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: 11-02-1999      PART #1/  

* Africa. Development aid - Record low  -  The amount industrial
countries spend on development aid for poorer nations fell to a
record low in 1997, but there are tentative signs of an upturn.
Overseas development assistance by 21 of the richer members of the
Organisation for Economic Development dropped from $55.4 billion in
1996 to $48.3 billion in 1997. Adjusting for inflation, this
represented a fall of 5.8%.   (Financial Times, UK, 9 February
1999)

* Afrique. SIDA: tests cliniques  -  Les premiers tests cliniques
africains d'un vaccin contre le sida ont debute, a-t-on appris de
source medicale. Alors que pres d'une cinquantaine de tests
cliniques sur des vaccins sont en cours aux seuls Etats-Unis, aucun
n'avait encore ete pratique en Afrique. La phase initiale est
pratiquee sur un groupe de quarante Ougandais. "Meme s'il s'agit de
tests de petite ampleur, c'est un symbole important, la premiere
etape du developpement d'un eventuel vaccin efficace pour
l'Afrique", explique un communique.   (D'apres AFP, France, 9
fevrier 1999)

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Congo-Brazza: According to
Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF), the government has revoked the
accreditation of Bienvenu Boudimbou, a local correspondent with the
panafrican radio station Africa No.1.Congo RDC: RSF has protested
against the arrest of five journalists in Kinshasa on 3 February.
Guinea: RSF has protested against the expulsion on 29 January from
Guinea, of Don de Dieu Agoussou, (Benin) a journalist with the
weekly L'Oeil. Nigeria: During the evening of 5 February, police
raided the Satellite Press in Ogba, owned by former government
minister and presidential aspirant Jim Nwobodo. 3 people were
arrested, of which one was released later the following weekend. On
8 February, a team of policemen stormed the editorial offices of
The News and the premises of the 24 Hours Press. Journalists were
detained and then released. Zimbabwe:On 8 February, four
journalists were arrested following a tirade by President Mugabe
against the independent press and the judiciary. They were: Ibbo
Mandaza, chief editor of The Mirror, Grace Kwinjeh, Fernando
Goncalves, Farai Mungazi. All four were accused of publishing false
information likely to cause fear, alarm and despondency. Mungazi
and Goncalves have been released.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 February
1999)

* Afrique de l'Ouest. Onchocercose  -  Le programme de lutte contre
l'onchocercose (la "cecite des rivieres") en Afrique de l'Ouest
fete son 25e anniversaire du 8 au 13 fevrier. Ce programme, lance
en 1974 contre la maladie parasitaire qui sevissait le long des
rivieres et a rendu aveugles des millions de personnes, etait mene
par l'OMS, en association avec le PNUD, la FAO et la Banque
mondiale. Il a aujourd'hui atteint ses objectifs et a permis
d'assainir 25 millions d'hectares de terres fertiles pouvant
nourrir 17 millions de personnes. La tache de sauvegarder ces
acquis et de lutter contre un retour eventuel de la maladie incombe
desormais aux Etats.   (D'apres AFP, France, 6 fevrier 1999)

* West Africa. River Blindness virtually eradicated  -  8 February:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is beginning a week of
celebrations to mark the virtual eradication of River Blindness in
West Africa. 25 years ago, the WHO launched a project to eradicate
the disease, Onchocerciasis, which was a major public health
problem in the region. In some parts of West Africa, 60% of the
population had been infected, and 10% were blind. The WHO, together
with 11 West African countries, launched a campaign to fight
against the black fly that transmits the disease.   (BBC News, 8
February 1999)

* Algerie. Presidentielles  -  Le 4 fevrier, alors que plusieurs
candidats aux elections presidentielles commencent a exposer leur
programme, le Rassemblement pour la culture et la democratie (RCD,
opposition) a appele au boycottage de ces elections, parce que les
garanties de transparance pour un scrutin juste ne sont pas
suffisantes. Le RCD, tres implante en Kabylie, avait participe a
l'election presientielle de 1995. - Le 5 fevrier, Hocine Ait-Ahmed,
leader du Front des forces socialistes (FFS), ovationne par dix
mille personnes au cours d'un meeting a Alger, a annonce sa
candidature a l'election presidentielle.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 5 fevrier 1999)

* Angola. Amnesty International report  -  As the United Nations
considers its future role in Angola, a new Amnesty International
report hopes to stimulate debate about how to best protect the
human rights in the country. The new report describes the patterns
of human rights abuse which occurred in 1998 and concludes that
decisive action to protect human rights is an essential foundation
to end the war. The report also contains several recommendations
which, if implemented, would offer some protection to the civilian
population, while new attempts are made to end the war. These
recommendations include: 1.Continuing the monitoring and protection
of human rights in Angola as a crucial aspect of the search for
lasting peace. In particular, the work of the UN human rights
officers should continue in areas not directly affected by the
conflict. 2. The Angolan government should make ending human rights
violations by its own officials a priority and ensure that the
police and soldiers fully respect national and international human
rights laws and standards. 3. The authorities must bring to justice
those suspected of violating human rights. 4. UNITA and armed
Cabindan separatists should fulfil their obligations under common
Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions to protect the lives and
physical integrity of unarmed civilians and of combatants who have
laid down their arms.   (Amnesty International, 3 February 1999)

* Angola. Guerre civile  -  5 fevrier. Un porte-parole de l'etat-
major de l'armee angolaise a declare que les villes d'Andulo
(centre) et de Mbanza-Congo (nord), tenues par les forces de
l'Unita, sont completement encerclees par l'armee gouvernementale.
Mbanza-Congo, prise le 20 janvier, permet de controler la frontiere
avec le Congo-Kinshasa et l'acces a la ville petroliere de Soyo. 6
fevrier. Le PAM signale que la reprise de la guerre complique
considerablement les operations humanitaires qui doivent maintenant
etre assurees totalement par avion. La population qui devrait
beneficier de l'aide atteint 780.000 personnes, dont plus de
500.000 sont des personnes deplacees par les combats.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 8 fevrier 1999)

