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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 21-01-1999      PART #1/

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Burkina Faso: On 18 January,
the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said it was
shocked by recent developments in Burkina Faso since the death of
Norbert Zongo. The IFJ say the authorities have been attacking
those who have been calling for investigations in to the death of
Zongo and his companions.     BCentr.Afr.Rep.: Reporters sans
Frontieres (RSF) condemns the expulsion from CAR on 13 January, of
Stephen Smith, a journalist with the French daily, Liberation.
Congo RDC: RSF expresses concern regarding the destruction of Radio
Television Message de Vie studios in Kinshasa. This is a private
television station. Also, on 12 January, RSF reported that Thierry
Kyalumba, editor-in-chief of the twice weekly Vision, was arrested
in Kinshasa. On 15 January, he was referred to the military court,
accused of "disclosing military secrets in wartime".Tanzania: On 18
January, President Salim Amour of Zanzibar lifted the ban imposed
on the two mainland-based privately owned dailies -- Majira and
Mtanzania. Zimbabwe: Demonstrators marched through Harare today in
protest against the continued detention of Mark Chavunduka at
Cranborne barracks.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 January 1999)

* Afrique. Fin du ramadan  -  Le monde musulman a vecu, le 18
janvier, le premier jour de l'Aid el-Fitr, qui marque la fin du
mois de ramadan. A cette occasion, le cardinal Arinze, president du
Conseil pontifical pour le dialogue religieux, a adresse un message
aux musulmans intitule "Chretiens et musulmans: Temoins de l'amour
de Dieu et de sa misericorde". Reconnaissant que "chretiens et
musulmans, nous ne sommes pas toujours aimes comme Dieu nous le
demande", il conclut: "Nous sommes invites a faire un examen de nos
rapports dans le passe et dans le present" et surtout a agir "pour
que cette convivialite puisse etre effective entre les chretiens et
les musulmans qui vivent ensemble".   (D'apres La Libre Belgique,
19 janvier 1999)

* Afrique de l'Est. Communaute est-africaine  -  Les chefs d'Etat
tanzanien, kenyan et ougandais se reuniront en sommet, le 22
janvier a Arusha en Tanzanie, pour poursuivre la preparation d'une
Communaute d'Afrique de l'Est, integrant leurs 80 millions
d'habitants. Les presidents Mkapa, Moi et Museveni vont se pencher
sur un projet de traite qui pourrait etre signe des le mois de
juillet. Un mecanisme de convertibilite a ete mis en place entre
les monnaies des trois pays. Un passeport commun est sur le point
d'etre lance. La Communaute, si elle est lancee, remplacera la
Cooperation d'Afrique de l'Est etablie en 1994 pour harmoniser
tarifs et pratiques commerciales. La nouvelle entite pourra
egalement etre ouverte a d'autres pays, comme le Rwanda et le
Burundi voisins.   (AFP, France, 20 janvier 1999)

* Algerie. Le FIS et les elections  -  Les deux principales
tendances du Front islamique du salut (FIS), installees hors de
l'Algerie, sont en desaccord sur l'attitude a adopter vis-a-vis de
l'election presidentielle. Il y a une quinzaine de jours,
l'instance executive du FIS a Bonn avait appele a participer a
cette election. Le 14 janvier, dans un long manifeste, le Conseil
de coordination du FIS, une instance dissidente menee par Ahmed
Zaoui, a implicitement rejete le principe de l'election. Le
manifeste reclame qu'une periode de transition avec une legalite et
une structure ad hoc soit instauree avant toute nouvelle election.
Il souligne que "aucune demarche en vue de la resolution du conflit
algerien n'a de chance d'aboutir si elle n'est pas precedee par des
mesures d'apaisement, de justice et de retour a la legalite". Il
reclame notamment la rehabilitation du FIS, la liberation de ses
responsables, la levee de l'etat d'urgence et l'engagement des
militaires de se retirer de la politique.   (D'apres AFP, France,
14 janvier 1999)

* Algerie. Massacres et bilan  -  Les 15 et 16 janvier, quatorze
personnes ont ete tuees dans des attentats perpetres par des
islamistes armes, selon la presse. Le 15, deux personnes ont ete
tuees et 18 autres blessees dans l'explosion d'un colis piege a
Tiaret. Le 16, deux policiers et deux civils ont ete tues a
Relizane, lorsqu'un groupe arme a ouvert le feu sur les
consommateurs d'un cafe. Et le meme jour au soir, a Oued Djemaa, un
massacre contre des bergers a fait six morts. Le dimanche 17
janvier, le dernier jour du ramadan, 16 militaires ont ete tues et
19 blesses dans des embuscades a Tigzirt (Kabylie) et Tiaret (au
sud-ouest). - A la fin du ramadan, il faut cependant constater que
le bilan des attaques islamistes pendant la periode du jeune
musulman a ete nettement moins meurtrier que les annees
precedentes. Un constat a relativiser, puisqu'on deplore toujours
la mort de 180 personnes. Mais en regard de l'hecatombe des
ramadans precedents (plusieurs centaines de victimes en 1997,
quelque 1.200 en 1998) on peut constater une accalmie relative de
la violence.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 janvier 1999)

* Angola. Break-up of a country  -  14 January: Police say the five
UNITA Members of Parliament arrested on charges of espionage will
not be allowed to use political immunity to resist prosecution.
Police Superintendent Francisco Pestana, says there is evidence
they were involved in what he called "ruthless attacks in Cuite,
Huambo and Malanje in the central Highlands area of Angola". He
says their crimes warrant long-term imprisonment. Three of the MP
were arrested on 13 January, while two others were detained last
week. The situation in Malanje continues to deteriorate with
unrelenting shelling of the city entering its second week. The WFP
has resumed aid flights to some cities. 15 January: Kofi Annan is
unable to keep his 15 January deadline for a key report on whether
the UN should maintain or withdraw its 1,000-member peacekeeping
operation in Angola. 18 January: Kofi Annan recommends ending the
UN's peacekeeping mission in Angola. He says that the country's
return to civil war means it would be impossible for the observer
mission to remain after its mandate runs out at the end of
February. However, aid workers will continue to supply humanitarian
assistance. Portugal pledges to boost support for NGO activities in
Angola.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 January 1999)

