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: 29-04-1999 PART #1/ * Africa. Vatican: Africa's forgotten wars - "Today I would like to remember the many "forgotten wars" of Africa"". This was the message expressed on 21 April by Pope John Paul II during the traditional audience in the Vatican. After citing regional examples and details, the Pope reminded of the tragedies unfolding throughout the continent "from Angola to the Great Lakes, from Congo-Brazza to Sierra Leone, from Guinea Bissau to Congo RDC, from the Horn of Africa to Sudan. It is a long and bitter succession of internal and external conflicts", the Pope continued, "which mainly affect the innocent populations, devastating the life of the Catholic communities. In particular, the widespread sentiment of pain and sorrow on receiving the news of the arrest of Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro (Rwanda). The Risen Christ," the Pope continued, "never ceases reminding our brothers, suffering such hardships, Peace be with you". The Holy Father then expressed his hope that the divine voice of Christ be heard by those who so strongly rejected His message of life. So He may enlighten the blindness of all those who so obstinately continue on the torturous paths of hate and violence, convincing them to definitively opt for sincere and patient dialogue, that will lead to beneficial solutions for all. The Pope concluded: In the certainty that the power of Resurrection is stronger than that of evil, that we must implore Jesus Christ so that peace and fraternity becomes a consoling reality throughout the African continent". (MISNA, Rome, 21 April 1999) * Afrique. Bilan de l'allegement de la dette - A l'origine de l'initiative d'allegement de la dette des pays les plus pauvres, lancee fin 1996, quelque 40 pays etaient susceptibles d'en beneficier; une liste de 20 Etats, majoritairement africains, avait ensuite ete retenue. Deux ans et demi plus tard, seulement 10 pays ont recu le feu vert pour beneficier d'une reduction de leur endettement et cela s'est vraiment materialise pour sept d'entre eux (dont cinq africains): la Bolivie, le Burkina Faso, la Cote d'Ivoire, la Guyane, le Mali, le Mozambique et l'Ouganda. Au total, ces pays ont vu leur dette multilaterale cumulee s'amoindrir de 3,1 milliards de dollars (en valeur nette) ou de 6,1 mlds (avec les interets courants sur la periode d'emprunts). Trois autres pays sont censes etre aides egalement sous peu (l'Ethiopie, la Guinee-Bissau et la Mauritanie), mais les deux premiers connaissant des situations de conflit, le processus est suspendu pour l'instant. "Nous n'avons pas ete a la hauteur des attentes", a admis Tony Boote, responsable de ce programme au sein du FMI, lors d'une conference de presse le 23 avril. Aujourd'hui, le FMI, la Banque mondiale et plusieurs pays creanciers cherchent un accord pour reformer l'initiative, la simplifier, la rendre plus rapide et plus efficace, mais une decision n'est pas attendue "avant la prochaine assemblee generale du FMI et de la Banque mondiale a l'automne". (D'apres AFP, France, 22-23 avril 1999) * Afrique. Air Afrique: nouveau PDG - Le 23 avril, M. Pape Sow Thiam, Senegalais ne en Cote d'Ivoire, directeur commercial d'Air Afrique depuis 1994, a ete nomme president-directeur general de la compagnie multinationale. Les ministres des transports des onze pays francophones proprietaires de la compagnie l'ont approuve par consensus, lors d'un conseil extraordinaire a Ouagadougou. M. Thiam a declare que ses priorites seraient la resorption de la dette de la compagnie, sa preparation a la privatisation et la stabilisation et modernisation de sa flotte. (Le Monde, France, 25 avril 1999) * Africa. Action against the Media - Angola: On 22 April, Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) said it is concerned by the legal proceedings launched against independent newspapers and journalists in Luanda. Congo RDC: On 21 April, 27 members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), issued a joint appeal for freedom of expression in Congo RDC. On 25-26 April, Gustave Kalenga, editor-in-chief of the weekly La Flamme du Congo was detained for questioning. Lesotho: On 22 April, 25 IFEX members signed a joint statement saying they are concerned by efforts to gag journalists in Lesotho. Nigeria: On 25 April, the Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lanre Arogundade, was arrested. On 26 April, RSF expressed its deep concern about the murder of freelance journalist, Fidelis Ikwuebe, who was kidnapped on 18 April by members of one of the two communities, Aguleri and Umuleri, who have been fighting for a week in the east of Anambra State. After being abducted, he has been murdered. Sierra Leone: (23 April): A Bill aimed at muzzling press reports about the war will soon be out. Tanzania: 28IFEX members have called on the Zanzibar authorities to remove the ban on journalist Mwinyi Sadallah from working o the island. Tunisia: RSF has protested the administrative harassment which journalist Taoufik Ben brick, a correspondent of the French daily La Croix and the French press agency Syfia, has been subject to. Zimbabawe: On 26 April, RSF expressed concern about the intention of the government to reinforce defamation laws. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 April 1999) * Afrique occidentale et centrale. Zone franc - Le 22 avril, les ministres des Finances de la France et des quinze pays africains de la Zone franc se sont reunis a Dakar. Ils se sont rejouis que la croissance economique de la zone se soit maintenue et que la stabilite monetaire n'ait pas ete affectee par l'arrimage du franc cfa a l'euro. Le ministre francais Strauss- Kahn a plaide pour que les pays de la zone renforcent leur integration regionale. Des deux unions economiques mises en place (Cemac et Uemoa), celle de l'Afrique de l'Ouest est la plus avancee. Toutefois, des divergences politiques et economiques subsistent. Ainsi, le Senegalais Amady Dieng a du reconnaitre: "Nos economies restent pour l'essentiel tournees vers l'exterieur. Seuls 10% de nos echanges commerciaux se font a l'interieur de la region". (D'apres Liberation, France, 24 avril 1999) * Algeria. Bouteflika sworn in - 27 April: The new Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, has been formally sworn into office. He takes over from his predecessor, Liamine Zeroual, following a controversial election on 15 April in which he was the only candidate. The swearing in at the Palace of Nations was shown live on Algerian TV. The Opposition boycotted the ceremony. The new President He had formally taken over power from Mr Zeroual at a brief ceremony at the presidential palace earlier. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 April 1999) * Algerie. Bouteflika prete serment - Les autorites ont interdit la manifestation contre la fraude electorale qui devait se tenir le 26 avril a Alger a l'appel de l'opposition, et propose a celle-ci de se reunir dans une salle fermee. Les dirigeants de l'opposition, qui s'etaient retires a la veille du scrutin, voient dans cette interdiction le prelude a une repression des activites politiques par le nouveau president Bouteflika. Celui-ci a prete serment le 27 avril, alors que l'opposition a boycotte la ceremonie. Il presidera des le lendemain son premier Conseil des ministres. Le gouvernement que dirige actuellement Smail Hamdani sera reconduit jusqu'en juillet. M. Bouteflika a annonce qu'il compte former un "gouvernement politique" apres le sommet de l'OUA prevu en juin. