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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 14-01-1999      PART #1/  

* Africa. Action against the Media  -  Congo-Brazzaville: Reporters
sans Frontieres (RSF) is concerned by the deteriorating situation
of certain journalists and independent media in Congo-Brazza.
According to RSF's information, the majority of independent
newspapers have not been published in over 3 weeks. Sierra Leone:
On 10 January, a television producer, Myles Tierney, from
Associated Press was killed in shooting in Freetown. Two others
have been wounded. Tunisia: RSF is concerned by the recent
harassment of journalist Taoufik Ben Brick, a correspondent with
the French Press agency Syfia in Tunis. Zimbabwe: In a Public
Statement on 13 January, Amnesty International stated it is deeply
concerned that Mark Chavhunduka, editor of The Standard newspaper,
was arrested on 12 January by military police officers and detained
under the authority of the Special Investigations Branch of the
Zimbabwe National Army.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14 January 1999)

* Africa. AIDS orphans increasing  -  The world's fasted growing
population of orphaned children who have lost their parents to the
AIDS epidemic, is in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly 8 million African
children have been orphaned by AIDS, and at least 1 million
children are infected with the AIDS virus.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11
January 1999)

* Africa. WCC -- Faith and Order Commission  -  During the December
Assembly of the World Council of Churches, an African was appointed
as Moderator of the WCC's Faith and Order Commission. He is Rev.
Dr. David K. Yemba, a United Methodist ordained minister in the
Church of Christ in Congo. He is currently Dean of the Faculty of
Theology and Professor of Christian Theology at Africa University,
a United Methodist-Related Institution in Mutare, Zimbabwe.   (WCC,
11 January 1999)

* Africa. Children at war  -  "Modern warfare is war against
children, with one third of the decade's war casualties being under
18," says Amnesty International as it launches a new campaign on
human rights for children, with the publication of a book on
children in war. The report: "In The Firing Line", published on 11
January to coincide with the working group on the Optional Protocol
to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in Geneva, where the
legal age of military recruitment will be debated. The study
outlines the extent to which children have increasingly become
explicit targets in warfare. More and more are being deliberately
killed, tortured and recruited as combatants. Disturbing statistics
show that, during the course of the twentieth century, the
proportion of civilians killed in warfare has increased from 5% at
the beginning of the century, to 90% in the 1990s: under 18s make
up almost half the civilian population in most of today's war
zones. Of those who survive, few remain unscathed by the emotional
trauma of witnessing violent killing, often of their parents,
brothers and sisters, or, of themselves being the victims of
violence or torture. The report says that: 300 thousand children
are active combatants; 14 million children are refugees or
displaced people and over a third of modern war casualties are
estimated to be children. "Millions of children have seen what no
human being should ever have to see. Hundreds of thousands have
been found to do things that not even a trained adult soldier
should ever have to do. And every day countless numbers feel the
agony, both physical and emotional, that most adults will never
know," says Rob Beasley. The publication says that of the African
and Asian countries to which UK companies have supplied small arms,
69% are involved in conflicts in which it is highly likely that
many of the victims will be children.   (Amnesty International, 11
January 1999)

* Algerie. Presidentielles  -  Le 8 janvier, a quatre mois de
l'election presidentielle anticipee, le FFS (Front des forces
socialistes), un des principaux partis d'opposition, a annonce
qu'il presenterait un candidat. Celui-ci sera designe par un
congres extraordinaire qui devrait avoir lieu le 4 fevrier, a
precise la direction du parti, sans devoiler s'il s'agirait ou non
de son leader Hocine Ait-Ahmed. Les principaux candidats jusqu'a
present en lice sont Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Mouloud Hamrouche, Taleb
Ibrahimi et Sid Ahmed Ghozali. Le 10 janvier, Belaid Abdesselam, 70
ans, grand patron de l'industrie algerienne de 1965 a 1977 et chef
du gouvernement de 1992 a 1993, a annonce sa candidature a
l'election presidentielle.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11
janvier 1999)

* Algerie. Assassinats en Kabylie  -  La Kabylie, a une centaine de
km a l'est d'Alger, connait depuis un mois une recrudescence de la
violence qui a encore coute la vie a cinq personnes, massacrees par
un groupe arme dans la nuit du 11 au 12 janvier pres de Bouira. Ce
massacre porte a pres de 120 le nombre de tues en Algerie depuis le
debut du ramadan, le 19 decembre. Ce nouveau massacre marque un
deplacement sensible vers l'est du pays de la violence islamiste,
qui ces derniers mois s'etait essentiellement concentree a l'ouest,
notamment dans la region de Medea et Ain Defla. Durant la premiere
quinzaine du mois de decembre, une vingtaine de personnes ont ete
tuees en Kabylie. En outre, les derniers jours de decembre,
toujours en Kabylie, deux policiers ont ete tues a Dellys, trois a
Draa El-Mizan, un militaire a M'chedallah, un ancien maire, son
epouse et un patriote (civil arme) a Maouklane. Le 8 janvier,
l'explosion d'une bombe a tue deux militaires et un patriote a Sidi
Ali Bounab.   (D'apres AFP, France, 12 janvier 1999)