* Angola. Poursuite des combats  -  14 janvier. L'offensive de
l'armee angolaise contre les positions de la rebellion se
poursuivait, notamment dans le sud et l'est du pays, ou des
bombardements de l'Unita sur la ville de Malanje (380 km a l'est de
Luanda), le 12 janvier, ont fait plusieurs morts et disparus, selon
les medias locaux. Selon des sources de l'armee, l'Unita a achemine
des renforts a Cazundo, a 8 km de Malanje, pour lancer un assaut
sur les positions des forces gouvernementales. Le 15 janvier, le
president angolais Dos Santos a demande le depart de l'Onu, dont
selon lui la "partialite" et le "mauvais jugement" ont conduit a
l'echec et au deraillement du processus de paix dans le pays. Il a
reproche en particulier a l'Onu d'avoir toujours place le
gouvernement "sur un pied d'egalite par rapport aux rebelles, ce
qui a facilite l'ingerence grave de tiers dans les affaires
internes du pays". Par ailleurs, le secretaire general de l'Onu,
dans un rapport publie le 17 janvier, a recommande le retrait de la
Mission des Nations unies an Angola (MONUA) en raison de la reprise
de la guerre civile. Le 19 janvier, le quotidien portugais Diario
de Noticias annoncait que quelque 200 "conseillers" cubains se
trouvaient en Angola pour aider le gouvernement dans sa lutte
contre l'Unita; parmi eux se trouveraient des officiers superieurs
qui suivent de pres la contre-offensive gouvernementale. Le 20
janvier, le Conseil de securite de l'Onu a declare qu'il souhaitait
maintenir une "presence" onusienne en Angola apres le retrait de la
plupart des casques bleus.   (ANB-BIA) de sources diverses, 20
janvier 1999)

* Benin. Sanctuaire marial  -  Le plus grand sanctuaire marial
d'Afrique sera construit dans le diocese de Dassa-Zoume, au sud-est
du Benin. Les pelerins de toutes les parties du pays et des pays
environnants se rendent depuis des annees a la grotte d'Arigbo
dediee a Marie. Le sanctuaire pourra accueillir 3.000 personnes
assises a l'interieur, 1.000 a l'exterieur sur un espace couvert et
500 autres dans deux terrasses laterales. La construction de
l'edifice est soutenue par le pape Jean-Paul II.   (D'apres CIP,
Bruxelles, 21 janvier 1999)

* Botswana. World appeal against two executions  -  Unless
President Festus Mogae intervenes to halt their executions, two
people are facing death by hanging in Botswana early 16 January,
Amnesty International said. The organization is joining Botswana
human rights activists and church leaders in their opposition to
the planned executions and calling on President Mogae to exercise
his powers of clemency and commute the death sentences of
Tlhabologang Mauwe and Gwara Brown Motswetla. A cause of special
concern is the allegation reportedly made by one of the attorneys
in the case that the death sentences were passed on the sole basis
of circumstantial evidence. The organization hopes President Mogae
may be willing to grant a stay of execution until an urgent review
is conducted to allay any doubts about the justice of their
convictions. While not seeking to belittle the seriousness of
violent crime and of its consequences on the victims and their
families, Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all
cases. "We believe that everyone -- no matter who they are or what
they have done -- is entitled to basic rights, and especially to
the right of life," the organization said. "No one should be
submitted to this cruel, inhuman and irreversible form of
punishment." Tlhabologang and Motswetla were sentenced to death in
1997 for the murder of a man who had caught them stealing his
cattle. Both are believed to be married with children, and to be
members of the minority Basarwa (San) ethnic group. The Botswana
Court of Appeal later upheld their sentences. If their executions
are carried out, they will bring to more than 20 the number of
people put to death in Botswana since the country became
independent in 1966.   (Amnesty International, UK, 15 January 1999)

* Burundi. Negociations  -  Le quatrieme round des negociations
entre le gouvernement, l'opposition et la rebellion burundais s'est
ouvert le 18 janvier a Arusha en Tanzanie et devrait se poursuivre
jusqu'au 31 janvier. Cette session entendra les rapports des trois
commissions, sur la democratie, la securite et la nature du
conflit. Lors de l'ouverture, le mediateur Julius Nyerere a appele
les 18 delegations a conclure un accord de paix d'ici le mois de
juin. Plusieurs delegues ont demande la liberation des prisonniers
politiques, ainsi que la participation de "groupes armes non
representes". Le 23 janvier, les presidents de la region doivent se
reunir en sommet a Arusha pour etudier l'eventuelle levee de
l'embargo qu'ils ont decrete en 1996. En novembre dernier, le
Conseil de securite des Nations unies avait appele a la levee ou la
suspension des sanctions. Le mediateur M. Nyerere a indique, le 20
janvier, que la communaute internationale etait prete a financer la
reconstruction du Burundi des qu'un accord de paix sera signe.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 janvier 1999)

* Burundi. Peace talks open  -  18 January: A 4th round of peace
talks aimed at resolving the civil war in Burundi has opened in
Arusha, Tanzania. Delegates attending the talks include
representatives of the Tutsi-dominated government of Major Pierre
Buyoya, Hutu rebels and other factions. 20 January: The UN Security
Council renews its call for sanctions against Burundi to be lifted. 
 (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 January 1999)

* Burundi. 73 awaiting presidential clemency  -  At least 73 people
under sentence of death have now exhausted the limited appeals
procedure available to them in Burundi. Their only recourse is
presidential clemency. Amnesty International fears they could face
execution and is appealing for their death sentences to be
commuted. All those now awaiting presidential clemency, and most of
the others sentenced to death, had been found guilty of
participation in the massacres of Tutsi civilians which followed
the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye on 21 October 1993.
(...) Many of those who are now awaiting presidential clemency were
convicted in trials in which they had no lawyers. Many claim they
were tortured or ill-treated to extract incriminating statements,
and many were convicted on the basis of unsubstantiated
allegations, without defence witnesses. Some trials - of defendants
who denied the charges - lasted under 30 minutes. Appeals against
capital convictions may only be made to the Cassation Chamber of
the Supreme Court. This allows for a limited review of the
conviction on questions of law and gross violations of form. (...)
Thirty-nine of those who have now lost their appeals were
transferred in October 1998 from Mpimba Central prison in Bujumbura
to Rumonge prison in southern Burundi. (...) Many are now further
from their families than before (...) and the prison is
particularly difficult to access because of armed conflict in the
surrounding area.   (Amnesty International, UK, 20 January, 1999)

