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: 10-11-1999 * Africa. Malaria -- New drugs - Malaria kills almost three million people each year because western pharmaceutical companies have refused to develop anti-malarial drugs for impoverished Third World countries. Countries like South Africa -- where malaria reports are higher than they've been in years at 42 000 cases and are expected to increase this summer -- cannot afford to pay First World prices for drugs. But this week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) unveiled a groundbreaking new programme that will develop new anti-malarial drugs every five years for poorer countries. Dr Steven Toovey, producer of the e-mail-based Medinfo, said on 4 November, that the Medicines for Malaria Venture would cost US $15 million dollars per year until 2001 and then increase to US $30 million. "The intention of the Medicines for Malaria Venture is to bring a new anti-malarial drug to the market every five years," he said. The programme is a co-operative venture between WHO, private and public donors, and the pharmaceutical industry. The major pharmaceutical companies, through the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, have agreed to contribute scientific expertise and help provide research infrastructure. WHO is seeking funds for the programme from private philanthropic organisations such as the Rockefeller Foundation, and other non-governmental organisations involved in humanitarian work. The World Bank and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development are amongst other contributors of funds. South African based medical director of British Airways Travel Clinics, Dr Andrew Jamieson, said the programme was welcomed because malaria had grown increasingly resistant to existing drugs like chloroquine. "Chloroquine, for long a reliable and dependable antimalarial used for both treatment and prevention, is no longer effective in most areas of the world", he explained. He said the Medicines for Malaria Venture represented the first international public and private sector collaboration in the health sphere. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 5 November 1999) * Africa. Action against the Media. - Congo RDC: Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) has protested the arrest of journalist, Polycarpe Honsek Okwoy, in Kinshasa. The journalist is director of the three- times weekly La Solidarite and according to information received on 6 November by RSF, was arrested by eight armed men who took him to the Gombe public prosecutor's office (in Kinshasa). Nigeria: In a letter sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs on 9 November, Reporters sans Frontieres expresses concern about the murder on 5 November of a photo-journalist, Samuel Boyi, when unidentified bandits attacked the convoy of the Adamawa state governor who was on his way from Yola to Bauchi. Uganda: Three senior journalists have gone on trial on charges of publishing false news and sedition. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 November 1999) * Africa/USA. Senate passes Trade Bill - The US has passed a long expected Trade Bill that will expand trade relations between the US and sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Central America. The Bill, approved on 3 November by a vote of 76-19, will grant duty- free access to the US market for goods, particularly textiles and apparels from the targeted countries. The passage of the Bill by the Senate, which killed it last year, paves the way for a conference of the two US legislative houses to reconcile their two related Trade Bills. The US House of Representatives has passed the Africa Trade Bill twice since last year, the last time being in July, along the House legislation concerns only sub-Saharan Africa. (Jerome Hale, PANA, 4 November 1999) * Africa/The Commonwealth. Summit in Durban - 7 November: The 50th biennial reunion of the Commonwealth will be held 12-15 November in Durban, South Africa, and will be presided by Queen Elizabeth II. More than 50 leaders will come together, as the Commonwealth celebrates its 50th year as a pro-democracy force. South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki is hosting the conference. 8 November: Four countries could face expulsion from the Commonwealth if new proposals for membership criteria based on democracy and human rights are adopted. The countries in question are Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia and Sri Lanka. Commonwealth medical association say that Commonwealth leaders should declare a global state of emergency on AIDS and lead efforts to stem the pandemic. 9 November: Amnesty International says that Cameroon is failing to protect the fundamental human rights of its citizens and the Commonwealth should reinforce the recent recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee and give a clear signal to Cameroon that it must comply with its international human rights obligations. Queen Elizabeth II arrives in South Africa. Business leaders and heads of state from the Commonwealth are meeting in Johannesburg to discuss the impact of globalisation on developing economies. The three-day Forum comes in the run-up to the Commonwealth Conference. (ANB- BIA, Brussels, 7-10 November 1999) * Afrique centrale. La guerre s'approfondit - Les declarations fracassantes faites cette semaine par Kinshasa, annoncant une reprise de la guerre si les armees rwandaise, ougandaise et burundaise n'evacuaient pas rapidement le Congo, ne constituent pas la seule menace sur les accords de paix de Lusaka. Le Zimbabwe Independant du 5 novembre, citant une source militaire zimbabweenne, affirme que les recents succes de l'armee angolaise contre la guerilla de l'Unita ont ete possibles grace a l'appui de 2.000 soldats d'elite zimbabweens arrives du Congo. Le meme journal ajoute que Jonas Savimbi aurait trouve refuge en Ouganda, allie des rebelles congolais. Par ailleurs, des informations indiquent que Kigali entretient des relations suivies avec l'Unita et que le general "Bok", patron des services de renseignement militaires de l'Unita doit se rendre prochainement au Rwanda pour prendre livraison d'une cargaison d'armes en provenance de Bulgarie, destinees a 16.000 troupes d'elite de l'Unita regroupees pres du Bas-Congo. De nouvelles recrues arriveraient en outre par la Zambie, parmi lesquelles on trouverait d'anciens militaires de Mobutu ainsi que des Tutsi de nationalite non precisee. L'intrication grandissante des alliances tactiques rend chaque jour plus difficile la pacification effective de la region. (M.-F.C., La Libre Belgique, 6 novembre 1999) * Algerie. Regain de violence - 5 novembre. Selon la presse algerienne, un commando d'islamistes aurait abattu six passagers d'un autobus et blesse seize autres, a un faux barrage routier, dans la region de Medea, zone d'influence du GIA, a une centaine de km au sud d'Alger. De meme source, 35 personnes auraient ete tuees la semaine derniere. 