* Angola. SADC seeks to defuse tensions  -  The Southern African
Development Community (SADC) has offered to help defuse three weeks
of tension between Angola and Zambia over Angolan claims of Zambian
assistance to the rebel UNITA movement. An SADC official said that
the regional body was concerned about the two countries' relations,
and that it had discussed the issue with them last week on the
sidelines of the Lusaka talks aimed at achieving a cease fire in
Congo RDC. The official said the SADC was considering "the
possibility of convening a meeting of facilitate corrective
measures" aimed at restoring good relations. The SADC would seek
only a political solution and would not send a verification mission
to Zambia to look into the Angolan allegations. Zambia had asked
the UN, the OAU and regional institutions to verify the Angolan
claims. Although SADC states had undertaken not to assist UNITA,
the official said it was not impossible that individuals in nations
like Zambia could operate in breach of government regulations.  
(IRIN, Nairobi, 9 February 1999)

* Burkina Faso. Le Fespaco se prepare  -  Le festival africain de
cinema fetera a Ouagadougou, du 27 fevrier au 6 mars prochains, son
30e anniversaire. Ce festival 1999 presentera 138 longs et courts
metrages, dont 36 longs metrages realises par des Africains au
cours des deux dernieres annees. Le festival abordera egalement,
lors d'un forum-atelier, le probleme de la distribution des films
africains sur le continent africain.   (D'apres Marches Tropicaux,
France, 5 fevrier 1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Facing annihilation  -  A Protestant Pastor in
Congo-Brazza warns that his country faces total annihilation if the
international community does not take immediate action to halt
factional fighting which has caused the deaths of several thousand
people since violence erupted in mid-December. Speaking by
telephone from Pointe-Noire, the Pastor says: "If the international
community does not intervene, Pointe-Noire will go up in flames. If
Pointe-Noire is hit, the result will be the destruction of Congo-
Brazza. Pointe-Noire is the only remaining refuge.   (Ecumenical
News Int., Geneva, 5 Feb.1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Appel du COE  -  Le 8 fevrier, le Conseil
oecumenique des Eglises a Geneve a lance un vibrant appel a une
intervention de l'ONU et de l'OUA au Congo-Brazzaville, qu'il juge
indispensable pour mettre fin a la guerre civile dans ce pays. Au
nom des responsables d'Eglises du Congo, le secretaire general du
COE, le pasteur Konrad Raiser, a ecrit en ce sens a M. Kofi Annan,
secretaire general des l'ONU, et au president de la Republique
francaise. Il constate notamment que le conflit se degrade
rapidement, revetant de plus en plus un caractere ethnique, et que
le gouvernement n'a pratiquement rien fait pour enrayer l'escalade
de la terreur. Il souligne la necessite d'entreprendre d'urgence
une action internationale.   (ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 9 fevrier 1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Government launches offensive  -  Government troops
have launched a new offensive against militia forces of ex-premier
Bernard Kolelas to the west of Brazzaville. Forces backing
President Sassou-Nguesso attacked positions held by the Ninja
rebels in the Ngoma Tse-Tse region, some 15 km west of the capital.
Meanwhile, "sporadic" fighting continued in Dolisie, the country's
third largest town, 300 km west of Brazzaville. Cocoye militia
backing former president Pascal Lissouba attacked the city last
week.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 9 February 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Kabila veut negocier  -  Dans un communique publie
le 4 fevrier, a l'issue d'une rencontre de six heures avec son
homologue tchadien, le president Kabila a fait part de
"l'engagement du gouvernement congolais a discuter a l'interieur ou
a l'exterieur de la <SI>RDC avec tous les Congolais en vue
d'aboutir a une paix durable". Il s'est egalement engage a "signer
un cessez-le-feu immediat et poursuivre le processus de
democratisation en cours". C'est la premiere fois que Kabila fait
une proposition serieuse de negociation. Elle a cependant ete
accueillie avec mefiance dans les rangs de l'opposition armee en
non armee. Le meme jour, 4 fevrier, les representants rwandais et
ougandais s'etaient retires des pourparlers a Lusaka, n'ayant pu
pas convaincre les autres delegations de permettre aux rebelles
congolais de participer a ces negociations. Ces pourparlers se sont
termines durant le week-end du 6-7 fevrier, apres cinq jours de
discussions, sans deboucher sur aucun resultat. Ils reprendront
"d'ici quelques semaines", ont fait savoir des officiels.   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 9 fevrier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Peace talks  -  4 February: President Laurent Kabila
says he's ready to open peace talks and to immediately sign a
ceasefire. In a communique, jointly signed with the President of
Chad, Idriss Deby, both leaders have appealed to the international
community to support the initiative by sending peace-keeping
forces, led by the Organization of African Unity and the United
Nations. The same day, it's reported that preliminary talks held in
Lusaka, Zambia, aimed at ending the war, have hit another snag when
African mediators balked at inviting congolese rebels to
participate. Representatives of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Angola,
Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia met to draft agreements on a cease
fire and security guarantees for the five outside nations fighting
in Congo. The documents were then supposed to be negotiated by
foreign and defense ministers and to be ready for signing by heads
of state at a later date. "But the Congolese rebels were not
invited, meaning there can be no progress in talks on a ceasefire",
says Patrick Mazimhaka, a minister in Rwandan President Paster
Bizimungu's office. The rebels say no peace is possible without
them.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 February 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Arrestations  -  Le 3 fevrier, cinq journalistes du
journal Le Potentiel ont ete interpelles par des agents des
services de renseignements. On leur reprocherait la diffusion
d'articles critiquant severement certains aspects de la nouvelle
loi sur les partis politiques. D'autre part, selon le journal belge
De Standaard, l'ancien Premier ministre Mungul Diaka aurait ete
arrete le 4 fevrier a Kinshasa par les services de securite. Le 5
fevrier, on apprenait que les cinq journalistes avaient ete
liberes, mais que le porte-parole de l'UDPS, Joseph Kapika, avait
ete arrete par les agents de la securite.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 5 fevrier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Kivu et Equateur  -  Le 6 fevrier, a N'Djamena, un
responsable militaire tchadien a affirme que l'armee tchadienne
controlait plus de 90% de la moitie nord de la province de
l'Equateur. - D'autre part, les militants des droits de l'homme et
dirigeants de la societe civile du Sud-Kivu tirent la sonnette
d'alarme. Ils sont convaincus qu'une guerre de grande ampleur se
prepare au Kivu, disant avoir observe des signes evidents de sa
preparation. Selon eux, le Rwanda amasse chars et troupes a Bukavu
et a Uvira, alors que les soldats banyamulenge se retirent sur les
hauts plateaux, comme en 1996 et 1998, un mouvement qui a chaque
fois precede une operation militaire. L'agence IRIN signalait
cependant que des negociations a haut niveau avaient reussi a
desamorcer a Uvira la tension entre soldats banyamulenge et les
forces rwandaises. Trois commandants banyamulenge ont ete remplaces
par des officiers en provenance de Goma.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 8 fevrier 1999)