* Cameroon. Stopping the export of raw timber  -  On 20 January,
the government said it will stop issuing export permits for raw
timber from today, in a bid to develop domestic manufacturing of
wood products. It'shoped the move --in line with a law adopted five
years ago -- will result in new factories and jobs being created,
although the government expects to lose about a quarter of its
export earnings from timber --about sixty million dollars annually
in the short term.   (BBC News, 20 January 1999)

* Centrafrique. Journalistes refoules  -  Le 12 janvier, les
autorites centrafricaines ont refoule Stephen Smith, journaliste du
journal francais Liberation, et sa compagne Geraldine Faes,
journaliste independante, a leur arrivee a Bangui. Stephen Smith
etait muni d'un visa dument delivre par l'ambassade de Centrafrique
a Paris, rendant son expulsion plutot "musclee" totalement
inacceptable. Les autorites lui ont simplement signifie qu'il etait
"indesirable", sans aucune autre explication. Reporters sans
frontieres a proteste contre cette double expulsion.   (Liberation,
France, 15 janvier 1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Guerre civile  -  Quelque 200 soldats cubains sont
arrives a Brazzaville pour preter main forte au president Nguesso,
a rapporte l'agence Fides. Un climat de terreur regne actuellement
dans la capitale. Les journaux d'opposition ont ete reduits au
silence. Les combats entre les forces gouvernementales et les
milices Ninjas, qui occupent les collines de Linzolo au sud de la
capitale, se sont intensifies depuis plusieurs jours. On denonce
des meurtres en serie. Au meme moment, les milices de Lissouba ont
bloque la production d'energie de la grande centrale
hydroelectrique qui alimente le port de Pointe-Noire.   (D'apres
Misna, Italie, 16 janvier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Bukavu attaque  -  Le 14 janvier au matin, Bukavu,
la capitale du Sud Kivu controlee par la rebellion, a ete attaquee
en plusieurs endroits par des Mai-Mai et des elements de l'ancienne
armee rwandaise et des Interahamwes. La rebellion affirme avoir
repousse l'attaque. Mais selon certaines sources, les attaquants
auraient reussi a faire passer des Interahamwes au Rwanda, a
liberer des prisonniers et a prendre des armes.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 15 janvier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Plan de paix de la societe civile  -  Le 18 janvier,
quelque 40 representants d'ONG, de syndicats, d'Eglises, etc., a
l'issue d'une rencontre du 13 au 16 janvier en Belgique a
l'initiative de l'universite d'Anvers, ont appele a la fin
immediate des hostilites et propose un plan de paix pour le Congo.
Au cours du seminaire, un consensus s'est degage autour de 5 causes
de la situation actuelle: la securite aux frontieres, l'absence de
democratie dans la sous-region, la faiblesse de l'Etat congolais,
la question de la nationalite des Tutsi congolais et le role
destabilisateur de l'exterieur. Leur plan de paix s'articule aussi
en 5 points: un accord politique entre belligerants pour mettre fin
a la guerre; un cessez-le-feu; le deploiement d'une force
internationale d'interposition; le retrait de toutes les forces
etrangeres sous la supervision de l'Onu; le dialogue politique
entre Congolais dans le cadre d'une table ronde.   (ANB-BIA,
Bruxelles, 18 janvier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Bishop requests evacuation  -  Where there are
Europeans, there is money. This is the axiom that seems to
circulate throughout the areas of Congo RDC, affected by the war,
particularly in Dungu, in the extreme North-East. Which is most
probably the reason why Mgr.Richard Domba Mady of Doruma-Dungu,
asked all the European missionaries to leave the area. The
determining event, that almost certainly prompted the Bishop's
decision, was the robbery committed last night in the local House
of the Augustinian Fathers. At around 9 P.M, two armed men broke
into the mission and demanded $3000 US. They also threatened one of
the missionaries who suffers from asthma. A MISNA source reports
they told him to say his last prayer, and then asked him what he
prayed for? The missionary answered: "for the Lord to forgive you".
So they let him live. They then stole some valuables and left.  
(MISNA, Italy, 18 January 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Pourparlers  -  14 janvier. Le president zambien a
annonce que le sommet africain de Lusaka, qui devait avoir lieu
durant le week-end du 16-17 janvier, avait encore ete repousse de
quelques jours. D'autre part, a Paris, le chef de cabinet du
president Kabila a declare qu'il avait eu des contacts directs avec
les rebelles et qu'il n'excluait pas que ceux-ci participeraient au
sommet. 15-16 janvier. La reunion preparatoire ministerielle s'est
ouverte dans l'apres-midi du 15 a Lusaka, en l'absence de toute
representation des rebelles. Elle s'est achevee le 16 a l'aube sans
accord permettant la tenue d'un sommet des chefs d'Etat. Toutefois,
selon les observateurs, les contacts diplomatiques se
poursuivraient dans les coulisses. La rebellion a maintenant
propose au president Kabila des negociations directes a Kisangani,
une ville sous le controle des rebelles, en lieu et place de
Kinshasa, propose par M. Kabila. - Le 18 janvier a Windhoek en
Namibie, les cinq principaux pays etrangers engages militairement
en RDC (Namibie, Angola, Zimbabwe, Ouganda et Rwanda) sont arrives
a un accord de cessez-le-feu, qui devrait etre signe sous peu a
Lusaka; ils demandent aussi aux Nations unies de deployer une force
d'interposition au Congo. Ni le gouvernement congolais, ni les
rebelles n'y etaient presents. Ces derniers ont reagi avec
precaution a l'accord et ont insiste pour avoir des pourparlers
directs avec Kabila. Celui-ci a demande a voir les termes de
l'accord avant de se prononcer.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 19
janvier 1999)

* Congo (RDC)/Zambia. Lusaka Summit cancelled  -  14 January:
Zambia's President Chiluba flies to Lubumbashi in an attempt to
secure direct talks between President Kabila and the rebels. Kabila
still opposes face-to-face negotiations with the rebel Congolese
Rally for Democracy (RCD). Meanwhile, regional defence and foreign
ministers gather in Lusaka in preparation for the weekend summit.
In Kinshasa, the governor of the central bank together with several
of his senior colleagues, are arrested. -- 15 January: Shooting is
heard in the rebel-held town of Bukavu. It is believed Mai-Mai
forces and Rwandan Interahamwe Hutu militia attacked the town and
its airport. Human Rights Watch calls on the government ministers
already in Lusaka, to urge full investigations into human rights
abuses in the Congo war. At the last moment, the Lusaka Summit is
cancelled and is re-scheduled for a "later date". President Chiluba
says he has failed to arrange face-to-face talks between Kabila and
the rebels. It is reported that Congolese troops have moved into
the Central African Republic to check advancing rebels who have
seized a northern border town.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 January
1999)