9 novembre. Les attentats contre les militaires ont repris depuis trois jours en Kabylie, a l'est d'Alger, apres une accalmie de deux mois, faisant sept morts, dont trois officiers, et quatre blesses, selon des bilans de la presse. Ces attentats n'ont pas ete confirmes de source officielle. (Liberation, France, 5-9 novembre 1999) * Angola. Missionnaire italien tue - Un missionnaire catholique italien, le Pere Umberto Negrini, a ete tue le 30 octobre en Angola, rapporte l'agence Misna. Membre de la congregation des Oeuvres de Don Calabria, le religieux age de 59 ans a ete abattu par des bandits armes qui voulaient lui voler sa voiture. Il vivait depuis quatorze ans en Angola. (CIP, Bruxelles, 4 novembre 1999) * Angola. Concern over new mine attacks - The security situation around Angola's eastern city of Luena, is of great concern, due to an increase in mine incidents, humanitarian organisations have warned. A total of 24 incidents were registered in the last two months in a 60 km perimeter around Luena, the provincial capital of Moxico. Access roads are being re-mined by what a UN report described as "unknown groups of people". October's toll of mine blasts was the worst so far this year, with 29 people killed or wounded in 18 incidents. According to aid workers in Luena, most of the explosions occurred within a 25 km perimeter of the city. The majority of victims were civilians. They reported that a man was recently captured by the police in Luena smuggling anti-personnel mines into the city. The aid workers said there was speculation among residents that the UNITA rebel movement was paying people to lay new mines. In the rest of the province, the government army (FAA) has reportedly surrounded the UNITA-held enclave of Cazombo on the Zambian border, the last municipality not in government hands. However, road movement is still restricted to the FAA only, and from Luena does not extend beyond Lucusse 110 km to the southeast, and Luacano 220 km to the east. Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has reported fresh mine incidents around the northern city of Malanje. On 2 November, a WFP-hired lorry hit an anti-tank mine close to the city. On 21 October, another WFPþ contracted lorry had detonated an anti-personnel mine in the same area. "These incidents reinforce the need for the WFP to evaluate the security situation carefully before increasing the volume of road transport in the Central North Region", the agency said. (IRIN, Southern Africa, 8 November 1999) * Angola. Soldats zimbabweens: Luanda dement - Le 8 novembre, le gouvernement angolais a dementi la presence de soldats zimbabweens en Angola pour combattre l'Unita, qui subit une offensive gouvernementale depuis le 14 septembre. Des journaux sud-africains et un zimbabween avaient affirme que 2.000 soldats du Zimbabwe etaient presents en Angola. Le regime angolais apporte son aide militaire a Kinshasa, qui est egalement soutenu militairement par le Zimbabwe et la Namibie. (La Libre Belgique, 9 novembre 1999) * Benin. Message des eveques - La Conference episcopale du Benin a adresse un message a la population a propos de "l'insecurite grandissante dans le pays" a la suite des evenements violents qui se multiplient, surtout dans le nord du pays, et restent le plus souvent impunis. Les eveques mettent en garde contre une "vindicte populaire qui se substitue aux forces de l'ordre et a la justice impuissante". (La Croix, France, 9 novembre 1999) * Burundi. On recherche mediateur - Les autorites burundaises ont sollicite l'Afrique du Sud pour prendre le relais de l'ancien president tanzanien Julius Nyerere pour poursuivre la mediation du conflit au Burundi. Mais le 4 novembre, la faction du CNDD (mouvement rebelle) de Leonard Nyangoma a rejete toute mediation de l'Afrique du Sud, considerant que ce pays ne repond pas aux criteres de "neutralite, equilibre et impartialite" requis. Par ailleurs, le secretaire general adjoint de l'Onu charge des affaires politiques, M. Prendergast, effectuera une visite au Burundi de 6 au 9 novembre en rapport avec la relance du processus de paix et la recherche d'un nouveau mediateur. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5 novembre 1999) * Burundi. Dette exterieure - En date du 31 aout 1999, la dette exterieure du Burundi etait evaluee a 612,595 milliards de francs burundais, soit 1,072 milliard de dollars, a indique le departement de la Tresorerie au ministere burundais des Finances. Les prets de la cooperation multilaterale et bilaterale representent plus de 98% de cette dette. Les arrieres de remboursement s'elevent a 64,262 millions de dollars. (Agence burundaise de presse, 7 novembre 1999) * Burundi. Embuscade meurtriere - Le 8 novembre, treize personnes, dont dix civils, ont ete tuees et douze autres blessees dans une embuscade tendue par la rebellion hutu a Musenyi, au centre du Burundi, a indique le gouverneur de la province de Muramvya. L'embuscade a eu lieu vers midi sur une route nationale (RN1) a environ 50 km au nord de la capitale. Selon le gouverneur, les rebelles ont ouvert le feu sur cinq vehicules, dont un minibus de transport en commun, un camion-citerne, un taxi, une jeep et une simple voiture. (La Libre Belgique, 9 novembre 1999) * Burundi. Serious concern - 5 November: The FAO says hundreds of thousands of people in Burundi have been displaced and risk starvation following an upsurge in violence. Escalating fighting in rural areas over the last two months has displaced some 300,000 people, taking the total number living in refugee camps to more than 800,000. "Living conditions in these sites are reported to be extremely poor, with no clean water, shelter and sanitary facilities", FAO said in a statement. 7 November: The government says a new mediator is urgently needed to help end the six-year civil war in Burundi, following the death of Julius Nyerere. 8 November: Officials say at least twelve people, including three soldiers, have been killed in an ambush by rebels. Seven others were seriously wounded in the attack, which took place on the road at Kavumu, some 37km north of Bujumbura. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 November 1999) * Centrafrique. Nouveau cabinet - M. Anicet-Georges Dologuele, ancien Premier ministre qui avait demissionne lors des elections et a ete renomme au meme poste, a forme un nouveau gouvernement compose de 24 ministres qui vont servir sous l'autorite du president Patasse. Le nouveau cabinet comprend des membres du parti au pouvoir, le Mouvement de liberation du peuple centrafricain, mais aussi de six autres partis de l'opposition ainsi que des representants de la societe civile. La coalition de l'opposition avait declare auparavant qu'elle ne participerait pas au nouveau gouvernement. (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 5 novembre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Changement a la Gecamines - Le 3 novembre, le president Kabila a nomme M. Georges Forest, de nationalite belge, a la tete du conseil d'administration de la Gecamines, la societe d'Etat d'exploitation du cuivre et du cobalt au Katanga, ou il remplace le tres controverse Billy Rautenbach, Zimbabween nomme il y a un an. Ce dernier etait accuse a Lubumbashi de pratiquer une rationalisation sauvage de la Gecamines, se traduisant par les milliers de licenciements et par le refus d'honorer des contrats passes avec des societes de sous-traitance de la place, au benefice d'entreprises situees au Zimbabwe. Cependant, tout comme Rautenbach, M. Forest est le patron d'entreprises privees ayant des contrats avec la societe publique, ce qui peut creer des conflits d'interets. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5 novembre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Droits de l'homme - Selon un rapport de l'emissaire de l'Onu pour les droits de l'homme au Congo, Roberto Garreton, arrestations et executions arbitraires se multiplient dans ce pays. L'avocat chilien a evoque des massacres, viols systematiques et mutilations commis par les rebelles congolais. Les defenseurs des droits de l'homme sont victimes d'une "repression continue": menaces de mort en zone rebelle et victimes d'arrestations arbitraires en zone gouvernementale. - D'autre part, l'association congolaise des droits de l'homme ASADHO a denonce le "climat de terreur" qui regne dans l'est du pays, dans les zones controlees par les deux factions du Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie. Dans un communique publie a Kinshasa, l'organisation denonce "la politique de la rebellion de gouverner par la terreur et la repression". Joint a ce communique, un rapport de vingt pages, consacre a la situation dans le territoire de Beni dans le Nord-Kivu, affirme que l'insecurite y est totale et que des bandes armees y sement la terreur. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 novembre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Rebels disown ceasefire - 7 November: Leaders of two rebel groups in Congo RDC say they have taken up arms again to fight the government of President Kabila, after attacks on their positions by Kabila's troops. The leader of the Ugandan-backed Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC), Jean-Pierre Bemba, said Kabila had violated the ceasefire by attacking his troops in Dongo. His comments were echoed by another Ugandan-backed rebel group, the faction of the Congolese Rally for Democracy led by Ernest Wamba dia Wamba and based in Kisangani. 8 November: The Joint Military Commission says it will deploy 30 officers as soon as possible to investigate reports of ceasefire violations. A UN special envoy, Moustapha Niasse from Senegal, begins talks with President Kabila's government. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 November 1999) * Congo (RDC). Une religieuse visiteuse de prison arretee - L'agence nationale de renseignements (ANR) a arrete vendredi 5 novembre, a Lubumbashi, soeur Antoinette Farhi, ursuline congolaise engagee dans l'assistance penitenciere. La religieuse est accusee d'avoir joue l'intermediaire entre des detenus politiques de la prison de Bulo, pres de Likasi, province du Katanga, ou elle travaille, et ceux de Makala, la plus grande prison de Kinshasa, ou elle s'etait rendue il y a un mois. Selon les agents de l'ANR, elle aurait fait passer des informations aux prisonniers a cette occasion. La police l'avait deja interrogee le 4 novembre a ce sujet. Des informations en provenance de Lubumbashi indiquent que la soeur aurait ete transfere a Kinshasa le 6 novembre. Pendant de longues annees la religieuse a visite les prisons de la region, portant du reconfort surtout a ceux qui n'ont pas de contact avec leurs familles, des avocats ou des agences humanitaires. Elle etait le seul appui pour ces detenus, a qui elle portait de la nourriture, des habits et des medicaments. (D'apres Amnesty International, 7 novembre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Paix caduque - Apres les declarations belliqueuses de Kinshasa la semaine derniere, une partie des rebelles congolais a declare "nuls et non avenus" les accords de paix de Lusaka. Le 6 novembre, J.P. Bemba, leader du MLC soutenu par l'Ouganda, a declare caducs les accords de paix en raison des attaques lancees par la coalition pro-Kabila, qui aurait bombarde plusieurs villes, repris Libanda et lance une attaque contre Dongo a la frontiere centrafricaine. Par ailleurs, le RCD-Wamba a egalement annonce que ses soldats reprenaient les combats, et le RCD-Goma a menace de faire de meme si la communaute internationale ne condamnait pas Kinshasa. De son cote, Kinshasa assure que, depuis la signature du cessez-le-feu, les rebelles ont continue a masser des troupes dans le nord du Katanga, et que plusieurs villes et localites ont ete saisies dans l'Equateur par le MLC. Le gouvernement a egalement annonce, le 6 novembre, que plusieurs milliers de rebelles angolais de l'Unita ont afflue le long de la frontiere et rejoint les rebelles congolais. S'il est trop tot pour affirmer que les accords de Lusaka sont morts, ils ont en tous cas du plomb dans l'aile. Selon le quotidien ougandais New Vision, les troupes ougandaises ont ete placees en etat d'alerte maximum. De son cote, le RCD-Goma a denonce une autre violation de la treve par les forces gouvernementales qui ont attaque la ville de Wema, pres de Bokungu, dans le nord du Congo, et assure que le regime Kabila aurait achete des chasseurs Mig. Le 9 novembre, le porte-parole du RCD-Goma a declare que l'accord de cessez-le-feu "ne constitue plus le cadre qui amenera a la paix". Il a par ailleurs annonce la mort d'au moins une centaine de civils dans des combats entre la rebellion et les forces gouvernementales dans la region de Bokungu, dans la province de l'Equateur. D'autre part, Moustapha Niasse, envoye special du secretaire general de l'Onu, a remis aux autorites congolaises un message personnel de Kofi Annan au president Kabila, assurant que les Nations unies sont pretes a s'engager en faveur de la paix et pour faire appliquer l'accord de Lusaka. Le 8 novembre, les presidents de l'Ouganda et du Rwanda ont conclu une rencontre a Kabale en assurant que leurs pays respecteront l'accord entre en vigueur le 31 aout. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 novembre 1999) * Congo (RDC). Rebels accuse Congo of killing civilians - 9 November: Rebels in Congo RDC have accused government forces of killing about 100 civilians in the north-east of the country. A spokesman for the rebel Rally for Democracy (RCD), said that government troops has burnt down three villages in the area of Bokungu before being repelled by rebels. The official said government aircraft later returned to bombard the area. The RCD says it now no longer respects the peace pact. Meanwhile, Uganda and Rwanda have reiterated their support for a regional agreement aimed at ending the war in Congo RDC. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 November 1999) * Cote d'Ivoire. Report du proces d'opposants - Le proces des vingt militants du parti d'Alassane Ouattara, principal opposant au president Bedie, a ete reporte au 10 novembre, mais les inculpes restent incarceres. Les partisans de Ouattara ont manifeste dans plusieurs villes de l'interieur du pays. (Liberation, France, 5 novembre 1999) * Cote d'Ivoire. Trial postponed - The authorities have postponed the trial due to start today, of 20 opposition figures following their controversial arrest in October for allegedly orchestrating violence. State prosecutors said the postponement until next week was for technical reasons. The accused are remanded in custody. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 5 November 1999) * Ghana. Ghana welcomes Queen Elizabeth II - 7 November: Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip have arrived in Ghana, a country which removed the monarch as head of state more than 40 years ago. She was met by President Jerry Rawlings and a chief dressed in white, then performed a libation ceremony, pouring gin on the tarmac to bring good luck. 8 November: The Queen faces some awkward moments as some politicians interrupt her speech to parliament. Her comments praising Ghana's moves towards democracy were greeted with a mixture of cheers and jeers. It was a breach of protocol which left her momentarily speechless. (BBC News, 7-8 November 1999) * Guinea. 750,000 refugees - Guinea has appealed for international humanitarian support to enable it to cope with some 750,000 refugees from strife-torn neighbours. The sheer numerical strength of the refugees, mainly from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau, is tasking the meagre resources of the country. (PANA, Dakar, 4 November 1999) * Lesotho. Mother of three alleges police tortured her - The Lesotho High Court on November 9 ordered police to refrain from torturing a 48-year-old mother of three to force her to admit involvement in a 6-year-old murder case. In a urgent application by the woman's legal representative, advocate Hae Phoofolo, the Lesotho police are alleged to have tortured and inhumanly treated the woman Maqentso Neko in March 1993 and again during the last weekend. Justice Gabriel Mofolo granted the application in terms of which the Lesotho police have been interdicted from "torturing, abusing or in any manner subjecting" Neko to any form of inhuman and degrading treatment while in police custody. Neko said in her application she was first arrested in March 1993 in connection with the murder of an unidentified woman whose body was found along a main road in the northern district of Lesotho. Neko said she was "savagely beaten up with fists and kicked all over". The police released her at the time when she denied any knowledge of the murder but re-arrested her on 5 November this year. She alleged the police handcuffed her and bound her legs with iron chains after ordering her to undress. Neko alleged her head was covered with a plastic bag, tied tightly around her neck and water forced into the bag to suffocate her. Advocate Phoofolo indicted that he will start legal proceedings against the Lesotho government for compensation on behalf of Neko. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 10 Nov. 1999) * Malawi. New districts in Northern region - The northern region of Malawi which had five administrative districts, now has six districts following a declaration by President Bakili Muluzi when he visited the islands of Likoma and Chizumulu on Lake Malawi. The President, who was on a week long visit in the northern region seen as the opposition Alliance For Democracy's (AFORD) party stronghold, was visiting the islands to thank the people from the two islands, the biggest on Lake Malawi, for what they did during the 15 June presidential and parliamentary elections, when they massively voted for him and his Member of Parliament. President Muluzi said the establishment of the new district will allow the government to make a fair financial distribution for development, unlike previously when the two islands had to seek help from the lakeshore district of Nkhatabay. (Aubrey Sumbuleta, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 6 November 1999) * Malawi. Electoral commission ordered to produce documents - The Supreme Court of Malawi, on 8 November, ordered the country's Electoral Commission to present all voting materials for inspection in districts where the opposition has disputed the results of the 15 June polls. Delivering the 14þpage verdict, the threeþjudge panel, comprising Justices Michael Mtegha, Duncan Tambala and Anastasia Msosa, told the packed court in Blantyre that the opposition has a right to check the electoral documents. The Electoral Commission must produce the voting materials, documents and information within 21 days from the date of this judgement, and inspection by the opposition shall be conducted within 21 days thereafter, they said. The opposition alliance of the Malawi Congress Party and the Alliance for Democracy sued the Commission so as to annul results in 12 of Malawi's 27 districts. Opposition leader Gwanda Chakuamba and two other unsuccessful presidential candidates complained against the Commission, for erroneously declaring President Bakili Muluzi and his United Democracy Front, winners in the elections. The petitioners assert that the polls were rigged by, among others, strategically denying thousands of eligible voters in opposition strongholds a right to vote. (Raphael Tenthani, PANA, 8 November 1999) * Malawi. Impending Cholera outbreak - Health officials from the commercial capital, Blantyre, have warned of an imminent cholera outbreak at the country's main referral hospital, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH). The Hospital Administrator, Amin Nkungula, told the press that unless donors come to the rescue to improve sanitation at the hospital's guardian shelter, there is a likelihood of a cholera outbreak. "There have been reports of a cholera outbreak in some parts of Blantyre although we have not verified the fact. We are concerned that if the situation is not improved at the hospital, especially in areas of the hospital where the first cases of cholera could occur, then we will have problems," said Nkungula, giving Limbe and Ndirande as some of the townships that have already experienced cholera outbreaks. (Aubrey Sumbuleta, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 10 Nov. 1999) * Mali. Cotton fortunes hang by a thread - The announcement last week that Mali had lost $ 100 million on the world market for its main export, cotton, is a reminder that the poor countries of the Sahel are still vulnerable despite a recent boom. Several other countries are dependant on cotton for export revenues, though few as much as Mali, which with more than 500,000 tonnes a year is Africa's second largest producer. Greatly expanded cotton production has been the mainstay of Sahel economies such as Burkina Faso, Chad and Benin since world markets recovered from a disastrous downturn at the start of the decade. The 50% devaluation in 1994 of the CFA franc -þ the shared currency of the region -þ made cotton exports competitive for the first time in years. At the same time domestic reforms gave farmers greater incentive to plant cotton. Last year's output of 2.1 million tonnes made the African Franc Zone the world's third largest exporter, after the United States and Uzbekistan. (BBC News, 9 November 1999) * Maroc. La France convertit la dette - Le Premier ministre francais, Lionel Jospin, est arrive au Maroc le 4 novembre et a ete recu le lendemain par le roi Mohammed VI. Au cours de cette visite, il a ete officiellement annonce qu'une tranche supplementaire de la dette marocaine serait convertie en credits d'investissements, a hauteur de 700 millions de FF. Au total, 3,1 milliards de FF de dette auront ete convertis depuis quatre ans. M. Jospin a egalement salue la "volonte reformatrice" du jeune roi. Durant l'entretien ont encore ete evoques les problemes europeens, l'embargo pesant sur l'Irak, le souci de stabilite en Algerie et le Sahara occidental. (D'apres Le Monde, France, 7 novembre 1999) * Morocco. Interior Minister sacked - Morocco's long-serving and powerful Interior Minister, Driss Basri, has been dismissed by King Mohammed VI. State-run radio said he had been replaced by Ahmed Midaoui, the former head of national security. Mr Basri had been Interior Minister since November 1981. (BBC News, 9 November 1999) * Maroc. Driss Basri ecarte - Le 9 novembre, la radio marocaine a annonce, sans le moindre commentaire, le limogeage de Driss Basri, le tout puissant ministre de l'Interieur du defunt roi Hassan II. La nouvelle a ete accueillie avec joie et soulagement dans les milieux des democrates marocains. Driss Basri, l'homme le plus craint du royaume, a pendant 25 ans execute les basses oeuvres du roi. D'abord chef de la Direction de la securite du territoire, il devint secretaire d'Etat a l'Interieur en avril 1973, puis ministre de plein titre en 1979, fonction qu'il exerca sans discontinuer. L'avenement de Mohammed VI a signe sa fin de carriere. Le nouveau roi signifie ainsi de maniere spectaculaire sa volonte de "passer vite d'un systeme a l'autre". (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 novembre 1999) * Mauritanie. Rupture avec l'Irak - Le 4 novembre, la Mauritanie a annonce la rupture de ses relations diplomatiques avec Bagdad, qui avait severement critique sa reprise de relations normales avec Israel. Les autorites mauritaniennes ont accuse le regime de Saddam Hussein, qu'elles avaient pourtant soutenu pendant la guerre du Golfe, d'inspirer des "actes subversifs" sur son territoire national par le truchement d'un parti d'opposition, Taliaa, dissous le 3 novembre. Nouakchott paracheve ainsi son repositionnement diplomatique entrepris apres la defaite irakienne. - D'autre part, le 8 novembre, le Premier ministre mauritanien s'est rendu a Alger pour remettre au president Bouteflika un message du president mauritanien concernant l'etablissement de relations diplomatiques entre Nouakchott et Israel. Il avait effectue, il y a une semaine, une visite analogue au Maroc pour expliquer l'initiative de son pays, justifiee officiellement par le souci de favoriser le processus de paix, mais critiquee dans le camp arabe. Ni Alger, ni Rabat, ni Tunis n'ont commente la decision de Nouakchott, contrairement a Tripoli et Bagdad qui l'ont denoncee. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 novembre 1999) * Mozambique. Landmine survey planned - Mozambique's government announced on 9 November that it would commission a national survey of landmines to determine exactly how much of a threat they posed. The United Nations estimates that at least two million of the indiscriminate killers were buried in Mozambique during the country's devastating 16-year civil war. Only a fraction of the mines, along major roads and railway lines, have been lifted since the civil war ended in 1992. The remaining mines have become an fierce debating point in Mozambique's current election campaign, with the opposition RENAMO party accusing the ruling FRELIMO government of neglecting the country's deep rural areas. Minefields in agricultural centres were, RENAMO said, frightening off investors and crippling small-scale farming. The government said in a statement on 9 November that it would conduct a national survey of all remaining minefields between January and November next year. It is unclear how the project, which will require sophisticated geographic information systems, will be funded. The UN has conducted similar surveys in Yemen and Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 10 Nov. 1999) * Namibia. Battle lines for elections - Battle lines have been drawn for Namibia's forthcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections. According to a timetable announced recently by President Sam Nujoma, the polls will be conducted over two days on 30 November and 1 December. Eight political parties will contest this year's elections. These are the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), official opposition Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Monitor Action Group, South West Africa National Union, Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Federal Convention of Namibia, United Democratic Front and the newly-formed Congress of Democrats (COD). SWAPO currently commands a two-thirds majority in Namibia's 80-member Parliament. The DTA has 15 members of Parliament while the rest have either one or no representation at all in the House. Observers say that even with the coming on to the country's political scene of the COD which is lead by former SWAPO activist and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ben Ulenga, the pattern will remain basically the same after this year's elections. In the presidential race, SWAPO's Nujoma is equally expected to win his third term of office. The opposition here has even been weakened more by the disqualification of the DCN's presidential candidate, Moses Katjiuongua. (Mwana Bwalya, ANB- BIA, Namibia, 8 November 1999) * Nigeria. State gas company HQ under attack - 3 November: Ethnic militants have captured the headquarters of Nigeria's state gas producer in an armed attack that left 30 people injured and dozens of cars destroyed. The raid on the Nigerian Gas Company headquarters