ANB-BIA - Av. Charles Woeste 184 - 1090 Bruxelles - Belg TEL **.32.2/420 34 36 fax /420 05 49 E-Mail: anb- bia@village.uunet.be _____________________________________________________________ WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 12-11-1998 PART #1/ * Africa. Action against the Media - Algeria: On 4 November, Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) together with other organisations, issued a press release appealing for true press freedom in Algeria. Also, on 10 November, Human Rights Watch called on the government to end the politically motivated financial pressure against four private daily newspapers. Congo RDC: On 16 October, Paulin Tusumba Nkazi A Kanda, editor of the independent newspaper Le Peuple, was arrested at his home for publishing a list of 29 people who allegedly financed the current rebellion in the country. On 5 November, RSF protested the arrest of six journalists and the closing of a newspaper, Le Soft, this week. Le Soft's editor-in- chief, Kileba Pok Smes, has gone into hiding. On 10 November, the Committee to Protect Journalists said that some of Le Soft journalists have now been released. Lesotho: The RSF expressed deep concern about the ransacking of journalist Naleli Ntlama's house on 3 November by soldiers in Maseru. He is a columnist with the Public Eye newspaper (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 November 1998) * Algerie. Presse: le conflit se prolonge - On s'attendait a la fin du conflit qui oppose des journaux prives aux imprimeries d'Etat depuis le 16 octobre, apres que les premiers aient indique le 5 novembre qu'ils allaient regler leurs arrieres de paiement. Cependant, aucun des quotidiens suspendus n'a reparu. Le 7 novembre, El Watan s'est vu encore interdire l'acces aux imprimeries, malgre le reglement de toutes ses dettes. Ainsi, selon son directeur, "la preuve est faite que la suspension est politique". Toutefois, trois quotidiens qui s'etaient mis en greve par solidarite, Liberte, El Khabar et Le Quotidien d'Oran, etaient de nouveau dans les kiosques, ebrechant ainsi l'unanimite de la presse privee. -- D'autre part, le ministre de la Communication et de la Culture a annonce, le 5 novembre, que la presse etrangere sera de nouveau distribuee en Algerie et que l'hebdomadaire Jeune Afrique avait deja recu une autorisation. La presse internationale n'etait plus distribuee en Algerie depuis la fin des annees 80. -- Le 10 novembre, on apprenait que El Watan paraitrait a partir du lendemain, selon son directeur, apres que la Societe d'impression d'Alger ait verifie la "situation des paiements" du quotidien. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 novembre 1998) * Algerie. Attaques et attentats - Dans la nuit du 8 au 9 novembre, dix personnes ont ete blessees dans une attaque au mortier artisanal contre le quartier populaire de Doueratte dans la ville de Blida, a 50 km au sud d'Alger. Au moins 8 obus se sont abattus sur la ville. - Par ailleurs, un vehicule piege a explose sur l'autoroute de Cheraga, causant la mort du conducteur. De plus, trois personnes ont ete brulees vives dans leur voiture incendiee a un faux barrage dresse par des islamistes entre Larbaa et Tablat, au sud d'Alger; et a Tlemcen (ouest) un homme et ses deux filles ont ete egorges chez eux. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 novembre 1998) * Angola. Political ins and outs - 5 November: The UN Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) has denied allegations that the Luanda authorities are cold-shouldering the UN Secretary-general's Special Representative, Issa Diallo. But, according to diplomatic sources, while welcoming the UN's humanitarian operations, the government is questioning the relevance of MONUA. Also, a new UNITA breakaway faction has emerged in Luanda led by the party's parliamentary leader, Abel Chivukuvuku. The new group of dissident parliamentarians, known as "The Platform for Understanding", say they are politically autonomous and independent from government- backed UNITA-Renovada -- the faction challenging the UNITA leadership of Jonas Savimbi, and spearheaded by Jorge Valentim and Eugenio Manuvakola. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 November 1998) * Angola. Guerilla attacks - A thorough search of the diamond mine attacked by 50 gunmen over last weekend, has revealed 8 people were killed, 16 injured and 6 abducted. This is the most up-to-date information on the attack. In another attack on 9 November, at least 20 people were killed when armed men ambushed 2 lorries on a remote stretch of road in southern Angola. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 12 November 1998) * Burundi. Processus de paix compromis? - Le chef de la diplomatie burundaise, Severin Ntahomvukiye, a declare le 3 novembre que le processus de paix inter-burundais risque d'etre compromis par le maintien des sanctions economiques et par la persistance des violences attribuees a la rebellion. Il a appele la communaute internationale a se mobiliser pour sauvegarder le processus de paix. L'agence burundaise de presse a egalement rapporte, le 4 novembre, que M. Ntahomvukiye a mis en garde contre l'existence d'un nouveau groupe rebelle, cette fois-ci tutsi. Il a fait savoir que plusieurs membres de ce groupe avaient ete arretes et etaient interroges. Certains analystes pensent qu'ils pourraient avoir un lien avec J.B. Bagaza, dirigeant du parti tutsi ultra PARENA, actuellement en exil en Ouganda.- D'autre part, le 4 novembre, la branche armee du principal mouvement de la rebellion, le CNDD-FDD, a reclame le remplacement du mediateur du processus de paix d'Arusha, Julius Nyerere, qu'elle accuse de partialite. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5 novembre 1998) * Burundi. Fear of torture or ill-treatment - Amnesty International is concerned that up to 20 men who were arrested on or around 31 October 1998, could be at risk of torture and ill- treatment in detention. All the detained are believed to be members of a new Tutsi armed opposition group, reportedly called the National Front for the Liberation of Burundi (FNLB). The FNLB is close to the opposition National Recovery Party, whose leader, former president Jean Baptiste Bagaza is currently in exile in Uganda. (Amnesty International, 6 November 1998) * Burundi. L'Onu contre les sanctions - Le Conseil de securite de l'Onu a recommande la levee des sanctions imposees au Burundi au lendemain du coup d'Etat militaire de juillet 1996. Il demande aux dirigeants de la region de proceder a la revision de ces sanctions en vue de les lever ou du moins de les suspendre. (Le Soir, Belgique, 9 novembre 1998) * Burundi. Represailles de l'armee - Plus d'une centaine de personnes (on cite le chiffre de 178), en majorite des Hutu, ont ete massacres par l'armee burundaise en represailles contre une attaque de rebelles hutu d'un camp habite par des Tutsi, selon des temoignages de survivants. Le massacre a eu lieu dans la nuit du 3 au 4 novembre a Rutovu, commune de Mutambu, a 35 km au sud de la capitale. Pendant une soi-disante recherche de rebelles, des maisons ont ete incendiees et au moins cent civils ont ete abattus. C'est l'action la plus sanglante depuis la fin du troisieme round des negociations inter-burundaises en octobre. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 12 novembre 1998) * Centrafrique. Securite et transport - Le president de la RCA, A.F. Patasse, a rencontre son homologue camerounais, P. Biya, pour discuter de securite et de transport, a rapporte RFI le 5 novembre. La RCA cherche de nouvelles routes d'approvisionnement et envisage celle de Douala a Bangui, dans la mesure ou la circulation ferroviere entre la capitale congolaise Brazzaville et Pointe-Noire a ete interrompue. Bangui et Yaounde se sont engages aussi a renforcer la securite le long de leur frontiere commune ou les attaques de "coupeurs de routes" sont frequentes. (IRIN, Nairobi, 6 novembre 1998) * Centr.Afr.Republic. Rwandan refugees sent back to Congo RDC - A report reaching ANB-BIA indicates that the great majority of Rwandan refugees residing in the Central African Republic (CAR), were embarked on 11 November in Bangui, and are being brought to Mbandaka, administrative centre of Equateur, Congo RDC. "To transport the 940 Rwandan refugees, of the Hutu ethnic group", the sources explained, "special boats were rented by the Central African Ministry of the Interior". The report continues: "The government of Bangui had in fact, clearly stated from the beginning, that it would not have offered long-term hospitality to the refugees... The Minister of the Interior openly and sometimes with threats, repeatedly declared his disfavour regarding the presence of the Rwandan refugees in the country". (...) (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 12 November 1998) * Comores. Deces du president - Le 6 novembre a l'aube, le president comorien Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim est decede a Moroni, a l'age de 62 ans, des suites d'une crise cardiaque, laissant l'archipel en proie a une crise secessionniste majeure. Le grand mufti de Moroni a immediatement fait savoir que "le president est mort de cause naturelle", visant ainsi a ecarter des rumeurs d'assassinat ou d'un nouveau coup d'Etat. Conformement a la Constitution, l'actuel president du Haut conseil de la Republique, Tadjiddine ben Said Massounde, assurera l'interim de la presidence jusqu'a l'organisation d'une election dans un delai de 30 a 90 jours. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 7 novembre 1998) * Comoros. President dies - Comoros President Mohammed Taki died on 6 November in the presidential palace in the capital, state radio announced. Foundi Toihir Said Maulana, the Mufti or highest spiritual leader of the Comoros, said the succession and details of the burial would be announced later. State radio suspended programs and broadcast solemn music and soldiers were deployed at strategic points on the streets of Moroni but there were no signs of civil unrest, witnesses said. Taki is the third president to die in office since the Indian Ocean archipelago became independent from France in 1975. The Comoros Islands have been riven by coups and attempted coups since independence. Tadjidine Ben Massounde, president of the High Council of the Republic is due to take over as interim head of state. On 7 November, nearly 3,000 mourners attended President Taki's funeral, amid speculation that foul play was involved in his death. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 November 1998) * Congo-Brazza. Insecurite - La circulation ferroviaire entre Brazzaville et Pointe-Noire, interrompue a la fin du mois de septembre a cause de l'insecurite, n'a pas encore repris, bien qu'un train ait reussi a passer la semaine derniere, ont indique des sources humanitaires. D'autre part, treize personnes ont ete tuees, quand un groupe arme a attaque un poste de police dans la region de Mouyondzi, au sud du pays, a rapporte le 6 novembre l'agence PANA. Les victimes etaient trois policiers et dix assaillants, soupconnes d'appartenir a la milice Cocoye, alliee a l'ancien president Lissouba. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 10 novembre 1998) * Congo (RDC). Est: eveques attaques - Dans son edition du 4 novembre, l'agence DIA de Kinshasa denonce le comportement des troupes rwandaises dans les territoires sous controle de la rebellion: une guerre declaree aux Tutsi du Nord et Sud-Kivu, et des agressions programmees contre la hierarchie catholique. Divers eveques et autres dignitaires auraient ete attaques et maltraites par les militaires ces dernieres semaines, et notamment Mgr. Gapangwa, eveque d'Uvira, qui est en fuite; Mgr. Kanyamachumbi, vicaire general de Goma, attaque chez lui et battu publiquement, dont on est sans nouvelles depuis quatre jours; Mgr. Runiga, eveque de Mahagi-Nioka, victime d'attaques et de pillages et recemment blesse. Mgr. Ngabu, eveque de Goma, qui a proteste ouvertement contre ces agissements, serait actuellement en danger. (D'apres DIA, Kinshasa, 4 novembre 1998) * Congo (RDC). UN report - The Congolese government of President Kabila has systematically abused human rights, conducted ethnic cleansing and killed, jailed or humiliated anyone opposed to its policies, a human rights investigator said on 4 November. But Robert Garreton of Chile, testifying to a General Assembly committee, also blamed rebels seeking to topple Kabila for imposing a "climate of terror," sexually assaulting women and making daily life unbearable for civilians living in the eastern part of the country. He said Kabila had started an "unjustified war", while the government operated under the theory victors could "impose their will." (Reuters, 5 November 1998) * Congo (RDC). Un Zimbabween a la tete de la Gecamines - Le 5 novembre, le chef de cabinet du president Kabila a rendue publique la nomination du Zimbabween Billy Rautenbach a la tete de la Gecamines, l'entreprise etatique de l'exploitation miniere. La famille Rautenbach est proprietaire d'un groupe de transports au Zimbabwe, au Botswana et en Afrique du Sud. Billy Rautenbach est directeur du groupe, qui comprend egalement la compagnie miniere Richpoint, qui aurait obtenu recemment 80% des actions de la Gecamines. Le president zimbabween Robert Mugabe serait actionnaire de la compagnie. La nouvelle a fait l'effet d'une bombe a Kinshasa, ou l'on parle d'une liquidation du patrimoine