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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 16-03-2000 - PART #2/2 (MOROCCO => ZIMBABWE) 
	====>   (From AFRICA to MALI   see 16a_03_2k)

* Maroc. Le statut de la femme  -  Le statut de la femme divise les
Marocains. Depuis un an, le gouvernement a elabore un "plan
national d'action pour l'integration de la femme au developpement".
Un grand nombre de mesures contenues dans ce plan, visant a
encourager l'insertion des femmes dans la vie active, ne sont pas
contestees. Par contre, celles visant a faire evoluer la mudawana
(le code du statut personnel qui definit les droits et les devoirs
de la femme) -- notamment le relevement de l'age du mariage des
filles de 15 a 18 ans, la suppression de la polygamie, la
substitution du divorce judiciaire a la repudiation, le partage des
biens entre epoux en cas de divorce -- ont provoque un violent
debat entre "modernistes" et "islamistes". Chaque groupe a appele
a manifester, le 12 mars, le premier a Rabat, le second a
Casablanca. La, entre 100.000 et 200.000 islamistes ont defile,
scindes en deux avenues, femmes d'un cote, hommes de l'autre, sous
des slogans comme "pour le respect des valeurs musulmanes" et
"emancipation de la femme oui, alienation non". A Rabat, les
manifestants, moins nombreux, denoncaient "la violence et
l'exclusion" qui frappent les femmes. Le Premier ministre Youssoufi
s'est decharge sur le roi de la responsabilite de trancher dans
cette affaire, ce que le Palais ne semble guere apprecier.   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 13 mars 2000)

* Morocco. Women's rights opposed  -  On 12 March, hundreds of
thousands of Islamists, many of them veiled women, took to the
streets of Casablanca to protest against Moroccan government plans
to give women more rights. The rally dwarfed a march by women in
the capital Rabat, where fewer than 40,000 took to the streets to
mark Women's Day and to support a draft plan by the Socialist-led
government to enhance women's position in Morocco's male-dominated
society.   (Financial Times, UK, 13 March 2000)
* Mozambique. Un pays a reconstruire  -  9 mars. De fortes pluies,
qui ne devraient pas s'arreter avant plusieurs jours, ont entraine
l'annulation des vols de secours. Quant a l'avenir, le secretaire
executif de la Commission economique des Nations unies pour
l'Afrique (CEA), M. Amoacko, a estime que le Mozambique aura besoin
d'un "plan Marshall" pour soutenir son programme de reconstruction.
La CEA envisage d'envoyer une equipe d'experts afin de determiner
l'impact des inondations sur l'economie et de definir un programme
de rehabilitation. A Maputo, on estime que $65,5 millions seront
necessaires pour entamer les premieres phases de reconstruction. -
12 mars. Le gouvernement mozambicain a annonce l'entree du pays
dans la phase de stabilisation des populations et de
reconstruction, alors que se confirme partout -- sauf dans le
bassin du Zambeze -- que le eaux sont en baisse. Le gouvernement
voudrait s'atteler a l'identification des zones sures ou la
population pourrait, sans risques futurs, se reinstaller. -15 mars.
De fortes pluies qui pourraient continuer plusieurs jours, font
craindre de nouvelles inondations. D'autre part, le Club de Paris
a annonce sa decision de differer tous les paiements dus par le
Mozambique au titre du service de sa dette, jusqu'a l'annulation
prevue dans le cadre de l'initiative sur la dette des pays pauvres
tres endettes. (Les membres du Club de Paris creanciers du
Mozambique sont l'Allemagne, l'Autriche, l'Espagne, les Etats-Unis,
la Russie, la France, l'Italie, le Japon, le Royaume-Uni et la
Suede).   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 mars 2000)