in Ekpan, a suburb of Warri, was carried out by Itsekiri youths protesting the firm's decision to pay levies to mainly-Urhobo community groups. Itsekiri have traditionally benefited from oil levies during previous military regimes. (CNN, 4 November 1999) * Nigeria. Mysterieuses disparitions - Presque chaque semaine, plusieurs dizaines de Nigerians disparaissent un peu partout dans le pays et surtout a Lagos, ce qui suscite des sentiments de crainte, voire de panique au sein de la population. Selon la police, les personnes disparues, parmi lesquelles de nombreux journalistes, pourraient avoir ete victimes de crimes rituels. Plusieurs corps decouverts au bord des routes avaient ete severement mutiles. Le president Obasanjo a fait de la lutte contre la criminalite l'une de ses priorites. (Le Soir, Belgique, 8 novembre 1999) * Nigeria. Policiers enleves - Selon les medias, des jeunes militants ijaws d'Odi, un village de l'Etat de Bayelsa, ont enleve sept policiers, dont deux officiers superieurs, tous de l'ethnie yorouba. Il s'agirait de represailles apres les affrontements de la semaine derniere a Lagos entre migrants ijaws et des jeunes Yoroubas locaux, au cours desquels plus de 12 personnes ont trouve la mort. Depuis un an, les groupes de jeunes militants de la region troublee du Delta ont multiplie les enlevements d'employes des compagnies petrolieres, mais c'est la premiere fois qu'un enlevement de policiers de haut rang est signale. (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 8 novembre 1999) * Nigeria. Bishops write to Attorney-General - The Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has written to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Justice Kanu Agabi, over the issue of the introduction of Sharia Law in Zamfara State. In a letter titled "Constitution and Religion" and signed by the national secretary to the Commission, Father John Ofei, the Commission expressed the concern of many Nigerians over the application of the Sharia Law and the President's mere pronouncement that the move was unconstitutional. He expressed some consternation over the government's stand that those who feel called upon to challenge the Zamfara State Government should do so. The Commission is of the opinion that this is not good enough. (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, 9 November 1999) * Rwanda/Uganda. Uganda foods - The government of Rwanda has slapped a ban on food imports from Uganda. Officials from the Uganda revenue authority, told the Sunday Vision that no reason has been given by the Rwandese authorities, but they suspect the matter to be political as their counterparts in Rwanda say the orders came from "very high up". Uganda's minister for the presidency, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, confirmed the ban but refused to speculate on the reasons: "We have raised the issue with our brothers in Rwanda and a delegation led by Dr Fabius Byaruhanga is soon going to Kigali to find out the reason for the ban and seek solutions to it". The ban, which has been on for about a fortnight, started with milk, then fish and this week was extended to include anything from Uganda including matoke. The move by the Rwandese authorities has been criticised from several quarters including the pro-RPF Rwanda Times. (Enoch Kakande, The Sunday Vision, Uganda, 7 November 1999) * Rwanda. Kigali rompt avec le TPIR - Un ancien haut fonctionnaire rwandais, considere comme un des principaux responsables du genocide, directeur politique au ministere des Affaires etrangeres et l'un des responsables de la radio Mille Collines, Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, qui etait detenu depuis 1997 a Arusha, a ete libere le 3 novembre par decision de la cour d'appel du Tribunal international des Nations unies situee a La Haye. La cour a estime que Barayagwiza avait ete detenu trop longtemps sans inculpation ni jugement. Cette decision a suscite la fureur au Rwanda. Le 6 novembre, le ministre d'Etat Patrick Mazimhaka a declare que le Rwanda suspend sa cooperation avec le TPIR jusqu'a ce qu'un accord soit trouve. Le ministre rwandais de la Justice a appele le Conseil de securite de l'Onu et le tribunal a casser ce precedent. Le TPIR d'Arusha est accuse d'etre trop lent, trop couteux et trop bureaucratique. Plus de cinq ans apres le genocide, il n'a rendu jusqu'a present que cinq verdicts. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 novembre 1999) * Rwanda. Cooperation with TPR suspended - 6 November: Rwanda says it has suspended its cooperation with the United Nations International Tribunal (TPR), in protest at a decision to release a leading suspect, Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, charged with six counts of genocide and crimes against humanity, because his rights had been violated by a prolonged detention without trial. But that decision is "deeply flawed" says Rwanda's chief prosecutor, Gerard Gahima, in an address to diplomats. Gahima says the government will suspend its assistance for UN investigators in rwanda and its support for the tribunal's witness protection programme. 8 November: Human Rights Watch deplores prosecutorial incompetence at the TPR. (ANB-BIA, 9 November 1999) * Rwanda. Menaces de famine et de guerre - Le Premier ministre rwandais, M. Rwigema, a annonce que 178.911 familles etaient menacees par la penurie alimentaire. Il a estime a 10 millions de dollars la somme necessaire pour remedier a ce deficit alimentaire. - D'autre part, a la suite des declarations belliqueuses faites a Kinshasa et de la degradation generale de la situation, les presidents ougandais Museveni et rwandais Bizimungu se sont rencontres a Kabale, en Ouganda, en presence du vice-president rwandais Kagame. Les trois hommes ont discute de la rupture du cessez-le-feu en RDC et de la menace militaire accrue. A l'issue de leur rencontre, ils ont assure que leurs pays respecteraient l'accord de paix de Lusaka. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 9 novembre 1999) * Sahara occidental. Le referendum - Le 5 novembre, le president de la Republique arabe sahraouie democratique (RASD) et du Front Polisario, Mohamed Abdelaziz, a exprime son espoir que le referendum au Sahara occidental ait bien lieu en 2000. "Si l'Onu renforce le nombre de ses fonctionnaires, le referendum pourrait avoir lieu en 2000", a-t-il declare lors d'une conference de presse a Las Palmas. Le 3 novembre, le ministre marocain de l'Interieur, Driss Basri, avait declare que ce referendum ne pourrait pas se derouler avant 2002, en raison des nombreux recours deposes par les personnes n'ayant pas ete retenues comme electeurs. Par ailleurs, le 6 novembre, lors d'un discours televise a la nation a l'occasion du 24e anniversaire de la Marche verte, le roi du Maroc a pose comme condition au soutien de son pays a la tenue du referendum d'autodetermination, que "tous ceux qui ont droit de prendre part au referendum soient autorises a le faire". Mohammed VI a promis d'accorder plus de droits aux habitants du Sahara occidental par le biais d'une politique de decentralisation. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 novembre 1999) * Western Sahara. Morocco's King proposes Western Sahara council - King Mohammed VI of Morocco has reacted to renewed clashes between police and demonstrators in disputed Western Sahara, saying the unrest would be dealt with according to the rule of law. The Polisario Front has said that the disturbances were an uprising for independence. But the King, speaking in a televised address on the anniversary of Morocco's take over of Western Sahara in 1975, said such interpretations were unjust.King Mohammed used the broadcast to unveil a package of reforms designed to end the first unrest of his reign. He proposed holding elections for a royal advisory council in the disputed Western Sahara and he is offering the territory free transport for students and the handicapped. But while the new king of Morocco appears to be offering concessions, his police are resorting to force. Western diplomats in Rabat say the Moroccan security forces again used what they call brutal behaviour to disperse demonstrations one week ago, in El Ayun, the main town of Western Sahara. (Nick Pelham, BBC News, 9 November 1999) * Senegal. Dakar to host Science Biennial. - The fourth Science Biennial will take place from 22 to 26 November in Dakar under the theme "Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in Africa". According to the organisers, 250 scientists and experts, as well as science Nobel Prize winners are expected to attend the event, which will coincide with the 7th conference of the Third World Academy of Sciences. The vice-chancellor of Saint-Louis University, Ahamadou Lamine Ndiaye, told the local news agency that a budget of 178 million CFA francs has been drawn to finance the event. (PANA, Dakar, 7 November 1999 * Sierra Leone. Desarmement - Au cours des cinq derniers jours, quelque 600 anciens combattants, sur un nombre total estime a 45.000, ont remis leurs armes, a indique une source des Nations unies le 8 novembre. 285 membres du Conseil revolutionnaire des forces armees (AFRC), 270 membres des Forces de defense civile (CDF) et 54 membres du Front revolutionnaire uni (RUF) se sont presentes dans les centres de demobilisation. D'autre part, les Etats-Unis ont exprime leur preoccupation concernant les recents affrontements a Makeni et les informations faisant etat d'un resurgence des atrocites dans la region. "Toute violation du cessez-le-feu, de meme que tout acte de barbarie est inacceptable et demontre un manque d'engagement en faveur du processus de paix", a estime le porte-parole du Departement d'Etat. (IRIN, Abidjan, 8 novembre 1999) * Sierra Leone. Donor officials in Sierra Leone - Senior officials from donor countries have arrived in Sierra Leone to assess the country's recovery needs and moves towards peace. On the eve of their arrival, United Nations observers in the country said some six hundred fighters had handed in their weapons in the last two weeks. This leaves an estimated forty-five thousand combatants still bearing arms, especially in the diamond rich areas. The officials are awaiting positive signs of disarmament before handing out some seventy-million dollars worth of development aid. Sierra Leone has urgent humanitarian needs. An estimated two million people have been made homeless or destitute as a result of the war. (BBC News, 9 November 1999) * Somalia. Serious food crisis - The FAO has expressed concern at the worsening food crisis in southern Sudan, following an upsurge of inter-clan fighting which has disrupted food production activities and assistance to civil war and drought victims. The FAO says the food crisis has been exacerbated by the extension of roadblocks that are hindering the movement of goods and food commodities, including food aid. (PANA, Dakar, 5 November 1999) * Afrique du Sud. Guerre des taxis - Le 4 novembre, huit personnes ont ete tuees et treize blessees lors d'une fusillade entre firmes de taxis rivales dans une station de taxis d'Empangeni dans la region de KwaZulu-Natal. Des fusils automatiques et des armes de gros calibre ont ete utilises. Depuis trois semaines existe une competition entre deux firmes sur un itineraire reliant la ville d'Empangeni a la proche township d'Esikhaweni, a 150 km environ au nord de Durban. La fusillade s'est declenchee malgre la presence de policiers dans la station de taxis. (Le Soir, Belgique, 5 novembre 1999) * South Africa. Statement on the environment - In a statement issued by the Southern African Bishops Conference dealing with environmental issues, the Bishops said: "Our country is affected by the global environmental crisis. We now face the consequences of the past which revolved around the exploitation of South African mineral and natural resources, with minimum concern for the environment. Environment is not only about landscapes and the survival of endangered animals, but it is also about the life of the people, the conditions in which women and men are living, working and recreating." (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 8 November 1999) * Afrique du Sud. Menace sur l'accord commercial avec l'UE - L'accord commercial entre l'Union europeenne et l'Afrique du Sud, signe a Pretoria le 11 octobre, est serieusement menace en raison de l'impossibilite des deux parties a s'entendre sur la question des vins et spiritueux, a-t-on appris le 9 novembre de sources europeennes. Lors de la signature de l'accord, l'Afrique du Sud s'etait engagee a conclure fin octobre un accord parallele sur les vins et spiritueux qui prevoit l'entree dans l'UE de 32 millions de litres de vins sud-africains en franchise. (La Libre Belgique, 10 novembre 1999) * Swaziland. Former Prime Minister dies - A former Prime Minister and Chief of Nkhaba, Prince Bhekimpi (76), has died while undergoing treatment at the Mbabane Clinic. He died on November 1 after suffering from an undisclosed illness. He was Premier between 1984 and 1986. He headed the government shortly after the demise of the father of the nation, King Sobhuza II, in 1982. He succeeded Prince Mabandla who had been forced to flee the country and seek political asylum in what was then called Bophutswana, in South Africa. (Vuyisile Hlatshwayo, ANB-BIA, Swaziland, 5 Nov. 1999) * Swaziland. King fires the entire cabinet - King Mswati III has fired the entire cabinet for defying his orders and failing to deliver on his instructions. This proves that delivery is what he expects from the cabinet. The Times on Sunday reported that the king was angry when cabinet ministers failed to present him with a detailed report on specified projects, after he had asked if the team had met to discuss