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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 31-03-1999      PART #1/ 

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Congo RDC: On 24 March,
Andre Ipakala and Modeste Mutinga, editors for the private daily
newspapers La Reference Plus and Le Potentiel respectively, were
transferred from the National Information Agency headquarters,
where they had been detained since 14 March, to the Court of
Military Order in Kinshasa, and placed under its custody. They have
not been charged. Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) has protested the
decision to defer the two journalists to the Court of Military
Order. The Committee To Protect Journalists has expressed its "deep
concern" over the detentions of the two journalists and of Thierry
Kyalumba and Mbakulu Pambu Diambu. Zambia: The World Association of
Newspapers has asked Zambia to drop spying charges against 9
journalists of The Post newspaper. Also, the ruling MMD has
obtained an injunction restraining The Post from any further
publication of articles concerning the security of Zambia and the
country' stand-off with Angola. On 24 March, police questioned
Inter-African Network for Human Rights and Development executive
director Ngande Mwanajiti, in connection with a press release from
The Post. The police have denied the newly formed National Pressure
Group (NPG) a permit to hold a peaceful demonstration on 27 March
against what the NPG calls the continued harassment of The Post's
newspaper's reporters and opposition political leaders in the
country. Zimbabwe: On 18 March, the Herald newspaper reported that
the government had begun research aimed at introducing a media
police and law which would "facilitate" the operations of various
media organisations in the country.   (IFEX, Canada, 25-26 March
1999)

* Afrique. Mercenaires  -  Un rapport des Nations unies met en
relief "l'aggravation de l'activite" des mercenaires,
particulierement en Afrique ou elle affecte la stabilite politique
du continent. Redige par Enrique Bernales Ballesteros, rapporteur
special de la commission des droits de l'homme, et presente lors
d'une conference de presse le 25 mars, le rapport releve aussi
l'extension des activites des services de securite prives. "La
situation se presente tres mal en Angola, dans les deux Congo et en
Sierra Leone", a precise M. Bernales, qui s'est particulierement
attarde sur le cas de la Sierra Leone, ou toutes les parties du
conflit ont, semble-t-il, eu recours a des mercenaires.   (D'apres
IRIN, Nairobi, 28 mars 1999)

* Afrique centrale. Environnement et desenclavement  -  Le 17 mars,
reunis a Yaounde dans le cadre du sommet sur "la conservation et la
gestion durable des ecosystemes forestiers d'Afrique centrale", les
chefs d'Etat d'Afrique centrale (ou leur representant) se sont
engages a oeuvrer pour la preservation du bassin du Congo,
considere comme la deuxieme reserve forestiere du monde apres
l'Amazonie. Dans leur declaration finale, baptisee "declaration de
Yaounde", et suite aux promesses de financement d'organismes de
cooperation comme la Banque mondiale, l'Union europeenne et la
Banque africaine de developpement, ils se sont engages notamment a
adopter des politiques nationales harmonisees en matiere de foret
et a accelerer la mise en place des instruments d'amenagement. -En
marge de ce sommet, le Cameroun, le Tchad et la Republique
centrafricaine ont signe avec l'UE une convention de financement
pour la construction d'une route bitumee entre Toubouro (Nord
Cameroun) et Moundou (sud du Tchad), longue de 400 km. Reliant le
Tchad au terminal ferroviere de Ngaoundere, au Cameroun, elle
representera un gain de 700 km pour les usagers et desenclavera
ainsi de vastes regions. Il s'agit d'une aide non remboursable de
110 millions d'euros.   (J.D. Mihamle, Rep.Associes, Cam., 25 mars
1999)

* G7. Debt forgiveness  -  On 25 March, Jean Chretien, the Canadian
prime minister, urged the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised
countries to expand debt forgiveness for the world's poorest
countries. He proposed that the International Monetary Fund sell
ten million ounces of gold from its stocks to assist the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC). He said some extremely poor
countries that were initially deemed ineligible for the HIPC
initiative should be reconsidered if they have been hurt by the
global economic turmoil or by natural disasters, specifically
citing Honduras.   (Financial Times, UK, 26 March 1999)

* Algerie. Campagne electorale  -  La campagne pour la
presidentielle du 15 avril a commence officiellement le 25 mars sur
fond de violences, desormais quotidiennes. Huit personnes ont ainsi
ete tuees, le 23 et le 24 mars, pres d'Alger et de Tiaret. Les sept
candidats ont delaisse la capitale, souvent pour des zones
"chaudes" (Ain-Defla, Chlef, Bouira, Guelma, Oran). Les islamistes
du MSP ont, eux, renonce a la manifestation prevue a Alger, mais
interdite par les autorites, pour protester contre l'elimination
"illegale" de leur chef Mahfoud Nahnah.   (D'apres Liberation,
France, 26 mars 1999)

* Algerie. Concertation antifraude  -  Le 30 mars, quatre candidats
a la presidentielle du 15 avril, Hocine Ait-Ahmed, Abdallah
Djaballah, Mouloud Hamrouche et Taleb Ibrahimi, ont annonce des
mesures communes pour lutter contre une eventuelle fraude. Dans une
"instruction" commune a leurs militants, ces candidats, qui se sont
concertes la semaine derniere, ont decide une "coordination totale"
entre leurs representants dans les communes et les departements
pour eviter "les depassements et les agissements contraires a la
loi". En effet, en depit des propos rassurants tenus par le chef de
l'Etat sortant et par l'organe de l'armee El Djeich, les signes
montrant le soutien du pouvoir a Abdelaziz Bouteflika se
multiplient. La permanence nationale de Hamrouche a par ailleurs
denonce des "agressions dimanche par les partisans de Bouteflika a
Relizane".   (Liberation, France, 31 mars 1999)

* Angola. Reduction de l'aide  -  Les bombardements rebelles ont
contraint le PAM a annuler ses vols humanitaires vers plusieurs
grandes villes de l'Angola, ou des milliers de personnes se sont
refugiees, fuyant les combats. Selon le representant du PAM, le
pays compte 1,2 million de personnes deplacees, soit 10% de la
population. Cinq villes des hauts plateaux, Kuito, Huambo, Luena,
Menongue et Saurimo, assiegees par la rebellion, sont impossible a
atteindre par la voie des airs en raison des combats. L'aide
parvient encore cependant par la route a Malanje, 300 km a l'est de
la capitale Luanda.   (D'apres AP, USA, 26 mars 1999)

* Angola. UNITA closer to Luanda  -  24 March: After two days of
heavy fighting with government forces, UNITA rebels blast the
besieged central highlands town of Kuito with artillery fire.
According to independent sources, the shelling started on the night
of 23 March, after UNITA tightened its siege of the Bie Province
capital, which lies 180 km northwest of Huambo. 26 March: Fighting
has moved closer to the capital Luanda, according to reports.
Civilians are said to have fled from conflict areas surrounding the
town of Catete, only 70 km from Luanda and close to an important
hydro-electric dam. 30 March: UNITA has heavily bombarded the
strategic central town of Malanje for the past week, stepping up
pressure on the government. Also, UNITA has taken control of a
sector of the Angolan border with Congo RDC, along the northern
Uige province.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 30 March 1999)

