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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 24-06-1999   

* Afrique. Travail des enfants  -  Le 17 juin, les Etats membres de
l'Organisation internationale du Travail (OIT) ont adopte une
convention qui vise a proteger les enfants du monde entier des
pires types d'exploitation et de travail dangereux. La nouvelle
convention, qui s'applique a tous les enfants de moins de 18 ans,
demande a tous les pays d'interdire et d'eliminer d'urgence les
pires formes du travail des enfants et les pratiques
d'exploitation, telles que l'esclavage, la retention pour dettes et
la prostitution enfantine, ainsi que l'enrolement de force
d'enfants soldats. Elle demande egalement aux pays qui la ratifient
de soutenir les mesures visant a proteger les enfants du travail
dangereux, de garantir l'acces a l'education ou a la formation
professionnelle, et stipule que la "situation particuliere des
filles" doit etre prise en compte. L'OIT estime que 250 millions
d'enfants ages de 5 a 14 ans travaillent dans les pays en
developpement, dont la moitie au moins travaille a plein temps.  
(IRIN, Abidjan, 18 juin 1999)

* Africa. News of the economy  -  Ethiopia: The third ordinary
session of the Economic and Social Commission of the OAU African
Economic Community opened on 17 June, in Addis Ababa, to review the
progress made by the Community since the treaty establishing it
came into force five years ago. (PANA). Kenya: On 17 June, The East
African reported that Kenya's premier manufacturer of footwear,
Bata Shoe Company, has brought down the shutters, the latest victim
of diminished profits caused by a glut of cheap imports and a
flagging economy. Mozambique: On 17 June, a new set of regulations
on fisheries inspection and quality control, took effect, in
compliance with demands of the international market, particularly
the EU (PANA). Tanzania: Tight monetary and fiscal policies pursued
in the past few years, could push down Tanzania's headline
inflation further to 7% by June 1999, the central bank has
announced. (The East African). Uganda: On 17 June, The East African
said that Free Trade Zones, similar to the ones in Mauritius, will
be established in Uganda as soon as a law is enacted. Also, the
modest gains made in May by Uganda in coffee exports could be lost
as volumes are expected to fall in June.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18
June 1999)

* Africa. Development  -  17 June: Some country reports from the
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, meeting in
Vienna: Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso has been building "development
leadership" since 1983, in order to mobilise human and financial
resources for sustainable human development. Burkina Faso has
evolved into a dynamic social society, as the nation knows where it
stands and where it wants to go. Ethiopia: Ethiopia has embarked
upon most impressive and ambitious regional and decentralization
policies. The Ethiopian federal system provides almost autonomy to
its ten regions headed by regional presidents. The country is
implementing a policy of fiscal federalism to enable these regions
to manage financial resources for their development. Ghana: Ghana
is the good news for Africa. It is a country where things are
working. The government and people are committed to Vision 2020 to
become a middle level industrialized country in two decades.
Guinea: Regional conflicts across its borders could discourage
investment in Guinea. Despite a healthy economic growth, Guinea is
not attracting new investment, as it should be. Togo: Togo is
currently facing severe political and economic problems. The
country has suffered a drop in gross domestic product, shown a
marked increase in dis-investment, a drop in public resources and
deterioration of its infrastructure. Several private enterprises
have been closed down. Zambia: Rapid industrialisation, air
pollution and uncontrolled human settlement as just a few of the
ecological challenges that Zambia has to grapple with in the coming
years.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 June 1999)

* Africa. Women and society  -  Malawi: Womens' rights activists
are concerned that investment in their development, gets too small
a share of the nations' resources in a country where women perform
70% of all farmwork in the major smallholder agriculture sector. On
17 June, a spokeswoman for the National Commission For Women in
Development said the lack of resources for women is "reflected in
the lack of adequate access for women to maternal and child health
care, family planning information and services, education, training
and skill development for employment". Namibia: On 17 June,
Namibia's Multimedia Campaign on Violence Against Women and
Children, and other organisations dealing with the survivors of
rape, called on all citizens to join them in the third annual
"black protest" against the continued incidents of violence against
women and children. South Africa: The number of women in Parliament
has increased to within a fraction of the "psychologically all-
important" one-third mark. According to the Electoral Institute of
South Africa, the percentage of women at national and regional
level is at 30%, up from 27% in the previous parliament. Zambia: On
15 June, speaking during a seminar in Lusaka on the theme:
"Integrating Gender Perspectives in Trade Unions", Mohammed
Mwamadzingo, Regional Specialist on Workers' Education, said that
the Zambian labour movement needs to incorporate more than 30% of
women for it to tick.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 June 1999)

* Afrique. G7: allegement de la dette  -  Le 18 juin a Cologne, les
sept principaux pays industrialises ont pris une nouvelle
initiative importante en vue de reduire l'endettement des pays les
plus pauvres. Le chancelier allemand Schroeder a affirme que les
allegements s'eleveraient a 27 milliards de dollars, sans compter
les importants engagements bilateraux qui doivent etre accordes par
les pays riches a leurs debiteurs. Au total, l'allegement pour les
pays les plus pauvres atteindra 65 milliards de dollars, a precise
pour sa part le president francais Chirac. Selon les observateurs,
l'impact de la decision des G7 dependra surtout des modalites
d'application. Pour le mouvement Jubilee 2000, qui reclame
l'effacement total et immediat des dettes des pays pauvres a
l'occasion du nouveau millenaire, la decision n'est cependant pas
suffisante. "Vous avez escalade seulement la moitie de l'Everest",
ont signifie, le 19 juin a Cologne, quelque 20 a 30.000
manifestants qui se sont donne la main pour former une chaine
humaine de 9 km en centre-ville et exiger l'annulation totale et
immediate de la dette.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 19 juin
1999)

* Africa. G7. More relief called for  -  The Group of Seven nations
on 20 June agreed to cut billions of dollars from the debt burdens
of the world's poorest countries. But the deal met with scepticism
from debt campaigners who today are organising tens of thousands of
people into a human chain around the Cologne venue of the annual G7
economic summit. At the summit yesterday, the heads of government
of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations plus Russia
agreed to cut the $71bn poor country debt stock remaining after
traditional relief arrangements by a further $27bn. These
calculations are based on net present value -- the amount which
would be needed if the debt had to be paid off today in a lump sum.
The cash value of debt will be reduced by a further $20bn through
the forgiveness of aid-related loans. Tony Blair, the U.K. prime
minister, said: "I believe this summit will mark probably the
biggest step forward in debt relief and help to the poorest
countries that we have seen in the international community for many
years". But Carole Collins, of the Jubilee 2000 coalition, which
brings together churches and other campaign groups, said: "Most
poor countries will still pay more on debt service than on health
and education. We urge the leaders not to think their work is
done".   (Financial Times, U.K., 19-20 June 1999)