* Mozambique. Flood relief  -  9 March: US troops, helicopters and
equipment land in the port of Beira. After long delays caused by
technical and logistical problems, a force of about 50 men and
three Black Hawk helicopters, half the planned number, arrive to
join Germans, Malawians and South Africans already working from
Beira. Heavy rains today, paralyse relief efforts. All civilian and
military aircraft at Maputo Airport, the hub of the international
relief effort, are grounded by the weather which is cutting
visibility to dangerous levels. Government officials say fresh
rains have knocked down telecommunication links with in central and
southern Mozambique. 14 March: The WFP is launching an appeal for
nearly $30 million to help flood victims. The WFP estimates that
650,000 people who have lost homes and farmlands will need to be
fed for the next six months. The agency says about 55,000 tonnes of
food will be needed for the duration. Hundreds of thousands of
people are still living in about 100 temporary camps, but as they
seek to return to their home districts there will be increasing
need for repairs to the devastated road network. Southern African
leaders are meeting in Maputo for emergency talks on the Mozambique
disaster. They call for the cancellation of all of Mozambique's
foreign debt. 15 March: The Paris Club of creditor nations, an
informal group which meets regularly in Paris with debtor nations,
announces: "To help Mozambique face its current exceptional state
of emergency following the flood it suffered, the Paris Club will
defer all payments due by Mozambique on its external debt until the
cancellation under the initiative of the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries". That debt cancellation is expected later this year. The
US government authorises US $37.6 million to be used by its
military personnel in the on-going relief operations in Mozambique. 
 (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 March 2000)

* Mozambique. COE: Justice plus que charite  -  Convaincu que "la
dette est une forme moderne d'esclavage", le Conseil oecumenique
des Eglises (COE) a invite ses Eglises membres dans les pays du G8
a en appeler a leurs gouvernements respectifs pour qu'ils annulent
la dette bilaterale du Mozambique, et qu'ils interviennent aupres
des creanciers multilateraux, notamment la Banque mondiale et le
Fonds monetaire international, afin de reclamer "l'annulation
immediate, totale et inconditionnelle de la dette du Mozambique".
Pour le COE, la seule solution acceptable sera l'annulation
complete de cette dette, et non pas son simple report comme ce fut
le cas pour le Honduras apres le passage de l'ouragan Mitch. Lancer
un appel en faveur de l'annulation de la dette d'un pays specifique
est une nouveaute. C'est parce que les inondations s'attaquent aux
fondements d'une economie deja extremement fragile que la
"situation aujourd'hui tragique que connait le Mozambique" justifie
une intervention urgente, declare le COE. Si le Mozambique n'est
pas la seule nation d'Afrique australe a patir severement des
inondations et a ployer sous le fardeau de la dette, elle compte
aussi des centaines de milliers de mines non explosees, enfouies
dans son sol, et 75.000 soldats demobilises qu'il lui faut trouver
a reinserer dans la societe.   (COE, Geneve, Suisse, 16 mars 2000)

* Nigeria. Nouveaux affrontements  -  Vingt personnes ont ete tuees
dans des affrontements qui ont repris, le 10 mars, apres deux jours
d'accalmie, entre les habitants de deux localites voisines du sud-
ouest du Nigeria, Ife et Modakeke, a annonce le porte-parole de la
communaute d'Ife. -Par ailleurs, le gouvernement nigerian a
recupere 106 milliards de nairas (1,6 milliard de dollars) qui
avaient ete detournes par l'ancien dictateur Sani Abacha et son
entourage, a annonce un haut responsable.   (Le Monde, France, 14
mars 2000)

* Nigeria. Reunion de la Conference episcopale  -  Le reunion
pleniere de la Conference episcopale du Nigeria (CBCN) s'ouvrira le
14 mars a Ikeja (Lagos) sur le theme: "La celebration du Jubile et
la reconciliation nationale". Trois journees de rencontres
traiteront notamment des questions liees aux recents desordres
ethnico-religieux qui ont coute la vie a des centaines de
personnes, provoques par l'introduction de la sharia dans certains
Etats. Dans un communique de presse, la CBCN a exprime un fort
desaccord avec les mesures adoptees par le gouvernement federal a
ce sujet. Les eveques veulent examiner le developpement de la
democratie dans le pays et conseiller des solutions aux differents
problemes qui affligent le recent essor du Nigeria.   (Misna,
Italie, 13 mars 2000)