* Angola. Budget announced  -  The Angolan government has published
its budget for 1999, which allocates 30% of government spending to
defence. The budget comes as fighting continues between the Angolan
army and UNITA rebel forces in several parts of the country. The
BBC correspondent in Angola says the ministry responsible for
addressing the humanitarian problems caused by the conflict has
been given just 1.5% of the budget. Hundreds of thousands of
civilians have fled their homes since the Angolan civil war resumed
last December.   (BBC News, 30 March 1999)

* Angola. Combats acharnes  -  Des combats acharnes entre l'armee
et les rebelles de l'Unita fideles a Jonas Savimbi se deroulaient,
le 30 mars, a moins de cinq km de Malanje, l'une des principales
villes d'Angola situee a 400 km a l'est de Luanda, selon les
temoignages des habitants. De tres nombreux habitants ont quitte la
ville - sous pression des rebelles depuis novembre - pour se rendre
a pied ou en voiture dans la province du Kwanza-norte, a declare un
habitant. Par ailleurs, les rebelles ont pris recemment le controle
de la ville de Marquela do Zombo dans la province de Uije.   (La
Libre Belgique, 31 mars 1999)

* Benin. Elections legislatives  -  Le 30 mars, quelque 2,7
millions d'electeurs beninois sont appeles aux urnes pour des
legislatives qui vont constituer un test de popularite pour le
president Mathieu Kerekou, trois ans apres son retour au pouvoir.
2.905 candidats repartis sur 35 listes de partis ou d'alliances de
partis, se disputent les 83 sieges de la nouvelle assemblee
nationale, selon un systeme de scrutin proportionnel a un tour. Au
moins 20 listes se reclament du general Kerekou, qui a dirige de
1972 a 1990 un regime d'ideologie marxiste-leniniste, avant de se
rallier au liberalisme et de revenir au pouvoir par les urnes en
1996.   (AFP, France, 29 mars 1999)

* Benin. Seeking seats in parliament  -  30 March: Voters go to the
polls to choose 83 legislators from among 2,905 candidates in the
third parliamentary election since the reintroduction of multiparty
democracy there in 1990. Of the 35 parties and political alliances
registered for the election, around 20 are from the Mouvance
presidentielle, the alliance that supports President Kerekou.
Kerekou, a former military ruler who lost presidential polls in
1991 but in 1996 was voted back in, has no party of his own. The
main rivals of the Mouvance presidentielle are the Renaissance du
Benin (RB), led by ex-president Nicephore Soglo, and the Parti du
renouveau democratique (PRD), headed by Adrien Houngbedji, a former
prime minister. No party has a majority in the outgoing parliament.
30 March: Preliminary indications show a high turnout and there
were no reports of violence.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 31 March 1999)

* Burundi. Bujumbura Rurale "instable"  -  Bujumbura Rurale reste
l'une des regions les plus touchees du Burundi par le manque de
securite et les besoins humanitaires, indique le bureau d'OCHA au
Burundi. Depuis novembre 1998, les deplaces y ont cherche refuge en
grand nombre et on en compte desormais 40.000 dans trois localites
differentes: 5.000 a Mutambu, 15.000 a Kabezi et 20.000 a Mubone.
Le rapport qualifie de "hautement instable" les conditions de
securite en Bujumbura Rurale, surtout aux abords oriental et
meridional de la capitale. Des affrontements quotidiens s'y
deroulent entre l'armee et des groupes armes, ajoute OCHA. -
D'autre part, Julius Nyerere, le mediateur dans le conflit
burundais, a exprime son opposition a l'eventualite d'organiser des
pourparlers inter-burundais a Bujumbura, comme semblent le
souhaiter les autorites burundaises; selon lui, la situation
interieure ne reunit pas les conditions pour permettre aux
Burundais en exil de se rendre dans leur pays.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 29 mars 1999)

* Cameroon. Food distribution  -  The World Food Programme (WFP)
will be distributing over 18,000 mt of food aid, worth
approximately US $14 million, in Cameroon over the next four years,
Dali Belgasmi, WFP country representative said. Over half the food;
9,429 mt of cereals, has been allocated to an emergency operation
taking place this year in the north and extreme north of the
country. "The crops grown by the vulnerable people in those regions
have been badly affected by drought, locusts and elephants",
Belgasmi said. "The operation will benefit some 660,000 people,
most of who are women". WFP will provide two 50kg bags of corn and
sorghum meal per family, to be distributed by national and
international NGOs from warehouses in Maroua, capital of the
Extreme North province. Of this food aid, worth about US $5
million, over 90% will go to the Extreme North and 10% to the North
province. Belgasmi said he would be leading a mission of donor
representatives to Maroua on 30 March to meet NGOs and authorities
there to assess the current situation. "We will then decide how,
when, and where to distribute this food aid, to ensure
effectiveness and transparency". The remainder of the food, 8,571
mt will be allocated to a rural primary school feeding programme in
the East, Adamaoua, North and Extreme North provinces. The daily
school-feeding programme will run for four years, benefit 49,000
students and cost US $9 million, Belgasmi said. In addition, 16,000
primary school girls will each receive one bag of rice and 10kg of
beans per quarter to take home to their families. WFP has a special
commitment to supporting women, Belgasmi said.   (IRIN, West
Africa, 26 March 1999)

* Cameroun. Ballet de francs-macons  -  Depuis quelque temps, on
assiste au Cameroun a un ballet de membres eminents d'"ordres
initiatiques traditionnels et philosophiques" occidentaux. Le grand
maitre de la grande loge de France (Obedience maconnique) et le
grand maitre de la juridiction italienne de la Rose-Croix, qui
compte parmi ses membres des hautes personnalites camerounaises,
ont sejourne a Douala et a Yaounde, au cours du mois de fevrier. Le
19 mars, c'etait le tour du grand secretaire aux Affaires
exterieures du Grand Orient de France, Jean-Michel Du Compte . Les
principaux mobiles invoques pour ces visites sont: "...debattre des
problemes qui se posent a l'Afrique...", "campagne d'explication"
(sur leur ordre), "visite de courtoisie a leurs freres". Toutefois,
le journal "Mutations", relayant les apprehensions d'une partie
importante de la population, se demande: "si le Cameroun n'est pas
devenu un champs de bataille des cercles initiatiques...".   (J.D.
Mihamle, Rep.Associes, Cam., 25 mars 1999)

* Cameroun. Eruption du Mont Cameroun  -  Le 28 mars au soir, le
Mont Cameroun a connu plusieurs secousses et des emissions de lave.
La premiere secousse a eu lieu vers 21h. locales, une seconde assez
forte vers minuit; ensuite des petites secousses ont continue
durant la nuit. Il n'y a pas eu de victime et peu de degats
materiels. Le 29 mars au matin, la situation s'est calmee. La
coulee de lave ne semblait pas devoir menacer Limbe, ville
portuaire a 15 km a l'ouest du cratere; elle n'aurait progresse que
d'un kilometre en une douzaine d'heures. Le gouverneur de la
province a demande a la population de rester calme et d'attendre
sur place les eventuelles instructions en cas de nouveau
developpement de l'eruption.   (D'apres AFP, France, 29 mars 1999)

