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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 23-09-1999  

* Africa. Lusaka AIDS Conference ends  -  16 September: The 11th
International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted
Diseases in Africa, ends with a call to African countries to
urgently mobilise human, financial and other resources for an
effective campaign against HIV/AIDS. The Conference urges the
African political leadership at the highest levels to be more
committed to the campaign against the killer disease by raising
local resources as well as building partnerships with outsiders.
Conference calls for the economic and social empowerment of youths
and women in particular, and to help enhance awareness, necessary
for effective preventive interventions, care and support for
victims. There is disappointment at the failure of any African Head
of State to show up for the conference. The organisers had invited
16 leaders. Not even President Chiluba, the conference's host,
attended.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 September 1999)

* Afrique. Assemblee generale de l'ONU  -  La 54e session annuelle
de l'Assemblee generale de l'Onu s'est ouverte le 20 septembre a
New York. Des les premieres heures, le debat s'est centre sur les
interventions en force destinees a proteger les populations civiles
dans un conflit. Dans le sillage de la campagne aerienne de l'OTAN
au Kosovo, les nations africaines et leurs allies se sont plaints
que la communaute internationale ne prete guere attention aux
conflits en Afrique et dans les pays en voie de developpement. "Les
Nations unies doivent faire leur possible pour repondre aux crises
ou elles se produisent", a declare le Premier ministre francais
Lionel Jospin. Le secretaire general de l'Onu, Kofi Annan, a lui-
meme deplore le manque d'initiative de l'organisation dans
certaines crises. Le president sud-africain Thabo Mbeki a declare
que le role principal de l'Onu etait de tenter de prevenir les
conflits et de retablir la paix si des affrontements eclatent.
Toutefois, le president algerien Bouteflika, parlant au nom de
l'Algerie et de l'Organisation de l'unite africaine qu'il preside,
a insiste sur le droit des nations a rejeter une ingerence dans
leurs affaires interieures, precisant que "l'ingerence ne peut
intervenir sans le consentement de l'Etat concerne". Les 188 Etats
membres de l'Onu sont divises sur le "devoir d'intervention", les
plus hostiles etant bon nombre des pays du sud qui y voient un
nouvel interventionisme des pays occidentaux.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 21 septembre 1999)

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Angola: The director of the
bi-weekly Folha 8, William Tonet, has been barred from leaving the
country, placing his newspaper in financial jeopardy as a
consequence. Burkina Faso: In a letter to the Security Minister,
Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) has asked that Paulin Yameogo,
editor-in-chief of the weekly Sans Finna, be released immediately.
He is being blamed for a critical editorial in issue no.18 of the
weekly, in which the government's gangster-like administration is
criticised. On 17 September, Robert Menard, head of RSF, was denied
entry to Burkina Faso. Centr. Afr. Rep.: RSF asks that Stephen
Smith, a journalist with France's Liberation, be allowed to cover
the upcoming presidential elections and that the ban on his
presence in the country be lifted. The Gambia: On 16 September, it
was reported that a journalist for the Daily Observer is under
arrest after reporting about an alleged shoot-out at the birthplace
of President Jammeh. Sudan: In a 17 September letter to President
al-Bashir, RSF protested another suspension of the independent
daily: Al-Rai Al-Akhar. Kenya: The World Association of Newspapers
has asked President Moi to free publisher Tony Gachoka, who was
jailed in connection with article in The Post on Sunday about
alleged corruption in the judiciary. Swaziland : According to
information received by the Media Institute of Southern Africa, the
government of Swaziland is reportedly intent on pushing through new
legislation to address defamation of character by the Media. Alarm
is expressed at the manner in which the government is proceeding
with this legislation. On 21 September, the Sunday Times managing
editor said he had been forced to resign over a report he published
that the king's fiancee had been expelled from two high schools.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 21 September 1999)

* Afrique. Croissance demographique  -  Selon le rapport annuel sur
l'etat de la population mondiale publie le 22 septembre par les
Nations unies, la population mondiale devrait atteindre six
milliards d'habitants au cours du mois d'octobre (tres precisement
le 12). L'essentiel de la croissance demographique se produit dans
les regions pauvres de l'Afrique subsaharienne et de l'Asie du sud.
D'apres le rapport, la population mondiale a double depuis 1960,
avec une augmentation d'un milliard depuis 12 ans. Toutefois, la
croissance s'est ralentie au cours des cinq dernieres annees. Mais
dans certaines parties du monde, essentiellement en Afrique
subsaharienne et dans le sous-continent indien, on assiste a une
"croissance desesperee" qui provoque une forte augmentation de la
pauvrete.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 22 septembre 1999)

* Algerie. Resultats du referendum  -  Les resultats officiels du
referendum sur la "concorde civile" ont ete annonces le 17
septembre a 1 h. locale par le ministre de l'Interieur, Abdelmalek
Sellal. Le taux de participation a ete de 85,06%; le "oui" l'a
emporte avec 98,63% des suffrages. Le ministre a salue "ce grand
moment de verite". D'apres les chiffres officiels, la participation
au referendum a depasse les 90% dans les regions les plus durement
touchees par la violence, alors qu'elle tournait autour des 40%
dans les regions orientales de Tizi Ouzou et de Bejaia, fiefs de
l'opposition du Front des forces socialistes. Le president
Bouteflika a salue "la victoire du peuple algerien sur lui-meme" et
a de nouveau appele les islamistes a deposer les armes et a se
rendre.   (AP-Reuters, 17 septembre 1999)

* Algerie. Saisie d'explosifs  -  80 kilos de TNT en provenance du
Maroc ont ete saisis recemment par des gardes-frontieres algeriens,
a rapporte le 20 septembre le quotidien El Khabar. Ces explosifs,
saisis pres du poste frontiere de M'Kam, etaient convoyes par trois
personnes qui venaient de s'introduire clandestinement en Algerie,
precise le journal. Ces charges devaient etre acheminees sur Oran,
la principale ville de l'ouest algerien.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 21
septembre 1999)

* Algeria. Referendum for peace  -  16 September: President
Bouteflika appears to have secured a higher than expected turnout
in today's nationwide referendum held to seek public approval for
the peace plan intended to end seven years of conflict. More than
98% of voters say they support the peace policies. The interior
ministry announce that 85% of Algeria's 17.5 million voters have
cast a ballot. 17 September: President Bouteflika says: "Despair
has been conquered. All of Algeria is demanding that there be no
more fundamentalism". 22 September: Armed with near unanimous
popular support for his peace plan, President Bouteflika will soon
announce a new government to implement promised economic and social
reforms.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 23 September 1999)

