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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 08-07-1999   

	L'envois des WEEKLY NEWS est suspendu jusqu'apres le 20 aout 1999
	No WEEKLY NEWS till after the 20 August 1999

* Amnesty International. Human rights  -  Algeria: Amnesty
International welcomes the positive step announced by President
Bouteflika that thousands of prisoners accused of supporting armed
groups, but who have not participated in killings or rape, would be
pardoned and released on the 37th anniversary of Algeria's
independence. Guinea-Bissau: "What is the future for human rights
protection in Guinea-Bissau now the war is over?", asks Amnesty
International in a report examining the recent war and
international peace-making efforts in the country. Mauritania:
Amnesty International says the recent investigation of a
Mauritanian army officer in France is a positive step in ensuring
justice for the victims of gross human rights abuses committed in
Mauritania over the years.   (Amnesty International, 6 July 1999)

* OUA. 35e sommet du 12 au 14 juillet  -  L'Organisation de l'unite
africaine tiendra son 35e sommet du 12 au 14 juillet a Alger. A
l'ordre du jour figurent la paix et la stabilite, l'integration
regionale et la mondialisation. Le sommet sera precede par la 9e
session du comite des ambassadeurs, les 6 et 7 juillet, et la 70e
session du conseil des ministres des Affaires etrangeres. 120 ONG,
53 pays africains et 13 pays tiers sont invites. Une delegation de
la Ligue arabe participera aux travaux. Parmi les 1.800
personnalites attendues figurent les "peres fondateurs" de l'OUA:
Nelson Mandela (Afrique du Sud), Julius Nyerere (Tanzanie), Leopold
Sedar Senghor (Senegal) et Ahmled Ben Bella (Algerie).   (AP, 1
juillet 1999)

* OAU. Meeting in Algiers  -  Preparatory meetings have just
started for the 35th Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit, to
be held in July from 12-14 July. Mauritania, Guinea, Togo and
Djibouti run the risk of being ssuspended from the OAU for failure
to pay their arrears of contributions. The four countries which, at
24 June, owed the organisation two full years of contributions,
could be banned from taking the floor during the council of
ministers meeting as well as the summit.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8
July 1999)

* UCIP. Print Media: Media of The Future  -  More than 1100
journalists, publishers and teachers of communications from 115
countries who too part in the International Catholic Union of the
Press (UCIP) World Congress at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris,
last September, agreed that print is the most reliable and
effective medium. The Congress analyzed the role of the written and
the print media in the multimedia context. The various
presentations made during the Congress stressed the continuing
importance of the print media in a multimedia world. They help the
reader opt for the real rather than the virtually real, and go for
clear exposition rather than depending only on the spoken word. The
presentations have been printed in a new book -- Print Media: The
Media of the Future. (Price: US $40 per copy with 10% reduction for
orders of 10 or more copies. From: UCIP, rue Vermont 37-39, CP 197,
1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland)   (UCIP, Switzerland, 2 July 1999)

Africa. Action against the Media  -  Angola: The Media Institute of
Southern Africa has declared 8 July as a day of action to highlight
the worsening situation under which Angolan journalists operate.
Malawi: In letters dated 23 June, at least four senior radio
employers at the state-owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation have
been fired, apparently for political reasons. Sierra Leone: In a
letter sent on 2 July to the Minister of Justice, Solomon Begewa,
Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) has protested against the arrest of
a journalist, Abdoul Rhaman Swaray, in Freetown. RSF urged the
minister "to use his influence to ensure that Abdoul Rhaman Swaray
is released immediately". Robert Menard, RSF's Secretary-General
added: "As far as we know, the journalist merely exercised his
right to inform. Moreover, he simply quoted an official person who
spoke during a public session". According to information gathered
by RSF, policemen from the Special Security Department, had
arrested Mr. Swaray on 1 July. The arrest was ordered because of an
article the journalist wrote two weeks ago, in which he quoted a
Member of Parliament saying that 300 rebels had joined the regular
Sierra Leonean army. Two other journalists with the Independent
Observer have been detained since 10 June. On 6 July, RSF issued a
Press Communique stating that the rebels are engaged in a
systematic elimination of journalists. Sudan: RSF has protested the
suspension of three dailies from one to five days and urges that
publication be resumed as a "move to protect press freedom in
Sudan".   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 6 July 1999)

* Southern Africa. Free trade pact near  -  South Africa's trade
and industry minister, Alec Erwin, said southern African states
were close to clinching a free trade pact expected to set the stage
for economic integration. South Africa, which has an economy 10
times bigger than the rest of the 14-nation Southern African
Development Community (SADC) combined, has often been accused of
trying to dominate the group. Zimbabwe in particular, which has a
large trade deficit with South Africa, has been increasingly
vociferous, accusing Pretoria of foot-dragging to conclude parallel
talks to renew a bilateral preferential trade deal which lapsed in
1992. Pretoria says a bilateral pact with Zimbabwe -- South
Africa's largest trading partner in Africa's largest trading
partner in Africa -- was being held up by the broader regional
trade talks.   (Financial Times, U.K., 2 July 1999)

* Afrique australe. Sommet economique  -  A partir du 4 juillet, un
millier de chefs d'entreprises, economistes, responsables
gouvernementaux et plusieurs chefs d'Etat africains, dont M. Mbeki
d'Afrique du Sud, participent a un sommet economique sur l'Afrique
australe. Organise sous l'egide du Forum economique mondial, ce
sommet concentrera ses trois jours de travaux sur les moyens de
faire de la Communaute de developpement d'Afrique australe (SADC,
14 membres) une zone de "gouvernance responsable, de stabilite et
de croissance", a la fois un pole d'influence et d'attraction
d'investissements. Le Forum etudiera egalement le role de
l'economie dans la resolution ou la prevention des conflits qui
rongent le continent et l'impact economique du sida.   (Le Monde,
France, 4 juillet 1999)

* Southern Africa/SADC. Regional Economic Integration  -  More than
800 political and business leaders from southern Africa have begun
a conference in Durban (4 July) to discuss closer regional economic
integration. They belong to the fourteen-nation Southern African
Development Community (SADC). Guest speakers include several from
the United States, Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa.
Organisers say that the summit will emphasise the theme of
responsible leadership in the region, and urge business, labour and
government to work together. The opening session was addressed by
the South African president, Thabo Mbeki who said SADC leaders are
determined to introduce a free trade area to boost trade and
regional integration.   (ANB-BIA,, Brussels, 6 July 1999)

* Afrique de l'Ouest. Cheques de voyage  -  La Communaute
economique des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO ) a lance des
cheques de voyage, libelles en Unites de compte de l'Afrique de
l'Ouest (UCAO ). Ils ont ete officiellement mis en vente la semaine
derniere, en coupures allant de 5 a 100 UCAO. Les taux de change
entre les differentes devises nationales seront fixes toutes les
deux semaines. Ces cheques, valables uniquement en Afrique de
l'Ouest, permettront aux personnes de voyager dans la communaute
sans devoir se procurer des devises fortes telles que le dollar ou
le franc francais. Le lancement, decide par les chefs d'Etat de la
CEDEAO le 30 octobre 1998, avait ete retarde pour des raisons
techniques.   (IRIN, Abidjan, 5 juillet 1999)