* Centrafrique (RCA). Refugies congolais  -  La situation des
refugies congolais recueillis par la population de la capitale
centrafricaine Bangui, se deteriore dans la mesure ou les
ressources de celle-ci vont bientot etre completement epuisees, a
annonce la FICR. La tension monte a Bangui et risque de s'aggraver
encore a l'approche des elections presidentielles en RCA. Quelque
7.500 refugies congolais ont traverse l'Oubangui pour se rendre en
RCA lorsqu'ont eclate les affrontements dans la province d'Equateur
en decembre et janvier derniers. La societe locale de la Croix-
Rouge a un grand besoin de fonds supplementaires pour continuer a
venir en aide a ces refugies.   (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 30 mars
1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Human rights crisis  -  In a News Release on 25
March, Amnesty International said that government and armed
opposition forces in the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) are
conducting a deliberate campaign of killing, wounding and
"disappearing" or abducting civilians. Hundreds of unarmed
civilians have been killed between late 1998 and the start of 1999
alone. Since the start of multiparty elections in 1992, more than
10,000 unarmed civilians have been executed and many others
subjected to other human rights abuses by government forces and
armed groups, confirming a pattern of abuses deeply rooted in power
struggles since independence.   (Amnesty International, 25 March
1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Refugies  -  Le 19 mars a New-York, le porte-parole
de l'Onu a annonce que les organismes de l'Onu ont commence a
revenir a Brazzaville pour y reprendre leurs activites humanitaires
et, en priorite, aider les populations deplacees a rentrer dans les
quartiers sud de Brazzaville. Pres de 30.000 habitants du sud de la
capitale se trouvent actuellement dans des sites pour personnes
deplacees au nord de Brazzaville. Mais les 25 et 26 mars, les
forces gouvernementales congolaises ont recommence a piloner les
positions des miliciens ninjas de l'ancien Premier ministre Kolelas
a 25 km de Brazzaville, provoquant un nouveau deplacement massif de
populations. Aucune information officielle n'a ete fournie sur ces
tirs. Depuis aout, des affrontements opposent le gouvernement de
Sassou Nguesso aux Ninjas de Kolelas et aux Cocoyes de l'ancien
president Lissouba.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 mars 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Rebels prepared to meet Kabila  -  25 March: African
mediators are making preparations for the first face-to-face
meeting between Congolese rebels and President Kabila, only days
after the embattled Congolese leader made a sudden peace overture,
a rebel leader said today. Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, leader of the
rebel Congolese Democratic Coalition, said Zambian President
Chiluba has won Kabila's agreement to meet the rebels for the first
time since they took up arms in August, backed up by troops and
arms from Uganda. "I have been in touch with Chiluba and we are
trying to see how we can proceed from that agreement", Wamba said.
The same day, the UNs Special Rapporteur on human rights in Congo
RDC, Roberto Garreton, condemns the upsurge of violence in the
Kivus.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 March 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Tshisekedi pour le dialogue  -  Le vieil opposant
Etienne Tshisekedi a repondu le 20 mars a la proposition d'ouvrir
un debat national qu'avait faite le chef de l'Etat quatre jours
plus tot. Pour Tshisekedi, "tout dialogue politique serieux devra
regrouper les principales forces du pays", le gouvernement,
l'opposition interne et l'opposition armee, et devra se derouler
sous les auspices de l'ONU, de l'OUA, du SADC etde l'Union
europeenne. Il appelle l'ONU et l'OUA a aider dans l'organisation
rapide de cette rencontre.   (La Libre Belgique, 26 mars 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Guerre et paix  -  Le 25 mars, le rapporteur special
de l'ONU, Roberto Garreton, a condamne les nouvelles tueries des
rebelles qui auraient fait plus de 200 morts les 19 et 21 mars
derniers dans l'est du pays. On apprenait par ailleurs que le 24
mars des soldats du RCD et des guerriers mai-mai se sont affrontes
dans les montagnes autour de Makobola et que les habitants
fuiraient des combats entre les deux parties dans la region de
Fizi. - D'autre part, apres un entretien avec Kabila a Kinshasa le
23 mars, le president zambien Chiluba a declare que le president
congolais avait accepte la participation des rebelles du
Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) aux prochains
pourparlers de paix. M. Chiluba a estime que la voie sera ainsi
ouverte a un accord de cessez-le-feu. Le 25 mars, le conseil des
ministres de l'OUA, actuellement en session a Addis-Abeba, a
mandate M. Chiluba pour coordonner les efforts de paix.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 26 mars 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Rapport de l'Asadho  -  Le 26 mars, l'Association
africaine de defense des droits de l'homme (Asadho) a presente son
rapport annuel sur la situation au Congo-Kinshasa, intitule Le
pouvoir a tout prix. Repression systematique et impunite. En 1998,
l'Asadho a recense "une cinquantaine de massacres", dont certains
ont coute la vie a plusieurs centaines de civils tues a la machette
ou mitrailles. "80% de ces massacres ont ete commis par les
rebelles et leurs allies, les armees du Rwanda et de l'Ouganda; un
peu plus de 10% par l'armee congolaise et le reste par des
milices", a explique Guillaume Ngefa, le president de
l'association. "On est loin du Kosovo. Nous ne sommes pas des
Blancs a proximite. Il y a deux poids et deux mesures", a-t-il
regrette. Dans tout le pays l'Asadho, affilie a la Federation
internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme, est contrainte au
travail clandestin.   (D'apres Liberation, France, 27 mars 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Provinces agricoles sous pression  -  Les trois
provinces qui ont toujours approvisionne Kinshasa, sont
actuellement surexploitees en raison de la guerre, et les stocks
risquent de s'epuiser, avertit la FAO. Dans son dernier bulletin
sur la securite alimentaire, l'organisme indique que l'insecurite
et d'autres facteurs ont limite l'acheminement des produits de ces
regions vers la capitale. De meme, la guerre a interrompu la
campagne dans la province du Bas-Congo et les exportations locales
vers Brazzaville ont augmente. Bandundu, la seule zone produisant
pour la population de Kinshasa qui soit restee en pleine activite,
doit maintenant satisfaire aussi la demande des Kasai, et on ne
sait pas combien de temps encore la province sera en mesure
d'approvisionner serieusement la capitale. La situation risque
d'amener les cultivateurs de ces provinces a vendre l'integralite
de leurs recoltes, sans conserver ce qu'il leur faut pour leur
propre consommation, ni comme semences pour la prochaine campagne,
signale encore le bulletin. D'autre part, la Croix-Rouge a revele,
la semaine derniere, la presence dans le Bas-Congo de 80.000
refugies provenant de l'Angola et du Congo-Brazzaville.   (D'apres
IRIN, Nairobi, 30 mars 1999)