* Angola. Affrontements  -  8 janvier. Des combats entre l'armee
angolaise et la guerilla de l'Unita ont ete signales aux abords de
Mbanza-Congo, une localite de la province Zaire (nord de l'Angola),
toute proche de la frontiere avec le Congo-Kinshasa. Selon des
sources proches du gouvernement angolais, les affrontements
auraient debute le 7 janvier dans cette ville de moins de 150.000
habitants, situee a 500 km au nord de Luanda.-10 janvier. De
violents combats opposaient l'armee angolaise a la rebellion de
l'Unita a moins de 30 km de la ville de Manlanje (380 km a l'est de
Luanda), ou la radio nationale jugeait la situation militaire
critique. Au sud, les affrontements se sont concentres surtout dans
la region de Benguela (550 km au sud de Luanda). L'offensive de
l'armee reguliere s'est egalement poursuivie dans les provinces
centrales de Bie et de Huambo, selon des sources militaires. - 11
janvier. Le gouvernement a ordonne le recensement des jeunes ages
de 18 a 20 ans pour leur future integration dans l'armee.   (ANB-
BIA, de sources diverses, 12 janvier 1999)

* Angola. Avions retrouves  -  Le 8 janvier, une equipe de secours
de l'Onu est arrivee sur le site ou un avion affrete par l'Onu
s'est ecrase le 26 decembre dans le centre de l'Angola, pres de
Huambo. Le lendemain on apprenait que les 14 occupants etaient
morts et que leurs depouilles carbonisees avaient ete ramenees dans
la capitale angolaise. - Le 12 janvier, les rebelles de l'Unita ont
affirme qu'ils avaient retrouve le deuxieme avion de l'Onu abattu
le 2 janvier au-dessus d'une zone de combats, precisant qu'il n'y
avait pas de survivants.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 13
janvier 1999)

* Angola. Shadow of war  -  7 January: UN operations in Angola
remain at a virtual standstill. Fighting between government forces
and UNITA is reported near Mbanza-Congo in north Angola.8 January:
A UN team of crash investigators has found the plane which crashed
near Huambo on 26 December 1998. 10 January: Aid workers fear that
Cuito, Huambo and Malanje will run out of food. Violent fighting
takes place around Malanje. The military situation is described as
"critical". 11 January: The government orders the registration of
young men aged 18-20 for military service. Portugal urges the UN to
stay in Angola despite the breakdown of the 1994 Lusaka Protocol
peace accords and the withdrawal of UN observers from provincial
capitals because of heavy fighting. Rebel forces have now shifted
their latest offensive toward key oil and diamond producing areas.
12 January: UNITA says it has located the plane which crashed on 2
January. The UN Security Council votes to consider imposing new
sanctions on UNITA.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14 January 1999)

* Benin. Second annual ESAF loan approved  -  The International
Monetary Fund has approved the second annual loan for Benin, under
the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility, in an amount
equivalent to about US 14 million in support of the government's
economic and financial program for 1998-1999. The loan is available
in three instalments, the first of which will be available on 15
January.   (IMF, Washington, 11 January 1999)

* Burkina Faso. Premier ministre reconduit  -  Selon un communique
de la presidence du 11 janvier, le president Compaore a demande au
Premier ministre sortant, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, de former le
nouveau gouvernement. M. Ouedraogo avait, le 8 janvier, remis sa
demission et celle de son gouvernement apres les elections
presidentielles du 15 novembre.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 12
janvier 1999)
* Burundi. Processus de paix  -  Le 11 janvier, une reunion de haut
niveau sur le Burundi a commence au siege de l'Onu a New-York. Les
participants se pencheront durant deux jours sur les ressources
requises par l'actuel processus de negociations d'Arusha et les
modalites pratiques de retour a la paix pour le pays. - D'autre
part, les chefs d'Etat de la region vont se reunir le 23 janvier a
Arusha pour s'entretenir de la situation au Burundi. Selon
certaines sources, M. Nyerere est soumis a de fortes pressions en
faveur de la levee des sanctions contre Bujumbura et un compromis
pourrait aboutir a leur suspension, mais non a leur levee complete. 
 (D'apres IRIN, Nairobi, 12 janvier 1999)

* Burundi. Peace process  -  9 January: Regional leaders are due to
meet in Arusha, Tanzania, on 23 January, to discuss the Burundi
situation. Tanzanian Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete is reported as
saying the summit is likely to suspend, but bot cancel the embargo.
The Arusha peace process, bringing together various sides in the
Burundi conflict, resumes on 18 January. 11 January: A two-day high
level meeting on Burundi begins at the UN headquarters in New York. 
 (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 13 January 1999)

* Congo-Brazza. Nouveaux combats  -  Durant le week-end du 9 au 10
janvier, de violents combats entre forces gouvernementales et
rebelles ont a nouveau eu lieu dans les faubourgs meridionaux de
Brazzaville, apprenait-on de source militaire.   (La Libre
Belgique, 12 janvier 1999)

