respond. A
clear indication that Sierra Leone's nightmare is far from over. 
(Alpha R. Jalloh, Sierra Leone, 27 May 1998)

* Somalia. Warlord recaptures Baidoa - Fierce fighting between
rival armed Somali factions, has erupted around the key town of
Baidoa, 150 miles west of Mogadishu. Radio reports from the area
said forces of warlord, Hussein Aideed, were driven out of the town
on 6 June by the Rahanwein Resistance Army, but were back in
control of Baidoa 7 June after calling in reinforcements. Neither
side has given casualty figures, but radio reports from Baidoa said
there were many bodies on the streets. Somalia has been without an
effective government since President Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted
early in 1991, and a number of armed factions now control separate
areas.  (Financial Times, U.K., 8 June 1998)

* South Africa. Tutu versus Botha - 4 June: Archbishop Tutu says he
considers apartheid evil but denies the TRC, which has taken former
president P.W. Botha to court, is biased. Argument about the
morality of apartheid rages at the trial where, Botha, 82, is
charged with contempt for refusing to testify at the TRC. 5 June:
Archbishop Tutu asks P.W. Botha to apologize for the pain apartheid
caused, as he testifies at the former president's trial. 
(InfoBeat, USA, 5 June 1998)

* Afrique du Sud. Condamnation - Pour la premiere fois, un ancien
membre du Bureau de cooperation civile (CCB), l'unite speciale
formee pour infiltrer et annihiler la resistance anti-apartheid, a
ete reconnu coupable de meurtre sous le regime raciste. Ferdi
Barnard a ete condamne le 4 juin a une double peine de perpetuite
assortie de 63 ans de prison. Il etait accuse du meurtre de David
Webster, celebre miltant noir abattu en 1989.  (Liberation, France,
5 juin 1998)

* Afrique du Sud. Baisse du rand - Des craintes se font jour
concernant la croissance economique de l'Afrique du Sud alors que
le rand a atteint le 28 mai son niveau le plus bas face au dollar.
Les attaques speculatives contre le rand, qui a battu un record a
la baisse avec 5,119 rands pour un dollar, ont contraint la Banque
centrale a augmenter son taux de base de 16 a 18%. Le marche
boursier de Johannesburg a accuse le coup, avec une baisse de 8% de
l'indice boursier depuis le 22 mai.  (Marches Tropicaux, France, 5
juin 1998)

* South Africa. "Security forces used anthrax" - On 9 June,
astonishing allegations about the use by South African security
forces of poisons and micro-organisms -- including cholera, anthrax
on envelopes and drinks laced with poison -- were made by a top
scientist in evidence to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
(TRC). Dr Schalk van Rensburg said an attempt might have been made
to poison Nelson Mandela and the black consciousness leader, Steve
Biko. He confirmed that security forces had tried to murder the
former secretary-general of the South African Council of Churches,
Dr Frank Chikane, and said they had used anthrax spores to kill a
Russian advisor to the ANC. The TRC is investigating human rights
abuses during the apartheid era. (Editor's note: The TRC was also
told that in the dying days of apartheid, the government ordered
its chemists to make one ton of the drug ecstasy for riot control). 
(The Guardian, U.K., 10 June 1998)

* South Africa. TRC told of plan to weaken Mandela - On 10 June,
the TRC released minutes of the apartheid-era State Security
Council which recommended that Nelson Mandela be released from jail
only after he became too physically weak to pose a political
threat. "Mandela must be in a relatively weak physical condition so
that he cannot operate as a leader for long", said the
recommendation. The minutes of the meeting in March 1986 were
released during a hearing into the regime's chemical and biological
warfare programme.  (InfoBeat, USA, 10 June 1998)

* Sudan. Slave trade - 3 June. Slavery still exists in the modern
world, and not only the slavery of addiction; actual buying and
selling of human beings is carried out today in Sudan. For $100 you
can buy a child from southern Sudan as a slave, and the government
will look the other way. Southern Sudan has resisted the Islamic
government because it is mostly inhabited by Christians and
adherents of traditional African religions. A new organization,
Christian Solidarity International (CSI), has been formed to combat
the problem. To date, CSI has rescued more than 800 slaves, freeing
them to return to their homes. The organization was founded twenty
years ago in response to the religious persecution of a Baptist
pastor in the Soviet Union. The Catholic Bishops of Sudan, in
addition to denouncing the slave trade, have also rescued slaves
with their own funds.  (Zenit, Rome, 7 June 1998)

* Soudan. Humanitaires tues - Trois employes soudanais d'ONG ont
ete tues le 9 juin dans le centre du pays par la guerilla sudiste,
a annonce l'ONU le 10 juin. Deux d'entre eux travaillaient pour le
Programme alimentaire mondial, et le troiseme pour le Croissant
Rouge soudanais.  (Liberation, France, 11 juin 1998)

* Togo. Ouverture de la campagne presidentielle - La campagne
electorale pour le scrutin presidentiel, dont le premier tour doit
intervenir le 21 juin, a debute au Togo le 6 juin, alors que la
plupart des candidats de l'opposition manifestaient leur
inquietude, notamment "sur les anomalies et retards qui entourent
l'organisation des elections". Six candidats, dont l'actuel
president Eyadema, au pouvoir depuis 1967, sont en course pour
cette seconde election presidentielle depuis l'ouverture
democratique de 1990.  (AFP, France, 6 juin 1998)