* Djibouti. Campagne presidentielle  -  La campagne electorale
officielle pour l'election presidentielle a demarre le 26 mars. Il
s'agit de designer le successeur de Hassan Gouled Aptidon, 83 ans,
au pouvoir depuis 22 ans dans ce petit pays de la Corne de
l'Afrique. L'election mettra aux prises deux hommes: Ismael Omar
Guelleh, 52 ans, candidat soutenu par le pouvoir et successeur
designe du chef de l'Etat sortant, et Moussa Ahmed Idriss, 66 ans,
porte-drapeau d'une opposition qui s'est unie pour la circonstance.
Le peu d'empressement manifeste par les Djiboutiens a recuperer les
cartes d'electeurs laisse presager un faible taux de participation. 
 (Le Monde, France, 27 mars 1999)

* Egypte. L'avenir du bassin du Nil  -  L'avenir du bassin du Nil
passe par une gestion commune des eaux du fleuve, seule solution
pour eviter de graves crises prejudiciables a tous, ont reconnu les
pays riverains lors d'une reunion qui vient de se tenir au Caire.
Cependant, les obstacles a une evolution favorable de cette gestion
restent tres nombreux, le premier etant l'accord de partage egypto-
soudanais de 1959. (Ce traite alloue a l'Egypte et au Soudan des
volumes qui representent pres de 90% du debit du fleuve). Sans
citer ce traite conteste par les autres pays riverains qui
s'estiment leses, la conference "Nil 2002" a denonce clairement
tous les obstacles: absence de volonte politique et d'engagements,
instabilite politique, mefiance entre riverains, etc. La conference
a regrette surtout l'absence de consensus sur l'avenir de la
ressource en eau et une concurrence accrue entre les differents
utilisateurs. Malgre ce sombre tableau, les pays du Nil relevent
tout de meme plusieurs points positifs et ont propose une serie de
recommandations, qui visent a donner la priorite a une gestion la
plus collective possible.   (D'apres AFP, France, 25 mars 1999)

* Egypte. La Gamaa Islamiya renonce a la violence  -  Dans un
communique publie le 26 mars par le journal Al-Hayat, le principal
groupe islamiste egyptien, la Gamaa Islamiya, a annonce que ses
responsables renoncaient a l'action violente. "La Gamaa, avec tous
ses membres (...) et en reponse a l'appel de cheick Omar Abdel
Rahmane, est attachee a l'initiative de cesser les operations
militaires", affirme le communique. L'initiative de cesser la
violence armee avait ete lancee en juillet 1997 par six chefs du
groupe arme emprisonnes en Egypte.   (La Libre Belgique, 27 mars
1999)

* Egypt/Tunisia/Morocco. Hillary Clinton in North Africa  -  25
March: Water is turning Egypt's ancient wonders and modern tourist
attractions -- the great pylon gateways of Karnak Temple, the
colossi of Ramses II -- from stone to sand. The US, represented
this week by Hillary Rodham Clinton, is giving Egypt $45 million
for a wastewater system in Luxor. Archaeologists hope the improved
treatment of wastewater will not only improve the health and safety
of today's people, but will also retard damage to yesterday's
treasures. The USA's First Lady, travelling with her daughter
Chelsea, announced the grant at a school before going on to
Tunisia. 26 March: In Tunisia, Mrs Clinton, addressing the
professional women of Tunisia, speaks out against religious
extremism in neighbouring Algeria and the ruling Taliban extremist
religious element in Afghanistan. "We must speak up for the women
and people of Algeria who are victims of a war that is civil in
name only", she said. 27-28 March: In Morocco, Mrs Clinton is a
guest of the Moroccan government.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 29 March
1999)

* Ethiopia-Eritrea. War casualties  -  28 March: Ethiopia says it
has killed or captured more than 45,000 Eritrean troops and
destroyed 77 tanks in border battles since 23 February. A
government spokesperson says: "Two MiG-29 planes were downed and
food and ammunition supply depots seized in a series of battles
fought against the Eritrean army between 23 February and 26 March."
She says Eritrea has been driven out of Bdme in a three-day battle
names Operation Sunset, between 23 February and 26 February but
gave no figures for Ethiopia's losses.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 29
March 1999)

* Ghana. Thousands mourn King  -  The grieving subjects of Ghana's
most powerful traditional ruler have paid their final respects,
lamenting that "a mighty tree has fallen." Thousands of mourners
gathered on 25 March in Ghana's second city for the state funeral
of Otumfuo Opoko Ware II, the 15th Asantehene, who died on 25
February. They wailed and sang dirges as they lined the streets to
catch a glimpse of the funeral procession. Others fired muskets and
played drums. Hundreds of women dressed in red and black and
bearing torches to ward off evil spirits, wished the King "a
peaceful journey home" as the cortege passed.   (AP, 26 March 1999)

* Ghana. "I will abide by the Constitution"  -  President Rawlings
has said that he will abide by the constitution of Ghana and step
down when his term of office ends in the year 2000, Ghana radio
reported on 26 March. Rawlings, who was addressing students at
Bordeaux University in France, described as "baseless" the
suggestion that he will step down only for his wife to succeed him.
Rawlings was in Bordeaux as part of a four-day official visit to
France, which ended on 27 March. Addressing a news conference at
the end of his visit, he said an initiative by Europe to reduce
Africa's debt could give the continent a "great deal of breathing
space". He added that if Africa failed to develop afterwards, "we
will not put any blame on you".   (IRIN, West Africa, 31 March
1999)

* Guinee-Bissau. Calendrier pour les elections  -  Le 24 mars, le
Conseil de securite de l'ONU a demande a la Guinee-Bissau de fixer
un calendrier pour que les elections legislatives puissent etre
organisees "a une date proche", et a precise que le pays pourrait
compter sur l'aide de l'organisation mondiale. Les elections
prevues pour la fin du mois de mars ont ete repoussees, notamment
en raison des delais intervenus dans le deploiement de l'Ecomog et
le depart des troupes guineennes et senegalaises.   (IRIN, Abidjan,
25 mars 1999)

* Guinea-Bissau. Action needed on elections  -  24 May: The UN
Security Council says Guinea-Bissau needs to set the timetable for
general elections "at an early date" and can count on the world
body for help. Elections due at the end of March under a peace
accord signed in November, have been pushed back, partly because of
delays in the deployment of ECOMOG peacekeepers and in the
departure of the Guinean and Senegalese troops that backed
President Vieira. Meanwhile, UNHCR staff have returned to Bissau
(in mid-March) and have begun planning for the repatriation of
refugees from four regional countries (Cape Verde, The Gambia,
Guinea and Senegal).   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 March 1999)

* Kenya. "Accept the truth"  -  On 28 March, Archbishop Ndingi
Mwana a'Nzeki of Nairobi called on Kenyans to accept the truth
without any qualms. During the Palm Sunday Mass, he warned
worshippers that anybody who deliberately denies the truth and
breaks a commandment, is a sinner. He equated some Kenyan leaders
to Pontius Pilate.   (The Nation, Kenya, 29 March 1999)

