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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 02-12-1999      PART #1/

* Africa. WTO: Hammering out a common position  -  26 November: The
seventy one African, Caribbean and Pacific countries with
preferential access to European markets are meeting in the
Dominican Republic a week ahead of the World Trade Organisation's
(WTO) summit on trade liberalisation to be held in Seattle. The ACP
group includes many of the world's poorest countries which are
seeking continued economic protection under the agreement with
Europe known as the Lome Convention. The president of Madagascar,
Didier Ratsiraka, said complete free trade could destroy democracy,
and the leader of Trinidad leader, Basedo Panady, said Europe must
not be intimidated by the United States and the WTO into abandoning
the Lome principles. European officials are reported to have made
clear that future assistance is likely to be measures to combat
governmental corruption in ACP countries. 29 November: In
preparation for the Third Ministerial Conference of the World Trade
Organisation, African ministers have held a meeting to hammer out
a common position on the major issues on the agenda of the
multilateral trade talks. During the meeting attended by experts,
discussions focused on solidarity in view of the various pressures
likely to be exerted on individual African countries to change the
African position. 30 November: Opening of the Third Ministerial
meeting of the World Trade Organisation.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 1
December 1999)

* Afrique. Mondialisation: une petite phrase  -  "La
mondialisation-globalisation est pour nous une doctrine
totalitaire", a declare le president malgache, Didier Ratsiraka, au
nom de 48 pays africains au sommet des ACP a St-Domingue. M.
Ratsiraka a demande combien d'experts des ACP siegent a
l'Organisation mondiale du commerce pour y trancher les litiges, et
si l'on avait "applique tous les engagements en notre faveur pris
lors de l'Uruguay Round avant d'aller a Seattle?". Et de citer
Lacordaire: "Entre le fort et le faible, c'est la loi ou le droit
qui libere, et la liberte qui opprime".   (La Libre Belgique, 2
decembre 1999)

* Africa. Diseases  -  The world's richest nations are being urged
to help developing countries obtain medicines desperately needed to
treat killer diseases. Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) is calling on
the European Union to lead the way in tackling the drug crisis
faced by the developing world. Infectious diseases kill 17m people
worldwide each year, most of them in poor countries. The President
of MSF James Orbinski; launching a campaign in Brussels, said
developing countries often cannot afford expensive drugs to treat
infections such as AIDS. "Some of the reasons people die from
diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, sleeping sickness and other
tropical diseases is that life-saving essential medicines are
either too expensive because of patent protection or are not
available because they are not seen as financially viable", he
said. He added that there was "virtually no new research and
development" for priority tropical diseases. A Kenyan doctor in
charge of AIDS programmes -þ Christopher Ouma -þ said one of his
dying patients had to buy expensive drugs himself. "But we thought
the selling of his property and assets did not represent his best
interests", Dr Ouma said.   (BBC News, 24 November 1999)

* AIDS. UN Highlights AIDS orphans  -  The United Nations appealed
to governments to do more to help millions of children orphaned as
a result of the spread of AIDS. A report released on World AIDS Day
estimates there are more than 11.2 million orphans worldwide, 95%
of them in sub-Saharan Africa. It says the number will soar to 13
million by the end of the year 2000. The report highlights the
strain the disease is putting on families, as well as the
discrimination suffered by AIDS orphans. And it calls for better
counselling and support services. The UN's appeal was reinforced on
1 December by Queen Noor of Jordan and Hilary Clinton; wife of the
American president, at a symposium in New York. Mrs Clinton called
on governments around the world to end the conspiracy of silence
about the disease and to be more active and more open in their Aids
awareness campaigns. "We need political leaders to help erase the
stigma that keeps too many people with Aids from seeking
treatment", she said. "We must fight the ignorance that fosters the
spread of this disease". Dr Peter Piot, executive director of the
UN's HIV/AIDS programme, UNAIDS, said the orphan statistics were
"staggering". "What makes this epidemic uniquely threatening to
children is the age factor", he said. "Half of all people with HIV
become infected before they turn 25, and they typically die of AIDS
while their children are still too young to fend for themselves". 
 (BBC News, 1 December 1999)

* Africa/IMF. Y2K flight ban for IMF Africa staff  -  Staff from
the International Monetary Fund based in Africa have been advised
not to travel on the continent between mid-December and mid-January
millennium bug problems. IMF officials in Washington said the
decision had been made by the Africa department and was not formal
IMF policy for all staff."Staff travel has not been forbidden but
people have been asked to exercise good judgement and caution", a
spokesman said. Officials said they were broadly following Y2K,
which warn of potential flight disruptions and problems with
telecommunications and financial services during the rollover
period. However, there was no immediate explanation for why the
travel blackout to Africa would last so long. The directive emerged
in Nairobi as a reason for the postponement of a possible
resumption of Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility. A
mission had been expected in mid-December, ahead of talks in
January and a possible resumption of the ESAF as early as March.
The $205m was suspended in 1997 due to concerns over corruption and
the slow pace of reform in Kenya.   (Financial Times, UK, 25
November 1999)

* Afrique de l'Est. Nouvelle Communaute  -  Le 30 novembre, les
presidents du Kenya, de l'Ouganda et de la Tanzanie ont signe a
Arusha un traite instaurant la Communaute d'Afrique de l'Est (EAC),
etape decisive vers la creation d'un marche unique et d'une union
politique, selon ses promoteurs. Cette nouvelle entite succede a la
"Cooperation de l'Afrique de l'Est", mise en place en novembre 1994
pour harmoniser les tarifs et pratiques commerciales et faciliter
le libre mouvement des personnes, des biens et des capitaux. En
vain jusqu'ici. Aussi, des observateurs craignent que le nouveau
traite ne soit qu'une autre declaration d'intention sans programme
concret, car il y a trop de differences de richesse et de
developpement entre les trois pays. Le Burundi et le Rwanda ont
toutefois pose leur candidature a l'EAC.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 1er decembre 1999)

* East Africa. Economic Union  -  30 November: East African leaders
are gathering in the Tanzanian town of Arusha to sign a long-
awaited treaty on economic union. The treaty between Kenya, Uganda
and Tanzania will re-establish the East African Community, in
another attempt to create a common market in the area. The treaty
has been delayed over fears of competition among the three nations.
The signed treaty sets no timeframes for the removal of trade
restrictions.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 1 December 1999)

* Algerie. Le MOAL accuse  -  Selon le porte-parole du Mouvement
algerien des officiers libres (MOAL - un groupement de jeunes
officiers entres en dissidence), sur les quelque 1.300 islamistes
repentis qui se sont rendus dans le cadre de la loi sur la concorde
civile, "plus de 700 sont des officiers infiltres" dans les maquis
des groupes armes. Le MOAL reitere ses accusations selon lesquelles
l'armee serait responsable d'une partie des violences en Algerie.
Fonde en 1997, ce mouvement, qui dispose d'un site Internet,
affirme regrouper une soixantaine d'officiers deserteurs a
l'etranger et "un nombre important d'officiers en Algerie".   (La
Libre Belgique, 27 novembre 1999)

* Algerie. Nouvelles victimes  -  Durant le week-end du 27-28
novembre, en moins de 24 heures, 27 personnes ont ete assassinees
a deux faux barrages dresses par des islamistes armes au sud et a
l'ouest d'Alger. En une semaine, une cinquantaine de personnes ont
ainsi ete tuees sur les routes algeriennes par des groupes armes
lors de faux controles, une veritable hantise pour les Algeriens.
Des groupes armes, operant en plein jour, font preuve de plus en
plus d'audace, notent les observateurs, alors qu'approche le mois
de jeune musulman du ramadan, marque a chaque fois par une flambee
de violence. - D'autre part, la police a arrete des dizaines
d'islamistes dans le cadre de l'enquete sur l'assassinat du leader
du FIS, Abdelkader Hachani, et les interrogatoires sont en cours,
a revele le quotidien La Tribune le 28 novembre. - Le 30 novembre,
dix soldats ont encore ete tues dans l'explosion d'une bombe
artisanale a Achaiba, pres de Medea. Selon les decomptes de la
presse, plus de 200 personnes ont ete tuees dans des attentats et
des massacres depuis le 1er novembre.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 2 decembre 1999)

