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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 07-10-1999

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Angola: The editor of the
independent bi-weekly Folha 8, William Tonet, was arrested on 2
October. Congo RDC: According to the Congolese non-governmental
organisation, Medias Libres, Medias pour Tous, Editor Ngoy
Kikungula and Publications Director Bella Mako of the Lubumbashi-
based (Katanga Province) Le Lushois newspaper, were released on 25
September on the order of President Kabila. The President's
decision followed a demand for the journalists' release made by
Lubumbashi-based journalists at an American Cultural Centre-
sponsored information seminar. The military court had earlier
sentenced the two journalists to eight-months prison terms for
defamation and spreading false rumours, slander, and lies. They
served three months of their sentence prior to their release.
According to the International League for Human Rights, the
journalists had reportedly slandered the governor of Katanga
province, Augustin Katumba Mwamke, in alleging that he was linked
to rebel forces. They were released after Mwamke intervened on
their behalf. Djibouti/Ethiopia: In two separate letters addressed
to the Djibouti Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Ethiopian
Minister of Justice, Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) has asked them
to revel the location and the conditions of detention of Amir
Adaweh, the Djibouti-born editor of La Republique, the newspaper of
the National Democratic Party. He was reportedly arrested while on
holiday, by the Ethiopian police at the request of the Djibouti
authorities. Nambia: The Media Institute of Southern Africa has
said it is concerned about two pieces of legislation which may
adversely affect media freedom and freedom of expression in
Namibia. Sierra Leone: In a letter to President Kabbah, the
organisation Article 19 has expressed concern over the detention of
the editor of The Reporter, Emmanuel Sanossi (from Cameroon) and
the deportation order served on him. Tunisia: In a letter to the
Prime Minister, RSF has expressed its concern about the case of
Taoufik Ben Brick, a correspondent in Tunis with the French daily
La Croix and the French press agency Syfia who is the victim of
harassment by the police. Zimbabwe: The Committee to Protect
Journalists has said it is deeply dismayed that journalists Mark
Chavunduka and Ray Choto of the Sunday Standard are to face trial
on 4 October. Following their appearance in court on 4 October,
both journalists were further remanded until 4 January 2000 and
their bail conditions were reviewed.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 7
October 1999)

* Algeria. More rebels members surrender  -  The North African
Journal (5 October) says that between 300 and 500 rebels belonging
to the Islamic Salvation Army based in five camps in the western
region of Chief are said to be waiting a final agreement to join
the official security forces. The World Algerian Action Coalition
(6 October) reports that 12 members of the Peace and Light Group,
including two women and five children, have gone before the
authorities at Texenna, in Jijel province on 29 September. They
were placed at the disposition of the Commission of Probation for
the benefit of the civil harmony law. Two weeks ago, 53 members of
the same GIA group surrendered. 73 members of the GIA, including 16
women and 14 children, have surrendered at Jijel since 13 July.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 6 October 1999)

* Algerie. La violence n'est pas finie  -  Quatre policiers et six
membres de groupes armes ont ete tues les deux derniers jours en
Algerie lors de trois operations distinctes, a rapporte la presse
algeroise le 5 octobre. Pres de Issers, a 60 km a l'est d'Alger,
quatre policiers ont trouve la mort, le 3 octobre, lorsqu'une bombe
de fabrication artisanale a explose au passage d'une patrouille des
services de securite. Le meme jour, les forces de securite ont
abattu quatre membres d'un groupe arme lors d'une operation de
ratissage pres de Mascara, a 360 km a l'ouest d'Alger. Et deux
autres terroristes ont ete tues le 4 octobre a Djelfa (300 km au
sud d'Alger) par un groupe de legitime defense. - D'autre part,
selon un communique officiel, 531 membres supposes du GIA se sont
livres aux autorites depuis la promulgation, le 13 juillet, de la
loi sur la "concorde civile".   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 7
octobre 1999)

* Angola. Marchands d'armes  -  Dans un rapport consacre a
l'Angola, l'organisation Human Rights Watch dresse un inventaire
des innombrables violations des accords de paix de Lusaka. Depuis
novembre 1994, par exemple, une quinzaine d'Etats ont vendu des
armes aux belligerants. Premier fournisseur du gouvernement de
Luanda, la Russie n'a jamais cesse de lui livrer avions de chasse,
helicopteres de combat et blindes. D'autre part, de tous les
reseaux qui approvisionnent en armes les maquis de l'Unita, les
Ougandais sont les plus actifs. L'aeroport d'Entebbe est ainsi
devenu le principal point de transit des trafiquants, meme si
Kampala a toujours fermement dementi toute collusion avec les
rebelles de Savimbi.   (Jeune Afrique, France, 5 octobre 1999)

* Angola. De Beers halts purchase of diamonds  -  De Beers, the
South African company that controls most of the world trade in gem
diamonds, has announced that it will no longer buy Angolan diamonds
and is reviewing its buying operations in Guinea and Congo RDC. The
announcement follows the launch of a campaign by European human
rights organisations this week to stop the use of diamond sales to
finance rebel armies in Africa. De Beers said it had never bought
diamonds directly from UNITA, and had already instructed its buyers
not to purchase Angolan rough diamonds without a government
certificate of origin, following the imposition of UN sanctions on
the unofficial Angolan diamond trade last year.   (Financial Times,
UK, 7 October 1999)

* Angola. De Beers contre l'Unita  -  Le 5 octobre, le groupe sud-
africain De Beers, premier producteur et negociant mondial de
diamants, a annonce un embargo total sur l'achat de diamants en
provenance de l'Angola. Cette decision vise a empecher le mouvement
rebelle Unita de se financer par le trafic du diamant, a precise De
Beers. La societe, accusee d'avoir des liens avec les rebelles, a
affirme n'avoir jamais achete des diamants a l'Unita. Elle fermera
ses bureaux en Angola. Le Conseil superieur du diamant d'Anvers
(Belgique) a egalement assure, le 5 octobre, respecter strictement
l'embargo sur les ventes de diamants par les rebelles angolais.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 7 octobre 1999)