* Algerie/France. Relations bilaterales  -  En marge de l'assemblee
generale des Nations unies, le president algerien Bouteflika et le
Premier ministre francais Jospin se sont rencontres lors d'un petit
dejeuner qui s'est prolonge durant pres de deux heures. Ils ont
confirme la volonte de relance des relations bilaterales entre les
deux pays. Sans devoiler les dossiers abordes, ils ont indique
qu'il reviendra aux ministres competents de s'attaquer aux
problemes particuliers. "Les relations franco-algeriennes doivent
redevenir exemplaires", a declare le president algerien a l'issue
de l'entretien.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 22 septembre 1999)

* Angola. Aid workers  -  16 September: A senior UN refugee
official, Soren Jessen-Petersen, says the flow of refugees from
Angola's civil war has slowed because the fighting and hunger have
kept them from leaving the country. He says that aid workers are
unable to intervene because neither the Angolan government nor the
rebel movement fighting to overthrow it are prepared to guarantee
their safety. 17 September: Aid agencies have been advised to scale
down staff in Malanje, Huambo and Kuito as soon as possible.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 February 1999)

* Botswana. Accountancy college opened  -  Botswana has opened a US
$5 million accountancy college building described by Minister of
Finance Ponatshego Kedikilwe as the way for Botswana to ensure a
preponderance of citizen accountants. "We are determined to see our
economy served by citizen accountants in the foreseeable future,"
Kedikilwe said at the opening of the college on 15 September. "In
1996 there were 500 qualified accountants, of which no more than 40
were citizens. We are unhappy, government is determined to change
this. Accountants were the decision makers in business. Citizens
must be at the heart of this decision making in Botswana.
Government is paying special attention to accountancy training.
Having enough qualified citizen accountants is a prerequisite to
our future economic growth," Kedikilwe said. The Botswana
Accountancy College, which had previously operated in other
premises, was the only one in Africa to have been awarded the
"Quality through Partnership" award by the United Kingdom-based
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, college director
Stephen Lamdin said. Its target to produce 200 qualified
accountants by the year 2000 had already been surpassed.   (Africa
Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 16 September 1999)

* Botswana. USA grants development aid  -  The United States has
granted Botswana US $15.2 million in development assistance for the
year to September 2000. Edward Spriggs, southern Africa director
for USAid, and outgoing Southern African Development Community
(SADC) executive secretary Kaire Mbunde on 16 September signed
agreements covering five aspects of the US/SADC aid programme. The
largest part of the grant will go to "Regional Activity to Promote
Integration through Dialogue and Policy Implementation" which will
get US $5.9 million. This covers technical assistance, programme
management, evaluation and audits in the areas of commodities and
agriculture and natural resources. A "Strategic Objective"
agreement, which supports the SADC aim of a more integrated market
in southern Africa, will get US $4.8 million. A programme to
"Strengthen Regional Economies through NGO" which will address
issues of democracy and good governance, gets US $2.3 million. A
further US $1.7 million will be spent on "Impact, Monitoring and
Performance" of the overall programme, and US $549.525 is for
programme development and support. Later this month, the US and
SADC are expected to sign an agreement covering follow-up activity
to the first US-SADC Forum to develop trade and investment, held in
Gaborone in April. The forum was headed by US Under Secretary of
State for Economic Affairs Stuart Eizenstat, and is expected to
become an annual event.   (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 17
September 1999)

* Burundi. "Halt the arms trade", pleads Archbishop  -  The West is
flooding Burundi with weapons but starving it of aid, according to
the country's Catholic primate. Archbishop Simon Ntamwana of Gitega
was speaking in Rome after the Burundian bishops' five-yearly ad
limina visit, during which the Pope urged them to foster national
reconciliation. About 150,000 Burundians have died in clashed
between Tutsis and Hutus since 1994: the archbishop said the death
toll would have been much lower if guns had not been so readily
available. He called on Western nations to suspend arms sales, and
to extend their aid projects. Many people were going hungry,
lacking staple foods such as rice and sugar, he said.   (The
Tablet, UK, 18 September 1999)

* Burundi. Pourparlers inter-burundais  -  La nouvelle session des
pourparlers de paix inter-burundais, qui avait repris le 13
septembre a Arusha (Tanzanie), s'est achevee le 18 septembre sans
parvenir a un accord. Toutefois, les negociateurs ont fait des
"progres significatifs, mais pas assez pour parvenir a un accord de
paix", a declare Mark Domani, un representant de la mediation. Les
prochaines negociations devraient debuter fin octobre ou debut
novembre, a indique M. Domani, ajoutant qu'il esperait que ces
pourparlers seraient les derniers. Les bailleurs de fonds, qui ont
deja investi pres de 8 millions de dollars dans ce processus de
paix, commencent a s'impatienter. Entames en juin 1998, les
negociations n'ont avance que tres lentement, sans jamais entrainer
un arret des violences dans le pays. Ainsi, le 17 septembre, 13
civils ont encore ete tues par des rebelles dans la region de
Makamba (sud-est), et les 18 et 19 septembre, des nouveaux
affrontements entre l'armee burundaise et des rebelles ont donne
lieu a des tirs nourris, a l'arme legere puis au canon, dans un
quartier de la banlieue ouest de Bujumbura, Mutanga-Sud. Depuis
juin, malgre les pourparlers de paix, les attaques de la rebellion
se sont intensifiees autour de la capitale. Les organisations
humanitaires denoncent les violations massives des droits humains
des Burundais pris dans un cercle infernal: les attaques des
rebelles donnant lieu a des represailles de l'armee.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 20 septembre 1999)

* Burundi. Peace and Justice  -  15 September: Amnesty
International says there have been further killings by both
soldiers and armed opposition groups in and around Bujumbura and
remains deeply concerned for the safety of the civilian population
of Kanyosha and Kabezi communes, Rural Bujumbura province and
Bujumbura itself. 16 September: The deadline for signing an accord
ending Burundi's six-year civil war, has been pushed back to
December, representatives at the peace talks said. 19 September:
Donors facilitating the peace process in Arusha are reportedly
riled by the slow progress of the talks. 19-20 September: Rebels
launch attacks within a few kilometres of the presidential palace
in Bujumbura. Ten people, including five rebels, die during heavy
artillery and other exchanges with government troops overnight.
Correspondents say the attack is the most serious since Hutu rebels
stepped up attacks around Bujumbura in August. 20 September:
Numerous shots are heard during the night in the northern
neighbourhoods of Bujumbura. The army conducts search operations in
the hill surrounding the capital.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 21
September 1999)