* Lesotho. SADC troops to remain  -  South Africa said there were
no immediate plans to withdraw Southern African Development
Community (SADC) troops from the Lesotho mountain kingdom. A
spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "There are
constant evaluations, but at this stage there are no plans to
withdraw the troops". SADC was asked by the Lesotho authorities to
intervene last September to help put down an anti-government
rebellion and troops from South Africa and Botswana were sent in.
The spokesman said Pretoria wanted to be sure that the security
situation had stabilised ahead of the election in Lesotho scheduled
for early next year. A South African newspaper, The Sowetan, this
week quoted an opposition spokesman in Lesotho calling for the
withdrawal of SADC troops for their alleged involvement in drug
smuggling and other criminal activities. A spokesperson for the
South African Defence force said the allegations against SADC
troops were viewed "very seriously", but action could only be taken
once an investigation had taken place and formal charges and
complaints had been registered.   (IRIN, Southern Africa, 26 March
1999)

* Libya. Lockerbie affair  -  Arrangements for the surrender of two
Libyans accused of the Lockerbie bombing are on track for next
week, President Mandela of South Africa told the Libyan leader,
President Gaddafi on 30 March. The official Libyan news agency,
Jana, said Mr Mandela, the key mediator in the eight-year quest to
bring the perpetrators to justice, assured Gaddafi that the deal
was proceeding as planned. "Mandela confirmed to brother leader,
Gaddafi, that things were going as desired and in accordance with
the United Nations over the Lockerbie issue", Jana said. South
Africa and Saudi Arabia helped to persuade Libya to agree to
extradite the two men by 6 April, for trial in the Netherlands
under a uniquely constituted Scottish court. Mr Mandela, who has
had a close relationship with President Gaddafi since his support
for the African National Congress during the struggle against
apartheid, clinched the deal when he visited Tripoli on 19 March. 
 (The Guardian, U.K., 31 March 1999)

* Maroc. Grace royale  -  Le roi Hassan II a gracie 678 detenus a
l'occasion de la fete musulmane de l'Aid el Adha (fete du
sacrifice). La Map, l'agence de presse officielle, qui a annonce la
nouvelle, ne precise pas si des detenus politiques ou des etrangers
font partie des beneficiaires de cette mesure. L'Aid el Adha, qui
se situe 70 jours environ apres la fin du ramadan, rappelle le
sacrifice d'Abraham. A l'occasion de cette fete, le 28 mars, les
musulmans du Maroc ont sacrifie 4,7 millions de moutons, selon les
chiffres officiels.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 mars 1999)

* Morocco. Hopes for change fading  -  In Morocco, where hope is a
rare commodity, the appointment of a man who had long fought for
democracy and justice created unprecedented expectations of social
reform and better economic management. But the honeymoon of
Abderrahmane Youssoufi as prime minister is over. A year after he
became the first opposition leader since independence to hold the
post, his ability to bring about change is being increasingly
questioned. "There is talk, talk, but we need strong signals", says
Hassan Chami, vice-president of the general confederation of
Moroccan enterprises. "The government acts slowly, cautiously, by
consensus, but unless they bring a new spirit, what was the point
of the change in government?" A main complaint of the business
community is the perceived failure of the new government to tackle
administrative reform. Public salaries consume more than half
Morocco's budget. With debt service taking up another 33%, little
is left for public infrastructure needs, which would promote
private sector investment.   (Financial Times, UK, 31 March 1999)

* Mauritania. Diamond discovery  -  Geologists have discovered
diamond deposits in northern Mauritania, the country's minister of
communications, Rachid Ould Saleh, said at a news briefing on 24
March in Nouakchott. "We have come to the final conclusion that
there is diamond in Mauritania", Saleh said, adding that an
assessment of the find is under way to see "whether the quantity
discovered are marketable". Several mining companies, spurred by
reports of the existence of precious metals in Mauritania, are
closely working with the country's Geological Exploration Board
(OMRG) in the search for marketable diamond deposits, especially in
north-central R'Gueibat area.   (CNN World News, 27 March 1999)

* Mauritanie. Gisement diamantifere  -  Les geologues ont decouvert
un gisement de diamant dans le nord de la Mauritanie, a annonce le
ministre mauritanien de la communication, Rachid Ould Saleh, cite
par l'agence PANA. Lors d'une conference de presse le 24 mars a
Nouakchott, M. Saleh a signale que cette decouverte etait en cours
d'evaluation pour determiner si la quantite decouverte est
commercialisable. Plusieurs compagnies minieres travaillent a la
prospection de gites de diamants avec l'Office mauritanien de la
recherche geologique.   (IRIN, Abidjan, 29 mars 1999)

* Nigeria. Rural clashes  -  At least 100 people have been killed
and dozens of settlements destroyed in three months of ethnic
clashes between farmers and cattle herders in central Nigeria,
local officials said at the weekend. Official figures show 54 dead
among the mosaic of Muslim, Christian and animist tribes alone in
Karim-Lamido, 250 miles east of Abuja.   (The Guardian, UK, 29
March 1999)

* Nigeria. Clinton recoit Obasanjo  -  Le 30 mars, le president elu
nigerian Olusegun Obasanjo a ete recu par le president americain
Bill Clinton soucieux d'impliquer les Etats-Unis dans le retour du
Nigeria a la democratie et de faciliter la reinsertion de ce pays
le plus peuple et l'un des plus riches d'Afrique dans la communaute
internationale. M. Obasanjo boucle avec les Etats-Unis une tournee
mondiale ou il a renoue des contacts internationaux au plus haut
niveau, notamment en Europe. L'armee nigeriane lui remettra
officiellement le pouvoir le 29 mai prochain.   (Le Soir, Belgique,
31 mars 1999)

* Rwanda. Elections locales  -  Les premieres elections depuis le
genocide de 1994 auront lieu au Rwanda du 29 au 31 mars. Les
Rwandais eliront leurs 116.000 elus locaux. Tous les citoyens ages
de 18 ans au moins de ce pays de 7,5 millions d'habitants, ainsi
que les residents etrangers, sont appeles a voter "en pointant du
doigt celui ou celle que l'on trouve capable de remplir le mandat".
Ces elections concernent les echelons administratifs de base, les
cellules et les secteurs. Selon le gouvernement il s'agit d'un
premier pas vers "la democratie participative". Mais des critiques
se font entendre dans la population sur "l'absence de secret du
vote dans un pays ou tout le monde se sent menace par son voisin.
Les gens voteront pour la personne qu'ils savent etre la plus
proche des autorites, parce qu'ils n'oseront pas assumer leurs
opinions".   (D'apres Infoaza, Burundi, 26 mars 1999)

* Rwanda. Emergency work to close  -  The United Nations Refugee
Agency in Rwanda says it is preparing to close down its emergency
activities by the end of the year. The agency, the UNHCR, told
Rwandan radio that emergency work with refugees was no longer
necessary; it was time for development agencies to take over. It
added that funding remained a problem. Correspondents say the
decision was announced as the government expects some twenty-
thousand Rwandans returnees from the Ngara district of Tanzania.  
(BBC World News, 27 March 1999)