* Egypt. Cracking down on militants  -  On 4 February, an Egyptian
military court charged 107 alleged members of the outlawed Muslim
movement Jihad with conspiring to overthrow the government, in the
largest security trial in Egypt since militant Islamic groups
launched their war against the state in 1992. Altogether, 62
defendants are being tried in absentia, including Ayman el-Zawahri,
a Jihad leader and alleged close aide of Saudi millionaire Osama
bin Laden, who is suspected of involvement in the bombings of the
United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania last summer. Mr.El-
Zawahri is believed to be in hiding in Afghanistan. The trial,
which began on 1 February, is being held at the Heikstep military
base outside Cairo. The military judge read out the charges as the
defendants stood inside a cage in the courtroom. Egyptian
newspapers have dubbed it the "trial of the Albanians" because 13
of the alleged Jihad members were extradited from Albania in 1988,
reportedly with the help of the CIA, during a crackdown on
militants involved in attacks on foreigners, such as the massacre
of 58 tourists and four Egyptians in Luxor in 1997.   (The
Guardian, UK, 5 February 1999)

* Erythree/Ethiopie. La guerre reprend  -  Le 4 fevrier, apres des
semaines de tensions croissantes, les affrontements entre les
forces ethiopiennes et erythreennes ont repris pendant quatre
heures ala frontiere des deux pays, avec des tirs d'artillerie. Le
6 fevrier, les combats ont repris a pleine intensite, les deux pays
s'accusant mutuellement d'avoir lance les attaques. Les Erythreens
accusent l'Ethiopie d'avoir lance a l'aube une offensive de grande
envergure sur le front de la riviere Mereb, a la frontiere ouest;
Addis-Abeba accuse l'armee erythreenne d'une offensive d'envergure
sur le front de Badme (nord-ouest). Le soir, les deux parties
publiaient des communiques de victoire. Le 7 fevrier, ignorant les
appels internationaux a la moderation, les deux pays etaient
engages dans de nouveaux combats pour le controle de leur frontiere
au trace conteste. Le secretaire general de l'Onu les a appeles a
cesser immediatement les hostilites et a oeuvrer en faveur d'un
reglement politique de leur conflit. Le 8 fevrier, les combats se
sont etendus sur deux fronts: a Badme (ouest) et a Tsorona
(centre). Des rumeurs font egalement etat de combats sur le front
est, pres de Burie. L'armee ethiopienne a lance des attaques
soutenues par des helicopteres d'assaut et des avions de chasse.
Les appels a cesser les hostilites se multiplient. 9 fevrier. Apres
quatre jours de combat, les forces ethiopiennes n'ont pas reussi a
regagner les territoires controles par Asmara depuis mai dernier.
La guerre s'installe. Addis-Abeba revendique la prise de quelques
postes sur le front de Tsorona; Asmara affirme que les combats y
ont fait 1.500 morts dans les rangs ethiopiens et que leur
offensive a echoue. Le 10 fevrier, le Conseil de securite de l'Onu
a adopte a l'unanimite une resolution demandant un arret immediat
des combats et des ventes d'armes aux deux pays.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 11 fevrier 1999)

* Eritrea-Ethiopia. UN peace efforts...in vain  -  2 February: A
United Nations mediator is shuttling between Asmara and Addis Ababa
trying to prevent renewed fighting over the two neighbours' border
dispute. The envoy, Mohammed Sahnoun, held talks with Ethiopian
President Afewerki and senior government officials today. Eritrean
radio said President Isayas briefed Mr.Sahnoun on the causes and
developments of peace efforts and the level they had reached to
date. He also assured the envoy that the Eritrean government was
continuously participating in the OAU peace initiative and working
on the proposal with an open mind, said the radio. Mr.Sahnoun is
scheduled to travel on to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 3
Feb. The BBC correspondent in Asmara says there is doubt over
whether it will be possible to stop the momentum towards war.
Senior diplomats say the mediation attempt is too little, too late.
Mr.Sahnoun's efforts are expected to centre on winning Eritrean
acceptance of an agreement brokered by the Organization of African
Unity late last year. The plan was endorsed last week by the UN
Security Council. 5 February: Eritrea denies allegations by
Ethiopia that its aircraft bombed Adigrat (Ethiopia) today. 7
February: A Western diplomat in Addis Ababa describes as "total
war" the intense fighting that broke out at the weekend between
Ethiopia and Eritrea in the border area of Badme -- a rocky
triangle covering 250 square miles which both countries claim. 8
February: An Ethiopian government spokesperson says Ethiopia is
using fighter jets to support army attacks on Eritrean troops near
the town of Tsorona. Eritrea's foreign ministry says "the fighting
is very intense and getting worse". Eritrean forces claim to have
dealt the Ethiopian army a heavy blow on a new front, inflicting
casualties and forcing thousands of soldiers to retreat. 9
February: Five people are killed during an Ethiopian bombing raid
at a displaced people's camp at Lailai Deder in Eritrea. 10
February: The UN Security Council demands an immediate halt to
hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea, in particular the use of
air strikes, and calls for a resumption of diplomatic efforts by
both parties to find a peaceful solution to the conflict...The
Council expresses full support for the OAU, the Secretary-General
and his Special Envoy for Africa, Mohamed Sahnoun, and concerned
Member States in their efforts to find a peaceful solution to
current hostilities.   (ANB-BIA Brussels, 11 February 1999)

* Ethiopie. Appel des chefs religieux  -  Les chefs religieux de
l'Ethiopie sont reunis depuis deux jours a Addis Abeba pour evaluer
la situation et preparer un appel a la paix, qui contiendrait,
selon des sources de l'agence Fides, la demande d'un cessez-le-feu
et de la reprise des negociations sur base des propositions de
l'OUA: le retrait des troupes des zones contestees et la presence
d'une force d'interposition. Participent a la reunion: le
patriarche de l'Eglise orthodoxe ethiopienne Abuna Paulos, l'eveque
catholique de la capitale Berhane-Yesus Demerew Souraphiel, le
president de l'Eglise evangelique Yadessa Daba, et le chef du
Conseil supreme des affaires islamiques d'Ethiopie Sheick Moussa. 
 (Fides, Rome, 10 fevrier 1999)