* Congo-Brazzaville. Power supplies cut  -  On 6 January,
militiamen loyal to ousted President Lissouba took control of the
74 megawatt Moukoukoulou power station and cut off power to Pointe-
Noire. Earlier this week, the WFP resumed an emergency airlift of
food supplies to feed some 50,000 displaced Congolese.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 14 January 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Makobola: l'Onu accuse la rebellion  -  Le 8
janvier, des responsables des droits de l'homme de l'Onu ont
declare avoir des informations mettant en cause les rebelles dans
le massacre de 500 civils a Makobola, dans l'est du pays, entre
Noel et le jour de l'an. La Croix-Rouge internationale, pour sa
part, a affirme que six de ses volontaires congolais comptaient
parmi les victimes. Le ministre belge des Affaires etrangeres a
appele a une enquete independante.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 9 janvier
1999)

* Congo (RDC). Confirmation des massacres de Makobola  -  Un
document d'un organisme proche de la societe civile du Kivu, la
"Source independante du Congo", date du 11 janvier, confirme les
massacres a Makobola. "Selon le recit des rescapes, le massacre de
Makobola a ete une veritable operation de represailles des soldats
tutsi contre la population civile, le jour apres un affrontement
avec les May-may. C'est le meme scenario deja observe a Kasika
[...] D'autres informations qui continuent a parvenir donnent une
dimension encore plus grave de cette tragedie. Plusieurs voix
rapportent que les massacres n'ont pas ete limites au centre de
Makobola et ses alentours, mais concernent un grand nombre de
villages situes le long de la route Makobola-Nundu (une trentaine
de km). Toute cette zone aurait ete prise en tenaille par deux
groupes differents de soldats tutsi. Pendant que le premier groupe
descendu d'Uvira le 31 decembre massacrait les gens a Makobola, le
deuxieme groupe remontant a partir de Nundu semait la desolation et
la mort dans tous les villages qui longent la route [...] Tous ceux
que les soldats rencontraient dans les villages etaient tues par
balles ou le plus souvent egorges a l'arme blanche. Beaucoup de
gens etaient enfermes dans les maisons et brules vifs. Tout etait
ravage et detruit". Le document demande que la communaute
internationale mette sur pied une commission d'enquete independante
pour faire toute la lumiere sur ces crimes contre l'humanite. -
Selon un autre document, venant d'une ONG des droits de l'homme
d'Uvira, "le nombre de victimes depasse largement le chiffre de 500
avance initialement par les medias. Suivant les temoignages
recueillis, le nombre de personnes massacrees avoisinerait 1.500
personnes. Les habitants qui ont eu le courage d'aller aussitot
apres le massacre a la recherche de parents portes disparus, ont pu
estimer a 700 les cadavres entasses dans un ravin du seul village
de Bangwe".   (ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 11 janvier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Contre-offensive  -  Avec l'aide de son allie
zimbabween, l'armee de Kinshasa a lance une contre-offensive qui
lui a permis de marquer des points, ces derniers jours. Les
autorites congolaises ont indique, le 10 janvier, que les villes de
Gemena et Libenge (Equateur) ont ete reprises; des sources
religieuses a Bangui ont confirme la reprise de Libenge. L'aviation
zimbabweenne aurait fait subir de lourdes pertes a Kalemie (Nord-
Katanga). Des sources independantes confirment la perte de Fizi
(Sud-Kivu) par les rebelles au profit de la "resistance bembe"
(population de la region). D'autre part, l'aviation pro-Kinshasa a
bombarde Kisangani faisant, selon les sources, entre 12 et 40
morts; le grand hopital de la ville a ete touche. La ville connait
une situation humanitaire preoccupante; les prix des denrees sont
devenus inabordables pour de nombreux habitants et la ville n'a
plus de produits pour purifier l'eau de distribution.   (ANB-BIA,
de sources diverses, 12 janvier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Robert Garreton invite  -  Le rapporteur special de
l'Onu sur les droits de l'homme en R.D. du Congo, le Chilien
Roberto Garreton, va se rendre prochainement au Congo ou il a ete
officiellement invite apres une longue interdiction en raison de
ses denonciations de "violations massives" des droits de l'homme
dans ce pays, a-t-on appris aupres du Haut Commissariat aux droits
de l'homme a Geneve. Le ministre congolais des droits humains,
Leonard She Okitundu, a declare que l'avocat chilien aurait acces
a tous les endroits qu'il voudra visiter.   (La Libre Belgique, 13
janvier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). War continues -- Talks scheduled  -  7 January:
State television says that President Kabila has offered to meet
with the rebels. 8 January: UN human rights investigators say they
have information that the rebels apparently carried out the
reported massacre of nearly 500 civilians in eastern Congo. The
Rwandan government denies reports that its troops were involved in
the alleged massacre. Rebel leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba welcomes
Kabila's willingness to talk with the rebels. "It means that he is
recognising that the rebellion does exist and there is no way to
solve the crisis unless we talk". 9-10 January: A group of
journalists have visited the massacre site in the region of
Makobola. According to local people, 600 people were murdered. The
rebels say only 23 died. 10. President Chiluba of Zambia says the
regional summit on the Congo conflict will begin in Lusaka on 15
January. 11. Aid workers say planes from forces backing President
Kabila have bombed the rebel-held city of Kisangani, killing a
number of people. A spokesman for the forces from Zimbabwe, Angola,
Chad and Namibia which are shoring up Kabila's regime, confirm the
bombing but give no details. The government announces that loyalist
forces have retaken two rebel-held towns in the north, Gemena and
Libenge. 12 January: The government invites a new inquiry by UN
investigator, Roberto Garreton, into alleged human rights abuses.
13 January: Refugees in the CAR having fled from Congo, state that
more than 300 civilians were massacred last week by Kabila's troops
in the province of Equateur. A further clarification (from the
MISNA news agency) indicates this massacre took place in the town
of Libenge which had previously been occupied by rebels. Troops
sent in by Kinshasa went on the rampage and sacked the town.
Garreton says he has every intention of accepting the government's
invitation. The Lusaka Talks are now scheduled for 16 January.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14 January 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Massacres au nord  -  Plus de 300 civils congolais
ont ete tues la semaine derniere par les troupes du president
Kabila, qui se sont livrees a de nombreuses exactions sur les
populations de la province de l'Equateur (nord-ouest), ont affirme
le 13 janvier a l'AFP des Congolais refugies en Centrafrique. Ce
bilan provisoire, etabli selon ces refugies par certains officiers
congolais eux-memes, serait de 120 morts a Zongo et 200 civils tues
a Libenge, deux localites frontalieres avec la Republique
centrafricaine actuellement controlees par l'armee de Kinshasa. Le
secteur le plus sinistre, selon les refugies, est la petite
localite de Mobe, a mi-distance entre Zongo et Libenge "ou les
soldats de Kabila ont tue des femmes et des enfants [...] et s'en
prennent violemment a tout homme en age de se battre".   (D'apres
AFP, France, 13 janvier 1999)