* Afrique de l'Ouest. Chenilles legionnaires  -  Des chenilles
legionnaires, qui detruisent les recoltes en attaquant les cultures
avant leur maturation, ont ete signalees dans le Upper East au
Ghana. Quelque 130.000 hectares de cereales sont menaces par ces
chenilles, qui ont egalement ete signalees en nombres importants au
Cameroun. Ce sont les deux seuls pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest ou cette
presence a ete signalee, mais d'autres pays africains, notamment le
Kenya, le Soudan et le Tchad, ont deja ete attaques par le
parasite.   (IRIN, Abidjan, 6 juillet 1999)

* Algerie. Le GIA et la treve  -  Le Groupe islamique arme (GIA),
le plus radical des groupes armes, a pose six conditions pour se
"joindre a la treve" et beneficier des mesures de la loi sur la
"concorde civile" en debat au Parlement algerien, affirme le
quotidien El Acil. Il aurait la meme exigence, maintes fois
rappelee par le GIA: la liberation des detenus. Le GIA cherche a
reprendre le devant de la scene, d'autant que certains de ses
groupuscules discuteraient deja de paix avec le pouvoir.   (La
Croix, France, 2 juillet 1999)

* Algeria. Plans for peace  -  29 June: A plan to establish peace
after more than seven years of war will be put before parliament
this week, days before Algeria plans to pardon 5,000 Islamic
militants. The peace plan includes President Bouteflika's pledge to
free thousands of Muslim militants who were jailed for supporting
insurgents with logistical or material help, but who were not
themselves convicted of murder or rape. 4 July: President
Bouteflika now pledges to grant an amnesty to some of the 20,000
people currently held in jail for political offenses. Official
sources state that several thousand will be freed on 5 July, the
37th anniversary of Algeria's independence from France, and that
many more releases may follow. 5 July: The authorities begin
releasing Islamic militants from jail. President Bouteflika offers
to shield the military from challenges over its human rights
record. Human rights groups in Algeria and abroad, accuse the
military and the police of torture, kidnappings and the killings of
thousands of opposition activists.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 July
1999)

* Algerie. Islamistes liberes  -  Le 4 juillet, a l'occasion de la
fete de l'independance (5 juillet), le president Bouteflika a
accorde la grace a des milliers d'islamistes condamnes pour des
"actes de subversion lies au terrorisme". La grace presidentielle
concerne des prisonniers actifs dans les reseaux de soutien au
terrorisme, mais non impliques dans les "crimes de sang et de
viol". Le nombre precis n'a pas ete annonce, mais oscillerait entre
5.000 et 15.000, selon la presse. Rien n'a ete dit officiellement
sur le sort des chefs historiques du FIS. S'adressant a l'armee,
Bouteflika lui a demande sa "comprehension" pour la grace accordee
et son soutien a la politique de paix. Le meme jour, le Premier
ministre Smail Hamdani a presente devant l'Assemblee nationale le
projet de loi sur la "concorde civile". Ce texte prevoit une
amnistie pour des elements impliques dans des reseaux de soutien
logistique aux groupes armes et ceux "qui detiennent des armes et
des explosifs et qui decident de les remettre spontanement aux
autorites". Le projet de loi prevoit la dispense de toute poursuite
pour les islamistes non impliques dans des assassinats collectifs,
des viols ou des attentats dans des lieux publics. Apres adoption
par le Parlement, le texte sera soumis a un referendum. Avec ces
mesures, le chef de l'Etat souhaite hater la reconciliation
nationale apres sept annees de violences qui ont fait, selon lui,
100.000 morts et un million de victimes. -Le 5 juillet, les
premiers prisonniers islamiques gracies ont ete liberes. Une
trentaine de detenus ont quitte la prison de haute securite de
Serkadji, a Alger, ou 600 prisonniers en tout devraient etre
liberes. Le soir, au cours d'une intervention televisee a
l'occasion du 37e anniversaire de l'independance, le chef de l'Etat
a demande au peuple de soutenir son action. Par ailleurs, le
president du RCD (parti a dominante kabyle), Said Sadi, a laisse
entendre que sa formation etait disposee a participer au
gouvernement qui sera constitue apres le sommet de l'OUA qui se
tiendra a Alger du 12 au 14 juillet. -7 juillet. Dans une interview
a RFI, le president Bouteflika a declare que ni la liberation des
dirigeants du FIS (Abassi Madani et Ali bel Hadj), ni la levee de
l'etat d'urgence n'etaient envisagees dans l'immediat.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 8 juillet 1999)
* Angola. Famine a Huambo?  -  Des milliers d'habitants de Huambo,
grande ville des plateux du centre de l'Angola assiegee par les
rebelles de l'UNITA, risquent de souffrir de famine. Selon l'agence
de l'Onu chargee de coordonner l'aide humanitaire en Angola (UCAH),
les stocks de vivres du PAM ne couvrent plus que deux semaines. La
ville n'est pratiquement plus ravitaillee en raison des pilonnages
par les hommes de Savimbi et l'aeroport n'est plus ouvert qu'aux
seuls vols humanitaires.   (La Libre Belgique, 1 juillet 1999)

* Angola. Sanctions against UNITA  -  6 July: Angola's government
will issue a call to the OAU summit next week for all African
nations to adhere to UN sanctions against UNITA. Also, the head of
the UN's sanctions committee for Angola, Robert Fowler, is starting
a tour of Europe for talks on ways of strengthening sanctions
against UNITA.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 7 July 1999)

* Benin. Over 70 billion CFA francs embezzled  -  More than 70
billion CFA francs of state funds were embezzled in Benin between
April 1996 and April 1999, according to findings by an ad hoc
committee set up by President Mathieu Kerekou. In its report,
submitted to the president on 1 July in Cotonou, the Commission
examined 167 files of corruption in the rural development sector,
particularly the cotton marketing National Agricultural Development
Company. Misuse of funds was also discovered in the National
Marketing Company, 65% of whose capital have fallen into private
hands since 30 June.   (PANA, 2 July 1999)

* Burundi. Pourparlers dans un climat tendu
30 juin. Le Burundi se prepare a celebrer son 37e anniversaire de
l'independance, le 1er juillet, sur fonds de menaces de la part des
rebelles hutu. Ceux-ci ont multiplie les raids diriges sur
Bujumbura et ses abords. Les embuscades sur les routes ont deja
fait plus d'une dizaine de victimes cette semaine. Dans la nuit du
28 au 29 juin, c'etait au tour de la province de Gitega d'etre
touchee par des tentatives de "destabilisation", a Magarama. Le 30
juin, deux personnes, dont une religieuse, sont morts calcines,
victimes d'une embuscade. On craint que la reprise des violences ne
compromettent durablement les promesses d'un reglement politique
inscrit dans la logique des pourparlers d'Arusha. - 5 juillet.
Gouvernement, opposition et rebellion se sont retrouves a Arusha
pour une nouvelle session de pourparlers de paix. Selon un proche
collaborateur du mediateur Nyerere, un accord pourrait etre signe
d'ici la fin de l'annee. Selon des sources bien informees, l'un des
principaux obstacles demeure le maintien ou non au pouvoir du
president Buyoya, qui a pris le pouvoir en 1996. D'autre part, a la
reprise des pourparlers, la Banque mondiale et la Commission
europeenne se sont declarees pretes a financer la reconstruction du
Burundi aussitot apres la signature d'un accord de paix. - 6
juillet. Les negociations inter-burundaises ont ete suspendues pour
la journee, a l'initiative des partis de la mouvance
presidentielle. Ces partis, dont l'UPRONA, ont decide de suspendre
les negociations pour une journee en memoire des victimes des
massacres survenus recemment au Burundi.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 7 juillet 1999)
* Burundi. More violence  -  30 June: Further violence has been
reported in Burundi in the run-up to the anniversary of the
country's independence. At least three people have been killed in
raids south of Bujumbura. On 26 June, eighteen people were reported
killed in an ambush on a bus 25 km south of Bujumbura, the capital.
Checkpoints have been set up on several main roads into Bujumbura.
A breakaway rebel faction, the Forces For The Defence of Democracy
(FDD), admits it has been involved in the upsurge of violence in an
attempt to speed up peace talks presently taking place in Tanzania.
2 July: A spokesman for the FDD, says its aim is to speed up peace
talks taking place in Tanzania. The FDD has been excluded from the
talks, but correspondents say it would like to be involved. 5 July:
The Arusha peace talks resume.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 6 July 1999)

