ANB-BIA - Av. Charles Woeste 184 - 1090 Bruxelles - Belg TEL **.32.2/420 34 36 fax /420 05 49 E-Mail: anb- bia@village.uunet.be _____________________________________________________________ WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 21-10-1999 PART #1/ * Africa. Internet access - By July 1999, 50 of 53 African countries had direct Internet access, though mostly confined to the capital cities, Only Congo-Brazzaville, Eritrea and Somalia are still not connected at all. (BBC News, 14 October 1999) * Afrique. Menace de la faim - Dans 25 ans, l'Afrique ne sera capable de nourrir que 40% de sa population, affirme un rapport publie le 16 octobre par les Nations unies, mais la situation peut encore etre renversee. Selon les auteurs de l'etude realisee avec le concours de la Banque mondiale, les 48 pays et territoires de l'Afrique subsaharienne ne pourront, a moins que l'evolution ne change, nourrir que 40% du milliard d'habitants qu'ils abriteront en 2025. Le probleme principal est l'appauvrissement des sols, cause surtout par le pacage abusif, la mauvaise utilisation des terres cultivables, leur surexploitation et la deforestation. - D'autre part, le Programme alimentaire mondial vient d'annoncer qu'il a du reduire son aide d'urgence aux trois pays africains les plus en difficulte (le Liberia, la Sierra Leone et la Guinee) en raison d'un manque de fonds. Les donateurs ont fourni moins de 20% des fonds necessaires pour nourrir les 1,8 million de refugies et personnes deplacees dans ces trois pays. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 18 octobre 1999) * Africa. Action against the Media - Angola: Rafael Marques, a journalist, and also coordinator of the Angolan Office of the Open Society Initiative in Southern Africa has been detained by the police and is being held incommunicado. On 17 October, Human Rights Watch expressed deep concern over the current crackdown in press freedom in Angola. Comoros: In a letter to the President (15 October), Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) demanded the release of Aboubacar Mchangama, an Agence France-Presse correspondent and managing editor of the private weekly L'Archipel. Congo RDC: On 18 October, the Committee To Protect Journalists once again protested the continued detention of journalist Joseph Mbakulu Pambu Diana, who has now spent one year in prison without trial.Tunisia: On 18 October, RSF denounced the systematic attacks on press freedom in Tunisia. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 October 1999) * Afrique/USA. Voyage de Mme Albright - Le 18 octobre, le secretaire d'Etat americain Madeleine Albright s'est entretenue avec le president guineen Lansana Conte a Conakry, premiere etape d'une tournee d'une semaine en Afrique subsaharienne. Elle a rendu hommage au regime guineen pour avoir ouvert ses portes aux refugies de Sierra Leone et du Liberia. Elle est egalement intervenue en faveur de l'opposant Alpha Conde, incarcere sans proces depuis l'election presidentielle de decembre dernier. Mme Albright s'est rendue ensuite en Sierra Leone, ou elle a delivre un message fort en faveur de la restauration de la paix dans ce pays et promis une aide financiere. Le 19 octobre au Mali, elle a rendu un hommage appuye a l'experience democratique de ce pays, et annonce une aide de 2 millions de $ pour l'education. L'apres-midi, elle est arrivee au Nigeria. Elle y a rencontre le president Obasanjo, avant de se rendre, le 20 octobre, au siege de la CEDEAO a Abuja, et a Kano dans le nord du pays. Elle ira ensuite au Kenya, puis en Tanzanie, ou elle assistera aux obseques de l'ex-president tanzanien Julius Nyerere a Dar es-Salaam. Elle regagnera les Etats-Unis le 23 octobre. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 octobre 1999) * Africa-USA. Handouts - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is presently on an African tour. Mali: She says Washington will maintain the same level of assistance of $38 million to Mali in 2000. At the end of a brief visit to Bamako she says that Washington will also provide an extra $2 million in the form of scholarships reserved for women and young girls. Mali has been designated to host a sub-regional police training programme in the control of drugs and terrorism. The US will also continue its support for ECOMOG. Nigeria: Arriving in Nigeria, Madeleine Albright says the US wants to quadruple its aid to Nigeria. The increase, from $27, will make Nigeria the largest recipient of US aid in Africa. But new money will have to be approved by Congress. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 October 1999) * Algerie. Reddition d'islamistes - Neuf islamistes soupconnes d'avoir participe a des actes terroristes, dont l'un des emirs de la Kabylie, se sont rendus aux forces de l'ordre ces trois derniers jours, rapporte la presse algerienne le 17 octobre. A Tizi-Ouzou, un emir du GIA, Abderrahmane Stiti, s'est rendu le 15 octobre; le lendemain, c'etaient deux terroristes appartenant au groupe salafiste pour la predication et le combat. Deux autres hommes, condamnes par contumace et refugies en Libye, se sont constitues prisonniers au poste frontalier de Bouchebka. Et quatre epouses de terroristes se sont rendues aux autorites militaires a Jijel (360 km a l'est d'Alger). - D'autre part, l'Armee islamique du salut (AIS), qui avait annonce en juin sa reddition, menace de reprendre le djihad (guerre sainte) immediatement apres la fin du delai, le 13 janvier, fixe aux islamistes armes pour se rendre, indiquait le quotidien El Watan le 19 octobre. Leur chef, Madani Merzag, aurait demande a ses troupes de "ne plus se rendre et de se preparer a la reprise des massacres et des destructions a travers tout le territoire", ecrit le journal. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 octobre 1999) * Algerie. Amnesty invite - Le 20 octobre, le president Abdelaziz Bouteflika a invite Amnesty International, ainsi que d'autres organisations de defense des droits de l'homme, a se rendre en Algerie pour constater, selon lui, les progres consentis par son pays. (Le Soir, Belgique, 21 octobre 1999) * Angola. L'Unita et la drogue - Dans une declaration a la radio nationale angolaise, un fonctionnaire de l'Onu qui a voulu garder l'anonymat, a accuse l'Unita d'echanger de la cocaine contre des armes et des vehicules voles en Afrique du Sud. La cocaine provenant essentiellement de la Colombie transiterait par le Bresil avant d'arriver en Angola. Ce trafic de stupefiants servirait aux rebelles de Jonas Savimbi pour se fournir en armes et en vehicules voles qui arriveraient par la Namibie. Un nouveau trafic illegal, en plus de celui des diamants, qui alimenterait le conflit qui ensanglante le pays depuis 25 ans. (D'apres Misna, Italie, 15 octobre 1999) * Botswana. South Africa's "guiding star" - Botswana's democracy served as a "guiding star" as South Africa took its first faltering steps towards its new democracy, former South African president Nelson Mandela said on 14 October. "The manner in which the people of Botswana have combined the modern forms of democracy with the long held traditions of indigenous democracy is an example that can be looked to in the current rebirth of our continent," Mandela said. Speaking while receiving an honourary Doctorate of Law from the University of Botswana at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Mandela said Botswana occupied a special place in the hearts of South Africans. Botswana was viewed as an elder brother to South Africa, he said. The award was conferred on Mandela by Botswana President Festus Mogae, chancellor of the university. "Botswana's democracy served as a guiding star to us as we falteringly took our first steps towards our new democracy," Mandela said. "It was with pride that we could point to the example of our neighbour as an example of African democracy that had sustained itself over time." The economic recovery that the region was now observing was long foreshadowed by the economic progress and stability of Botswana. "That the seat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is here in Botswana is no meaningless coincidence. It signifies our recognition of the historical role played by Botswana in our development and the example it provided," Mandela said. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 14 October 1999) * Botswana. Elections - Des elections generales ont eu lieu le 16 octobre au Botswana. Lors de la fermeture des bureaux de vote, le Parti democratique du Botswana (BDP, du president Festus Mogae, parti au pouvoir depuis 33 ans) semblait deja promis a une tres large victoire. Le 18 octobre, la commission electorale independante a annonce que le BDP avait gagne les elections; bien que les resultats definitifs n'etaient pas encore connus, il avait deja passe la barre de 21 sieges sur 40. Le parti d'opposition du Front national du Botswana aurait toutefois obtenu la majorite dans la capitale Gabarone. 19 octobre. D'apres les resultats officiels, le parti presidentiel a obtenu 33 des 40 sieges a l'Assemblee nationale, qui se reunira le 20 octobre pour elire le president. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 19 octobre 1999) * Botswana. BDP wins election - 18 October: Botswana's ruling party, helped by divisions among its opponents, has won the general election (16 October) with an increased number of seats in parliament, preliminary results show. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed Botswana since independence from Britain in 1966, wins 30 of the 40 elected seats, with 6 going to the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF); 4 constituencies are still to be decided. President Festus Mogae, leader of the BDP is declared elected President. 19 October: Final election results -- BDP: 33 seats; BNF: 6 seats; BCP:1 seat. 20 October: Inauguration of the President. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 20 October 1999) * Burundi. Les negociations de paix se poursuivront - Le 15 octobre, le ministre burundais charge du processus de paix, M. Niyonsaba, a affirme que les negociations de paix inter-burundaises vont se poursuivre en depit de la disparition du mediateur Julius Nyerere. Le facilitateur n'etant plus, a-t-il dit, on doit en chercher un autre a travers des consultations impliquant les parties burundaises et la communaute internationale. Selon le president de l'Assemblee nationale, M. Ngendakumana, les negociations se poursuivront, a Arusha ou ailleurs, et devront etre conclues dans les delais. Selon un communique de presse du 18 octobre, le gouvernement du Burundi propose que l'Afrique du Sud soit sollicitee pour la poursuite de la facilitation des pourparlers. (Agence burundaise de presse, 15-18 octobre 1999) * Burundi. Visite de M. Josselin - Le ministre francais de la Cooperation, M. Charles Josselin, est arrive le 20 octobre a Bujumbura pour une visite d'un jour. Apres avoir ete recu par le president Buyoya, il a declare a la presse que sa visite etait un signe que la France voulait accompagner le Burundi dans le processus de paix d'Arusha. M. Josselin a signe avec son homologue burundais deux conventions de financement d'une valeur de 9 millions de FF, l'une pour l'enseignement, l'autre pour le domaine juridique. (Agence burundaise de presse, 20 octobre 1999) * Burundi. Teaching French but violence continues - 20 October: Burundi and France sign two financial agreements under which Burundi will get nine million French francs for improving the