* Congo (RDC)/Zambia. Lusaka meeting of SADC Defence and Foreign
Ministers  -  If the Summit did not take place, at least the SADC
Defence and Foreign Ministers came together in Lusaka and agreed to
the formation of two committees to deal with security concerns in
the region. The Committee on Security Concerns will comprise
Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius and Zambia. The Committee on The
Implementation of the Ceasefire Accord will comprise all the
Congolese belligerents, plus the UN, the OAU and the SADC
secretariats.   (Fred Chela, Zambia, 16 January 1999)

* Congo (RDC)/Angola. Tripartite Summit  -  18 January: Presidents
Kabila (Congo RDC) and Nguesso (Congo-Brazzaville) arrive in Luanda
to attend a tripartite summit on the Congo RDC conflict and
instability in Congo-Brazzaville.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 January
1999)

* Congo (RDC)/Namibia. Windhoek Talks  -  17 January: Leaders of
African countries fighting in Congo RDC gather in Windhoek,
Namibia. The meeting is expected to begin formally on 18 January.
Namibian officials say the talks will lay the groundwork for a
fresh summit designed to regain the momentum for peace. The talks
will be led by President Sam Nujoma and will also be attended by
Angolan Defense Minister Pedro Sebastio. However, this mini-summit
might have to be delayed because the Rwandan delegation has not yet
arrived. 18 January: Leaders of the countries fighting in Congo RDC
agree to a ceasefire and to ask the UN to send a peacekeeping force
into Congo. 19 January: The Congolese rebels say they will not lay
down their arms until Kabila meets them at the negotiating table. 
 (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 January 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Gouverneur de la Banque arrete  -  Le 14 janvier, on
a appris l'interpellation du gouverneur de la Banque centrale,
Jean-Claude Masangu, et de ses collaborateurs. Elle serait due au
courroux du chef de l'Etat, parce qu'un paiement qu'il avait
ordonne d'effectuer n'aurait pas ete fait dans les temps. D'autre
part, deux decrets-lois du president Kabila sement l'inquietude a
Kinshasa. Le premier interdit d'utiliser des devises pour des
transactions commerciales, ce qui fait craindre une paralysie de
l'economie. Le second instaure une Bourse des matieres precieuses,
par laquelle devraient passer tous les diamants et l'or congolais;
on craint que cela ne suscite la fuite vers les pays voisins des
dernieres sources de devises du pays. - Le 19 janvier, le president
Kabila a ordonne la liberation de M. Masangu, qui s'est aussitot
remis au travail. Aucune declaration officielle concernant les
raisons de son arrestation n'a ete donnee.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 20 janvier 1999)

* Ethiopie. Mission de paix  -  Le 15 janvier, le pessimisme
planait a Addis Abeba autour de la 4e mission de paix de l'ancien
conseiller americain pour la securite nationale, Anthony Lake, en
vue d'un reglement pacifique du conflit frontalier ethio-erythreen.
Des consultations ont ete effectuees prealablement aux entretiens
avec le Premier ministre ethiopien. Selon un officiel ethiopien,
les entretiens se poursuivraient, bien qu'aucune autre
communication officielle, ni de la part du gouvernement, ni de
l'ambassade des Etats-Unis, ne puisse confirmer l'etat d'avancement
des discussions. L'intensification des tirs d'artillerie et les
recents combats rapproches entre armees ethiopienne et erythreenne
ne plaident pas pour une solution. þ Par ailleurs, le 15 janvier,
le secretaire general des Nations unies a annonce qu'il depechera
son envoye special, Mohammed Sahnoun, pour soutenir les efforts
diplomatiques de l'OUA et des Etats-Unis en vue de resoudre le
conflit erythreo-ethiopien.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16
janvier 1999)

* Guinee-Bissau. Retrait des troupes  -  Le Senegal et la Guinee
ont commence a retirer leurs corps expeditionnaires de Guinee-
Bissau, a rapporte le 14 janvier l'agence de presse Lusa. Les
premiers detachements rapatries comptaient quelque 200 Senegalais
et 30 Guineens. Les deux pays ont au total depeche quelque 2.500
hommes pour appuyer le president Vieira. Leur depart et le
deploiement simultane de l'Ecomog figurent parmi les clauses des
accords d'Abuja conclus en novembre 1998. Pour le moment, seuls 120
Togolais sont arrives sous les couleurs de l'Ecomog afin d'assurer
la securite de l'aeroport. Le deploiement des troupes de l'Ecomog
est prevu pour la fin du mois, a indique la CEDEAO. - D'autre part,
le PAM annoncait, le 19 janvier, qu'il intensifiait ses vols pour
apporter des vivres d'urgence et que ses services et d'autres
organismes onusiens ramenaient leur personnel a Bissau.   (IRIN,
Abidjan, 15-19 janvier 1999)

* Kenya. Flight smokers jailed  -  A court in Kenya has sent three
people to prison for three months for smoking and causing a
disturbance during an international Kenya Airways flight on 12
January. A court in Nairobi heard that the three -- two Tanzanians
and an Indian --had posed a danger to other passengers during the
flight from Nigeria to Kenya. All three ignored the pilot's
instructions to put out cigarettes and to stop annoying fellow
passengers.   (BBC World Service, 13 January 1999)

* Kenya. Secheresse  -  La secheresse menace des milliers de vies
dans les regions arides ou semi-arides du Kenya. L'insuffisance des
petites pluies d'octobre a decembre met en danger des milliers de
personnes et de tetes de betail. Des rapports du ministere de
l'Agriculture depeignent un sombre tableau de la situation
alimentaire, les recoltes ayant ete inegalement reparties. Le prix
du mais, denree alimentaire de base, augmente continuellement. Les
experts rejettent la responsabilite du deficit sur les conditions
metereologiques imprevisibles, sur la mauvaise distribution des
surplus et sur la dependance excessive au mais.   (D'apres IRIN,
Nairobi, 16 janvier 1999)

