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: 17-12-1998 PART #1/ * Africa. Action against the Media - Benin: On 15 December, two journalists, Edouard Loko and Septime Tolli, were sentenced to six- month prison terms for slander. Burkina Faso: On 13 December, Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) expressed concern over the death of Norbert Zongo, chief editor of the private weekly L'Independant. Gabon: RSF expresses concern to the jamming of Radio Soleil's programmes. Sierra Leone: On 10 December, BBC reporter Winston Ojukutu Macauley appeared in court and is charged with "false publication contrary to Article 98 of the Penal Code of 1998". Sierra Leone: A number of journalists appear for the first time in court among 22 civilians facing charges ranging from treason and aiding and abetting the enemy to conspire in overthrowing the government. Tanzania: On 8 December, the government banned the weekly Swahili-language tabloid Chombeza. The ban comes less than two months after a previous ban on the paper was lifted. The same day, the Daily Mail reported that one of its freelance journalists, Ali Sultan, was denied access to the Vuga Magistrate's Court in Zanzibar where he had gone to cover the treason trial of 18 members of the opposition CUF. (IFEX, Canada, 10-15 December 1998) * Afrique. Conseil oecumenique des Eglises - La 8e assemblee du Conseil oecumenique des Eglises, qui s'etait ouverte le 3 decembre a Harare (Zimbabwe) dans une atmosphere de crise, s'est achevee le 14 decembre apres avoir permis au mouvement de retrouver ses marques et de donner a ses Eglises des objectifs d'action pour les prochaines annees. Annulation de la dette pour les pays pauvres, reduction de celle des pays a revenus intermediaires, vigilance critique devant la mondialisation, defense des droits de l'homme, le mouvement oecumenique a place au premier rang de ses preoccupations l'action pour un monde plus juste. D'autre part, devant le fait que la majorite des chretiens appartient a des Eglises qui persistent a rester en dehors du COE, l'assemblee a enterine le projet d'un vaste Forum, un espace de dialogue sans pouvoir de decision, destine a favoriser la connaissance, les echanges et la cooperation entre ces confessions, membres ou non du COE. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 15 decembre 1998) * Africa. World Council of Churches - News from the Eighth Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), held in Harare, Zimbabwe. 9 December: The WCC is to give a total of US $159,300 to 18 groups around the world to help overcome racism. Discussions during the day covered a number of issues -- a Kenyan woman delegate complained to the president of CNN International that Africa only makes news when it's bad news. The Rev. Augustine Musopole tells an audience: "While Christianity in Africa is growing in numbers and in its geographical spread, its depth is questionable". The same day, Patricia Cruzado, a child worker from Lima, Peru, asked delegates how well does the Church listen to children today? 10 December: Professor Jesse Mugambi of Nairobi University, invites participants to take home "The African gentility and humility found in our culture and which has been demonstrated by President Nelson Mandela as well as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission". The same day, a "crisis meeting" of delegates and visitors from Sudan, called on the WCC not to be party to a "conspiracy of silence" on genocide in southern Sudan. The 150 members of the WCC's Central Committee are elected. 11 December: Fatuma Suleman, a Muslim from Ghana, asks the WCC Assembly: "Who is thy neighbour? Could I, a Muslim be thy neighbour?" The first reading of the official message from the WCC Assembly is greeted with polite applause and scathing criticism. Also, some delegates believe that the WCC will never be out of the financial woods until most of it 339 member churches make a contribution to the WCC. 12 December: The newly-elected Central Committee chooses its officers and Executive Committee. The WCC tells Sudan's Foreign Minister it is shocked by a bombing raid reported to have killed six people and to have damaged the cathedral and school served by Bishop Paride Taban. The WCC is to set up a commission on the participation of the Orthodox churches. 13 December: Nelson Mandela makes a surprise attendance. He says: "It is because of the values you promote and what you have stood for that I set aside whatever I was engaged in, to come and join you". In a Press Release, the WCC says the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has informed the WCC (letter dated 27 November) that it has decided to discontinue its membership of the WCC. 14 December: The WCC Assembly ends after member churches renew their half-century commitment to "stay together", and delegates promised to remain in solidarity with their African hosts. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 December 1998) * West Africa. UN Sanctions Committee - 10 December: The Chairman of the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on Sierra Leone, Hans Dahlgren, ends a four-day assessment tour of the country designed to judge the effectiveness of sanctions against rebels. During his stay, he met with President Kabbah and other senior government officials. He has now left for Liberia. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 December 1998) * Afrique de l'Ouest. Lutte contre la desertification - A la conference des Nations unies sur la desertification, a Dakar, le Programme de l'ONU pour l'environnement (PNUE) a demande aux gouvernements de lier les solutions aux problemes provoques par la desertification croissante aux autres questions ecologiques. Le PNUE a indique que le Senegal et la Mauritanie beneficieront d'un projet sur cinq ans d'une valeur de 12,2 millions de dollars, finance par Global Environment Facility, pour rehabiliter les sols degrades le long de leur frontiere commune sur un territoire de 60.000 kmę. Il a indique egalement qu'un projet de lutte contre la desertification etait entrepris dans les zones pastorales du Benin, du Burkina Faso et du Niger. -- La conference, qui s'est achevee le 11 decembre, a toutefois dresse un sombre constat. Surtout en Asie et en Afrique, les terres continuent a se degrader. Les grandes secheresses jouent un role important, mais le surpaturage, la mauvaise utilisation des terres et surtout la deforestation sont les principales causes de la desertification. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 15 decembre 1998) * Algerie. Demission du Premier ministre - Ahmed Ouyahia, le Premier ministre algerien, a demissionne le 14 decembre, apres des mois de rumeurs sur un depart presente chaque jour comme imminent. Ce depart sera sans doute bien recu par les Algeriens, meurtris par la violence et touches par la crise sociale. Depuis son arrivee au pouvoir en janvier 1996, M. Ouyahia a applique avec zele le programme d'austerite impose par l'accord d'ajustement structurel etabli avec le FMI, ce qui l'avait rendu fort impopulaire. Un diplomate de carriere de 68 ans, Smail Hamdani, a ete nomme, le 15 decembre, pour lui succeder jusqu'aux elections presidentielles. M. Ouyahia lui meme pourrait etre candidat a cette election. (ANB- BIA, de sources diverses, 16 decembre 1998) * Algeria. Premier quits - 14 December: Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia steps down, paving the way for a transitional government ahead of next April's presidential election. His resignation was requested by opposition parties who held him responsible for alleged rigging of last year's municipal elections. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 December 1998) * Angola. Les partisans de la guerre l'emportent - Le 10 decembre, la "ligne dure" du president Dos Santos, qui veut en finir "politiquement et militairement" avec le chef de l'Unita Jonas Savimbi, l'a emporte au congres du MPLA (parti au pouvoir). A l'issue du 4e congres du parti, les dirigeants historiques du MPLA comptant parmi les plus moderes ont quitte le comite central, tandis que des personnalites favorables a l'option militaire y ont fait leur entree. La guerre civile a, de facto, repris depuis plusieurs semaines en Angola. (La Libre Belgique, 11 decembre 1998) * Angola. Nouvelle guerre civile - Les combats entre le gouvernement et les rebelles de l'Unita ont repris avec une grande violence. Depuis le 5 decembre, la lutte s'est deplacee vers le centre du pays. L'armee gouvernementale a lance une attaque contre les villes d'Andulo et Bailundo, mais les forces de l'Unita les ont repousses et sont passees a la contre-attaque. Selon Reuters, elles auraient conquis une bonne partie de la region et encercle la ville de Kuito. Dans une interview, le 13 decembre, le chef d'etat-major de l'armee angolaise a declare etre surpris de la puissance de l'Unita, qui dispose de chars et d'artillerie lourde. L'Unita est militairement plus forte que jamais, a declare le general Joao de Matos. L'Angola a retire une partie de ses troupes de la RDC pour affronter cette nouvelle guerre civile sur son propre territoire. (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 15 decembre 1998) * Angola. Diamond dealers fuel conflict - International diamond traders are fuelling the civil war in Angola by buying diamonds from UNITA, according to a British-based environmentalist group. In a new report, the Global Witness group says trade is continuing despite UN sanctions imposed on UNITA. The report estimates that since 1992, UNITA has earned more than $3.5 billion from the sale of diamonds, helping it to re-arm itself. (BBC, 15 December 1998) * Angola. UNITA power - 13 December: UNITA has gained the upper hand in battles against the army in Angola's central highlands, says the government chief-of-staff, General Joao de Matos. He expresses surprise at rebel fire-power, which included tanks, assault vehicles and long-range artillery. "We stand before a UNITA with a military potential far beyond what it had before". Also, Angola has withdrawn at least one battalion from western Congo RDC. 14 December: Humanitarian staff working for the UN and NGOs have been temporarily withdrawn from two central Angolan towns amid heavy fighting between government forces and UNITA. Amnesty International calls on the government and UNITA to forbid deliberate and arbitrary killings of unarmed people and to prevent indiscriminate killings. 15 December: The government says it is evacuating children from the central highlands. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 December 1998) * Burkina Faso. Mort supecte d'un journaliste - Dix mille etudiants et lyceens burkinabe ont manifeste, le 15 decembre, devant le siege du parti au pouvoir a Ouagadougou, pour demander une enquete sur les circonstances de la mort de Norbert Zongo, le directeur d'un journal independant tres populaire dans la capitale pour son franc-parler et ses virulentes critiques a l'egard du pouvoir. Le corps du journaliste avait ete retrouve le 14 decembre sur une route deserte a une centaine de km au sud de Ouagadougou, avec ceux de son chauffeur et de deux autres passagers dans leur vehicule incendie. Leurs cadavres etaient carbonises. Selon un membre du mouvement burkinabe des droits de l'homme, des impacts de balles etaient visibles sur les portieres. La famille a demande une enquete. (D'apres AFP, France, 15 decembre 1998) * Burundi. Radio pour la paix - L'Eglise catholique au Burundi va lancer la radio "Ijwi ry'amahoro" (La voix de la paix), qui devrait voir le jour vers la fin de l'annee. L'emetteur diffusera des informations sur les dioceses en trois langues (kirundi, francais et swahili). Il se propose de consacrer ses ondes au retour de la paix dans le pays, au pardon entre Burundais et aux emissions sur le developpement. Dans une premiere phase, la radio ne sera captable qu'a Bujumbura; ensuite aussi a l'interieur du pays. (D'apres CIP, Belgique, 10 decembre 1998) * Burundi. Reprise des negociations - Le 14 decembre, M. Nyerere a ouvert les travaux de trois des cinq commissions issues des pourparlers de paix interburundaises du mois d'octobre, deplorant les violations du cessez-le-feu dans le pays. Les commissions reunies sont celles chargees d'etudier: la nature du conflit (sous la presidence de M. Guebuza du Mozambique), les questions de democratie et de bonne gouvernance (presidence: Nicholas Hayson, Afrique du Sud, et Thomas Fleiner, Suisse) et la paix et la securite pour tous (presidence: Matteo Zuppi de la communaute San Egidio). Chaque commission comporte 18 membres, soit un representant par delegation admise aux negociations. Ces travaux devraient se poursuivre jusqu'au 21 decembre, et leurs conclusions seront examinees en seance pleniere au quatrieme round de negociations dont le debut est fixe au 18 janvier prochain. (D'apres Hirondelle, Arusha, 14 decembre 1998) * Burundi. Attaque rebelle - Le 14 decembre, 30 personnes ont ete tuees et 20 autres blessees dans une attaque menee par la rebellion hutu contre le camp de regroupement de Muyange, dans la province de Bururi au sud du Burundi, a annonce l'agence burundaise de presse. Le site de Muyange avait accueilli recemment une centaine de personnes qui avaient quitte les rangs de la rebellion. "L'administration les avait reconvertis et ils cooperaient dans des operations pour traquer les rebelles", indique l'agence. (La Libre Belgique, 16 decembre 1998) * Comores. Panique a Anjouan - Le 10 decembre, plusieurs milliers de civils ont fui les violences entre milices rivales dans Mutsamudu, la capitale de l'ile separatiste d'Anjouan. Une mission de generaux africains, envoyee par l'OUA, se trouve depuis le 9 decembre a Moroni, capitale des Comores. L'OUA devrait decider de l'opportunite d'une intervention lors de son sommet a Ouagadougou, les 17 et 18 decembre. - Le 13 decembre, une accalmie relative regnait dans l'ile, apres une semaine de violents affrontements qui ont fait au moins 60 morts. Mutsamudu est coupee du monde, sans electricite ni communications telephoniques. Un tiers de la ville est completement deserte, formant une espece de no-man's land entre les forces des deux camps.- Le 14 decembre, une mediation a ete entamee a Mutsamudu par des notables de la localite d'Ouani (au nord), alors qu'une treve regnait dans la capitale de l'ile separatiste. Un accord de cessez-le-feu de 48 heures a ete signe dans la soiree. Des negociations commenceront le 16 decembre a Sima (ouest). (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 decembre 1998) * Congo-Brazza. Les Ninjas controlent le Pool - Un an apres la guerre civile, une partie du Congo s'est a nouveau transformee en champ de bataille. Depuis le week-end du 12-13 decembre, la region du Pool, au sud de la capitale, serait "bouclee" par les forces gouvernementales appuyees par des troupes angolaises, apres que les miliciens Ninjas de l'ancien Premier ministre Kolelas aient pris le controle effectif de cette partie du territoire. Depuis un mois, les affrontements au sud de Brazzaville ont fait officiellement une centaine de victimes, mais selon des sources religieuses le bilan serait beaucoup plus lourd et la population civile est "la cible sans defense des uns et des autres". (D'apres Liberation, France, 14 decembre 1998) * Congo (RDC). Penuries dans les villes - A Kinshasa, la situation est tendue, notamment a cause d'un grave probleme de carburant. Les salaires des fonctionnaires ne sont pas payes depuis plusieurs mois, y compris chez les militaires. A Lubumbashi, les pluies trop abondantes ont reduit de moitie les recoltes; on craint une explosion des prix alimentaires. La ville connait le meme probleme de carburant que Kinshasa. A Bukavu, en zone rebelle, cela va mal egalement: la route d'Uvira n'amene plus de poisson, et celle du nord, qui fournissait des produits agricoles, est plus avare encore en raison de l'insecurite qui y regne. Goma est un peu mieux lotie, pouvant importer de la nourriture de l'Ouganda; elle compense ainsi en partie ce qui ne vient plus du Masisi, grenier de la region paralyse par les affrontements. (D'apres M-F.C., La Libre Belgique, 15 decembre 1998) * Congo (RDC). Combats - Selon l'AFP, d'importants combats ont eu lieu depuis le week-end du 12-13 decembre autour de Pweto, pres de la frontiere zambienne, entre la rebellion congolaise et des rebelles hutu burundais des Forces pour la defense de la democratie (FDD), la branche armee du principal mouvement de rebellion burundaise. - Durant le meme week-end, de violents affrontements sont survenus a Kabalo, port strategique sur le fleuve Congo. Les rebelles ont declare avoir abattu deux avions allies et repousse une contre-offensive des forces gouvernementales. Selon le journal officiel zimbabween Herald, 80 rebelles auraient ete tues, le bilan des pertes alliees n'etant pas connu. Le Rwanda dit avoir tue 45 soldats zimbabweens, dont deux officiers superieurs. Le Zimbabwe a confirme la mort de ces deux officiers dans un helicoptere de combat abattu par les forces rebelles. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 decembre 1998) * Congo (RDC). War continues - 11 December: Jet fighters drop bombs on a quiet fishing village and rebels claim new victories over government-allied troops. In eastern Congo, planned peace talks have so far done little to slow the fighting. The war-weary Congolese in Kalemie, a port town on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, brace themselves for more government air strikes. There is little sign that either President Kabila or the rebels fighting to oust him, are serious about a proposed cease-fire and UN sponsored peace talks scheduled next week in Lusaka, Zambia, have now been postponed sine die. Earlier this week, war planes from Kabila's main ally, Zimbabwe, killed at least 12 people and injured 15 others in an attack on Kalemie, 620 miles east of the capital, Kinshasa. 12 December: A rebel commander says his troops are poised to capture Molira, the last government-held stronghold along Lake Tanganyika. 13 December: Rebels say that government forces bombed the small town of Kabalo, deep inside rebel-held territory, but the attack was beaten back and two aircraft were downed. 14 December: Zimbabwe says it has lost a helicopter in weekend fighting around Kabalo. 15 December: Uganda's New Vision reports that many Congolese nationals are fleeing across the border into Kisoro. Rebels claim to have killed 47 Zimbabwean troops, including two commanders (possibly the two senior Zimbabwean officers killed in the helicopter), during the battle with Congo government forces at Kabalo. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 December 1998) * Congo (RDC). D'un sommet a l'autre - Le 10 decembre, le ministre sud-africain des Affaires etrangeres, Alfred Nzo, a insiste pour que les rebelles de la RDC soient admis aux discussions de paix qui doivent se tenir a Lusaka le 15 decembre. Sans leur participation directe, les discussions n'auront pas d'objectif, a-t-il ajoute. Ce meme jour, le president Kabila est arrive a Nairobi, ou il a eu une rencontre avec le president kenyan Arap Moi. L'ambassadeur congolais au Kenya a reaffirme la position de son pays, qui refuse de signer un cessez-le-feu tant que le Rwanda et l'Ouganda ne se seront pas retires. - Le 11 decembre, la Zambie, qui devait accueillir le sommet, a annonce qu'il avait ete annule, sans qu'aucune explication officielle ne soit fournie. On attend donc le sommet de l'OUA qui doit se tenir les 17 et 18 decembre a Ouagadougou, pour lequel les rebelles ont declare avoir recu une invitation officielle. - Le 16 decembre, a son arrivee au Burkina Faso pour le sommet de l'OUA, le president Kabila a declare qu'il n'envisageait pas de rencontrer les representants de la rebellion. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 17 decembre 1998) * Eritrea/Ethiopia. Clerics talk peace - In November, a meeting, bringing together Orthodox Christians, Catholic, Evangelical, protestant and Muslim clerics of Ethiopia and Eritrea, took place in Oslo, Norway. It was the first time these religious leaders had met since the dispute broke out in May this year. Their talks lasted for four days, during which it became clear that, unlike their political leaders and despite their denominational differences, the common goal of all participants was peace. (ANB- BIA, Brussels, 14 December 1998) * Ethiopia/Somaliland. Seeking port access - As the dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea reaches the six-month mark, with no sign of a peaceful resolution to the standoff, Ethiopia is firming up its relationships with ports in other neighbouring countries to ensure imports and exports continue to move smoothly. A well-placed source in the transport industry said that the EU would be shipping, for the first time, a 15,000 mt consignment of food aid destined for eastern Ethiopia through the port of Berbera in the self-declared state of Somaliland. The Kenyan port of Mombasa will also be handling cargo for Ethiopia, the Kenya Ports Authority said on 10 November, according to the Daily Nation. The transport source said that if the Berbera shipment goes well, "it will be all systems go for Somaliland." The port of Berbera handled incoming traffic of 65,000 mt of cargo last year, according to a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) official quoted by the East African on 7 November, but could handle up to 1,000 mt per day, according to a report form the UN in Ethiopia earlier this year. (IRIN, Nairobi 11 December 1998) * Guinee. Presidentielles - Le 14 decembre, quelque 3,8 millions de Guineens se sont rendus aux urnes pour elire leur president parmi cinq candidats, dont le president sortant, le general Lansana Conte, qui pourrait etre reconduit des le premier tour. L'ambiance etait tendue dans le pays, en particulier dans la capitale Conakry, apres des incidents qui ont fait, le 12 decembre, six morts et une centaine de blesses. Lansana Conte, 64 ans, qui dirige le pays depuis son putsch de 1984, avait ete elu pour la premiere fois lors d'une election pluraliste en decembre 1993. Les candidats de l'opposition ont deja denonce des "fraudes massives", affirmant que seulement 40% des electeurs avaient recu leur carte d'electeur. (La Croix, France, 15 decembre 1998) * Guinea. Elections - 10 December: On 14 December, the Guinean people will be voting for a president. The authorities have announced that there will be 100 international observers. They will be free to move throughout the national territory. Opposition leader, Alpha Conde, says he's suspending campaigning for the elections in protest at the way they've been organized. 