teaching of French and uplifting the capacity to maintain law and order. At the same time, the United Nations says it will drastically reduce its operations in Burundi in the wake of last week's killings of two aid workers, and the ongoing violence in Burundi. At least 15 people have been killed in fresh fighting between government troops and Hutu rebels near Bujumbura. (ANB- BIA, Brussels, 20 October 1999) * Burundi. Infiltrations des rebelles - Les rebelles continuent a s'infiltrer dans le sud du Burundi. De nouveaux groupes ont ete signales les 14 et 15 octobre, venant de la Tanzanie et se dirigeant vers le parc de la Ruvubu. Les ministres de l'Interieur et de la Defense ont organise une reunion de tous les commandants de regions militaires, des gouverneurs de provinces et des commandants de districts, qui aura lieu a Gitega le 18 octobre. Apres le drame de Muzye, les Nations unies ont presse le gouvernement de trouver une alternative a l'insecurite grandissante, s'il ne voulait pas voir tous les programmes humanitaires interrompus. D'autre part, la principale organisation burundaise des droits de l'homme, la Ligue Iteka, a demande une enquete dans "la responsabilite administrative et la negligence possible" qui a entraine les meurtres de Muzye "dans une province ou on connaissait la precarite des conditions de securite". - Le 19 octobre, au moins 15 personnes ont ete tuees a Kanyosha, au sud de Bujumbura, par des militaires qui ont tendu une embuscade sur le pont Kizingwe tot le matin, arretant des pietons et enlevant des passagers. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 octobre 1999) * Congo-Brazza. Appel des eveques - Les eveques du Congo ont lance un appel au cessez-le-feu dans la guerre civile qui dechire leur pays. Denoncant "les massacres de civils, les viols et l'embrigadement de la jeunesse", ils demandent aux differentes parties du conflit d'ouvrir le dialogue et de permettre aux organisations humanitaires de soulager les populations. (La Croix, France, 19 octobre 1999) * Congo (RDC). S. Egidio "facilitateur" - La Communaute de Sant'Egidio peut etre le "facilitateur" ideal dans le processus de paix en cours, ont estime les 350 delegues de toutes les provinces du pays reunis le week-end du 9-10 octobre pour parler des accords de paix de Lusaka. Du cote de S. Egidio, on exige que la facilitation soit formalisee sans tarder, sans quoi la communaute pourrait inviter les parties congolaises a Rome meme. Dans un communique publie le 14 octobre, S. Egidio dit suivre avec beaucoup d'apprehension la situation au Congo et l'application de l'accord de cessez-le-feu. Le delai prevu pour le choix du facilitateur est arrive a echeance le 16 septembre dernier et le calendrier de Lusaka prevoit que le dialogue debute le 16 octobre. (D'apres CIP, Bruxelles, 14 octobre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Espoirs et contradictions - Les delegations etrangeres se multiplient a Kinshasa. Le 15 octobre, une delegation belge conduite par le secretaire general des Affaires etrangeres a quitte la capitale apres de multiples contacts; elle a notamment propose un pacte regional de securite et de stabilisation economique. Le meme jour, une importante delegation chinoise est arrivee afin de developper des accords de cooperation economique et militaire. Le ministre francais de la Cooperation, Charles Josselin, est attendu le 21 octobre. - D'autre part, prenant les accords de Lusaka au pied de la lettre, les autorites congolaises ont donne le coup d'envoi aux pourparlers intercongolais au Palais du Peuple, sans que les partis politiques soient deja enregistres. Mais les forces d'opposition refusent que le regime leur dicte les termes du debat, tandis que les partis tentent de mettre hors jeu une societe civile qui a deja tenu son propre atelier. (D'apres C.B., Le Soir, Belgique, 18 octobre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Entente Rwanda-Ouganda? - Le Rwanda et l'Ouganda se sont engages a soutenir un seul mouvement rebelle en RDC, a rapporte la radio rwandaise. Cet accord a fait suite a une visite au Rwanda d'une delegation ougandaise de haut niveau dans le cadre des efforts entrepris pour detendre les relations entre les deux pays apres les affrontements de leurs armees a Kisangani en aout dernier. - Toutefois, selon un communique de l'agence Misna du 19 octobre, de nouvelles escarmouches ont eu lieu entre troupes rwandaises et ougandaises le long du fleuve Semliki qui separe les territoires de Butembo-Beni et Rutshuru (au nord-est). (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 19 octobre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Cour internationale - Le 19 octobre, le Rwanda, le Burundi et l'Ouganda ont envoye d'importantes delegations defendre leur cause devant la Cour internationale de justice de La Haye. Ces trois pays sont traines devant cette juridiction par Kinshasa, qui les accuse d'avoir envahi le Congo. Il s'agissait de leur premiere comparution. Chaque delegation a ete recue separement par la Cour afin de prevoir le deroulement de la procedure (generalement longue devant cette juridiction). (La Libre Belgique, 20 octobre 1999) * Egypt. Muslim Brotherhood members arrested - Egyptian police have arrested 20 senior members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and accused them of various anti-government activities, security officials said on 16 October. The arrests took place on 14 October in Cairo's southern neighbourhood of Maadi, where 16 members were meeting at an office of the Engineers' Union. Four others were brought from their homes. (Infobeat, 18 October 1999) * Ethiopia. Repression intensified in the south - In connection with the expected national elections of May-June 2000, the