* Angola. More landmine casualties  -  Deaths and injuries from
landmines in parts of Angola have risen alarmingly since the
government announced the capture of Unita rebels strongholds a
month ago. Since the fall of Bailundo and Andulo in the central
highlands, the military situation in many parts of the country
seems to have stabilised. Yet in certain regions of the country
guerrilla activity, such as the use of landmines and ambushes has
escalated -- and both government and rebels seem to be responsible.
The isolated town of Luena, the capital of Moshiko province, is
said to be the birthplace of Jonas Savimbi's rebel group, Unita.
According to the locals, the only time the war came to Luena was in
1991 when Unita shells fell in town for 45 days. Today, while there
may not be any shells, or even much gunfire, Luena is nevertheless
home to another kind of weapon, the landmine. In October, 18
landmine incidents killed or injured 29 people, while since the
beginning of November a further 28 people have either been killed
or wounded in 14 incidents.   (BBC News, 24 November 1999)

* Burkina Faso. Manifestation  -  Le 27 novembre, dix mille
personnes ont manifeste a Ouagadougou pour "exiger la fin de
l'impunite des crimes de sang" au Burkina Faso. Les manifestants
brandissaient des portraits du journaliste Norbert Zongo, retrouve
carbonise dans sa voiture un an auparavant, plongeant le pays dans
une grave crise politique.   (Liberation, France, 29 novembre 1999)

* Burundi. Crise et secheresse  -  Une grave secheresse agrave la
crise au Burundi. L'ONG CARE a indique, le 26 novembre, que la
malnutrition et la faim augmentent dans les zones touchees,
notamment dans les provinces de Kirundo et Muyaga, dans le nord-est
du pays. L'ONG a commence des distributions alimentaires a quelque
250.000 victimes de la secheresse a Kirundo, ou "meme les bananiers
meurent par manque d'eau". Elle a egalement commence a distribuer
de la nourriture a plus de 300.000 personnes en Bujumbura-rural. -
Par ailleurs, le gouverneur de la province de Muramvya a decide de
"regrouper" la population de la region de Kirama-Kavya-Gatebe pour
restaurer la securite dans la region. Les agences de presse
burundaises annoncent presque quotidiennement l'une ou l'autre
attaque rebelle dans le pays. - D'autre part, en prevision du
sommet regional d'Arusha, le 1er decembre, qui devra debattre de la
mediation de paix au Burundi, le collectif Convergence nationale
pour la paix et la reconciliation, qui regroupe 10 partis, a
exprime son soutien a une equipe de trois facilitateurs presidee
par l'ancien president sud-africain Nelson Mandela.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 29 novembre 1999)

* Burundi. Mandela to head peace drive  -  Former South African
President Nelson Mandela has been named as the new mediator in
peace talks to try to end the civil war in Burundi. Mr Mandela
takes over the role of the former Tanzanian president, Julius
Nyerere, who died in October. A spokeswoman for Mr Mandela said he
was pleased to take on the job, and would begin work this weekend.
The appointment has been welcomed by the Burundian Government and
main opposition parties. The announcement came during a meeting of
African heads of state, who have gathered in the Tanzanian town of
Arusha. The heads of state will be hoping that someone with the
international standing of Mr Mandela will be able to breathe new
life into the Burundi peace process. Talks to try to end six years
of civil war between the Tutsi-led government and Hutu rebels began
more than one year ago. So far, they have failed to stop the
fighting and the past few months have seen an increase in attacks
by Hutu rebels around the capital, Bujumbura.   (BBC News, 1
December 1999)

* Burundi. Mandela nomme mediateur  -  L'ancien president sud-
africain Nelson Mandela a accepte la mission de mediateur dans les
negociations de paix inter-burundaises que lui ont confiee les
chefs d'Etat de la region, reunis a Arusha en Tanzanie, le 1er
decembre. Ces negociations etaient bloquees depuis le deces de M.
Nyerere, mais elles pietinaient deja auparavant, notamment parce
que M. Nyerere avait toujours refuse d'y inviter deux groupes
rebelles. Maintenant, le president burundais a demande a M. Mandela
d'inviter ces deux groupes, et assure que la transition du pouvoir
faisait partie des negociations. La prochaine session de
negociations doit s'ouvrir le 6 decembre.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 2 decembre 1999)

* Cameroun. Refugies congolais  -  Environ un millier de refugies
du Congo RDC sont attendus au Cameroun les jours prochains. Ils
seront heberges a Langui, au nord du pays, "ou des structures
appropriees ont ete amenagees", selon un communique du ministere de
l'administration territoriale date du 29 novembre. Les refugies
arriveront en avion en trois contingents, a la demande du HCR, et
sejourneront temporairement dans le pays avant leur transfert vers
d'autres destinations. Le Cameroun a deja acueilli d'autres
refugies, notamment des Rwandais et Burundais depuis 1995, et des
Tchadiens depuis 1979.   (Reporters associes, Cameroun, 1er
decembre 1999)

* Cameroun. Radio numerique  -  Le 29 novembre, Yaounde a accueilli
le lancement pour le Cameroun et l'Afrique centrale du "plus grand
systeme numerique de radiodiffusion du monde, un service par
satellite". C'est l'oeuvre de la societe americaine Worldspace.
Selon son directeur general adjoint, le Senegalais Maktar Sylla,
grace au satellite Afristar, les radios africaines pourront sortir
du ghetto et atteindre le monde entier. Le signal de Worldspace est
recu actuellement dans toute l'Afrique, en attendant les autres
continents. Des recepteurs speciaux sont en vente en Afrique au
prix moyen de $200.   (Reporters associes, Cameroun, 1er decembre
1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Church leaders killed in Mindouli  -  The Collectif
des Intellectuels Congolais Originaires du Pool, (CICOP) with their
headquarters in France, has sent an extract from a chronological
account of events which took place in Congo-Brazza during the
period 1997-1999. Writing about the mediation of Congo's Churches
in the current crisis in The Pool region, CICOP says that President
Sassou Nguesso requested and obtained assistance from the
Ecumenical Council of Congo's Christian Churches. A delegation
eventually left for The Pool region without military escort. The
effort ended in tragedy with delegation members being murdered. The
President's Office accused former prime minister Bernard Kolelas of
having ordered these crimes to hinder the peace process. However
reports are circulating that the government is believed to be the
author of the massacre. (Editor's note: Further information can be
obtained from CICOP on: cicop@club-internet.fr).   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 26 November 1999

* Congo (RDC). Thousands flee Congo flooding  -  Thousands of
people are being evacuated from Kinshasa, ahead of what could
become the "flood of the century". Kikoy Kikum, the head of Congo's
waterways authority, warned that the overflowing Congo River is
feeding a flood which "will last until January and will probably
surpass" two other major floods this century in 1903 and 1961-62.
The flooding has forced the authorities to move up to 16,000 people
to disused factories and government buildings. Almost a fifth of
Kinshasa's districts have already been hit by the rising waters,
and tens of thousands of people are potentially at risk. Michel
Nouredine Kassa, an adviser to the United Nations in Kinshasa, says
the river Congo is at its highest level since 1903 and the rainy
season has only just begun. Water supplies to 50% of the population
of Kinshasa have been cut, and purification systems at some of the
capital's pumping stations are silting up. Health officials fear
outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases, and have asked
city residents to "show solidarity with the afflicted". The
government has appealed to the international donor community for
aid in anticipation of continued heavy rains.   (BBC News, 30
November 1999)