* Rwanda. L'Onu enquetera sur son role  -  Le 26 mars, le Conseil
de securite des Nations unies a approuve la proposition emise par
le secretaire general Kofi Annan de creer une commission d'enquete
sur la maniere dont l'Onu a reagi au genocide perpetre en 1994 au
Rwanda. Selon M. Annan, l'objectif prioritaire de cette enquete
sera d'etablir les faits et de tirer des conclusions sur la reponse
de l'Onu a cette tragedie.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 27 mars 1999)

* Rwanda. VIH/SIDA  -  Le sida menace quelque 600.000 personnes au
Rwanda, sans compter les enfants de moins de 12 ans ni les
nouveaux-nes, selon un rapport publie par la Federation
internationale des societes de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-
Rouge. Plus de 11% de l'ensemble de la population adulte sont
contamines par le VIH, soit une "augmentation spectaculaire par
rapport a 1986, quand ce taux etait inferieur a 2%". De recents
rapports publies par le ministere rwandais de la Sante ont signale
qu'un tiers des personnes agees de 20 a 44 ans testees a Kigali
etaient seropositives. S'ajoutant a la pauvrete endemique et au
traumatisme cause par le genocide, "une epidemie pourrait accelerer
la desintegration du tissus social rwandais", avertit la FICR.  
(IRIN, Nairobi, 28 mars 1999)

* Rwanda. Local elections  -  29 March: Rwandans go to the polls
today, to elect local officials. The elections will be held at
"cellule" level to be followed by "secteur" level polls two days
later. Rwanda is made up of 12 prefectures, which are divided into
155 communes. These are further sub-divided into 1,531
administrative "secteurs" and then into 8,987 "cellules". A
regional analyst says "this grassroots election is a test of
whether the country should go ahead with elections at a national
level, or just stop there".   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 29 March 1999)

* Rwanda. Ouvrage de reference sur le genocide  -  A la veille de
la commemoration du 5e anniversaire du debut du genocide et des
massacres le 7 avril 1994, Human Rights Watch et la Federation
internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme publient aux
editions Karthala, a Paris, le resultat des enquetes menees depuis
plusieurs annees sous la direction de leur consultante et
specialiste du Rwanda, Alison Des Forges, professeur d'histoire
africaine a l'universite de Buffalo (EU). Ce travail monumental de
900 pages repose sur d'innombrables recherches et verifications par
une equipe d'historiens, de specialistes en sciences politiques et
d'avocats. Le livre sera disponible en francais et en anglais des
le 31 mars. Il est intitule "Aucun temoin ne doit survivre: le
genocide au Rwanda" (Ed. Karthala, 1.326 FB - ou sur le web:
http://www.hrw.org).   (ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 31 mars 1999)

* Rwanda. "Leave None To Tell The Story"  -  On 31 March, Human
Rights Watch and the International Federation of Human Rights
Leagues published a report: "Leave None To Tell The Story: Genocide
in Rwanda". The Report says that the Rwandan genocide could have
been stopped with tougher action from outside powers. An
internationally-recognized team of historians, political scientists
and lawyers, spent four years conducting research and analysis of
the genocide. The team was the first to have access to documents of
the genocidal government, as well as to previously unpublished
diplomatic and judicial records. Researchers also conducted
hundreds of interviews with Rwandans -- both local organisers of
the genocide and those they targetted for extermination. (To
obtain: see http://www.hrw.org)   (Human Rights Watch, 31 March
1999)

* Senegal. Subventions japonaises  -  Selon un accord signe le 24
mars, le Japon accordera 600 millions de yens de subsides (30
millions de dollars) au Senegal, 200 millions pour l'achat de riz
et 400 millions pour des projets de developpement social et de
protection de l'environnement. La progression des deserts constitue
un des principaux problemes ecologiques auxquels est confronte le
Senegal. - D'autre part, le 25 mars, le president Diouf a inaugure
la premiere cour d'arbitrage destinee aux milieux d'affaires, une
institution demandee de longue date. Elle sera presidee par Mamadou
Toure, ancien ministre et ancien responsable du departement Afrique
du FMI.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 26 mars 1999)

* Senegal. 8.000 sans-papiers francais  -  Il y aurait plus de
8.000 sans-papiers francais au Senegal sur une communaute estimee
a quelque 20.000 personnes. Selon les services du consulat general
de France, qui ne contestent pas le chiffre, ils seraient installes
dans les differentes regions du pays comme dans divers secteurs
d'activites. Le nouvel ambassadeur a lance un appel, les invitant
fermement a regulariser leur situation au plus tard le 14 juillet.
A l'ambassade on explique que "nous ne voyons ces sans-papiers
qu'en cas de detresse", ou s'impose la "prise en charge totale".
Une source de la representation francaise releve que lorsque la
France "expulse ses etrangers en situation irreguliere, elle les
transporte chez eux. Mais pour ce qui concerne les sans-papiers
francais au Senegal, la question est de savoir qui va payer les
frais".   (A. Agboton, Senegal, 29 mars 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Tension mounts in city  -  Tension remains high in
Freetown as appending rebel assault on the capital is made public.
Three rebels spies, dozens of threat letters and the discovery of
a large cache of arms and ammunition all go to ally fresh fears
that the "brutal nightmare" experienced by residents of the capital
early this year is about to be reoccur. According to senior defence
officials at the Wilberforce Military headquarters, three rebel
spies were captured along the Juba Military garrison last week. The
three according to sources were on a mission to locate military
installations, loyal troops movement and strength as well, as the
kind of arms and ammunition used. The arrest of the youth spies
followed the discovery of letters at various locations around the
city allegedly written by the rebels in which they informed
residents that they will attack the city on either the muslim
holiday Eid-Ul-Adha or the Christian Easter holiday.   (CNN World
News, 27 March 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Derniers evenements  -  Le 22 mars, une barque a
moteur qui se rendait au port de Tombo, a chavire a 8 km au large
de Tasso, causant la mort d'au moins 150 personnes. Les victimes
etaient en majorite des femmes et des enfants. Le bateau
transportait plus de 200 passagers et 300 sacs de riz, alors que ce
type d'embarcation ne peut contenir plus de 100 passagers. Des
centaines de personnes ont deja trouve la mort dans des accidents
similaires en Sierra Leone. - Par ailleurs, des sources
humanitaires signalent des penuries de nourriture dans les deux
villes principales de l'est du pays, Bo et Kenema, qui toutes deux
ont accueilli des milliers de personnes deplacees. Les problemes
sont particulierement preoccupants a Kenema qui compte 60.000
deplaces et ou il y a aussi un gros probleme d'abris a l'approche
de la saison des pluies. - D'autre part, le 27 mars, le president
Kabbah a annonce que Foday Sankoh, le chef historique de la
rebellion emprisonne a Freetown, se rendra au Togo pour rencontrer
une delegation du RUF; il disposera d'une semaine pour elaborer
avec ses hommes des propositions de paix a presenter au
gouvernement.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 29 mars 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Religious leaders pray for peace  -  On 25 March,
Religious leaders gathered in Freetown to pray for peace. Over 80
leaders, representing Catholics, Protestants and Muslims, attended
the retreat in Kingston, Freetown. They spent the day in reflection
and prayer. The retreat had been preceded on 3-9 March by a
national week of prayer and fasting for peace. Even as religious
leaders prayed for peace, there were fears in Freetown of a new
offensive by both government and rebel forces. On 28 March,
President Kabbah said that rebel leader Foday Sankoh will be
allowed out of jail in April, to travel to Togo to see his fellow
rebels.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 29 March 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Military funds  -  The UK is to spend œ4.5m to help
train and equip the armed forces of war-torn Sierra Leone in the
wake of the Sandline arms-to-Africa affair. The Foreign Office also
announced œ5m to fund the African nations Ecomog peace-keeping
force after receiving matching funds from donors. Foreign Office
Minister Tony Lloyd said the money would be used to "promote
stability" after international donors had provided funding.   (BBC
News, 31 March 1999)