* Angola. Military build-up...and the people suffer  -  1 October:
Angola is carrying out a military buildup in the north, east and
central highlands as its troops battle to seize the headquarters of
UNITA in the central highlands. Angola accuses the world community
of holding a "double standard" by letting civil wars rage in Africa
while intervening in Kosovo and East Timor to halt violence. 3
October: UNITA has deployed a number of guerrilla units near
Luanda. 5 October: Fierce fighting between Angolan government
forces and UNITA rebels has displaced tens of thousands and
threatens to worsen the country's already dire food security
situation. "The fighting is very bad, people are fleeing in every
direction", a humanitarian official says. "The people are escaping
with nothing, even if they had seeds and tools, where are they
going to plant?" The government's long-awaited offensive has taken
place just before the rainy season and is expected to drag on
through the planting period, impacting on harvests in the fall. 6
October: There is some confusion over the Portuguese news agency
report that government troops have entered Jonas Savimbi's
highlands stronghold of Bailundo.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 7 October
1999)

* Burundi. Negociations  -  Le 2 octobre a New York, le
gouvernement du Burundi a affirme a l'Assemblee generale de l'Onu
qu'il ne signera un accord de paix inter-burundais que si la
rebellion met fin auparavant a sa lutte armee. "Le gouvernement du
Burundi sera en difficulte de signer l'accord de paix si celui-ci
n'est pas precede par l'arret effectif des violences sur le
terrain", a dit le ministre burundais des Relations exterieures, M.
Severin Ntahomvukiye, en ajoutant que "la population le
rejetterait". Pour debloquer les discussions d'Arusha, le ministre
a propose d'inviter aux negociations les branches armees et pas
seulement les directions politiques des mouvements rebelles. "Le
gouvernement burundais est ouvert a toute forme de negociation avec
elles, au sein du processus de paix", a-t-il affirme. (Ndlr. Les
pourparlers de paix inter-burundais, qui devaient reprendre le 4
octobre a Arusha, ont ete reportes en raison de l'aggravation de
l'etat de sante du mediateur Julius Nyerere).   (Agence burundaise
de presse, 3 octobre 1999)

* Burundi. A step towards peace  -  2 October: Nine Burundian sides
sign an accord in Bujumbura, entitled: "National Convergence for
Peace and Reconciliation". Members of Frodebu, Uprona, Inkinzo,
PRP, Raddes, PIT, PSD, PR and the Anade, clearly demonstrate their
willingness to work together in accomplishing a lasting national
reconciliation platform that will return peace and stability to the
country. Starting today, the political formations will begin new
consultations with various members of Burundi's civil society.  
(MISNA, Rome, 4 October 1999)

* Burundi. Nouveau groupement politique  -  Neuf partis burundais
de la mouvance presidentielle ont cree un large groupement
politique dans l'espoir de ramener la paix et la reconciliation: la
"Convergence nationale pour la paix et la reconciliation" (CNPR).
Cette creation arrive au moment ou le processus de paix d'Arusha
semble s'enliser. La CNPR comprend l'Uprona, le Frodebu (interne)
et des petits partis tutsi. Le parti interne Frodebu, dirige par
Augustin Nzojibwami, est proche du president Buyoya et peut
negocier avec les rebelles du CNDD-FDD au nom du gouvernement.
L'agence Azania note cependant que les formations politiques hutu
ne se reconnaissent pas dans ce rassemblement, tandis que d'autres
le critiquent ouvertement. Selon le president du parti Intwari, le
groupe vise a bloquer les negociations d'Arusha.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 4 octobre 1999)

* Burundi. Violences  -  Dans la nuit du 3 au 4 octobre, les
rebelles hutu ont attaque un poste de l'armee aux abords de
Bujumbura. Les combats ont fait une dizaine de morts. L'armee
affirme avoir tue cinq rebelles et perdu trois des siens. Des
centaines de civils se sont refugies dans la capitale. Par
ailleurs, l'agence Azania signale des combats depuis pres de deux
semaines dans la province de Rutana, en particulier dans les
communes de Mpinga et Giharo. Dans la Kibira, une "occupation
massive" rebelle est egalement signalee depuis quelques semaines
par l'armee. - D'autre part, le Bureau des Nations unies pour la
coordination des affaires humanitaires (OCHA) a indique que plus de
1,1 million de Burundais avaient ete deplaces depuis le debut de la
guerre civile en 1993. Selon OCHA, meme avant les recents
regroupements de population dans les camps, le Burundi etait en
tete des pays de la region des Grands Lacs pour le nombre de
populations deplacees. - Le Departement d'Etat americain a rendu
publique une declaration au sujet du Burundi: "Jusqu'a la fin du
mois de septembre, plus de 300.000 personnes de la province de
Bujumbura rural, environ trois quarts de la population, ont ete
deplacees de force par les forces armees du Burundi. Cette
operation de "regroupement" repond aux attaques aveugles des
rebelles dans la province. Les Etats-Unis condamnent toute attaque
sur des civils de n'importe quel cote qu'elles proviennent,
gouvernement ou rebelle (...). Nous appelons toutes les parties a
reconnaitre les dangers inherents a l'accroissement de la violence
et a utiliser la table de negociation pour regler leurs
differends". Le communique exprime ensuite ses inquietudes
concernant le mouvement force de la population et ses consequences
sur le plan humanitaire et des droits de l'homme.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 5 octobre 1999)