* Congo (RDC)/Brazza. Crue du fleuve Congo  -  <%-3>Le Congo,
deuxieme fleuve du monde par son debit apres l'Amazone, est entre
dans une "crue du siecle" dont les effets commencent a se faire
sentir a Kinshasa et a Brazzaville. La crue qui vient de debuter
durera jusqu'en janvier. Le 29 novembre, la ville de Kinshasa a
decide d'evacuer 16.000 habitants menaces par la montee des eaux;
plusieurs centaines de milliers de personnes vivent dans des
quartiers batis sans autorisation en zones inondables. Selon l'ONG
Memisa, la digue de Ndjili a cede et les trois stations de pompage
de Kinshasa sont inondees et hors d'usage, ce qui laisse environ
60% de la population des quartiers populeux de la peripherie sans
eau potable. On craint des epidemies; en outre, les intemperies
vont bloquer l'arrivee de vivres de province. A Brazzaville, le
quartier de Yoro a egalement ete inonde.   (D'apres La Libre
Belgique, 1er decembre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Unites d'autodefense  -  Le gouvernement congolais
a lance cette semaine une campagne "d'eveil patriotique" en
annoncant le recrutement de milices d'autodefense pour faire face
a la rebellion. "Il ne s'agit pas de creer des milices, mais du
soutien que le peuple apporte aux forces armees congolaises", a
explique le secretaire general des Comites de pouvoir populaire. On
se souvient qu'aux debuts de la rebellion, en aout 1998, les
autorites congolaises avaient appele la population a prendre les
armes contre les envahisseurs, ce qui s'etait traduit par de
nombreux lynchages. La campagne de cette semaine peut avoir pour
objet de detourner l'attention des Kinois de leurs problemes
alimentaires, elle peut aussi preluder a une veritable reprise de
la guerre. Par ailleurs, les services secrets militaires americains
pensent que Kinshasa a achete des missiles Scud a l'Iran; Kinshasa
dement cet achat. D'autres informations indiquent que Kabila aurait
signe en septembre un contrat de pres d'un milliard de dollars avec
la Chine pour l'achat de chars, d'artillerie et de munitions, et
que les Rwandais ont, eux, acquis une trentaine de chars en
Ukraine.   (D'apres La Libre Belgique, 26 novembre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Une paix fragile  -  24 novembre. Le groupe rebelle
RCD-Goma a annonce avoir repris la ville de Hiemo, a quelque 60 km
de Bokungu, dans la province de l'Equateur. Au Conseil de securite
de l'Onu, une proposition de resolution a ete remise visant a
equiper 500 observateurs militaires en RDC. -25 novembre. La
Namibie a declare qu'elle retirerait sa force des que les casques
bleus de l'Onu seraient deployes. On signale des affrontements
serieux dans la province de l'Equateur, chaque camp accusant
l'autre d'avoir viole le cessez-le-feu. Selon des analystes, une
offensive gouvernementale deliberee serait en cours, mais les
allies de Kinshasa voudraient prendre leur distance vis-a-vis de
toute violation majeure du cessez-le-feu. - 27 novembre. Les
officiers de l'Onu charges de preparer l'application de l'accord de
paix ont entame leur mission dans l'est du pays. Huit officiers de
la Mission d'observation des Nations unies au Congo (Monuc) sont
arrives a Goma. - 28-29 novembre. On rapporte de violents combats
dans la region d'Ikela (au sud-ouest de Kisangani). 30 novembre.
Les rebelles de J.P. Bemba auraient pris la ville de Basankusu
(nord-ouest).   (ANB-BIA, de souces diverses, 2 decembre 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Angolan and Horn of Africa troops  -  30 November:
The following report has been received from the MISNA press agency:
"At least two thousand men from Angola and the Horn of Africa,
possibly Eritrea, arrived a few days ago in Bukavu, administrative
centre of south Kivu (Congo RDC). According to our MISNA sources
(who will remain anonymous) "It is impossible to know exactly who
sent them or how many they are, given they are currently positioned
up in the hills of the city". (...) There is also no information
regarding their role within the Congolese Rally for Democracy which
controls the eastern sector of former Zaire".   (ANB-BIA, Brussels,
1 December 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Mercenaires americains?  -  Le 1er decembre, l'armee
zimbabweenne, qui soutient les troupes gouvernementales, a accuse
des mercenaires americains de combattre aux cotes des rebelles
congolais. "La presence de mercenaires blancs a ete remarquee: 15
a Lusambo (Kasai oriental) et le meme nombre a Kabalo (Katanga).
Les mercenaires sont des Americains munis d'equipements de
communication et d'artillerie", a affirme le colonel Diye. Selon
lui, ces mercenaires ont recemment ete reperes par des soldats des
armees d'Angola et de Namibie. Il a neanmoins refuse de fournir
davantage de precisions.   (La Libre Belgique, 2 decembre 1999)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Tensions  -  Le 26 novembre, le gouvernement a
interdit toutes les manifestations de rue. Le parti d'Alassane
Ouattara, le Rassemblement des republicains (RPR), avait appele a
manifester les 1e et 4 decembre pour reclamer la liberation de
hauts dirigeants du parti. Par ailleurs, plusieurs opposants ont
ete empeches de sortir de Cote d'Ivoire, notamment Hamed Bakayoko,
proche de Ouattara, et Bamba Morifere, president du Parti pour le
progres socialiste. - Le 28 novembre, M. Ouattara a declare a Dakar
que le president senegalais M. Diouf avait accepte de mener une
mediation pour tenter d'apaiser la situation en Cote d'Ivoire. - Le
1er decembre, la "grande marche nationale" a laquelle avait appele
le RPR et le syndicat des enseignants du secondaire, n'a pas eu
lieu a Abidjan, devant un impressionnant deploiement des forces de
l'ordre. A Korhogo, au nord, la police a disperse quelque 300
manifestants au gaz lacrymogene.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses,
2 decembre 1999)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Appel des eveques  -  Face aux remous sociaux et
a la situation politique tendue dans le pays, les eveques de Cote
d'Ivoire ont demande aux Ivoiriens d'avoir a l'esprit qu'ils "sont
freres, au-dela des regions, des religions et des partis
politiques". Dans une declaration intitulee "Gardons espoir", ils
ont lance, le dimanche 28 novembre, un appel au pouvoir en place
lui demandant d'entrer dans le 3e millenaire avec un nouveau
visage. "Essayez d'etre attentifs a l'opposition, prenez conscience
que sans l'opposition vous ne pouvez reussir l'exercice de vos
responsabilites", ont-ils conseille. "Redoublez d'efforts dans la
politique d'ouverture en tendant une main ferme a l'opposition qui
recherche, elle aussi, le bien de notre patrie". A l'opposition les
eveques ont demande de "jouer franc jeu dans le respect de tous...,
car toute opposition digne de ce nom se doit d'etre constructive". 
 (Magloire Kouassi, Cote d'Ivoire, 30 novembre 1999)

* Cote d'Ivoire. Le cacao brule  -  Le week-end du 27-28 novembre,
les producteurs ivoiriens de cacao ont brule 20.000 tonnes de feves
de cacao pour protester contre la faiblesse des cours mondiaux.
Apres l'ouverture de discussions avec le gouvernement, les
producteurs ont decide, le 30 novembre, de suspendre temporairement
leur blocus de cette denree vers les ports, decide il y a neuf
jours. Les principaux acteurs du marche sont convenus de certaines
mesures pour amortir l'impact de la chute des cours du cacao,
notamment la creation d'un stock de regulation et un systeme de
ventes a terme dans le secteur prive. - La Cote d'Ivoire connait
une grave crise financiere, exacerbee par la chute des cours des
matieres premieres. 39% du budget ivoirien sont consacres a la
dette. Et Abidjan a obtenu moins de 10% des concours exterieurs
promis, en raison du non-respect des conditions edictees par les
bailleurs de fonds. Pour la premiere fois depuis l'independance,
l'Etat pourrait se trouver dans l'incapacite de payer ses
fonctionnaires.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 2 decembre 1999)