* Nigeria. Catholic Bishops Conference  -  13 March: The Catholic
Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) will hold its first plenary
meeting of the year 2000, on 14 March, in Ikeja (Lagos, Nigeria).
They will deliberate on the theme: "The Jubilee Celebration and
National Reconciliation". The topics to be addressed during the
three-day meeting, will include issues related to the current
ethnic-religious disorder triggered by the declaration of Islamic
law, Sharia, in various Nigerian States. Clashes which in the last
few weeks have claimed hundreds of lives. In a communique, the CBCN
expressed strong disagreement with the palliative measures being
taken by the federal government and the legislature over the issue
of the constitutionality of the Sharia. (...) The communique also
outlines declarations released by President Olesegun Obasanjo,
affirming that his government would deal decisively with anyone who
made inflammatory remarks on the issue of the Sharia, no matter his
social position. The statement also reveals a declaration by Most
Rev. Felix Job, Archbishop of Ibadan, who declared that the Bishops
are determined to review the development of democracy, and advise
on solutions to the various problems affecting the nascent
development of Nigeria. In conclusion, the communique says the
Bishops' conference will evaluate various reports concerning the
celebration of the jubilee year with various groups of faithful. 15
March: "We are not a bunch of people who are ignorant of the
meanings and practice of Sharia in Islam and in the most important
Muslim nations", says Archbishop Albert Obiefuna, chairman of the
CBCN. He also lamented the high incidence of the HIV/AIDS virus in
Nigeria, emphasising the importance of assisting those suffering
from the disease.   (MISNA, Rome, 13&15 March 2000)

* Nigeria. Obasanjo calls for national reconciliation  -  President
Olusegun Obasanjo has enjoined his restive compatriots to confess
their sins and embrace genuine reconciliation following three weeks
of bloody religious and ethnic turbulence in the land. In a speech
on 13 March to mark the Commonwealth Day, which dwelt extensively
on the national crises, he said Nigerians should "confess (their)
individual and collective sins in this land where so much innocent
blood has been spilled." The sectarian conflict, over the
introduction of the Islamic Sharia law in the Moslem-dominated
north, has pitted Christians against Muslims, resulting in more
than 300 deaths and massive destruction to property. This has
evoked reprisal attacks fuelled by inciting statements from both
sides amid growing call for the separation of the ethnically-
diverse and multi-religious federation of 36 states. Obasanjo urged
"Christians and Muslims alike, during (this) Lent and Id el Fitr
period to pray for forgiveness, genuine reconciliation, brotherhood
and good neighbourliness." Visibly shaken, but sounding rather
prophetic, the president assured Nigerians "that we have a divine
visitation and work in our nation. God has come to rescue, deliver
and redeem Nigeria." Obasanjo, who said he was personally
"saddened" by the events of the past three weeks, noted that "men
and women can only delay that plan of God, but they cannot derail
it."   (Paul Ejime, PANA, 14 March 2000)

* Nigeria. Coupures de courant  -  Le 14 mars, le president
Obasanjo a limoge la direction de la compagnie electrique nationale
NEPA apres une longue coupure de courant dans tout le pays, et a
place le service public sous sa supervision directe. Il a nomme un
comite technique de neuf hommes tries sur le volet pour faire
fonctionner l'entreprise, connue pour son inefficacite et son haut
degre de corruption. Le nouveau conseil d'administration devrait
mettre la compagnie sur les rails avant sa privatisation. Le
president a indique aussi que le gouvernement etait tombe d'accord
avec Exxon-Mobil pour qu'une centrale electrique d'une puissance de
350 megawatts soit mise en service dans deux ans. Lagos, Ibadan,
Abeokuta, Abuka et d'autres regions sont sans electricite depuis le
10 mars.   (IRIN, Abidjan, 15 mars 2000)

* Rwanda. Reprise de la cooperation europeenne  -  Le 9 mars,
l'Union europeenne a accepte d'accorder au Rwanda 110 millions
d'euros dans le cadre du 8e Fonds europeen de developpement. Cet
accord marque la reprise des relations regulieres de cooperation
interrompues lors du genocide en 1994. L'aide accordee devrait
soutenir les efforts du gouvernement pour "reduire la pauvrete et
consolider le programme des reformes sur les questions
macroeconomiques et la bonne gouvernance", selon le commissaire de
l'UE au developpement, Paul Nielsen. Celui-ci a cependant declare
que la persistance de la guerre en RDC etait preoccupante et a
appele le Rwanda a reduire ses depenses militaires.   (IRIN,
Nairobi, 10 mars 2000)