* Comoros. Leaders encourage dialogue  -  The Comorian military
ruler, Col.Azali Assoumani, has concluded talks with Lt.Col Said
Abeid, who heads the separatist island of Anjouan, affirming that
dialogue was the only objective and realistic way to settle the
crisis in the archipelago. The talks, held in Moheli island, were
the first between the two since the 30 April coup d'etat that
brought Azali to power. The two pledged to "work together in the
search for a rapid and definitive solution to the crisis, in
accordance with the legitimate aspirations of the population,
"using the Antananarivo agreement as a reference framework".
Meanwhile, the two announced the creation of a commission to
examine the Antananarivo protocol and appealed for international
support to ensure its implementation.   (PANA, 2 July 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Les Eglises et la paix  -  Konrad Raiser, secretaire
general du Conseil oecumenique des Eglises (COE), accompagne du
president et du secretaire general de la Conference des Eglises de
toute l'Afrique, se rendra en RDC du 4 au 11 juillet. Au programme
figurent des rencontres avec des representants des Eglises membres
du COE, de l'Eglise catholique et d'Eglises independantes. M.
Raiser espere en retirer notamment des informations sur les regions
du pays ou sevit la guerre et determiner sous quelle forme le COE
pourrait contribuer a la solution des conflits.   (COE, Geneve, 30
juin 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Human rights  -  30 June: The news agency MISNA
reports on the precarious humanitarian situation in the north-
eastern sector of Congo RDC. Sources have revealed that the refugee
situation in the diocese of Dungu (along the border with Sudan) is
particularly alarming. "Many of the refugees are Sudanese",
explains a human rights worker, "while a majority of the local
population is displaced. Due to the growing tension, it is vital
that these two groups are not forced to live in the same assistance
camps -- as unfortunately is the case in Kaka 1/2/3/4 and Kpesu (a
few kilometres from Dungu). The same sources reported that the
Catholic Mission of Duru, evacuated on 20 October 1998, was
completely ransacked by soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation
Army (SPLA), without even sparing the local Church. The hospital
and maternity ward are now also just empty shells. In the last few
months the SPLA, allied to the Congolese Rally for Democracy,
committed a series of violent acts against the local civilians.
Which clearly explains the mounting tension in the refugee camps.
1 July: Human Rights Watch accuses the rebel Congolese Rally for
Democracy (RCD) and President Kabila's government of stepping up
their harassment of Congolese human rights defenders.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 5 July 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Absence d'aide internationale?  -  A Uvira (est),
les notables et les ONG ont fait part de la colere que leur inspire
l'absence de reaction de la communaute internationale face au sort
lamentable des milliers de personnes deplacees dans la region.
Celle-ci est confrontee a une secheresse prolongee et le personnel
humanitaire sur place craint que les vivres viennent a manquer. Le
directeur local de Caritas, sur lequel repose le plus gros du
fardeau de l'action humanitaire, redoute que l'aide provenant du
reseau international de Caritas se concentre sur le Kosovo,
laissant peu de choses pour sa region. Depuis le debut des
affrontements en cours, quelque 30.000 personnes ont ete deplacees
des regions au sud d'Uvira, et d'apres les estimations de l'Onu,
quelque 200.000 deplaces sont eparpilles a travers le Sud-Kivu. -
D'autre part, le 4 juillet, le CICR a encore evacue par avion 109
internes civils tutsi de Kinshasa a Kigali. Les 27 et 28 juin,
l'organisme avait deja evacue 336 internes du Katanga vers Kigali
et 12 autres vers Bujumbura.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 5 juillet 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Background to Lusaka Peace Talks  -  On 20 June,
Zambia's President Chiluba had said he was wondering why the USAand
Europe was turning a blind eye to the crisis in Congo RDC, whilst
at the same time, directing financial and humanitarian resources to
assist the people of Kosovo. Chiluba said he was not against the
West helping the people of Kosovo, but he was surprised they had
not done anything to assist in the Congo crisis. (Matte Sepo,
Zambia, 25 June). The foreign and defence ministers from the SADC,
scrutinising the Lusaka Peace Talks, have vowed not to leave Zambia
until an agreement has been reached. The ministers say they are
looking forward to the peace document, but will scrutinise it to
make sure it is acceptable to all parties. The SADC's executive
secretary says: "We are not going to leave Lusaka until the
Agreement is signed, even if it means staying for a month". At the
same time, Libya's Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ali Treiti, who
is President Gaddafi's envoy to the peace talks, says that
insinuations by some countries to divide Congo RDC, should not be
entertained. (Gideon Thole, Zambia, 1 July 1999)   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 5 July 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Lusaka Peace Talks  -  30 June: South Africa offers
to send troops to Congo RDC as part of a proposed peacekeeping
force. In the first formal announcement by South Africa of its
willingness to risk its soldiers in Congo. President Mbeki tells
parliament that progress has been made in the peace talks in
Lusaka. However, there are reports of renewed fighting in southern
Congo, and in contrast to what President Mbeki says, the diplomatic
drive is halted for the third successive day, raising fears that
the talks might collapse completely. President Kabila's government
objects to rebels becoming signatories to a peace deal. 1 July: The
summit talks remain stalled as negotiators try to persuade the
Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) to return to the table. 2 July:
An agreement has been reached which could eventually lead to rebel
forces being absorbed into the official armed forces. The hopes for
a ceasefire come after Congo government representatives held their
first face-to-face meeting with the rebels today. 3 July:
Negotiators meet to iron out details of the ceasefire agreement. 4
July: Negotiations have stalled over how a peacekeeping forcer
should operate if a peace accord ends the war. A draft agreement
calling for a national dialogue among the Congolese groups,
formation of a joint army and deployment of international
peacekeepers to enforce a ceasefire, has not yet been signed.
Ethnic Tutsis held against their will by Congo's government, leave
for Rwanda in an airlift seen as a conciliatory gesture by Congo's
government towards its Tutsi-led Rwandan foes. 5 July: Rebel
factions agree in principle to form a united front after signing a
ceasefire agreement. 7 July: All sides involved in the war have
agreed to a draft ceasefire. "We have adopted the ducument. I am
very happy. The war is now over," says Congo's Foreign Minister
Abdulaiye Yerodia.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 July 1999)