* Africa. African Refugee Day  -  20 June: The UNHCR observed the
20 June as African Refugee Day in an attempt to draw attention to
the millions of displaced Africans facing critical conditions.
According to figures published by the UNHCR, since the beginning of
1999, there have been more than 6.5 million "people of concern to
the UNHCR in the African continent". That figure includes 3.3
million African refugees, 2.1 million internally displaced Africans
and 1.1 million former refugees who have recently returned home.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, said that aid
to refugees in Kosovo should not overshadow the victims of other
conflicts.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 21 June 1999)

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Burundi: The Director of The
Net Press news agency, Jean Claude Kavumbagu, has been arrested by
order of the Public Prosecutor of Bujumbura. In an 18 June letter
to the Attorney-General, Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) protested
this arrest. On 21 June, MISNA reported that the director of the
Azania news agency, Dieudonne Ntakarahera, who was arrested last
week, has been released. Cameroon: RSF says Souley Onohiolo, a
contributor to the tri-weekly La Nouvelle Expression, was sentenced
on 8 June to four months in prison for libel. The Gambia: On 17
June, various International journalists groups say Citizen FM
should be allowed to broadcast once again. Malawi: Rankin
Nyekanyeka, editor of the Daily Times said that on 21 June, police
went to the houses of Horace Somanje, editor of the weekly Malawi
News, and reporter, Mabvuto Banda, and arrested them. They have
been charged with conduct likely to cause public disorder and were
granted bail. Mauritania: On 16 June, RSF sent a letter to the
Minister of the Interior protesting the censorship of the
independent weekly La Tribune. Tunisia: On 12 June, the Norwegian
Forum for Freedom of Expression protested against the charge
levelled against human rights campaigners in Tunisia.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 23 June 1999)

* Algerie. Violences  -  Le 19 juin, 4 gardes communaux ont ete
tues et 17 autres blesses dans l'explosion d'une bombe a Ighzer
Oumeziane, pres de Bouira (120 km au sud-est d'Alger), a indique le
quotien El Watan. La region de Bouira constitue l'une des bases du
Groupe salafiste pour la predication et le combat (GSPC)
d'Abdelmadjid Dichou. Selon le quotidien El-Youm, cette
organisation a affiche des tracts denoncant la decision de l'AIS,
le bras arme du FIS, de deposer les armes et de faire la "guerre"
aux autres groupes. Enfin, selon plusieurs journaux, trois
islamistes ont ete tues, le 17 juin, a Jijel (est) dans un
accrochage entre deux groupes, l'un de l'Armee islamique du salut
(AIS) et l'autre du GIA. -D'autre part, le 23 juin, le ministre
charge des relations avec le Parlement a annonce que le projet de
loi officialisant la treve avec l'AIS sera debattu par le Parlement
algerien avant la cloture de l'actuelle session, qui s'acheve dans
une dizaine de jours.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 juin
1999)

* Algerie/France. Relance des relations  -  Le ministre francais de
l'Interieur, Jean-Pierre Chevenement, a relance les relations
franco-algeriennes a la faveur d'une visite officielle. Premier
membre du gouvernement francais a se rendre en Algerie depuis les
elections du 15 avril, M. Chevenement a remis, le 20 juin, au
nouveau president Bouteflika un message verbal du president Chirac
dont la teneur n'a pas ete revelee. Il a simplement declare que
l'Algerie et la France devaient developper une "relation confiante,
sereine et tournee vers l'avenir". Auparavant, au cours d'une
rencontre avec le Premier ministre Ismail Hamdani, M. Chevenement
avait aborde les moyens d'ameliorer la cooperation bilaterale. La
France envisage de rouvrir ses consulats d'Oran et d'Annaba, fermes
apres l'assassinat de cinq de ses diplomates en 1994.   (D'apres Le
Monde, France, 22 juin 1999)

* Angola. Huambo bombarde  -  Le 22 juin, l'aeroport de Huambo et
plusieurs secteurs de cette ville du centre de l'Angola ont ete
soumis a des bombardements attribues aux rebelles de l'Unita, selon
la radio privee Ecclesia. Les autorites angolaises avaient signale,
le 18 juin, une attaque rebelle dans le secteur de Caala, a une
vingtaine de km a l'est de Huambo. Dans la ville de Huambo vivent
actuellement pres d'un million de personnes: 300.000 residents et
700.000 refugies. - D'autre part, le representant special de l'Onu,
Issa Dialo, est rentre a New-York apres l'echec de sa mission en
Angola. Il n'a pu convaincre le gouvernement de reprendre ses
negociations avec l'Unita.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 juin
1999)

* Angola. War situation  -  17 June: 1) The UN has sent a top
delegation to Angola in an effort to forge a new peace deal between
the government and UNITA. Issa Diallo, the UN envoy to Angola, now
based in New York, and the UN Deputy Secretary-General for
peacekeeping operations Bernard Millet arrive in Luanda on a three-
day visit to pursue a government-negotiating blueprint. 2) The
rights group Global Witness, has challenged De Beers and its
London-based Central Selling Organisation to publicly clarify how
they have changed their purchasing operations to ensure they no
longer buy UN embargoed Angolan diamonds. 3) The FAO and the WFP
have published a joint warning that over 1.7 million Angolans face
malnutrition. 21 June: The US-based International Medical Corps
says it will close down all its operations in Angola and remove
expatriate staff by the end of June. 22 June: President Dos Santos
agrees to a small follow-up UN mission in the country. 23 June:
Scores of people have been killed by bombs and tens of thousands
face a humanitarian crisis as UNITA besiege Malanje.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 24 June 1999)

* Burkina Faso. Militaires arretes  -  Le 18 juin, trois militaires
du regiment de securite presidentielle ont ete arretes et
incarceres, a-t-on appris de sources concordantes a Ouagadougou. La
nouvelle n'a pas ete confirmee officiellement. Les trois hommes ont
ete apprehendes pour leur implication dans la mort de David
Ouedraogo, chauffeur de Francois Compaore, frere cadet du
president. Accuse de vol par son employeur, David Ouedraogo avait
ete torture a mort par des membres de la garde presidentielle.  
(Le Monde, France, 20 juin 1999)

* Burkina Faso. Cathechiste vers la beatification  -  L'abbe
burkinabe Godefroid Sankara a introduit aupres de la Congregation
pour les causes de beatification le proces de beatification de
Simon Alphred Dibah Ki-Zerbo, le premier cathechiste au Burkina
Faso. Le proces diocesain avait ete ouvert par l'eveque de Nouna-
Dedougou, Mgr Zephirin Toe, en 1995. Ne en 1875, Simon Alphred
Diban Ki-Zerbo fut baptise en 1900 et collabora pendant longtemps
avec les Missionnaires d'Afrique (Peres Blancs). Il exerca sa
mission de cathechiste pendant plus que 60 ans. Il mourut le 10 mai
1980, pendant une courte visite de Jean-Paul II au Burkina Faso.
Encore aujourd'hui, les Burkinabe se rappellent la simplicite et la
profondeur de vie de cet homme de Dieu, temoin d'une vie de foi,
d'esperance et d'amour.   (ANB-BIA, d'apres Fides, 24 juin 1999)