Ethiopian peoples Revolutionary democratic Front (EPRDF) government has intensified the arrests of potential rivals in Southern Ethiopia. Many of the targets are members or sympathizers of the Southern Coalition (opposition), Southern Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Coalition (SEPDC). Confirmed reports reveal that the SEPDC plans to take part in the coming elections. Scores of officials and members of the SEPDC have been jailed without due process. At Burji, Yosef Adan, Mare Gulena and Lieutenant Mariye have been detained while the SEPDC's organizational affairs chief for Arba Minch was also arrested at Shele Kebele peasant association. The documents he had with him were all confiscated. Other reports indicate that SEPDC members have been detained at Awassa, Arba Minch, etc... always on trumped up charges or without any accusation being officially presented. The situation is being further compounded by the government's attempt to fuse four languages (Welaita,Gofa,Dawro and Gamo)into one (which it has called Wegagoda) and the popular opposition that this has engendered amongst the people. More than 100 peasants have been arrested in this connection (in Galo,Weyda and Humbo districts specially) and the government has let it be known that those who do not accept the new language will be punished (no grain distribution,etc,). Belete Gobena, Baza Gujebo, Hailu Halala, Asefa Kultu, Adisu Arbo, Sebsbe Wenamo, Begashaw Berata, Desalegn Darcho are among the imprisoned. Others like Eyasu Gejebo from Afa Woreda (district) have now been released but have been fired from their jobs. There are confirmed reports that most of the detained have been beaten or mistreated. SOCEPP calls on the EPRDF government to stop the repression directed against the cadres and members of legal opposition organizations. The Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP) demands the immediate release of all those jailed for political reasons or in connection with the attempt to impose a new language on the people. In this respect, the persecution of teachers should also be stopped. (SOCEPP, Germany, 14 October 1999) * Ghana. Student fees rise cancelled - 14 October: The government has cancelled big rises in university tuition fees following student protests which led to the authorities closing down the main campus in Accra. The Minister of Communications said that academic fees would be raised next year, but by a smaller amount than originally proposed. Student leaders say they hope the university will re-open soon in view of the government decision. (BBC News, 14 October 1999) * Ghana. Crisis at Ashanti - The recent woes of Africa's third largest gold mining company, Ashanti, have caused both an economic and political earthquake in Ghana. The minister of mines and energy has been dismissed for apparently indicating government acceptance of a takeover bid by British company Lonmin. The new minister has quickly stepped into what has suddenly become a hot seat in the Ghanaian capital. The Ghanaian government has a 20% share in the company, but its ability to challenge the bid depends on holding the fire of 17 banks who could call in a $270 million loan to Ashanti. the Ghanaian government has said it is considering all options for the future of Ashanti, including a possible investment by Saudi Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who already has some investments in the country. (BBC News, 19 October 1999) * Guinee Bissau. Accords de cooperation - A la fin d'une visite officielle, le Premier ministre du gouvernement d'unite nationale de Guinee Bissau, Francisco Fadul, quittera Rome le 18 octobre. Accompagne d'autres representants du gouvernement, il a signe d'importants accords avec la FAO et le gouvernement italien. (Misna, Italie, 18 octobre 1999) * Kenya/South Africa. "Keep off", says Moi - Relations between Kenya and South Africa took another blow yesterday when President Moi attacked the country's envoy for entering the debate on Kenya's constitutional review. The President told South Africa to stop imposing its ways on Kenya, which, he said, had a Constitution which had served it well and united wananchi since independence. On 8 October, South Africa's High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr Griffiths Memela, gave a keynote address at a Law Society of Kenya constitutional review conference in Nairobi, and suggested that Kenya borrows a leaf from South Africa to resolve the constitutional review stalemate. (Daily Nation, Kenya, 11 October 1999) * Liberia. Remaining wartime weapons destroyed - Liberia has finally bid farewell to war with the ceremonial destruction of a consignment of arms marking the end of a three-month exercise to rid the country of weapons of destruction. The exercise was concluded on 18 October and closes the final chapter of an era that brought death and destruction and untold suffering to many Liberians. (Peter Kahler, PANA, 19 October 1999) * Liberia. Mission d'evaluation? - Le gouvernement du Liberia a invite des experts internationaux a se rendre dans le pays le mois prochain en vue d'une evaluation de la part des donateurs, a informe radio Star. L'objectif de la mission consistera a examiner la situation financiere du Liberia dans le but d'une assistance aux programmes de restructuration. La visite aurait egalement pour objet de convaincre les donateurs de l'incapacite du gouvernement de rembourser sa dette. (IRIN, Abidjan, 18 octobre 1999) * Malawi. Qualifying for debt relief - Malawi, with a staggering debt of US $2.4 billion mow qualifies to be a member of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) which qualify for debt relief. According to the World Development Report 1999/2000, compiled by the