* Congo (RDC). La paix en vue  -  30 juin. L'Afrique du Sud enverra
des troupes de maintien de la paix en RDC si un accord de paix est
signe a Lusaka, a annonce le president Mbeki. Alors que ces
pourparlers continuaient, les rebelles ont attaque la ville de
Kabinda qui constitue le dernier obstacle a l'assaut final de la
ville diamantifere de Mbuji-Mayi. Par ailleurs, le HCR a annonce
que des milliers de refugies fuient les affrontements toujours plus
violents entre la rebellion et les Mai-Mai, pour se rendre en
Tanzanie. Selon l'organisation, 2.000 personnes (contre une moyenne
de 300 ces derniers mois) franchissent chaque jour la frontiere
pour rejoindre Kigoma. Et pendant ce temps, Kinshasa fetait le 39e
anniversaire de l'independance du pays... - 2 juillet. A Lusaka,
les differentes parties en conflit ont annonce avoir conclu un
accord qui pourrait conduire a un cessez-le-feu. Un accord aurait
ete obtenu sur deux points. Le premier concerne le debat national:
le gouvernement et la rebellion ont decide d'entamer des
discussions pour etablir un nouvel ordre politique et aboutir a la
reconciliation nationale. Le deuxieme point porte sur la
restructuration de l'armee congolaise afin d'y integrer toutes les
forces signataires. Apres la mise en place de la nouvelle armee, le
gouvernement de Kabila reprendrait le controle de la partie du
territoire sous la domination des rebelles. Cette plate-forme
d'accord serait soumise, le 3 juillet, aux ministres africains
reunis a Lusaka. - 4 juillet. En debut de soiree, les ministres
africains des Affaires etrangeres et de la Defense reunis a Lusaka
n'avaient toujours pas signe l'accord de cessez-le-feu. La
signature a ete reportee en derniere minute pour permettre de
nouvelles consultations. Le Rwanda et l'Ouganda insistent desormais
sur le deploiement d'une force de maintien de la paix de l'Onu,
autorisee notamment a desarmer les miliciens hutu. Pendant ce
temps, l'effort militaire se poursuit et les troupes rebelles,
assistees par des renforts rwandais, accentuent leur pression sur
le Kasai, ou de violents combats sont en cours a Kabinda, alors que
les forces de J.P. Bemba auraient pris la ville de Gbadolite dans
le nord-ouest. Du cote gouvernemental, on enregistre des renforts
de 350 Coreens du Nord qui ont ete vus en partance pour Lubumbashi.
Tout se passe comme si, de part et d'autre, on espere encore
pouvoir emporter une victoire militaire decisive. - 6 juillet. A
Lusaka, les protagonistes ont trouve un accord concernant le
dernier obstacle: le desarmement des milices hutu rwandaises. Le
Rwanda et le Zimbabwe, le principal allie de Kabila, ont convenu
que toutes les parties armees formeraient ensemble une Commission
militaire commune (CMC) pour desarmer ces miliciens et les
rassembler dans des camps. Il reste a mettre au point les details
du fonctionnement de cette CMC, apres quoi les ministres presents
pourraient approuver le projet d'accord. - 7 juillet. Le projet
d'accord de cessez-le-feu a ete adopte par les ministres des
Affaires etrangeres et de la Defense des pays impliques dans le
conflit et les representants des groupes rebelles. L'accord sera
signe par les chefs d'Etat de la region au cours d'un sommet dont
la date n'a pas encore ete fixee. Des soldats sud-africains
epauleront (ou commanderont) la CMC qui sera mise sur pied des la
signature du cessez-le-feu pour une periode de 3 ou 4 mois. Le
projet d'accord prevoit "le retrait ordonne des forces etrangeres"
et la mise en place d'un nouveau systeme politique; il reaffirme
aussi l'integrite du Congo-Kinshasa et le respect des frontieres
heritees de la colonisation. Le deploiement des Casques bleus de
l'Onu est prevu au plus tard six mois apres la proclamation de la
treve.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 juillet 1999)

* Equatorial Guinea. Intervention in dispute  -  Equatorial Guinea
has filed an application at the International Court of Justice for
permission to intervene in the land and maritime boundary dispute
between Nigeria and Cameroon, presently before that court. A
statement by the court said Equatorial Guinea stated that the
purpose of the application to intervene "is to protect (its) legal
rights in the Gulf of Guinea by all means". Its purpose, the
country explained, was not to intervene in aspects of the case that
relate to land boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon. Equatorial
Guinea shares maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea with Nigeria
and Cameroon. The application pointed out that one of the claims by
Cameroon "ignores the legal rights of Equatorial Guinea in the most
flagrant way" because it disregards the meridian line that divides
the two states. It added that Cameroon had never in its bilateral
relations hinted that it did not accept the meridian line as the
maritime boundary between it and Equatorial Guinea.   (PANA, Dakar,
1 July 1999)

* Eritrea/Ethiopia/Libya. Peace deal contradicted  -  2 July: Libya
says Ethiopia and Eritrea have accepted a peace plan aimed at
ending their long running border conflict. The Libyans say both
countries have agreed to an immediate halt to all military
operations, ahead of signing a cease-fire. There has been no word
so far from either Eritrea or Ethiopia. A report on state-run
Libyan television said the break-through came after two days of
shuttle diplomacy by Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Attaricki
who visited both countries. Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi met with
the Eritrean and Ethiopian leaders earlier this year as part of his
peace-mediating efforts. The television report said Libya was
working to arrange a meeting between the two governments under the
auspices of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Both sides had
agreed to an earlier OAU agreement on signing a ceasefire but
differed on its implementation. Each country claims to have killed
tens of thousands of enemy soldiers since fighting broke out in May
1998 over the disputed border. 5 July: Both Ethiopia and Eritrea
deny the declaration released on Libyan television. A ceasefire
agreement has, therefore, not been reached.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels,
5 July 1999)

* Ethiopia. Mass deportations resume  -  For the first time since
January, Ethiopia has recommenced mass deportations of ethnic
Eritreans living in Ethiopia. Between June 1998 and January this
year, some 55,000 Eritreans have been deported from Ethiopia to
Eritrea, but in the build up to the renewed border fighting in
February, the convoys stopped. Since 5 July, another 3,000
Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean descent have been deported.  
(BBC News, 6 July 1999)

* Great Lakes. Pope appeals for peace  -  30 June: Following a
special Angelus message in commemoration of the patrons of Rome,
Saint Peter and Paul, (29 June), Pope Paul II appealed for peace in
Congo RDC, referring to the conflicts which continue to lacerate
the country. The Pope also expressed solidarity with the Rwandan
Catholic Church. "I cannot forget the other numerous situations of
crisis and suffering that characterise the African continent", the
Pontiff stated, "my solidarity goes particularly to the Church in
Rwanda, severely tested by the arrest of its pastor". Pope John
Paul II invited all believers to pray that "the chains of evil,
which do not allow the hopes and aspirations for peace to be
fulfilled, be broken".   (MISNA, Rome, 30 June 1999)