d'Etat. (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 7 novembre 1998) * Congo (RDC)/Chad. Chadian wounded - Wounded soldiers from Chadian army units have been streaming into hospitals in Kinshasa in the past week, witnesses said on 8 November. At least 40 Chadian soldiers were in Ward 11 of the sprawling Mama Yemo General Hospital in Kinshasa where the wounded were brought in on 5 November. Doctors at the dilapidated hospital said they were overwhelmed by the new arrivals and would move quickly to discharge cases that were not serious. A senior surgeon said more wounded Chadians and some Congolese soldiers were in an army hospital in Kinshasa's Kokolo barracks. (Reuters, 9 November 1998) * Congo (RDC). New rebel group - 11 November: Congolese authorities have shut down the COMCEL cellular telephone network operated by the leader of a new rebel movement against President Kabila. Witnesses say that on 10 November, armed troops swooped on the Kinshasa headquarters of COMCEL, which belongs to Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, son of Congolese tycoon, Bemba Saolona. The elder Bemba said his son's cellular network was closed down "in connection with his involvement with the rebellion". (Reuters, 11 November 1998) * Congo (RDC). Vers des negociations? - 4 novembre. L'Angola a envoye une colonne de plusieurs centaines d'hommes et de materiel lourd a Mbuji-Mayi, la capitale du Kasai, et a menace le Rwanda et l'Ouganda d'une "lecon foudroyante" s'ils ne se retirent pas. - 6 novembre. Le general Kagame, ministre rwandais de la Defense, en visite a Pretoria, a finalement reconnu officiellement la presence de troupes rwandaises au Congo. Cet aveu, demande depuis longtemps par la communaute internationale, pourrait debloquer le processus de paix. Le president sud-africain Mandela se dit en tous cas optimiste. Il a affirme qu'au sommet de Lusaka le gouvernement congolais avait en principe accepte la possibilite de pourparlers avec les rebelles. Mandela espere que la voie est ouverte a la proposition de la SADC, comprenant un cessez-le-feu, le retrait des troupes etrangeres, des negociations et finalement des elections democratiques. Toutefois, le gouvernement congolais a demande au conseil de securite de l'Onu de condamner officiellement "l'invasion de son territoire par le Rwanda et l'Ouganda, des lors que l'agression est clairement etablie". Et le 7 novembre, le president Kabila a exclu toute negociation de paix avec le Rwanda. Cependant, le 11 novembre, l'ambassadeur congolais au Kenya a declare a Nairobi que la RDC serait prete a discuter avec le Rwanda, l'Ouganda et le Burundi de la securite a leurs frontieres lorsque ces pays auront retire leurs troupes de son territoire. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 12 novembre 1998) * Congo (RDC). Appels a la paix - Les eveques catholiques du Congo-Kinshasa sont intervenus aupres du president Kabila pour qu'il engage un dialogue avec ses adversaires politiques. Le 7 novembre, la presse congolaise a publie un plan en huit points, soumis la veille au chef de l'Etat par l'assemblee extraordinaire des eveques. Dans un message adresse aux fideles et aux hommes de bonne volonte, datee du 7 novembre, les eveques, tout en condamnant "l'indeniable agression exterieure", estiment que la solution de la crise interne passe par un partage du pouvoir. Les prelats recommandent notamment la mise sur pied d'un gouvernement d'union nationale et l'organisation d'elections democratiques, libres et transparentes. -- D'autre part, la societe civile congolaise, a l'issue d'un seminaire qui s'est termine le 7 novembre, a egalement publie un "Agenda pour la paix au Congo", ou elle demande notamment de liberer les detenus politiques, de gracier tous les exiles, d'annuler l'interdiction de toute activite aux partis politiques et de respecter les droits de l'homme. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 novembre 1998) * Congo (RDC). Deuxieme foyer de rebellion - Un nouveau foyer de rebellion a eclate dans l'Equateur, province du nord-ouest de la RDC. Selon des sources diplomatiques et la presse congolaise, ce nouveau mouvement d'insurrection est dirige par Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, le fils de l'important hommes d'affaire Bemba Saolona. De nombreux soldats de l'armee gouvernementale originaires de l'Equateur auraient deserte le camp de Kabila. Le ministre de l'Information a refuse de commenter l'information. -- D'autre part, selon des sources militaires a Johannesburg, le Rwanda et l'Ouganda ont cree un etat-major commun pour coordonner l'action de leurs forces presentes en RDC, afin d'accelerer la chaine de commandement dans les domaines de la tactique, la logistique et la collecte de renseignements. Cette mesure serait une reponse au deploiement de troupes et de materiels par les allies de Kabila, le Zimbabwe, la Namibie et l'Angola. (D'apres Reuters, 10 novembre 1998) * Congo (RDC). Pertes tchadiennes - Un officier tchadien, dont l'identite n'a pas ete revelee, a declare le 9 novembre que les troupes tchadiennes avaient subi de lourdes pertes lorsqu'elles etaient tombees dans une embuscade dressee par les rebelles pres de Buta, au nord-est de la RDC. Les chiffres des pertes varient enormement selon les sources. Selon un employe congolais de la Croix-Rouge locale, qui a aide a enterrer les cadavres, au moins 122 Tchadiens auraient ete tues et 148 blesses. Le ministre tchadien de la Defense a admis la mort de deux soldats, et des journalistes a N'Djamena ont indique qu'au moins dix soldats tchadiens avaient ete captures. En septembre, le Tchad a envoye quelque 2.000 soldats pour soutenir le regime conglais. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 12 novembre 1998) * Djibouti. Severed supplies - As Eritrea and Ethiopia prepare for the much postponed Organisation of African Unity meeting to discuss their border conflict, in Ouagadougou on 7 November, a convoy of Ethiopian lorries has been attacked in Djibouti. A driver was killed and a tanker set on fire on 31 October near the frontier post of Galafi. The attack was claimed by Djibouti's opposition Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite et la Democratie, headed by former Premier Ahmed Dini, now in exile in Paris. Under a joint security agreement, Ethiopia deported some FRUD dissidents to Djibouti earlier this year. Addis Ababa has been worried by possible links between Eritrea and the Oromo Liberation Front, operating in south and east Ethiopia. Now it's concerned that Eritrea may be trying to link up with other potential opponents. The attack has underlines the fragility of Ethiopia's main supply route, the single road and rail link between Djibouti port and Addis Ababa. Djibouti is already struggling to keep