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 avril 1999) * Angola. Embuscades - Les rebelles de l'UNITA ont tendu deux embuscades contre des membres des forces de securite angolaises, tuant au moins 37 d'entre eux et faisant 36 blesses, a rapporte la radio catholique Eclesia. Le 25 avril, un convoi de 19 camions circulant le long de la cote pres de Canjala (environ 300 km au sud de Luanda) a ete attaque; au moins 15 civils et 10 policiers ont ete tues, tandis que 12 camions ont ete detruits. La veille, les rebelles avaient tue 12 personnes et blesse 16 autres alors que leur convoi circulait sur la route reliant Luanda a Malanje (a l'est de la capitale). L'UNITA controle l'essentiel des zones rurales du pays. (AP, 26 avril 1999) * Botswana. BAM cracks begin to show? - Cracks which could take more than just good will to heal, have developed within the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM). Last week, one of the allies, the Botswana Progressive Union (BPU) walked out of the Alliance only to come back this week. BAM's secretary-general says the BPU has gone further than just coming back into the Alliance, but has confirmed to the Independent Electoral Commission that it will contest the election under the Alliance ticket. This now brings to four, the Alliance parties that have registered under the umbrella organisation. (The Reporter, Botswana, 23 April 1999) * Burkina Faso. Contre l'impunite - Les adversaires de l'"impunite" au Burkina Faso ont maintenu la pression sur le regime du president Compaore, en reunissant le 24 avril une nouvelle manifestation a Ouagadougou, ou quelque 3.000 personnes ont defile dans le calme pour protester contre les "crimes impunis" qui ont marque l'histoire recente du Burkina. Une commission d'enquete independante travaille sur le dossier du deces eminemment suspect du journaliste Norbert Zongo, retrouve carbonise dans sa voiture le 13 decembre dernier, et devrait rendre ses conclusions le 7 mai au president Compaore, qui aura une semaine pour les rendre publiques. (D'apres AFP, 24 avril 1999) * Burundi. Forte chute des revenus du cafe - Les revenus du cafe au Burundi ont enregistre une forte chute pour la campagne 1998/99, passant de 55 millions de dollars lors de la campagne precedente a moins de 30 millions cette annee. On prevoit d'ailleurs une autre chute de la production a cause du mauvais temps au debut de cette annee. Le cafe est la principale exportation du Burundi et on craint qu'a moins d'une reprise de l'aide exterieure, cette chute de revenus porte un coup serieux a l'economie. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 24 avril 1999) * Burundi. Hosting Human Rights meeting - The African Commission for Human and People's Rights holds its 25th ordinary session in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 26 April to 5 May, according to the Burundian ministry for human rights. It said the forum will be attended by 200 delegates, who will review the human rights situation in the OAU member states. These will include state human rights commissioners, OAU officials, representatives of national human rights institutions as well as African and foreign NGOs which have observer status in the Banjul, Gambia- based Commission. The 10-day session will enable the Burundian government and civil society to brief Africa and the international community about the progress being made to restore the respect and protection of people's rights in the country. OAU Secretary General Salim Ahmed Salim is expected to arrive in Bujumbura 25 April for the meeting. The OAU organised the first continental ministerial human rights conference in Mauritius from 12-16 April. (PANA, Senegal, 22 April 1999) * Burundi. Droits de l'homme - A Bujumbura s'est ouverte la 25e session de la Commission africaine des droits de l'homme et des peuples. Seize Etats y sont representes. Le president de la commission, M. Ndiaye, a exprime le souhait que la commission travaille au reglement des conflits qui perturbent la region des Grands Lacs. Cette session se tient au moment ou la Commission des droits de l'homme des Nations unies vient de voter a l'unanimite une resolution demandant au gouvernement burundais de mettre fin a l'impunite et de proceder au demantelement des camps de regroupes. Amnesty International vient aussi d'adresser un memorandum a la commission africaine, lui faisant part de ses preoccupations en matiere des droits de l'homme au Burundi, et lui demande d'explorer toutes les voies pouvant conduire a l'arret des violations des droits de l'homme, y compris les tueries et les tortures. (D'apres Infoaza, Burundi, 27 avril 1999) * Burundi. Le genocide de 1972 - A l'occasion du 27e anniversaire du debut du genocide anti-Hutu de 1972, ce 29 avril, le principal mouvement de guerilla CNDD demande la reconaissance officielle par l'Onu de ce crime contre l'humanite. Le CNDD demande que tous les crimes contre l'humanite commis depuis l'independance du Burundi (1962) soient soumis a un Tribunal penal international. Il fait peu de doute que les crimes commis en 1972 par l'armee burundaise constituent bien un genocide, mais celui-ci n'a jamais ete reconnu officiellement, notamment parce que ce crime a ete commis loin des yeux des journalistes, a une epoque ou le pays vivait relativement isole. (La Libre Belgique, 29 avril 1999) * Comores. Fondements d'un nouvel Etat - Le 23 avril, apres cinq jours et quatre nuits de dures negociations, la conference inter-iles d'Antananarivo a pose, un an et demi apres le debut de la crise secessioniste comorienne, les bases d'un nouvel Etat ou les trois iles seraient largement autonomes. Dans la nouvelle Union des Iles Comores, un partage des competences doit permettre "aux iles d'administrer et de gerer librement leurs propres affaires". Il ne reste comme competence a l'Union que celles "liees a la souverainete de l'Etat (defense et relations exterieures, monnaie, nationalite, enseignement...) et a ses symboles". Le pouvoir executif de l'Union sera confiee a une presidence tournante elue par une assemblee nationale. La delegation anjouanaise n'a toutefois pas signe cet accord, n'ayant pas mandat pour s'engager dans un texte qui signifie la fin de l'independance d'Anjouan, declaree unilateralement en aout 1997, mais elle a reconnu qu'il renfermait de nombreux points positifs. Il reste a convaincre l'ile elle-meme, divisee entre ses clans secessionnistes et sous la menace de milices armees incontrolees. (D'apres AFP, 23 avril 1999) * Comoros. Troops patrol as peace deal draws protests - 28 April: Comoros army troops were deployed in the capital on 28 April to restore order after a wave of attacks by groups opposed to a new deal giving greater autonomy to the smaller islands in the Indian Ocean archipelago. Witnesses said around 200 heavily armed soldiers patrolled the streets of Moroni as government officials accused opposition politicians of promoting the violence. (Reuters, 28 April 1999) * Congo-Brazza. Vers un Etat de droit? - Le pouvoir de Brazzaville a mis en place la Haute cour de justice, qui est composee de 15 juges titulaires, 11 suppleants et 7 membres de la commission d'instruction. Au terme de la loi du 8 janvier 1999, cette cour sera "competente pour juger les membres du conseil national de transition et du gouvernement, en raison de faits qualifies de crimes ou delits commis dans l'exercice de leurs fonctions, ainsi que pour juger leurs complices en cas de complot contre la surete de l'Etat". (M. Libani, Brazzaville, 27 avril 1999) * Congo (RDC). Pouvoir populaire Le 20 avril, le president Kabila, qui a supprime l'Alliance des forces democratiques pour la liberation du Congo (AFDL) qui l'avait amene au pouvoir, a ouvert le congres constitutif des Comites de pouvoir polulaire (CPP), a la fois "organes du pouvoir" et organisations a lutter contre les partis - dont aucun n'est encore autorise. Selon M. Kabila, "les CCP sont le peuple organise en organe du pouvoir public" et doivent etre compris comme "un gigantesque mouvement national patriotique" qui doit mobiliser "le peuple entier autour de la reconstruction nationale". -- Par ailleurs, selon des sources de Bukavu, quelque mille soldats rwandais ont traverse la frontiere la semaine derniere vers le Sud-Kivu pour renforcer les positions rwandaises en RDC. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 avril 1999) * Congo (RDC). Pretre assassine au Kivu - Le 6 avril, un pretre congolais de 29 ans, le pere Paul Juakali, de la paroisse de Mweso (diocese de Goma, Nord-Kivu), a ete froidement assassine par des militaires du Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie, alors qu'il transportait un malade a l'hopital de Pinga. Selon des sources parvenues a l'agence Misna, le pere Juakali, defenseur des droits de l'homme, avait ete menace par ces militaires quelques jours avant sa mort. Il etait accuse de divulguer des informations "tendancieuses" sur la situation reelle de la population du Kivu. (D'apres Misna, Italie, 26 avril 1999) * Congo (RDC). Nettoyage ethnique? - Selon l'agence Misna, les militaires de la formation rebelle RCD poursuivent une serie de devastations et de massacres dans la zone de Masisi (Kivu). Le 8 avril, le village de Bukombo a ete saccage et brule, dernier maillon connu d'un chaine de destructions systematiques, les derniers mois, qui a deja balaye plusieurs dizaines de villages de la region, principalement habitee par les Hunde et les Nyanga, et convoitee "depuis toujours" par le Rwanda. Les populations de ces deux groupes ethniques sont obliges a prendre le maquis et a devenir des deplaces. (D'apres Misna, Italie, 27 avril 1999) * Congo (RDC. Debat national ajourne - Le 25 avril, un porte- parole du Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) a confirme le refus du principal mouvement rebelle de participer a une rencontre, le 30 avril a Rome sous l'egide de la communaute Sant'Egidio, avec des representants du regime de Kinshasa. Il a repete aussi que son mouvement ne se sentait pas lie par l'accord signe le 18 avril en Libye par les presidents congolais et ougandais, et publie le 24 avril a Kinshasa. Cet accord compte dix points et prevoit notamment un cessez-le-feu immediat, le retrait des forces etrangeres et le deploiement de forces africaines. Concernant la reunion romaine, le president du RCD a declare, le 26 avril, que le president Kabila cherchait a "diluer" la rencontre pour la transformer en un vaste forum de discussion sur l'avenir politique du pays. En effet, alors qu'il s'agissait au depart de reunir a Rome une vingtaine de personnes afin de "deblayer" le terrain, Kinshasa avait publie une liste de 250 participants choisis par M. Kabila (representants du pouvoir actuel, de la societe civile, de la rebellion armee et personnalites de l'ancien regime). Par la suite, un porte-parole du comite organisateur designe par le president Kabila, Loleko Ndia, a declare a la television congolaise que le debat national sera deplace a Nairobi, ou une reunion est prevue du 8 au 15 mai. Le 28 avril, dans un communique, la communaute Sant'Egidio a exprime sa perplexite; elle renonce provisoirement a poursuivre ses efforts. Le meme jour, le gouvernement de Kinshasa a publie une liste de 181 personnalites, choisies par le pouvoir, invites au debat a Nairobi qui aurait comme theme pricipal la "legitimite du pouvoir". Cependant, la participation rebelle reste hypothetique. Reste egalement le probleme financier, le cout d'une telle rencontre etant estime a 4,5 millions de dollars. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 avril 1999) * Congo (RDC). Talks of peace -- some on, some off - 23 April: In a bid to restore peace in eastern Congo, the Congolese Tutsis have agreed with enemy tribes on measures aimed at building trust and securing access to pastures previously shut off in months of civil war. The Tutsi minority in southern Congo are fighting to overthrow Congolese President Kabila, while rival tribes have often allied themselves with pro-government militias. In a communique from the eastern Congolese town of Bukavu, the Tutsi group, known as Banyamulenge, said that the agreement allowed the Banyamulenge herders to reach previously inaccessible areas in South Kivu Province. Other tribes could now visit markets in Tutsi-controlled areas along the mountainous High Plateau which were off limits since the August civil war. Inter-communal tensions in the volatile eastern Congo, stemming from land disputes since the arrival of Tutsis from Rwanda centuries ago, were partially to blame for Congo's two wars in two years. Both former dictator Mobutu and Kabila have refused the ethnic Tutsi, believed to be numbering about half a million, the right to citizenship, vote and political affiliation. 25 April: Lambert Mende, spokesman for the Congolese Democratic Coalition says his movement will not participate in the national debate on Congo RDC due to take place in Rome on 30 April. Also, the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) has set down "essential preconditions" for the Rome Talks. 26 April: The rebels say they've decided not to attend the Rome talks. Wamba dia Wamba says Kabila has turned the talks into theatre rather than a genuine dialogue. The government of Congo RDC now says a "National Debate" will take place in Kenya 8-15 May. A spokesman says the Rome talks fell through because donors had not come forward with promised money to pay for it. 27 April: Rebels react with scepticism to the proposal to hold talks in Kenya. 28 April: Protests continue in Kinshasa, unleashed by the publication of the list of participants of the National Debate, scheduled to take place soon on Nairobi. A great part of the population does not in fact believe that the over 250 delegates chosen by the government, equitably represents Congolese society as a whole. An official at the Congo RDC embassy in Nairobi says the debate will take place "with" or "without" the rebels. (ANB-BIA, 29 April 1999) * Cote d'Ivoire. Greve d'etudiants - incidents - Le 26 avril, 105 etudiants et lyceens ont ete interpelles a Abidjan, ou de nombreux magasins ont ete saccages en marge d'une greve d'eleves et etudiants. Yopougon, quartier populaire de la capitale, a ete le plus touche par les incidents. Deux grands magasins ont ete entierement pilles et devastes. (Le Monde, France, 28 avril 1999) * Egypte. Islamistes gracies - Le 26 avril, pour la premiere fois depuis sept ans, le gouvernement egyptien a fait un geste en direction de l'organisation integriste armee Jamaa Islamiya en liberant mille de ses militants. Cette liberation, qui "ne signifie nullement un dialogue avec les islamistes", a ete saluee par les milieux islamistes et les defenseurs des droits de l'homme. Ces derniers y voient un effet du renoncement de la Jamaa a la violence en juillet 1997. Une politique visant a isoler le Jihad, l'autre organisation armee, qui a confirme qu'elle poursuivrait la violence apres la condamnation a mort par contumace de neuf de ses militants la semaine derniere. (Liberation, France, 27 avril 1999) * Egypt. FIAT to assemble cars in Egypt - On 26 April, Fiat formed a joint venture to assemble its Siena car in Egypt. It will invest $15 million in a plant producing up to 15,000 cars a year. The venture will also import, sell and service Fiat cars in Egypt. It will be 51% controlled by Fiat Auto, the Italian car division, with the Seoudi group owning 44.1% and Nile Engineering, the Egyptian importer of Fiat cars, the remaining 4.9%. Production is expected to start at the end of this year. (Financial Times, UK, 27 April 1999) * Erythree-Ethiopie. Mediation - Le 26 avril, l'envoye special des Nations unies pour l'Afrique, Mohammed Sahnoun, a rencontre le president erythreen Issaias Afeworki a Asmara, premiere etape d'une mission de mediation entre l'Ethiopie et l'Erythree. M. Sahnoun doit se rendre le 27 avril a Addis Abeba et a prevu de revenir a Asmara "si des progres ont ete realises". Aucun commentaire n'a filtre sur ces entretiens. Les deux belligerants ont accepte un plan de paix propose par l'OUA, mais il n'a toujours pas ete mis en application en raison de divergences d'interpretation sur sa signification. Asmara considere avoir satisfait aux conditions du plan en se retirant de la zone de Badme, alors qu'Addis Abeba considere que les troupes erythreennes doivent se retirer d'autres territoires qu'elles sont accusees d'occuper. -- D'autre part, le 27 avril, le pape Jean-Paul II a recu 12 eveques d'Erythree et d'Ethiopie venus a Rome pour parler de paix. Le Vatican a exprime son intention de soutenir les efforts de paix; un message sera redige a l'issue de la rencontre. --- Par ailleurs, des specialistes de l'OUA et des Nations unies se sont reunis a New York la semaine derniere pour discuter d'une eventuelle mission de maintien de la paix en Ethiopie et Erythree. Les pourparlers ont porte sur le deploiement d'observateurs militaires, la demarcation de la frontiere et le financement des arrangements. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 avril 1999) * Eritrea-Ethiopia. Horn peace bid - 24 April: UN envoy Mohammed Sahnoun touches down in Eritrea, to begin a week of shuttle diplomacy aimed at ending the eleven-month conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Mr.Sahnoun is scheduled to meet President Isaias Afwerki and other Eritrean government officials on April 26 before flying to Addis Ababa the next day for talks with members of the Ethiopian government. The UN envoy is due to have further meetings with the two parties later in the week. Mr.Sahnoun is expected to push for implementation of the OAU peace plan. Both countries have nominally accepted the OAU proposals, but no ceasefire has been argued. Officially, the sticking points to implementation remain arguments over the withdrawal of troops and questions of the administration of the other disputed areas during the demarcation process. 