* Guinea-Bissau. No amnesty for deposed President  -  The interim
president of Guinea Bissau, Malan Bacai Sanha, has ruled out the
possibility of amnesty for the country's former President, Joao
Bernardo Vieira, who was deposed in a military coup in May. Vieira
was simply allowed to leave Bissau on "humanitarian grounds to
undergo medical treatment abroad on condition that after his
treatment he would return home to stand trial for charges levelled
against him", Sanha said at a joint press conference with Gambian
President Yahya Jammeh on 29 June. "We can no longer allow our
leaders to get away with any crimes committed while they are in
power", he emphasised at the end of his one-day visit in Banjul.
Sanha, who was speaker of the National Assembly in Bissau and
secretary-general of Vieira's ruling party, said the former
president only paid "lip-service to democracy and never practised
it".   (PANA, Dakar, 30 June 1999)

* Kenya. Ethnic violence tribunal  -  The tribunal set up to
investigate ethnic violence in Kenya has closed -- amid doubts that
it will bring the perpetrators to justice. The Akiwumi Commission
of Inquiry, which began collecting evidence a year ago, is expected
to publish its reports within days. But victims of the violence,
say the Commission neglected evidence which implicated members of
the government in inciting the killings. Hundreds of people were
killed, and tens of thousands people displaced, particularly in
Rift Valley Province in the early 1990s.   (BBC News, 30 June 1999)

* Libye. Londres renoue avec Tripoli  -  Le 7 juillet, le
secretaire au Foreign Office, Robin Cook, a annonce la reprise des
relations entre la Grande-Bretagne et la Libye, rompues depuis
1984, apres le meurtre d'une femme policier britannique lors d'une
manifestation devant l'ambasade de Libye a Londres. Les relations
s'etaient encore envenimees avec l'attentat de Lockerbie contre un
Boeing de la Panam qui avait fait 270 morts. - D'autre part, le
meme jour aux Nations unies, les Etats-Unis ont menace d'opposer
leur veto a toute tentative du Conseil de securite pour lever les
sanctions de l'Onu contre la Libye, estimant qu'il etait trop tot
pour retablir des relations formelles avec Tripoli comme l'a fait
la Grande-Bretagne.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 juillet
1999)

* Libya. Sanctions on Libya  -  2 July: U.N. Secretary-General,
Kofi Annan tells the Security Council that he cannot determine
whether Libya has met UN conditions for the lifting of sanctions
imposed after the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The sanctions
-- which banned arms sales and international air links -- were
suspended on April 5, after Libya handed over two suspects to stand
trial before a Scottish court in the Netherlands. At the time of
the suspension, the Security Council asked Annan to report within
90 days on whether Libya had met requirements for the permanent
lifting of sanctions. UN resolutions require Libya to denounce
terrorism, cooperate with the prosecution in the trial, and pay
compensation to the families of the bombing victims if the two men
are convicted. 7 July: The UK restores full diplomatic links with
Libya. The US threatens to veto any attempt to lift UN sanctions
against Libya.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 July 1999)

* Malawi. Election aftermath  -  30 June: The Electoral Commission
announces the country's first democratic elections will be held
next year. They had originally been earmarked to take place in
September. The Commission says the delay is necessary because the
country has to be divided into 900 wards, and the voting list needs
to be computerised. The head of the Electoral Commission, James
Kalaile, hasn't given a precise date for the vote, but suggests it
will have to be after the end of the rainy season next April. 1
July: President Muluzi swears in some of his cabinet ministers with
a fresh warning against corruption. The ministers swear to: "Give
any counsel and advice to the President and to protect and defend
the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi". 7 July: Gwanda
Chakuamba, the opposition leader who narrowly lost the elections,
rejects the President's call for unity, saying Muluzi does not have
the mandate to rule Malawi.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 June 1999)

* Mali/Mauritanie. Incidents frontaliers  -  De violents
affrontements entre Mauritaniens et Maliens ont fait au moins 13
morts, la semaine derniere, dans une region frontaliere entre les
deux pays, a-t-on appris le 29 juin au ministere malien de
l'Interieur. Les incidents, lies a un probleme d'approvisionnement
en eau du betail, ont oppose des habitants de la sous-prefecture de
Djigueni, en Mauritanie, et du village malien de Missira Samoura.
Les autorites mauritaniennes n'ont pas commente ces incidents, qui
rappellent ceux qui avaient degenere et failli provoquer, en 1989,
une guerre entre la Mauritanie et le Senegal.   (Le Monde, France,
2 juillet 1999)

* Maroc. Youssoufi au repos  -  Le Premier ministre Abderrahmane
Youssoufi, 75 ans, a quitte, le 30 juin, l'hopital Avicene a Rabat,
ou il etait hospitalise depuis une dizaine de jours a la suite d'un
hematome subdural. Le chef du gouvernement devra se soumettre a une
periode de "repos absolu pendant quelque temps", ont indique les
medecins.   (Le Monde, France, 2 juillet 1999)

* Mauritanie/France. Crise  -  Un officier mauritanien, soupconne
de pratiques de torture en 1990 lors de conflits raciaux en
Mauritanie, a ete arrete en France. Sur plainte de la Federation
internationale des droits de l'homme et de la Ligue francaise pour
la defense des droits de l'homme (en vertu de la convention
internationale de 1984 sur la torture, integree en 1989 dans le
droit francais), le capitaine Ely Ould Dha, en stage depuis un an
a Montpellier, a ete place en detention provisoire en attendant
qu'une instruction soit ouverte. Le 5 juillet, Nouakchott a decide
de renvoyer tous les cooperants de l'assistance militaire francaise
et de retablir un visa d'entree pour les Francais. La Mauritanie a
egalement decide de rappeler tous ses militaires en stage en France
pour protester contre cette arrestation.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 6 juin 1999)

* Mozambique. Debt relief  -  30 June: Mozambique has now become
the second African country to qualify for a new World Bank, IMF
debt relief programme intended to help the most highly indebted
countries. The Bank said the debt relief was worth about 1.7
billion dollars. In order to secure approval, the Mozambican
government had to pledge to redirect funds that would have gone
towards debt-servicing, towards social programmes particularly
health and education. Uganda has already benefitted from the
programme, and Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire and Mali are expected to
qualify next.

* Mozambique. Parties join forces  -  2 July: Eleven political
parties --including the main opposition party RENAMO -- have formed
a coalition to contest national elections in October. Their
candidate for president will be the RENAMO leader, Afonso Dhlakama,
and they've adopted the RENAMO flag as their symbol. Mozambique has
been governed since the last election in 1994 by FRELIMO, RENAMO's
former enemies in the fifteen-year civil war.   (BBC News, 2 July,
1999)

* Namibia. Ready for any terrorist attack  -  Namibia has vowed to
step up security measures, and assured foreign missions threatened
by alleged terrorist attacks, of its co-operation in the fight
against terrorism. Last week the US announced that it would
temporarily close down its missions in six African states due to
"security concerns". Namibia's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister said
the government has "looked into the concerns of the embassies" and
taken "standard international security measures" in terms of the
Vienna Convention on Combating International Terrorism. "We are
cautious, as this is a terrorist threat which can also endanger the
safety and lives of our own people. We are prepared for any
eventuality and I can assure you that we are consulting with the
respective embassies and missions involved to address the issue",
he added.   (PANA, Dakar, 30 June 1999)

* Niger. Date for referendum  -  The military government has
announced the date for a Referendum on a new Constitution, intended
to return the country to democracy. The vote will take place on 18
July. The military says the Constitution is based on a semi-
presidential system, with the prime minister answerable to
parliament, which can remove him by a vote of censure. The military
rejected the formation of a national unity government. On 3 July,
the country's military ruler, Major Daouda Malam Wanke, urged
Nigeriens to vote for the proposed Constitution.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 3 July 1999)