anything pertaining to his instructions. The answer was negative. The Cabinet could not say anything in defence other than to profusely apologise for its lapses. (Vuyisile Hlatshwayo, ANB-BIA, Swaziland, 5 Nov. 1999) * Swaziland. Young Monarch wants private jet - Swaziland's young absolute monarch, King Mswati III, wants a R190-million private plane. Should he get it, he'd join Presidents Sam Nujoma of Namibia, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Festus Mogae of Botswana who all jet across the world in private aircraft. Foreign Affairs Minister Albert Shabangu said if the 31-year-old King had his own 14-seater jet, it would save the government money. Since February, Mswati has spent over R5 million chartering a special jet. Just two weeks ago his mother, Ntombi Tfwala, flew to Taiwan in a South African jet at a cost of R900 000 to the Swazi taxpayer so she could get medical attention for an undisclosed ailment. Civil Aviation specialists in Swaziland warned that buying a small jet for the King would cost the state in maintenance costs, but said that the jet could be rented to VIPs to generate income. MP Marwick Khumalo said a private jet would also be safer for the king, as chartered aircraft posed a higher security risk. Some MPs, believe buying the private aircraft could spark a national outcry similar when the government bought a Fokker 100 plane for R100 million. The plane has since been leased to Mozambique Airways because its 65 seats were seldom filled up in Swaziland. (Africa Press Bureau, Johannesburg, 8 November 1999) * Sudan. Khartoum trials - The case of Father Hillary Boma and others has been pending now for many months. The following is an extract from an article (translation) published in al Ray Alaam (Khartoum) of 6 Nov 1999 which announces that the trial is now to be transferred from a military to a civil criminal court. This is seen as a positive step in ensuring the eventual release of those who have been tortured into making confessions about their alleged involvement in the Khartoum bombings of 29 June 1998. "The Minister of Justice & Attorney General, Ali Yasin, yesterday issued a decree to the effect that the trial of those accused of involvement in the Khartoum explosives case be transferred from a ordinary military court to a ordinary civilian court. This is in conformity with the principle of fair trial enshrined in the Constitution, the International Declaration for Human Rights and the international pacts on civil and political rights. The Minister of Justice ordered his advisor and under-secretary, Abd Alrahamane Ahmed Ibrahim, to implement the decree. The Minister of Justice's decree followed the comments made by Jalal Ali Lutfi, president of the constitutional court, in which he said that there was no difference between an ordinary military court (previously decreed by the Constitutional Court) and a civilian court, because they followed similar procedures and both gave similar guarantees (of justice). Two Sudanese human rights organisations were the first to express their joy for the Minister's decision. They said that the transfer of the case to a civilian court was in keeping with the Constitution, the International Declaration for Human Rights and international conventions on civil and political rights." (Al Ray Alaam, Sudan, 6 November 1999 * Tanzania. Rwandan suspect arrested - The Tanzanian authorities have arrested a man suspected of personal involvement in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and have handed him over to the international tribunal investigating the massacres. The suspect, Mikaeli Muhimana, a local official in western Rwanda at the time of the genocide, was arrested by police in Dar-es-Salaam on 8 November. He has been transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda's detention centre in Arusha. Meanwhile, the TPR's new prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, says she'll work to speed up procedures. (BBC News, 9 November 1999) * Togo. Commission d'enquete - Le gouvernement togolais a demande a l'ONU et a l'OUA la mise en place rapide d'une commission d'enquete internationale pour faire la lumiere sur les accusations de violations des droits de l'homme portees par Amnesty International, a-t-on appris le 2 novembre de source officielle. En mai, dans un rapport consacre au "regne de la terreur" sous le regime du president Eyadema, Amnesty avait affirme que des centaines de personnes avaient ete tuees par les forces de securite apres la proclamation des resultats du scrutin presidentiel de juin 1998. (Le Monde, France, 4 novembre 1999) * Togo. Students defy ban on protest - Several thousand students and teachers in Togo have defied an official ban to take part in a protest demonstration in the capital, Lome. The ban was announced late 7 November by the interior minister, General Walla Sising, who denounced the planned protest on television as a plot against the state and accused the organisers of preparing for violence. Security forces were on hand on 8 November, but reports from Lome say the demonstration passed off peacefully. The teachers are demanding the payment of wage arrears, going back six months in some cases, while student protesters want an improvement in their conditions. (BBC News, 8 November 1999) * Zambia. Sale of copper mines - The proposed sale of some of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) loss-making assets to the South African mining giant, Anglo American, for US $90 million, has been criticised by local analysts as a "give-away" by the government. Under an agreement signed nearly two weeks ago, the South African-based conglomerate will pay US $ 30 million in cash to ZCCM to acquire the Konkola group of mines. These include the Konkola Deep Mine project, the Nchanga copper mines and the Nampundwe pyrite mine. The outstanding US $60 million will be paid out over three years. In a parallel but related deal, Anglo will sell to the government its 27.3 percent stake in its subsidiary, the Zambia Copper Investments (ZCI) for US $30 million. The sale, however, excludes the Nkana smelter and refinery, which Anglo will manage while buyers are still sought. "The Zambian government will come out of the deal with no cash to show for the sale", a government mining source told IRIN. "This transaction amounts to a swap". (IRIN, 8 November 1999) * Zimbabwe. "UK set "gay gangsters on me"" says Mugabe - President Mugabe has accused the British government of setting "gay gangsters" on him over his controversial land reforms. Mr Mugabe said the Labour government was behind gay activists who ambushed his car outside a London hotel on 30 October. The President said Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair was using "gangster tactics", saying that each time he passed through London, there were people trailing him. (BBC News, 8 November 1999)