* Cameroun. Naissance d'une academie de Droit  -  Une academie
africaine de Droit vient de naitre dans le cadre d'un colloque de
juristes europeens et africains tenu a Yaounde du 27 septembre au
2 octobre. "L'academie africaine de theorie de droit (AATD) est nee
du constat que le droit vecu dans les pays africains etait
different du droit proclame", a declare son premier president, le
professeur congolais Camille Kuyu. Les principales missions
assignees a l'AATD sont la creation d'un centre de recherche sur
les innovations en matiere de droit, le soutien des universites
africaines en matiere de recherche sur le droit par une approche
pluridisciplinaire, et l'accompagnement des processus d'innovations
en matiere de droit en Afrique.   (Reporters associes, Cameroun, 6
octobre 1999)

* Cameroun. Plaidoyer pour un marche commun islamique  -  Le
Premier ministre camerounais s'est prononce, le 4 octobre a
Yaounde, en faveur de "la construction d'un bloc economique et
commercial du monde islamique". Il a emis ce voeu au cours de la 6e
reunion du secteur prive de l'Organisation de la conference
islamique (OCI), qui doit s'achever le 8 octobre. Lors de cette
rencontre, 59 projets de financement, pour une valeur de plus de
118 millions de dollars, seront etudies. Avec une cinquantaine de
membres, l'OCI draine au moins un milliard de consommateurs. Cette
rencontre de l'OCI dans la capitale camerounaise coincide avec le
25e anniversaire de la Banque islamique de developpement.  
(Reporters associes, Cameroun, 6 octobre 1999)

* Centr. Afr. Republic. Patasse is re-elected  -  2 October:
Incumbent President Ange-Felix Patasse is re-elected for a fresh
six-year term. Results indicate that he received 51.63% of votes
cast, as against 19.38% of his main rival, former President Andre
Kolingba. The President appeals for calm. 4 October: The runner-up
in the elections dismisses the results as rigged, but says he has
told his supporters not to respond violently. Kolingba says
protests will serve no purpose and the Opposition will let
President Patasse get on with his job.   (ANB-BIA. Brussels, 5
October 1999)

* Centrafrique. Patasse reelu au 1er tour  -  Le president sortant
Ange-Felix Patasse, candidat a la presidentielle du 19 septembre,
a ete reelu des le premier tour, a annonce le 2 octobre a Bangui la
Cour constitutionnelle. M. Patasse a obtenu 51,63% des voix, contre
19,38% a son principal adversaire, l'ancien president Andre
Kolingba. Le lendemain, les neufs candidats de l'opposition ont
reclame l'annulation de l'election, denoncant, dans un communique
commun, un scrutin entache par de "graves irregularites et
trucages". Les neuf candidats ont par ailleurs precise avoir depose
"plusieurs requetes en annulation de l'election presidentielle,
pour la sauvegarde de l'interet general". D'autre part, la mission
de l'Onu en RCA a declare que la population avait "accueilli les
resultats avec calme et serenite". La ceremonie d'investiture
presidentielle est prevue le 22 octobre.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 6 octobre 1999)