* Rwanda. UN Court on trial?  -  One of the accused architects of
the 1994 Rwandan genocide may go free on what essentially is a
judicial technicality that reflects the troubles facing the
international tribunal created to bring to justice the perpetrators
of the slaughter. The tribunal's future is at stake as an appeals
court decides the fate of Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, a short,
bespectacled man who led the political party that helped organize
the killings of more than 500,000 people. He has already been
ordered released once, when a UN appellate court ruled the
authorities had waited too long to file formal charges against him
after his arrest. The grounds so infuriated the Rwandan government
that it stopped cooperating with the UN tribunal. UN war crimes
prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, has made clear just how fragile the
question of international justice for Rwandans has grown. "Whether
we like it or not, we must come to terms with the reality that our
ability to continue our investigations depends on Rwanda. Without
the help of the country where the genocide occurred and so many
witnesses reside, we might as well open the doors to the prison",
she has said. The five-judge panel has made no immediate ruling on
whether to try Barayagwiza or free him, and tribunal officials said
a decision may not come for weeks. But the case has underscored the
unique challenge facing the Rwanda tribunal.   (Karl Vick,
Washington Post 10 March 2000)

* Rwanda. Museveni confirme le depart de Sebarenzi  -  Le president
ougandais Museveni a fait savoir que l'Ouganda n'avait pas livre
l'ancien president de l'Assemblee rwandaise, Joseph Sebarenzi qui
s'est enfui a Kampala, car ce n'etait pas la politique que
pratiquait son pays. M. Sebarenzi s'est refugie en Ouganda il y a
quelques semaines, apres avoir ete accuse de sedition par les
autorites rwandaises. Dans une interview avec le journal
EastAfrican, publie le 13 mars, M. Museveni a declare qu'a moins
qu'il ne s'agisse d'une affaire criminelle, l'Ouganda demandait
normalement a ces personnes de partir dans un pays tiers. Le
president a confirme que c'est ce qui s'etait passe avec M.
Sebarenzi, lequel se trouverait actuellement aux Etats-Unis.  
(IRIN, Nairobi, 13 mars 2000)

* Rwanda. Kigali accuse le Post de diffamation  -  Dans un
communique publie le 13 mars par l'Office rwandais d'information
(Orinfor), Kigali accuse le journal canadien The National Post de
vouloir lancer une campagne de diffamation contre le regime. Le
Post avait revele un rapport confidentiel de l'Onu impliquant le
vice-president rwandais Kagame dans l'attentat contre l'avion de
l'ancien president Habyarimana en 1994. Le directeur d'Orinfor,
Joseph Bideri appelle l'article "un document revisionniste qui veut
justifier le genocide de 1994 et saper les procedures judiciaires
contre les responsables des massacres".   (D'apres De Standaard,
Belgique, 14 mars 2000)

* Rwanda. Government attacks the "National Post"  -  The government
of Rwanda has attacked the National Post over the newspaper's
recent exclusive report about newly discovered evidence in the
assassination of the Rwandan president in 1994. A press release
accuses the Post of being part of a "smear campaign" to "intimidate
the Rwandan people" and says that the article is a "classical
revisionist piece of work." (...) Joseph Bideri, head of the
Rwandan information office in Kigali, in a statement claims that
the author of the article has "well-known links" to an alleged Hutu
extremist group in Canada. He calls the article "fabricated" and
challenges the Post to print information contained in the
confidential documents. In fact, the Post printed practically all
the information cited in the documents. Withheld were only names
and other information that would enable the Rwandan government to
guess the identity of the informants and their UN contacts. The
Post felt that the lives of these people would be in danger if such
information were printed. (...)   (Steven Edwards, National Post,
Canada, 14 March 2000)

* Rwanda/RDC. Visite de M. Miyet  -  Le sous-secretaire general de
l'Onu pour les operations de maintien de la paix, Bernard Miyet,
effectuant une tournee pour preparer le deploiement d'une force
d'observateurs en RDC, vient d'achever une visite au Rwanda. Selon
le ministre a la presidence rwandaise, a ce stade, les parties
renouvellent leur engagement dans l'accord de Lusaka. La radio
nationale a annonce que M. Miyet avait promis de traiter le
probleme de la milice Interahamwe "sans entrer en guerre". "Ce doit
etre clair, les forces de l'Onu ne se livreront pas a des
operations militaires", a declare M. Miyet. "Vous ne pouvez esperer
que les forces de l'Onu se battront au nom d'une quelconque
partie".   (IRIN, Nairobi, 14 mars 2000)