* Congo (RDC). Dialogue?  -  Le 8 janvier, les rebelles ont declare
qu'ils accueillaient favorablement la proposition faite la veille
par le president Kabila de les rencontrer a Kinshasa. Mais ils se
sont abstenus de dire s'ils l'accepteraient. "Si la proposition en
est vraiment une, c'est tres bien", a dit a Reuters le chef des
rebelles, Ernest Wamba dia Wamba. - Le 10 janvier, le president
zambien a annonce, a l'issue d'un entretien de 2 heures avec son
homologue zimbabween Mugabe, que le sommet regional sur le conflit
en RDC se tiendra finalement a partir du 15 janvier a Lusaka. Le 13
janvier, on apprenait de sources gouvernementales zimbabweennes que
les rebelles congolais participeraient, comme partenaires a part
entiere, a ce sommet de Lusaka.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 14
janvier 1999)

* Egypt. Double tragedy  -  10 January: In Cairo, a six-story
building collapsed killing 5 people and injuring 7. Walls of two
nearby buildings were damaged in the collapse and residents of
these buildings had to be evacuated. It was not known how many
people were inside the apartment building when it collapsed. 11
January: About 25,000 soccer fans at the Alexandria Stadium,
Alexandria, pushed and shoved to get into the stadium, triggering
a stampede that killed 8 people and injured 13 others. The rush
occurred after fans heard that a playoff match leading up to the
national Egypt Cup championship would not be broadcast live on
television. Despite the tragedy, the match was held as scheduled
and authorities later arranged for a live broadcast.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 13 January 1999)

* Guinee-Bissau. Formation du gouvernement  -  La formation d'un
gouvernement d'union nationale reste encore incertaine. Selon
l'agence Lusa, le president Vieira et le Premier ministre designe
Francisco Fadul devaient se rencontrer le 11 janvier afin d'y
mettre la derniere main. M. Vieira a designe 5 ministres et 3
secretaires d'Etat; la Junte 4 ministres et 4 secretaires d'Etat.
Mais certaines personnalites designees ne semblent pas pretes a
entrer au gouvernement.   (D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 11 janvier 1999)

* Guinea-Bissau. A new government  -  7 January: Sporadic gunfire
crackles through Bissau. Guinean and Senegalese military commanders
have agreed to begin pulling out the first of their army units from
Guinea-Bissau on 10 January. 8 January: The self-styled military
junta proposes that observers from the Community of Portuguese
Speaking Countries oversee the Abuja peace accord because of the
delay in deploying the West African interposition force (ECOMOG).
It appears the atmosphere in Bissau is potentially dangerous
because Senegalese and Junta forces are facing each other, not too
far from each other. 11 January: Uncertainty still shrouds the
formation of a government of national unity because one of
President Vieira's appointees to the cabinet has still not agreed
to join. 12 January: The new government has now been formed under
Prime Minister Francisco Fadul, but the list of ministers is not
yet complete.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 13 January 1999)

* Kenya. Banks urged to end dubious lending  -  On 8 January, Micah
Cheserem, governor of the central bank of Kenya, called for the
country's banks to apply for more stringent conditions to loans, no
matter how high ranking the borrower. He called for lenders to
insist that any loan requests be accompanied by an adequate project
appraisal, securities other than official rank, and that they
should be followed up by regular visits to the project site. "We
have found a correlation between people of influence and bad
debts", said Mr Cheserem. "The position of a borrower should not
count as security".   (Financial Times, 9 January 1999)