* Djibouti. Somalia peace talks  -  25 November: With the power of
Somali warlords on the wane, African regional leaders are gathering
in Djibouti to talk about peace in Somalia. Ahead of tomorrows
Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit, the
Somali leaders have coalesced into two blocks: those for and those
against a peace plan put forth by Djibouti President Ismael Omar
Guelleh. 26 November: IGAD summit.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26
November 1999)

* Guinee-Bissau. Projet de la junte rejete  -  La junte militaire
a echoue dans sa tentative d'imposer un "pacte de regime" qui lui
aurait permis de rester aux affaires pendant encore dix ans. Seuls
6 candidats a la presidentielle sur 12, et 6 formations politiques
sur 13, ont repondu le 27 novembre a la convocation de la junte
pour signer ce pacte. Le projet de "pacte de regime" fait suite a
une premiere proposition de "charte majeure" qui visait le meme
objectif: preserver les interets de la junte apres sa dissolution
telle que prevue par les accords de paix d'Abuja. Le nouveau projet
prevoit notamment la mise en place d'un conseil superieur de la
republique, preside par le chef de l'Etat, au sein duquel les
militaires auraient deux representants et participeraient a la
gestion des affaires pendant dix ans. Les militaires n'ont
toutefois pas perdu tout espoir de faire aboutir leur projet,
estimant que la patrie leur doit quelque chose pour le sang qu'ils
ont verse.   (PANA, 28 novembre 1999)

* Guinea-Bissau. General election  -  24 November: The borders are
now closed, likewise the airport in view of the elections. 25
November: Political parties are making final touches to their
election strategies before the first round of elections on 28
November. 29 November: Polling delays and rioting marked the
elections. Voting in some remote areas has been postponed until
today or even later. 30 November: Voting has nearly concluded
throughout Guinea-Bissau, including the more distant isles. The
voting papers were brought to the capital, Bissau, by helicopter
from some of the more remote areas. Observers say they are happy
with the elections.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 1 December 1999)

* Guinee-Bissau. Elections  -  Les elections generales,
presidentielles et legislatives, le dimanche 28 novembre en Guinee-
Bissau, devront permettre un retour a une vie politique normale,
apres onze mois de sanglante rebellion qui a entraine la chute de
l'ancien president Vieira. En lice: treize partis, dont le PAIGC au
pouvoir depuis l'independance, pour les legislatives, et douze
candidats pour l'election presidentielle, dont Malam Bacai Sanha,
l'actuel president par interim soutenu par la junte. Parmi ses
rivaux on note principalement: Kumba Yalla, ancien challenger de
Vieira, Faustino Imbali, conseiller economique de l'actuel Premier
ministre, et Boubacar Rachid Djallo, un ecologiste. 570.000
electeurs, sur une population de 1,1 million d'habitants, se sont
inscrits pour ces elections. -Selon les autorites, les Bissau-
Guineens se sont rendus en masse aux urnes, mais des problemes
logistiques ont retarde l'ouverture des bureaux de vote, ce qui a
provoque certains incidents. Le manque d'organisation fait peser
des menaces sur la credibilite des elections. - 30 novembre. Selon
les resultats officiels partiels , M. Kumba Yala a largement
remporte le scrutin presidentiel dans la capitale Bissau. Le
depouillement se poursuit pour les autres regions du pays.   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 1er decembre 1999)

* Italie/Zambie/Guinee. Racheter la dette  -  Le Comite de la
conference episcopale italienne, forme a l'occasion du Jubile 2000,
propose a l'Etat italien et a la societe civile un projet concret
en faveur de deux pays africains, la Zambie et la Guinee. Le
professeur Zamagni a explique cette proposition: "On demande aux
citoyens italiens, croyants et non croyants, un apport en argent de
l'ordre de 100 milliards de lires (56 millions de dollars). Avec
cet argent, le Comite de la conference episcopale italienne
achetera au gouvernement italien la dette que ces pays ont avec
l'Italie. En meme temps, on exigera que les gouvernements des deux
pays signent un accord par lequel ils s'engagent a destiner le
montant de la dette annulee a la mise en oeuvre de projets sociaux,
de formation professionnelle, de sante ou d'aide a la famille".  
(Zenit, Rome, 29 novembre 1999)

* Lesotho. Electorate has no confidence  -  The foreign ministers
of four Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries
concerned with political developments in Lesotho on 29 November
adopted the final draft of an agreement to pave the way for fresh
elections in the country next year. The draft was initially
formulated by the leaders of 12 political parties in Lesotho with
the assistance of the Commonwealth secretariat in London. The
Foreign Minister of Mozambique, Leonardo Simeo told a press
conference at the end of the meeting between himself and the
foreign ministers of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe that the
discussions "were very frank and very open" and that the
delegations continuously learned from each others experience. Simeo
said the agreement dealt with the review of preparations for
elections and the timetable for the holding of the elections as
well as the new electoral model to be adopted for the elections.
Other issues included the question of security to ensure free and
fair elections and the need for cooperation between the Lesotho
government and the Interim Political Authority (IPA) established to
facilitate the holding of elections. He said the agreement would be
signed in Maseru on 10 December by representatives of the Lesotho
government, political parties, the SADC chairman, Mozambican
President Joaquim Chissano and hopefully representatives of the
Commonwealth, the United Nations and the Organisation of African
Unity (OAU). However, political analysts in the Lesotho capital
said the electorate appeared to be very sceptical whether the
parties involved were ready and indeed committed to hold fresh
elections. While the IPA members and the government engaged in
protracted talks which seemed to yield little results and direction
for when or whether the elections will be held, the electorate's
confidence in the political process has reached the stage where it
does not really matter to them anymore whether the elections will
be held tomorrow or whenever next year. Informed sources within the
IPA said the earliest that elections can be held was somewhere
between September and November next year.   (Africa Press Bureau,
Johannesburg, 1 December 1999)

* Libya. Developing grazing grounds against  -  The Libyan animal
resources ministry, by completing 23 projects to develop natural
grazing fields on 2.5 million hectares of land, has created the
largest source of parcelled fodder in Africa. Grazing areas in the
country represent 13 million hectares, or 86 percent of Libya's
farm land. The projects were implemented by the ministry to allow
farmers to benefit from a good environment to fight desertification
and to develop water resources to assist in animal breeding. These
projects as a whole, in addition to preventing soil erosion, are
said to be comparable to that of the Great Artificial River which
provides the country's Mediterranean coast cities with fresh water
piped from 2,000 km away. The ministry, which also completed the
maintenance works of 170 wells, provided 170 pumps and 170
generators to the farmers in the project area. Some 2,200 water
pumps were also set up in various areas of Libya.   (PANA, Dakar,
22 November 1999)

* Libya. Gaddafi call for African unity  -  The Libyan leader,
Colonel Gaddafi, has called for an end to all armed conflicts in
Africa and urged all Africans to join together to build a united
continent. He made his appeal during a ceremony in the capital,
Tripoli, to promote ties with Chad. The ceremony was attended by
the Chadian President, Idriss Derby. Colonel Gaddafi said Africans
who took up arms against fellow Africans were betraying African
unity and would be condemned by history. Over the past few months,
Libya has made several attempts to mediate in the continent's armed
conflicts.   (BBC News, 1 December 1999)

* Libye. Satisfecit de Washington  -  Le 30 novembre, les Etats-
Unis ont decerne un satisfecit inhabituel a la Libye, se felicitant
de voir Tripoli reduire son soutien au terrorisme et faire preuve
de bonne volonte a l'egard du processus de paix israelo-
palestinien. "Le changement le plus significatif dans le
comportement de la Libye est la diminution de son soutien au
terrorisme", a declare le sous-secretaire d'Etat adjoint pour le
Moyen-Orient, precisant toutefois que Washington exige d'autres
progres pour normaliser ses relations avec la Libye.   (Le Monde,
France, 2 decembre 1999)