* Rwanda. Mgr Misago: accusateurs moins categoriques  -  Le proces
contre Mgr Misago, l'eveque de Gikongoro, detenu depuis le 14 avril
1999 sous l'accusation de complicite dans le genocide, dure plus
longtemps que prevu. Mais, pour la premiere fois, ses accusateurs
ont admis la possibilite de son innocence. Me Francois
Rwangampuhwe, avocat de la partie civile, qui avait demande un
supplement de temps pour rechercher des temoignages contre
l'eveque, a declare a l'audience du 25 fevrier: "Nous demandons au
tribunal de nous laisser faire, de sorte que, s'il se revele
finalement que Mgr Misago est innocent, nous pourrons dire que nous
avons fait tout notre devoir". Une nouvelle audience, consacree a
la presentation des dernieres preuves de l'accusation et de la
defense, est prevue pour le 17 mars. Il y aura ensuite une pause
dans les travaux du tribunal jusqu'a la mi-avril au moins; c'est
alors qu'on arrivera a la phase terminale avec le requisitoire et
le plaidoyer.   (CIP, Bruxelles, 16 mars 2000)

* Senegal. Tension before poll  -  Senegal's National Organisation
for Human Rights (ONDH) said on 15 March it was worried about
rising tension ahead of the second round of a presidential election
on 19 March. The run-up to the first round on 27 February was
marred by clashes between rival parties. Several people were shot
and buildings burnt down. "The ONDH notes that once again pre-
election verbal excesses and violence which had created a climate
of tension are resurfacing and it fears the worst", the rights body
said. President Abdou Diouf, in power for 19 years, faces veteran
opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade.   (ABC News, 15 March 2000)

* Senegal. Campagne electorale  -  Les Senegalais voteront le 19
mars au second tour des presidentielles pour departager le
president sortant Abdou Diouf et Me Abdoulaye Wade, arrives en 1ere
et 2e position lors du premier tour. L'opposition s'est resserree
pour l'essentiel autour de Me Wade. Mais, le 14 mars, de facon
inattendue, Djibo Ka, le candidat arrive quatrieme au premier tour
avec un score de 7%, a change de camp pour rejoindre celui de M.
Diouf, demandant a ses electeurs de reporter leurs voix sur lui. Ce
faisant, il a provoque une crise ouverte dans son propre parti, ou
plusieurs membres de la direction ont immediatement desavoue la
decision de leur leader.   (Le Monde, France, 16 mars 2000)

* Sierra Leone. Lenteurs du processus de paix  -  Les membres de la
societe civile en Sierra Leone tentent d'accelerer le processus de
paix en tenant des reunions avec les differentes parties
impliquees. Une des questions urgentes est le rythme trop lent du
desarmement, prevu dans l'accord de paix de Lome signe le 7 juillet
1999. En date du 1er mars, sur les quelque 45.000 anciens
combattants sur le terrain, seuls 17.641 s'etaient presentes dans
les centres de reception. Alimamy Koroma, secretaire general du
Conseil des Eglises, a explique le 9 mars que la societe civile
faisait pression pour un desarmement substantiel avant la tenue
d'une quelconque election en Sierra Leone. Parmi les autres
questions essentielles figurent l'acces des organisations
humanitaires aux zones jusque-la inaccessibles et la liberation des
enfants enleves. Le 8 mars, le Conseil de securite de l'Onu s'est
dit profondement preoccupe des violations des droits de l'homme qui
se poursuivent. Et M. Kofi Annan a dit douter de la volonte du
dirigeant du Front revolutionnaire uni (RUF), Foday Sankoh, de voir
se concretiser le processus de paix, appelant celui-ci "a dissiper
ces doutes d'une maniere tangible et sans equivoque".   (D'apres
IRIN, Abidjan, 10 mars 2000)

* Sierra Leone. Foday Sankoh re-affirms his commitment to peace  - 
14 March: Former rebel leader Foday Sankoh says he remains
committed to the peace process in Sierra Leone and adds that he
will respect a summons to appear before the country's parliament on
15 March to answer questions. He says: "I see no reason why I
should not go to parliament if I am summoned the proper way. I will
be there and I will answer all questions tomorrow." His comments
come one day after the UN Security Council called on Sankoh to
demonstrate "a concrete commitment to peace by allowing the
government to extend its control across the whole country and call
on his followers to lay down their arms".   (CNN, 14 March 2000)