* Libye. Toujours Lockerbie  -  Le 12 janvier, le colonel Kadhafi
a recu deux emissaires, l'ambassadeur saoudien a Washington, le
prince Bandar ben Sultan, et un conseiller du president sud-
africain, M. Jakes Gerwel, pour tenter de promouvoir un reglement
de l'affaire Lockerbie. Ils lui ont remis des messages du roi Fahd
et de M. Mandela. Le lendemain, l'agence libyenne Jana signalait
que les entretiens avaient permis de "franchir un grand pas vers le
reglement de ce qu'on appelle l'affaire Lockerbie. Les discussions
se poursuivent, ainsi que les efforts pour surmonter les obstacles
qui persistent".   (D'apres AFP, France, 13 janvier 1999)

* Libya. Lockerbie suspects could be soon handed over  -  Two
Libyans wanted for the Lockerbie bombing will be handed over for
trial within weeks, a South African envoy predicted. "We have a
feeling we are pretty close to a solution", Jakes Gerwel, President
Mandela's emissary said, after talks with President Gaddafi. "We
would hope it is not a matter of months but weeks". Mr Gerwel,
joined by Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, the Saudi Arabian amabassador
to the United States, said problems still remained, especially over
the question of where the suspects would be imprisoned if
convicted.   (The Guardian, UK, 14 January 1999)

* Mali. L'ex-president condamne a mort  -  Le 12 janvier, l'ancien
president malien Moussa Traore et son epouse Mariam ont ete
condamnes a mort par la cour d'assises de Bamako, a l'issue de leur
proces pour "crimes economiques" intente par l'Etat malien.
L'ancien president Traore, qui a dirige le Mali pendant 23 ans,
avait deja ete condamne a mort en 1992 dans un autre proces pour
"crimes de sang", mais le president Alpha Oumar Konare avait
commue, en decembre 1997, sa condamnation en peine de prison a
perpetuite.   (La Libre Belgique, 13 janvier 1999)

* Nigeria. Elections regionales  -  Le 9 janvier, les Nigerians se
rendaient aux urnes pour elire les gouverneurs et assemblees des 36
Etats de la Federation. Ce scrutin, a la suite des elections
locales de decembre et avant les legislatives et la presidentielle
de fevrier, s'inscrit dans le plan de transition democratique
devant mener a l'investiture d'un regime civil le 29 mai. Le
scrutin devrait se derouler pacifiquement dans la plupart des
regions, mais on s'attend a des violences dans certains points
particulierement sensibles comme le Delta du Niger (sud) ou autour
de Kaduna et Sokoto (nord), ou encore dans la capitale economique
a Lagos. Le vote a ete reporte dans l'Etat de Bayelsa, dans la
region du Delta, ou des violences ont fait recemment 20 morts. -
Selon des resultats partiels, annonces le 10 janvier au soir, le
PDP de l'ancien chef d'Etat Obasanjo remporterait les elections,
s'octroyant les gouvernorats dans 18 Etats. La parti AD a remporte
les gouvernorats dans 6 Etats, notamment a Lagos, et l'APP a ete
victorieux dans 9, selon des membres de la Commission electorale
nationale independante. - Le 12 janvier, on apprenait de source
officielle que l'AD et l'APP ont passe un accord pour presenter un
candidat commun a l'election presidentielle du 27 fevrier. Ils
s'opposeront ainsi au candidat du PDP qui sera sans doute le
populaire ancien president Olesegun Obasanjo.   (D'apres AFP,
France, 8-12 janvier 1998)
* Nigeria. Elections  -  9 January: People begin lining up at
polling stations to vote in state elections. Three parties are
contesting for 36 state assemblies and governors in a prelude to
the February elections for a national assembly and a president. 11
January: Partial results so far -- The centre-left People's
Democratic Party (PDP) has won 20 out of 35 state governorships.
The centre-right All People's Party (APP) has won 9 governorships.
6 governorships have been won by the radical Alliance for Democracy
(AD). In the state assemblies, the PDP is leading in most northern
and eastern areas with the APP making some gains in the north and
the AD dominating in the Yoruba southwest. Elections did not take
place in oil-rich Bayelsa which has been the scene of growing
violence by members of the Ijaw tribe. 12 January: The Independent
National ElectoraL Commission nullifies the results of the
gubernatorial election in Rivers State, which had been won by the
PDP.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 13 January 1999)

* Nigeria. Green shoots of recovery  -  The Cocoa Research
Institute of Nigeria is an unlikely setting for a scientific
breakthrough. But scientists working at the Institute in south
western Nigeria, say they have discovered a hybrid tree that could
reverse the long-term decline of the country's cocoa production,
once more than 300,000 tonnes annually but now averaging less than
half that figure. Their work will also contribute to the
international search for a tree resistant to the ravages of black
pod disease which destroys as much as 30% of cocoa crops globally
each year.   (Financial Times, UK, 13 January 1999)

* Nigeria. Bank chiefs freed  -  Last week, a Lagos high court
ordered the release of 58 bank chiefs who had been detained without
trial for between 2 and 3 years by the late head of state, Gen.
Abacha. The bankers who were detained under a special decree
"Failed Banks", were not charged in court, and had been subjected
to untold hardships and humiliations while in police custody.
Immediately after Gen. Abacha's death, the bankers went to court to
demand their fundamental human rights. They were then granted bail
by the court. They finally regained their freedom on 7 January when
Justice Moshood Olugbani ordered their immediate and unconditional
release, and ordered they should not be re-arrested. He described
their detention as "illegal" and "unjust".   (Taye Babaleye,
Nigeria, 11 January 1999)