* Comoros. New separatist concerns  -  The territorial integrity
and unity of the Comoros Islands as nation state is being
undermined by a secessionist crisis in the island of Anjouan
despite a peace accord signed earlier this year. In an address to
the UN General Assembly at the weekend, Souef Mohamed el-Amine,
foreign minister of the Indian Ocean archipelago, said his
government could not accept the secession or independence for
Anjouan because it would result in the breakup of the country.
"Three inter-island conferences have been held under the auspices
of the Organisation of African Unity and the Arab League to try and
resolve this crisis", he said. "At the last conference in
Antananarivo, Madagascar, an accord was reached providing for a new
institutional framework which would respond to the aspirations of
all Comorans, while guaranteeing both territorial integrity as well
as a wide degree of autonomy for each island". But, he said the
"intransigence" of Anjouan representatives who were still to sign
the accord had since led to anti-Anjouanese riots by "extremists"
in the main island of Grande Comore. "The risk of a civil war, of
popular discontent and the violent and forced separation of
families have led the army of National Development, because of the
political inertia over there to interpose themselves, prevent the
worst and take in hand the destiny of the country", he said.  
(IRIN, 5 October 1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Military Tribunals  -  The authorities have set up
two military tribunals in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire to try
soldiers accused of committing atrocities. The government had
established a military justice division in 1992 to try soldiers.  
(PANA, Dakar, 30 September 1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Refugies menaces de famine  -  Des milliers de
refugies sont menaces de famine a Kinkala, a l'ouest de
Brazzaville. Une dizaine de personnes meurent de faim chaque jour,
a declare le 1er octobre Sergio Vieira de Mello, secretaire general
adjoint de l'Onu pour les affaires humanitaires. Les forces du
president Sassou Nguesso s'efforcent de deloger les milices de
l'ex-president Lissouba de cette region. - D'autre part, le Conseil
des Eglises chretiennes de France, regroupant des representants
catholiques, protestantes et orthodoxes, a appele le gouvernement
francais a intervenir aupres de la Communaute europeenne pour
qu'elle conduise au plus tot une mediation politique au Congo-
Brazzaville.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 3 octobre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Reprise des combats?  -  Le 2 octobre, les rebelles
ont accuse les soldats du president Kabila d'avoir viole le cessez-
le-feu en lancant une offensive sur Kabinda, une ville situee a
l'est de la capitale du diamant Mbuji-Mayi. Selon Lambert Mende,
porte-parole du RCD a Goma, "les combats ont commence a 3 h.
locales, lorsque les forces de Kabila ont lance une attaque
surprise sur nos positions. C'est la plus grande offensive depuis
la signature de l'accord de Lusaka". Le vice-president du RCD,
Moise Nyarugabo, a estime que cette offensive demontrait que le
president Kabila n'avait pas l'intention de mettre en oeuvre
l'accord de paix, et il a menace de lancer une contre-offensive. -
D'autre part, le major Kasonga des Forces armees congolaises a
declare que c'etait le RCD-Goma qui avait attaque les forces
gouvernementales au centre du Kasai. Il a egalement declare que le
groupe rebelle MLC de J.P. Bemba avait, le 1er octobre, attaque les
forces du gouvernement et occupe plusieurs localites dans la region
de Bomongo dans la province de l'Equateur.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 4 octobre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Messages contradictoires  -  Le gouvernement du
president Kabila envoie des messages tres contradictoires dans le
contexte des discussions inter-congolaises sur l'avenir du pays:
d'une part, il confirme son interet dans le dialogue national,
d'autre part il poursuit les arrestations et le harcelement des
militants des partis et des droits de l'homme, a declare l'envoye
special americain dans la region des Grands Lacs, Howard Holpe. Un
nouveau decret gouvernemental autorisant les activites politiques
uniquement au sein des "comites de pouvoir du peuple", parraines
par le gouvernement, laisse suggerer un effort continu de
restreindre un debat ouvert et de manipuler le cadre des
negociations, a-t-il ajoute. -D'autre part, le gouvernement a
refuse que se deroule une rencontre entre les groupes de la societe
civile, prevue du 4 au 7 octobre a Kinshasa, et qui devait etre
consacree a l'etude des modalites d'application de l'accord de paix
de Lusaka. Selon des informations provenant d'ONG, les forces de
securite ont empeche les delegues de quitter leur region. Par
ailleurs, les autorites rwandaises ont egalement bloque le depart
de delegues des territoires sous leur controle qui voulaient
rejoindre Kinshasa via Kampala.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5
octobre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Wamba rebaptise son groupe  -  Le chef de file de la
faction rebelle, Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, aurait rebaptise son
groupe et mis en place un "gouvernement" transitoire au nord-est de
la ville de Bunia. D'apres le quotidien ougandais New Vision, sa
faction porte desormais le nom de Rassemblement pour la democratie
- mouvement de liberation (RCD-ML) au sein duquel Wamba dirige le
departement de la defense. La nouvelle administration, etablie le
1er octobre, compte 2 vice-presidents, un Premier ministre, 8
ministres et 9 ministres adjoints. La faction compte aussi un
conseil politique et un haut commandement militaire.   (IRIN,
Nairobi, 5 octobre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Reconciliation efforts to offset mutual
recriminations  -  2 October: Congolese rebels accuse government
troops of breaking a month-old ceasefire by attacking a key rebel
position and warned they might respond with a new offensive. Rebel
leaders said their forces came under heavy artillery fire near the
eastern town of Kabinda. 4 October: The government and the rebels
accuse each other of ceasefire violations. On 3 October, the South
African government had condemned the ceasefire violations and asked
the OAU and a joint military commission established under the
accord, to investigate the fighting. 5 October: The OAU is reported
to be looking for new independent mediators following last week's
rejection of foreign peace-makers by the RCD. 6 October: Over 200
delegates from across Congo have assembled for a Peace Workshop.
The delegates from Church and other groups within civil society
intend to discuss Peace, National Reconciliation and Territorial
Integrity. The delegates come from both government and rebel-held
areas.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 7 October 1999)
* Cote d'Ivoire. Parliament approves army amnesty  -  On 30
September, Parliament approved a law granting amnesty to soldiers
accused of trying to destabilise the country during a turbulent
1995 presidential election. The measure will become law once
President Bedie signs a decree. It follows an amnesty approved in
December 1998 for civilians detained or sentenced for offenses
stemming from an active opposition boycott of the election.   (CNN,
30 September 1999)

* Djibouti. Ex-candidat emprisonne  -  Le 6 octobre, Moussa Ahmed
Idriss, seul candidat de l'opposition djiboutienne a la
presidentielle d'avril 1999, et 19 de ses sympathisants ont ete
condamnes a quatre mois de prison pour "violence contre l'Etat".
Tous ont ete arretes alors qu'ils s'opposaient a l'interpellation
d'Idriss, poursuivi a l'origine pour delit de presse.  
(Liberation, France, 7 octobre 1999)

* Egypte. Moubarak prete serment  -  Le 5 octobre, le president
Moubarak a prete serment pour un nouveau mandat de six ans. Dans
son discours d'investiture, le chef de l'Etat a notamment promis
plus de democratie et s'est engage a respecter la liberte
d'opinion, la liberte de la presse et l'independance de la justice.
M. Moubarak a nomme un nouveau Premier ministre: Atef Ebeid, un
economiste qui aura pour tache d'elever l'Egypte au rang de pays a
revenu moyen.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 6 octobre 1999)

* Egypt. Pace of reform quickening  -  On 5 October, President
Mubarak named the head of the privatisation programme as prime
minister, an appointment welcomed by investors as signalling an
acceleration of economic reform. Atef Obeid, the new premier and
former minister of public enterprise, is expected to make key
cabinet appointments today in what is expected to be the most
extensive reshuffle in almost four years.   (Financial Times, UK,
6 October 1999)

* Ghana. 140.000 sans abri  -  65 personnes sont mortes et 140.000
sont sans abri dans le nord du Ghana apres des pluies torrentielles
qui ont occasionnne d'importants degats materiels, selon un bilan
officiel publie le 30 septembre a Accra.   (Le Monde, France, 2
octobre 1999)

* Kenya. Bishops warn of civil strife  -  Catholic Bishops in Kenya
have warned that ordinary people are becoming so desperate they
could turn to civil strife. The warning came in a Pastoral Letter
published in Nairobi in which the 23 bishops said the main problems
were corruption, hunger, and the plunder of public resources. They
also drew attention to AIDS, insecurity and the collapse of the
country's infrastructure. The Bishops blamed the government for
failing to deal with the problems and said that if there was civil
strife, the current leadership would be held accountable.   (BBC
News, 30 September 1999)