* Kenya. What the papers say  -  The East African (28 December-3
January) informs us that Kenya has moved a step closer to a new
Constitution after President Moi signed the Constitution of Kenya
Review Commission (Amendment) Act into law. The same paper carries
an item dealing with the end of Kenya's term on the United Nations
Security Council. Kenya's Ambassador to the UN has pointed to the
leadership role the country played on African-related issues. The
Weekly Review (8 January) says that Kenya's political system
appears to have attained a certain amount of maturity, stability
and predictability. The East African (11-17 January) reports that
professional bodies are close to forging an inter-professional
ethics committee, in the wake of scandals that have called into
question the ethical standards of professionals in Kenya.   (ANB-
BIA, Brussels, 18 January 1999)

* Lesotho. Worsening security situation  -  18 January: A revolt by
about 50 soldiers detained at Lesotho's central prison in Maseru,
is reported to have ended peacefully. A South African army
spokesman said that after talks with warders and military
officials, the prisoners handed back weapons they had seized and
returned to their cells. No-one had been injured. Those involved
were all soldiers alleged to have taken part in the uprising last
September which was put down by South African troops. 19 January:
Opposition parties have walked out of the interim political
council, because of the worsening security situation in the
country.   (BBC News, 18-19 January 1999)

* Liberia. "Kick Polio out of Liberia"  -  18 January: A campaign
to help eradicate Polio in Liberia, begins today. The Health
Minister hopes to inoculate thousands of children under the age of
five over the next three days. Follow-up treatment for the disease
will be given in a month's time and then again in the year 2000.  
(BBC News, 18 January 1999)

* Liberia. ECOMOG withdrawal  -  The Nigerian and Ghanaian soldiers
stationed in Liberia in the ECOMOG troops (task-force of the
Economic community of West African States) have begun to leave the
country. As reported by the Reuters agency, the contingency is in
fact withdrawing from Liberia territory and from it's security
services. The government of Monrovia gave no explanation for the
withdrawal. There is in fact growing unease in Liberia since
foreigners and rich residents are leaving the country. Not to
mention that the Guinean national soccer team refused to fly to
Monrovia for a scheduled match against Liberia.   (MISNA, Italy, 18
January 1999)

* Libye. Nouvelle decouverte de petrole  -  Le consortium
regroupant les compagnies petrolieres francaise Total, espagnole
Repsol et autrichienne OMV, vient de realiser une nouvelle
decouverte significative de petrole dans le bassin de Murzuk, au
sud de la Libye, a rapporte Total dans un communique le 4 janvier.
Les reserves pourraient osciller entre 100 et 200 millions de
barils. Les partenaires envisagent en 1999 le forage de puits
additionnels afin de confirmer le potentiel de la structure et de
la mettre en developpement.   (Marches Tropicaux, France, 15
janvier 1999)

* Malawi. Minister charged with corruption  -  The former minister
for Works and Supplies in Malawi, Abdul Pillane, has appeared in
court charged with corruption. Police say he accepted money and
goods from a South African construction company while in office. He
did not enter a plead and was released on bail. Mr.Pillane was the
first cabinet minister to be investigated by the anti-corruption
bureau set up by the government in 1994.   (BBC World Service, 14
January 1999)

* Mauritanie. Vers les elections municipales  -  Le 12 janvier, un
des partis d'opposition, le Front populaire, a annonce qu'il se
retirait des elections municipales prevues le 29 janvier, suite a
l'arrestation le 16 decembre de trois chefs de file de l'opposition
qui avaient accuse le gouvernement d'etre pret a accepter de
stocker des dechets nucleaires en provenance d'Israel. Le scrutin
opposera deux formations d'opposition, l'Union des forces
democratiques et l'Union nationale pour la democratie, aux cinq
partis de la majorite presidentielle.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 13
janvier 1999)

* Mauritanie. Ould Daddah libere  -  Ahmed Ould Daddah, candidat a
l'election presidentielle en 1991, ainsi que deux membres de
l'Union des forces democratiques (opposition) ont ete liberes le 16
janvier. Les trois hommes avaient ete emprisonnes le 19 decembre
dernier pour participation a une "campagne de denigrement de
l'Etat".   (Le Monde, France, 19 janvier 1999)

* Mozambique. Expulsions sud-africaines  -  Un responsable de la
police mozambicaine a accuse, le 5 janvier, l'Afrique du Sud
d'expulser systematiquement vers le Mozambique tous les immigres
africains clandestins arretes sur son territoire, meme ceux qui ne
sont pas originaires de ce pays. Le chef de la police d'une
localite proche de la frontiere a affirme que ces immigrants
illegaux retournent par centaines chaque semaine. La plupart
d'entre eux, selon lui, sont arretes dans les rues ou sur leur lieu
de travail et sont expulses sans meme avoir le temps de reunir
leurs effets personnels.   (Marches Tropicaux, France, 15 janvier
1999)

* Namibia. Government lifts news blackout  -  The independent daily
The Namibian, said on 12 January that the government had rescinded
a news blackout on information about the country's military
intervention in Congo RDC. Last month, the defence ministry said it
was not to provide the newspaper with information because of its
"distorted" reporting on the RDC conflict. The ban was extended
this month to cover all the media. But The Namibian reported that
following discussions between Defence Minister Erikki Nghimtine,
and its editor, Gwen Lister, the information "ban" on the newspaper
had been lifted with immediate effect. "The newspaper took the
matter up with a number of highly-placed government officials,
including the Prime Minister, in an effort to resolve the
situation. At a meeting between the defence minister and Lister,
the minister agreed to lift the "ban" after expressing his concern
about the publication of rumours which could adversely affect the
safety and security of Namibian Defence Force soldiers in the Congo
RDC conflict," he said. Lister, in turn, emphasised the need for
Namibians to be kept properly informed "on an accurate and ongoing
basis about the situation in Congo RDC in particular, and the need
for more open channels of communication between media and ministry
of defence in the public interest, in order to avoid rumour and
speculation as far as possible."   (IRIN, Southern Africa, 13
January 1999)

* Namibia. Refugees still fleeing Caprivi  -  The number of
Namibians fleeing secessionist tensions in the northern Caprivi
Strip, south into Botswana, has increased from 1,200 a month ago,
to over 2,000. Many of the asylum seekers, most of whom are being
housed in the Dukwe refugee camp north of the capital Gaborone,
claim that they are being harassed by a Namibian military security
unit sent into the area. The refugees include an additional 1,000
San bushmen who have not formally sought asylum.   (IRIN, Southern
Africa, 14 January 1999)

* Nigeria. Elections  -  13 January: The centre-right All People's
Party (APP) and the centre-left Alliance for Democracy (AD) have
agreed to present a single candidate for the February presidential
elections. "We have approved the plan for a working alliance,"
Josiah Odunna, the APP's national secretary said. 17 January: After
a second poll in the Rivers State, the People's Democratic Party
(PDP) won the governorship. The result means the party has won 20
of the country's 36 states in the elections.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels,
18 January 1999)