* Guinea-Bissau. Mercy flight for Bissau  -  5 February: A two-day
European Union airlift of vaccines and other medical material in an
effort to save hundreds of people wounded in Bissau, and to
overcome a meningitis epidemic in the southern region of Oio,
begins today. At least 500 people were wounded in the four days of
heavy fighting in Bissau.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 February 1999)

* Guinee-Bissau. L'Ecomog se deploie  -  6 fevrier. Selon des
temoins, la situation etait calme dans la capitale Bissau, ou les
contingents de l'Ecomog, soit actuellement 410 soldats togolais,
nigeriens et beninois, continuaient a se deployer le long de la
ligne de front pour y remplacer les troupes guineennes et
senegalaises. Mais alors que ces dernieres avaient commence a se
retirer, quelque 200 soldats senegalais ont a nouveau ete envoyes
a Bissau pour renforcer les troupes loyalistes, apres les
hostilites du debut du mois, a appris l'AFP de source sure a Dakar.
Ce nouvel envoi, contraire aux accords d'Abuja, aurait ete decide
par l'armee senegalaise, estimant que les 600 soldats de l'Ecomog
ne peuvent assurer la securite a Bissau, face aux forces de la
junte estimees a 6.000 hommes. D'autre part, sur le plan
humanitaire, la situation parait de plus en plus precaire dans une
ville qui s'est a nouveau videe de ses habitants. Les organismes
humanitaires font etat de penurie alimentaire et de risques de
meningite pour les personnes qui ont fui la capitale. 8-9 fevrier.
Alors qu'on attendait l'arrivee d'un contingent de soldats gambiens
qui devaient completer les forces de l'Ecomog, le general Mane,
chef de la rebellion, a affirme la necessite d'installer rapidement
le gouvernement d'unite nationale forme il y a pres d'un mois. Le
president Vieira a declare qu'il etait pret a rencontrer le general
rebelle. Les radios des belligerants, la Radio nationale et la
Radio de la junte militaire, ont abandonne leurs accents guerriers
et leurs polemiques pour proner la consolidation de la paix. Ce
changement de ton semble traduire une atmosphere nouvelle. Les deux
parties ont egalement mis sur pied un comite charge de controler le
desarmement de toutes les unites armees du pays; des representants
de l'Ecomog en feront partie.   (D'apres AFP, France, 6-9 fevrier
1999)

* Lesotho. Former ruler charged  -  The former military ruler of
Lesotho, Major General Elias Ramaema, has been charged with the
murder of a veteran Irish aid volunteer who was stabbed to death on
21 January, a spokesman for the Irish consulate reported. Ramaema,
who handed power to a civilian government in 1993, is in prison
facing robbery and murder charges, after a four-wheel drive vehicle
belonging to the humanitarian worker, Ken Hickey, was found in his
possession with number plates substituted for those of the
general's car. His daughter-in-law and a son later turned
themselves in to police after Hickey's keys and mobile telephone
were also found in the family home. A spokesman said Hickey, 75,
the father of two sons and a daughter, was ambushed about 10 p.m.
on 21 January, as he returned home after a meeting with the Irish
consul-general in the capital, Maseru. A qualified engineer, he has
worked in Lesotho for seven years as a volunteer with the Irish
Agency for Personnel Service. After previous assignments in Egypt
and Malawi, he was helping with the construction of footbridges in
the Southern African mountain kingdom. Paul O'Donoghue, development
attache at the Irish consulate in Maseru paid tribute to the
efficient way in which the police and the government had handled
the case in which a total of eight people, including the general,
had so far been arrested. "It is very, very sad. A man of such
great age was no threat to anybody. We fear that if his death is
forgotten, it will make volunteer workers and humanitarian staff
easy prey in the future", said O'Donoghue. "We have had over 20
years in Lesotho which is one of our six priority countries for
development aid".   (IRIN, Nairobi, 3 February 1999)

* Kenya. Vaccin anti-SIDA?  -  Un groupe de prostituees kenyanes
resistantes au virus VIH a permis la mise au point d'un projet de
vaccin anti-sida, ont indique des chercheurs a Nairobi. Environ
3.000 prostituees de la capitale sont suivies depuis 1985 par des
chercheurs de l'universite de Nairobi, auxquels se sont associes
ensuite des universites occidentales. Parmi ces femmes, 30 se sont
revelees resistantes au VIH qu'elles n'ont jamais contacte, tandis
que 60 autres, bien que seropositives, n'ont toujours pas, depuis
12 ans, developpe le sida. A partir du systeme immunitaire des ces
femmes, les chercheurs ont mis au point un vaccin qui a ete
experimente avec succes sur des animaux a Oxford. Les essais sur
l'etre humain doivent commencer a l'automne en Grande-Bretagne,
tandis qu'une autre phase sera menee a Nairobi en 2000 si les
resultats des essais a Oxford sont concluants.   (D'apres Marches
Tropicaux, France, 5 fevrier 1999)

* Libya. Lockerbie bombing trial  -  Hopes for a handover of the
Lockerbie bombing suspects faded on 9 February after Libya insisted
that, if convicted in a Western court over the 1988 bombing of a
Pan Am jumbo jet over Scotland, the two men would have to serve any
prison sentence in their own country and not in Scotland, as
Britain and the United States demand. In what sounded like the
definitive word on a crucial issue, Libya's foreign minister, Omar
al-Muntasser, said there was "no alternative" to imprisonment in
Libya. With Washington pressing for stronger economic sanctions
against Libya over the Lockerbie affair -- which took 270 lives in
the worst case of terrorism in contemporary British history -- the
blunt statement could mean the collapse of months of delicate
international negotiations.   (The Guardian, U.K., 10 February
1999)

* Niger. Elections locales  -  Le 7 fevrier, ont eu lieu au Niger
des elections locales, les premieres depuis l'independance du pays.
Ce scrutin marque un tournant historique dans la mesure ou,
precedemment, les responsables municipaux etaient nommes par le
gouvernement. Ces elections representent la derniere phase du
processus de restauration des institutions democratiques apres le
coup d'Etat militaire de 1996 qui a porte le president Mainassara
au pouvoir. Alors que ces elections avaient d'abord ete jugees
pacifiques, la radio nigerienne a fait etat, le 8 fevrier, d'un
"certain nombre de problemes". Dans certaines regions des actes de
vandalisme et des vols de materiel electoral ont ete signales, de
nombreux electeurs n'etaient pas en possession de leur carte
d'electeur et d'autres ont ete intimides. Le gouvernement a ordonne
la reprise des elections dans les circonscriptions ou des troubles
ont ete signales.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 9 fevrier 1999)