* Kenya. Lake Victoria  -  Environmentalists and scientists in
Kenya have protested against a new government scheme to clear water
hyacinth from Lake Victoria, and called for an environmental impact
study to be conducted first. Giant shredders began work two days
ago chopping up the plant which clogs the waters and created
problems for lake travel and fishing. One lobby group,
Environmental Economics for eastern and Southern Africa, said that
dumping thousands of tons of weed on the lake bed would pollute the
water and damage marine life. Another group, Friends of Lake
Victoria, said the dead weed would sharply increase the toxic
chemicals in the lake.   (BBC News, 30 September 1999)

* Kenya. Minister denies troops deployment  -  Kenya denied media
reports it had deployed troops along the country's border with
Uganda due to recent incidents of cattle-rustling. "We have not
amassed any troops along the border", Kenya's Minister for State in
the Office of the President, Marsden Madoka, told IRIN. "We carried
out an exercise to show our presence in the area recently, but this
was generally part of out regular training". He said cattle-
rustling had been "commercialised" and was no longer strictly an
activity carried out by pastoralists alone. "We are going to do
everything possible to flush out the culprits", he added. Press
reports claimed that pastoralists from Uganda and Kenya were
rearming themselves for fresh spates of cattle-rustling. The East
African on 6 October said warriors from Matheniko county in
Uganda's central Karamoja district and their Turkana allies from
northern Kenya were retrieving guns and unexploded hand-grenades,
anti-tank and rocket propelled grenades from Nagolepak, Moruarion
and the Kamerimej hills.   (IRIN 5 October 1999)

* Malawi. UDF sweeps all seats in crucial bi-election  -  Malawi's
ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) has won all the three seats in
bi-elections held on 4 October to fill parliamentary seats that
were left vacant due to constitutional requirements or death in the
15 June general elections. Making the announcement at a press
conference on 6 October, the Malawi Electoral Commission chair
Supreme Court judge, Justice James Kalaile, described the process
as free and fair but refused to field any questions from
journalists. The bi-elections were held in the southern lakeshore
resort district of Mangochi, a UDF stronghold; the central border
district of Nchinji, a traditional Malawi Congress Party (MCP)
turf, and the central district of Ntchisi, another traditional MCP
front. President Bakili Muluzi, arriving from attending an economic
summit at Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls, described his party's
unprecedented triple victory as "a sign that people have welcomed
UDF policies. I know the opposition will say I rigged the vote from
Zimbabwe," he joked. "But this is a clear statement that people
have endorsed my government's policies". The opposition alliance's
political secretary Heatherwick Ntaba said the UDF had rigged the
polls by unleashing a campaign of intimidation and violence on
opposition supporters. He accused the Electoral Commission of
ignoring the opposition complaints. He, however, ruled out the
possibility of the opposition seeking litigation against the polls,
saying there are already a lot of electoral cases in Malawian
courts. The results means that the ruling UDF has control over
parliament and may be able to push in any legislation without much
trouble. It now has 98 seats in Malawi's 193-member parliament
against the opposition alliance's 93.   (Africa Press Bureau,
Johannesburg, 7 October 1999)

* Mali. Greve des agents de la sante  -  Le 30 septembre, les
services socio-sanitaires du Mali ont lance une greve de 48 heures,
les hopitaux et les centres de sante n'assurant qu'un service
minimum. Depuis des annees, les syndicats de la sante et de
l'action sociale ont soumis au gouvernement un certain nombre de
doleances en vue d'ameliorer leurs conditions de vie et de travail,
mais n'ont toujours pas recu satisfaction. Les "blouses blanches"
font planer la menace d'une greve illimitee a partir du 4 octobre. 
 (D'apres Le Republicain, Mali, 1er octobre 1999)

* Maroc. Retour de l'opposant Serfaty  -  Le celebre opposant juif
marocain Abraham Serfaty, 73 ans, a pu revenir dans son pays. Il
est arrive le 30 octobre au soir a l'aeroport de Rabat. Serfaty a
ete le leader d'un mouvement marxiste-leniniste. Accuse de
conspiration contre le roi Hassan II, il passa 17 ans en prison
avant d'etre exile en 1991. A sa demande, le jeune roi Mohamed VI
a accepte son retour au pays, pour lui permettre de reprendre sa
place dans le processus en cours pour la construction d'un Maroc
moderne et democratique."   (ANB-BIA, des sources diverses, 1er
octobre 1999)

* Maroc. Affrontements au Sahara occidental  -  De violents
affrontements entre forces de securite marocaines et manifestants
sahraouis ont fait au moins deux morts et une soixantaine de
blesses a El Ayoun, au Sahara occidental, a declare le 1er octobre
le delegue du Front Polisario en Espagne, Brahim Gali. 54 personnes
ont ete arretees et "on parle aussi de disparus", a-t-il ajoute,
assurant que "El Ayoun etait en etat de siege". De sources
autorisees au Maroc et a la mission des Nations unies au Sahara
occidental (Minurso), on a effectivement appris que des
affrontements avaient eu lieu le 27 septembre dans la principale
ville du territoire entre policiers et manifestants, etudiants et
ouvriers de l'industrie des phosphates au chomage. Les autorites
marocaines ont reconnu qu'il y avait eu plusieurs blesses, mais ont
dementi toute blessure mortelle.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses,
4 octobre 1999)