* Centrafrique. Elections presidentielles  -  Reporte deux fois
pour des problemes d'organisation, le premier tour de la
presidentielle s'est deroule le 19 septembre dans le calme. Les
quelque 1,7 million d'electeurs se sont rendus massivement aux
urnes. Le president sortant Ange-Felix Patasse affronte, au premier
tour, neuf candidats dont les anciens presidents Andre Kolingba et
David Dacko.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 septembre 1999)

* Centr. Afr. Rep. Presidential Elections  -  19 September: Voting
begins. If President Patasse fails to win outright in the first
ballot, he will be forced to face a joint candidate of the
opposition in a run-off on 10 October. 20 September: Voting
continues in a handful of far-flung districts.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 20 September 1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Retour des refugies  -  Le calme relatif dans le
pays permet un retour de plus en plus massif des refugies. On
estime qu'entre 1.000 et 2.000 personnes reviennent chaque jour a
Brazzaville en provenance de la region du Pool et du Congo-
Kinshasa. Ce retour s'explique par l'amelioration des conditions de
securite ces dernieres semaines. - D'autre part, les agences de
presse ont rapporte, le 21 septembre, que les forces
gouvernementales avaient repris la ville de Zanaga, qui avait ete
controlee pendant 10 mois par les rebelles allies a l'ancien
president Lissouba. Par ailleurs, selon l'agence PANA, au cours du
week-end 600 miliciens Ninja, allies a l'ancien Premier ministre
Kolelas, se sont rendus aux autorites militaires apres que le
gouvernement leur ait offert une amnistie en aout dernier.  
(D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 21-22 septembre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Kabinda menacee de famine  -  La ville strategique
de Kabinda (Kasai), verrou de la defense de Mbuji-Mayi la capitale
du diamant, est l'enjeu de combats depuis sept mois entre les
forces gouvernementales et les rebelles appuyes par l'armee
rwandaise. Le quotidien kinois La Reference Plus indiquait, le 18
septembre, que la ville manquait desormais de ravitaillement,
placant sa population sous la menace de la famine. Plus de 3.000
enfants souffrant de malnutrition ont ete recenses et leur nombre
augmente chaque jour. Les deux camps militaires s'accusent
mutuellement de violer le cessez-le-feu dans cette zone et d'y
masser des troupes.   (D'apres La Libre Belgique, 20 septembre
1999)

* Congo (RDC). Pillages au Kasai  -  Dans une lettre ouverte
publiee le 20 septembre a Kinshasa, les eveques du Kasai denoncent
le pillage systematique des eglises, couvents, seminaires, ecoles
et centres medicaux dans les deux provinces du Kasai. Parlant d'une
"rage destructrice des pillards", ils demandent une aide pour les
"colonnes de milliers d'habitants condamnes a l'errance" par la
guerre. Les eveques n'identifient pas ces pillards, mais la
situation serait particulierement grave dans les zones controlees
par les rebelles et l'armee rwandaise.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 21 septembre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Possession of foreign currency banned  -  The
government, in a sweeping crackdown on currency trading, has banned
the possession of foreign currency in Congo RDC. A statement, read
on television on 19 september, said that all private foreign
exchange bureaux were also banned and that all future currency
transactions must be made through the Central Bank and through
commercial banks. The statement gave no details on how visitors
will be affected but one banking source said they would probably be
expected to declare all foreign currency holdings on arrival.  
(CNN, 20 September 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Change  -  Le 17 septembre, la television d'Etat a
annonce que le gouvernement faisait fermer tous les bureaux de
change dans le pays. Cette decision, qui a pris effet immediatement
et sera maintenue jusqu'a nouvel ordre, a pour but d'enrayer la
hausse des prix en mettant un terme a la speculation monetaire. Le
gouvernement a accuse les milieux d'affaires de saboter le franc
congolais, introduit en 1998. Le taux officiel de la Banque
centrale est de 4,5 francs congolais pour 1 dollar; mais sur le
marche noir le taux etait, ces deux dernieres semaines, de 13 a 14
FC pour 1$. - Le 21 septembre, les agences de presse annoncaient
que la police a Kinshasa avait commence a arreter des personnes
enfreignant les nouvelles regulations.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 22 septembre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Processus de paix  -  Le 15 septembre, le president
Kabila a officiellement invite les dirigeants rebelles a venir a
Kinshasa pour lancer le dialogue intercongolais prevu par l'accord
de cessez-le-feu. Il a ajoute "prendre l'engagement devant la
communaute internationale" que les participants au dialogue "ne
seront pas inquietes, avant, pendant et apres" les discussions. Par
ailleurs, M. Kabila a affirme que ses troupes vont "renvoyer chez
eux les Rwandais" qui appuient la rebellion. - D'autre part, selon
l'etat-major des Forces armees congolaises, l'armee rwandaise
masserait des troupes et du materiel lourd pres du front. "Tout en
ayant signe l'accord de cessez-le-feu, ils continuent de renforcer
leurs positions sur le terrain dans la perspective de nouvelles
conquetes". En outre, l'etat-major denonce l'armee ougandaise qui
a "deplace son quartier general de Kisangani a Gbadolite. - On peut
noter encore que deux semaines apres la signature des accords de
Lusaka, les protagonistes congolais ne se sont toujours pas
accordes sur la constitution de la Commission militaire conjointe,
chargee de controler le cessez-le-feu, ni sur la nomination du
facilitateur charge d'organiser le dialogue intercongolais. Le 20
septembre au soir est arrivee a Kinshasa une delegation conduite
par don Matteo Zuppi, de la communuate de Sant'Egidio, et par Emile
Dirlin Zinsou, representant de l'organisation de la Francophonie.
La presse congolaise a donne un large echo a cette mission, les
deux mediateurs ayant deja obtenu de bons resultats lors de leur
precedente mission en juin dernier. Selon les medias du 21
septembre, la faction du RCD-Goma a dit qu'elle etudiait la
question de savoir si elle acceptera la proposition de la
communaute de Sant'Egidio d'etre le facilitateur des negociations
congolaises; elle donnera sa reponse dans les prochains jours.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 22 septembre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Shaky Peace Agreement  -  16 September: The UN
operation in Congo RDC will be "potentially the most complicated
operation the UN has ever engaged in", according to Col. William
Phillips, chief of the UN mission planning service. Speaking from
Nairobi a few minutes before leaving for Kinshasa, his was a candid
assessment of the task facing 20 military liaison officers sent to
regional capitals this week. Their aim is to help oversee an
already shaky peace agreement. Also, a spokesman for the Goma-based
faction of the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), Paul Musafiri,
says his supporters will not accepted President Kabila's invitation
to take part in a national dialogue of reconciliation, because the
country does not belong to Mr Kabila. The breakaway Kisangani-based
faction of the RCD, led by Professor Wamba dia Wamba, has also
refused to attend the proposed meeting. A spokesman for the
Congolese army accuses rebels and their allies of reinforcing their
positions, in violation of the ceasefire accords. 20 September: The
Congolese army says that rebels and their Ugandan and Rwandan
allies are massing for a big offensive against the diamond centre
of Mbuji-Mayi and surrounding towns. A rebel spokesman denies any
attack is planned. 21 September: Two of the three international
mediators arrive in Kinshasa to help plan a national forum to chart
the country's political future. Father Matteo Zuppi (Sant'Egidio)
and former Benin President Derlin Zinsou have arrived. There is no
word of Togolese Edem Kodjo. 22 September: Zambia's President
Chiluba urges the UN Security Council to send a peacekeeping force
to Congo RDC.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 23 September 1999)