14 December: Presidential elections. If a run-off is needed, it will be on 28 December. 15 December: It is reported that Alpha Conde has been detained at the Guinean-Ivorian border and is being escorted to Conakry. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 December 1998) * Guinea-Bissau. Agreement - 15 December: Togolese officials say the belligerents in Guinea-Bissau have reached a power-sharing agreement. The deal aims to consolidate a ceasefire agreed last month in the war between President Nino Vieira and his sacked former army chief, General Ansumane Mane. The power sharing agreement, reached in Lome, centres on the distribution of cabinet portfolios and the possible deployment of a West African peacekeeping force. (BBC, 15 December 1998) * Guinee Bissau. La paix progresse - Le 14 et 15 decembre a Lome (Togo), des entretiens ont eu lieu entre le president bissau- guineen Vieira, le chef de la mutinerie militaire, le general Ansumane Mane, et le Premier ministre Francisco Fadul, sous l'egide du president togolais Eyadema, president en exercice de la CEDEAO. Ils sont tombes d'accord sur la mise en place d'un gouvernement d'unite nationale, au sein duquel les deux parties se sont attribuees chacune huit portefeuilles. Ils ont egalement convenus de proceder "tres rapidement" au deploiement de la force ouest- africaine ECOMOG, qui doit preserver le cessez-le-feu. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 decembre 1998) * Kenya. Tighter security - Security has been tightened around the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve after three hooded men attacked tourists, Kenya Wildlife Service Director Richard Leakey said: "We have a massive operation going on...I am very comfortable that we will get this crowd of three," Leakey said. Twice on the same stretch of road near the reserve on 10 November, bandits attacked six tourist vans and stole valuables and passports. No one was reported injured. The attacks were the seventh and eighth this year in the same place. Police said most of the tourists involved were British. (AP, 11 December 1998) * Kenya. "Moi -- The making of An African Statesman" - Never underestimate the power of the pen. Andrew Morton's book, Moi:The Making of An African Statesman, released in Kenya four weeks ago has been the subject of much debate. I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it; in fact, I stayed up reading it until four in the morning on three consecutive nights, unable to put it down. Most of the book is actually about the Kenyatta era and only its final quarter is dedicated to the 20 years that Daniel arap Moi has been Kenya's president. (...) The picture of Moi that emerges in Morton's book is of a man who, because he is generally unsophisticated, inarticulate and lacking in charisma, has always been underestimated by his political opponents. These limitations means he has always preferred loyalty to competence and as a result, even though Morton does not say it, has transformed him into the guru of mediocrity. (The East African, Kenya, 7-13 December 1998) * Lesotho. Interim leaders named - 16 December: The multi-party Interim Political Authority has elected two leading politicians to chair the body which will govern Lesotho for the next 15 months until a general election. Delegates elected Dr. Khauhelo Raditapole of the Basutoland Congress Party, and Advocate Lekhetho Rakuoane of the Popular Front for Democracy. (IRIN, Southern Africa, 16 December 1998) * Liberia. Prince Johnson charged with treason - The authorities have charged former faction leader, Prince Johnson, with treason. Liberia will seek his extradition from Nigeria to stand trial. The authorities are also seeking the extradition of several other Liberians accused of treason following violence in Monrovia in September. Johnson request the intervention of ECOWAS to resolve the difference between him and President Taylor. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 December 1998) * Libye. Petrole - Le 10 decembre, dans un appel pressant adresse aux dirigeants des pays membres de l'OPEP, le dirigeant libyen Kadhafi a preconise un arret total "pendant l'hiver" de la production de brut des 11 pays de l'OPEP, pour faire remonter les prix qui ont degringole au-dessous des 10 dollars le baril. (Le Monde, France, 12 decembre 1998) * Libya. General People's Congress - Prospects for the surrender of the Lockerbie suspects improved dramatically on 15 December, after Libya's General People's Congress said it accepted a British- American proposal for a trial in the Netherlands. The Congress expressed "satisfaction" with the offer, though it made no mention of handing over the two accused. (The Guardian, U.K., 15 December 1998) * Libye. Extradition? - Le Congres general du peuple (Parlement) libyen a cloture sa session, le 15 decembre, sans annoncer de decision sur l'extradition vers les Pays-Bas de deux suspects libyens de l'attentat de Lockerbie, mais en se disant "satisfait de l'accord sur le proces dans un pays tiers", ce qui augure une probable issue du dossier. (La Libre Belgique, 16 decembre 1998) * Namibie. Elections regionales - Selon des resultats provisoires publies a Windhoek, la SWAPO du president Sam Nujoma a remporte dix des treize conseils regionaux, apres deux jours de vote au debut du mois de decembre. La SWAPO a remporte tous les sieges dans la bande de Caprivi, longtemps un bastion de l'opposition. Quatre candidats de la Democratic Turnhalle Alliance se sont enfuis au Botswana et les dirigeants locaux de ce parti ont appele leurs partisans a ne pas voter. Moins de 20% des