* Somalia. Opposition to peace plan mounts  -  9 March: Three of
Somalia's main political leaders have gone to Libya for talks ahead
of a United Nations-backed conference on Somali reunification next
month in Djibouti. All three -- the Mogadishu faction leader,
Hussein Aideed, President Egal of the self-declared republic of
Somaliland, and Abdullahi Yusuf, the leader of the northeastern
autonomous regional administration of Puntaland -- are believed to
oppose the plan on which the conference is based, and which
stresses Somalia's territorial integrity. The gathering in Tripoli
comes day after President Egal of Somaliland reportedly refused to
meet the UN representative to Somalia, David Stephens, who had
travelled to Hargeisa for the appointment.   (BBC News, 9 March
2000)

* Sudan. New Oil Prospecting Accord  -  Sudan and a consortium of
companies from Canada and Qatar have concluded an oil prospecting
agreement. According to the agreement signed in Khartoum on 12
March, the Canadian Mellut Group, the Qatar-based Gulf Petroleum
Group and the Sudanese Sudapet will prospect for oil on an area of
70,000 square km south of Rabak town on the White Nile. The
concession area will incorporate Adar Yeil oil field, which has
already started producing 5,000 barrels of the crude per day. It is
currently being exploited by the Gulf Petroleum Group. Under the
accord, the Canadian Mellut Group and the Gulf Petroleum Group will
own 46 percent of the share capital each. The remaining 8 percent
will belong to Sudapet. "This consortium has fought a fair battle
against scores of international companies to win this contract,"
the Sudanese Energy and Mining Minister, Awad el Jaz, said during
the signing ceremony. He also told guests that companies
prospecting for oil in other parts of Sudan "are about to break
good news." He did not elaborate. Sudan currently exports 118,000
barrels of crude oil per day from oil fields in the country's west
and south.   (PANA, Dakar, 13 March 2000)

* Soudan. Etat d'urgence prolonge  -  Le 12 mars, le Conseil des
ministres a decide de reconduire jusqu'a la fin de l'annee l'etat
d'urgence, impose le 12 decembre 1999 par le president Omar El-
Bechir pour mettre fin a "la dualite du pouvoir". Par ailleurs, le
gouvernement a approuve une "loi sur les organisations politiques",
en vertu de laquelle tous les partis sont autorises a reprendre
leurs activites.   (Le Monde, France, 15 mars 2000)

* Tchad. L'ambassadeur francais expulse  -  Dans une note datee du
2 mars et transmise une semaine plus tard au Quai d'Orsay, le
president Idriss Deby a demande le "rappel immediat" de
l'ambassadeur de France, Alain du Boispean. Le ministere francais
des Affaires etrangeres a declare, le 11 mars, que son ambassadeur
quitterait son poste "dans les prochains jours", sans autre
explication. La tension entre les deux pays, commencee apres
l'expulsion en septembre 1998 d'agents de la DGSE, etait montee en
novembre 1999 apres le retrait d'Elf du projet petrolier tchadien.
Aujourd'hui, des proches du president Deby font grief a la France
de n'avoir pas voulu engager le contingent francais stationne au
Tchad contre les rebelles de Youssef Togoimi, qui veut renverser le
regime en place.   (D'apres Le Monde, France, 14 mars 2000)

* Tunisia. Justice in Tunisia  -  Amnesty International, Human
Rights Watch and The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights
Fenders, have published (March) a report entitled: "The
Administration of Justice in Tunisia, Trumped-up charges and a
Tainted Trial". The report details many aspects of Tunisia's human
rights situation. The report can be obtained from:
www.amnesty.org/ailib/aipub/2000/MDE/53000400.htm   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 10 March 2000)