* Congo RDC. Rebellion in crisis  -  Professor Ernest Wamba dia
Wamba's RCD-Kisangani rebel faction has elected a rival governor
for North Kivu province, sparking off a fresh row between the rebel
factions. Butembo-based politician, Kaisazira Mbaki was elected on
19 September and his headquarters will be in the North Kivu
province town of Beni. RCD-Goma rebel faction led by Dr Emile
Ilunga has appointed Kanyamuhanga Gafundi as the governor of North
Kivu. The fresh row over the sudden split of North Kivu Province
may lead to a conflict, as both sides have deployed on the borders
of Rutshuru/Lubero, to stop either side from crossing.   (The New
Vision, Uganda, 23 September 1999)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Accalmie politique?  -  Les menaces qui pesaient
sur la paix civile en Cote d'Ivoire a l'annonce qu'une enquete
serait ouverte sur l'authenticite des cartes d'identite presentees
par l'opposant Alassane Ouattara pour prouver sa nationalite
ivoirienne, se sont quelque peu attenuees. Apres l'interpellation
de centaines de militants et les manifestations, le 16 septembre,
qui ont fait un mort, le chef de l'Etat Henri Konan Bedie et M.
Ouattara ont finalement accepte de se rencontrer le 18 septembre.
Le derapage a ete evite de justesse. Les deux hommes se sont
rencontres pendant trois heures et ont convenu de se revoir
prochainement. Toutefois, le 22 septembre, le procureur de la
Republique a annonce qu'une information judiciaire pour faux et
usage de faux avait bien ete ouverte contre M. Ouattara. - D'autre
part, selon les informations de Reporters sans frontieres, le
proprietaire et gerant du quotidien ivoirien Le Liberal, Abdoulaye
Bakayoko, a ete assassine le 21 septembre par des inconnus qui ont
pris sa voiture. Le journal est proche du parti de l'opposant
Alassane Ouattara, le Rassemblement des republicains.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 23 septembre 1999)

* Egypte. L'histoire copte  -  Une commission formee par le
ministre de l'Education a ete chargee de mettre sur pied un projet
de reforme des manuels d'histoire du cycle secondaire et d'y
introduire l'enseignement de l'histoire copte, avec notamment des
chapitres sur l'art, la civilisation et le patrimoine coptes. Les
nouveaux programmes, qui seront introduits a partir de l'annee
scolaire 2000-2001, comporteront des chapitres sur le christianisme
et son entree en Egypte.   (D'apres Al-Ahram Hebdo, Egypte, 15-21
septembre 1999)

* Egypte. Condamnation  -  Le 21 septembre, la cour d'assises
d'Assiout a condamne a sept ans de travaux forces chacun des deux
meurtriers d'un pretre copte. Ceux-ci avaient tue le pretre
Aghnatious pour des differends sur un lopin de terre appartenant a
un monastere dans le village de Qoussiah.   (Liberation, France, 22
septembre 1999)

* Eritrea/Ethiopia. religious leaders call for prayers  -  "The
people of the two countries should pray earnestly to ensure lasting
peace through reconciliation," said His Holiness Abune Paulos,
Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. he was speaking at a
press conference after talks in Oslo, Norway, between Ethiopian and
Eritrean Religious Delegations from 3-6 September. He said: "At the
end of the four-day discussion, we reached an agreement to make
renewed peace calls to the people of the two sisterly countries and
to present a peace letter with a similar content, to the respective
leaders of the two countries so that they jointly step up their
efforts further for peaceful settlement of the border dispute".  
(Addis Tribune, Ethiopia, 17 September 1999)

* Ethiopia. A Parliament where all voices can be heard  -  In less
than six months, the people of Ethiopia will go to the polls to
elect their representatives to the Council of Federal States and
the House of Peoples' representatives. As of 14 September,
prospective candidates have started collecting signatures.   (Addis
Tribune, Ethiopia, 17 September 1999)

* Ghana. Setback for private airline industry  -  Ghana's private
sector venture into the aviation industry has suffered a
humiliating setback as Fan Airways, until recently the only
operating private airline, heads for collapse, like its
predecessors, Golden Airways (Mframa) and Muk Airline. The threat
of seizure of Fanair's two aircraft is currently dangling on the
airline's neck. Officials of Raytheon Aircraft Credit Corporation
of the United States, from whom Fanair leased its two operating
planes are in Accra to seize the aircraft, following default in
payments to the American company, the Ghanaian Chronicle can
reveal. The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is also breathing
down the neck of Fanair for landing and navigational fees owed it,
sources hinted. The Ghanaian Chronicle gathered that Raytheon, a
subsidiary of the international aircraft manufacturer, Hughes
Aircraft Company, flew in two pilots on 2 September, this year to
ferry to the United States Fanair's cost efficient 19-seater
Beechcraft 1900 airliners, which have been serving Ghana's internal
air routes and even countries in the West African sub-region.  
(Ghanaian Chronicle, 20 September 1999)

* Guinee/Liberia. Securiser la region  -  Le 17 septembre, les
representants de huit pays ouest-africains, reunis a Abuja au
Nigeria, ont decide de mettre em place un organisme charge de
"surveiller et securiser" la frontiere entre le Liberia, la Guinee
et la Sierra Leone. Ces discussions ont ete organisees par le
president nigerian Obasanjo, sous l'egide de la CEDEAO.   (Le
Monde, France, 19 septembre 1999)