26 April: Sahnoun holds talks with President Afewerki. 28 April: Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of bombing a rural road in western Eritrea. Mohamed Sahnoun is in Addis Ababa and is expected to return later this week to Eritrea. he is reported as having had talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. (ANB-BIA, 29 April 1999) * Ethiopia. Editor jailed - According to information from Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), Samsom Seyum, editor in chief of the Amharic-language weekly Tequami, was sentenced last week to four and a half years in jail. He has been detained since December 1995 and so should be released in June 2000. The journalist is accused of "incitement to violence" for some articles he wrote in the weekly. His sentence is the longest ever passed on a journalist in Ethiopia. RSF recalls that in addition to this case eight other journalists are still in jail in Ethiopia. Some of them have been there since 1997. Without wishing to comment on the facts of these cases, RSF reminds the government that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights considers that "detention, as punishment for the peaceful expression of an opinion, is one of the most reprehensible ways to enjoin silence and, as a consequence, a grave violation of human rights". Moreover, Ethiopia has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 19 of which guarantees the freedom to inform and to be informed. (RSF, France, 22 April 1999) * Ethiopie. Une "espece surprise" d'australopitheque - Les restes d'un australopitheque vieux de 2,5 millions d'annees, qui employait deja des outils de pierre pour depecer ses proies, ont ete mis a jour en Ethiopie par une equipe de paleontologues americano-ethiopienne, annonce la revue Science parue le 23 avril. Classe en tant qu'espece a part, ce nouvel ancetre possible de l'homme a recu le nom scientifique d'Australopithecus garhi (mot afar signifiant surprise) puisque "personne ne s'y attendait", a souligne l'equipe. Sur un site desertique du Moyen- Awash, a deux jours de piste au nord-est de la capitale, les paleontologues esperaient trouver les restes d'un autre hominide, l'Australopithecus africanus, le tout premier australopitheque connu; ils viennent d'en elargir la famille. Ils ont en effet eu la surprise de trouver des fragments de crane ainsi que des os de bras et de jambes de plusieurs autres individus, nettement distincts par leur anatomie des australopitheques connus: bras relativement courts et jambes plus longues, ce qui les rapproche de l'Homo erectus. (D'apres AFP, France, 23 avril 1999) * Ghana. New Asantehene named - Nana Kwaku Dua, 49, Ghanaian businessman, is to be enthroned (on 26 April) on the Golden Stool as the 16th Asantehene, or venerated king of the Ashanti people; in Kumasi, Ghana. When the 15th Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, died in February, the Queen Mother took a month to review the hopefuls and, in the end, proposed her son as successor. The post has influence, but no legal power in the West African nation where Ashantis are one of the largest ethnic groups. (Time, USA, 12 April 1999) * Grands Lacs. Initiative commune contre le sida - L'Onu, le Rwanda, le Burundi, l'Ouganda, le Kenya et la Tanzanie viennent de lancer une initiative de collaboration frontaliere afin de lutter contre le sida, qui y touche pas moins de 4,5 millions de personnes, a annonce le 27 avril le Dr Piot, directeur executif du Programme des Nations unies sur le VIH/sida. Il a cite en exemple l'Ouganda, ou "les campagnes de prevention du VIH lancees au debut des annees 1990 sont parvenues a encourager de nombreux jeunes a retarder leur activite sexuelle et a utiliser davantage le preservatif. Et les resultats sont la: alors que la prevalence chez les femmes enceintes en milieu urbain avait atteint jusqu'a 40%, elle se situe aujourd'hui a 15% environ". (La Libre Belgique, 28 avril 1999) * Guinee-Bissau. Calme apres confrontation - Le 26 avril, le calme etait revenu a Bissau apres une serieuse confrontation, le 23 avril, entre les forces loyales au president Vieira et le camps adverse. La confrontation est intervenue apres le limogeage par le gouvernement d'unite nationale du maire de Bissau, Paulo Medina, qui a refuse de l'accepter arguant qu'il avait ete nomme par decret presidentiel. Les troupes des deux camps, qui s'etaient masses devant l'hotel de ville, ont ete dispersees par les forces de l'Ecomog. (D'apres IRIN, 26 avril 1999) * Guinea-Bissau. Political trouble - A row has broken out between President Vieira and the national unity government over the appointment of a new attorney-general. The government has refused to accept the President's nomination, saying it violated a peace accord signed earlier this year. (BBC News, 28 April 1999) * Kenya. Way behind in foreign investment - There is now a striking difference between the levels of foreign direct investment in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, according to a new World Bank publication. The Global Development Finance report for 1999 shows the levels of foreign investment in Tanzania and Uganda are more than eight times those of Kenya. In 1997, the level of foreign investment in Uganda was $180 million, an increase of nearly $60 million over the year before, while Tanzania's figure was $158 million, an increase of $8 million in 1996. Kenya's figure was only $20 million, $7 million more than in 1996, but still $37 million below the peak year of 1990. The total foreign direct investment in Kenya in the 1990s is only $153 million compared with $569 million in Uganda and $510 million in Tanzania. (Paul Redfern, The East African Kenya, 22 April 1999) * Liberia. Des refugies fuient les combats - La ville de Voinjama, au nord du Liberia, a ete attaquee le 21 avril par une faction rebelle opposee au president Taylor. Selon des temoins, 20 a 50 rebelles ont ete tues dans l'affrontement, qui a permis ensuite aux troupes gouvernementales de reconquerir la ville. Quelque 6.000 refugies, fuyant les combats, ont traverse la frontiere avec la Guinee. Il convient de rappeler qu'en Guinee il y a 470.000 refugies: 350.000 de la Sierra Leone, et 120.000 du Liberia. (D'apres Misna, Italie, 28 avril 1999) * Libye. Reprise des vols commerciaux - Le 22 avril, la compagnie d'aviation libyenne, la Libyan Arab Airlines (LAA), a inaugure, par un vol vers la capitale jordanienne Amman, la reprise de ses vols commerciaux, apres la suspension de l'embargo aerien en vigueur depuis 1992. Selon Tripoli, les sanctions ont entraine un manque a gagner de 3 milliards de dollars pour la compagnie. Plusieurs representants de l'industrie aeronautique se sont deja precipites a Tripoli pour obtenir des commandes apres la levee des sanctions. (Le Monde, France, 25 avril 1999) * Malawi. Electoral Commission says it lacks funds - 28 April: The Electoral Commission, already dogged by opposition accusations of favouring the ruling United Democratic Front, and of incompetence in the run-up to the 25 May polls, has come with another surprise. It is broke and may not be able to meet the registration of all the five million eligible voters. The Malawi Constitution says elections may not go ahead if 70% of eligible voters do not register. (PANA, Dakar, 28 April 1999) * Maroc. Conference arabe sur les droits de l'homme - Une conference internationale sur les droits de l'homme dans le monde arabe s'est ouverte le 23 avril a Casablanca. A quelques exceptions pres, les violations des droits de l'homme ont augmente dans le monde arabe au cours de la decennie ecoulee, parallelement a la montee de l'activisme islamiste et l'aggravation de la situation economique, ont estime des militants de 15 pays arabes reunis. Certains participants attribuent cette deterioration aux tactiques violentes adoptees par les autorites nationales et les groupes islamistes radicaux qui tentent de prendre le pouvoir; d'autres pensent que le probleme vient de l'augmentation de la pauvrete. Certains encore, attribuent ce recul "a