* Burundi. Responsable de Net Press arrete  -  Le 18 juin, dans une
lettre adressee au procureur de la Republique a Bujumbura,
Reporters sans Frontieres a proteste contre la detention de Jean-
Claude Kavumbagu, responsable de l'agence de presse Net Press.
Selon les informations, M. Kavumbagu a ete arrete le 17 juin,
accuse de n'avoir pas depose un depot legal. En fait, il semble
qu'il soit victime de considerations politiques, le procureur ayant
qualifie l'agence "d'extremiste et divisionniste". - Rappelons que
le 11 juin le directeur de l'agence Azania avait egalement ete
arrete. Le 18 juin, Azania envoyait un communique, s'excusant de
l'interruption de ses informations. Annoncant la reprise probable
de ses activites du 21 juin, elle exprime sa volonte de continuer
sa mission d'information.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 juin
1999)

* Congo-Brazza. No let-up to internal crisis  -  22 June: Ninja
militiamen loyal to former prime minister Bernard Kolelas, have
attacked and wounded civilians and security personnel at Djambala.
23 June: Congo-Brazza has rejected an offer by President Patasse of
the Central African Republic to mediate between the government in
Brazzaville and rebel militias. Also, the post-conflict committee
of the World bank has suspended a portion of 500,000 US dollars aid
to Congo-Brazza as a result of the insecurity in the country.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 June 1999)

* Congo-Brazza. FIDH denonce  -  Sous le titre "L'arbitraire de
l'Etat, la terreur des milices", la Federation internationale des
ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) vient de publier un "apercu
indicatif" des exactions commises au Congo, ou des milliers de
civils ont ete tues depuis l'ete dernier. Entre le 18 et le 25
decembre, "le nombre de morts pourrait etre compris entre 5.000 et
6.000 personnes", affirme la FIDH, en denoncant "un massacre a
grande echelle, delibere et methodique" dans les quartiers sud de
Brazzaville. Dans la seule capitale, quelque 200.000 habitants ont
ete chasses de leurs foyers. L'organisation estime qu'en raison du
"silence et de la passivite" de la communaute internationale, les
pires crimes "sont de facto devenus la norme au Congo". (Ndlr. Le
rapport est disponible sur le site internet de la FIDH:
www.imaginet.fidh.fr). -D'autre part, la Conference episcopale
congolaise a tenu son assemblee pleniere a Brazzaville du 6 au 13
juin. Les eveques appellent a un "guerison interieure" et veulent
construire la paix a partir de la base. Les Congolais doivent
prendre leurs responsabilites et identifier les conflits la ou ils
sont, affirment les eveques. Ils recommandent notamment des actes
de solidarite et d'unite dans une societe toujours plus divisee
entre le nord et le sud, et frappee de pauvrete dans la majorite de
sa population.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 juin 1999)

* Congo (RDC). 3 opposants liberes  -  Joseph Olenghankoy et deux
autres politiciens de l'opposition ont ete liberes de la prison de
Lubumbashi, a annonce le 17 juin un porte-parole du ministere de la
Justice. Olenghankoy, un des opposants les plus connus, leader du
parti Fonus, avait ete condamne a 15 annees de reclusion pour avoir
viole l'interdiction des activites politiques. Il a ete libere
apres quinze mois de detention. Les deux autres personnes liberees
sont Mathieu Kalele et Jean Kabanda, tous deux membres de l'UDPS de
Tshisekedi. Ces liberations coincident avec une serie de tentatives
de mettre fin a la guerre civile et avec la preparation d'un debat
national organise par le president Kabila.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 18 juin 1999)

* Congo (RDC). "The battle continues".  -  20 June: Forces loyal to
the government have bombarded rebels in the southeastern town of
Manono and have sunk a boatload of troops heading from Burundi.
Interior Minister Gaetan Kakiudji says: "The enemy is in disarray,
they are fleeing from all sides. So the battle continues". In
Kigali, Rwandan officials have denied the reports.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 21 June 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Arrestations  -  22 juin. Une organisation de
defense des droits de l'homme a annonce qu'un ancien ministre du
president Kabila, Etienne Richard Mbaya, a ete arrete le 2 juin
dernier a son domicile par des militaires. Il est detenu au camp
Kokolo de Kinshasa. Les motifs de son arrestation ne sont pas
connus. - Par ailleurs, un des journalistes les plus en vue au
Katanga, Godefroid Kyangwe, a ete arrete a Lubumbashi, apres qu'il
eut publie un article sur l'ex-gouverneur de la province M. Kyungu,
aujourd'hui ambassadeur extraordinaire du president Kabila, auquel
il reprochait de s'en prendre aux Sud-Katangais. Le Sud-Katanga est
peu favorable a M. Kabila. - D'autre part, le ministre de la Sante
a annonce que le cholera a fait une cinquantaine de morts a
Kinshasa; au moins 450 personnes seraient deja contaminees. - 23
juin. Deux militaires du groupe special de securite presidentielle,
condamnes a mort par un tribunal militaire, ont ete passes par les
armes a Kinshasa pouu "manquements a la discipline militaire et
meurtre". Par ailleurs, trois journalistes du quotidien La tempete
des Tropiques ont ete arretes par des hommes armes en uniforme.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 24 juin 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Peace plans  -  In South Africa: On 17 June, African
leaders meeting in Pretoria agreed to a ceasefire concerning the
conflict in Congo RDC. Congo's President Kabila stayed away from
the meeting. Zambia's President Chiluba who chaired the talks said
the signing date, originally scheduled for 25 June, had been
changed to make it more convenient for the invited Presidents. The
ceasefire agreement, drafted by President Chiluba with a mandate
from the other governments in the region, provides for the
deployment of UN peacekeepers. On 18 June, a senior Rwandan
official says the talks have failed to produce any advances.
However, the summit closes with a surprise declaration by President
Chiluba, announcing the agreement of a ceasefire accord in Congo
RDC to be signed on 26 June in Lusaka. On 20 June, the rebels said
they will not agree to a ceasefire deal without first meeting face-
to-face with President Kabila. Speaking in Pretoria, the leader of
the opposition Congolese Rally for Democracy, Emile Ilunga, said
that before his rebels will agree to a ceasefire, Kabila's forces
must stop bombing civilian targets, release political prisoners,
stop what he calls genocide against ethnic Tutsis, and agree to
direct talks. In Kampala, officials from Uganda, Rwanda and
Tanzania have failed to unite the rival Congolese rebel factions,
ahead of the regional summit in Lusaka on 26 June. In Zambia: On 21
June, officials involved in the conflict were due to hold
preparatory meetings in view of a ministerial meeting (on 23 June)
and a planned Heads of State summit (on 26 June). However, on 22
June, these preparatory meetings had failed to take off for the
second day, because "vital members" of the committees on security
concerns and the drafting of the ceasefire document had not arrived
in Zambia. Later in the day, three-quarters of the participants
expected at the talks had arrived.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 June
1999)