inscrits ont participe au scrutin dans la bande Caprivi, et au niveau national, seuls 35% des 800.000 inscrits ont vote, contre 81% en 1992. (D'apres Marches Tropicaux, France, 11 decembre 1998) * Namibia. Drought assistance/refugees - The WFP says it has approved an emergency drought relief operation for Namibia worth an estimated US $983,000. Both Namibia and southern Angola have been affected by drought in the early months of 1998 which had wiped out crops and left many rural households without means of subsistence. Also, it is reported that the number of Namibians fleeing secessionist tensions in the northern Caprivi Strip south into Botswana, has increased from 849 two weeks ago, to 1,200. (ANB- BIA, Brussels, 16 December 1998) * Rwanda. Tribunal international - Omar Serushago, chef de la milice extremiste hutu Interahamwe a Gisenyi en 1994, a plaide coupable de genocide, le 14 decembre, devant le tribunal penal international pour le Rwanda d'Arusha en Tanzanie. Il est le deuxieme accuse a plaider coupable devant cette instance, mais le premier de la milice Interahamwe a le faire. Il a reconnu notamment etre "responsable de meurtres et d'atteintes graves a l'integrite physique ou mentale de membres de la population tutsi dans l'interet de detruire en tout ou en partie ce groupe ethnique ou racial". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 15 decembre 1998) * Rwanda/France. France "non impliquee" dans le genocide - Le rapport de la mission parlementaire francaise chargee d'examiner le role joue par la France au Rwanda a ete publie le 15 decembre. Il conclut que la France n'est "nullement impliquee" dans le genocide rwandais, mais souligne de graves fautes d'appreciation. Il reconnait que "la France n'a pas porte un regard suffisamment critique sur la derive raciste du regime" et qu'elle "s'est ainsi trouvee piegee par sa propre strategie et manipulee par un pouvoir qu'elle entendait contraindre a changer de politique". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 decembre 1998) * Sao Tome e Principe. $1 million missing - 15 December: President Trovoada says he is shocked by revelations that $1 million is missing from a government account in Paris and pledges a full investigation into the scandal. Central Bank chief Carlos Quaresma last week confirmed a report in the Noticias newspaper that the money was transferred out of the account without official authorization. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 December 1998) * Senegal. Blocking aid agencies - Aid workers said that Senegalese troops were blocking convoys carrying food and medicine from crossing the border into Guinea-Bissau where thousands of people are in urgent need of supplies due to a five-month conflict. "The Senegalese won't let us through," said Serafim Jorge, a spokesman for International Medical Assistance, a Portuguese relief group working in Guinea-Bissau. Senegal deployed some 3,000 troops in the small West African country and former Portuguese colony in June, sent to help President Vieira contain a military rebellion. (AP, 11 December 1998) * Sierra Leone. Pas de dialogue - Le 11 decembre, les autorites de Sierra Leone ont repousse une suggestion de la communaute internationale d'ouvrir le dialogue avec les rebelles qui terrorisent les populations du nord et de l'est du pays. Elles "ne croient pas vraiment" que les rebelles honoreraient un quelconque accord de paix, a declare le ministre des Affaires etrangeres, Sama Banya. Le gouvernement mise pour l'instant sur l'option militaire. Pour M. Banya, 5.000 hommes supplementaires seraient necessaires a l'ECOMOG pour mater la rebellion. Celle-ci a encore lance une attaque, le 10 decembre, contre la ville de Mogbontoso, a moins de 60 km de la capitale. Dans son dernier rapport, l'Economist Intelligence Unit declare le pays "extremement instable" et qualifie le refus du gouvernement de negocier avec les rebelles de "decevant". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 decembre 1998) * Sierra Leone. Update of events - 10 December: ECOMOG forces beat back an attack on Magbontoso, less than 60 km from Freetown. The same day, the WFP's Executive Director, Catherine Bertini, arrives in Freetown on a three-day assessment tour. 11 December: UNICEF says that over 50% of Sierra Leone's children are without education. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14 December 1998) * Somalie. Affrontements et famine au sud - Situation extremement tendue a Kisimayo, ou de violents combats entre factions opposees ont eu lieu le 12 decembre. Cette ville, chef-lieu du sud de la Somalie, est actuellement controlee par le general Mohammed Said Hersi et le clan Darod. La milice rivale est celle des Marehan du clan Habr Gedir. Selon des sources concordantes, les combats auraient fait 47 morts et plus d'une soixantaine de blesses. - D'autre part, le PAM signale que 700.000 habitants des regions de Bay et Bakol, dans le sud de la Somalie, sont menaces d'une grave famine si une aide ne leur parvient pas rapidement. 