des tendances antidemocratiques profondement enracinees dans les elites dirigeantes arabes". Un sujet de preoccupation particulier des participants concerne l'utilisation de l'islam par les gouvernements arabes pour rejeter les appels a la reforme. Si le Maroc a ete distingue pour avoir commence a nettoyer son "passe noir", la Tunisie a ete epinglee notamment pour avoir fait marche arriere sur sa promesse de reformer son systeme politique et judiciaire. (D'apres Reuters, 23 avril 1999) * Morocco. Jobless protest - Hundreds of Moroccan jobless, most of them young people, took to the streets of Rabat on 26 April, to protest against what they see as government failure to combat rising unemployment. "The employment policy is chaotic and biased towards the elite", protestors chanted as they marched from the parliament building along the Hassan II avenue in central Rabat. "We demand jobs. This is a legal right", others shouted. On 25 April, police removed scores of graduates who had been camping outside parliament for more than a week. (Reuters, 26 April 1999) * Maroc. Diplomes chomeurs dans la rue - Le 26 avril, 5.000 diplomes au chomage ont manifeste en plein centre de Rabat pour faire valoir leur "droit" a l'emploi, scandant des slogans contre la politique sociale du gouvernement. D'une ampleur nouvelle, cette action s'inscrit dans un vaste mouvement de contestation qui regroupe a travers tout le pays des dizaines de milliers de jeunes diplomes marocains, a la recherche d'un premier emploi. (Liberation, France, 27 avril 1999) * Maroc. Candidat au Mondial-2006 - Le 28 avril, le Maroc a confirme a la Federation internationale du football sa candidature a l'organisation de la Coupe du monde de football en 2006, a-t-on annonce de source officielle a Rabat. Alors que le Ghana vient d'annoncer le retrait de sa candidature, six pays (Maroc, Nigeria, Afrique du Sud, Bresil, Angleterre et Allemagne) restent en lice. Le comite de la FIFA doit designer le pays d'accueil du Mondial 2006 en mars 2000. (AFP, 28 avril 1999) * Morocco. Bid to host 2006 World Cup - Morocco has officially announced its bid to host the World Cup in the year 2006. The Youth and Sports Minister says his country is keen on becoming the first African country to host the competition. The announcement makes Morocco the 4th African country that wants to organise the event. (BBC News, 29 April 1999) * Mozambique. Debate of Islam and terrorism - A conference- debate on the theme "Islam and terrorism", will begin in Maputo, in the amphitheatre of the Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University. The conference, promoted by the Islamic Movement of Mozambique, will begin with an introductory intervention of the former President of Sudan, Abdul Rahman Swaralzahab, presently Director of the NGO -- Munazamat el Tawa el Islamya", with its headquarters in the Arab Emirates. The NGO has launched a series of interventions in the education and health sectors of Mozambique. During the next few days, the NGO will in be consigning the keys of a school, able to accommodate 400 students, to the Mozambican Ministry of Education. The school is situated in the Angosce District (Nampula Province). (MISNA, Rome, 22 April 1999) * Mozambique. Election postponement almost certain - Delays have hit the timetable of Mozambique's general elections planned for October and a caretaker government could be running the country until the polls are held possibly next year, political analysts say. "The elections will eventually be postponed, logistical aspects have delayed implementation of the timetables", political observer Antonio Gumende said. The complication is that the constitutional life of the government ends in December, around the time the heavy rains begin, so "the debate is now over a caretaker administration form October to April", according to Gumende. Alfredo Gamito, the minister of government administration responsible for the elections, accused parliament of being behind the delays. He says that as a result the government was now weighing the options of shortening the timetable to allow the elections to take place on schedule in October, or their postponement to December, or even April next year. "The position is that we must make the elections this year, it's a strong commitment", Gamito said. "If there is a two or three months delay, there won't be very big consequence, but if it's more than six months, then it's a problem". (IRIN, Southern Africa, 23 April 1999) * Mozambique. Trade link with South Africa on the line - Mozambique's failure to agree management contracts with foreign investors for Maputo's dilapidated port and three southern railway lines is threatening the future of the much publicised trade route between South Africa and the Mozambican capital, according to business executives and foreign donors. The Maputo Corridor once accounted for 40% of trade to and from the industrial region around Johannesburg -- Maputo is the nearest port -- and both governments have made strenuous efforts to revive the route since the end of the Mozambican civil war and the abolition of apartheid. (Financial Times, UK, 27 April 1999) * Niger. No military in November elections - The new military leader in Niger, Major Daouda Mallam Wanke, has signed an order preventing all members of the military and security forces from standing for elections due in November. He also announced that he will not be running as a candidate in the presidential elections. He also decreed that members of the transitional government -- which includes civilian politicians, technocrats and soldiers -- will not be permitted to stand. Major Wanke took power after the former President Mainassara was killed on April 9 by his own guard. Mainassara seized power in a military coup in 1996 and then won a disputed presidential election after taking leave of absence from the army. The government statement said that "this edict, the respect of which will be strictly guaranteed by the National Reconciliation Council in power, cannot be changed in any way during the transition period" to the November elections. As well as pledging to return to their military duties at the end of the nine-month period, Niger's temporary rulers have promised to hold a referendum in June on a new constitution and on an election law. The major has said a democratically elected president will be installed by 1 January 2000. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 22 April 1999) * Niger. Wanke en visite au Nigeria - Durant le week-end des 24-25 avril, le nouveau dirigeant militaire du Niger, le commandant Wanke, a effectue une breve visite au Nigeria, ou il a eu des entretiens avec le president sortant, le general Abubakar. Aucun detail n'a filtre des entretiens. -- D'autre part, les anciens rebelles touaregs et toubou ont demande que la region de Manga, qui fait frontiere avec le Nigeria et le Tchad, soit declaree zone demilitarisee. 17 civils y ont ete tues au cours des dernieres operations. Les anciens rebelles ont declare que les operations militaires paralysent la mise en oeuvre des accords de paix signes l'an dernier. Le groupe demande egalement une amnistie pour les rebelles detenus et a signale la decouverte d'un charnier contenant les corps de 150 civils qui auraient ete tues le mois dernier par des soldats nigeriens dans la region de Bosso, pres du lac Tchad. L'armee a dementi ces allegations. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 26 avril 1999) * Nigeria. Law on privatization - Nigeria's outgoing military government has promised that a long-awaited law to allow the start of privatisation will be unveiled next week. Vice-Admiral Mike Akhigbe, the deputy of Nigeria's military ruler Gen.Abubakar, told reporters that before the regime bows out on 29 May, it will also work to eliminate laws which have stopped competition and entrenched poorly run state monopolies. But Akhigbe gave little indication that anything more could be achieved on privatisation before president-elect Gen.Obasano takes office next month to end 15 years of crippling military rule. Akhigbe chairs the National Council on Privatisation. (Reuters, 22 April 1999) * Nigeria. Victims of land dispute - Violence provoked by a land dispute in the Nigerian state of Anambra, has seen at least three policemen killed in the last two weeks. Journalists in the area say that violence is continuing though police in the state say calm has been restored following fighting neighbouring communities. The ongoing dispute has caused four years of sporadic violence, during which hundreds of people are believed to have been killed. The police spokesman for Anambra state told the BBC that well-armed mobile police had succeeded in separating the warring factions. (BBC News, 23 April 1999) * Nigeria. The Commonwealth - 29 April: Commonwealth ministers begin a special meeting in London which is almost certain to recommend that Nigeria's three-year suspension be ended. Nigeria's membership was frozen in 1995 after it executed nine minority rights activists. (Financial Times), UK, 29 April 1999) * Rwanda-Congo RDC. More Rwandan troops in Congo - During the last 4-5 days, about 1,000 Rwandan troops have crossed the Rwanda-Congo border into southern Kivu, instilling terror among the civilian population. There is friction evident between the two principle components of the Congolese Democratic Coalition (rebel) -- Rwanda and Uganda. This is confirmed by the "separate" truce signed in Libya with President Kabila, only by the Ugandan Head of State, President Museveni. An accord which the Rwandan government has refused to recognise. (MISNA, Rome, 23 April 1999) * Rwanda. Message des eveques - La conference episcopale rwandaise a envoye un message a la communaute chretienne, lu dans toutes les eglises du Rwanda le dimanche 25 avril, concernant l'eveque de Gikongoro, arrete le 14 avril, Mgr. Misago Augustin. "Son avocat a requis pour lui une liberation provisoire, compte tenu de son age et de son etat de sante", declarent les eveques, qui avaient deja exprime cette requete auparavant. Le juge charge de l'affaire "n'a pas repondu favorablement a la demande", mais "il lui a laisse la possibilite de renouveler sa requete accompagnee du dossier medical". Apres avoir souhaite que "ces moments difficiles ne soient pas un motif de divisions", les eveques demandent aux fideles de prier et de garder l'espoir que "le souci de la verite et de la justice guidera ceux qui ont mission de resoudre ce probleme". (ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 25 avril 1999) * Rwanda. The Bishop Misago case - 25 April: A new message from the local Bishops' Conference is read in all Churches, today, concerning Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro. It said: "Given the advanced age and delicate health of the prelate, many requests have been made for his liberation. Nevertheless, the presiding judge confirmed the arrest, leaving open the possibility to renew the request backed up by a medical certificate." The bishops called for prayer "in the yearning for the truth to illuminate those who hold the destiny of Bishop Misago in their hands". (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 April 1999) * Senegal. No referendum in Casamance - The government in Senegal is opposed to the holding of a referendum for self-rule in Casamance province and condemned as "unnecessary and dishonourable" such suggestion by the prime minister of Guinea- Bissau, Francisco Fadul, in a message to the Senegalese government. "Such a message is contrary to "the basic human rights principles and rules of good neighbourliness which Senegal has always gone all out to maintain with Guinea-Bissau", the Ministry of Communication said on 26 April. (PANA, Senegal, 27 April 1999) * Senegal. Casamance: vers des negociations - Les dirigeants separatistes de Casamance se reunissent cette semaine dans la capitale gambienne, Banjul, afin de chercher un consensus pour des pourparlers avec le gouvernement, visant a mettre fin a un conflit commence en 1982, ont indique les media locaux le 27 avril. Durant le week-end des 24-25 avril, il y a deja eu des entretiens avec le president Gambien, Yahya Jammeh, qui a propose plusiers fois ses services de mediateur dans le conflit. L'abbe Diamacoune, dirigeant du mouvement separatiste MFDC, avait rencontre le president Diouf en janvier dernier, apres que tous deux avaient admis que le dialogue serait le seul moyen de resoudre les problemes. (IRIN, Abidjan, 27 avril 1999) * Sierra Leone. Population sans aide - Le 22 avril, le chef d'etat-major de l'Ecomog a declare que ses forces avaient commence a chasser les rebelles de l'axe routier reliant la capitale a l'est du pays. Depuis la ville de Songo, qu'elles ont prise le 16 avril, elles progressent vers Masiaka, un noeud routier a 75 km a l'est de Freetown qui controle l'acces vers le nord et la region diamantifere controlee par les rebelles a l'est. Cependant, les sources humanitaires indiquent que deux tiers du pays restent inaccessibles a leurs organisations. Depuis plus d'un an, les combats empechent toute evaluation des besoins de plus de la moitie de la population. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 avril 1999) * Sierra Leone. Government "killer Press Bill" - A bill aimed at muzzling press reports about the war will soon be out, sources at the Judiciary and Information departments revealed. Close aides to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mr.Solomon Berewa told newsmen that finishing torches are now being made on the bill and that the legal department will ensure that the articles in the bill are respected. No date have been set for the release of the said bill but speculation abounds that it will be made public before the general press law worked upon the information department and representatives of the local journalist association comes out. Reaction to the "killer press bill" as it is now known here by newsmen, is that of anger and frustration. One local journalist said he will not obey the laws contained in the bill as long as it seeks to give an inaccurate and one sided report on the events happening in the country. "We are not going to endanger ourselves this time round with cheap propaganda like what happened before the rebels invaded the city", an angry Publisher said. Others have vowed to go underground if the government forthcoming press bill is unfavourable. Many Sierra Leonean blame government press muzzling and cheap propaganda for the deteriorating situation in the country. (The Progress, Sierra Leone, 23 April 1999) * Sierra Leone. Churches and the search of peace - The following report has recently arrived from Sierra Leone: Church leaders are rigorously trying to persuade the leader of the Revolutionary United Front, Rtd.Corporal Foday Sankoh, to agree for an end to the eight and a half year of civil war. The Church leaders are members of the Inter-Religious Council, an organisation comprising various religious denominations. Its present task is to persuade Sankoh to cease hostilities and agree to take part in peace talks. Bishop Humper of the United Methodist Conference told the congregation at Brown Memorial Church on March 21st that church leaders have made an immense contribution in meetings with Sankoh, which is a new evidence that Sankoh is ready to talk peace. Father Momoh of the Catholic Church said: "The wish of the Church is to see that peace is restored to Sierra Leone". He said it is difficult to reconcile divergent parties considering the fact that people's hands or feet have been amputated, houses have been burnt, children have been made orphans, and many lives lost. In the midst of such a scenario, he said, the Catholic Church in Sierra Leone supports the government's effort in pursuing both the military and diplomatic options in ending the war. (Alpha R.Jalloh, Sierra Leone, 26 March 1999) * Sierra Leone. Rencontre Sankoh-RUF - Le 25 avril, ont debute au Togo les entretiens entre Foday Sankoh, leader historique du RUF (Front revolutionnaire uni) et une delegation de son mouvement, malgre l'absence du major Jean-Paul Koroma (chef de l'ex-junte militaire) et de Sam Bockarie (actuel commandant du RUF), qui sont attendus dans les prochains jours. Le 26 avril, M. Sankoh a declare que ses hommes etaient prets a declarer un cessez-le-feu immediat si le gouvernement de Freetown faisait de meme. Des responsables des rebelles ont confie que l'offensive de l'Ecomog etait si importante que Sankoh a dit a ses deux principaux chefs militaires, Bockarie et Koroma, de pas venir au Togo. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 27 avril 1999) * Sierra Leone. Talks begin in Togo - 24 April: An initial group of guerilla leaders from Sierra Leone's bush war has arrived in Togo and begun consultations with rebel leader Foday Sankoh on ending the conflict, rebel officials said. Fourteen senior commanders came out of the bush and seven were flown by the United Nations to the Togolese capital, Lome. Sankoh had arrived in the city earlier. But the two biggest names in the rebel command stayed behind in Liberia because of continuing fears over their security, senior rebel spokesman Omrie Golley said. He said both guerrilla field commander Sam Bockarie and Sierra Leone's ousted junta leader, Johnny Paul Koroma, would come to Lome at a later date. "They probably won't come tomorrow, and may not come on a UN flight", said Golley, who is also legal adviser to Sankoh's Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Golley said RUF's security concerns were heightened largely as a result of increased activity by the Nigerian-led force, ECOMOG, which is battling the rebels around Sierra Leone's capital Freetown. The rest were unknown teenage fighters and a woman. 25 April: Talks begin between Sankoh and more than a dozen rebel leaders. 26 April: Foday Sankoh offers a ceasefire. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 April 1999) * South Africa. AIDS activists' demands - Women's groups criticized the South African government for failing to provide medical treatment they say could help prevent victims of rape from contracting the AIDS virus from their attackers. The activists are demanding that the government provide rape victims with a three-drug cocktail of AZT, 3TC and a protease inhibitor Crixovan. The three-drug cocktail is available for $820 on the private market, which represents five month os wages for an average South African. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta recommends the three-drug therapy for health care workers who have been exposed to HIV through contaminated needles because some studies have found AZT alone has prevented them from contracting the virus. (AP, 23 April 1999) * Afrique du Sud. Manoeuvres militaires - Depuis plusieurs jours et jusqu'au 30 avril, quelque 5.000 hommes venus de douze pays africains d'Afrique australe sont rassembles sur la base de Lohatla en Afrique du Sud, manoeuvrant ensemble sans incident majeur. ""Blue Crane" (Grue bleue) constitue l'exercice de maintien de la paix le plus important jamais realise en Afrique", a declare avec fierte le general sud-africain, Andre Bestbier, qui coordonne l'exercice. Par cette operation, organisee par la Communaute de developpement de l'Afrique australe (SADC), l'Afrique du Sud reaffirme sa stature de superpuissance regionale et se prepare, bon gre mal gre, a son role de gendarme du continent africain. Le gouvernement de Pretoria se defend toutefois de toute intention hegemonique et a assure que l'exercice ne prefigure nullement une eventuelle intervention dans la Republique democratique du Congo. (D'apres Le Monde, France, 25 avril 1999) * Afrique du Sud. La NAIL critiquee - La societe d'investissement New Africa Investments Limited (NAIL), une des compagnies considerees comme un exemple d'enrichissement economique pour les petits porteurs noirs, se trouve sous le feu des critiques apres la revelation que ses directeurs faisaient passer leurs interets avant ceux des actionnaires. Creee en 1994 a l'initiative d'un proche des Mandela, Nthatho Motlana, la NAIL a des interets dans differents secteurs, grace a la politique gouvernementale de reequilibrage economique dans un monde des affaires largement domine par les Blancs. Cette semaine, il a ete releve que ses directeurs s'etaient auto-attribue une gratification d'un montant total de 130 millions de rands ($21,3 millions) sous forme d'actions. Cette prime, qui n'a rien d'illegal en soi, a provoque la colere des investisseurs. Face au tolle, le directeur executif de la NAIL a reconnu que l'operation serait une "lecon salutaire" pour la compagnie, tout en affirmant que sa "bonne gestion n'avait jamais ete compromise". (D'apres AFP, 25 avril 1999) * South Africa. Celebrating democracy - President Mandela rebuked political opponents who tried to drown out his speech at ceremonies on 27 April, marking the birth of South African democracy. Mandela returned to the land of his childhood, Eastern Cape province, to make his last Freedom Day as President. He ended up attending what seemed more a set of duelling political rallies at a packed soccer stadium, signalling that passions are rising five weeks before the second democratic election on 2 June. (AP, 28 April 1999) * Soudan. Personnes deplacees - Les combats entre factions, l'activite rebelle et le conflit le long de la frontiere soudanaise avec l'Erythree ont provoque de nouveaux mouvements de populations dans diverses regions du pays, ont indique des sources humanitaires le 21 avril. Certains n'ont ni nourriture, ni abri. Les organisations humanitaires annoncent des afflux de personnes deplacees dans la region de Jonglei (au centre), le long de la frontiere erythreenne, dans la region septentrionale du Bahr el-Ghazal et dans le Nil superieur. -- D'autre part, le 26 avril, le ministre soudanais de la Sante a annonce qu'au moins 750 personnes sont mortes de meningite depuis le debut de l'epidemie au Soudan en decembre et que le bilan devrait encore s'alourdir dans les prochaines semaines. Une campagne de vaccinations a ete entreprise. Et depuis le 6 avril, plus de 180 personnes sont mortes du cholera dans la region d'Aboko, au sud du Soudan, selon des humanitaires operant dans la region. (ANB- BIA, de sources diverses, 26 avril 1999) * Sudan. Priest prisoners transferred - A message from Sudan, received on 27 April, reads as follows: "We have learned that Fathers Hillary and Lino were transferred today from State Security headquarters, to Kobar Federal prison, where we hope they will be able to receive visitors and have access to medical treatment. (From a correspondent, Sudan, 27 April 1999) * Sudan. Meningitis epidemic - Tens of thousands of people in Sudan could soon be infected by a meningitis epidemic which has already claimed more than 750 lives since December. Health Minister Mahdi Bobo Nimir warned: "We expect that more than 25,000 people are going to infected in the coming days". He said that more than 13,000 people had been infected by the epidemic so far, and he warned that worse was yet to come. WHO estimates that cases of meningitis had so far topped 17,000. (BBC News, 27 April 1999) * Tanzania. Millions of shillings missing - Hundreds of Dar es Salaam youths have disappeared with several million shillings in loans from a fund set up by IPP chairman Reginald Mengi to assist them run small businesses four years ago. The Sunday Times has learnt. The youths, who have disappeared along with their leaders, belonged to 99 groups out of the 245 registered for the loans. Our sources did not reveal the exact number of youths nor the total amount of money involved, but taking into account that each group had several members who had borrowed at least Tsh 15,000 each, the unrecoverable loans amount to several million shillings. The groups belong to an umbrella organisation called SKUVI, a Kiswahili acronym for "help the youth combat poverty", of which Mengi is patron. Sources at SKUVI head office at Pamba House in Dar es Salaam informed this paper that even the 146 groups, which are said to be still active, are finding it difficult to repay their loans at Tsh 15,000 a month, signalling that most of the money, if not all, may not be recovered at all unless stringent measures are taken. The loans were issued to SKUVI members under a special programme initiated by the IPP Chairman to empower unemployed youngsters financially and economically. (The Sunday Times, Tanzania, 18 April 1999) * Tunisie. Vers un nouveau proces politique - Le regime du president Ben Ali n'en finit pas de harceler ses opposants. Radhia Nasraoui, une avocate defenseur des droits de l'homme, passera en proces le 15 mai, alors qu'il n'est retenu contre elle qu'une seule charge "l'organisation de reunions en vue d'inciter a la haine". Ce proces verra egalement la comparution de seize etudiants, detenus depuis un an pour appartenance a un petit parti d'extreme gauche non reconnu, dont le dirigeant, Hamma Hammani, est en fuite. Ils sont inculpes d'appartenance a un groupe terroriste, de tenues de reunions non autorisees, de diffamation des autorites et de distribution de tracts. (Liberation, France, 24 avril 1999) * Uganda. Catholic teacher-training colleges - 20 April: In a statement, Cardinal Wamala describe as "sectarian", the government's decision to retain only 7 Catholic-founded primary teacher-training colleges, as compared to 22 for the Church of Uganda. 