* Tunisie. Lourdes peines pour lyceens  -  Pres de 70 jeunes gens
viennent d'etre condamnes a des peines de prison, assorties ou non
de sursis, pour avoir participe aux emeutes dans plusieurs
localites du sud du pays en fevrier. Le verdict a ete prononce a
Sfax, en l'absence des familles et des avocats des accuses. Selon
le Comite pour le respect des libertes et des droits de l'homme en
Tunisie, qui diffuse l'information, l'avenir de ces jeunes, lyceens
pour la plupart, est tout simplement detruit. "Une condamnation a
un mois de prison ferme ou a trois mois de prison avec sursis
implique automatiquement l'exclusion du lycee et le licenciement du
secteur public", precise l'association, qui reclame la relaxe des
jeunes condamnes et leur reintegration dans les lycees.   (Le Soir,
Belgique, 14 mars 2000)

* Uganda. Torture of suspects widespread  -  Torture of suspects
and prisoners in Uganda by members of security organs remains
widespread, the Uganda Human Rights Commission said in its annual
report released on 9 March. "Members of security organs and the
Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, must desist from arresting and
incarcerating people in ungazetted places," it said in the report
presented to parliament. The alleged violation of human rights
reflected a 263-percent increase in complaints received by the
commission compared to that of 1997. This is the second report by
the Commission since it was established by the government in 1996.
The present report covers the period from January to December 1998.
The Commission called on the heads of the army, police and
intelligence organs, in collaboration with line ministries, to
"stamp out this illegal and dehumanising practice," and requested
the ministers in charge of security and defence to assist in
enforcing this measure. "Those caught in the act should be
apprehended and prosecuted so as to serve as a deterrent to
others," it said. The Commission encouraged the government to
expedite the introduction of alternative forms of punishment to
offenders, including community service other than incarceration. It
also called on the government to construct more juvenile
rehabilitation homes to resolve the problem of adults being locked
up together with minors. The Commission noted exploitation of
prisoners' labour for personal gain by prison authorities and asked
the government to provide sufficient resources to prison
institutions to ease the suffering of prisoners. It urged
"government should review the present legislation which provides
for one Ugandan shilling per day to prisoners for their work."  
(PANA, Dakar, 9 March 2000)

* Ouganda. Fievre hemorragique inconnue  -  Une fievre hemorragique
inconnue, dont les symptomes s'apparentent a ceux du virus Ebola,
a tue 17 personnes dans le nord-ouest de l'Ouganda depuis deux
semaines, ont annonce des responsables ougandais le 12 mars. Le
ministere ougandais de la Sante et l'Organisation mondiale de la
sante (OMS) sont en train de travailler a l'identification de cette
fievre, qui provoque notamment des saignements, des maux de tete,
des vomissements et des diarrhees.   (Liberation, France, 13 mars
2000)

* Uganda. Peace far off in the north  -  The press agency MISNA
reports (on 15 March) that tension has taken hold over the Kitgum
district in northern Uganda. Though the rebels of the Lord's
Resistance Army have not carried out any raids against the civilian
population in the last few days, there is fresh apprehension of
raids by groups of Karimojong herders. On 13 March, killings were
reported in two different locations.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 March
2000)

* Zambia. Local Authorities are collapsing  -  Local authorities
are collapsing in the country with fears of the trend continuing if
nothing is done to redress the situation, Zambia Allied Union of
Local Authority Workers (ZULAWU) president Mwape Mutakila has
observed. Mutakila, at the presentation of the action plan document
of the national symposium on financing local governments in Lusaka
on 8 March, urged the ministry to consider recommendations
contained in the document to address the current problems facing
the local authorities. He said that in the past several people had
contributed viable ideas on how best to revitalise the local
authorities' operations but nothing had been done. He said the
document that was being presented if implemented would bring a lot
of changes in the local authorities. Local Government and Housing
Associations (LGHAZ) president Max Ng'andwe said local governments
have always channels of development anywhere in the world. "Unless
we put our house in order, we shall not benefit from the
developments. The recommendations emanate from our resolutions on
how best we can revitalise the local authorities," said Ng'andwe.
Receiving the documents, Sejani called for the revitalisation of
local authorities failure to which lives of people were affected.
He said the economic performance of the Local Government has been
eroded due to the ill financed local authorities. Sejani said there
would be a steering committee that will be put in place to ensure
implementation of recommendations after observations by Cabinet.  
(The Post of Zambia, 9 March 2000)