* Nigeria. "Soldiers too close for comfort"  -  Nigerian
parliamentarians have called on the government to move military
barracks away from the presidential villa and parliament building
in the capital, Abuja -- because of the tendency of Nigerian
soldiers to stage coups d'etat. The House of Representatives
overwhelmingly passed a motion which argued that Nigeria was a
coup-prone country, and that it was not possible for MPs to
concentrate on their work when the soldiers were, as they put it,
too close for comfort. The removal of the soldiers was necessary to
strengthen democracy in Nigeria, members argued.   (BBC News, 1
July 1999)

* Nigeria. Petrole  -  Le Nigeria ne concluera de nouveaux accords
de commercialisation de son petrole brut qu'avec les grandes
compagnies petrolieres susceptibles de raffiner et d'investir dans
le pays, a annonce l'Organisme national nigerian du petrole. Le 2
juillet, l'organisme avait denonce - avec effet dans les 90 jours -
 les contrats proposes par l'ancien regime militaire a 41
compagnies et soupconnes de couvrir des malversations. Le nouveau
president Obasanjo s'est engage a "nettoyer" le secteur de
l'industrie petroliere qui assure 95% des exportations du pays.  
(La Libre Belgique, 7 juillet 1999)

* Rwanda. Debate on monarch's return  -  Debate over the possible
reinstallation of former Rwandese monarch, King Kigeli V
Ndahindurwa, has taken centre-stage in Rwanda's politics. The
"king" who lives in Washington, has voiced his wish to return, not
as mere symbolic King, but as a ruler in the country. But the
ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) has rubbished the proposed
return. Officials said the RPF view is that Rwanda's problems
cannot be solved by a mere return to the monarchy under Kigeli, but
rather by more pragmatic actions. The debate, which has dominated
the local media, has now been taken to the Internet. Rwandans
living outside the country have set up websites to air their views
on the possible return of Kigeli who rules until 1959 when a "Hutu
revolution" toppled him.   (The East African, Kenya, 28 June-4 July
1999)

* Sierra Leone. Accord de paix  -  30 juin. Une equipe de trois
experts de la Banque mondiale a presente aux participants aux
pourparlers de paix a Lome un programme pour la Sierra Leone, a
rapporte la Mission d'observation de l'ONU. Le programme se base
sur l'hypothese que 33 a 40.000 combattants devront etre desarmes
et reinseres dans la societe civile lorsque la guerre civile
prendra fin dans ce pays. La Banque mondiale estime le cout entre
33 et 35 millions de dollars. - 3 juillet. On apprenait a Freetown
que les rebelles avaient relache des militaires de l'Ecomog qu'ils
retenaient prisonniers, signe de detente en vue de l'accord de
paix. Une dizaine de ces soldats sont arrives au Nigeria. - 5
juillet. Apres trois jours de discussions avec ses delegues, le
leader rebelle Sankoh a annonce que l'accord de principe sur le
partage du pouvoir, convenu le 27 juin, etait juge "insuffisant";
le RUF demande maintenant sept postes ministeriels et la vice-
presidence. Ces exigences sont qualifiees d'irrealistes par les
mediateurs. - 6 juillet. Cinq chefs d'Etat d'Afrique de l'Ouest
(Togo, Nigeria, Liberia, Burkina Faso et Sierra Leone) et le leader
rebelle Sankoh se sont reunis a Lome. Les rebelles ont encore fait
part de nouvelles exigences, reclamant notamment des garanties
d'amnistie pour les crimes de guerre, ce qui eloigne encore la
perspective de signature d'un accord de paix. - 7 juillet. Le
gouvernement de la Sierra Leone et les rebelles du RUF ont conclu
un accord de paix, qui met fin a huit ans d'une guerre civile
sanglante. L'accord a ete signe par le president Kabbah et Foday
Sankoh. Les rebelles sont revenus sur certaines de leurs exigences.
Le RUF obtient 4 postes de ministres et 4 de vice-ministres dans le
futur gouvernement; en revanche, ses membres ne seront pas rendus
responsables de crimes de guerre, mais les conditions de cette
amnistie n'ont pas ete precisees. Foday Sankoh se verra attribuer
la presidence d'une commission supervisant le riche secteur minier
et la reconstruction du pays, avec un "statut de vice-president"
sans en avoir le titre. La force d'interposition ouest-africaine
Ecomog restera dans le pays. L'ONU a deja annonce qu'elle ne
reconnaitrait pas l'amnistie des rebelles lorsque celle-ci
concernerait des crimes violant gravement les lois internationales. 
 (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 juillet 1999)

* Sierra Leone. The road to peace  -  29 June: A team from Medecins
sans Frontieres which recently travelled to Daru, near Sierra
Leone's border with Liberia, has seen signs of severe malnutrition.
/ At least 300 postal workers have begun an indefinite strike to
protest low wages and poor benefits. / The pro-government Kamajor
militia have pledged to stop recruiting children into its ranks and
will send home those already serving. 4 July: Rebels release a
number of captured ECOMOG soldiers. 5 July: Foday Sankoh says his
commanders have rejected the latest peace offer aimed at ending the
country's civil war. He says the rebel People's War Council has
told him that the offer of four cabinet seats in a future
government is not enough. They are asking for seven ministerial
posts and they want the vice-presidency. 6 July: 5 Heads of State
from West Africa meet in Togo, together with Foday Sankoh, to try
and get the Talks going again. The Heads of State are: President
Eyadema, Obasanjo, Taylor, Compaore and Kabbah. 7 July: The peace
agreement has been signed. The deal effectively paves the way for
a government of national unity. There is great joy in Freetown.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 July 1999)

* South Africa. Stamping out crime  -  Cabinet ministers vowed that
they were prepared to tackle South Africa's crime epidemic head on,
warning criminals that the state would use its might to protect
citizens. In their responses to President Thabo Mbeki's opening of
Parliament address, the Minister of Safety and Security, Steve
Tshwete; the Justice Minister, Penuell Maduna; and the Minister in
charge of the correctional services, Ben Skosana; said they were
committed to a co-ordinated approach to the problem, and they will
draw on civil society and the National Defence Force to combat the
crime problem. They said plans are well under way to establish an
organisation such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations which
will investigate priority crime. "The new structure will focus,
with the backup of highly skills personnel, effective equipment,
adequate resources, on crime intelligence gathering, investigation
and prosecution of persons and groups committing or involved in
priority crimes", Tshwere said. The ministers have been instructed
by Mbeki to meet every two weeks to formulate policies and plans to
root out crime and corruption.   (PANA, Dakar, 28 June 1999)

* South Africa. AIDS  -  More than one in five young South African
mothers are infected with HIV -- the virus that can lead to AIDS --
according to new figures compiled by the country's Medical Research
Council. Infection rates among young mothers have jumped from less
than 1% in 1990 to over 20% -- with girls and women under 20 years
of age most at risk. The research shows that some 3.5 million South
Africans are now HIV-positive. The paper's author, Mrs.Quarraisha
Abdool Karim, says a number of factors contribute to the especially
high infection rates among young women. Firstly, she says, older
men are seeking out younger women for relationships, in the hope
that these women will be free from infection. There is also
evidence, she says, that many young women become infected with HIV
as a result of rape. Another factor is the migration of workers
from rural villages into towns and cities, where they might be
based for weeks or even months.   (BBC News, 29 June 1999)