* Niger. Vote-counting delayed  -  7 February: Local elections to
elect 2,053 local, municipal and regional councillors. 8 February:
Vote-counting is delayed because of violence in Niamey and in
Maradi, Zinder and Tawa. Unidentified people are reported to have
attacked the offices of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, destroying equipment and electoral papers. 9 February:
Niger is preparing to re-run several of the local elections after
the authorities suspended the vote-counting in most interior
districts because of the unrest. The cabinet held an emergency
meeting after disturbances at many polling stations and vote-
counting centres.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 February 1999)

* Nigeria. Avant les elections  -  Le 5 fevrier, la Commission
electorale independante nationale (INEC) a fait savoir que les
modalites de l'alliance electorale entre les deux partis APP et AD
en vue de remporter les prochaines elections rendaient l'accord
illegal. Les deux formations esperaient, en s'alliant, battre le
principal parti politique PDP. Celui-ci avait, auparavant, menace
de retirer ses candidats si l'INEC approuvait l'alliance entre ses
deux rivaux. Le 8 fevrier, une reunion convoquee pour "apaiser les
tensions" concernant la designation des candidats a la
presidentielle s'est tenue en presence de responsables
gouvernementaux. L'INEC a repousse au 15 fevrier la date limite de
la nomination des candidats. A ce jour, un seul parti, l'AD, a
choisi son candidat. Le PDP tiendra sa convention nationale durant
le week-end du 13-14.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 5-8 fevrier 1999)

* Nigeria. Pre-election moves  -  3 February: Nigeria's ruling
junta has rejected a constitutional proposal for a rotational
presidency among members of Nigeria's often-fractious regions. The
Provisional Ruling Council -- the core of Nigeria's junta -- say
they will not use a 1995 draft constitution as the basis for a new
constitution, which is expected to be in place before civilian
presidential elections take place on 27 February. The 1995
document, drawn up following the annulment of the 1993 elections,
would rotate the presidency among Nigeria's six main regions. The
junta say they will instead use the long-defunct 1979 constitution
as the basis for the new constitution. 5 February: It is reported
that a split has developed in Nigeria's second largest party, the
All People's Party (APP), as two factions suspend the other's
members in a row over plans for an electoral alliance with the
Alliance for Democracy (AD). 8 February: The former president of
Botswana, Ketumile Masire, will head a 23-member Commonealth
observer team to oversee the National Assembly elections (20
February) and the presidential elections (27 February).   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 9 February 1999)

* Nigeria. Investissements petroliers  -  Le groupe petrolier
anglo-neerlandais Royal Dutch/Shell a propose d'investir 8,5
milliards de dollars sur cinq ans pour revitaliser son secteur
petrolier, selon le Financial Times du 8 fevrier. Le groupe est en
discussion avec le gouvernement et d'autres compagnies petrolieres
sur ce projet. Au total, ces investissements devraient permettre
d'augmenter la production petroliere du Nigeria de 600.000 barils
par jour, alors qu'elle atteint aujourd'hui 2 milllions de barils
par jour, dont la moitie sont exploites par Shell. Le projet
devrait augmenter les recettes du pays de 20 milliards de dollars
sur une periode de 25 ans. Cette annonce vient apres une semaine de
violentes protestations de la population au sujet de la presence au
Nigeria des compagnies petrolieres etrangeres. Cinq personnes
avaient ete tuees au terminal de Forcados.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 9 fevrier 1999)

* Nigeria. Shell plans project  -  In February, eight oil workers
suffered severe burns when a pipeline operated by Shell Oil
exploded in southern Nigeria at the Opuorona station in the Niger
Delta. On 8 February, it was announced that Royal Dutch Shell has
proposed a $8.5 billion plan to revitalise the Nigerian petroleum
industry with one of the most ambitious integrated oil and natural
gas development projects in the world. The scheme would be the
biggest industrial investment made in sub-Saharan Africa. Shell is
in talks with the military government, politicians, other
international oil companies and contractors about the five-year
scheme.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 February 1999)

* Rwanda. Annonce d'elections locales  -  Le Rwanda va tenir cette
annee des elections locales "sans opposition", a rapporte le 4
fevrier la radio officielle. Des reunions sont prevues avec les
habitants des differentes regions afin d'expliquer les modalites du
scrutin, qui pourrait avoir lieu dans les trois mois. Le "secteur"
remplacera la commune en tant que collectivite de base en ce qui
concerne le developpement.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 5 fevrier 1999)

* Rwanda. Tribunal international  -  Un ancien chef de la milice
hutu Interahamwe, coupable d'avoir participe au genocide de 1994,
a ete condamne, le 5 fevrier, a quinze ans de prison par le
Tribunal penal international a Arusha (Tanzanie). En rendant son
verdict, le juge a rappele qu'Omar Serushago avait plaide coupable
des chefs d'accusation de genocide et de crimes contre l'humanite.
Age de 37 ans, Serushago est le troisieme a etre condamne pour
genocide par le TPI et le premier a ne pas ecoper de la prison a
vie. Repentant, il s'etait livre aux autorites ivoiriennes en juin
1997 et avait accepte de temoigner contre d'anciens "genocideurs"
presumes.   (INFOAZA, Burundi, 8 fevrier 1999)

* Rwanda. Gouvernement remanie  -  Le 8 fevrier, le Premier
ministre a remanie son gouvernement, qui comprend desormais 21
ministres et 5 secretaires d'Etat. L'ancien ambassadeur en Egypte,
Amri Sued, a ete nomme aux Affaires etrangeres. Un rescape du
genocide, Jean Mucyo, a pris le portefeuille de la Justice, suite
au depart precipite pour les Etats-Unis de l'ancien ministre
Faustin Ntezirayo. Des ministres appartenant au parti au pouvoir,
le Front patriotique rwandais, trois sur sept ont ete limoges et
cinq nouvelles personnalites du FPR ont ete nommees. On note
l'arrivee en force de Rwandais "de l'interieur" (non issus de
l'exil). Selon l'agence rwandaise d'information, l'opinion publique
s'est montree de plus en plus critique face a la mauvaise gestion
et a la corruption au sein du gouvernement. C'est le troisieme
remaniement depuis 1994.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 9 fevrier
1999)