* Rwanda. Depart d'un ministre hutu  -  Le ministre rwandais de la
Justice, Faustin Ntezilayo, a presente sa demission et est parti le
2 janvier vers les Etats-Unis, a annonce le Premier ministre
Rwigema. Officiellement, Ntezilayo, un Hutu, va etudier dans une
universite en Caroline du Nord. La vraie raison c'est qu'il
refusait de fonctionner encore plus longtemps a l'interieur du
regime de Kigali, qui devient toujours plus ferme et autoritaire.
On reprochait a Ntezilayo de proteger des personnes accusees
d'avoir trempe dans le genocide. Maintenant, toute la direction de
l'appareil juridique est "de-hutu-tisee" en faveur des Tutsi qui
commandent a Kigali.   (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 9 janvier
1999)
* Sierra Leone. Freetown -- a city held hostage  -  7 January:
President Kabbah and rebel leader Foday Sankoh order an immediate
seven-day ceasefire, but news reports say that sporadic shooting
has been heard in Freetown overnight (6-7 January) as rebel and
ECOMOG forces jockey for control of the capital. Rebel commander
Sam Bockarie says his forces have seized the entire city, but
ECOMOG remains in control of the international airport at Lungi,
across the bay from Freetown, and other parts of the city. 8
January: The ceasefire declared by the government and rebel leader
Foday Sankoh appears rather shaky this morning following sporadic
explosions last night and rebel looting of humanitarian agency
assets. The rebel commander, Sam Bockarie says: "There is no
question of a ceasefire" and orders a general offensive against
ECOMOG. Mr Bockarie challenges the circumstances of the appeal for
a ceasefire made by rebel leader Foday Sankoh, who is still in
prison. "Let us have access to him. Let's see him face to face, and
see that he is mentally and physically fit, and we'll see what's
next to be done". Humanitarian sources say ECOMOG has retaken most
of the positions held by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and
the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) rebels in the centre
of the city. 9 January: The OAU's Secretary-General, Salim Ahmed
Salim, calls for dialogue in Sierra Leone. 10 January: Hundreds of
reinforcements have arrived for the ECOMOG forces at the
international airport at Lungi. Aid workers are worried that food
and water for civilians inside Freetown is fast running out. 11
January: Freetown is rocked by more fighting between ECOMOG forces
and the rebels. Heavy shelling and gunfire is heard from the
centre. Some areas of the city have been set on fire by the rebels.
West African government are stepping up their efforts to stop the
fighting. 12. Rebel leader Foday Sankoh is flown from his jail to
Guinea to talks with West African foreign ministers, the UN and the
Sierra Leone government. His transfer abroad is a key demand of the
RUF before they will consider a ceasefire or political talks. Sam
Bockarie confirms that a Catholic priest, Father Mario Guerro is
being held by his fighters for "his own safety" and will be turned
over to church authorities when "the security situation allows". He
says he is unaware that the Vatican is reporting that two other
priests are also being held. 13 January: Efforts continue to try
and negotiate a ceasefire. Questions are raised about how the
rebels managed to overcome forces loyal to President Kabbah. There
are doubts if the Nigerian-led ECOMOG have the stomach for a
prolonged presence in Sierra Leone. Independent sources confirm
that Ukranian mercenaries, possibly accompanied by South Africas,
have been fighting with the rebels. A Vatican envoy says the two
other priests held hostage have been rescued by ECOMOG. The UN
extends UNOMSIL's mandate until 13 March.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14
January 1999)

* Sierra Leone. Offensive generale  -  Le 8 janvier, le numero deux
de la rebellion, Sam Bockarie, a declare avoir ordonne a ses hommes
de lancer une offensive generale contre la capitale. Rejetant la
proposition de cessez-le-feu formulee la veille par le president
Kabbah, Sam Bockarie a indique qu'il ne cesserait le combat qu'a la
condition de pouvoir rencontrer directement en terrain neutre son
chef Foday Sankoh, en detention apres avoir ete condamne a mort.
Apres ce rejet de la treve par les insurges, les forces de l'Ecomog
semblaient etre passees elles aussi a la contre-offensive, selon
des sources humanitaires. Les 9-10 janvier, les affrontements ont
redouble a Freetown, par des bombardements aeriens, des tirs
d'artillerie et des batailles de rue. La ville est coupee en deux:
les quartiers ouest sont tenus par l'Ecomog, l'est et le centre par
les rebelles. L'Ecomog renforcait ses effectifs sur l'aeroport de
Lungi, pres de la capitale. D'autre part, le ministre des Finances
faisait savoir que le chef de l'Etat etait pret a arranger une
rencontre entre Bockarie et Sankoh. Quatre pays de la region
tentent aussi une mediation. Selon l'agence Misna, deux
missionnaires italiens ont ete captures par les rebelles a
Freetown. 11 janvier. De nombreux quartiers de l'est de Freetown
sont en flammes. Selon des sources militaires, ces indendies ont
ete allumes par les rebelles en deroute. On fait etat d'avancees
incontestables dans l'offensive que mene l'Ecomog contre les
rebelles. Les deux missionnaires ont ete retrouves par une
patrouille de l'Ecomog et remis en liberte dans la soiree. Des
centaines de milliers d'habitants manquent de nourriture et d'eau.
12 janvier. Les forces de l'Ecomog progressent dans la partie est
de Freetown, qu'elles ont repris en grande partie. Les rebelles
brulent tout avant de fuir. D'autre part, le chef rebelle Foday
Sankoh a ete transfere en Guinee pour y mener des pourparlers de
cessez-le-feu a Freetown avec les ministres des Affaires etrangeres
de Cote d'Ivoire, du Togo et de Guinee, le haut representant des
Nations unies en Sierra Leone et le gouvernement sierra-leonais. Le
transfert de Sankoh a l'etranger etait l'une des principales
revendications du RUF avant qu'il n'envisage de cesser le feu. 14
janvier. Durant la nuit, on entendait encore des coups de feu
sporadiques dans la zone orientale, mais le matin un calme relatif
regnait a Freetown. Les unites de l'Ecomog controlent de vastes
secteurs de la ville, mais des groupes de rebelles effectuent
encore des attaques. La ville est partiellement detruite. L'eveque
catholique a lance un appel urgent a l'aide humanitaire et a
l'arret de la guerre.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 14 janvier
1999)