* Congo (RDC). Pourparlers de paix  -  17 juin. Reunis a Pretoria
a l'occasion de l'investiture du president Mbeki, les chefs d'Etat
des pays impliques dans la guerre en RDC ont discute d'un projet de
cessez-le-feu prepare par l'Afrique du Sud, alors que les
representants des guerillas se trouvaient dans une autre piece. Le
president Kabila n'etait pas present a ces discussions; la RDC
etait representee par le ministre des affaires presidentielles,
Pierre Mpoyo. A la fin de la journee le president zambien a indique
que les negociations avaient ete couronnees de succes et qu'un
cessez-le-feu serait signe le 26 juin a Lusaka. Selon le president
sud-africain Mbeki, les pays impliques dans le conflit se sont
engages a ce que le sommet de Lusaka debouche sur un "accord
global" entre les belligerants, souhaitant que le cessez-le-feu
soit suivi d'un "processus politique pour resoudre le conflit". -
18 juin. Le Rwanda estime improbable de signer un accord de cessez-
le-feu avec le regime de Kabila, ce dernier refusant de parler
directement avec les rebelles soutenus par Kigali et de desarmer
les milices hutu qui combattent a ses cotes, a dit un responsable
rwandais. - 20 juin. Le ministre congolais de l'Interieur, Gaetan
Kakudji, a affirme que les forces gouvernementales ont mis en
deroute les rebelles a Manono et envoye par le fond un navire
transportant des soldats venus du Burundi. Du cote des rebelles on
dementait ces informations. A Kigali, des responsables ont affirme
que les rebelles avaient repousse une offensive pres de Pepa. -23
juin. Pour la premiere fois, les experts de Kinshasa et ceux des
guerillas congolaises se sont rencontres face a face a Lusaka
(Zambie) en prevision d'une reunion des ministres des Affaires
etrangeres (y compris celui du RCD) le 25 juin, et du sommet des
chefs d'Etat annonce pour le 26 juin, ou devrait etre signe un
cessez-le-feu. Les trois factions rebelles ont toutefois echoue
dans leur tentative de former un front commun au sommet, et les
points de vue du Rwanda et de l'Ouganda divergent egalement.
D'autre part, les presidents Kabila et Mugabe se sont entretenus,
le 23 juin au Zimbabwe, afin de mettre au point une strategie
commune en vue du sommet.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 24 juin
1999)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Embezzling aid money  -  More than $30m in
European Union aid has gone missing in Cote d'Ivoire, according to
a report from the West African country. The Ivorian magazine Le
Jour, published the results of an EU audit, which, according to the
magazine, noted the misappropriation of $33m in aid intended for
health care. Describing the report as "damning" for the country's
health ministry, Le Jour said that the missing money was part of a
grant of 47.8bn CFA francs ($88m) from the EU's Development Fund.
It said 37% of the grant was unaccounted for. The European
Commission delegation in Abidjan told the news agency AFP that at
present it had no comment on the report, which it described as
confidential. The Ivorian Health Minister, Maurice Gakou Guikahue,
rejected the accusations on television on 17 June.   (BBC News, 19
June 1999)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Detournements  -  Selon un audit de la Commission
europeenne, revele le 18 juin par le quotidien ivoirien Le Jour,
plus du tiers des depenses subventionnees par l'Union europeenne en
Cote d'Ivoire (soit 180 millions de FF) sont injustifiables. Le
rapport met en lumiere des pratiques frauduleuses systematiques:
surfacturations, fausses facturations, etc. Dans un premier temps,
le ministre de la Sante a nie toute malversation, mais quelques
heures plus tard, son collegue des Finances annoncait des
poursuites contre les acteurs de malversations dont il
reconnaissait l'existence. Le document a provoque le gel de l'aide
budgetaire europeenne a la Cote d'Ivoire, qui se voit ainsi privee,
en 1999, de 340 millions de FF de recettes. La coincidence entre
ces revelations et l'annonce a Cologne de la reduction de la dette
des pays les plus pauvres, parmi lesquels la Cote d'Ivoire, ne
pouvait tomber plus mal.   (D'apres Le Monde, France, 20 juin 1999)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Environment  -  Cote d'Ivoire has carried out a
major exercise aimed at preventing any possible environmental
disaster that could be caused by oil spillage off its coast. The
exercise was conducted in the wake of the recent fire at a petrol
tank in Abidjan, which completely took the Ivorian ports
authorities off their guard. The management of the Abidjan port
held a simulated drill on 7 June with Pullumar, a firm specialised
in the control of marine oil pollution. Also, Cote d'Ivoire has at
last succeeded in curbing the excessive proliferation of Hyacinths,
salads and water ferns, three plant species which grew in and
overtook its fresh water ponds, beginning in the late 1980s.  
(PANA, Dakar, 21 June 1999)

* Egypte. Accord avec l'Union europeenne  -  Le 21 juin, les
ministres des Affaires etrangeres des Quinze ont approuve les
resultats des negociations menees entre la Commission europeenne et
l'Egypte pour la conclusion d'un accord devant mener au libre-
echange. La conclusion de cet accord euro-mediterraneen devrait
constituer un "signal" pour accelerer les negociations avec les
pays qui manquent encore a l'appel, comme l'Algerie, la Syrie et le
Liban. L'objectif final de ces accords est la creation d'une
immense zone de libre-echange en 2010, au plus tard.   (La Libre
Belgique, 22 juin 1999)

* Erythree/Ethiopie. Le guerre continue  -  La guerre fait toujours
rage entre l'Ethiopie et l'Erythree. Le 17 juin, l'Erythree
affirmait avoir abattu le veille deux nouveaux chasseurs
ethiopiens, portant a cinq le nombre d'appareils detruits en une
semaine. Elle affirmait aussi avoir fait, depuis la reprise des
combats, plus de 18.000 morts et blesses dans les rangs ethiopiens.
De son cote, l'Ethiopie a affirme, le 16 juin, que 21.000
Erythreens ont ete tues, blesses ou fait prisonniers, ce qui a ete
dementi par Asmara.   (La Croix, France, 18 juin 1999)