* Maroc. Prospection petroliere  -  Le Parlement marocain examinera
au mois d'octobre un projet de reforme du code des hydrocarbures
pour favoriser la prospection et l'exploitation petroliere,
apprend-on de sources gouvernementales. Le Parlement, qui
effectuera sa rentree le 8 octobre sous la presidence du roi
Mohamed VI, devrait notamment ramener de 50 a 25 % maximum la
participation de l'Etat marocain pour l'exploitation de nouveaux
gisements. Une exoneration totale de l'impot sur les societes pour
une periode de dix ans est egalement envisagee en faveur des
nouvelles exploitations. La prospection petroliere connait une
forte progression au Maroc. La societe americaine Skidmore Energy
s'est recemment engagee a investir 50 millions de dollars sur
quatre sites de prospection, dont un off-shore.   (AP, 6 octobre
1999)

* Mozambique. UN launches "adopt-a-minefield"  -  The civil war in
Mozambique has been over for years, but the recovery is just
beginning. Tens of thousands of unexploded land mines lie beneath
the fields and the nation can't afford to remove them. In an effort
to help, the UN has launched a grassroots "adopt-a-minefield"
campaign to pay for land-mine removal. It costs as much as $4,000
to remove just one mine, but less than 50 cents to plant one in the
ground.   (CNN, 3 October 1999)

* Mozambique/Angola. Agreement to common approach on marine
resources  -  Angola and Mozambique, the only two Portuguese
speaking members of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) have signed a groundbreaking agreement to co-operate in the
development of coherent environmental and fisheries initiatives.
The agreement, signed by Mozambique's Agriculture and Fisheries
Minster, Carlos Agostinho do Rosario, and Angola's Fisheries and
Environment Minister, Fatima Jardim, on 2 October, followed almost
a week of negotiations in Maputo. Mozambican government spokesmen
said on 4 October that the agreement provided for joint
environmental training and research programmes, as well as the
development of joint administration, inspection, and fisheries
development standards. Minister Jardim said at the end of a four
day tour of Mozambique's marine facilities, that the agreement was
recognition that the two countries were battling similar marine
resource management problems. She confirmed that both governments
would immediately set up a joint technical team to study new
fishery management models. Jardim added that a delegation of
Angolan business leaders who accompanied her on the visit would
also return home to cement the new co-operation through new
business partnerships between the two countries. The most promising
areas for business co-operation, she said, appeared to be in the
lucrative prawn fishing industry. Jardim added that there were also
exciting suggestions for closer ties and joint research by
Mozambique's Eduardo Mondlane University and Angola's Agostinho
Neto University.   (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 5 October
1999)

* Niger. Soldiers mutiny  -  4 October: Soldiers protesting over
unpaid allowances, mutiny in Maradi, 550 km east of Niamey. They
roam the streets firing shots in the air. Witnesses say the
soldiers later return to their barracks and negotiations have begun
with local officials. The regional military prefect, Commander
Abdou Sidikou, who was earlier reported to have been taken hostage,
was taking part in the negotiations.   (CNN, 4 October 1999)

* Nigeria. Gas sales commitment  -  Nigeria's liquefied natural gas
company says it can meet sales commitments on its first exports to
Europe. The promise follows progress in negotiations with
protestors who earlier forced the closure of its new multi-billion
dollar plant. Andrew Jamieson, NLNG manager, said community
protestors demanding jobs, cash and development projects had caused
millions of dollars of damage during demonstrations at the $3.8
billion plant on Bonny Island in south-east Nigeria, two weeks ago.
They had also dealt a symbolic blow by scuppering plans to launch
the first shipment of gas on 1 October, Nigeria's 39th independence
day anniversary.   (Financial Times, UK, 5 October 1999)

* Rwanda. Trois ministres accuses de malversation  -  Trois
ministres rwandais ont ete mis en accusation par le Parlement
rwandais pour des malversations dans l'attribution de marches
publics, a indique le 30 octobre le president de l'Assemblee
nationale de transition, Joseph Sebarenzi Kabuye. L'affaire
concerne un marche public de fourniture de vehicules a l'Etat en
1996 gere par le ministre des Transports de l'epoque, Charles
Ntakirutinka, aujourd'hui ministre des Affaires sociales. Les deux
autres ministres qui pourraient etre impliques sont Mark Rugenera
(Commerce) et Anastase Gasana (Relations institutionnelles). Les
trois devraient comparaitre dans les prochains jours devant le
Parlement et pourraient etre eventuellement sommes de demissionner. 
 (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 1er octobre 1999)

* Rwanda. Rwanda denies buying MIG fighters  -  Rwanda says it is
not planning to purchase Mig-fighter jets for its airforce as
reported in tbe media. A statement from the office of the vice-
president and Minister for Defence, Maj.Gen. Paul Kagame on 5
October, denied contacts with Air Defence Consultants (ADC), the
company named in The East African newspaper. "Nor has there been
any contact or dealings with Mr Danny Reshef, (ADC)'s alleged
representative. The company and the alleged representative are not
known to the government of Rwanda," information officer, Nicholas
Shalita said.   (The New Vision, Uganda, 7 October 1999)