* Uganda. Police investigate CBS broadcasts - The police are to
widen their investigations into the central Broadcasting Station
(CBS) programmes covering the controversial draft Land Bill, a
Criminal Investigations Department source said on 4 June. A police
officer said the police will not confine their questioning to
presenter Mulindwa Muwonge, whose programmes are said to have
incited the public against the government over the Bill. The
officer said: "He (Mulindwa) is not the ultimate author of those
programmes. We have established that there is a committee which
vets programmes. It is unlikely that the probe will stop with
Mulindwa. This is a big sensitive issue. There are political and
ideological forces involved in this programme". CBS managing
director Peter Ssematimba denied allegations that the programmes
were intended to incite the people against the government. He said:
"We are not inciting the people; but someone would like to prove
that we are inciting the people. I don't know who".  (Peter Okello
Jabweli, Uganda, 5 June 1998)

* Uganda. ADF rebels burn students to death - 9 June: At least 50
students at Kichwamba National Technical Institute in Kabarole
district were yesterday morning burnt to death in their dormitories
by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels. Between 80-150 were
missing and many were feared to have been taken captive by the ADF.
The rebels attacked the college at around 5.30 a.m. They locked the
students in their dormitories and used petrol to set them ablaze.
Three out of the seven halls of residence at Kichwamba were
completely gutted by the fire and residents said there were loud
cries from the students as they burnt to death. The scene was
ghastly. 10 June: The death toll of students has now risen to 80.
Second Division army commander Col. Charles Angina, blames the
massacre on cowardice by the Uganda People's Defence Force troops
at the Institute whom he said: "never put up a fight". President
Museveni calls for action to crush rebels.-- Human Rights Watch
strongly condemned the attack and called upon the ADF immediately
to release the students abducted from the school during the attack
as well as all other children and adults in rebel captivity.  (New
Vision, Uganda, 9-10 June 1998, & ANB, 11 June)

* Ouganda. Massacre d'etudiants - Le 8 juin a l'aube, des rebelles
des Forces democratiques alliees (ADF) ont tue plus de 60
personnes, dont 40 etudiants d'une ecole technique, dans le
district de Kabarole, a l'ouest du pays. Les rebelles voulaient
forcer les etudiants a se joindre a l'ADF, selon le journal
"Monitor" du 9 juin. Ceux qui refusaient, ont ete enfermes dans un
local qui fut incendie.  (ANB-BIA,de sources diverses, 10 juin
1998)
* Zambia. Kaunda to quit party politics - On 4 June, former
president Kenneth Kaunda announced he plans to quit party politics.
Political analysts say this decision could enable him to regain his
"Father of the Nation" status in Zambia.  (InfoBeat, USA, 4 June
1998)

* Zambia. Turning to Anglo for assistance - Zambia is turning to
Anglo American Corporation, South Africa's biggest company, in the
hope of salvaging attempts to revive its ailing copper industry on
which the country's economy heavily depends. The move follows the
collapse of the Kafue consortium, which for 16 months had been
negotiating to take over Nkana and Nchanga, the two biggest
divisions of state-owned Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines. 
(Financial Times, U.K, 11 June 1998)

* Zimbabwe. Inflation et crise - Le taux d'inflation a atteint en
mars dernier sa valeur la plus elevee de ces deux dernieres annees,
soit 27,9%. Les augmentations qu'on croit desormais inevitables des
prix des carburants et de l'electricite, associees a la
depreciation de la monnaie, pourraient faire monter le taux annuel
de l'inflation a plus de 30% en juin, et a 40% deux ou trois mois
plus tard. Le gouvernement evite depuis six mois de toucher aux
prix des carburants dans la crainte d'enflammer le sentiment
populaire. Les etudiants ont a nouveau manifeste le 28 mai,
scandant des mots d'ordre anti-Mugabe et le menacant du sort du
president Suharto d'Indonesie. Ils ne sont qu'un symptome de la
crise politique et economique qui sevit dans le pays, avec le
chomage, la pauvrete et la corruption en constante augmentation. 
(Marches Tropicaux, France, 5 juin 1998)

* Zimbabwe. Article 19 criticizes Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe's government
has virtual monopoly of the mass media that has allowed it to
censor information about its opponents, Article 19, a British anti-
censorship group said on 9 June. The organization said the
government exerts a degree of control over the mass media alomost
without parallel in southern Africa. Although the independent press
in Zimbabwe is vigorous, it remains small and is constantly
inhibited by economic constraints and constant legal bullying,
Artile 19 said.  (InfoBeat, USA, 9 June 1998)

******> AVAILABLE ON YOUR REQUEST
==-> NIGERIA
Title: Maiden broadcast by General A.A. Abubakar, Head of State,
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. 9 June 1998
Description: The text of General Abubakar's address to the Nation
after his appointment as Nigeria's new Head of State
==>> ASK FOR: \NGA\IFEX0611.txt


COUNTRY