23 April: The First Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Eriya Kategaya, has criticised Cardinal Wamala over his statement which he describes as "irresponsible" because he did not take the trouble to inquire from the relevant authorities the reasons behind the phasing out of the colleges. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 April 1999) * Ouganda. Insecurite a Bundibugyo - La situation dans le district de Bundibugyo, al'ouest de l'Ouganda, est tendue et se deteriore, ont indique des sources humanitaires le 22 avril. Selon un porte-parole ministeriel, le gouvernement a demande aux agences humanitaires d'interrompre les secours dans la region a cause de l'insecurite. Les rebelles de l'ADF (Forces democratiques alliees) continueraient a inonder la region apres avoir traverse la frontiere entre l'Ouganda et la RDC au cours des dernieres semaines; ils ont attaque Bundibugyo le 19 avril apres avoir encercle la ville. Medecins sans frontieres et Action Aid se sont retires de la zone le 22 avril. Ils souhaitent y retourner des que les conditions de securite le permettront. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 22 avril 1999) * Ouganda. Attentat et menaces - Le 24 avril, cinq personnes ont ete tuees et quatorze blessees dans l'explosion d'une bombe dans le centre de Kampala, la capitale ougandaise. La bombe a explose a quelque 150 metres d'un stade omnisports. Selon des temoins, un militant local favorable au gouvernement avait ete tue par balles a cet endroit peu auparavant. Les explosions de bombes artisanales ne sont pas rares a Kampala. Le pouvoir les attribue aux Forces alliees democratiques (ADF), groupe rebelle base dans l'ouest du pays. -- D'autre part, les missions diplomatiques et organisations humanitaires ont confirme, le 22 avril, qu'elles avaient recu des menaces d'un groupe rebelle peu connu, base dans le district de Kasese dans l'ouest de l'Ouganda, le National Union/Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU). Le groupe a prevenu les ressortissants europeens et americains qu'il "tirerait a vue" sur eux, parce que leurs pays soutiennent le regime actuel. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 26 avril 1999) * Uganda. Criminals blamed for Kampala blast - 24 April: A bomb attack which killed five people in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, was the act of criminals, security officials have said. They said an accomplice of a criminal who had been apprehended by a policewoman threw a grenade to try to free his colleague. Four people died in the attack, including the policewoman. The fatal explosion occurred near the city's football stadium shortly after a local football match ended. A senior security official told the BBC the incident was not linked to a recent spate of terrorist bomb attacks in the city. He said the device used in the attack was a manufactured grenade, plundered from former regimes. Roads around the Nakivubo stadium were cordoned off as the investigation continued. 26 April: Officials now say the bomb explosion could be due to a traders' squabble. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 27 April 1999) * Uganda. Executions to resume - In a Statement, Amnesty International says: "A show of mercy by President Museveni is now all that can save 28 people from death by hanging on 30 April, in what will be Uganda's first executions since 1996. The organisation is gravely concerned for the 28 men and the implications a resumption of executions will have for the more than 1,000 prisoners currently on death row in Uganda. (...)" (Amnesty International, 28 April 1999) * Zambia-Congo RDC. Border problems - Last weekend, Congo RDC soldiers abducted five Zambian surveyors for allegedly being in possession of satellite spying equipment, prompting their abduction and subsequent detention on spying charges. This has now triggered a tense situation between the two countries. One of those arrested said the Congolese authorities were not familiar with the surveying equipment being used by the Zambians, and suspected it of being satellite-connected equipment. (Fred Chela, Zambia, 28 April 1999) * Zimbabwe. Justice et Paix - Au Zimbabwe, les activistes de la defense des droits de l'homme s'inquietent pour la securite du president de la commission catholique Justice et Paix, M. Michel Auret, objet recemment de menaces de la part du president Mugabe. Dans une intervention a la television, le chef de l'Etat s'en est pris a M. Auret parce qu'il avait defendu deux journalistes du Sunday Standard lors de leur arrestation. Au cours de la meme emission, le president Mugabe a adresse aussi des propos acerbes aux juges de la cour supreme qui l'avaient accuse de non-respect de la loi a la suite de la detention et de la torture de ces journalistes. Le porte-parole de l'episcopat zimbabween a quant a lui fait l'eloge de M. Auret. Dans ce contexte, on signale encore que l'episcopat du Zimbabwe a recu un message de la conference episcopale de l'Afrique du Sud, exprimant sa preoccupation concernant la violation des droits de l'homme au Zimbabwe, denoncant l'atteinte a la liberte de presse et stigmatisant egalement l'instigation a la tension raciale. (DIA, Kinshasa, 26 avril 1999) * Zimbabwe. "Resolving our problems" - (Editor's note: ANB-BIA has recently received the following Press Statement from the Secretary-General of the Catholic Bishops' Conference. In view of the current climate prevailing in Zimbabwe, we think it of importance to publish this Statement). "Recently, on 6 February 1999, President Mugabe addressed the nation on a number of issues that affect our country. He summarised the history of this country as well as had a thrust of where our country should direct itself to. The President did not appreciate the manner in which some of the Judges handled the matter of advising the Acting President Cde.S.Muzenda. In mentioning the names of the judges concerned, the President also mentioned names of other citizens who "are bent on ruining the national unity and loyalty of our people and their institutions". I am aware that the Catholic Bishops' Conference takes cognizance of the great concern of government to safeguard both the hard won independence of the country and the unity of its peoples. At the same time, there must be found ways to combat misunderstandings and resolve issues in a manner that ensures more stability and peace of the nation. In this year's Message of Peace, the Holy Father Pope John Paul II stated that "promoting the right of peace ensures respect for all other rights, since it encourages the building of a society in which structures of power give way to structures of cooperation, with a view to a common good". (Message of January 1st, 1999). The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) is convinced that we can learn from the experiences of other countries who have internal conflicts and resolve our own problems in a manner that does not make our situation more problematic. (ZCBC, Zimbabwe, 16 February 1999) * Zimbabwe. Unpunished perpetrators - It seems that Zimbabwe's Attorney-General, Patrick Chinamasa, is unlikely to take legal action against members of the army and police force who illegally detained and tortured Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto of The Standard. This is the only conclusion that can be drawn following the AG's refusal to reply to letters submitted by lawyers of the journalists since 1 February, a representative of the newspaper said. Mark Chavunduka, the editor of the paper, was illegally detained by military police from 12 to 19 January during which time he was interrogated and tortured in an attempt to force him to divulge the sources of a story concerning an alleged coup plot by 26 members of the Zimbabwe army. Both Chavunduka and Choto, the paper's senior journalist, were formally arrested by the police on 19 January and then handed back to the military police, where both were once again interrogated and tortured. (The Zimbabwe Standard, 21 April 1999)