* Rwanda. Le proces de Mgr Misago pietine  -  Kigali, le 1er
octobre. A peine rouvert, le proces de Mgr Misago, eveque de
Gikongoro, a une nouvelle fois ete ajourne pour une periode d'un
mois. Le prelat, accuse de planification et de complicite dans le
genocide, risque la peine de mort. Arrete en avril dernier, cinq
ans apres les faits, Mgr Misago a toujours clame son innoncence.  
(CIP, Bruxelles, 7 octobre 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Peace Accord endorsed  -  3 October: Sierra Leone's
warlords express their full commitment to peace in their country as
they departed from Liberia following three days of peace talks to
iron out the differences between their two groups. The talks
between Foday Sankoh of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and
Johnny Paul Koroma of the defunct Armed Forces Revolutionary
Council (AFRC) were mediated by Liberian President Charles Taylor.
The two Sierra Leonean leaders said they have resolved whatever
differences existed between their two groups that had potential to
derail the peace process in Sierra Leone. The two leaders return to
Sierra Leone.   (Peter Kahler, PANA, 3 October 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Processus de paix  -  Le commandant en chef de
l'Ecomog, le general Kpamber, a ordonne a tous les commandants et
representants des rebelles du RUF et de l'ancien Conseil
revolutionnaire des forces armees (AFRC) de rejoindre immediatement
leurs bases et d'informer leurs hommes des details du processus de
paix et du programme de desarmement, demobilisation et
reintegration. "Ceci representera un test de leur credibilite", a
declare M. Kpamber. Les commandants doivent aussi fournir a la
Commission de controle conjointe les informations relatives a leurs
forces et leurs localisations, comme le prevoit l'accord de paix
signe le 7 juillet. M. Kpamber a egalement appele les representants
des rebelles a laisser libre acces aux organisations humanitaires
pour leur permettre de mettre en place les infrastructures
elementaires. - D'autre part, Foday Sankoh, dirigeant du RUF, qui
s'est vu promettre un poste important au sein du gouvernement, et
le chef de l'ex-junte militaire Johnny Paul Koroma sont arrives le
dimanche 3 octobre a Freetown. Depuis des mois, Foday Sankoh
refusait de rentrer a Freetown, disant craindre pour sa securite.
A l'aeroport de Lungi, ou une foule de partisans et de responsables
du RUF sont venus les saluer, les deux hommes ont implore le pardon
de la population. "Oublions le passe, a dit M. Sankoh. Si nous ne
nous pardonnons pas les uns aux autres, nous ne pourrons pas mettre
en oeuvre l'accord de paix".   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 4
octobre 1999)

* Soudan. Attentat contre le pipeline  -  Le president Omar El
Bechir s'est violemment dechaine contre l'opposition, le 28
septembre, lors d'un discours denoncant l'attentat, huit jours plus
tot, contre le pipeline pres de la ville d'Atbara, a 300 km au
nord-est de Khartoum. L'explosion avait brievement interrompu
l'acheminement du petrole sur les 1.610 km de pipeline qui relient
Khartoum a Port-Soudan. La National Democratic Alliance, groupe
d'opposition qui comprend notamment l'Umma Party de l'ancien
Premier ministre Sadeq el-Mahdi, a revendique l'attentat. Le chef
du gouvernement a traite l'opposition "d'agents imperialistes et
sionistes".   (D'apres L'Autre Afrique, France, 1er octobre 1999)

* South Africa. Apartheid's chemical warfare head  -  4 October: A
heart surgeon dubbed "Dr. Death" by the local media, goes on trial
on charges he carried out some of the most horrific crimes
committed in the name of apartheid while head of a government
chemical and biological warfare programme. Dr. Walter Basson is
charged with killing 16 people -- including by suffocation -- and
with conspiracy to murder, for allegedly supplying poison to kill
200 members of a rebel group that fought South African rule in what
is now neighbouring Namibia. The morning's session is taken up with
technical matters, including an attempt by the defense to quash the
conspiracy charge because the alleged killings occurred on foreign
soil. The judge does not immediately rule. Over the next 18 months,
prosecutors will try to unravel the layers of mad chemistry,
murder, drug dealing and fraud surrounding the secret programme
Basson headed in the 1980s. The trial is adjourned for legal
argument.   (CNN, 4 October 1999)

* South Africa. Parliamentary programme  -  Parliament is in recess
at the moment for the short mid-session break. We have just passed
the 100-day mark of the new administration, which is traditionally
the time for party assessments. In many ways, this session has been
dominated by the wave of strikes and the inability of the 12 public
workers unions and the government to hammer out an agreement.  
(SACB, Cape Town, 5 October 1999)

* Tanzanie. Nyerere dans le coma  -  L'etat de l'ancien president
tanzanien Julius Nyerere, hospitalise a Londres depuis une semaine,
s'est brusquement empire dans la nuit du 30 septembre au 1er
octobre. Le malade a ete transfere dans une unite de soins
intensifs et est dans le coma. M. Nyerere, age de 77 ans, est
atteint d'une leucemie. Selon le gouvernement tanzanien, il est
dans un "etat critique". Pere de l'independance tanzanienne, M.
Nyerere avait conserve une grande influence sur la politique de son
pays et de la region.   (D'apres La Libre Belgique, 2 octobre 1999)

* Tanzania. Julius Nyerere  -  29 September: Religious
denominations continue to offer special prayers for Julius Nyerere,
who is in hospital in London. 1 October: Opposition politicians
warn that some leaders of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi are
already taking advantage of the current anxiety over Julius
Nyerere's health, to introduce undesirable changes in the country's
Constitution. The ailing former president is reported to be in a
critical condition. 2 October: Hospital authorities say Nyerere is
still critically ill although he is more stable than before. His
daughter, Anna, who is at his bedside, says he is sedated but has
not gone into a coma.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 2 October 1999)

* Tchad/Soudan. Securite frontaliere  -  Le ministre tchadien de
l'Interieur, en visite a Khartoum, et son homologue soudanais ont
signe, le 29 septembre, un accord de cooperation en matiere de
securite entre les deux pays. Le texte prevoit une lutte commune
contre la contrebande et le banditisme, ainsi que la reactivation
des commissions frontalieres conjointes sur les problemes de
securite. En outre, une demarcation de leur frontiere commune
devrait etre arretee avant la fin de l'annee. Enfin, un comite
technique conjoint sera instaure pour inciter les refugies a
regagner leurs pays respectifs.   (D'apres L'Autre Afrique, France,
1er octobre 1999)