* Malawi. Catholic Church pull out of the Church-NGO Consortium  - 
While Malawians are gearing themselves towards next year's Local
Government elections which have been long overdue, the Roman
Catholic Church has decided to pull out of the Church-NGO
Consortium, an organisation that played a very important role in
the civic education process towards the last Presidential and
Parliamentary elections held in June this year. The pulling out of
the Church's Catholic Peace and Justice Commission has brought
fears for the Local Government elections set for September 2000, as
the Church has a huge following in the country. In a press
statement announcing the pullout, the Commission says it has
decided to pull out of the consortium because it feels the
Church/NGO Consortium has departed from the original plan of
implementing a community-based civic education programme using
Church structures.   (A. Sumbuleta, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 25 Nov. 1999)
* Malawi. Malnutrition in women and children worrying  -  According
to nutrition findings conducted in Malawi, almost 56% of under-five
children suffer from malnutrition. A "situation analysis report on
poverty in Malawi" has indicated that malnutrition is also high
among small holder farmers, the urban poor, female headed
households and tenants. The report attributes this to low-level
food intake per household, because people cannot produce enough
food due to land pressure. "About half of Malawi's population are
smallholder farmers who cultivate less than one hectare of land,
which is a very little peace of land for producing enough food to
meet people's requirements", says Edward Chisala, a UNICEF Food
security Representative in Malawi. Chisala said that the removal of
food subsidies on agricultural inputs by the government, due to
Malawi's Structural Adjustment Programme, makes it impossible for
ordinary farmers to buy fertilizer. "Malawi's women now have little
time to care of their children, as they are always busy working in
their fields as casual labourers for wages or food. Children
usually take one meal a day and this is of poor quality", he said.
According to the report, 30% of households in Malawi are headed by
females who do not have the ability to cultivate their gardens, and
often have too many children to look after.   (Binson Musongole,
ANB-BIA, Malawi, 29 Nov. 1999)

* Malawi. Princess Anne in Malawi  -  Her Royal Highness, Princess
Anne of Britain, said she is impressed with the peace that is
prevailing in Malawi despite a change of government from a one-
party state to multipartyism in 1993/94. She was speaking at a
state banquet hosted in her honour by Malawi's President Bakili
Muluzi in the commercial capital, Blantyre. In her speech, Princess
Anne said unlike other African countries that transformed
themselves into multiparty states, following bloodshed and wars,
Malawians changed government peacefully, and she described this as
"mature". The Princess said: "The impression that I have concerning
Malawi, after two visits, is that its people are hard working and
peace-loving". She said it was for this reason that some
expatriates who had come to work the country, end up choosing to
stay in Malawi after completion of their contracts. Princess Anne's
three-day visit to Malawi is among her three African state visits,
during which she is inspecting projects under her own Save the
Children Fund, and other projects that receives funding from the
United Kingdom. She visited the country in 1982 and 1991. She has
already been to Botswana.   (A. Sumbuleta, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 29 Nov,
1999)

* Maroc. La famille Ben Barka rentre au pays  -  Le 27 novembre,
neuf membres de la famille de Mehdi Ben Barka (l'opposant marocain
enleve a Paris le 29 octobre 1965 et dont le corps n'a jamais ete
retrouve) sont retournes dans leur pays pour la premiere fois
depuis 34 ans. En septembre, ils avaient obtenu le renouvellement
de leurs passeports. L'affaire Ben Barka, qui a implique les
autorites marocaines et des policiers francais, n'a jamais ete
elucidee. "Nous partons pour un voyage en famille d'une quinzaine
de jours. Apres, on verra", a precise son fils Bachir Ben Barka,
qui souhaite que ce retour soit le premier pas vers la verite
concernant la disparitionde son pere.   (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 28 novembre 1999)

* Mozambique. IMF Targets Mozambican Sugar Industry  -  Not content
with the destruction of the Mozambican cashew processing industry,
free trade ideologues in the International Monetary fund are
attempting to eliminate the sugar industry as well, the independent
newsheet, Metical, has reported. Currently, the government imposes
heavy duties on imported sugar, in an attempt to prevent the
dumping of cheap sugar produced in neighbouring countries, and to
protect Mozambique's own sugar industry. The system works through
a minimum reference price for imported sugar (currently 385 US
dollars a tonne for brown sugar and 405 dollars a tonne for white
sugar). Those who import sugar that is cheaper than the reference
price have to pay the difference at the border. According to the
paper, an IMF team that was in Maputo last week told the government
that protection for the domestic sugar industry would have to be
reduced drastically. It said the IMF is demanding that by 2002, the
customs protection for sugar should be no more than 20 percent
above the CIF price. Currently there is a glut of sugar on the
world market.   (PANA, Dakar, 23 November 1999)

* Mozambique. World Bank loan to fix railway  -  The World Bank has
promised a loan of 100 million US dollars to help finance the
reconstruction of the railway linking Mozambique's port city of
Beira, in the central province of Sofala, to Malawi and to the coal
mines of Moatize, in the western province of Tete. "We have
guarantees that the World Bank will provide 100 million US dollars
for the reinstatement of the Dondo-Moatize railway", Rui Fonseca,
the chairman of the board of directors of the publicly-owned
Mozambican railway company, said. He estimated that the money
necessary for the entire job amounts to 300 million dollars, and
Mozambique is currently negotiating with Spain, Australia and
Canada to raise the remaining amount. A source in the National De-
mining Commission told the Mozambican news agency that about two
million dollars would be required for the removal of mines along
the 580 km of the Moatize line. Fonseca said that technical and
engineering studies have already been completed, adding that soon
the study of the present state of the rail line and
infrastructures, and the identification of the mine-infested areas,
will be ready. The reconstruction will be in stages, starting with
the 254 km stretch between Moatize and Mutarara, in Tete, where it
connects with the line branching into Malawi. The line was
comprehensively sabotaged during Mozambique's civil war in the
1980s. It is the only of the country's major rail lines that has
not yet been rehabilitated.   (PANA, Dakar, 23 November 1999)

* Mozambique. Elections  -  Les elections presidentielles et
legislatives auront lieu au Mozambique les 3 et 4 decembre. Le
forum parlementaire de la Communaute de developpement d'Afrique
australe (SADC) envoie douze observateurs representant toutes les
sensibilites politiques. L'ONG americaine de J. Carter, enverra,
elle, une cinquantaine d'observateurs, dont trois anciens
presidents: M. Carter, Quett Masire (Botswana) et Manuel Pinto da
Costa (Sao Tome e Principe). A la presidentielle, il n'y a que deux
candidats: le president sortant Joaquim Chissano (du FRELIMO au
pouvoir), et Afonso Dhlakama, chef du RENAMO, le grand parti
d'opposition. L'opposition a fait de la pauvrete le theme dominant
de la campagne electorale.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 29
novembre 1999)

* Mozambique. Elections  -  30 November: The two main presidential
candidates for the elections have held mass rallies for their
supporters signalling an end to campaigning. The current president,
Joaquim Chissano, committed himself to combatting poverty and
illiteracy if elected, by building on what he said was the
government's economic success. His challenger, Afonso Dhlakama,
leader of the former Renamo rebel movement, accused the government
of a dirty tricks campaign against the opposition. Voting is 3-5
December.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 1 December 1999)

* Namibie. Elections  -  Plus de 870.000 Namibiens sont appeles aux
urnes pour elire leur Parlement et leur president. Le SWAPO, qui
compte plus de deux tiers des deputes, et l'actuel president Sam
Nujoma sont largement favoris. Ce dernier a clos, le dimanche 28
novembre, la campagne de son parti, se disant assure de la
victoire. Les trois autres candidats a la presidentielle sont: Ben
Ulenga du Congres des democrates, Katuutire Kaura de l'Alliance
democratique de Turnhalle, et Justus Garoeb du Front democratique
uni. -Les 30 novembre et 1er decembre, les Namibiens se sont rendus
aux urnes. Le scrutin s'est deroule normalement et a ete marque
d'un fort taux de participation. Les premiers resultats sont
attendus le 2 decembre, les resultats definitifs le 6 decembre.  
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 2 decembre 1999)