* Eritrea-Ethiopia. The war continues... into Somalia  -  17 June:
Eritrea claims that it has shot down two Ethiopian MiG-23 fighter
planes yesterday on the Mereb-Setit front. Also, a new front has
opened up in neighbouring Somalia with both sides pouring soldiers,
weapons and ammunition into Somalia in support of rival militia
factions which they see as helping their own strategic aims. 18
June: Ethiopia denies it has lost four MiG fighters and a
helicopter gunship in the fighting this week. 19 June: The OAU is
reported to have called on Eritrea to withdraw its army from all
Ethiopian territories seized during the war. 20 June: Eritrea
denies it is occupying any Ethiopian territory.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 21 June 1999)

* Ethiopia. Final exodus of Ethiopian Jews  -  More than 70 members
of Ethiopia's remaining Jewish community have emigrated to Israel.
Wearing long white robes, the Ethiopians, who had walked for three
weeks to reach Gondar airport, arrived in Tel Aviv on board a
scheduled Ethiopian Airlines flight. Over the next eight months,
Israel plans to evacuate 3,800 people from the remote Quara region
of northern Ethiopia. They are the last remnants of Ethiopia's
Jewish population, most of which has moved to Israel in the past 15
years. "This is the first of 40 flights on which we plan over the
next 40 weeks to bring to Israel the 3,800 Jews from Quara", said
Michael Jankelowitz, spokesman for the Jewish Agency which handles
immigration to Israel. He added: "We do not want to upset the
authorities in Addis Ababa by organising a spectacular operation".
Most members of the Quara community are already reported to have
gathered in the town of Gondar to await their turn to depart.  
(BBC News, 22 June 1999)

* Grands Lacs. Rapport d'Amnesty  -  Le 16 juin, dans son rapport
annuel, Amnesty International a attire l'attention sur l'enorme
cout humain du conflit dans la region des Grands Lacs. La
regionalisation du conflit en RDC s'est combinee aux deplacements
massifs de populations et a la "privatisation du recours a la
violence" par des groupements rebelles. En RDC, des milliers de
personnes ont ete executees en l'absence de toute procedure
judiciaire, particulierement dans les deux Kivus, et des centaines
de militants des droits de l'homme ont ete apprehendes et tortures.
Au Rwanda, AI fait etat d'une forte augmentation de "disparitions"
en 1998, tandis que plus de 130.000 personnes ont ete maintenues en
detention dans des conditions degradantes. Au Burundi, la torture
est restee monnaie courante, alors qu'on signalait frequemment des
"disparitions". En Ouganda, des centaines de prisonniers ont ete
maintenus en detention, souvent au secret, les musulmans etant
particulierement vises. Dans l'ensemble de la region, les groupes
d'opposition armes se sont eux aussi rendus coupables de graves
violations des droits de l'homme, y compris enlevements, viols,
enrolement force, disparitions et mise a mort deliberee de civils. 
 (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 17 juin 1999)

* Grands Lacs. Le HCR demande de l'aide  -  La region des Grands
Lacs compte plus de 700.000 refugies, qu'on tente d'oublier. Toute
l'attention va actuellement au Kosovo, a fait remarquer le Haut
Commissariat pour les refugies de l'Onu. Sur les 22 millions de
refugies dans le monde, huit millions se trouvent en Afrique. Le 20
juin, le Haut Commissaire, Mme Ogata, en visite dans la region des
Grands Lacs pour essayer d'activer a nouveau l'aide internationale,
a appele les gouvernements a renouveler leur engagement en faveur
de la convention de l'OUA sur les refugies, qui a ete signe il y a
30 ans. "Les Europeens sont fort preoccupes par les refugies du
Kosovo, mais ils sont peut-etre moins interesses a l'Afrique", a
dit Mme Ogata aux journalistes a Nairobi. Elle ira visiter des
camps de refugies et aura des pourparlers avec des representants
des gouvernements du Rwanda et du Burundi.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 22 juin 1999)

* Kenya. Constitutional reform process  -  From Kenya's The Daily
Nation: 15 June: "KANU is the worst performer on reforms among all
parties and the legally recognised Review Commission is the
preferred forum for the constitutional reform exercise, a recent
nationwide public opinion survey shows." In an editorial the same
day, the Daily Nation states: "The mounting debate on the stalled
constitutional review process is a good indication that many people
are well-informed about and have very strong views on the matter".
The paper reports that a cross-section of Kenyans will hold a major
demonstration to protest against President Moi's proposal that the
constitutional review process be referred to Parliament. The
demonstration will be held on 10 July.   (The Daily Nation, Kenya,
15 June 1999)

* Kenya. Giving the country a wide berth  -  The turmoil in Kenya's
foreign exchange market is likely to get worse unless Kenyan
leaders quickly realise the importance of getting foreign companies
and business interests to invest in the country -- and on this
score Kenya is losing badly and the future can only get grimmer.
Yet, our country's leaders have still to come to terms with the
realities of today's world. Sadly for hapless Kenyans, the present
government is better known for drawing up grandiose plans than for
tackling issues, particularly the issue of why few investors come
to the country, and why those who did come before this regime came
into power, are now leaving. Little attempt has been made to
deliver the "goodies" promised during every election campaign and
in the ritualised annual budgets. It's probably too much to expect
Kenyans to fare any better under the budget, Finance Minister
Francis Masakhalia presented to Parliament last week. The lesson
learned since the return of multi-party politics, is that it takes
more than the government's declared good intentions spelt out in
annual budget speeches, to make Kenyans' lives easier. What has not
yet been widely appreciated is that corruption and mismanagement
are not just moral or cultural matters: they are used to reward
inefficiency, and in the end the taxpayer picks up the tab. Despite
the numerous declarations of war against corruption, evidence on
the ground suggests that the amounts embezzled are growing every
year.   (Thomas Omondi, Kenya, 17 June 1999

* Malawi. Muluzi reelu  -  Le president Bakili Muluzi a ete reelu
pour un mandat de cinq ans a la tete du Malawi, a annonce le 18
juin la commission electorale. Le chef de l'Etat a remporte
l'election presidentielle avec 51,3% des voix, aux depens de son
principal rival Gwanda Chakuamba (44,7%), candidat des deux
principaux partis d'opposition. Le parti du president, le Front
democratique uni, obtient 93 des 193 sieges au Parlement; le parti
de M. Chakuamba, le Parti du congres du Malawi, en obtient 66, et
son allie l'Alliance pour la democratie (Aford) 29.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 20 juin 1999)