* Kenya. Halting Kenya's slide  -  7 September: Kenya's East
African Standard reports that President Moi has once more
confounded both friend and foe by doing the totally unexpected. He
has trimmed the Cabinet from 27 ministries to 15, without actually
firing or even perceptibly demoting any of the 28 ministers. It was
a bloodless chop. However, on 12 September, the Sunday Nation asks
what did the Cabinet reshuffle achieve? The paper says the changes
made by the President fell way below the expectations of Kenyans.
13 September: The Daily Nation has bold headlines: "Moi should go
in 2002 Poll". The same day, The East African announces that Kenya
is to lay off 60,000 civil servants in a cutback. 16 September:
Kenya's new finance minister, Chris Okemo says bold steps are
needed because growth has slowed dramatically, foreign investment
has slumped, and unemployment and poverty are on the increase. He
says the entire Kenyan government will be reduced in size, with job
cuts in all ministries and in the civil service.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 17 September 1999)

* Kenya. Women form lobby  -  A movement to mobilise increased
women's participation in politics has been launched. The Political
Women Mobilisation Network formed last week, will fight to ensure
30% women representation in Parliament and local authorities in the
2002 elections. It was launched by 70 women from four political
parties, namely the Democratic Party of Kenya, Kanu, National
Development Party and the Social Democratic Party at a two day
workshop held at Garden Hotel, Machakos, which ended on 19
September. The workshop, which was opened by SDP leader,
Mrs.Charity Ngilu, also recommended that all women be sensitised to
support an Affirmative Action Bill to be tabled by Dagoretti MP,
Beth Mugo, when Parliament resumes. The participants established a
committee comprising members from Eastern Province to develop
strategies and objectives of the mobilisation network.   (The
Nation, Nairobi, 20 September 1999)

* Liberia/Guinea. Accord signed  -  16 September: West African
leaders reach a deal with the Presidents of Liberia and Guinea to
patch up a row that has threatened fresh bloodshed in the conflict-
scarred region. Liberia's President Charles Taylor and Guinean
President Lansana Conte both signed an agreement in the Nigerian
capital, Abuja, aimed at easing tension on the border and with
neighbouring Sierra Leone as it tries to emerge from civil war.  
(CNN, 16 September 1999)

* Malawi. Amongst the poor eight  -  The World Bank's latest World
Development report 1999/2000 has rated Malawi as eighth from the
bottom in economic performance. According to the report, Malawi's
per capita income of US $200 is similar to Eritrea's and only
better than that of Niger's US $190, Burundi's US $ 140, Sierra
Leone's US $ 140 and lowest of all, Ethiopia with US $100 per
capita. The statistics based on the size of the economies, indicate
the category in which Malawi has been rated: it is the only country
which has never been at war but is performing badly economically.
The report rates Botswana, Gabon, Libya, Indian Ocean Islands of
Seychelles, Mauritius and Mayotte as ranked in the upper middle
income. South Africa, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde
islands, Djibouti, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt are ranked
as African countries with economies in the lower middle income
category. The rest of the African countries are rated to belong to
the Low Income group of less than US $760 per year.   (Aubrey
Sumbuleta, Malawi, 17 September 1999)

* Malawi. Errors over new number plates  -  The Malawi government
has been found to have hastily issued the new uniform Southern
African Development Community (SADC) number plates, as stakeholders
say the process is yet to be finalised. Despite SADC member States
forming a working group to monitor the new number plate initiative,
the working group has not yet come up with their new look, while
the government of Malawi has already issued them. Malawi's hasty
introduction was discovered at a Southern African Transport
Coordination meeting in Sandtwon, South Africa, recently. The
revelation came about when the executive secretary of the Road
Transport Operators Association of Malawi, Shadreck Matsimbe,
sought clarification on the issue of changing motor number plates
by 31 December this year, when he was told the matter was not yet
finalised.   (Aubrey Sumbuleta, Malawi, 21 September 1999)

* Malawi. Pressing for convention  -  According to press reports,
some Members of Parliament of the ruling United Democratic Front
(UDF) are pressing for the party's convention, the last of which
was conducted over five years ago before the party took over power.
The convention, apart from sorting out other political issues
within the party, is expected to also offer a chance to elect
Muluzi's successor as his second and last term as per the
constitution ends 2004. Recently, the party only made appointments
and some changes with few names added to the executive, but the MPs
are pressing for a convention to challenge the incumbents. Prior to
the 15 June 15 elections, the UDF gave "lack of funds" as reason
for failing to hold the convention and that it was concentrating of
the polls.   (Aubrey Sumbuleta, Malawi, 22 September 1999)

* Mali. Moussa Traore: peine commuee  -  Le 22 septembre, a
l'occasion du 39e anniversaire de l'independance du Mali, le
president Konare a commue en detention a perpetuite les peines de
mort infligees a l'ex-dictateur Moussa Traore, a son epouse Mariam
et a son beau-frere Abrahan Douah Cissoko. Tous trois avaient ete
condamnes a mort par la cour d'assises de Bamako en janvier
dernier, pour "crimes economiques". Moussa Traore avait deja ete
condamne a mort en 1997 pour "crimes de sang", peine qui avait
egalement ete commuee en detention a perpetuite par le president
Konare, oppose a la peine de mort.   (La Libre Belgique, 23
septembre 1999)

* Mozambique. Tete soft drink factory not for sale  -  The sale of
the national soft drink factory, INAR, in Mozambique's northwestern
Tete province, has been cancelled by the government. INAR has been
handled by a private operator since 1995.The semi-official daily
paper, Noticias, on 15 September quoted Jorge Aquimo from the
Ministry of Trade and Industry, as saying that the government
decided to hand back the factory to its former owner, Socoma,
because the new operator failed to pay the purchase price of
US$900,000. Until the factory is privatised again, it will be run
by the state, and workers' salaries will be paid from the national
budget.   (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 16 September 1999)

* Namibia. Bushmen left hungry  -  The leader of the Kkoi-San
people in northern Namibia say they are facing starvation because
of fighting by secessionist rebels in the area. The acting chief,
Thadeus Chadau, said the failure of rains had meant there was no
harvest, and Namibian soldiers were preventing them leaving their
villages in the Caprivi Strip in search of wild food because of
insecurity in the bush. The soldiers have been patrolling the
region since separatist rebels staged an armed attack in August.  
(BBC News, 17 September 1999)

* Namibia. Government has not neglected Caprivi  -  The Caprivi has
received more than its fair share of development funding from
Government, Prime Minister Hage Geingob told hundreds of Katima
Mulilo residents on 19 September. Speaking at the handover of 102
houses, Geingob said: "Anyone who says that Caprivi has been
ignored, or not received enough development funding is not being
honest. This region has received more than its fair share of
development projects and funds. Geingob urged residents to "look at
the benefits that Trans-Caprivi Highway has brought to the region".
A number of Government-initiated projects, including "agricultural
investment" and a multi-million sports initiative, had been
undermined by people all politician Mishake Muyongo, Geingob
maintained. Those recruiting support for the secessionist cause
have apparently claimed that the Caprivi is being underdeveloped
and marginalised by the central Government. "Despite these people's
efforts at undermining development, much has happened to make
citizens' lives better", Geingob said. "There are more boreholes in
Caprivi on a per capita basis than in other regions. Most of these
boreholes were sunk after Independence.   (The Namibian, Namibia,
20 September 1999)