* Nigeria. Resultats des scrutins  -  Le PDP (People's Democratic
Party) a remporte les scrutins pour l'election du gouverneur
organises le 16 janvier dans l'Etat de Rivers apres leur annulation
la semaine precedente. Cette victoire porte a 20 le nombre de
postes de gouverneur remporte par le PDP, contre 9 pour l'APP (All
People's Party) et 6 pour l'AD (Alliance for Democracy). Les
elections restent ajournees dans un seul Etat, le Bayelsa, dans la
region agitee du delta du Niger.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 19
janvier 1999)

* Rwanda. Le poids de la guerre  -  Selon l'agence DIA (Kinshasa),
dans la capitale rwandaise Kigali, l'effort de guerre se fait de
plus en plus sentir et cree un malaise. Concue comme une guerre-
eclair, l'intervention de l'armee rwandaise au Congo fausse les
schemas preetablis; les previsions budgetaires n'etaient pas allees
au dela d'une periode de deux mois. La population commence a se
fatiguer des enrolements forces des jeunes et des enormes
restrictions qu'elle subit. Les menaces de coupure d'aide de
l'Union europeenne se font aussi plus pressantes et risqueraient,
si elles etaient appliquees, de provoquer une paralysie de
l'economie. L'agence y voit un espoir d'une "solution indirecte a
la crise congolaise".   (D'apres DIA, Kinshasa, 15 janvier 1999)

* Rwanda. English to replace French  -  18 January: Rwanda is to
replace French with English as its official language. President
Bizimungu said the reason for the change was due to France's
involvement in the 1994 genocide. The President is quoted as
saying: "If you followed the recent report of investigations from
the French Parliament, it is clearly indicated that France has been
involved in the genocide in Rwanda and in the events which
proceeded the massacres, because they wanted to "defend their own
language.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 18 January 1999)

* Rwanda. L'anglais langue officielle?  -  Le Rwanda veut remplacer
le francais par l'anglais en tant que langue officielle. Le
president Bizimungu a lie ce changement a l'implication de la
France dans le genocide, a rapporte l'hebdomadaire The East-African
le 18 janvier. Par ailleurs, la demande d'adhesion du Rwanda a la
"East African Cooperation", la Communaute d'Afrique de l'Est, sera
examinee le 22 janvier lors d'une reunion de l'organisation
regionale.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 18 janvier 1999)

* Rwanda. Jugements  -  La justice rwandaise a juge, en 1998, 864
personnes accusees de genocide, le triple de l'annee precedente,
mais il y a encore 120.000 dossiers en attente, a declare le 19
janvier le procureur general de la Cour supreme, Me Simeon
Rwagasore. Il a precise que 3.143 detenus sont actuellement en
cours de jugement et que 8.615 ont exprime le desir de faire des
aveux de culpabilite. D'autre part, depuis 1994, 34.000 personnes
soupconnees d'avoir participe au genocide ont ete liberees. Le
bilan des peines prononcees en 1998 n'est pas encore disponible.  
(D'apres AFP, France, 19 janvier 1999)

* Sahara Occidental. Referendum compromis  -  L'Onu n'a finalement
retenu que 85.000 Sahraouis pouvant voter sur les 147.000 personnes
qu'elle a identifiees, loin des 80 a 200.000 habitants avances par
le Maroc et donc tres en deca de ses attentes. Ces chiffres font
planer de plus en plus de doutes quant a l'organisation de ce
scrutin, prevu en decembre prochain.   (Le Monde, France, 18
janvier 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Urgent action needed  -  Respect and protection of
human rights must be at the centre of all efforts to end the crisis
in Sierra Leone, Amnesty International said today, adding that the
imperative to end the fighting must not be at the expense of
establishing accountability for human rights abuses. Intense
political activity is now taking place to try to resolve the crisis
in Sierra Leone and to bring an end to the fighting in Freetown.
The international community -- including the United Nations, the
Organization of African Unity, the Economic Community of West
African States, the Commonwealth and the European Union -- has
committed itself to contributing to peace and security in Sierra
Leone. "The international community's commitment to resolve the
crisis must include initiatives to end the gross human rights
abuses perpetrated by rebel forces, prevent further violations and
lay solid foundations for the protection of human rights in the
future," Amnesty International added. The organization regrets that
the OAU has missed the opportunity to ensure that human rights are
at the centre of discussion on Sierra Leone by postponing the OAU
Ministerial Conference on Human Rights scheduled to take place in
Mauritius later this month. The OAU should nevertheless urgently
convene a heads of state level meeting of the Central Organ of its
conflict resolution mechanism in order to address the human rights
crisis in Sierra Leone. Amnesty International is particularly
concerned about reports that children and young people have been
abducted by rebel forces in Freetown and forced to join their
ranks.   (Amnesty International, 14 January 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Rapidly deteriorating food situation  -  Following
the recent escalation of violence in Sierra Leone, the food supply
situation has seriously deteriorated, virtually wiping out the
modest gains in food security in Freetown and surrounding areas,
where peaceful conditions had taken hold following a successful
campaign of the ECOMOG forces against the rebels. Since 6 January
1999, when the rebel forces took several parts of Freetown, the
capital's residents have been totally isolated, with hardly any
food, water and electricity. With continued fighting despite
diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, their situation has
become desperate and could degenerate into famine, as food stocks
are nearly depleted and fighting is blocking food supplies from the
interior of the country. External food assistance to the country
has virtually dried up, following the evacuation of staff of
humanitarian agencies to neighbouring countries. In addition,
warehouses belonging to aid agencies have been looted by the rebels
fleeing ECOMOG forces, further reducing the ability of agencies to
respond quickly to the crisis.   (FAO, Rome, 18 January 1999)