* Niger. Resultats des elections  -  Le colonel a la retraite
Tandja Mamadou a ete elu a la presidence avec pres de 60% des voix,
selon les resultats publies le 27 novembre par la Commission
electorale. Il a obtenu 1.060.295 voix, soit 59,90%, contre 709.945
voix a son rival Mahamadou Issoufou. Le taux de participation a
atteint 39,42% des electeurs inscrits. Le parti de M. Tandja, le
Mouvement national pour la societe de developpement (MNSD), et ses
allies sont egalement assures d'obtenir une large majorite a
l'Assemblee nationale. - Le 28 novembre, M. Tandja a recu son rival
M. Issoufou, qui a accepte sa defaite. M. Tandja a aussi appele la
communaute internationale a reprendre son aide au Niger. Par
ailleurs, l'alliance du parti MNSD et de la Convention democratique
et sociale (CDS) s'est assuree une majorite des deux tiers au
Parlement en remportant 55 sieges (respectivement 38 et 17) des 83
sieges a pourvoir.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 29 novembre
1999)

* Nigeria. Truth panel to start hearings in March  -  Nigeria's
Truth and Reconciliation Commission has said it would begin public
hearings in March 2000 to unearth rights abuses in Africa's most
populous nation. The Commission is similar to the South African
body which probed atrocities and abuses during the apartheid era.
Commission Chairman Judge Chukwudifu Oputa said the Nigerians
intended to invite former truth commissioners from South Africa to
share their expertise. "We have so far been operating in camera,
but by March we hope to start holding public hearings", Oputa told
Reuters in an interview at the end of a three-day fact-finding
visit to South Africa by his eight-member commission.   (CNN, 19
November 1999)

* Nigeria. Un budget 2000 novateur  -  Le gouvernement va proposer
a l'Assemblee nationale un budget de 500 milliards de nairas
(environ 32 milliards de FF), fonde sur un baril de brut a 18
dollars, soit environ 7 dollars en dessous des cours actuels. En
plus de cette louable prudence, il faut remarquer que plus de 40
milliards de nairas seront consacres a l'education, soit plus que
le budget de la Defense, en baisse sensible a environ 34 milliards
de nairas. Par ailleurs, des depenses vont etre engagees dans le
secteur petrolier. Le gouvernement prevoit que sa part dans
l'exploration et la production passera de $2 milliards en 1999 a
$2,8 milliards en 2000.   (Jeune Afrique, France, 23-29 novembre
1999)

* Nigeria. Free petrol market  -  Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's new
civilian president, said on 24 November that petrol supplies would
be deregulated as part of what he dubbed a "people's budget" next
year. In a speech to the National Assembly, he said the
government's de facto monopoly on fuel imports would be ended "in
order to encourage private sector participation and ensure regular
supply of petroleum products". It is unclear, however, whether the
Assembly will approve an immediate end to fuel subsidies, which
could lead to petrol price rises of up to 50 per cent. This could
have severe social consequences. Fuel price rises in the past have
led to industrial action and rioting. One proposal recommended that
competition be introduced by spreading subsidies evenly between the
private market and the state owned Nigerian National Petroleum
corporation. This would prevent an upheaval while the world oil
price is high and Nigeria still highly volatile. Mr Obasanjo's
government has won popular acclaim by ending fuel shortages since
it came to power in a return to democracy in May. But a substantial
price rise could be politically expensive even if it helped to
maintain fuel flows.   (Financial Times, UK, 25 November 1999)

* Nigeria. Affrontements ethniques  -  Le 25 novembre, vingt-sept
personnes ont ete tuees sur un marche de la banlieue de Lagos, la
principale ville du pays, lors d'affrontements entre groupes
ethniques rivaux. Un groupe de jeunes Yoroubas, l'ethnie dominante
dans le sud-ouest du pays, a attaque le marche du district
d'Onipanu, tenu par les Haoussas, majoritaires dans le nord. Le
president Obasanjo a declare a la television avoir ordonne a la
police d'arreter les membres du Congres du peuple Odua (OPC, un
groupe nationaliste yorouba), et de tirer a vue sur les
recalcitrants. Le 29 novembre, apres plusieurs jours de violence,
on comptait deja plus de 50 morts. Des centaines d'habitants
haoussas ont commence a fuir Lagos. Des policiers en armes
patrouillaient dans le secteur. Ce regain de violence ethnique a
fait plusieurs centaines de victimes depuis l'accession au pouvoir
du president Obasanjo, un Yorouba du sud du Nigeria.   (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 29 novembre 1999)

* Nigeria. Ethnic fighting  -  29 November: Ethnic fighting in
Lagos died down over the weekend but fears remained that last
week's riots could provoke violence in other parts of the country.
As police and community members went about the grisly task of
collecting the mutilated remains of those killed, it became
apparent that the death toll from the fighting -- between Nigeria's
two largest ethnic groups, the Yorubas and the Hausa-Fulani -- was
close to 100. Hundreds of people have fled from Lagos. Also, a
group of Senators is expected to tour the southern town of Odi,
which was taken over by the army last week, following the killing
of twelve policemen. The Senate announced it would hold an inquiry
into reports from members of the ethnic Ijaw community that the
military had killed dozens of residents during its deployment in
Odi,, in Bayelsa State. 30 November: Journalists in Nigeria who
have been allowed access to Odi report widespread destruction and
the town is virtually deserted.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 1 December
1999)

* Rwanda. Proces de Mgr Misago  -  La phase d'audition des temoins
a charge dans le proces de Mgr Misago s'est achevee le 25 novembre.
Lors de cette nouvelle audience, les juges ont laisse la defense
poser toutes les questions qu'elle voulait, alors que lors des
audiences precedentes ils interpellaient les avocats pour leur dire
qu'ils posaient des questions tendancieuses ou susceptibles de
choquer les survivants du genocide. Les avocats de la defense ont
estime que les depositions du dernier temoin, le caporal Nzamwita,
etaient remplies de contradictions. - 1er decembre. Coup de theatre 
a la premiere audience consacree a l'audition des temoins de la 
defense.  Une depeche de l'agence Fides rapporte que
Jerome Rugema, un des dix jeunes qui, d'apres l'accusation, avaient
ete massacres a l'hopital de Kigeme ou' Mgr Misago les avait
conduits, a pris la parole. Il a temoigne qu'il n'etait pas le seul
du groupe a avoir survecu et confirme que la demarche de l'eveque
avait contribue a sauver sa vie et celle de quelques autres. Deux
religieuses ont egalement temoigne et contribue a faire la lumiere
sur la demarche de l'eveque en faveur des jeunes gens que l'on
croyait morts. Ces temoignages ont visiblement mis l'accusation
dans l'embarras. L'avocat de la partie civile a vainement essaye de
prouver que les temoins etaient manipules, et a voulu faire annuler
l'enregistrement de leurs declarations. La defense a annonce
d'autres temoignages "eclairants".   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses,
2 decembre 1999)