* Somalia. Humanitarian update  -  6-19 March: The UN agencies and
NGOs continue to mitigate the emergency in central and southern
Somalia. Substantial amounts of food aid and emergency medical
supplies have already been distributed to the vulnerable groups in
Bay, Bakool and Gedo regions. Currently, the humanitarian agencies
are distributing some 1,000 metric tonnes of seed to enable the
vulnerable farmers to plant for the main "gu" season, as rains are
already pounding in many parts of the country. An additional 1,000
metric tonnes is needed, but donor contributions were not received.
Although the rains herald good news for the farmers and herders,
they constitute a problem for the estimated 30,000 internally
displaced persons subsisting in Gedo and Juva Valley. They will
need material for sheltering.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 25 March 1999)

* South Africa. A doctor to face trial  -  The former head of South
Africa's chemical and biological warfare programme, Dr. Wouter
Basson, has been charged with murder for the poisoning of more than
200 people. The army brigadier and heart surgeon -- nicknamed Dr.
Death because he once plotted the mass sterilisation of blacks --
faces 29 counts of murder and conspiracy to murder. Each count
relates to the deaths of several people. Dr. Basson, aged 48, also
faces 24 counts of theft and fraud after allegedly stealing about
œ6 million of government research money.   (The Guardian, UK, 26
March 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Accord avec l'Europe  -  Apres trois ans et demi
d'apres discussions, l'Afrique du Sud et l'Union europeenne sont
enfin parvenues a conclure un accord de libre-echange, a-t-on
indique le 25 mars de source europeenne. L'accord qui sera signe en
mai et entrera en vigueur d'ici la fin de l'annee, prevoit
notamment que 86% des exportations de l'UE vers l'Afrique du Sud
seront exoneres de droits de douane d'ici 12 ans, et que 95% des
exportations sud-africaines vers l'UE pourront entrer librement
avant 10 ans. Des dispositions sont prevues pour que Pretoria
abandonne ses appellations de "Porto" et "Xeres".   (La Libre
Belgique, 26 mars 1999)

* South Africa. "Port" and "Sherry" to stay  -  The European Union
finally agreed on 25 March, to sign a free trade agreement with
South Africa, after Spain and Portugal lifted their objections to
the use of the terms "port" and "sherry" by South African vintners
in their own home market for another 12 years. The deal, which was
to have been signed by President Mandela at the EU summit in
Cardiff last year, is Europe's first free trade agreement with a
foreign country covering all economic sectors including
agriculture.   (The Guardian, UK, 26 March 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Adieux de Mandela  -  Le 26 mars, le president
Nelson Mandela a fait ses adieux au Parlement sud-africain,
premiere etape du compte a rebours avant son depart du pouvoir.
S'adressant aux deux Chambres reunies, le president sud-africain a
rendu hommage au travail effectue par le premier Parlement elu
democratiquement en 1994. Il a reconnu cependant que beaucoup reste
a faire, meme si avaient ete posees les bases legislatives de la
nouvelle Afrique du Sud sur les decombres de l'apartheid.  
(D'apres AFP, France, 26 mars 1999)

* South Africa. Mandela -- The Long Goodbye  -  On 26 March,
President Mandela said farewell to South Africa's first freely
elected parliament in the first of a long round of goodbyes leading
to his retirement in June. Political foes responded to his
characteristically modest speech by leaving aside the problems of
unemployment, pervasive crime and racial division, in favour of
effusive and emotional praise for the octogenarian leader
considered by many to be the saviour of South Africa. Mr Mandela
was praised as a president for all South Africans by the leader of
the opposition, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, a member of the National
Party, who said: "You understood the need to heal the wounds of the
past. Is it not one of the great ironies of life that those who
suffered greatly, so often have the capacity to forgive greatly?
You did not only possess generosity of spirit; as president, you
lived it. You are living proof that no jail can ever keep an idea
imprisoned. Ideas are stronger than any man-inspired barrier.
Conviction cannot be held captive forever".  -  But the last words
went to Mr Mandela, who said: "The long walk continues".   (The
Guardian, UK, 27 March 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Campagne electorale  -  Le 28 mars a Soweto, le
president Mandela et son dauphin Thabo Mbeki ont lance la campagne
de l'ANC pour les elections legislatives du 2 juin prochain. Le
vice-president Mbeki a presente le programme du parti, promettant
au peuple une "vie meilleure" tout en se gardant de fixer des
objectifs chiffres a ses engagements, contrairement a ce qu'avait
fait le parti en 1994. A cette epoque, l'ANC s'etait engage
notamment a construire un million de nouveaux logements et ses
promesses s'etaient retournees contre lui. Aujourd'hui, le
programme se contente de donner des directives generales pour
ameliorer les services sociaux et l'economie, creer des emplois et
combattre la criminalite.   (D'apres AFP, France, 28 mars 1999)

* South Africa. ANC launches election platform  -  President
Mandela's anointed heir, Thabo Mbeki, on 27 March, unveiled his
programme for South Africa's second five years of democratic
government after elections on 2 June. While Mandela made
reconciliation the theme of his presidency, Mbeki, his deputy since
the watershed April 1994 poll that swept away apartheid, focused
his programme on social and economic change. "There is more that
unites us than that divides us", he said. Mbeki, 56, presented the
36-page manifesto of his African National Congress (ANC), including
plans for a national health insurance scheme, tougher gun control,
a crackdown on government corruption and measures to stimulate
foreign investment and economic growth, in a theatre outside
Johannesburg. "We believe we have established a very, very sound
base of policy and legislation. That was a stage that could not be
jumped", he said. "Our central challenge for the next five years is
to use the experience we have gained, the policies we have put in
place and the institutions of democracy we have created to bring
about even greater change than we have achieved in the first five
years of democratic government".   (Reuters, 29 March 1999)