* South Africa. Tony Blair in Cape Town  -  9 January: Four people
are wounded in a firefight between Muslim extremists and police
about 100 yards from Tony Blair in Capetown, after officers spotted
two men handing out guns to demonstrators baying for the British
Prime Minister's blood. His convoy of cars had been held up by the
demonstration calling itself "Muslims Against Global Oppression".
During his tour, Blair has gone out of his way to say that South
Africa's future was secure in the hands of Thabo Mbeki, Nelson
Mandela's anointed successor, and said the ANC was tackling crime
effectively. Blair goes ahead with a speech justifying the joint
military action taken by the USA and the UK in Iraq. The same day,
Tony Blair and his wife visit the African child at Nazareth House,
who is afflicted with HIV, whom they have sponsored for the past
two years. 10 January: Police wielding shotguns and assault rifles
search cars entering Cape Town's most popular tourist destination,
during a Muslim group's protest against security forces who opened
fire on a demonstration during Tony Blair's visit.   (ANB-BIA,
Brussels, 13 January 1999)

* Afrique du Sud. Campagne anti-terroriste  -  Le 13 janvier, la
police sud-africaine a lance une vaste operation pour tenter de
mettre fin aux attentats qui se multiplient dans la region du Cap
et de faire face aux menaces islamistes de terrorisme urbain.
L'operation Good Hope a demarre avec le deploiement des forces de
police sur le Waterfront, le site touristique le plus frequente du
Cap, cible recente de deux attentats. Le gouvernement a prevu un
budget mensuel de 4,3 millions de rands (environ $800.000) dans la
province occidentale du Cap, secouee par 79 attaques a la bombe en
1998. Selon des sources policieres, le groupe musulman PAGAD
(Peuple contre le gangsterisme et la drogue) est derriere cette
vague recente d'attentats. Au cours des derniers mois, le PAGAD a
connu une radicalisation de son orientation. Forme en 1996, il
visait a l'origine a debarrasser les banlieues metisses des
alentours du Cap des gangs organises, qui y font la loi et
pratiquent le trafic de drogue a grande echelle en toute impunite.
Mais son discours a evolue et est maintenant de plus en plus dirige
contre les musulmans moderes, contre l'ANC et les "puissances
imperialistes" auxquelles Pretoria est accuse d'apporter son
soutien.   (D'apres AFP, France, 13 janvier 1999)

* South Africa. Amnesty denied for Biko killer  -  9 January: An
official says that a South African policeman, Gideon Nieuwoudt, has
been denied amnesty in the beating to death of black liberation
leader, Steve Biko, in 1997. The decision apparently leaves the
police officer open to criminal charges in case that shocked the
world and hastened the end of apartheid. 11 January: A senior
prosecutor says the policeman might be tried for murder.   (ANB-
BIA, Brussels, 12 January 1999)

* South Africa. Spending a night in jail  -  Tourists will soon be
able to spend the night in the notorious island jail where South
African President Mandela was locked up for nearly two decades.
Robben Island prison, now a museum, already attracts thousands of
visitors each year but is planning to go one step further and offer
overnight accommodation as well. The island's management said that
it plans to convert the former homes of prison wardens and the
historic buildings dotting the island into guesthouses which should
eventually house some 100 tourists per night. Mandela, freed in
1990 and elected president four years later, was jailed for 27
years under South Africa's apartheid regime. He spent nearly 19 of
them on Robben Island, 11 km (seven miles) off the coast of Cape
Town.   (Reuters, 11 January 1999)

* Sudan. Human Rights  -  5 January: The government has ordered all
women to wear Islamic attire and head scarves in public. Public
order police will ensure the new dress code is enforced. Respect
for the new law is a condition for entering the country. 8 January:
In a press release, Amnesty International says that large scale
human rights abuses against civilians in southern Sudan are likely
in 1999 following the end of the 6-month ceasefire on 15 January.
International efforts for a ceasefire extension in the devastated
region of Bahr-al-Ghazal continue.      B9 January: The newspaper
Akhbar al Youm, in its issue of 29 December 1998, says the
constitutional department of the High Court has informed the
Minister of Defense of its decision to suspend the proceedings in
the trial of Father Hillary Boma and others, while waiting a
decision of the constitutional appeal made by the defense council.
The Court fixed 24 January for the resumption of proceedings.  
(ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 January 1999)