* Rwanda. Liberation de Barayagwiza suspendue  -  La chambre
d'appel du Tribunal penal international pour le Rwanda a ordonne de
surseoir a la decision qu'elle avait rendue le 3 novembre,
ordonnant la liberation de l'ancien directeur des affaires
politiques au ministere des Affaires etrangeres, Jean-Bosco
Barayagwiza, a annonce le porte-parole du TPIR le 26 novembre. Le
19 novembre, le procureur general, Mme Del Ponte, avait adresse une
notice exprimant son intention de demander une revision de la
decision. "Il est sursis a l'execution de l'arret en attente de la
demande de revision du procureur. Ce sursis expirera le 7e jour
suivant cette ordonnance si le procureur n'a pas depose sa demande
a cette date", indique le texte. - D'autre part, on apprenait que
Mme Del Ponte a adresse a la France des mandats d'arret concernant
trois suspects hutu rwandais. Le 26 novembre, Jean de Dieu
Kamuhanda, ancien ministre de l'enseignement superieur, a ete
arrete a Bourges. Des enqueteurs du TPIR seraient arrives, en
secret, dans plusieurs pays d'Europe et d'Afrique, ou ils traquent
les criminels de guerre presumes.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses,
2 decembre 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Difficile desarmement  -  La mission de l'Onu en
Sierra Leone a signale, le 24 novembre, que l'enregistrement des
combattants pour le programme de desarmement etait lent: quelque
1.125 anciens combattants ont depose les armes, sur un total estime
a 45.000. La semaine derniere, une situation potentiellement
explosive a ete apaisee au camp sud du "Desarmement, demobilisation
et reintegration" a Port Loko. Les anciens rebelles du camp se
plaignaient des delais de versement de leurs allocations et la
distribution de nourriture pour leurs familles. Le 8 novembre, des
combattants de l'ancienne armee avaient egalement proteste
violemment dans le camp de demobilisation de Lungi, au nord de
Freetown, pour demander une amelioration de leurs conditions de vie
et le paiement d'arrieres de salaires.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 25
novembre 1999)

* Sierra Leone. UN troops arrive  -  30 November: The UN has begun
deploying a 6,000 strong peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone to
police an agreement signed in July between the government and
rebels. The first Kenyan peacekeepers have arrived at Freetown
Airport and are setting up a transit base there. The same day it is
reported that rebels have attacked ECOMOG troops in a village near
Freetown. Civilians fleeing the area say that rebels of the
Revolutionary United Front have attacked Ghanaian troops serving
with ECOMOG.   (BBC News, 30 November 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Arrivee des soldats de l'Onu  -  Le 29 novembre,
quelque 130 soldats kenyans de la force de maintien de la paix des
Nations unies sont arrives en Sierra Leone. Environ 3.000 autres
militaires, kenyans et indiens, sont attendus dans les prochaines
semaines. A terme, la force comprendra 6.000 hommes, dont les 3.000
soldats de l'Ecomog, qui a defendu le gouvernement durant les huis
ans de guerre civile. L'Ecomog s'occupera de la securite et la
force de l'Onu du respect du fragile cessez-le-feu conclu le 7
juillet entre le gouvernement et les rebelles. Les Nations unies
veilleront notamment a l'acheminement de l'aide humanitaire et au
desarmement de la guerilla.   (D'apres AP, 30 novembre 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Attentat a la bombe  -  Le dimanche 28 novembre,
au moins 46 personnes ont ete blessees, dont 5 grievement, dans un
attentat a la bombe dans un quartier balneaire du Cap. Selon
l'agence Sapa, l'explosion a eu lieu vers 16h30 locales, dans un
restaurant populaire situe dans le lieu touristique de Camps Bay.
Cet attentat est le second en un mois au Cap, ou l'explosion d'une
bombe artisanale dans un pub frequente par des homosexuels dans le
centre-ville le 6 novembre avait fait 6 blesses. -D'autre part, un
membre de la famille royale zulu, Thokozani Thembenkosi Zulu, a ete
assassine le 26 novembre a Nongoma, dans le KwaZulu Natal, ou il y
a de fortes tensions entre l'Inkatha et l'ANC. Un autre membre de
la famille, Cyril Zulu, maire elu de la region de Durban, avait ete
tue le 2 novembre.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 29 novembre
1999)

* Afrique du Sud/Ethiopie. Mengistu a Pretoria  -  Pretoria defend
sa decision d'accueillir Mengistu Haile Mariam, en affirmant que
l'ex-dictateur ethiopien est un "refugie" autorise a recevoir des
soins medicaux et qu'il ne serait pas extrade vers l'Ethiopie.
Mengistu, en asile politique au Zimbabwe depuis 1991, est arrive en
Afrique du Sud il y a dix jours pour recevoir un traitement
cardiaque. Au pouvoir de 1974 a 1991, il est accuse par l'Ethiopie
de genocide et de crimes contre l'humanite.   (Le Monde, France,
1er decembre 1999)

* Sudan. Tensions in southern Sudan  -  Ethnic tensions are
spreading in the eastern Equatoria region of southern Sudan between
the Dinka, who predominate among officers of the SPLA rebel
movement, and the Didinga tribe. There have been clashes in New
Kush, near the Kenyan border, following the killing of a local
commander, apparently by the SPLA. Local people have field their
villages, armed against the rebels. A rebel spokesman said serious
efforts were in hand to contain the situation. He said the killers
would be identified and arrested.   (BBC News, 24 November 1999)

* Soudan. Deux pretres refusent leur liberation  -  Les pretres
catholiques Hilary Boma et Lino Sabit, detenus a Khartoum depuis 16
mois, n'ont pas voulu etre liberes et jouir de l'amnistie decidee
ces derniers jours par le president El Bechir. Ils veulent que la
pleine lumiere soit faite sur leur cas, initie devant la cour
martiale et transfere ensuite a un tribunal civil, et qu'ils
recoivent un non-lieu total. H. Boma et L. Sabit ont ete arretes le
28 juillet et le 1er aout 1998, accuses de participation a une
serie d'attentats.   (Misna, Italie, 26 novembre 1999)

* Sudan. "Partisan" aid to Sudan  -  30 November: The World Food
Programme has expressed concern about a new American law which
provides authority for the use of food aid for rebel fighters in
southern Sudan. The WFP, which is one of the main organisations
involved in the distribution of food to the Sudanese people, says
it is worried that the safety of all food providers might be
jeopardised if some were seen to be partisan.   (BBC News, 30
November 1999)

* Tanzanie. Reboisement  -  Le gouvernement tanzanien a ordonne aux
administrateurs des provinces et des districts de veiller
personnellement a la mise en oeuvre d'une campagne de reboisement
lancee le 10 avril dernier par le president Mkapa. L'initiative du
chef de l'Etat vise a reverdir le pays avec la plantation de 100
millions d'arbres d'ici au mois de juin prochain. La Tanzanie perd
chaque annee entre 300.000 et 400.000 ha de forets. En plus du bois
de chauffe, le deboisement est egalement la consequence des
methodes culturales inappropriees et du surpaturage.   (PANA, 29
novembre 1999)

* Tanzania. A 100 million tree-planting campaign  -  The Tanzanian
government has directed district and provincial administrators to
effectively implement an ambitious national tree planting campaign
launched by President Benjamin Mkapa in April. The campaign is
aimed at re-greening the country by planting 100 million trees by
June. Tanzania currently loses between 300,000 and 400,000 hectares
of forest annually due to rampant tree felling. Forest cover
destruction is particularly alarming in the rural areas where
shifting cultivation and livestock keeping form the key modes of
life. The country's central and north-western areas are already
threatened with accelerating desertification. The minister of state
in the vice president's office, Edward Lowassa, issued a directive
10 November to all district commissioners to ensure a thorough
implementation of the campaign."Planted seedlings must be taken
care of to make sure that a large percentage of them
thrivesþBotanists should advise the villagers on suitable species
of trees for each region", he said.   (PANA, Dakar, 29 November
1999)

* Uganda. Army commander's death  -  The Uganda army has ordered an
investigation into the killing of Lt. Col. Reuben Ikondere in the
east of Congo RDC on 14 November. The inquiry comes amid growing
dissatisfaction and controversy within army ranks over
contradictory reports that the officer died at the hands of a
ragtag Mai-Mai militia in Beni. Lt. Col. Ikondere was in charge of
Professor Wamba dia Wamba's security. Lt. Col. Ikondere was
reported to have travelled on 13 November to Beni, an eastern Congo
town controlled by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) and
forces of the RCD rebels loyal to the embattled Wamba dia Wamba,
from Bunia, another rebel-held city.   (The East African, Kenya,
22-28 November 1999)