up with the greatly increased flow of Ethiopian imports, which are now running six times higher than last year. (Africa Confidential, U.K., 6 November 1998) * Eritrea. Attack on the Ethiopian border - Eritrean forces this week shelled the outskirts of Ethiopia's northern town of Adigrat, killing one civilian and wounding several others, witnesses returning from the region said. They said the shelling on 4 November in the afternoon lasted only a few minutes and there was no return fire from the Ethiopian side. Adigrat lies some 20 miles south of the disputed border between the two countries. Ethiopian government spokesman Selome Taddesse declined to confirm or deny that an attack had taken place. A violent border conflict between the Horn of Africa neighbours erupted May 6. (Reuters, 6 November 1998) * Eritrea/Ethiopia. Talks in Burkina Faso - 7 November: Talks aimed at ending the Eritrea-Ethiopia conflict, open in Burkina Faso. Present are: Presidents Blaise Compaore (Burkina Faso); Hassan Gouled Aptidon (Djibouti); Issaias Afwerki (Eritrea); Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe); Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (Ethiopia). 8 November: It becomes clear the stumbling block is that the two belligerents have provided contradictory maps, showing that the disputed Badme town and its surrounding areas belong to their respective territories. The Talks end without any final agreement. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 November 1998) * Ethiopie/Erythree. Guerre et paix - De nouveaux bombardements auraient eu lieu cette semaine autour de la ville frontaliere ethiopienne d'Adigrat, juste avant les pourparlers de paix prevus le week-end du 7-8 novembre a Ouagadougou. Selon AFP, des obus erythreens sont tombes le 4 novembre sur la ville et auraient fait un certain nombre de victimes. Les affrontements ont repris la semaine derniere, apres une accalmie des hostilites pendant trois mois. - Le mini-sommet de l'OUA, qui a dure moins de 24 heures, s'est acheve le 8 novembre sans qu'aucun accord ne soit signe entre les belligerants. Toutefois, le president en exercice de l'OUA, Blaise Compaore, s'est felicite que pour la premiere fois "le comite a arrete un plan de paix a la disposition des deux parties". Les dirigeants vont maintenant devoir se pencher sur ces propositions et donner leur reponse a l'organisation panafricaine avant la fin de cette annee, a precise M. Compaore. -- Le 9 novembre a Addis Abeba, le ministre ethiopien des Affaires etrangeres a deja annonce que son pays acceptait le plan de paix propose par l'OUA. Ce plan, dont le contenu exact n'a pas ete devoile, appelle les belligerants a accepter le principe d'un reglement pacifique, a delimiter leur frontiere commune par la negociation et a demilitariser la zone frontaliere. Le ministre a cependant reconnu que "des tirs d'artillerie sont echanges sur tous les fronts presque tous les jours". Et, le meme jour, un correspondant de l'AFP a constate sur place que la region ethiopienne du Tigre, frontaliere avec l'Erythree, est quadrillee de dizaines de milliers de soldats prets a en decoudre. Le 11 novembre, l'ancien conseiller americain pour la securite nationale, Anthony Lake, est arrive a Addis Abeba dans le cadre d'un initiative americaine concernant le conflit. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 novembre 1998) * France. Dialogue islamo-chretien - La conference de l'episcopat francais, reunie en assemblee pleniere a Lourdes, a adopte le 7 novembre une declaration tres remarquee sur le dialogue islamo- chretien. Elle engage "vivement les chretiens a prendre en compte la presence musulmane a leurs cotes, a entrer dans une demarche quand cela est possible de dialogue avec les freres et soeurs croyants de l'islam". L'episcopat francais est decide a prendre en compte la mitoyennete de l'islam, non comme une concurrence, mais comme un enrichissement. (D'apres Liberation, France, 9 novembre 1998) * Gabon. Campagne presidentielle - Le 5 novembre, la campagne pour l'election presidentielle a debute au Gabon. Le president en titre, Omar Bongo, a appele les partis a ne pas susciter de violences. A cote de M. Bongo, sept autres candidats se disputeront le scrutin, qui est prevu pour le 6 decembre. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 6 novembre 1998) * Ghana. Ashanti to push ahead with Tanzanian mine - Ashanti Goldfields of Ghana, has completed its $135 million takeover of Samax Gold, a Toronto-listed company, and will push ahead with developing the Geita project in Tanzania into one of the world's biggest gold mines. Ashanti and Geita have adjoining properties in the Geita district. (Financial Times, U.K., 12 November 1998) * Guinee-Bissau. Les gens reviennent a Bissau - Les habitants de Bissau rentrent progressivement dans leur ville fortement endommagee par cinq mois de guerre civile, a rapporte l'agence Reuters le 6 novembre. "On observe un retour progressif a la normale, a signale un diplomate, mais ce n'est pas un retour en masse". Au moins 80.000 personnes avaient fui la ville en quete d'abri. Les agences humanitaires eprouvent cependant des difficultes a acheminer leur aide par la route; de nombreuses livraisons sont bloquees au Senegal, pres de la frontiere. Cependant, un premier avion d'aide humanitaire est arrive a Bissau et un cargo portugais a decharge une trentaine de conteneurs d'aide. D'autre part, les parties en conflit se sont mis d'accord pour mettre en place une commission paritaire chargee de superviser l'accord d'Abuja, signe le 1er novembre. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 7 novembre 1998) * Islam. Islam et droits de l'homme - Les 9 et 10 novembre, s'est tenu a Geneve un seminaire sur l'islam et les droits de l'homme, organise par le Haut commissariat des Nations unies pour les droits de l'homme. Vingt specialistes du droit islamique, designes par l'Organisation de la conference islamique, y ont participe. Tous les Etats musulmans ont accepte la declaration universelle des droits de l'homme, et certains acceptent mal que la communaute internationale vienne leur rappeler leurs devoirs en la matiere. Le respect des droits de l'homme se nourrit de la diversite du monde musulman, ont estime les experts. Pour les uns, conservateurs, la charia est l'unique texte de reference; pour les autres, progressistes, elle doit s'adapter au monde contemporain. L'experte du Bangladesh, Mme Shefali, a cependant interroge ses collegues sur les droits de la femme dans l'islam. Un droit qui, selon elle, est minore par celui des hommes dans plusieurs domaines comme la polygamie et l'heritage. (D'apres AFP, France, 10 novembre 1998) * Kenya. Crisis over sugar transit fraud - The expected trial this month of