* Soudan. Combats meurtriers  -  83 soldats de l'armee soudanaise
ont ete tues dans des combats dans le sud du Soudan; c'est en tous
cas ce qu'affirme le SPLA. 200 soldats gouvernementaux auraient
egalement ete blesses, les 26 et 27 mars, dans des combats dans la
region d'Oulou.   (Liberation, France, 30 mars 1999)

* Swaziland. Nouvelle Constitution a l'etude  -  Un projet de
nouvelle Constitution sera elabore avant la fin de l'annee avec
l'aide d'experts internationaux, a indique la commission chargee du
projet. Plusieurs fois reporte, ce projet de redaction devrait
demarrer en mai avec le rassemblement d'opinions et de propositions
adressees a la commission par la population. Ces propositions
seront ensuite presentees aux experts etrangers. L'actuelle
Constitution a ete partiellement suspendue apres l'interdiction des
partis politiques en 1973. Le roi Mswati, qui gouverne son pays par
decrets, a ete soumis a d'importantes pressions ces dernieres
annees pour effectuer des reformes politiques dans son pays.  
(Marches Tropicaux, France, 29 mars 1999)

* Tanzania. Zanzibar politics  -  The Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) won
the controversial 1995 Isles presidential elections by a razor-thin
margin of 0.5%. Ever since, Zanzibar politics have been consumed by
mistrust, hatred, vicious machinations, exchanges of insults and
deeply uncivilised behaviour in general. But the current debate on
a Government White Paper in proposed changes to the Union
Constitution, has elicited a remarkable solidarity across party
lines -- it would appear to be the will of all Zanzibaris to hold
on to their separate identity at all costs. The White Paper
recommends 19 changes in the Union constitution. (...) Zanzibaris
fear that their islands could become just another mainland region. 
 (The East African, Kenya, 26 March 1999)

* Tanzanie. Collision mortelle  -  Le 27 mars, plus de 20 personnes
ont trouve la mort et 70 autres ont ete blessees dans un accident
de la route pres de la ville de Morogoro, a quelque 200 km a
l'ouest de Dar es-Salaam. Deux autobus se sont heurtes de plein
fouet. 14 personnes ont ete tuees sur le coup; 5 autres sont mortes
sur le chemin de l'hopital. Selon la police, 70 personnes ont ete
grievement blessees, dont quarante sont dans un etat critique.  
(La Libre Belgique, 29 mars 1999)

* Tunisie. Presidentielles en octobre  -  Le president Ben Ali a
annonce, le 20 mars, que la date de l'election presidentielle a ete
fixee au 24 octobre prochain, affirmant que ces elections
"constitueront une nouvelle etape dans la progression du processus
democratique et pluraliste". Le Parlement tunisien a ete saisi fin
janvier, par le president Ben Ali, d'un projet d'amendement de la
Constitution visant a permettre aux partis de l'opposition legale
de presenter des candidats, sous certaines conditions, a la
prochaine presidentielle. Une fois adopte, ce projet permettra au
premier responsable de chaque parti de se porter candidat, a
condition notamment qu'il exerce ses fonctions depuis cinq ans et
que son parti soit deja represente au Parlement.   (Marches
Tropicaux, France, 29 mars 1999)

* Uganda. Health matters  -  Medecins sans Frontieres says the
health situation of internally displaced people in Uganda's
southwestern town of Bundibugyo is critical. The survey conducted
between 12-18 March, revealed that the constant influx of newcomers
and the onset of the rainy season "can only worsen the current
living conditions of the internally diisplaced". Also, voluntary
door-to-door HIV screening and counselling is underway in Uganda's
eastern district of Iganga, and Hoima district in the west. This is
part of the country's campaign to reduce the spread of the virus
which causes AIDS and is also intended to make HIV screening
services accessible to more people, especially in rural areas.  
(IRIN, Nairobi, 29 March 1999)

* Ouganda. Pourparlers avec la LRA?  -  Le gouvernement ougandais
est pret a engager des pourparlers avec les rebelles de la Lord's
Resistance Army a condition que ceux-ci se rendent compte de la
"futilite de leur atroce programme" dans le nord du pays, a declare
le 29 mars le ministre a la presidence, Ruhakana Rugunda. "Depuis
un certain temps, la situation dans le nord de l'Ouganda preoccupe
le gouvernement, qui s'est mis en rapport avec la rebellion. Dans
l'interet de la paix, le gouvernement a decide de faire un pas en
plus et d'appeler a la negociation. Nous examinons meme la
possibilite d'offrir l'amnistie aux rebelles", a-t-il precise. Des
precedentes tentatives de paix, notamment en 1993 et 1995, ont
echoue.   (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 30 mars 1999)

* Uganda. Vice-President responds to allegations  -  The Ugandan
vice-president, Speciosa Wandira-Kazimbe, has appeared before
parliament to defend herself against charges of mismanagement over
her running of the agriculture ministry. It follows demands from
parliament that three senior officials in the ministry resign over
a foreign-funded project to construct a series of dams. A recent
parliamentary report said many of the dams had not been built.
Correspondents say it was the latest in several recent complaints
by Ugandan MPs over alleged government corruption.   (BBC News, 30
March 1999

* Zimbabwe. Land reforms to continue  -  President Mugabe of
Zimbabwe has vowed to forge ahead with his controversial programme
of land reform. He wants to seize 1,500 farms from their current
owners and redistribute them to blacks. As a result of colonial
policies most of Zimbabwe's best farmland is still in the hands of
a few thousand whites while millions of blacks struggle to survive
on just a few acres of land per family. Land reform is crucial to
President Mugabe's political future and he has told his governing
party, ZANU-PF, that he will press ahead no matter what the
International community or the country's courts say. In February,
a court ruled that the correct legal procedure had not been
followed on more than half the farms the government wanted to
acquire. Informed sources have told the BBC that, in fact, the law
has not only been respected on a 120 farms whose owners have agreed
to sell them to the state. But Mr.Mugabe has now said that the
whole process will start again from scratch and that this time
acquisitions will be done according to the letter of the law.  
(BBC News, 27 March 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Mugabe's outbursts  -  Like Mahathir Mohamad, his
fellow septuagenarian leader of Malaysia, Zimbabwe's President
Mugabe has never been afraid to declare his suspicions about
westerners, homosexuals or the independent media. Last weekend he
managed to attack all three at once. In a speech to the Youth
League of his ruling ZANU-PF party, Mr Mugabe railed against local
newspaper that have criticised his government, calling them "filthy
tabloids" and claiming that they were staffed by young Africans
used as puppets and sometimes as "homosexual partners" by
manipulative western journalists. This was only the latest of
several recent outbursts by the 75-year-old Mr Mugabe against real
or imagined enemies. Nineteen years after he won power following
the end of white rule, he has taken to condemning Americans, South
Africans, "British agents" and "unrepentant white Rhodesians" with
renewed vigour to explain Zimbabwe's dire economic and political
problems. Mr Mugabe is once again threatening to seize hundreds of
white-owned farms, to arrest "lying journalists" (two of whom were
recently tortured over a story that embarrassed the army) and to
sidestep opposition demands for a new and democratic constitution. 
 (Financial Times, UK, 31 March 1999)