* Uganda. Uganda to receive UN funding  -  The UN World Food
Programme (WFP) has approved $30 million for a five-year country
programme for Uganda and a further $57 million for emergency relief
operations. The funds for emergency operations are yet to be
approved by the governing board in Rome sometime in February 2000,
the WFP's Regional Reports Officer, Ms Fereira Alzira said. The WFP
however predicts that the over-all food situation is expected to
remain good as long as the security situation remains stable in the
north of the country. There have been pockets of food shortages in
parts of Kisoro and Kabale districts of south-western Uganda and
Karamoja in north-eastern Uganda. The UN food agency says
assessment teams are already in the field to give on-the-spot
analysis. A similar mission to Karamoja region was called off on
account of insecurity in the area. "We did not get security
clearance," Ms Alzira said. Most of the relief it purchased 50,000
metric tonnes of relief food mainly maize and beans at a cost of $
14 million, up from the previous year's low only 12,000 metric
tonnes worth $3.6 million. The price last year stood at $150 per
tonne. In 1996, output in the country was high, prompting the WFP
to buy 54,000 metric tonnes of relief food items at a cost of $13
million, while in 1995 it bought 40,000 tonnes worth only $9
million. The highest UN food programme stocks were in 1994 where it
had 90,000 metric tonnes worth $24 million.   (Dan Alwana, The
Nation, Kenya, 23 November 1999)

* Ouganda. Amnistie pour les rebelles  -  Le 30 novembre, le
Parlement ougandais a vote une loi d'amnistie pour les rebelles de
l'Armee de resistance du Seigneur (LRA) et des Forces democratiques
alliees (ADF). L'objectif est de mettre fin a la guerre civile qui
a fait plus de 400.000 deplaces dans le nord et l'ouest du pays
depuis 1987. Les insurges ont six mois a partir de la promulgation
de la loi pour operer leur reddition et restituer les armes. Le
texte prevoit egalement la reinsertion des insurges au sein de la
societe ougandaise. Cette mesure marque un tournant dans l'attitude
du chef de l'Etat, M. Museveni, qui n'hesitait pas a qualifier de
"criminels" les deux mouvements rebelles.   (La Libre Belgique, 2
decembre 1999)

* Zambia. Lusaka's beggars defy clean-up  -  A Zambian Government
attempt to get beggars off the street has failed as thousands of
street children and destitute blind people continue to ply their
trade in the capital, Lusaka. Zambia, one of the poorest nations in
the world, announced a few weeks ago that it no longer wanted to
see the poor and destitute on its streets. The government declared
that the beggars gave the wrong impression to visitors. The Zambian
Minister for Community Affairs, Dawson Lupunga, said blind people
who begged for a living were lazy and work-shy. He said that many
of the hundreds of street children who swarm around the centre of
Lusaka were simply naughty youngsters with negligent parents. As
proof that the government was serious, about 200 blind beggars were
rounded up and taken back to their villages, while teams of social
workers and police returned some children to their homes and
threatened their parents with court action.   (BBC News, 24
November 1999)

* Zambia. The "African Potato"  -  During the XIth International
Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases held in Lusaka
12-16 September, the Traditional Healers and Practices Association
of Zambia exhibited what is called the "African Potato", credited
with improving the immune system in AIDS patients. The "Potato" is
found in central Zambia and of late, has received a great deal of
publicity, making it the most advertised and marketed natural plant
in Zambia's history. "People of all types come here to buy the
African Potato, and those who use it, come back to testify that
they have been healed", says Charity Mwansa, a market stallholder.
She says that the advantage of this herb is that it is easy to
prepare and administer. Dr Conie Osborne, a physician from the
University teaching Hospital says that HIV patients who stick
consistently to the African Potato, show some improvement in the
immune system. "However, it has not yet been proved scientifically
whether this potato can chase away the HIV virus", she states.  
(Felix Kunda, ANB-BIA, Zambia, 25 Nov. 1999)

* Zambia/Namibia. Powerline  -  Namibia and Zambia on 26 November
signed a US $15 million agreement in which the Zambia Electricity
Supply Corporation (ZESCO) will construct a 190 kilometre powerline
from the Victoria Falls power station in Livingstone to the
Namibian border town of Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Strip. The
agreement was signed in Lusaka by ZESCO managing director Robinson
Mwansa and his Namibian counterpart Lake Hangala who revealed that
the money had been sourced from the African Development Bank (ADB)
and the Southern African Development Bank (SADB). Zambia would
consequently increase electricity export to Namibia from 66kw to
122kw expected to boost the economic development in Namibia's
Caprivi Strip province. Both Namibian and Zambian government
officials who witnessed the signing ceremony said this represented
a pragmatic bilateral economic cooperation that would enhance
positive economic development of the two countries.   (Africa Press
Bureau, Johannesburg, 1 December 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Congo war costs concealed  -  Zimbabwe on 23 November
published supplementary estimates for the 1999 financial year which
failed to give details of the cost of the country's military
involvement in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The estimates cover Z$9.5bn (US $250m) of overspending in the year
ending on December 31, including Z$1.8bn on deference-the largest
single item. While the estimates are in line with the government's
budget tabled a month ago, which predicted a budget deficit of 7.5
per cent of GDP in 1999, they omit any reference to the losses of
state-owned companies or increased spending on debt-servicing.
Government borrowing is estimated to have actual deficit is
substantially higher than the Z$16.2bn projected in the budget.
Economists expect the final figure to be close to 10 per cent of
GDP. Publication of the supplementary estimates before MPs have
approved the budget has led to renewed calls by some government
backbenchers to reject the budget and specifically the 3 per cent
AIDS levy imposed on all individual and company taxpayers. The
spending figures and the government's refusal to give details of
the cost of the Congo war will make it even harder for the IMF and
World Bank to resume lending, effectively suspended last month
pending further discussions.   (Financial Times, UK, 24 November
1999)

* Zimbabwe. Death threats target Zimbabwe's journalists  -  Police
in Zimbabwe say they are investigating alleged death threats
against journalists working for independent newspapers in the
capital, Harare. In one case, a child's toy and two bullets were
delivered to the home of journalist Ray Choto. In another, the news
editor of the Financial Gazette, Basildon Peta, found three bullets
in his mailbox with a note saying, "Watch out or you are dead". A
third journalist, Ibbo Mandaza of the Zimbabwe Mirror, was
threatened by a telephone caller. Mr Choto and a colleague, Mark
Chavanduka, were arrested earlier this year after their newspaper,
the Standard, published a report alleging a coup plot against
President Robert Mugabe. Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since
independence in 1980, dismissed the story as the work of state
enemies. Mr Choto is now suing President Robert Mugabe's government
for civil damages following his detention and torture by security
police in February. The editor-in-chief of the Financial Gazette,
Francis Mdlongwa, believes "terror tactics" are being used to
intimidate journalists.   (BBC News, 25 November 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Curbing presidential powers  -  29 November: The
government-appointed Constitutional Commission has agreed proposals
to limit the powers of President Robert Mugabe, who has been in
power since independence in 1980. In a draft constitution presented
to the President, today, the commission recommends limiting a
president to two five-year terms in office. Opponents of Mr Mugabe
tried to make the provisions retroactive, meaning he would have to
resign, but this was overruled. The draft constitution recommends
a division of executive powers between a president and a prime
minister.   (BBC News, 29 November 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Huge pay rises for cabinet  -  Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe has awarded big pay rises to MPs, ministers and top
civil servants as the country faces its worse economic crisis in
two decades. MPs will get an increase of 300%, while cabinet
ministers get a 200% salary hike. The salary rises and perks would
be backdated to July, said an announcement in the Extraordinary
Government Gazette. Zimbabwe is struggling with an inflation rate
of 70%, interest rates of more than 60% and unemployment rates of
more than 50%. Earlier in the year, the government announced MPs
and ministers would receive large pay rises, but the size of the
increases has been condemned by Zimbabwe's Congress of Trade
Unions. "We cannot support it when civil servants were denied 20%
cost of living allowances earlier in the year", said Nomore
Sibanda, the spokesman for the union group.   (BBC News, 30
November 1999)