Fahim Twaha, Kenya's recently sacked assistant minister for natural resources, has brought into sharp focus the crisis facing Kenya's sugar sector. Mr Twaha, who denies the charges, stands accused of diverting large quantities of duty-free sugar, destined for re-export, on to local markets, undermining a domestic industry already suffering from a combination of local inefficiency and dropping world prices. It is far from an isolated case. According to Mark Too, the head of Kenya's parastatal sugar authority, well-connected traders evaded import duties on up to 90,000 tonnes in the first eight months of the year. (Financial Times, U.K., 10 November 1998) * Lesotho. Rehabilitation gets underway - As South Africa started withdrawing troops from Lesotho, the UN said it would be ready to present the government with an early rehabilitation plan in the coming days. South Africa's National Defence Force acknowledged in parliament that its military incursion into Lesotho two months ago, though conducted under the auspices of the SADC to prevent a coup, had been ill-prepared and had cost nearly US $4.44 million and 41 lives. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 November 1998) * Mozambique. Controversial new laws - Public seminars across Mozambique are being organised to debate two controversial draft Bills amending the country's Electoral Law and Constitution. The government unveiled white papers at the end of October on a new Electoral Code that will govern the 1999 presidential and parliamentary elections, and proposed news changes to the Constitution. The main opposition, RENAMO, has, however, condemned both the amendments and the popular debates organised to discuss them. It insists they should be deliberated in parliament. (IRIN, Southern Africa, 9 November 1998) * Nigeria. Recuperation des fonds detournes - Le gouvernement nigerian a recupere, aupres de la famille de l'ancien chef de l'Etat Sani Abacha, plus de 750 millions de dollars detournes des fonds publics, a annonce le 9 novembre le chef du service de presse de la presidence. Ces fonds ont ete places sur un compte special a la Banque centrale du Nigeria, a-t-il ajoute. En outre, l'ancien conseiller a la securite d'Abacha, Ismaila Gwarzo, a reconnu etre en possession de 250 millions de dollars d'argent public vole et de 37 proprietes immobilieres. M. Gwarzo avait ete accuse d'avoir derobe 1,3 milliard de dollars des reserves de devises du Nigeria. (D'apres AFP, France, 9 novembre 1998) * Nigeria. Missing funds recovered - 9 November: Nigeria says more than $750 million of missing state funds have been recovered from Ismaila Gwarzo, former security adviser to late dictator Sani Abacha. Presidential spokesman Mohammed Haruna says the sum includes $625.2 million, 75.3 million pounds sterling (US$125.4 million) and 252 million in local naira currency (US$2.93 million) recovered on Nov.6 in a continuing probe ordered by military ruler Gen.Abdulsalami Abubakar. "These huge sums were recovered from the former chief security adviser to the late Abacha in his house, and in some of his personal bank accounts," Haruna said. (Reuters, 10 November 1998) * Nigeria. US envoy visits - US presidential envoy Jesse Jackson, in Nigeria on the first leg of a four-nation West African tour, met leaders of the Ogoni ethnic minority and oil company officials on 9 November. The meetings took place on the eve of the third anniversary of the hanging of author Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight activists who had campaigned for more autonomy for the 500,000 Ogoni and against the degradations of oil exploration on their land. The American civil rights leader also met officials of oil giants Royal/Dutch Shell, Chevron and Elf Aquitaine that operate in the volatile Niger Delta oil region. (Reuters, 10 November 1998) * Nigeria. Jesse Jackson meets Abiola's family - 11 November: Jesse Jackson called Nigeria's most prominent political prisoner, the late Moshood Abiola, a symbol of hope for Africa's most populous nation. "Every day Abiola was in jail, he believed in one Nigeria and he lost his life trying to save the nation, Jackson said after meeting with Abiola's family. (Editor's note: Jesse Jackson is presently visiting Nigeria). Jackson urged Nigerians to remember Abiola and to ensure that his death was not in vain. (AP., 11 November 1998) * Rwanda. Admitting role in Congo war - Rwandan military strongman Maj.Gen.Paul Kagame acknowledged his troops were helping rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, paving the way for a possible ceasefire in the troubled country. Kagame said after talks with South African President Mandela in Pretoria that his involvement, starting in August and which his country had previously denied, was based on security concerns for his tiny but militarily powerful nation. Zambian President Chiluba, who has taken a neutral stand and is a mediator in the Congo crisis, swiftly welcomed the move by Kagame, saying it would push the peace process forward. (Reuters, 6 November 1998) * Rwanda. 630.000 deplaces - Une note d'information du PNUD indique que, d'apres des statistiques datant du 31 octobre, pres de 630.000 personnes se seraient deplacees vers le nord-ouest du Rwanda, principalement dans les prefectures de Ruhengeri et Gisenyi. Selon les observateurs etrangers, ces mouvements de population resultent d'une volonte du gouvernement de regrouper les habitants des collines difficilement controlables dans le contexte de guerilla. Le gouvernement de son cote affirme que les habitants quittent de leur plein gre les collines pour se desolidariser des rebelles. Ces regroupements de population, qu'ils soient forces ou non, ont entraine l'apparition de camps de deplaces sans aucune infrastructure d'accueil et cree une situation de profonde misere. Le PNUD a demande aux bailleurs de fonds une aide de 30 millions de dollars pour repondre aux besoins humanitaires des deplaces. (D'apres Infoaza, Burundi, 9 novembre 1998) * Rwanda. 630,000 displaced by conflict - At least 630,000 civilians have been displaced by the continuing conflict in northwestern Rwanda and conditions in the camps are worsening, the United Nations said. "As of the end of last week, the government had recognized a number of 630.000 displaced, primarily in Ruhengeri and Gisenyi," said Gromo Alex, an official with the UN. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Rwanda. Around 400,000 of the displaced people have been registered by government and prefecture authorities since last June and camp populations in some areas were "growing almost exponentially," Alex told a news conference. (Reuters, 6 November 1998) * Rwanda. Papal letter for inauguration of children's town - On 7 November, a letter from Pope John Paul II to Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, was made public. The letter was written on the occasion of the inauguration of Children's City in the diocese of Kabgayi, Rwanda. In the letter, dated 2 November, the Holy Father greets the members of the pontifical council, Rwanda's episcopal conference and the personnel of the apostolic nunciature "who worked arduously to realize this project". The Pope writes: "This "Nazareth Town", which I had hoped to see built as a symbol of practical charity and as a fruit of the Year of the Family, is the witness to the Church's solicitude and to the solidarity of countless persons and institutions for children in Rwanda who do not have families. I truly hope that the young people welcomed in this place, will find a true community of love which, in trust, unity and opening up to others, will help them to fulfil themselves, lead a fraternal life and find their place in society". (Vatican Information service, 9 November 1998) * Rwanda. 34.000 personnes liberees depuis 1994 - 34.000 personnes accusees de participation au genocide, mais qui sont malades, vieilles, invalides, ou dont les dossiers sont vides ou incomplets, ont ete liberees depuis 1994, a declare le 10 novembre le ministre a la presidence, M. Mazimhaka. Entre janvier et octobre 1998, 3.700 personnes ont ete liberees, a-t-il indique. Debut octobre, le gouvernement avait annonce sa decision de remettre en liberte 10.000 prisonniers dont les dossiers judiciaires sont inexistants ou incomplets; une decision qui avait provoque une vive polemique au Rwanda. (D'apres AFP, France, 10 novembre 1998) * Sahara occidental. Avertissement de Kofi Annan - Alors que le secretaire general des Nations unies poursuit une tournee de dix jours dans la region pour relancer le reglement du conflit, le roi Hassan II, dans un discours radiodiffuse le 6 novembre, a explique que le Maroc restait attache a l'application du plan onusien sur le Sahara occidental, tout en accusant le Front Polisario d'etre responsable des differents reports du referendum. Reagissant a ce discours, le 8 novembre, le Polisario a critique "les demi-verites et machinations" et deplore "l'intransigeance" du Maroc. --D'autre part, le 8 novembre, le gouvernement marocain a annonce la creation dans la region de 40.000 logements au lendemain du referendum, pour l'hebergement des "rapatries qui rejoindront la mere-patrie". La construction d'une universite fait partie egalement des projets pour appater l'electorat. - Le 9 novembre, a El Ayoune, Kofi Annan a averti que les Nations unies ne resteraient pas indefiniment au Sahara occidental si les deux parties n'avaient pas la volonte politique de parvenir a un accord en faisant des choix difficiles. Le 10 novembre a Marrakech, M. Annan a tente de convaincre le Maroc d'accepter son plan de reglement du conflit. Pour debloquer l'impasse, concernant la participation au referendum de quelque 65.000 membres de trois tribus considerees saharouies par Rabat et marocaines par le Polisario, M. Annan propose que ces personnes soient identifiees individuellement. Le Maroc a annonce qu'il repondra a ces propositions onusiennes. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 novembre 1998) * Sao Tome et Principe. Legislatives - Les electeurs sao-tomeens se sont presses aux urnes, le dimanche 8 novembre, pour renouveler les 55 deputes de leur assemblee nationale. Il y a eu quelques retards et difficultes d'organisation: une majorite des bureaux de vote a du attendre jusqu'a 10h. l'acheminement du materiel electoral pour debuter les operations de vote. Quelques bousculades ont egalement eclate entre militants des deux principaux partis. Mais malgre ces incidents, "le scrutin semblait se derouler normalement", estimait un des 23 observateurs internationaux venus assister au vote. -- Le 9 novembre, le president de la commission electorale a confirme la victoire du Mouvement de liberation de Sao Tome et Principe - parti social democrate (MLSTP-PSD), qui remporterait entre 28 et 30 sieges, soit la majorite absolue au Parlement. Cet ex-parti unique de la periode marxiste, que dirige l'ancien president Emmanuel Pinto Da Costa, devrait donc former dans les prochains jours un nouveau gouvernement dont la priorite sera de "reorganiser l'economie". (D'apres AFP, France, 8-9 novembre 1998) * Sao Tome e Principe. Parliamentary elections - 6 November: Voters in the two-island state of Sao Tome e Principe will be going to the polls on 8 November to choose a new parliament. Some 49,700 people are eligible to vote in the poll to elect 55 deputies to the national assembly. Since multipartyism was introduced in 1991, the country has had six governments, an abortive military coup and a forum of national unity last March failed to end long-standing political differences, the Lisbon Diario de Noticias daily said. It is hoped that the election will put an end to "a crippling period of instability marked by antagonism between the left-leaning coalition government and President Miguel Trovoada." The coalition government consists of the former sole legal party, the Movimento de Libertacao de Sao Tome e Principe-Partido Social Democrata (MLSTP-PSD) and the Partido da Convergencia Democratica (PCD). The ruling PLSTP-PCD had 27 seats in the current national assembly and the PCD 14. The Alianca Democratica Independente (ADI), which holds 14 seats, is closely allied to Trovoada, who was re-elected as president in 1996. 9 November: The ruling MLSTP-PSD has apparently won an absolute majority in the elections. (IRIN, West Africa, 6- 9 November 1998) * Sierra Leone. Combats et efforts de reconciliation - Au cours de deux semaines de combats acharnes, les troupes de la force ouest-africaine d'interposition, l'Ecomog, ont pris une serie de villes dans l'est de la Sierra Leone, a rapporte l'agence Reuters le 7 novembre. Le 9 novembre, 96 civils ont ete tues par des rebelles dans la ville de Sumaya, a l'est du secteur diamantifere de Tongo Field, et les combats se poursuivaient en fin d'apres- midi. Un detachement de l'Ecomog a ete depeche sur place. -D'autre part, un nouveau "groupe de contact pour la Sierra Leone" (comprenant: Allemagne, Chine, Egypte, Etats-Unis, France, Grande- Bretagne, Japon, Nigeria, Norvege, Pays-Bas, Suede, Union europeenne et CEDEAO) s'est reuni le 5 novembre pour se pencher sur le processus de reconciliation. Le groupe a repris a son compte la double approche (action militaire et conversations diplomatiques) recommandee par la CEDEAO pour amener les rebelles a la table de negociations. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 novembre 1998) * South Africa. Anti-smoking ban - South African moves to introduce some of the world's toughest anti-smoking laws have brought the government into head-on conflict with the tobacco companies and left much of the country sceptical that anyone will obey the legislation. Under the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill, passed in Cape Town this week, all tobacco advertising and smoking in public places will be banned. The Bill is expected to pass the upper house, the National Council of Provinces, within a week and could be just a presidential signature away from becoming law. (The Guardian, U.K., 7 November 1998) * South Africa. Six years of trials - South Africa faces six years of investigations and trials to deal with those who committed human rights abuses during the apartheid era, a senior state prosecutor said on 9 November. Jan d'Oliveira, deputy director of national prosecutions who has been investigating political crimes under the former regime, said his office was preparing several cases. Theses included some against former security force generals and against Wouter Basson, head of the old regime's chemical and biological warfare programme. It was also investigating the affairs of Winnie Madikzela-Mandela. (Financial Times, U.K., 10 November 1998) * South Africa. Chinese defence minister visits - 11 November: China's defence minister, General Chi Haotian, is on a two-day official visit to South Africa, aimed at "initiating high-level" military exchanges between the two countries. He said: "Military- to-military relations, and the development of those relations, should keep lace with other developments at state level". (IRIN, South Africa, 11 November 1998) * South Africa. De Klerk's legal fees - On 11 November, the government said it will not pay the legal fees for former President F.W. de Klerk's court battle against a panel that found him guilty of human rights abuses during apartheid. De Klerk is seeking to stop the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from publishing its findings that he was guilty. The Commission's final report was to have found de Klerk an "accessory after the fact" to bombings in the 1980s, of the headquarters of a church group and a labour federation that housed anti-apartheid organisations. (AP., 11 November 1998) * Sudan. UN renewed sanctions - The UN said on 5 November it had renewed sanctions on Sudan because it continued to back international terrorism. "We believe Sudan is a terrorist state," State Department spokesman James Rubin told a news conference. President Clinton formally notified Congress last week the tough trade sanctions, imposed a year ago and due to expire on 4 November, were being renewed for another year. The USA has long accused Sudan of fomenting international terrorism and in August sent missiles to destroy a pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum it linked to a group blamed for blowing up US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. (Reuters, 6 November 1998) * Sudan. Humanitarian staff withdrew - Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) announced on 5 November that it temporarily withdrew 42 OLS non-essential staff from southern Sudan's Western Equatorial region on 3 and 4 November following a series of thefts and two attacks on humanitarian staff travelling overland. The incidents took place between 28 October and 2 November. Local authorities attribute the incidents to SPLA deserters, however OLS is not in a position to confirm these reports. OLS is maintaining basic programme activities, such as those in health, nutrition, food distribution, water and education with some 20 essential staff who remain in Western Equatoria. "The outbreak of insecurity in Western Equatoria is extremely unsettling considering it has enjoyed relative stability compared to other parts of southern Sudan," said David Fletcher, acting OLS Coordinator, Southern Sector. "OLS agencies stand ready to return staff to the area once the safety of humanitarian workers can be guaranteed." (IRIN, Nairobi, 6 November 1998) * Soudan. Aide europeenne - La commission europeenne a approuve une aide de 10 millions d'ecus a titre d'aide d'urgence humanitaire en faveur des victimes de la guerre et de la secheresse au Soudan, a annonce le 9 novembre un porte-parole de l'executif europeen. Cette aide devra permettre au PAM d'acheter et d'acheminer de la nourriture pendant douze mois dans le cadre de l'operation d'urgence qu'il deploie au Soudan. (Le Soir, Belgique, 10 novembre 1998) * Sudan. Replacing air strike drug loss - A Khartoum newspaper said a US charity had promised to sen Sudan medical supplies to replace those lost in a US missile strike on a pharmaceutical plan Washington believed was used by terrorists to make poison gas. Al- Anbaa said Gardilis Malo of Americare, a not-for -profit medical relief group based in New Canaan, Connec., told Hussein Al-Obeid, head of Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission, the aid would be channelled through voluntary organisations. Malo is visiting Sudan in a delegation representing US private aid groups, including Charles McCormick, head of Save the Children, and Roger Winter, head of the American Society for Refugees. (Reuters, 10 November 1998) * Soudan. Mauvaises recoltes dans le sud - Les premieres evaluations indiquent que, suite aux deplacements des populations et aux pluies irregulieres et tardives, la production agricole globale devrait etre maigre dans la plupart des Etats meridionaux, y compris dans le Bahr el-Ghazal, a indique le PAM dans son dernier rapport. Il a fait savoir par ailleurs que le gouvernement soudanais avait accepte le plan pour la plupart des vols d'aide humanitaire en novembre dans les diverses localites du sud. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 11 novembre 1998) * Soudan/Erythree. Accord pour negocier - Le Soudan et l'Erythree ont signe, le 10 novembre, un accord pour poursuivre leurs contacts en vue de "regler leurs differents par la negociation", a-t-on annonce de source officielle qatariote. Le Soudan et l'Erythree ont rompu leurs relations diplomatiques en decembre 1994. Khartoum accuse Asmara, ou se trouve le siege de l'opposition soudanaise, de preter main-forte a la guerilla sudiste en lutte contre le pouvoir central. (Le Monde, France, 12 novembre 1998) * Tanzania. Advised to join Islamic Conference - The Supreme Council of Muslim institutions and organisations in Tanzania has advised the country to join the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to benefit fully from its assistance. The council's secretary general, Alhaj Abbas Kilima, was quoted Monday by a Muslim tabloid, Annur, as saying that the organisation's objectives were geared towards development. Tanzania has resisted from joining OIC because its constitution states