* Nigeria. Truth Commission snowed under  -  <P9C5,5,0,0,0,0>16
September: A Truth Commission set up in Nigeria into human rights
abuses by former military governments, says it is overwhelmed by
submissions. The Commission, which was sworn in earlier this week,
says it's already received 10,000 cases. Most, some 8,000 of them,
come from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, whose
leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa, was hanged by General Abacha. Others include
the cancellation of the 1993 elections by General Babangida. The
Commission can summon witnesses to attend its hearings, and
recommend that people be tried for their crimes, although the
question of political amnesty has not yet been resolved. Its period
of remit begins with the government of General Buhari in 1984 and
ends in May, with the coming of the new democratic government.  
(BBC News, 16 September 1999)

* Nigeria. "Into the New Millennium"  -  At the end of the 2nd
Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria,
held in Jos, 6-10 September, the Bishops said in a Communique that
in spite of the bold steps taken by the new administration,
Nigerians are still faced with some disturbing problems. Insecurity
of life and property continues to escalate. The rising crime wave,
violence, assassinations, ethnic inter and intra-communal strifes,
and religious conflicts are causes for great concern. On the
political scene, the new democratic institutions are facing
teething problems. The exposure of fraudulent and criminal
activities associated with some elected lawmakers has cast doubt on
the integrity of some of the elected. The bishops said that despite
the problems and shortcomings that we still face, the hope of
Nigerians should remain unassailable. They reminded their fellow
citizens that every Nigerian has obligations to fulfil.   (Catholic
Secretariat, Lagos, 17 September 1999)

* Nigeria. Dozens reported killed  -  Human Rights Watch has
received disturbing reports that Nigerian government security
forces have killed several dozen people over the last two weeks in
and around Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, in Nigeria's oil-
producing region. According to local activists, a confrontation
between youths and security forces on 9 September, in which a
soldier may have been killed, led to indiscriminate retaliatory
attacks on youths in Yenagoa and surrounding areas, in which an
unknown number of people were shot and summarily executed by
soldiers. (...) Human Rights Watch also expressed concern at a
Nigerian police document it has received, which refers to groups
operating in the delta, including human rights groups, as "enemy
forces".   (Human Rights Watch, 21 September 1999)

* Rwanda. Ghana's Jerry Rawlings voices concern over trial of
Bishop Misago  -  <P9C5,5,0,0,0,0>16 September: President Jerry
Rawlings of Ghana says it is unfortunate that the Rwandan
authorities are linking the Catholic Church with the 1994 genocide
and have put a clergyman on trial. Rawlings says that troops from
advanced countries, wielding sophisticated weapons, deserted Rwanda
at a critical moment. He asks: "What did you expect the Catholic
Church to do under such circumstances? What can a priest do with
the Bible when those who had weapons ran away? When things are done
this way, a wrong impression is created," President Rawlings tells
a senior official of the Tanzania-based genocide tribunal on
Rwanda. Bernard Muna, special deputy prosecutor of the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, is in Ghana as part of
a tour of African countries to whip up support for the tribunal.  
(PANA, Dakar, 16 September 1999)

* Rwanda. Proces de Mgr Misago ajourne  -  Le proces de Mgr Misago,
commence le 14 septembre, a une nouvelle fois ete ajourne; il devra
reprendre le 23 septembre, avec l'audition des temoins. Mgr Misago
a notamment explique les circonstances dans lesquelles trois de ses
pretres ont ete tues. Il a aussi repondu avec precision aux
questions concernant ses rencontres considerees comme secretes; il
a reconnu avoir participe a des reunions avec des hauts
responsables du gouvernement a Kigali durant le genocide, mais a
affirme qu'il y a appele a faire cesser les massacres. Ces
rencontres, a-t-il dit, avaient pour unique objectif de retablir la
paix. Selon le nonce apostolique au Rwanda, ce proces pourrait
jeter une nouvelle lumiere sur l'histoire du pays et le role de
l'Eglise. Dans un entretien avec l'hebdomadaire americain Newsweek,
publie le 20 septembre, Mgr Misago a declare que ni lui, ni
l'Eglise catholique n'ont rien pu faire pour empecher le genocide. 
 (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 septembre 1999)

* Somalie. Depart des ONG  -  Les agences des Nations unies et des
ONG qui travaillent avec l'Onu ont suspendu leurs activites dans le
sud de la Somalie apres le meurtre d'un medecin de l'Unicef le 15
septembre dans une embuscade tendue par des miliciens. Cette
suspension sera reexaminee les 25 et 26 septembre. Par ailleurs, de
nouveaux affrontements entre milices rivales ont eu lieu dans la
ville portuaire de Kismayo; au moins 30 personnes y ont trouve la
mort.- D'autre part, le 19 septembre, un aeroport renove et
administre par une compagnie privee, sans aucune affiliation aux
differentes factions somaliennes, a ete inaugure a Mogadiscio. Les
porteurs d'armes ne seront pas autorises a y penetrer, a indique le
directeur, en assurant que l'aeroport assurera convenablement le
service des usagers.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 22 septembre
1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Massacre dans l'armee  -  Le 16 septembre, dans
une caserne a Bloemfontein (au centre du pays), un officier noir de
l'armee sud-africaine a tue sept personnes, dont six de ses
collegues, tous blancs; cinq autres personnes ont ete blessees.
L'homme est entre dans divers bureaux en tirant aveuglement, avant
d'etre abattu lui-meme par d'autres militaires. La police enquete
pour etablir si le motif du massacre etait d'ordre raciste, mais
selon l'armee il est trop tot pour tirer des conclusions.   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 17 septembre 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Un "FBI" contre le crime  -  Le president Mbeki
a annonce que l'Afrique du Sud va creer une nouvelle unite de
police, la Division pour enquetes speciales (DSI), surnommee les
"Scorpions". Cette unite d'elite devra s'attaquer a la grande
criminalite, comme les syndicats du crime et la corruption. La
nouvelle unite est formee sur le modele du FBI americain et
enquetera aussi sur la corruption et la criminalite a l'interieur
de la police. Son quartier general sera fixe a Pretoria. Elle sera
sous la direction de l'inspecteur Frank Dutton, et comptera jusqu'a
2.000 membres d'ici deux ans. Elle sera operationnelle a partir du
1er janvier prochain.   (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 17
septembre 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Modernisation de l'armee  -  L'Afrique du Sud
consacrera 21,3 milliards de rands (plus de 3 milliards d'euros) a
un programme d'achat d'armements, le plus ambitieux plan
d'equipement militaire depuis le refonte des forces armees apres la
fin de la segregation raciale. Il s'agit notamment de la commande
de 52 avions, 30 helicopteres, 3 sous-marins et 4 corvettes.
L'archeveque anglican du Cap, Njongonkulu Ndungane, a deja
fermement critique cette decision. Il s'agit "d'une somme
incroyable qui ne trouve aucune explication plausible dans un pays,
ou, selon les donnees officielles, 25% de la population vit avec
moins d'un dollar par jour", a-t-il commente.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 18 septembre 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Accord commercial avec l'UE  -  L'accord
commercial entre l'Afrique du Sud et l'Union europeenne sera signe
a Pretoria le 11 octobre, a-t-on indique le 16 septembre. L'accord
finalise le 24 mars, apres trois ans et demi de negociations, va
liberer 90% des echanges commerciaux entre les Quinze et l'Afrique
du Sud, qui se montent actuellement a 16 milliards d'euros en
valeur annuelle. Il entrera en application au debut de 2000.   (Le
Monde, France, 19 septembre 1999)