* Malawi. Election aftermath  -  17 June: Confusion surrounds the
results of Malawi's elections, with both the ruling party and the
opposition alliance supporters claiming the lead in the
presidential ballot. The opposition alliance says it is going to
seek a High Court injunction to restrain the Electoral Commission
from publishing the results. 18 June: President Muluzi has been
returned to office but his party fails to capture a majority in
Parliament. He wins 2.4 million votes, or 51.37% of votes cast.
Just over 2.1 million votes, or 44.3% go to his main rival, Gwanda
Chakuamba. The United Democratic Front capture 93 seats in the 193-
seat Parliament. The Malawi Congress Party gain 66 seats and the
Alliance for Democracy 29 seats. 4 seats went to independent
candidates and a further seat will be contested in a by-election.
Violence has erupted in most parts of the northern region, a
volatile opposition stronghold. 21 June: President Muluzi is sworn
in for a second five-year term. He calls on the Opposition to work
with him in the development of Malawi. Meanwhile, opposition
leaders meeting in Lilongwe resolve not to recognise Muluzi's
administration. The President may be in for a rocky ride over the
next five years because his party has failed to win an overall
majority in parliament. Post-election violence in the northern
region has left at least two persons dead and 10 mosques raised to
the ground. 23 June: The Malawi High Court has scheduled 25 June
for hearing of the suit filed by the Opposition challenging the
election results.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 June 1999)

* Morocco. Child labour  -  Children under 15 represent more than
five percent of Morocco's 10 million-strong workforce despite a
government ban, official figures showed. The official MAP news
agency said a survey conducted by the state-run statistics
directorate until March showed that 538,485 children below 15 years
were employed in various activities, 88% of them in the North
African country's rural areas. It said girls represented 51.4% of
the total. MAP did not say if the survey included children employed
by their parents in farms and households. Under Moroccan law, it is
illegal to hire anyone for public service under the age of 18, but
there is a clause on hiring children between the age of 12 and 18
as apprentices in factories. Human rights activists say hundreds of
thousands of children, especially girls, are employed for meagre
wages in farms, the carpet industry, small factories and as
domestic servants.   (Reuters, 18 June 1999)

* Niger. Politicians agree constitution  -  Political parties in
Niger are reported to have reached agreement on a new Constitution
to come into force when the current military government hands over
power to civilians. It's promised to do this by the end of the
year. Niger's military ruler, Gen.Dauda Mallam Wanke, had given the
politicians until today to reach a decision on the type of
government they wanted. No details have been released of the
agreement, but it's understood to be a compromise between an
executive president and one who shares powers with the prime
minister. This was the system in force before the former president,
Gen.Ibrahim Mainasara came to power in a coup in 1996.   (BBC News,
18 June 1999)

* Nigeria. Tribal problems  -  On 21 June, The News, published in
Lagos, carried a feature of the meeting on 11 June, between the
people of the Niger Delta with President Obasanjo. They told him of
their pains and expectations. With his chin cupped in his hands,
the President gazed on, as the tormented people of the Niger Delta
poured out their hearts. The same day, the Rome news agency MISNA,
reported that sometime between 17-18 June, in northern Nigeria,
armed groups carried out numerous raids, causing death and
destruction throughout the State of Taraba. The death toll is
estimated at about 100 and over 200 have been injured. Though the
motive of the attack remains unclear, recent reports indicate that
several groups of armed cattle wranglers, from Chad and Niger,
attacked the local population after being denied rights to graze
their herds throughout the region.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 22 June
1999)

* Nigeria. Forming a cabinet  -  22 June: Senators belonging to two
political parties in Nigeria have walked out of parliament after
being accused of accepting bribes from MPs trying to get approval
as cabinet ministers. The allegations was made in a newspaper
article by their fellow senator, Gbenga Aluko, who belongs to the
rival main party, the Peoples Democratic Party. One of the senators
who walked out, Alhatu Umaru Sanari, told the BBC the allegation
was baseless and undermined the integrity of the house.
Correspondents say the walkout marks the latest wrangle in efforts
to form a cabinet in Nigeria, three weeks after the government was
sworn in. 23 June: Senators have approved 42 of the 49 cabinet
nominees put forward by President Obasanjo. The President has also
presented an anti-corruption Bill to Parliament.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 24 June 1999)

* Rwanda. Enquete sur le role de l'Onu en 1994  -  Trois
personnalites independantes (l'ancien Premier ministre suedois
Ingvar Carlsson, l'ex-ministre sud-coreen des Affaires etrangeres
Han Sung-Joo et le general nigerian Rufus Kupolati) ont commence a
enqueter sur le role des Nations unies pendant le genocide de 1994,
ont-ils indique dans une conference de presse le 18 juin, au terme
de leur premiere mission de deux jours a New York. L'Onu est
accusee par des familles des victimes de n'avoir rien fait pour
empecher le genocide. La commission doit enqueter notamment sur le
role personnel de M. Kofi Annan. Elle doit rendre son rapport d'ici
a la fin de l'annee.   (Le Monde, France, 20 juin 1999)

* Rwanda. Journaliste de Radio mille collines arretee  -  Le
gouvernement rwandais a fait savoir, le 20 juin, que la journaliste
Valerie Bemeriki a ete arretee la semaine derniere dans le nord-
ouest du Rwanda. Mme Bemeriki, dont le nom figurait sur la liste
des Rwandais les plus recherches, travaillait pour "Radio mille
collines", un emetteur qui orchestra une campagne de haine contre
les Tutsi en 1994. Elle est soupconnee d'avoir trahi des Tutsi qui
se cachaient, et d'avoir dirige une attaque de miliciens hutu
contre un camp de refugies tutsi. Mme Bemeriki, agee d'une
quarantaine d'annees, a reconnu, le 21 juin, avoir lance des appels
au meurtre durant le genocide. "Je reconnais mon role dans le
genocide et je suis prete a me mettre a genoux et a demander pardon
au peuple rwandais", a-t-elle declare. Elle sera poursuivie pour
genocide et crimes contre l'humanite.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 22 juin 1999)

* Senegal. Manoeuvres ahead of elections  -  17 June: The governing
Socialist Party has condemned what it says is the disrespectful
attitude shown by former Foreign Minister Moustapha Niasse, who on
16 June, called for changes in the way the country is being run. Mr
Niasse announced earlier that he had resigned from the party and
intends to challenge President Diouf in the elections due next
year. Mr Niasse is currently working as the UN special envoy to
Congo RDC. The Socialist Party has expelled Mr Niasse from their
ranks.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 June 1999)