the country is a secular rather than religious state. "It is true that this (OIC) is a religious organization but its objectives are to bring development including health and education services to the member states with Muslim populations", Kilima told a symposium in Dar es Salaam, the Tanzanian business capital. (Pana, Senegal, 11 november 1998) * Tanzanie. Les musulmans demandent l'adhesion a l'OCI - Le Conseil supreme des institutions et organisations musulmanes a renouvele la proposition d'adhesion de la Tanzanie a l'Organisation de la conference islamique (OCI), selon une nouvelle publiee le 10 novembre par le periodique 'Annur'. La Tanzanie compte quelque 30 millions d'habitants, dont environ la moitie est de confession musulmane. L'organisme islamique tanzanien souligne les avantages economiques et sociaux d'une telle adhesion. (D'apres Misna, Rome, 11 novembre 1998) * Uganda. Ankole herdsmen armed. Why? - In its issue of 9 November, the New Vision reported that herdsmen in the Ankole ranching corridor of Nyabushozi in Mabarara district, own a large assortment of weapons. Security sources say that mystery still surrounds the source of the guns, and all attempts to disarm the armed herdsmen have failed. On 8 November, a senior district official had said: "The guns are illegal and we are trying to remove them. We do not want another Karamoja here". But in its issue of 10 November, the New Vision clarified its previous day's report with a statement from Lt. Jones Mugabirwe, the district internal security officer. He said: "Herdsmen in Mbarara's ranching corridor are armed to check the rampant cattle thefts that cut across the region to neighbouring Tanzania. The armed herdsmen in the cattle corridor are all local defence forces, deployed to check the cattle theft which has plagued the whole region up to Tanzania. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 November 1998) * Uganda. 250 Kony rebels enter Kitgum - More than 250 Kony rebels have entered Kitgum district from Sudan, security and civilian sources said. The sources said the rebels entered Kitgum on the night of 6 November through Lela Bul in Lokuny subcounty in Lamwo county. By the morning of the 7 November they had split into small groups, heading towards Kitgum town. The district has been thrown into panic though the army said the situation was under control. Palaro civilians said the rebels attacked them last week and injured Peter Latigo, 32, and Samuel Taban, 29, who was beaten and left for dead. Both are now admitted to Gulu Hospital. A security source said the UPDF captured one rebel who said between 250 and 300 of them had entered the district. Sources said the rebels have new ammunition, including landmines, and are under strict orders from Sudan to mine all roads in the north. "The captured rebel has said many women are among the rebels and have come to carry looted food and goods," the source said. (New Vision, Uganda, 10 November 1998) * Western Sahara. Resolving dispute - Kofi Annan, UN secretary- general, set off at the weekend to North Africa to intensify efforts towards resolving the Western Sahara dispute. Mr.Annan visited Mauritania on 7 November and was expected to arrive in Laayoun in the Western Sahara last night, on a 10-day trip also taking him to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The UN has played a crucial role in trying to resolve the more than 20-year old dispute over Western Sahara, claimed by Morocco while the Polisario Front, which has been backed by Algeria, seeks independence for the territory. Morocco and the Polisario agreed in 1991 to a referendum to choose between integration or independence. But disagreement over who is eligible to vote in the referendum has led to repeated delay. The secretary-general's trip comes while doubts remain about whether the referendum will be held. Analysts are convinced neither Morocco nor the Polisario will accept an unfavourable outcome. Rabat continues to voice its commitment to holding the referendum but western diplomats say there are signs the Moroccans have been stalling. Since James Baker, the former US secretary of state and UN envoy to the Western Sahara, last year struck a deal resuming preparations for a referendum, identification of people eligible to vote in the referendum has proceeded and more than 147,000 applicants have been identified. Mr.Annan has again suggested delaying the referendum to December 1999, a year later than was agreed in the deal negotiated by Mr.Baker. (Financial Times, U.K., 9 November 1998) * Zimbabwe. Police and troops patrol the capital - 5 November: Zimbabwe riot police and troops patrol restless townships around Harare, a day after the capital was rocked by violent protests over fuel prices. The city of more than a million appears peaceful as people make their way to work, with public transport back on the road and a large number of businesses reopening normally. A few factories remain shut in the city's southern industrial area, close to townships where cars and buses were stoned and torched by angry mobs on 4 November, protesting at a 67% weekend fuel-price increase. The rise has pushed the cost of public transport up by an average 40%. The army has been put on full alert. (Reuters, 5 November 1998) * Zimbabwe. Greve generale de 24 heures - Le 11 novembre, les Zimbabweens, preoccupes par la baisse constante de leur pouvoir d'achat, ont repondu massivement a l'appel a la greve generale de 24 heures lance par la Confederation des syndicats zimbabweens (ZCTU), paralysant l'activite economique des principales villes du pays. La ZCTU a lance son mot d'ordre de greve bien que le gouvernement ait accepte, a la derniere minute, de negocier une augmentation de salaire de 20%. Harare, la capitale, avait l'air d'une ville fantome. On signalait des incidents a Kuwadzana, au sud-ouest de Harare, et a Mutare, a l'est, ou une personne a ete tuee par balle et plusieurs autres ont ete blessees. (D'apres AFP, France, 11 novembre 1998) * Zimbabawe. Fuel price violence - On 11 November, workers across Zimbabwe went on strike to press President Mugabe's government to reverse a 67% fuel price rise, with some challenging him to give more time to domestic problems over foreign policy issues. While most parts of the country were peaceful, one man was shot dead by police in Mutare, and two alleged looters wounded, following several hours of violent clashes between an army-police combination and protestors. The labour movement had announced on 7 November it would stage strikes every Wednesday until Mr Mugabe suspended the fuel price rise and engaged the unions in serious talks over a deepening economic crisis. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 12 November 1998)