* South Africa. All-Africa Games  -  <P9C5,5,0,0,0,0>16 September:
Hosts South Africa have now taken the lead in the medals' table.
They have 44 gold, Nigeria are second with 39, and Egypt are just
behind with 38. Once again, it is in the swimming pool that South
Africa are way ahead of the rest -- they've taken 45 medals there.
19 September: South Africa ends up top of the medals' table as the
Games come to an end today. They win 71 gold, and 184 medals
overall. Nigeria comes second with 64 gold and 129 overall. Egypt
is third with 53 gold and 158 overall.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20
September 1999)

* South Africa. Free trade deal  -  The soonest possible
implementation of SA's free trade and co-operation agreement with
the European Union (EU) is vitally important to allow local
exporters to take advantage of the deal, says trade and industry
chief director for foreign trade relations, Bahle Sibisi. Sibisi,
briefing three parliamentary committees on 17 September, appealed
for Parliament's help in getting the deal ratified so that it could
be implemented by 1 January. He said that once the implementation
date was passed, concessions would begin to be lost, as the tariff
elimination deadlines were reached. The agreement will be formally
signed on 11 October. Rob Davies, chairman of the National
Assembly's trade and industry committee, promised there would be
public hearings on the free trade agreement's contents, so that all
sectors of SA's economy would have a chance to comment on the deal
before ratification. He said that an opportunity had also been
created for the committees to comment on the deal before its
signing. For this reason a draft document had been prepared for
circulation early this week to all political parties before
parliamentarians agreed on their preliminary comment.   (Business
Day, South Africa, 20 September 1999)

* Soudan. Mort de Kerubino?  -  Le leader soudanais Kerubino
Quanyen Bol a ete tue, selon une depeche publiee le 16 septembre
par le quotidien de Khartoum El Sahafa et reprise par l'agence
Ansa, qui cite des sources gouvernementales. Kerubino aurait ete
tue par un autre chef de faction, Peter Gadiet. La nouvelle n'a
cependant pas ete confirmee par d'autres sources et celles de
Khartoum ne se sont pas toujours montrees tres fiables dans le
passe. Kerubino avait participe, en 1983, a la naissance du SPLA,
la majeure coalition anti-gouvernementale, mais avait plusieurs
fois change de camp. Ces derniers temps, plus personne n'avait
encore confiance en sa parole et il avait ete contraint de se
refugier en territoire Nuer.   (D'apres Misna, Italie, 16 septembre
1999)

* Sudan. Oil pipeline blown up  -  On 20 September, Sudan accused
the Opposition of blowing up the oil pipeline linking the loading
terminal of Port Sudan on the Red Sea with the fields in the south.
The under-secretary in the energy and mining industry said the
pipeline was sabotaged at Atbara, some 200 km north of Khartoum on
the night of 19-20 September. He said the blast had caused "limited
damage to the pipe" and that engineers were rushed to the place to
repair it.   (PANA, Dakar, 20 September 1999)

* Soudan. Tourabi reprend ses pouvoirs  -  Le 17 septembre,
l'autorite consultative du Congres national (parti au pouvoir) a
adopte la candidature du general el-Bechir a l'election
presidentielle de 2001 pour un nouveau mandat de cinq ans, mais
l'eminence grise du regime, Hassan Tourabi, retrouvera a la tete du
parti les pouvoirs acquis en decembre par le chef de l'Etat. M.
Tourabi, qui est egalement president du Parlement, reprend ainsi en
main les larges pouvoirs dont il beneficie depuis la fondation du
CN en 1992, a l'exception des neuf derniers mois au cours desquels
le general Bechir avait renforce son emprise sur le parti.  
5,5,0,0,0,0>(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 septembre 1999)

* Tanzanie. 800.000 refugies  -  Dans une allocution a l'assemblee
generale de l'Onu, le 20 septembre, le president tanzanien Benjamin
Mkapa a indique que la Tanzanie hebergeait plus de 800.000 refugies
et n'avait jamais refuse l'entree aux personnes demandant asile. M.
Mkapa a demande un surcroit d'aide pour ces refugies. Le chiffre de
800.000, a-t-il dit, inclut les personnes vivant dans des camps de
refugies, celles installees dans des campements et toutes les
personnes "disseminees dans la societe".   (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi,
21 septembre 1999)

* Tanzania. The Opposition and the elections  -  <P9C5,5,0,0,0,0>16
September: Zanzibar authorities have issued arrest warrants for 10
opposition leaders who they plan to try for treason. The 10,
including 1994 presidential candidate Seif Shariff Hamad, join 18
members of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) also accused of
plotting to overthrow President Salim Amour. The CUF, Zanzibar's
main opposition party, refuses to recognise Amour's 1995 election
Hamad lost by less than 1% amid allegations of ballot-rigging. 21
September: Tanzania's opposition parties say they will move to
block local government elections slated for 8 November because they
claim the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party is trying to register
only its supporters. "The registration of voters is being conducted
secretly, and members of opposition parties are being barred from
registration", said Ramadhani Mzee, spokesman for the CUF.   (CNN,
16 & 21 September 1999)