* Senegal. Divergences entre separatistes  -  Le mouvement
separatiste senegalais a entame a Banjul en Gambie des assises de
trois jours afin d'elaborer une position commune en vue
d'eventuelles negociations avec le gouvernement. Le 21 juin, a la
suite d'une audience avec le president gambien Yahya Jammeh, le
chef historique de la rebellion, l'abbe Diamacoune Senghor, a
declare que les separatistes du Mouvement des forces democratiques
de Casamance (MFDC) "ne veulent pas de la guerre (...) De part et
d'autre, ce sont des fils de la Casamance qui meurent". L'abbe
Diamacoune s'est aussi demarque des propos du representant de
l'aile exterieure du mouvement, Mamadou Nkrumah Sane, qui
preconisait recemment la creation d'une "Federation du Gabou", qui
comprendrait la Gambie, la Guinee-Bissau et la Casamance. Depuis sa
rencontre avec le president senegalais Abdou Diouf, le 22 janvier,
M. Diamacoune a multiplie les propos allant dans le sens de
l'apaisement et denonce toutes les operations armees au nom du MFDC
par des supposes "elements incontroles".- Mais le 22 juin, a
l'ouverture des journees de reflexion du MFDC, M. Diamacoune a cree
la surprise en relancant la revendication d'independance de la
Casamance. Certains observateurs estiment toutefois que cette
revendication serait plutot une position de principe dans la
perspective de negociations avec le gouvernement senegalais. L'abbe
Diamacoune a surtout insiste sur la necessite d'unifier les
differentes composantes de MFDC pour que le mouvement ne se
presente pas en ordre disperse aux negociations.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 23 juin 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Situation humanitaire  -  Selon le dernier rapport
de l'Unite de l'ONU pour la coordination de l'aide humanitaire, la
situation humanitaire en Sierra    Leone s'est fortement deterioree
avec la venue de la saison des pluies et les organisations
humanitaires sont incapables de satisfaire les besoins les plus
urgents des personnes deplacees. Elles sont particulierement
inquietes des conditions de vie dans la province orientale qui a la
plus grande concentration de personnes deplacees en dehors de
Freetown. Toutefois, l'accord de cessez-le-feu leur a permis
d'evaluer la situation dans plusieurs regions occupees par le RUF.
Au cours des semaines prochaines, elles esperent pouvoir mener des
missions d'evaluation dans des regions jusqu'ici inaccessibles.  
(IRIN, Abidjan, 18 juin 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Rutile shipments to USA  -  The first consignment
of a rutile (an important source of Titanium) shipment of about
7000 metric tones left today (18 June) for the United States, Mines
official disclosed. The shipment was done by the Sierra Rutile
Company based in the south of the country. It is the first shipment
in 3 years since works in the Mines were brought to a halt in 1996
as a result of the intensification of the rebel war. Today's
shipment is said to be comprised of about 4000 rutile and 3000
bauxite minerals. Mines Minister Swarray Deen said the shipment was
made possible by ports facilities at the capital and that of Nitti
quay in the Sierra Rutile.   (The Progress, Sierra Leone, 18 June
1999)

* Sierra Leone. Schools rehabilitated  -  The Council of Churches
of Sierra Leone has embarked on the rehabilitation of Christian
schools destroyed by rebels. The General Secretary of the Council
of Churches in Sierra Leone, Rev. Alfred Kamara, said: "Those
schools in areas not under government control, cannot however, be
rehabilitated". He said the present exercise was begun in August
1998, but was stopped because of the escalation of the war. He
added that furniture and other material needed for teaching will be
provided for the schools, after the rehabilitation exercise. When
the rebels invaded Freetown on 6 January this year, they destroyed
many schools. But many more have been destroyed in the interior of
the country.   (Alpha Jalloh, Sierra Leone, 19 June 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Negociations  -  22 juin. Un comite de mediation,
incluant des representants des gouvernements de la Guinee, du
Nigeria, du Royaume-Uni et des Etats-Unis, et conduit par le
ministre togolais des Affaires etrangeres M. Koffigoh, s'est rendu
a Freetown pour remettre une proposition de compromis au president
Kabbah. M. Koffigoh a declare que le gouvernement de Sierra Leone
avait accepte le principe d'un partage du pouvoir, mais que le
niveau de participation du RUF posait toujours probleme. Le comite
de mediation proposerait que le RUF se voit attribuer quatre postes
ministeriels. Il propose egalement un retrait graduel de l'Ecomog
a mesure que l'armee se reconstitue. Celle-ci pourrait inclure des
soldats du RUF, des milices progouvernementales et de l'ancienne
armee.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 22 juin 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Peace talks  -  21 June: UN military observers have
released 14 RUF rebels who had been captured by ECOMOG. ECOMOG
handed over the rebels to UNOMSIL last week after they violated an
18 May ceasefire agreement by entering an area controlled by the
peacekeepers. A source close to the peace talks taking place in
Lome says that outstanding issues relating to RUF representation in
a proposed government of national unity, could be resolved soon.
The RUF had requested 11 cabinet positions, but the government is
only prepared to offer 2 ministerial posts. The RUF has reduced its
request to 8. Negotiations continue. 23 June: Foday Sankoh has
rejected an offer from President Kabbah of three cabinet posts in
return for peace. The talks take place as Human Rights Watch says
that some of the worst violations of human rights in the world have
been committed during the civil war.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 24 June
1999)

* South Africa. Enter - President Mbeki  - 17 June: President Mbeki
names his new Cabinet, retaining Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and
including three members of the Inkatha Freedom Party. Jacob Zuma is
named as his deputy. Mangosuthu Buthelezi keeps his position as
Minister of Home Affairs.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 June 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Nouveau gouvernement  -  Jacob Zuma, vice-
president de l'ANC, a ete nomme vice-president d'Afrique du Sud, a
annonce le president Mbeki en presentant son nouveau gouvernement,
dans lequel les personnages cles qui etaient charges de l'economie
dans l'ancienne equipe gardent leur poste, Trevor Manuel aux
Finances et Alec Erwin au Commerce. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, le chef
du parti zoulou Inkhata, longtemps pressenti pour la vice-
presidence, conserve son titre de ministre des Affaires
interieures. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zumu devient ministre des Affaires
etrangeres. Le nouveau cabinet compte 29 ministres et 13 vice-
ministres.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 juin 1999)

* Sudan. Return of the UN  -  The United Nations has launched its
first humanitarian mission to the rebel-held Nuba mountains in
Sudan since the early 1980s. The region is one of the few rebel-
held areas in the north of the country and correspondents say it
has suffered particularly badly in the country's long-running civil
war. For much of the past decade, the government has refused access
to aid organisations while they have accused it of using hunger as
a lethal weapon against the Nuba people. They say 100,000 people
are facing dire food shortages as a result of drought and a
government blockade. The United Nations has thanked both the
Sudanese government and the SPLA rebels for their co-operation in
allowing the mission to go ahead.   (BBC News, 23 June 1999

* Soudan. Mort et destruction  -  Au cours de ce mois de juin, un
bataillon de 1.200 soldats a seme la terreur dans la province de
Ruweng, dans le nord-west du Nil superieur. Pendant dix jours, les
militaires ont tue des dizaines de civils, pris en otages des
centaines de personnes et brule 6.000 habitations, en utilisant des
Antonov, des helicopteres, des blindes et de l'artillerie lourde.
Cette offensive a permis aux forces de Khartoum de gagner 100 km de
territoire riche en petrole. C'est une commission mixte de
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (l'organisation de la baronne
Caroline Cox) et de Safe Harbour (une ONG basee en Californie) qui
a denonce cette action de terreur. La baronne Cox a declare que
"les investissements occidentaux dans les gisements petroliers du
Soudan sont en train de financer le genocide des populations de
Ruweng". L'objectif de l'action militaire est celui de s'assurer le
controle des gisements de Heglig, desquels Khartoum compte extraire
200.000 barils de brut par jour. Un consortium guide par la
Canadian Company Talisman a investi des centaines de millions de
dollars dans le projet.   (ANB-BIA, d'apres Fides, 24 juin 1999)