* Rwanda. New justice minister  -  On 9 February, the President
swore in a new cabinet, naming new ministers for justice and
foreign affairs. Jean-de-Dieu Mucyo becomes the new minister of
justice, responsible for overseeing the prosecution of more than
130,000 jailed suspects awaiting trial of taking part in the 1994
genocide. The justice ministry has been a constant source of
turmoil for the government, with critics accusing it of foot-
dragging on trials of genocide suspects.   (AP, 10 February 1999)

* Western Sahara. UN to cut short mission  -  The United Nations
Security Council last weekend extended the UN mandate to keep the
peace in the disputed Western Sahara only until next week. The
decision was the latest indication of international exasperation
over the lack of progress towards solving Africa's last
decolonisation wrangle. It is 23 years since Morocco invaded the
former Spanish colony, setting off a war that has left around
165.000 refugees stranded in an expanse of desert 1.500 km south of
Algiers. The UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, had asked for his
peacekeeping force's mandate to be extended until the end of the
month. This was to allow time for Morocco to prepare the latest
changes to arrangements for a referendum on the territory's
independence or integration into Morocco. In an apparent effort to
exert pressure on Rabat, however, the Security Council refused to
authorise the UN force, known as Minurso, beyond next week.  
(Guardian Weekly, UK, 7 February 1999)

* Senegal. Droits de l'homme: bilan mitige  -  L'Organisation
nationale des droits de l'homme (ONDH) du Senegal a recemment fait
le point des droits humains au Senegal pour l'annee 1998. Elle en
a dresse un bilan mitige, marque par une "avancee" par rapport a
l'annee precedente, mais aussi par certains "manquements". Parmi
ceux-ci, outre les exactions de part et d'autre dans le conflit
casamancais, on a souligne une "regression nette" sur le plan
socio-economique, avec notamment une atteinte aux droits des
travailleurs et l'emprisonnement de leaders syndicalistes. La
liberte d'opinion a ete violee avec l'inculpation arbitraire de
trois journalistes, et la liberte de manifestation bridee. Les
droits politiques ont ete malmenes avec les nombreuses
modifications constitutionnelles motivees par des "preoccupations
politiciennes". L'ONDH n'a pas manque de denoncer la degradation
des conditions de vie carcerales. Parmi les "avancees", on souligne
la ratification par le Senegal de la Charte sur la Cour
internationale de justice, et l'ONDH a exprime l'espoir de voir le
meme succes avec la Cour africaine des droits de l'homme. On a
aussi souligne le "renforcement" des droits de la defense, et
d'autres avancees dans le droit juridique. L'ONDH declare vouloir
creer une "aide juridictionnelle" permettant aux plus demunis de
defendre leurs droits et, dans ce sens, "developper des structures
a la base". L'ONDH a enfin declare 1999 "annee de la paix de la
Casamance". Il faut savoir que le 22 janvier il y a eu une "poignee
de main historique" entre l'abbe Diamacoune Senghor - figure
emblematique de l'irredentisme casamancais - et le president
senegalais M. Abdou Diouf. Le rapport sera publie a la fin de
fevrier.   (A. Agboton, Senegal, 10 fevrier 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Exode  -  6 fevrier. Ni veritable guerilla, ni
affrontement conventionnel, le conflit sierra-leonais, aux portes
de la capitale Freetown, echappe aux regles connues de la guerre et
son evolution demeure imprevisible, indique l'agence AFP. Si la
rebellion a officiellement ete chassee de Freetown, on ne cesse,
jour apres jour, de decouvrir de nouvelles poches rebelles, parfois
en pleine ville. Et les collines environnant la capitale sont
toujours aux mains de rebelles insaisissables. La population civile
ne croit plus en rien, si ce n'est la fuite. Ils fuient par
centaines leur pays en guerre, certains soldant leurs maigres biens
pour payer le prix du passage vers la Guinee. "Cette guerre est
loin d'etre terminee, surtout si les Nigerians de l'Ecomog rentrent
chez eux comme ils l'ont annonce", estimait l'un d'eux. - 8
fevrier. Le president Kabbah a accepte d'autoriser le dirigeant
emprisonne du RUF, Foday Sankoh, a s'entretenir directement avec
les officiers du mouvement rebelle pour qu'ils puissent presenter
leur plan de paix. L'offre n'est cependant valable que si les
rebelles reconnaissent la legitimite du gouvernement Kabbah et
deposent les armes. Un porte-parole du RUF a reagi avec prudence a
cette proposition, en demandant des precisions sur la facon de
proceder. A Freetown, malgre tout, la vie redevient lentement
normale: un nombre croissant de marches se sont reouverts et les
gens commencent a retourner a leur travail, selon le porte-parole
du president.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 fevrier 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Positive steps  -  1 February: President Kabbah has
vowed to rebuild the country's army, responding to fears that a
regional intervention force may be withdrawn from the troubled West
African nation. President Kabbah says his government had received
funding from international financial institutions to revive the
Sierra Leonean military, which was disbanded last year. In a radio
broadcast, he did not specify which groups had offered funding or
how much was pledged. Nigeria has threatened to withdraw a regional
force reeling from fierce fighting with Sierra Leonean rebels,
leaving the country at the mercy of the insurgents fighting to oust
the Kabbah government. 4 February: Sierra Leone's army chief-of-
staff, Brigadier General Makwell Khobe, announces his army is
recruiting some 5,000 men to take over from ECOMOG. Khobe, who is
leading a delegation to Nigeria, said a "massive recruitment is
underway ahead of a planned Nigerian withdrawal by the end of May.
"If Nigeria pulls out, other countries will be there". 5 February:
ECOMOGis reported to be mobilising its forces in Freetown, as
rumours circulate of an imminent rebel attack. 7 February: In a
nationwide radio broadcast President Kabbah reverses his previous
stance and says he is willing to meet with rebel Revolutionary
United Front officials if they agree to put down their weapons and
publicly recognize his government. Kabbah says his government will
allow Foday Sankoh, the charismatic founder of the rebel group, to
meet with a rebel delegation. Kabbah says, however, he will
withdraw the invitation if the rebels have preconditions of their
own. 10 February: The UN envoy to Sierra Leone praises the
president's offer of peace talks and urges the rebels to accept the
overture. 11 February: However, a reminder that the war is not too
far away. The Head of National Security in Sierra Leone, confirms
there has been fighting in Kenema, in the south-east. The same day,
the leader of the Liberal Democrat Party in the UK, says British
firms have been supplying arms to the rebel forces.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 11 February 1999)