* Tanzania. COMESA baffled  -  A ministerial committee of the
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has strongly
castigated Tanzania for its alleged plans to pull out of the trade
body. A special report by the committee tasked to investigate the
alleged pull-out, cautioned that the move might precipitate a mass
exodus by other member states and abort imminent joining by
prospective members currently making enquiries. Experts on
international and regional cooperation, however, have dismissed as
"most unlikely" the breakup of the COMESA in view of its entrenched
statutory functions and infrastructure heavily supported by the
donor community. Nevertheless, the committee said in its report it
was baffled by the move despite the fact that Tanzania had
benefited from COMESA's US $79 million project financing loan.
Besides, Tanzania owes COMESA US $1,5 million in subscription
arrears. Tanzania's threatened withdrawal comes at a time when
several countries were exploring the possibility of joining the
regional trade body, described by the international community as
the most functional of all economic groupings in Africa. The
ministerial committee has refuted Tanzania's claims of loss of
revenue and lack of industrial competitiveness in the COMESA Freed
Trade Area (FTA) which is scheduled to come into force by October
2000. Tanzania has resolved to withdraw from COMESA but to retain
its membership in the Southern African Development community (SADC)
and the East African Community (EAC), both with similar free trade
area objectives, effective next year.   (Africa Press Bureau,
Johannesburg, 21 September 1999)

* Tanzanie. Reconciliation a Zanzibar  -  L'envoye special du
Commonwealth a Zanzibar, Moses Anafu, est actuellement en Tanzanie
afin de mettre en place un calendrier pour l'application de
l'accord de reconciliation conclu au mois de mai. La mise en
vigueur de cet accord devrait resoudre la crise politique qui dure
depuis quatre ans a Zanzibar et qui avait eclate a la suite des
elections legislatives, largement controversees, donnant la
victoire au parti Chama Cha Mapinduzi. Selon un bulletin de
l'agence de presse PANA diffuse ce week-end, un Comite inter-partis
compose de 14 membres, charge de faire appliquer l'accord,
commencera bientot a fonctionner avec le soutien de M. Anafu.  
(IRIN, Nairobi, 22 septembre 1999)

* Tunisie. Defenseur des droits de l'homme libere  -  Khemais
Ksila, vice-president de la Ligue tunisienne pour la defense des
droits de l'homme, a beneficie, le 22 septembre, d'une remise en
liberte conditionnelle apres deux annees passees en prison durant
lesquelles il a entrepris plusieurs greves de la faim. Il avait
recu le soutien de nombreuses personnes et associations en Tunisie
et en dehors. Il figure parmi les quatre derniers nomines pour le
prix Sakharov des droits de l'homme decerne par le Parlement
europeen.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 23 septembre 1999)

* Uganda. Lawyers rank Uganda second in press liberty  -  Media
lawyers from East and Central Africa have concluded a four-day
conference in Namibia's capital, Windhoek. Uganda was rated second
after South Africa in press freedom at the Conference, whose theme
was: "State Security Secrecy and Access to Information -- A New
Approach to the Next Millennium". The worst country in press
freedom in the region was found to be Zimbabwe. Angola, which is in
a state of total war, was excused for imposing certain
restrictions. Restrictions imposed on the media in such a situation
were found to be justified to a limited extent.   (The New Vision,
Uganda, 9 September 1999)

* Uganda. Police raid Luwero "prophets" camp  -  Heavily armed
police at the weekend raided the camp of self-styled "Prophet"
Wilson Bushara in Luwero district, dispersing hundreds of followers
and rescuing several children. The morning operation at the World
Message Last Warning church, established in Luwero in February, was
commanded by Mr Chris Bakesiima, the Regional Police Commander
Central. A police spokesman said the camp, which consisted
exclusively of Tutsi and Bahima originating from Uganda, Tanzania,
and Congo-Kinshasa,was an "illegal settlement". He said there were
over 1,000 people in the camp, 300 of whom were children of school-
going age.   (The New Vision, Uganda, 20 September 1999)

* Zambie. 59 soldats condamnes a mort  -  Le 17 septembre, 59
soldats ont ete reconnus coupables de trahison et condamnes a la
peine capitale par la Haute Cour de Lusaka, pour leur participation
a un coup d'Etat manque en octobre 1997. Un suspect a ete condamne
a 21 ans de travaux forces et huit autres ont ete acquittes faute
de preuves suffisantes, a l'instar de neuf militaires en mai
dernier. Les avocats ont l'intention de faire appel. Le 28 octobre
1997, une tentative de coup d'Etat fomentee par des officiers avait
ete rapidement mise en echec par des troupes loyales au president
Chiluba.   (AP, 17 septembre 1999)

* Zambia. 59 sentenced to death  -  <P9C5,5,0,0,0,0>17 September:
A Zambian High Court has sentenced 59 soldiers to death after they
were found guilty of treason for a failed coup attempt. The judge
also sentenced one soldiers to 21 years in jail for concealing
knowledge of treason from the authorities. Army officers attempted
to seize power on October 1997 but were overpowered five hours
later by troops loyal to President Chiluba.   (BBC News, 17
September 1999)

* Zambia. Mine's sale delayed  -  Mining is the mainstay of the
Zambian economy, and this is all the more reason why everyone is
concerned about the delayed sale of the remainder of the Zambia
Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM). The rather belated announcement
by government that Anglo-American Corporation (AAC) has pulled out
of the deal to buy Nkana, Nchanga, Nampundwe and the Konkola Deep
Mining project, has once again left the ZCCM in a precarious
position. The latest development appears to be a replay of what
transpired in the past, when the much touted Kafue Consortium
reneged on their word at the last minute, and almost managed to
scuttle the whole mines privatisation programme. Although a sale of
this magnitude is complex and requires a large financial outlay
which cannot be sourced easily, it is up to the individuals
officially mandated to negotiate with potential buyers, to gauge
the seriousness of the investors. (Editor's note: In a dispatch on
21 September, the African Press Bureau reported that the
International Monetary Fund and the government are to start fresh
discussions on a new economic strategy, following the collapse of
the mines' negotiations).   (The Times of Zambia, 18 September
1999)

* Zimbabwe. New moves to benefit tourism  -  Zimbabwe's tourism
industry has identified Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, the southeastern
Lowveld, Manicaland and the Lower Zambezi as key areas that could
benefit from the concept of clusters being developed by the private
sector to lift the performance of the country's economy. The
cluster concept involves identifying economic sectors that can
generate the most revenue for a country and then concentrating
resources on these sectors to develop them. In Zimbabwe, tourism
and manufacturing are among the sectors that have been identified
as likely candidates for clusters.   (Financial Gazette, Zimbabwe,
16 September 1999)