* Tchad. Pertes en RDC.  -  L'armee tchadienne a perdu 105 soldats
(dont 62 morts au combat) lors de son engagement en Republique
democratique du Congo aux cotes du president Kabila et ses allies,
a annonce le 16 juin le ministre de la Defense. Au debut de
l'annee, la rebellion congolaise avait affirme avoir tue 200
Tchadiens et en avoir capture 400. Ce bilan officiel tchadien est
le premier depuis l'envoi debut septembre par N'Djamena d'un
"contingent de 2.227 hommes". Le 30 avril dernier, le Tchad avait
decide de retirer ses troupes et celles-ci ont quitte
definitivement le territoire congolais vers la fin mai.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 18 juin 1999)

* Togo. Opposants liberes  -  Quatre opposants, arretes en mai
dernier pour avoir fourni a Amnesty International des "informations
mensongeres" sur la situation au Togo, viennent d'etre remis en
liberte provisoire. Le rapport d'Amnesty denoncait des centaines
d'executions extrajudiciaires ayant eu lieu apres la reelection
controversee du general Eyadema.   (Le Croix, France, 21 juin 1999)

* Togo. Child traffickers arrested  -  The authorities in Togo have
warned parents not to leave their children with strangers, while
they investigate whether the country is at the centre of an illegal
trade in children. It follows a spate of arrests of suspected child
traffickers. On 18 June, two women were stopped at the Ghana border
with seven children they said had been entrusted to them by their
parents; they said they were going to work on plantations in Cote
d'Ivoire, but security officials say they believe the children were
tricked. Another group of suspected child traffickers were detained
at the weekend with twenty-one children. They too, told
investigators they'd recruited the children with the consent of
their parents to work on cocoa farms in Cote d'Ivoire.   (BBC News,
22 June 1999)

* Ouganda. Kampala accuse le Soudan  -  Les autorites ougandaises
ont accuse l'ambassade du Soudan a Nairobi d'avoir organise la
vague d'attentats a la bombe et a la grenade qui ont fait 55 morts
et 183 blesses depuis 1997 en Ouganda. Le premier secretaire de
l'ambassade a rejete ces accusations, les qualifiant de totalement
fausses et sans fondement. Le ministre ougandais de la Securite a
declare, lors d'une conference de presse le 16 juin, que 77
suspects avaient ete recemment arretes. Pour sa part, le regime de
Khartoum avait deja accuse l'Ouganda de soutenir les rebelles
sudistes du SPLA.   (La Libre Belgique, 18 juin 1999)

* Uganda. Referendum must take place  -  20 June: Parliament
endorsed the planned referendum on political systems by rejecting
a motion seeking to amend the Constitution. Otuke MP Daniel Omara
Atubo had moved a motion seeking to introduce a constitutional
amendment Bill to avoid next year's automatic referendum to
determine the political system. Atubo had wanted that Article 271
be amended by deleting clauses 2 and 3 which provide for the
referendum to replace it with a presidential election. The
onslaught on Atubo's motion was led by the Prime Minister,
Prof.Apolo Nsibambi; the First Deputy Premier, Eriya Kategaya;
National Political Commissar James Wapakhabulo; Justice minister
Mayanja Nkangi and Parliamentary Affairs minister Rebecca Kadaga.
Atubo was supported by multiparty firebrands; Cecilia Ogwal (Lira
Municipality), Dr.Okullo Epak (Oyam South), Ben Wacha (Oyam North)
and Nobert Mao (Gulu Municipality). Before the vote was taken,
Atubo tried in vain to move a motion that voting of such an
important constitutional matter be done by secret ballot. When the
Speaker of Parliament, Mr.Francis Ayume, finally put the question
that the leave of the House be granted to enable Atubo to introduce
his Private Bill, most MPs rejected it.   (New Vision, Uganda, 21
June 1999)

* Ouganda. Corruption demesuree  -  Le president ougandais, Yoweri
Museveni, et sa famille sont au centre d'un reseau de corruption
qui, en enrichissant les interets personnels, est en train
d'epuiser les banques locales. La "Greenland Bank Uganda Limited",
une des plus actives du pays, a du mettre fin a ses activites,
fermant aussi ses agences dans d'autres pays africains. D'apres un
fonctionnaire du gouvernement qui demande l'anonymat, la fermeture
a ete provoquee par les nombreux prelevements de la part du
president et de sa famille. Le frere du president, Salim Salek, a
exige un pourcentage sur la vente des terrains de l'Etat, et la
femme du president, Janet Museveni, a employe l'argent destine a
une ONG, creee par elle meme, pour l'exploitation et la
commercialisation de mineraux. La corruption est en train de faire
sombrer l'Ouganda, pays qui connait deja une grave situation
economique a cause de son implication militaire au Congo RDC.  
(D'apres Misna, Italie, 22 juin 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Critical competition  -  Zimbabwe's state-appointed
Constitutional Commission officially began work on 18 June, as
civic groups critical of the new body's potential for impartially,
launched a parallel reform process. The vice-chairman of the
government commission, Walter Kamba, told a plenary session of the
400-member body that the country now had a unique chance to shape
its destiny and that a new Constitution should guarantee democracy
and human rights. The Commission has set up nine committees which
will deal with separation of powers, executive organs of the state,
citizenship, levels of government, customary law, independent
commissions, public finance and management, transitional mechanisms
and legal affairs. "The process has to be transparent. The process
has to be credible...and the final result must be a Constitution
that promotes democracy, good governance and fundamental human
rights", said Kamba, a respected academic.   (Reuters, 18 June
1999)

* Zimbabwe. Industrial action  -  21 June: Zimbabwe is facing a
serious food crisis because major millers have stopped grinding the
staple maize meal over a long-running price dispute with the
government. "We have not closed shop, but we have abandoned milling
maize until this whole issue of prices has been sorted out. The
Zimbabwe Millers Association had asked for a 62% price increase,
but the government allowed only 20%. Also, confusion surrounds a
strike call last week by Zimbabwe's civil servants to back their
demand for a 20% cost-of-living increase. The Public Sector
Association announced the strike on 16 June after the government
failed to meet its deadline for the increment. But the partially
heeded strike action was called off on 17 June at the request of
the acting Minister of Labour, John Nkomo, a pre-condition for
talks. However, teachers continued with industrial action on 18
June, forcing school closures, and were backed by some nurses.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 23 June 1999)

THE END