* South Africa. Wine industry looks forward to growth  -  Despite
rumblings in some international quarters that global wine
consumption is declining, South Africa expects to increase its
turn-over on wine export for 1999 by 12% to a projected 130 million
litres. Once branding efforts from some of the larger producers
take root in the medium-priced wine sector abroad, annual export
turnover should grow even faster. South Africa's major advantage
lies in its relative proximity to the United Kingdom market, which
currently accounts for 40% of local wine exports. It is just 15
shipping days away, as opposed to the several entailed for
producers from other New World countries. Kim Green chief executive
officer of the South Africa Wine and Spirit Exporters' Association,
says wine buyers are becoming increasingly impressed by the
equality and diversity of South African wines. "Initially South
Africa made its mark at the lower end of the British market and we
are working hard to dispel the image of being a producer of only
mass volume wines", she said.   (PANA, Dakar, 29 June 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Plaidoyer des eveques  -  Dans une lettre
pastorale rendue publique recemment, les eveques d'Afrique du Sud
proposent une voie pour l'instauration de la justice sociale dans
ce pays. Parmi les mesures pour assurer une telle justice
economique, les eveques preconisent la reduction des impots
frappant les personnes aux revenus moyens et bas, et le relevement
de ceux imposables aux Sud-Africains aises. Dans le document, les
prelats sud-africains soulignent: "Les personnes suffisamment
fortunees, qui jouissent des conditions de vie meilleures et qui
sont capables de satisfaire a leurs besoins vitaux, doivent etre
encouragees a situer leur bien-etre social dans le contexte de la
pauvrete generalisee touchant 54% de la population sud-africaine".
Cette lettre a ete elaboree a l'initiative de la commission Justice
et Paix de la Conference des eveques sud-africains, sous la
direction de M. Mike Pothier, du service de l'episcopat charge des
relations avec le Parlement. Le document en appelle a un changement
de la politique economique du pays, devant accompagner les
mutations politiques importantes qui s'y operent depuis l'abandon
de l'apartheid au profit de la democratie.   (D'apres DIA,
Kinshasa, RDC, 7 juillet 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Les cours de l'or s'effondrent  -  Apres la
premiere vente aux encheres en Grande-Bretagne de 25 tonnes d'or,
le 6 juillet, les cours se sont immediatement effondres. Ce recul
devrait se poursuivre, car la Suisse et le FMI s'appretent a imiter
le Royaume-Uni. Premier producteur mondial du metal precieux,
l'Afrique du Sud est frappee de plein fouet par cette crise. Deja,
son industrie aurifere n'emploie plus aujourd'hui que 300.000
personnes, contre 500.000 au milieu des annees 80. Et a nouveau,
80.000 emplois risquent de disparaitre en cas de nouvelle chute des
prix. L'effondrement de l'industrie de l'or serait pour le pays un
veritable desastre qui rendrait la tache du nouveau president,
Thabo Mbeki, particulierement difficile.   (D'apres Le Monde,
France, 8 juillet 1999)

* Sudan. Oil exports  -  The Sudanese government is celebrating a
decade in power by launching oil exports and calling for peace with
its enemies. In a speech marking the occasion, President al-Bashir
urged armed opposition groups to return from exile and share in the
country's development. A $1.4 billion oil project set to begin
exports in July, is also meant to improve Sudan's investment
profile and boost the country's struggling economy.   (BBC News, 30
June 1999)

* Sudan. Priests write from prison  -  "This is a pastoral work for
the new millennium". This was how Fr.Hilary Boma and Fr.Lino Sabit,
the two priests detained since almost a year in Khartoum (Sudan),
defined their incarceration, in a missive, recently obtained by
MISNA. The priests are accused, together with others, of conspiring
in a series of dynamite attacks in June 1988 in Sudan. Most of the
devices were widely anticipated by Khartoum's security forces prior
to detonation. A recent announcement spoke of their possible
liberation at the end of June, on occasion of the 10th anniversary
of the Sudanese regime. But they are both still in prison. "A
heartfelt thank you for your thoughts and prayers", the two priests
continue. Then adding: "We are here (...) waiting to see which way
the Spirit of the Lord will blow. May His will be done. We offer
everything for Sudan. The Blessed Bakhita is certainly not
resting". (...)   (MISNA, Rome, 7 July 1999)

* Tanzanie. Refugies  -  Le camp de refugies de Lugufu, situe a 90
km du port de Kigoma sur le lac Tanganyika, s'est trouve ces
dernieres semaines surcharge par l'afflux de refugies en provenance
de l'est du Congo RDC. La montee de la mortalite et des problemes
de sante font craindre aux responsables d'etre debordes. "Nous nous
trouvons en face d'un risque d'explosion, mais nous ne pouvons
refuser du monde s'il n'y a pas d'autre solution pour eux", dit un
communique de la Croix-Rouge. Lugufu a ete concu pour accueillir au
maximum 40.000 personnes, mais en abrite aujourd'hui 55.000 et en
attend 7.000 de plus d'ici la fin de la semaine. La direction du
camp aurait besoin de deux ou trois villages de refugies
supplementaires, de postes et de personnel de sante, de materiel
medical et de points d'eau. "Nous avons prevenu que cela risquait
d'arriver, mais le reste du monde avait les yeux rives sur les
Balkans et personne ne nous a ecoutes", a declare Jane Buchan,
responsable de la Croix-Rouge en Tanzanie.   (IRIN, Nairobi, 5
juillet 1999)

* Tanzania. Running out of space  -  3 July: Aid agencies are
struggling to find space for thousands of people fleeing fighting
in Congo RDC. Some 4,300 people crossed Lake Tanganyika into
Tanzania on 28 June alone. The International Red Cross has
expressed alarm over the conditions in which the refugees find
themselves. Mortality rates are rising in the camps, especially
among young children, and new camps will have to be built. 7 July:
Human Rights Watch (HRW) says that tens of thousands of refugees,
some of whom have lived in Tanzania for more than two decades, have
been rounded up by the Tanzanian army and confined to camps for the
past year in the western part of the country.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels,
8 July 1999)

* Chad. Reconciliation accord  -  The Chadian government is
reported to have reached a reconciliation accord with an armed
opposition group following talks in Sudan. The leader of the
Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD), Mousa Medella, and a
special adviser to the Chadian president, Mahamat Salem Adoum, are
said to have reached the agreement at talks in Khartoum. No details
have yet been released of the accord, but correspondents say it
will include the disarmament of MDD fighters and the creation of a
unified army. Some MDD representatives have rejected the accord,
saying Mr.Medella does not speak for them.   (BBC News, 4 July
1999)

* Tchad. Amnistie  -  Le 5 juillet, l'ancien chef en exil du groupe
arme d'opposition "Mouvement pour la democratie et le
developpement" (MDD), Moussa Medella, est renrte au Tchad apres la
signature d'un accord de reconciliation avec le gouvernement. Le
ministre de la communication, M. Dago, a indique qu'apres la
signature de l'accord, il y aurait une amnistie et un desarmement
general des combattants du MDD suivi de la reintegration du
personnel militaire et civil du MDD dans l'armee et
l'administration. Cependant, selon certaines sources, il y aurait
des dissensions au sein du MDD et l'autorite de M. Medella serait
contestee. Le MDD opere dans la region occidentale du lac Tchad et
est l'un des plus anciens groupes armes d'opposition a combattre le
gouvernement du president Deby.   (IRIN, Abidjan, 6 juillet 1999)