* Tanzanie. Proces pour trahison a Zanzibar  -  Le proces pour
trahison de 18 membres du principal parti d'opposition de Zanzibar,
qui sont passibles de la peine de mort ou de la prison a vie, doit
debuter le 15 janvier, a-t-on appris le 13 janvier de source
judiciaire. Les 18 membres du Front civique uni, incarceres depuis
fin 1997, sont accuses de conspiration visant a renverser le
president des iles tanzaniennes semi-autonomes de Zanzibar et
Pemba, Salmin Amour. Plusieurs partis europeens et des
organisations internationales avaient appele en vain a plusieurs
reprises a une ouverture rapide du proces, certains menacant de
suspendre l'aide au developpement.   (AFP, France, 13 janvier 1999)

* Zambia. Elections -- free and fair?  -  Zambia's ruling Movement
for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and non-governmental organisations
NGOs are engaged in a war of words whether the recently ended
municipal local elections were free and fair. The MMD's information
secretary, Vernon Mwaanga, has threatened to stop cooperating with
some NGOs if they continue issuing statements which are far from
being objective -- distorted so as to justify further donor
funding. Mwaanga said the NGOs' assessment was fraught with bias
against the government, and accused them of supporting
unsubstantiated opposition charges, that President Chiluba had
bought shares in the privatised Roan Antelope Mining Corporation.
The Opposition had urged the electorate not to vote for MMD
candidates whose leaders were alleged to be corrupt. The Foundation
for Democratic Process' president, Dr Alfred Chanda, and The Local
Government Network, a loose alliance of eight NGOs, had claimed the
local elections were not free and fair and that President Chiluba
bribed voters with food aid and threatened not to work with elected
independent or opposition councillors.   (Fred Chela, Zambia, 8
January 1999)

* Zambia. Election results  -  Only 10% of the Zambian electorate
voted in the 30 December 1998 municipal elections in which 16
political parties and 400 independent candidates participated.
These elections were last held in 1992 and were to have been held
again in 1995 but were delayed until 30 December 1998. According to
Zambia's leading independent monioring group, the Foundation for
Democratic Process, the elections were fraught with anomalies. The
results: The Movement for Multiparty Democracy -- 725 seats; the
United National Independence Party -- 151 seats; the United Party
for National Development -- 23 seats. The National Christian
Coalition, the Agenda for Zambia, the National Lima Party, each got
three seats. The National Party and the Zambia Democratic Party
each got one seat.   (Gideon Thole, Zambia, 11 January 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Foiled "officers coup"  -  On 10th January, the Harare
Sunday newspaper, the Standard, reported that more than 20 army
officers have been arrested for allegedly plotting a coup against
President Mugabe's government. The plotters were fed up with Mr
Mugabe's mismanagement of the economy and his decision to involve
Zimbabwe in the Congo war to prop up President Kabila, said the
Standard, an independent paper known for having well-placed sources
within the armed forces. More than 20,000 troops were put on
standby on 16 December to thwart any coup attempt, hours before the
23 army officers were arrested, the Standard said. The "big guns"
behind the plot include a cabinet minister, a MP and a number of
other senior officers, but no action has been taken against them,
it said. (Editor's note: On 12 January, Marc Chavhunduka, editor of
The Standard, was arrested for publishing "treasonable reports"). 
 (The Guardian, UK, 11 January 1999)

* Zimbabwe. Complot?  -  Selon le journal independant Sunday
Standard du 10 janvier, 23 militaires zimbabweens, dont plusieurs
officiers superieurs, ont ete arretes recemment pour tentative de
coup d'Etat. La raison aurait ete l'engagement de l'armee
zimbabweenne dans la guerre civile au Congo-Kinshasa, ou le
Zimbabwe a environ 8.000 soldats qui combattent aux cotes du
president Kabila, un engagement qui est fort impopulaire dans le
pays. Les 23 auraient egalement demande a leurs collegues s'il ne
fallait pas mettre fin a la mauvaise gestion et a la corruption
dans le pays. - Le 12 janvier, le redacteur en chef du Standard,
Mark Chavhunduka, a ete arrete, apres que le ministre de la Defense
ait dementi la veille qu'il y ait eu une tentative de coup d'Etat. 
 (D'apres De Standaard, Belgique, 11-13 janvier 1999)

* Zimbabwe. IMF suggests resuming lending  -  After months of
negotiations and delays, an IMF team is to recommend the
disbursement of a further US $53 million tranch of a $176 million
standby loan to Zimbabwe. The first tranche was disbursed soon
after the loan was approved last June, but it quickly became
apparent that Harare would not meet agreed targets and subsequent
tranches were delayed. Goodall Gondwe, head of the IMF's Africa
division, claimed that the Fund was satisfied with Zimbabwe's
explanations of how land acquisition would be handled, and how the
country's military involvement in Congo RDC was being financed. The
Fund was also satisfied with Zimbabwe's fiscal position and had
been assured that price controls on the staple food, maize-meal,
would be reviewed in June.   (Financial Times, UK, 14 January 1999)