* Sierra Leone. "Mopping up" in Freetown  -  13 January: The ICRC
airlifts its five remaining representatives out of Freetown, on the
orders of the Sierra Leonean government. The news agency, MISNA,
reports that The Catholic Archbishop of Freetown and Bo, Joseph
Ganda, has been taken hostage by rebels. 14 January: The rebel
forces have now left Freetown, ousted by ECOMOG forces which are
now "mopping up". The city is in a mess with official buildings
destroyed, bodies lying around the streets. The rebels have agreed
to a ceasefire which is set to begin tomorrow night. 15 January:
President Kabbah calls on the international community to end "lip-
service" to UN resolutions condemning the rebels. He says: "They
have the military muscle to carry out their decisions. Why should
they leave us unaided in this part of Africa?" The rebels agree to
a ceasefire which should start on 18 January but they are demanding
the release of Foday Sankoh within a week. 17 January: It is now
estimated that at least 2,000 people were killed in the fighting in
Freetown. Also, General Timothy Shelpidi, ECOMOG's commander says:
"Both Burkina Faso and Libya are supporting the rebels, just like
Liberia". 18 January: The press agency MISNA says the rebels in
Freetown kidnapped 11 foreign Religious, including 6 nuns. A
British frigate arrives in Freetown with three tonnes of medical
supplies. Also, the rebels threaten to end their ceasefire and to
launch an all-out attack on Freetown unless the government releases
Foday Sankoh. 19 January: The telephone services in Freetown have
now been been resored. 20 January: Britain's foreign minister says
Britain has given Sierra Leone an addional one million pounds worth
of trucks and equipment earlier this month. ECOMOG now says it has
captured the port of Freetown. This could ease the situation of
tens of thousands of hungry citizens, by allowing access to ships
bringing in food.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 January 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Archbishop battles for his people  -  (On 13
January, it was reported that the Catholic Archbishop of Freetown
and Bo, had been taken hostage by the rebels occupying the city). -
- Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation: the "three
R's" of Archbishop Joseph Henry Ganda. This is how he defined them
during a trip to the United States in Sept.1997. The legitimate
government of his country had just been overthrown by a coup d'etat
(May 97) and the prelate had gone to the New York-based United
Nations offices to request aid to guarantee a future for Sierra
Leone. "We need funds to repair the schools, to rebuild the
hospital and build an orphanage", he had explained. Mgr. Ganda was
born in Serabu 67 years ago, in the area of the archdiocese of
Freetown and Bo. Ordained priest in 1961, he became the Bishop of
Kenema (south-east Sierra Leone) ten years later, to then be moved
in 1980 to the archdiocese of the capital. He was the first priest
of Sierra Leone, the first Bishop and Archbishop, as he told with
great pride in a book he once wrote. "He always supported the
democratic government affirmed the Apostolic Nuncio in Freetown,
Mgr.Antonio Lucibello. for this reason he was kidnapped by the ex-
military junta. His home was burned down in the past and members of
his family molested. Some time ago an American agency released a
letter of the Archbishop, dated 27th of February 1998, a few days
after the ECOMOG liberated Freetown. "There is so much destruction.
All the missions of my diocese were raided. Now", he had concluded,
"we need to reactivate the efforts to allocate the necessary
funds." To begin with, the "three R's". -- On 20 January, MISNA
reported that Bishop Biguzzi of Makeni, Sierra Leone, had launched
an appeal to all the Churches of the world, to pray for Sierra
Leone.   (MISNA, Italy, 15 & 20 January 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Bataille pour Freetown  -  Le 14 janvier, les
rebelles ont accepte un cessez-le-feu qui devrait entrer en vigueur
tres prochainement. Leur porte-parole a declare qu'il pourrait etre
effectif a partir du 18 ou 19 janvier, le temps d'en informer tous
les combattants presents dans la brousse. Selon le ministre
nigerian de la Defense, l'Ecomog poursuivait ses operations de
nettoyage dans la capitale, dont elle a chasse l'essentiel des
rebelles. Les membres de la Croix-Rouge, pries la veille par les
autorites de quitter Freetown pour des raisons de securite, sont
arrives a Conakry. Leur depart oblige inquiete; certains accusent
les forces nigerianes de l'Ecomog de vouloir nettoyer Freetown sans
temoins. D'autre part, on a appris la prise en otage, le 12 ou 13
janvier, de Mgr. Joseph Henry Conda, archeveque de Freetown, par
les rebelles dans des circonstances non precisees. - Le 15 janvier,
les agences de l'Onu (PAM, Unicef et HCR) ont appele a un cessez-
le-feu immediat pour sauver des dizaines de milliers d'habitants de
Freetown, ou les combats se poursuivent. L'insecurite empeche
d'aider la population qui vit cloitree dans les maisons sans eau,
ni vivres, ni medicaments. De nombreux cadavres sont disperses dans
la ville. Selon des informations concordantes, les combats auraient
fait plus de 2.000 morts. - 16-17 janvier. Les pays d'Afrique de
l'Ouest se disputent sur les moyens, militaires ou diplomatiques,
pour retablir la paix en Sierra Leone. Torpillant une mediation
entreprise par la Cote d'Ivoire et le Togo, le Nigeria a fait
savoir qu'il revient aux seuls pays fournissant des contingents a
la force regionale d'intervention (Nigeria, Ghana, Guinee) de
regler le conflit. D'autre part, le commandant de l'Ecomog a accuse
le Burkina Faso et la Libye de soutenir les rebelles. - Le 18
janvier, des tirs de mortiers et de roquettes ont repris au sud de
la capitale, ou un cessez-le-feu etait cense debuter. D'autre part,
l'agence Misna annoncait que onze religieux, dont six soeurs,
avaient ete enleves par les rebelles a Freetown. Une fregate
britannique est arrivee a Freetown avec trois tonnes de fournitures
medicales destinees a la population qui se trouve dans une
situation alarmante. Les habitants fuient par milliers les combats
a l'est de la capitale pour les quartiers ouest ou la securite est
mieux assuree. Le 20 janvier, l'Ecomog a reconquis l'est de
Freetown, reprenant ainsi integralement le controle de la capitale.
La prise de controle du port pourrait permettre bientot le
reacheminement de l'aide humanitaire. Le meme jour, le president
burkinabe Compaore, actuellement a la tete de l'OUA, a estime que
"la voie militaire n'est pas une solution" en Sierra Leone et il a
reproche a l'Ecomog de s'etre constitue en force de defense d'une
des deux parties. "Une fois qu'on a gagne la guerre, il faut gagner
la paix en organisant la reconciliation", a-t-il ajoute.   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 21 janvier 1999)

* South Africa. TRC Amnesty Commission  -  12 January: 13 Inkatha
Freedom Party members will appear before the Amnesty Commission
next week for their role in the attack and killing of Boipatong
residents on 17 June 1990. Also, at least 18 people across the
political spectrum have been granted amnesty and five others
refused amnesty. They applied for amnesty for crimes ranging from
murder, conspiracy to murder, sabotage, illegal possession of arms
and explosives committed shortly before the 1994 elections. 14
January: Gideon Johannes Niewoudt applies for amnesty for the
killing of Steve Biko and for assaulting Peter Jones during the
general period at which time Steve Biko died. He is one of five
persons who make application for the same events.   (TRC, South
Africa, 14 January 1999)