* Tunisie. Candidats a la presidence  -  Selon une depeche d'AP, la
chambre des deputes a adopte, le 29 juin, une revision de la
Constitution permettant une pluralite des candidatures lors de
l'election presidentielle prevue en octobre. L'amendement abroge "a
titre exceptionnel" pour le prochain scrutin la condition exigeant
le parrainage de chaque candidat par au moins 30 deputes ou
presidents de conseils municipaux. Le Parlement tunisien compte
actuellement 163 deputes dont 19 de l'opposition. Outre l'actuel
chef de l'Etat Ben Ali, le secretaire general du Parti de l'unite
populaire Mohammed Belhaj Amor a deja annonce son intention de
briguer la presidence. Un troiseme candidat, Abderrahmane Tlili,
secretaire general de l'Union democratique unioniste, devrait se
joindre a eux dans les prochains jours. C'est la premiere fois dans
l'histoire de la Tunisie qu'un election presidentielle se deroulera
avec plusieurs candidats.   (D'apres AP, 29 juin 1999)

* Tunisia. Parliament amends Constitution  -  The Tunisian
parliament has amended the Maghreb nation's Constitution, paving
the way for several candidates to stand in next October's
presidential election. The constitutional amendment adopted in
Tunis on 29 June, removes the requirement that presidential
aspirants should be sponsored by at least 30 MPs or municipal
council chairmen. The Tunisian parliament is currently made up of
163 MPs, 19 of them from the Opposition. Under the amendment, the
leader of a political party can put up his candidacy provided he
has been head of the organisation for over five consecutive years.
Two candidates -- the incumbent President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali,
who is standing for the ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally, and
the Secretary-General of the People's Unity Party, Mohamed Belhaj
Amor -- have already declared their candidacy.   (PANA, 30 June
1999)

* Uganda. Trade expands  -  The volume of trade between Uganda and
her major trading partners Britain, Kenya and France has increased
in recent years according to figures released by the ministry of
trade and industry. However, Kenya remains Uganda's leading trading
partner. Exports volumes and values have risen significantly over
the last three years. Exports to Britain from pounds 11.7 million
in 1997 to pounds 15.6 million last year. But imports from Britain
declined from pounds 52 million in 1997 to about pounds 42 million
last year. Britain and France are Uganda's leading trading partners
in the European Union. Trade between Uganda and France has been
strengthened by the formation of a Uganda-France Business
Association to promote trade between the two countries. Trade
between the two countries has levelled with a marked increase in
trade values from $12 million to $35 million over the last five
years. Uganda exports mainly coffee, tea, spices, tobacco, fresh
fish and vegetables to Britain and France.   (The Nation, Kenya, 29
June 1999)

* Ouganda. Personnes deplacees  -  Il y a actuellement plus de
400.000 personnes deplacees en Ouganda. Dans le nord, la situation
s'est stabilisee, mais la situation humanitaire et la securite se
sont degradees dans le sud-ouest. Au nord, on estime le nombre des
deplaces a quelque 320.000, dans 28 camps dans les regions de Gulu
et Kitgum. Ils disposent maintenant d'un acces regulier aux terres
arables et la recolte s'annonce tres bonne. Mais dans les monts
Ruwenzori, au sud-ouest, la montee de l'insecurite a provoque des
deplacements massifs de civils, surtout dans le district de
Bundibugyo, ou l'on estime a 85.000 le nombre des deplaces.  
(D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 1 juillet 1999)

* Uganda. Referendum campaign begins  -  Campaigning has begun in
Uganda for a referendum next year on the country's future political
system. The vote will give people a choice to return to multi-party
politics or to keep to the current system, under which political
parties are allowed but their activities are severely restricted.
Parliament approved the bill paving the way for the referendum, but
many members of parliament who support a return to multi-party
politics boycotted the session. They say they can't campaign
properly because the existing law prohibits them from doing so.  
(BBC News, 2 July 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Hosting meeting on malaria  -  The second Roll-Back
Malaria Partnership Meeting, bringing together a wide range of
stakeholders in the global fight against malaria, is to take place
on 1-2 July in Harare. The partnership is a network of national
governments, international organizations, NGOs, the private sector
and others contributing resources and skills to reduce the
incidence of malaria across the globe. It was launched in New York
in October by WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank, and formally
established in Geneva two months later by national authorities,
donor organizations/programmes, and agencies in the United Nations
system. Participants at the Harare meeting are expected to review:
Action on Roll-Back Malaria (RBM) since the last partners' meeting
in December; the implementation of RBM in Africa and how the
partnership is working to support the project; to agree on ways
through which national authorities can effectively coordinate
action with partners at the country level to roll back malaria.  
(PANA, Dakar, 30 June 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Mort de Joshua Nkomo  -  Joshua Nkomo, "le vieux lion"
comme on l'appelait, vice-president du Zimbabwe et leader de
l'Union populaire africaine du Zimbabwe (ZAPU), est decede le 1er
juillet a Harare a l'age de 83 ans. Syndicaliste des chemins de
fer, il avait joue un role crucial dans la lutte pour
l'independance, obtenue en 1980. Devenu ministre de l'Interieur
dans le premier gouvernement independant dirige par son rival
Mugabe, il fut accuse des 1982 de vouloir soulever son fief, le
Matabeleland, qui fut ensuite devaste pendant 5 ans par l'armee. En
acceptant le poste de vice-president en 1987, Nkomo a apporte la
paix civile dans le pays durant plus de vingt ans. Le 5 juillet,
lors de l'inhumation au "cimetiere des heros", le president Mugabe
a rendu hommage a son ancien rival et demande aux Zimbabweens de
rester unis comme l'avait voulu Joshua Nkomo. Fait exceptionnel, le
chef de l'Etat a presente ses excuses pour les atrocites commises
par les troupes gouvernementales dans les annees 80 dans le
Matabeleland, la terre d'ethnie minoritaire Ndebele dont etait issu
Joshua Nkomo.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5 juillet 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Tributes to Joshua Nkomo  -  1 July: Former South
African president, Nelson Mandela, leads tributes to the veteran
Zimbabwean nationalist leader, Joshua Nkomo, who has just died at
the age of 82. Mr.Mandela, who first met Nkomo in the 1940s,
describes him as a comrade in the black liberation struggle. "He
was one of those freedom fighters who stood up for justice at the
most difficult time in the course of our struggle", Mr.Mandela
says. The announcement of Mr.Nkomo's death is made on national
radio by President Mugabe, his one-time comrade in the fight
against white minority rule in the former Rhodesia. State radio and
Ziana news agency reports that Mr.Nkomo -- who was a vice-president
--died in the early hours of 1 July at the Parirenyatwa hospital in
Harare. He had been admitted several weeks ago suffering from
prostate cancer. Zimbabwe has declared five days of official
mourning. 4 July: Thousands of people, including President Mugabe,
packs Harare's Catholic Cathedral for a special requiem Mass. He
had become a Catholic earlier this year. 5 July: Foreign
dignitaries and thousands of people attend his funeral.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 5 July 1999)