300.000 d'entre eux seraient particulierement vulnerables. (ANB-BIA,de sources diverses, 15 decembre 1998) * Afrique du Sud. Fin de "Executive Outcomes" - Nico Palm, le directeur d'Executive Outcomes, celebre dans toute l'Afrique pour ses activites paramilitaires, a annonce la prochaine fermeture de son entreprise, marquant ainsi la fin d'une legende dans le monde mercenaire. "C'est une decision commerciale", a-t-il precise a l'AFP le 10 decembre. Officiellement, cette compagnie de "securite de conseil militaire" compte fermer ses bureaux a Pretoria le 1er janvier prochain. Sa representation a Londres n'existe plus depuis l'an dernier. Cette fermeture a cependant ete accueillie avec le plus grand scepticisme par les experts. "Ils ferment ici pour mieux reapparaitre ailleurs", estime un specialiste. (D'apres AFP, France, 10 decembre 1998) * South Africa. Executive Outcomes to close down - Executive Outcomes (EO), the South African mercenary company whose operations have included providing military support for governments in Angola and Sierra Leone against their rebel opponents, announced on 10 December that it would close on 1 January next year, nearly a decade after it was founded. "What we did we did very well and we are proud of it", said Nico Palm, the EO director who made the announcement. "There is a time to come and a time to go". In South Africa, mercenary groups now face the threat of having their assets confiscated under the new Military and Foreign Assistance Act. EO, however, made submissions when the legislation was being drafted and says it is the only security company to have a permit under the law. (Financial Times, U.K., 11 December 1998) * Sudan. African countries discuss refugees - 10 December: Representatives of some 40 African countries are meeting in Khartoum to discuss what to do about the continent's eight million refugees. The meeting, organised by the OAU is to be followed by a ministerial-level gathering on 13 December. The OAU's secretary- general, Daniel Antonio, said both donors and host countries appeared to be suffering from compassion fatigue. Sudanese rebels have criticized Khartoum for hosting the meeting, saying the government has itself turned millions of Sudanese into refugees. The UNHCR says Sierra Leoneans now make up Africa's biggest refugee population. It says 215,000 people have fled from Sierra Leone this year alone. Most are in Guinea and Liberia. (BBC, 10 December 1998) * Soudan. Rapport americain - Une nouvelle etude menee par le US Committee for Refugees a revele que la guerre civile soudanaise a cause la mort d'au moins 1,9 million de personnes dans le sud et le centre du Soudan. Le rapport intitule "Quantifier le genocide au Sud Soudan et dans les monts Nouba: 1983-1998" estime que les 15 annees de guerre civile ont entraine la mort d'un Soudanais sur cinq dans le sud du pays, et que plus de 80% des 5 millions d'habitants du Sud Soudan ont ete deplaces a l'un ou l'autre moment depuis 1983. "La perte massive en vies humaines au Soudan depasse de loin le taux de mortalite enregistre dans n'importe quelle autre guerre civile au monde", affirme le texte. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 11 decembre 1998) * Sudan. 1.9 million killed - Civil war in Sudan has caused the deaths of more than 1.9 million people since 1983, a humanitarian agency says. The 15-year war for control of the southern and central part of Africa's largest nation has killed one in five southern Sudanese, the Washington-based US Committee for Refugees said in a report issued on 10 November. The deaths were either the result of the war itself, war-induced famine, or direct government or rebel policies, the report said. In the first six months of 1998, more than 70,000 people died, it said. (AP, 11 December 1998) * Sudan. Explosion's trial suspended - 16 December: The High Court's constitutional department has temporarily decided to suspend the trial of the accused in the Khartoum State explosions case, while awaiting the Attorney General's reply to the temporary petition made by the defense to have the case dismissed. The court has fixed 28 december for its next hearing. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 December 1998) * Ouganda. $2,2 milliards d'aide - Le Club de Paris, regroupant des bailleurs de fonds, s'est engage, le 10 decembre, a financer une aide budgetaire et de programmes d'un montant de 2,2 milliards de dollars a l'Ouganda pour une periode de trois ans. Les bailleurs de fonds restent cependant preoccupes par l'augmentation des depenses militaires, la corruption et la mauvaise discipline financiere. Neanmoins, l'avis global des donateurs etait que les resultats de l'Ouganda avaient ete tres satisfaisants, a precise un haut representant de la Banque mondiale. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 11 decembre 1998) * Uganda. Donors plug finance gap - Donors have pledged $2.2 billion to Uganda for the next three years, in spite of serious concerns over high levels of corruption and the country's military involvement in Congo RDC. The money, together with disbursements from existing commitments, will plug the financing gap of about $1 billion from 1998-2001, and fully meet the Uganda government's demands. But the decision marks a split between bilateral donors and the International Monetary Fund over the analysis of Uganda's policy environment. Over four days of meetings in Kampala, bilateral donors issued a series of highly critical statements about defence spending, following Uganda's support for the rebellion against the government of President Kabila. They are also critical of corruption, poor tax administration and insufficient banking supervision. On 10 December, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning in charge of Privatisation resigns. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 December 1998) * Uganda. Museveni denies business links - President Museveni has denied being in business with his half brother, Maj.Gen.Salim Saleh. He also said Salim Saleh was no longer commander of the reserve force. "About buying the Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) with Salim Saleh, I have not bought any bank, or even a shop. Museveni's property is just cows," he said on allegations that he was involved in the UCB sale fiasco. "He (Saleh) is not in-charge of any unit of the army. He has left public service completely," Museveni told the press at the Nakasero State House on 11 November. Museveni, however, refused to say whether any other Cabinet ministers had resigned alongside privatisation minister, Mr.Matthew Rukikaire, saying they would speak for themselves later. "I am ready to put anybody behind bars and confiscate legally all their properties if they got them the wrong way. We amended the penal code as soon as we got into government. Anybody who causes financial loss to the government will pay back that money. The problem is not the law, the problem is not the institution. The problem is the investigation, prosecution and judgement." He said he accepted Saleh's resignation because Saleh had gone against his advice not to buy the UCB. (New Vision, Uganda, 12 December 1998) * Ouganda. Enquetes sur la corruption - La police ougandaise enquete actuellement sur des hauts fonctionnaires accuses de corruption par un rapport parlementaire sur la privatisation, a indique le journal semi-officiel New Vision. Parmi les personnes mentionnees dans le rapport se trouvent Salim Saleh, frere du president, quatre ministres et deux representants du gouvernement. Le ministre d'Etat charge de la privatisation, Mathew Rukikaire, a demissionne le 11 decembre. D'autre part, le service de renseignement militaire enquete egalement sur un marche portant notamment sur l'importation de 62 chars d'Ukraine, dont les prix auraient ete gonfles et dont 8 seulement seraient operationnels, a rapporte New Vision. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 14 decembre 1998) * Uganda. Discreet charms of an empty parliament - On 3 December, Parliament's Speaker, Francis Ayume, was livid when he discovered that 120 Members in the 275-member House had signed the attendance book, yet there was only a handful in the chambers, far below the quorum of 90 required to transact business. Many MPs show up to sign the book in order to qualify for their sitting allowance, then sneak off without putting in due time. The quorum crisis has become so acute that, not so long ago, the all-important Income Tax Bill was passed with less than 50 MPs in attendance. (The East African, Kenya, 7-13 December 1998) * Uganda. UPDF hands over child captives - The Uganda Peoples Defence Force has handed over 100 children who were freed from the Lord's Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony. A total of 24 children were handed over to the Gulu Support the Children Organisation, and 59 to the World Vision Traumatised and Counselling Centre. 17 were taken to Lacor Hospital, Gulu, for treatment. (New Vision, Uganda, 14 December 1998) * Tunisie. Amnesty piege sur Internet - Amnesty International denonce le detournement de son nom au profit d'un site tunisien progouvernemental sur Internet. Alors que le site d'A.I. s'intitule "www.amnesty.org", un autre a ete cree sous le nom "www.amnesty- tunisia.org", qui selon l'organisation "diffuse de fausses informations sur les droits de l'homme en Tunisie". La Tunisie se defend violemment d'etre a l'origine de ce site; mais le createur, Raghib El C., un Libanais, n'est pas etranger au pouvoir tunisien. Le site d'Amnesty lui-meme n'est pas accessible en Tunisie, bloque comme d'autres contenant des informations sur les droits de l'homme dans le pays. (D'apres Liberation, France, 11 decembre 1998) * Zambia. Drugs haul - Narcotic agents have seized drugs worth US $150,000 in the past eight weeks, the Drugs Enforcement Commission spokesman, Mukutulu Sinyani said. 319 drug traffickers have been arrested: 304 Zambians and 15 foreigners. Sinyani acknowledged the high consumption of drugs in the SADC region, but was happy with the existing cooperation among the region's narcotic agents. (Fred Chela, Zambia, 11 December 1998) * Zambia. Church granted radio station licence - The Ministry of Information has granted the Catholic Church a licence for an FM radio station in Lusaka. The station will soon start broadcasting from its Yatsani studios in Lusaka, while constructing a bigger and better studio. This will be the second radio station run by the Church. The first being Ichengelo radio station based in Kitwe. (Fred Chela, Zambia, 11 December 1998) * Zimbabwe. Retour de Banana - L'ancien president du Zimbabwe, Canaan Banana, juge par contumace pour delit sexuel, est revenu le 15 decembre au soir au Zimbabwe, ou il a ete assigne a residence jusqu'a ce qu'il comparaisse a nouveau devant la justice le 23 decembre. (La Libre Belgique, 17 decembre 1998) * Zimbabwe. Fugitive ex-president - 10 December: The High Court orders prosecutors and defense lawyers to redouble their efforts to bring home fugitive ex-president Canaan Banana, convicted of sex charges. He is believed to be in hiding in South Africa. The judge has postponed the hearing to 18 January to give the state and Banana's defense team time to get him to the court for sentencing. 16 December: Banana has returned to Zimbabwe. He is expected to appear in court later today. He was reportedly handed over to Zimbabwe's police by South African authorities. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 17 December 1998) * Zimbabwe. Economic woes - President Mugabe has closed the annual conference of the ZANU-PF party by suggesting his government will re-introduce food subsidies to combat growing rising poverty. He also suggests a shift away from the free market economy which was introduced under pressure from international donors in the early 1990s. He said that socialist economic management will be re- introduced. (BBC, 13 December 1998)