* South Africa. Victims of storm  -  On 19 January, rescue workers
and police using sniffer dogs searched for bodies under buildings
wrecked in a storm that killed 21 people and injured 303 in eastern
South Africa. The storm hit the villages of Mount Ayliff and
Kokstad Jan.18, flattening at least 50 houses. Ten children were
among the 21 dead, police Supt.Nondumiso Jafta said. Weather
officials could not confirm the storm was a tornado. But it carried
winds strong enough to wrest trees from the earth, blow over a bus
and pluck a truck from a road and hurl it into a field.   (AP, 19
January 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Autobiographie de De Klerk  -  Le 19 janvier, a
paru l'autobiographie de l'ex-president sud-africain F.W. De Klerk,
intitulee The Last Trek - A New Beginning (publiee en anglais a
Londres, en afrikaans au Cap). De Klerk y parle longuement de ses
relations tumultueuses avec Mandela et critique aussi l'accent
croissant que l'ANC mettrait sur la race et la couleur. Mais il
pense que le changement valait la peine et que la nouvelle Afrique
du Sud, si elle peut paraitre effrayante, est toujours excitante et
rafraichissante.   (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 20 janvier
1999)

* Soudan. Hopital bombarde  -  Medecins sans frontieres a condamne,
le 13 janvier, le bombardement de l'hopital civil de Kajo Keiji, ou
travaille l'organisation, dans le sud du Soudan pres de la
frontiere ougandaise, une zone controlee par la SPLA. Il n'y a pas
eu de victimes, mais trois bombes ont atteint l'hopital et detruit
les infrastructures. L'hopital etait clairement vise. MSF demande
instamment aux parties du conflit de respecter le droit humanitaire
international.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 15 janvier 1999)

* Sudan. Ceasefire extended  -  The Khartoum government and Sudan's
People's Liberation Army (SPLA) have agreed to a three-month
extension of the ceasefire in Bahr al-Ghazal, the UN Secretary-
General's special envoy for Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan, Tom
Vraalsen said in a press conference in Nairobi. He added that
Khartoum was equally concerned over the activities of maverick
warlord Kerubino Kwanyin Bol, who recently defected back to the
government's side with a force of 600 men, and is believed to be
heading towards Bahr-al-Ghazal. Vraalsen also said there was
agreement in principle for UN missions to open in the Nuba
mountains. The ambassador noted that a US $180-200 million appeal
for Sudan would be launched next week, and he added that he was
impressed with the impact of the humanitarian effort in Bahr-al-
Ghazal last year. Meanwhile, rebel spokesman John Luk said in
Nairobi that the ceasefire would be unilaterally extended by the
SPLA for the first time to cover central Upper Nile to help relief
assistance, Reuters reported.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 15 January 1999)

* Tanzania. Famine and cholera  -  From The East African, Kenya,
(11-17 January): Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda recently sounded alarms
over the worsening food situation in the region, Tanzania's prime
minister, Frederick Sumaye, was more blunt with his warning, saying
that without emergency intervention, 300,000 residents of the
central region of Dodoma faced starvation in five months. He said
another 12 of the country's 20 mainland regions are threatened with
acute food shortfalls. -- From the The BBC News (18 January):
Medical officers have said a cholera outbreak in southwest Tanzania
has killed nearly 80 people and infected more than 600 since
October.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 January 1999)

* Uganda. What the papers say  -  The Sunday Vision (27 December)
reports that some opposition groups have threatened to boycott the
forthcoming referendum on political systems, saying it violates the
fundamental principles of inalienable rights. Kenya's East African
(4-10 January) says that Uganda's opposition are angered by
reported moves to transform Uganda's Movement into a political
party before the next general election. The same paper states that
Uganda is seeking $74 million to support peace and reconstruction
efforts in the war-ravaged northern districts of Gulu and Kitgum.
Another item states that Uganda is to re-introduce coins to
gradually replace banknotes of the same value.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 18 January 1999)

* Zambia. Protest note from Angola  -  The Angolan government has
officially protested to the Zambian government that it is arming
UNITA rebels. President Chiluba declared Zambia is innocent of the
charge. He told a news briefing at State House that the government
had formally received an official Angolan government protest
letter, but strongly refuted the charges that Zambia supplied
military weapons and provided logistics to UNITA rebels. Chiluba
described the accusations as extremely unfortunate and said:
"Zambia does not have expansionist ambitions and ideas other than
to strive for better economic and political stability, not only in
Zambia but throughout Southern Africa." Zambia is innocent and does
not have the capacity, money nor the will to prosecute such a
dangerous military adventurism". Chiluba accused some enemies of
Zambia of trying to cause friction between Zambia and Angola.
Chiluba charged that some governments within and outside the
Southern African Development Community were behind the allegations
just because Zambia was to the forefront in brokering peace efforts
in Congo (RDC).   (Fred Chela, Zambia, 19 January 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Currency plea to bankers  -  Zimbabwe's central bank
urged banks to keep the exchange rate from rising beyond Z $40 to
the US dollar, in a new effort to stabilise the Zimbabwe dollar,
which has fallen by 15% in the past week. Banks are understood to
have agreed to trade at Z$39.4-Z$39.5 to the US dollar when the
market reopens on 18 January, though it is unclear just how they
will be able to hold the rate, which has now fallen 17% since the
new year. On 15 January, the Zimbabwe dollar hit a new low of Z $45
to the dollar, before firming to close at Z $41.5 as the market got
wind of new attempts by the authorities to halt the slide. Banking
officials said Dr.Leonard Tsumba, governor of the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe, had admitted being under strong government pressure to
peg the exchange rate, which has lost 70% of its value over the
past 15 months.   (Financial Times, U.K., 16-17 January 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Canaan Banana condamne  -  Le premier president du
Zimbabwe, le pasteur Canaan Banana, qui avait ete reconnu coupable
de crimes sexuels en novembre dernier, a ete condamne, le 18
janvier, a dix ans de prison, dont neuf avec sursis. Ses avocats
ont immediatement annonce qu'ils feraient appel devant la Cour
supreme.   (D'apres AFP, France, 18 janvier 1999)