* Zambia. Tension on border region  -  Plans by the Zambian
government to take remedial measures to lessen persistent attacks
by suspected UNITA rebels from Angola on border areas in the
country's north-western province, have reached an advanced stage.
President Fredrick Chiluba warned that his government would not
hesitate to deal with such invaders. He said the Zambian government
was worried about the increasing number of people, including
traditional rulers, fleeing the border areas in north-western
province. Close to 10,000 people are believed to have fled the area
because of attacks by suspected UNITA rebels from Angola. Apart
from the reported acts of banditry, an estimated 5,000 head of
cattle have been taken away by the suspected UNITA rebels. On 8
March, Defence Minister Chitalu Sampa assured residents of north-
western province that measures had been set up to correct the
situation. The latest raids, which took place in Zambezi district
on 6 March, have forced over 2,000 villagers, a chief and five sub-
chiefs to flee from their homes.   (Gideon Thole, ANB-BIA, Zambia,
10 March 2000)

* Zambia. Chiluba -- "No" to another term of office  -  For the
first time in Zambian politics, a president has said he will not
wait for old age before retiring from active politics. President
Frederick Chiluba has made it clear that he will not seek another
term of office after his tenure comes to an end in November next
year. He says: "In view of next year's presidential polls, doubts
about my retirement should be put to rest" The President made these
remarks on the occasion of a ground-breaking ceremony for the
Frederick J.T. Chiluba Centre, where he also placed a plaque
inscribed: "National Leadership, including the Presidency, should
be seen as an opportunity to serve rather than a life time
occupation". He said: "Democracy should be nurtured and if the law
says you must go, you must respect it and go without giving excuse
that people still want you". The President explained that the
Institute will not be a Movement for Multiparty Democracy political
office, but will be open to every Zambian, and outsiders of
integrity, who wish to bring about multi-party politics in their
country".   (Albert Sinayobye, ANB-BIA, Zambia 13 March 2000)

* Zimbabwe/Grande-Bretagne. Les relations se deteriorent  -  Les
relations entre le Zimbabwe et la Grande-Bretagne ne cessent de se
deteriorer. Aux remous causes par la reforme agraire (qu'Harare
voudrait faire payer par Londres) vient de s'ajouter la question de
la valise diplomatique britannique. Un envoi, pesant 6,5 tonnes et
contenant du materiel de communication ultra-secret, a ete ouvert
par les douaniers zimbabweens, ce que le ministre du Foreign Office
a qualifie de "violation sans precedent de la convention de
Vienne". Londres a rappele son ambassadeur a Harare pour
consultation.   (D'apres La Libre Belgique, 10 mars 2000)
* Zimbabwe. Shaky relations with Britain  -  Relations between
Britain and Zimbabwe deteriorated significantly on 9 March, when
the British Foreign Office recalled its High Commissioner in Harare
for consultations, after Robert Mugabe's government broke open an
impounded British diplomatic bag. Foreign Office Minister Peter
Hain called in Zimbabwe's High Commissioner in London to protest
about the incident. He said: "This is not the act of a civilised
country. This is a grave breach of the Vienna Convention. Zimbabwe
should be in no doubt that this is totally unacceptable behaviour".
Zimbabwean television has been showing pictures of the freight
container amid semi-official hints that it could contain arms,
sophisticated spying equipment or other subversive material.
According to Whitehall officials, the local media has suggested the
material is intended to help opposition parties or the beleaguered
white farmers. In fact, Mr Hain said, it was "routine equipment" to
provide "protective screening" for diplomatic communications. The
equipment is now back in British hands, but may have to be sent
back to London in case it has been tampered with or damaged. On 12
March, Britain said it had put behind it the diplomatic row with
Zimbabwe, and will engage Zimbabwe in dialogue on other matters of
mutual interest. 15 March: Zimbabwe has accused Britain's Minister
for Africa, Peter Hain, of exacerbating relations between the two
countries as part of a pre-conceived plan to demonise and ostracise
President Mugabe's government. Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister, Stan
Mudenge, writing in the government-controlled Herald newspaper,
says Britain is inciting political and economic instability in an
effort to topple the government which faces a general election next
month.   (ANB-BIA, 16 March 2000)

* Zimbabwe. Mugabe given right to snoop  -  On 14 March, Parliament
passed a law allowing the President to order the interception of
any telecommunications including telephone calls, e-mails and
faxes. The bill passed its third reading with only 10 MPs present.
It only needs to be signed by President Mugabe to become law.  
(The Guardian, UK, 15 March 2000)

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