* South Africa. Low voter registration  -  With South Africa's
second all-race elections just months away, only half of the
country's eligible voters have registered. About 4 million people
registered during a drive last weekend, bringing the total since
registration began in November to 13.7 million, election officials
said. However, only 26% of 18 to 20 years-old voters have
registered. After low turnout because of disorganization and lack
of public awareness in November, election officials added last
weekend's round and said another would be held in March. No date
has been set for the election, but it must be held within three
months of 30 April.   (AP, 4 February 1999)

* South Africa. "The state of the nation"  -  On 5 February,
President Mandela gave his last "State of the Nation" address
before retirement. He lamented continuing tensions between blacks
and whites five years after the end of apartheid. He called for a
"new patriotism" and said his citizens were still murdering each
other in "words and attitudes". In the text of his prepared speech,
the President had written that the general election would probably
be held between 18 May and 27 May, but he omitted the passage when
he spoke, because of a constitutional technicality forbidding him
to set an official date yet.   (Financial Times, UK, 6 February
1999)

* South Africa. Former king of Albania on arms charge  -  Leka
Zogu, the exiled king of Albania, has been arrested in South
Africa, charged with possessing illegal weapons. The police said
that an arsenal of arms and explosives, including rifles, grenade
launchers, anti-personnel mines and more than 14,000 rounds, had
been found at his home north of Johannesburg. Mr Leka was one of
four foreigners taken into custody on 5 February.   (The Guardian,
UK, 8 February 1999)

* South Africa/USA. Seeking closer ties  -  As the first American
secretary of defense to visit South Africa, William Cohen
represents both the possibility of closer US ties to this continent
and the reality of America's reluctance to extend its defense
commitments. In three days here, Cohen will meet with South African
government officials, possibly including President Mandela, to
discuss US initiatives for peacekeeper training and an African
Centre for Security Studies, which the Clinton administration hopes
will reinforce the message President Clinton brought on his visit
here last March: "Help the Africans help themselves, but don't
expect the United States to step into the middle of civil strife." 
 (AP, 9 February 1999)

* South Africa. Planning a $5bn arms purchase  -  South Africa's
plans to buy US 5 billion of weapons from European manufactures to
re-equip its armed forces should be finalised by mid-year, Joe
Modise, defence minister said on 9 February. "We expect to sign
this agreement hopefully around May or June", Mr.Modise said. The
government has named "preferred suppliers", including the Saab-
British Aerospace partnership for the sale of Gripen fighter
aircraft, but has yet to sign firm contracts. Mr.Modise, who has
overseen a sharp cut in South Africa's defence budget since the end
of apartheid in 1994, emphasised the urgency of replacing obsolete
equipment so that South Africa could protect its marine resources
from their being "plundered" by foreign fishing fleets. Senior
defence officials say fishing boats from countries such as Japan
and the Philippines have been taking valuable catches around Marion
Island, the South African territory in the south Atlantic.  
(Financial Times, UK, 10 February 1999)

* Sudan. President says war costly  -  Sudan's war with southern
rebels costs the government half its budget every year, President
Omar el-Bashir said in an interview published on 3 February. "The
government is not able to provide the minimum limits for survival
for the Sudanese because of the spending on the war", he was quoted
in the Al-Rai Al-Am newspaper. "This costs half of the overall
state budget, he said. "This puts even ministers and government
officials below the poverty line". Sudan's 1999 budget projects
spending at $1.09 billion. That would suggest that government
spending on the war was averaging about $1.5 million a day --higher
than past estimates of about $1 million a day.   (AP, 3 February
1999)

* Soudan. Premier parti enregistre  -  Le 1er fevrier, une faction
dissidente du "Soudan's Democratic Unionist Party" a ete le premier
parti a etre enregistre depuis la mise en place du systeme
pluraliste au debut de l'annee, ce qui lui donne le droit de
pratiquer des activites politiques et de presenter des candidats
aux elections. Quelque 30 groupes ont engage des procedures
d'enregistrement depuis l'entree en vigueur, le 1er janvier, de la
legislation sur les groupements politiques.   (D'apres IRIN,
Nairobi, 4 fevrier 1999)

* Sudan. Child slaves freed  -  The scale of Sudan's slave trade
has prompted a human rights group to buy the freedom of over 1,000
children. Christian Solidarity International, a Swiss-based
organisation, acted last month of "widespread evidence" that
children from Sudan's Christian and animist southern regions were
being stolen from their families and taken north by their Muslim
captors. The scale of the trade was confirmed by Bishop Cesare
Mazzolari of Rumbek, in southern Sudan. "It still goes on", he told
reporters in Kenya last week. "Children are stolen and taken to
Koranic schools to be indoctrinated and islamicised. A lucky few
receive scholarships to study, but the others are sent to northern
Sudan or to Arab countries as slaves".   (The Tablet, UK, 6
February 1999)

* Soudan. Affrontements interethniques  -  Des affrontements dans
l'ouest du pays, entre Soudanais arabes nomades et Africains
sedentaires, ont fait 108 morts et des milliers de sans-abri, a
rapporte le 8 fevrier un responsable du regime de Khartoum. Les
affrontements ont eu lieu pres de Geneina, a environ 1.100 km a
l'ouest de Khartoum, non loin de la frontiere tchadienne. Les
combats avaient pour origine une querelle portant sur des zones de
paturages et ont debute le mois dernier. Plus de 50 villages ont
ete detruits et au moins 1.600 familles ont ete jetees sur les
routes, a precise le gouverneur de la province du Nord-Darfour.  
(D'apres AFP, France, 8 fevrier 1999)

* Sudan. Sudanese vow to topple Khartoum  -  Sudanese opposition
groups, attending a four-day conference at the International
Conference Centre, Kampala, Uganda, have vowed to intensify the
struggle to topple the Khartoum regime. About 30 groups, drawn from
the armed groups, opposition political parties, human rights groups
and other civic organisations, say they will also intensify the
struggle against various human rights abuses in Sudan.   (New
Vision, Uganda, 11 February 1999)
* Tchad. Attaques dans le nord?  -  Le ministre tchadien de la
Defense, Oumar Kadjalami, a dementi, le 2 fevrier, les affirmations
du Mouvement pour la democratie et la justice au Tchad (MDJT) selon
lesquelles les forces de cette formation antigouvernementale
auraient fait 128 morts parmi les troupes regulieres lors de
plusieurs attaques dans le nord du pays. Selon M. Kadjalami, le
seul incident a signaler dans la region etait l'explosion, le 31
janvier, d'une mine vetuste actionnee par un vehicule de l'armee
qui avait fait sept blesses.   (D'apres IRIN, 3 fevrier 1999)