* Tunisia. Elections  -  1 October: Tunisian Jews announce they
will support President Ben Ali for another presidential term. A
statement released by the League of Tunisian Jews residing in
France, praised Ben Ali for his "spirit of openness...and moderate
positions which made Tunisia a well-respected country". The same
day, the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), the majority party
in Parliament, presented the list of its 148 candidates.
Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for 24
October.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 6 October 1999)

* Zambia. More than 200 Zambian prisoners await execution  -  The
death sentence slapped on 59 soldiers by the Lusaka High Court over
two weeks ago has pushed the number of prisoners awaiting execution
in Zambia's jails to more than 200 and has re-ignited the debate
about the death penalty in the country. By the time the 59 soldiers
were sentenced, at least 168 murder and aggravated robbery convicts
were already on death row, some for nearly 10 years, at the Kabwe
Maximum Prison in central Zambia where executions are carried out.
With the 59 soldiers, the total of documented condemned prisoners
jumped to 227, among them a woman. Under the Zambian penal code,
three offenses attract the death sentence. For treason and murder,
death is mandatory and there is no alternative penalty. Aggravated
robbery, legal jargon for mainly armed robbery is the third that
attracts the death penalty. But the anti-death penalty lobby would
like that penalty abolished altogether and substituted with life
imprisonment. They argue that it is cruel, inhuman and is
ultimately no deterrent.   (Arthur Simuchoba, Africa Press Bureau,
Johannesburg, 1 October 1999)

* Zambia. Access to safe drinking water  -  Fifty-four percent of
Zambians out of a population of about 9.8 million people, consume
contaminated water, according to statistics released by Zambian
health authorities. Central Board of Health (CBH) director general
Galvin Silwamba said on 1 October that only 46 percent of Zambians
had access to safe quality drinking water and the rest still
remained vulnerable to water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and
cholera. The Zambian government has mounted a nationwide campaign,
encouraging people to use chlorine made available at reduced price
to chlorinate contaminated water in order to insulate themselves
against the otherwise preventable, but killer diseases. The Society
for Family Health (SFH) has embarked on an education campaign for
people to use chlorine in their daily use of water which was
normally not fit for human consumption and the resultant deaths due
to water-born diseases, particularly during the rainy season.
Silwamba lamented: "For every 1,000 live births, an average of 110
children die from diarrhoea or diseases related to drinking
contaminated water before they celebrated their first birthday." He
described as very embarrassing to release such figures at
international scientific meetings because such deaths could be
prevented and save lives. SFH technical advisor Nils Gade said the
introduction of chlorine would help Zambia fight diarrhoea related
diseases, including cholera affliction prevalent during the rainy
season every year. The price of chlorine has been made affordable
to township and village folks at a third of the original price. To
gauge public interest in using chlorine, the SFH organised a
competition and public affairs specialist Mpundu Mwanza described
the response as very overwhelming due to the high level
participation by the public.   (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg,
1 October 1999)

* Zimbabwe/Congo-RDC. Le cout de l'intervention  -  Un document
interne au ministere des Finances du Zimbabwe evalue a 166 millions
de dollars les depenses de l'engagement militaire au Congo entre
janvier et juin de cette annee, soit quelque 28 millions de dollars
par mois, et non 3 millions par mois comme le Zimbabwe avait assure
devant le FMI afin d'obtenir plus facilement un pret important, a
rapporte le Financial Times le 4 octobre. Le FMI a demande des
clarifications. Par ailleurs, le Zimbabwe, qui a depeche environ
11.000 soldats au Congo, a annonce ces dernieres semaines plusieurs
accords economiques liant les deux pays. Selon un professeur de
l'universite du Zimbabwe, son pays "entend se lancer a l'assaut du
Congo pour en faire une colonie economique". Un de ses collegues y
voit un acte "de desespoir" pour amener Kinshasa "a payer, faute de
liquide, la facture du soutien militaire d'Harare".   (D'apres La
Libre Belgique, 5 octobre 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Controversy with IMF/World Bank  -  4 October: The
Financial Times says Zimbabwe has misled the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) over millions of dollars of military spending used to
bankroll its intervention in the Congo RDC war. Evidence before the
Fund centres on a discrepancy between figures used internally by
Zimbabwe's ministry of Finance and statistics provided by the
Zimbabwean government to the IMF. Zimbabwe has told the IMF that
its spending on the war was the equivalent of $3 million a month.
But an internal memorandum refers to expenditure of $166 million
between January and June. An IMF spokesman said the Fund was aware
of the finance ministry document. "We have asked for clarification
from the Zimbabwean authorities on the amount of the spending
overrun in general". The same day, the BBC carries a report that
the Zimbabwean government denies it misled the IMF. Finance
Minister Herbert Murerwa says the internal memo has been quoted out
of context. He says the memo was designed to advise government
ministers on the potential cost of the war in Congo RDC. Another
government official says the discrepancy may have occurred while
converting figures from Zimbabwean dollars into US dollars. 5
October: The BBC reports that the World Bank has cancelled a
meeting on 7 October at which it was to have discussed a $140
million loan to Zimbabwe. 7 October: The Financial Times reports
that on 6 October, the World Bank has suspended aid to Zimbabwe
because economic reform targets have not been met by the
government.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 7 October 1999)

* Zimbabwe. The new Labour Party  -  The advent of the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) party, a brain child of the labour movement
in Zimbabwe, has brought a sigh of relief from citizens who had
lost faith in fly-by night opposition parties. In the year 2,000,
Zimbabweans will be going to the ballot box. It is important to
note that the last two five-year terms of office for the ruling
ZANU(PF) party have been won not by vote-rigging, but by voter
stay-away. The MDC is the brainchild of the National People's
Convention held in Harare 26-29 February 1999. The Convention
comprised representatives from over 40 organisations which included
trade unions, students organisations, women's organisations, the
unemployed, professionals, academics, business people and civic
society at large.   (Augustine Deke, Zimbabwe, 15 September 1999)