World Bank. Malawi, with an average annual per capita income of US $200 has been rated eighth from the bottom in economic performance. Willie Chatsika, a Malawian academician based in the United Kingdom, says it is a pity that Malawi's per capita income is similar to that of war-torn Eritrea and only better than Niger's US $190, Burundi's US $140, Sierra Leone's US $160 and Ethiopia's US $100. Finance Minister Cassim said in Lilongwe on 13 October, that Malawi is yet to make a formal decision on the matter of requesting developed nations and financial institutions, to write- off the country's debt. (Brian Ligomeka, Malawi, 18 october 1999) * Malawi/Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe expels Malawian diplomat - A Malawian diplomat has been expelled from Zimbabwe following "unpalatable utterances", Foreign Affairs officials said on October 19. The official, Martin Kaluluma Phiri, who has been second secretary of political affairs at Malawi's mission in Harare since 1996 was given four days to leave Zimbabwe. Foreign Affairs officials said the Malawi government has since interdicted Phiri pending investigations on his misbehaviour. The incident comes barely a week after Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Brown Mpinganjira admonished Malawian diplomats for "extravagance" and "un-Malawian" behaviour. Speaking after veteran diplomat Ron Nkomba had given him a paper on the importance of etiquette in foreign postings, Mpinganjira said it was shameful for Malawian diplomats to be expelled on charges of misconduct. He warned that whoever gets expelled for bad behaviour will be summarily dismissed. Phiri is said to have made some remarks which did not go down well with his hosts. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 19 October 1999) * Malawi. Education problems - Traditional leaders in Malawi have asked the government to consider changing its school calender because the current one interferes with initiation ceremonies among the local tribes. Chief Kalembo of the southern district of Machinga, told ministry of education officials, who were on a familiarisation tour in his area, that the government should revert to giving pupils their school vacations in August and September, instead of the current November and December. "Initiation rites are held in August and September because during November and December people are busy in their gardens," said Kalembo whose area of authority is in the district where the country's head of state, Bakili Muluzi, comes from. The chief said that while traditional leaders and all Malawians appreciate the importance of education, cultural values should not be ignored. Kalembo said according to tradition, initiation rites for both girls and boys are supposed to be conducted soon after harvest of crops in July, August and September. Boys and girls of various ages undergo several days of initiation ceremonies during the months of July, August and September which include "out of village" secret rites culminating in open feasts. (Aubrey Sumbuleta, Malawi, 20 October 1999) * Maroc. Le roi dans le Rif - Ces derniers jours, le roi Mohamed VI a visite la region du Rif, dans le nord du pays, une region desheritee ou son passage a souleve un immense espoir. Le roi a visite et lance plusieurs grands projets deja inities depuis quelque temps. A Tetouan, il a donne le coup d'envoi a deux projets autoroutiers. A Al-Hoceima, il a inaugure l'electrification de 155 villages. Et le 18 octobre, il devait inaugurer un barrage, puis un vaste programme de logements sociaux a Oujda, sur la frontiere maroco-algerienne. (D'apres Liberation, France, 18 octobre 1999) * Medecins sans Frontieres. Nobel Peace Prize - The international humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), has been awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize. "We are very very proud. We are very pleased and very honoured", says MSF's Secretary-General Jean- Marie Kindermans.The prize includes a cash award of about $960,000. "With this amount of money," Mr Kindermans added, "we will work more for forgotten populations, which is the more difficult situation to get funds for". (BBC News, 15 October 1999) * Mozambique. Prawn farming - Across the river from Quelimane, the quiet capital of Mozambique's rural Zambezia province, around 20 hectares of ponds and low-rise sheds could be about to revolutionise the country's prawn business. Tiger prawns, caught mainly by Japanese and Spanish boats are already the country's largest export earner, bringing in about $80 million-$90 million a year. But future growth is limited by stocks, and concerns have been expressed about over-fishing. Spotting an opportunity, and encouraged by Mozambique's new-found peace and economic growth, a French-financed company, Aquapesca, has launched the country's first commercial prawn farm and laboratory, and claims its initial results are extremely encouraging. (Financial Times, UK, 20 October 1999) * Niger. Election presidentielle - Le premier tour de l'election presidentielle, le 17 octobre, s'est deroule sans incident majeur et en toute regularite. Le scrutin a eu lieu dans "le calme, la serenite, la transparence et l'honnetete", ont precise les quelque 70 observateurs dans un communique commun. Aucun des sept candidats n'ayant obtenu la majorite absolue, un second tour aura lieu le 24 octobre. Selon des resultats provisoires publies le 20 octobre, il opposera Mamadou Tandja, candidat de l'ancien parti unique, qui a recueilli 32,30% des suffrages, a l'ancien Premier ministre Mahamadou Issoufou, qui en a obtenu 22,78%. L'ancien president Mahamane Ousmane, qui avait d'abord ete indique comme le probable deuxieme candidat, a obtenu 22,52% des voix, selon les chiffres de la Commission electorale independante. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 octobre 1999) * Niger. Presidential elections - 17 October: Presidential elections meant to transfer power from the army to civilian rule go smoothly, with a slow but steady stream of voters. Officials report only minor logistical problems. Some polling stations open late because of a shortage of vehicles to distribute voting materials. And many of those arriving to vote have to search through piles of undistributed voter cards for their documents before they can cast their ballots. 19 October: Tanja Mamadou is provisionally ahead of six other presidential aspirants, on the basis of results from 37 out of the 57 constituencies so far released. But all signs indicate that no clear winner will emerge and a second ballot will have to be held on 24 November. 20 October: The presidential election will now go to a run-off on 24 November. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 21 October 1999) * Nigeria. Abacha's son on trial - 13 October: CNN reports that uncertainty surrounds the trial of Mohammed Abacha, son of the late General Sani Abacha, and also of security aides of the late General. 14 October: Abacha appears in court in Lagos to answer two separate murder charges. He is charged with others, of conspiracy and murder in June 1994 of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late politician, Moshood Abiola. In a separate charge, Mohammed Abacha and one of Gen. Abacha's former intelligence officers, Lt.Col. Ibrahim Yakassai, are also standing trial for the 1997 prison murder of Nigeria's former deputy military ruler, Lt. Col. Shehu Musa Ya'ardua. No plea is taken and the accused are ordered to be remanded in custody and the trial is adjourned to 17 November. (Paul Ejime, PANA, 14 October 1999) * Nigeria. Le fils d'Abacha inculpe - Le 14 octobre, Mohammed Abacha, fils de l'ancien dictateur Sani Abacha, a ete inculpe pour le meurtre de Kudirat Abiola, l'epouse de l'ancien candidat a la presidence Moshood Abiola et militante des droits de l'homme, abattue par balles dans sa voiture en 1996 a Lagos. Plusieurs des proches du dictateur decede ont egalement ete inculpes pour ce meurtre ainsi que pour celui du general en retraite Shehu Musa Y'Ardua. C'est la premiere inculpation pour des violations des droits de l'homme commises pendant les annees de dictature au Nigeria. - Par ailleurs, d'autres dignitaires de l'ancien regime ont egalement ete arretes dans le cadre de differentes enquetes. L'ex-chef d'etat-major des armees, le general Ishaya Bamaiyi, ainsi que l'ancien inspecteur general de la police, Ibrahim Coomassie, ont ete assignes a residence. Leur arrestation fait suite a une serie d'interpellations de dirigeants proches de l'ancien chef d'Etat, parmi lesquels deux ex-administrateurs militaires d'Etat, le chef des forces de police de Lagos, ainsi que des collaborateurs de responsables des forces de securite. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 octobre 1999) * Nigeria. Christians challenge Sharia plan - Christian leaders in Nigeria have protested against a plan to introduce Islamic Sharia law in Zamfara State from the end of October. The state assembly in Zamfara has passed a Bill to introduce the Sharia Code from 27 October. The state governor is determined to press on with his project, which is now being keenly discussed across Nigeria. (BBC News. 18 October 1999) * Sierra Leone. Retour des refugies - Plus de 3.000 refugies sont rentres du Liberia vers le district de Kailahun, dans l'est de la Sierra Leone, a indique le 15 octobre le representant du HCR a Freetown. La plupart d'entre eux etaient en relativement bonne sante. Un des problemes cruciaux pour le retour des refugies est la destruction massive des batiments dans les villages de la region pendant la guerre civile qui a dure huit ans. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 15 octobre 1999) * Sierra Leone. Bishop Biguzzi - 18 October: A series of dispatches from the MISNA news agency, Rome, concerns the disappearance of the Catholic Bishop of Makeni Diocese, Bishop Biguzzi. At 12.57, MISNA reported that according to an eyewitness, the prelate was kidnapped on 15 October together with two priests and a group of humanitarian operators. at 17.41, MISNA reported that "we were told by various sources that the group was rescued by an armed formation". At 19.51, Lt. Col. John Paul Koroma contacted MISNA, denying any responsibility in the kidnapping. By 21.2. MISNA was able to report that the Bishop was safe, as also his 15 collaborators. 19 October: MISNA sends the following to ANB-BIA: The message received by MISNA from Lt. Col Koroma states that "Bishop Biguzzi and others were not kidnapped by members of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council as erroneously reported by your news agency today and subsequently spread across the world by several other news agencies. Bishop Biguzzi was in fact rescued from imminent death by my men. Even as I type out this message, scores of civilians fleeing the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)'s carnage in Makeni, are reporting that the Bishops' Mercedes Benz is being driven around the town by Issa Sesay, who is the leader of the marauding band of RUF invaders. Upon my instructions, by Saturday, my men had withdrawn from the town without firing a single shot at innocent civilians..." (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 October 1999) * Sierra Leone. Un eveque enleve? - Le 15 octobre, des affrontements ont eu lieu a Makeni, dans le nord, entre d'anciens rebelles du Conseil revolutionnaire des forces armees (AFRC) et du Front revolutionnaire uni (RUF), selon les organes d'information. On apprenait ensuite que, le meme jour, Mgr Giorgio Biguzzi, eveque de Makeni, aurait ete enleve par un groupe arme, avec 15 collaborateurs, dont deux pretres. D'apres un temoin oculaire, l'eveque aurait ete enleve a Masungbo, une localite proche de Makeni. Le 19 octobre, on apprenait de sources religieuses, que l'eveque et ses compagnons etaient sains et saufs; ils se trouvaient alors a Bumbuna, a 40 km de Makeni, et devaient regagner Freetown le lendemain. Selon l'eveque, il n'y a pas eu d'enlevement. "Nous avons ete otages d'une situation, non de groupes armes. Personne n'a jamais voulu nous sequestrer, nous sommes seulement restes bloques". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 20 octobre 1999) * Sierra Leone. Push for peace - 18 October: The US will help fund a new United Nations peacekeeping force to oversee the disarmament of 45,000 combatants. The Americans have promised to pay a quarter of the cost of a 6,000-strong force. The UK has also said it will contribute money. 20 October: Sierra Leone has officially launched a programme to disarm and demobilise rebel fighters, with rebels handing in weapons at a ceremony in Freetown. It's estimated there are 45,000 fighters to be disarmed in towns and dense jungle throughout the country. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 21 October 1999) * Somalie. Convoi du PAM attaque - Le 15 octobre, lors de l'attaque par une bande armee d'un convoi du Programme alimentaire mondial dans le sud de la Somalie, au moins 5 personnes ont ete tuees et 8 autres blessees. L'attaque, a laquelle a succede un violent echange de coups de feu entre l'escorte du convoi et les assaillants, s'est produite dans le district de Mahaday. La bande armee aurait agi en represailles contre des elemens de l'escorte, les accusant d'avoir assassine plusieurs de leurs camarades. (Le Monde, France, 17 octobre 1999) * South Africa/Mozambique. South African help for Mozambican refugees - South Africa's department of home affairs in the Northern Province has set a March deadline for registering Mozambicans who have been in the country for more than 20 years as permanent residents. The registration is government policy, and is meant to help Mozambicans who fled the civil war in their home country that started in the 1970s, and ended in 1992. Northern Province home affairs spokesman Victor Mabunda said on 14 October that R300,000 had been put aside for the process. "(Some of it) will be used for transporting 14 contract workers hired to assist in registering the applications, because there is a huge amount of work to be done," he said. The process of handling the applications started on 9 August, and Mabunda said it would be completed by March. More than 30,000 applications had been received since August, said Mabunda. He added that most applications were coming from the former Gazankulu homeland, where camps were built in the 1980s for Mozambican refugees. "Initially they did not come to look for jobs. "But later they moved to other parts of the province and later to Gauteng, seeking employment," said Mabunda. "Some of these people are fluent in Shangaan, a language spoken widely in this area. "And some are working in the province," he said. Mabunda said the decision on the registrations came from the national Department of Home Affairs in June. "Those who did not qualify when they first applied are free to appeal," he added. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 15 October 1999) * Tanzanie. Obseques de Julius Nyerere - Le corps de l'ancien president tanzanien Julius Nyerere, decede a Londres le 14 octobre, est arrive le 18 octobre a l'aeroport de Dar es-Salaam. Place sur l'affut d'un canon, le cercueil a ensuite ete conduit a travers la ville. Le corps de M. Nyerere sera expose dans le plus grand stade de Dar es-Salaam pour que les gens puissent lui rendre un dernier hommage. Le 21 octobre, ce sera le tour des dignitaires etrangers. Les funerailles auront lieu le 23 octobre dans son village natal a Dutiama. (D'apres l'Ag. burundaise de presse, 18 octobre 1999) * Tanzania. Tributes to Julius Nyerere - Tributes to Julius Nyerere who died in London on 14 October, have poured in from all over the world. The BBC says that E-Mails from around the world have been arriving on the BBC News Online website, telling of his honesty and integrity. The BBC says Nyerere was one of the most influential African statesmen of his generation and describes him as "the conscience of Africa". The OAU has paid glowing tributes, describing Nyerere as an ardent advocate of African unity and an indefatigable defender of the freedom and dignity of its people. CNN says that Africa grieves the loss of Tanzania's "teacher", Julius Nyerere, and the world mourns the former independence champion. AP describes Nyerere as "the father of Tanzanian independence and a symbol of Africa's hopes". PANA describes Nyerere's death as "the end of an era". South Africa's ANC says the ANC is devastated at the news of the death of Julius Nyerere. "The organisation weeps in memory of this giant amongst men". The World Council of Churches (WCC) issues the following tribute: "Throughout Africa's struggle for liberation from colonization and against apartheid, the WCC, in its efforts to support that cause, sought the guidance and insights of the man who, as chairman of the "frontline states", inspired and exemplified the struggle...We give thanks to God for his life and pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace". The Tanzania government has proclaimed a month of national mourning. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 19 October 1999) * Tanzanie. L'adieu a Julius Nyerere - Une plethore de dirigeants africains et internationaux se sont retrouves jeudi a Dar es- Salaam, pour les funerailles d'Etat du premier president de la Tanzanie, devenu de son vivant une legende du continent noir. Aux seize chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement africains, plusieurs vetus de blanc, la couleur du deuil islamique, s'etaient jointes des personnalites du monde entier, dont la secretaire d'Etat americaine Madeleine Albright et la princesse Anne d'Angleterre, vetues de noir sous des chapeaux a larges bords, ou encore l'Aga Khan, chef spirituel des Ismaeliens, cette confrerie musulmane majoritairement presente dans l'industrie tanzanienne, pour le plus grand rassemblement international qu'ait connu cette capitale sur l'ocean Indien. Etaient notamment presents l'Ougandais Yoweri Museveni, qui fit ses classes a l'universite de Dar es-Salaam, a l'epoque ou la capitale de Nyerere etait la Mecque et le refuge de tous les opposants et intellectuels africains, luttant pour la liberte et contre l'apartheid. Assistaient egalement aux funerailles le Kenyan Daniel arap Moi, le Zimbabween Robert Mugabe, les freres ennemis de la Corne, le president erythreen Isaias Afwerki et le Premier ministre ethiopien Meles Zenawi, ainsi que les presidents de Zambie, Namibie, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, Botswana et Malawi, et le roi du Swaziland. Le grand absent, pour cause de visite au Proche-Orient, a ete l'ancien president sud-africain Nelson Mandela, seul homme sur tout le continent a etre revere a l'egal de Nyerere. Thabo Mbeki, son successeur, etait en revanche present. Prenant le relais des simples citoyens venus en masse se recueillir depuis mardi, ils ont defile devant la depouille mortelle du fondateur de la Tanzanie moderne, vetu de la simple saharienne grise qu'il affectionnait. Le service religieux fut ensuite oecumenique pour ce catholique mort le 14 octobre a Londres des suites de complications d'une leucemie, a l'age de 77 ans. Modestie, integrite, humanite, stabilite, Nyerere incarnait ces valeurs rares sur le continent des dictatures, de la violence et du pouvoir comme synonyme d'enrichissement personnel. (S. Linnee, AP,Dar es-Salaam, 21 octobre 1999) * Tunisie. Elections et liberte de presse - A l'occasion de la campagne electorale en Tunisie, Reporters sans frontieres denonce les atteintes systematiques a la liberte de presse dans ce pays et demande aux candidats de s'engager a faire respecter la liberte d'expression. L'election presidentielle et le scrutin legislatif auront lieu le dimanche 24 octobre. Du fait de l'absence d'une presse independante, la campagne electorale releve plutot d'une mascarade, estime RSF. Alors que tous les quotidiens publient chaque jour a la une une photo du president Ben Ali, les deux autres candidats, Abderrahmane Tlili et Mohamed Belhadj Amor, doivent se contenter d'une presence mediatique symbolique. Par ailleurs, affirme l'organisation, toute information susceptible de constituer une critique du regime est interdite, et les journalistes independants seraient en outre la cible d'un veritable harcelement. - Mustapha Ben Jaafar, l'un des dirigeants du Conseil national des libertes en Tunisie, a defini les elections de dimanche comme "une course entre une Mercedes et un cycliste". Malgre la presence (symbolique) de deux candidats de l'opposition, la victoire du president Ben Ali, au pouvoir depuis 1987, ne fait aucun doute. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 21 octobre 1999) * Ouganda. Le general Kazini rappele - Le general James Kazini, commandant des forces ougandaises au Congo RDC, a ete rappele au pays pour y etre affecte a un autre commandement. Cette mutation survient a la suite du rapport conjoint des chefs d'etat-major des armees rwandaise et ougandaise qui semble impliquer le general Kazini comme ayant ete a l'origine de la confrontation entre les deux armees a Kisangani. Le ministre de la Defense a toutefois annonce que les troupes ougandaises resteraient en RDC tant que la securite ne serait pas revenue. (Azania, Burundi, 18 octobre 1999) * Zambia. Angolan refugees pour into Zambia - About 1,250 Angolan refugees have arrived in Zambia during the past fortnight following the fierce fighting in Angola's central highlands between government and UNITA rebel forces, a government spokesman said on 19 October. More refugees were expected to enter Zambia as UNITA forces, escaping the Angolan army's offensive against their strongholds of Bailundo and Andulo in the central highlands, moved into the province of Moxico which borders Zambia and Congo RDC. Moxico, a remote and fertile region, is Angola's largest province and analysts in Lusaka said it could soon become the next conflict arena of the Angolan civil war. Speaking in a telephone interview from Solwezi, permanent secretary Maybin Mubanga of Zambia's Northwestern province said that the refugees told gory tales of UNITA rebels allegedly raping women, killing people and burning homes and forcibly conscripting young men of 15 years and older. Some women and girls, the refugees claimed, were conscripted as cooks. Mubanga appealed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Lusaka to take stock of the new arrivals and provide basic human needs. "The situation is quite critical but manageable," he said. A UNHCR spokesman said he was aware of the latest refugees influx but said normal screening procedures were being followed in collaboration with the Zambian authorities in the ministry of Home Affairs to ascertain the authenticity of the refugees. Zambia is a host to more than 144,000 Angolan refugees scattered in its northwestern and western provinces that share a long border with Angola. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 20 Sept 1999)