* Tchad. Le lac Tchad victime de la secheresse  -  En 40 ans, le
lac Tchad a perdu 90% de sa surface. Classe dans les annees
soixante au 11e rang des lacs du monde avec 25.000 kmę, il ne
couvre plus aujourd'hui que 2.500 kmę, en raison des changements
climatiques dans cette region sahelienne de l'Afrique, ou le desert
progresse inexorablement. Cette perte de surface menace gravement
la survie economique de ses neuf millions de riverains,
agriculteurs, pasteurs et pecheurs; mais c'est tout l'equilibre
d'un region grande comme le quart de l'Afrique qui est menace, note
un membre du Programme des Nations unies pour l'environnement. Des
1964, les quatre pays riverains (Cameroun, Niger, Nigeria et Tchad)
ont cree la Commission du bassin du lac Tchad, rejoints en 1994 par
la RCA et ensuite par le Soudan. Mais leurs plans d'action n'ont
pas pu aboutir, principalement faute d'argent.   (D'apres AFP,
France, 11 fevrier 1999)

* Uganda. First AIDS vaccine trial starts  -  The first trial of an
AIDS vaccine in Africa, has begun on a group of Ugandans considered
to be at low risk to the disease. It will include 40 people and
uses a vaccine made by Pasteur Merieux Connaught, a division of
France's Rhone-Poulenc Group. The Phase 1 trial, aims to show only
the safety of the vaccine. Later stages will look at the
effectiveness of the preparation. Dr Jerrold Ellner of Case Western
Reserve University in Ohio, is helping direct the study. He says:
"Although small in size, this trial is important symbolically as a
first critical step in developing an effective vaccine for Africa. 
 (BBC News, 8 February 1999)

* Zambia/Angola. War of words  -  The Southern African Development
Community's (SADC) executive secretary, Dr Kaire Mbuende, is
concerned about Angola's allegations that Zambia has supplied arms
to UNITA in Angola. At a Press Briefing in Lusaka, Dr Mbuende said
the SADC will do everything possible to resolve the issue, to avert
a threat of war between Angola and Zambia. The SADC heads of state
might meet soon to study reports by the SADC defence and security
committee, on the war of words between Angola and Zambia. In a
related development, a spokesman for the Angolan airline TAAG, has
admitted that it used a Boeing 707 freighter, with the registration
number 5YNBJ from Tana Mara Aviation, bearing Aero Zambia colours
and logo, three times a week between Johannesburg and Luanda. The
admission by TAAG has mystified Lusaka political analysts as to
whom is responsible for the clandestine arms' supply to UNITA
rebels in Angola.   (Fred Chela, Zambia, 5 February 1999)

* Zambia/South Africa. Personnel needed for Zambia's mines  - 
Anglo American Corporation (AAC) of South Africa has set in motion
the process of taking over Zambia's lucrative Nchanga and Nkana
copper mines, by advertising posts in the South African press. A
competitive dollar-based expatriate remuneration package, will be
offered to successful applicants for posts in engineering,
metallurgical, finance, information technology, manpower, marketing
and material management. According to AAC, Nchanga and Nkana mines
are capable of producing more than 300,000 tonnes of copper per
annum, but this can only be attained with highly professional
personnel.   (Fred Chela, Zambia, 5 February 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Le regime sous pression  -  Apres l'arrestation de deux
journalistes du Sunday Standard, liberes ensuite par decision de la
Haute cour, trois autres journalistes du Zimbabwe Mirror ont ete
interpelles le 8 fevrier pour interrogation. Une d'entre eux, Grace
Kwinjeh, avait deja publie en octobre dernier un article sur les
soldats zimbabweens tues au Congo. Quelques jours auparavant, le
president Mugabe, dans un discours televise, s'en etait pris
violemment aux journalistes, aux juges et egalement a quelques
activistes blancs des droits de l'homme qui avaient critique son
regime autoritaire. Cependant, on s'attend bientot a de nouveaux
troubles dans le pays, les prix devant etre augmentes de 20%.
L'inflation au Zimbabwe est de 47%; environ 60% de la population
vit en-dessous du seuil de pauvrete.   (D'apres De Standaard,
Belgique, 9 fevrier 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Anger over football decision  -  10 February: The
football authorities in Zimbabwe are to hold an emergency meeting
in Harare, today, to decide what steps to take to get back the
right to hold the African Cup of Nations. The African Football
Federation had taken the tournament away because, it said, Zimbabwe
could not be relied on to be ready in time for the start date next
January. Nigeria has already said it would be ready to host the
event.   (BBC News, 10 February 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Crack-down on civil society  -  7 February: President
Mugabe challenges four top judges to resign, imperiling the
independence of Zimbabwe's judiciary and, indirectly, the country's
free press. Mugabe accuses the judges of "an outrageous and
deliberate act of impudence" for speaking out against the illegal
detention of two Zimbabwean journalists, who were also allegedly
tortured. 8 February: Amnesty International says Zimbabwe faces a
growing human rights crisis which could seriously impact on its
neighbours. The organisation appeals to Southern African heads of
state to urgently raise the situation with President Mugabe. "If
the rule of law is undermined in Zimbabwe, it will have an impact
on other Southern African countries..." The same day, in what
appears to be a new attack on the freedom of the Media, four
journalists from an independently owned newspaper, are detained in
connection with an article deemed by the military to put Zimbabwe's
intervention in Congo RDC in a bad light. 9 February: Zimbabwean
civil rights groups say President Mugabe's government is in its
worst crisis since independence. They say the arrest and alleged
torture of local reporters and a broadside by Mr.Mugabe against the
judiciary, undermines the law and shows the increasing
militarisation of the state. "By any standard of democratic
governance, the Zimbabwe government is in a state of crisis", the
National Constitutional Assembly, a coalition of Church, human
rights and trade union groups, say in a statement. "Mr.Mugabe is
leaning more and more towards the more "militarist and commandist"
wing of his government". 10 February: Riot police tear-gas hundreds
of protesting students in Harare. The students began by staging a
protest about the late payment of grants, but their anger quickly
over to other complaints. The same day, the Press announces that
international human rights groups and journalists' organisations
have intensified their protests at the detention of journalists in
Zimbabwe. Also, the government says it will press ahead with its
land reform programme, despite a legal setback. The High Court has
ruled that the government has broken the law by failing to give
sufficient notice to more than half the owners affected by the
plan, and must now relinquish those claims.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels,
11 February 1999)