[Prec. per data] [Succ. per data] [Prec. per argomento] [Succ. per argomento] [Indice per data] [Indice per argomento]

Weekly anb01173.txt #7

_____________________________________________________________
WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 17-01-2002      PART #3/7
* Congo (RDC). Masire denounces renewed fighting - On 14 January, Former Botswana President Sir Ketumile Masire expressed concern about the resumption of fighting in North-eastern Congo RDC, saying this could have a negative impact on the on-going process toward national dialogue. Ketumile, who is the facilitator of the dialogue, said this at a special SADC summit called by the Malawi President Bakili Muluzi in Blantyre to look into the sub-region's conflicts. In a statement, Ketumile asked the SADC leaders to make use of their good offices to ensure that "foreign armies are withdrawn and all hostilities come to an end". Rwanda and Uganda sent troops to back rebels seeking to topple the government in Kinshasa while Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe rushed forces to prevent this happening. The retired statesman asked for political and material support from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) to complete the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, which started in October 2001. The facilitator appraised the SADC leaders on some of the difficulties in the run up to the Dialogue to be held in Sun City, South Africa. According to him, funding remains a major concern in view of the great number of delegates expected at the meeting in South Africa. "This together with the outstanding issues namely the representation of the Mai Mai, political opposition, RCD-ML, Diaspora and religious groups, are likely to cause a slight delay in the resumption of the Dialogue, which started in Addis Ababa last October and was scheduled to resume at the end of January," reads the news release. Ketumile Masire requested the SADC leaders' continued understanding and their "willingness and readiness to provide me the political and financial support, which will allow us to help the Congolese regain their sovereignty." (PANA, Senegal, 14 January 2002)
* Congo (RDC). Les non-belligérants à Bruxelles - 15 janvier. Le ministre belge des Affaires étrangères, M. Michel, a organisé à Bruxelles, une table ronde des partis politiques et de la société civile congolaise, les parties non-belligérantes retenues par le facilitateur Sir Masire. Quelque 85 représentants assistent à cette conférence. Si deux des principaux partis, UDPS et FONUS, ont rejeté l'invitation, des délégués de l'opposition extérieure (la "diaspora") ont été admis et des représentants du président Kabila sont venus en observateurs. Des observateurs de l'Onu, de l'OUA, de la facilitation et de l'Union européenne sont également présents. Thèmes au programme: les institutions de la transition, la future Constitution (avec l'épineuse question de la nationalité), les élections et la création d'une armée nationale. Les discussions de Bruxelles ont pour but principal de rapprocher les positions au sein d'une opposition hétéroclite, en préparation du dialogue intercongolais qui devrait se tenir en Afrique du Sud. - Le 16 janvier, les participants sont parvenus à un "consensus complet" sur l'ordre des futures élections sur tout le territoire, d'abord locales puis législatives et présidentielle (les provinciales restant à déterminer). Ces élections devront répondre à cinq conditions minimales: être précédées d'un recensement national, du rétablissement de la libre circulation des personnes et des biens, d'une campagne d'éducation civique et d'une assistance technique et financière, et de la mise en place d'instruments juridiques adéquats. Quant à la future armée, ils se sont contentés de la définir comme devant être nationale, subordonnée au pouvoir civil, non tribale, respectueuse des personnes et de la propriété privée. Les textes concernent aussi les institutions durant une période de transition, et la Constitution, d'abord transitoire puis définitve. Les participants ont encore opté pour une présidence unique, sans vice-présidents. - Les accords feront l'objet, le 17 janvier, d'une cérémonie d'endossement des conclusions. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 17 janvier 2002)
* Côte d'Ivoire. Armed forces train in human rights - Ivorian authorities are broadening training of the country's military to encompass support for human rights and democratic rule, according to a report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The report issued at the weekend says the country's military also plans to step up support for development and poverty reduction programmes. The move is part of efforts to re-establish public trust long diminished by election-related killings in 2000, and to support political stability and economic recovery. In that regard, the military plans to mobilise the technical capacity and resources of its engineers to build roads, hospitals, schools and health centres and to help open up remote areas. The initiative is also in support of a national reconciliation forum that was held from October through December 2001. Military leader Brigadier-General Mathias Doué recently introduced the training initiative to representatives of the international community at UNDP Offices in Abidjan, following which the ministry of Defence and Civil Protection organised a seminar for military officers. Doué stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on the triangle including the ministry of Defence and Civil Protection that defines government policy in such matters, military leaders carrying out the policy, and the UN system and other development partners providing support. (PANA, Senegal, 14 January 2002)
* Côte d'Ivoire. Vers une rencontre des "4 grands" - Les quatre principaux dirigeants politiques de la Côte d'Ivoire sont convenus de se rencontrer le 22 janvier dans la capitale Yamoussoukro, afin de débattre des stratégies pour renforcer la paix et les efforts de réconciliation qui avaient débuté l'an dernier. Le 14 janvier, le président Gbagbo s'est réuni avec l'ancien président Henri Konan Bédié et avec l'ex-Premier ministre Alassane Ouattara pour discuter des prochaines concertations, une initiative annoncée par M. Gbagbo à la fin du forum de réconciliation nationale en décembre. La réunion doit tourner autour des suggestions soumises durant le forum. Le général Gueï est également attendu à Yamoussoukro. (IRIN, Abidjan, 15 janvier 2002)
* Côte d'Ivoire. "Fruity strike" - 15 January: The Government and farmers are engaged in talks in Abidjan to avert the planned strike by pineapple growers. On 14 January, farmers dumped tons of pineapples on a road to the city's port, blocking it off. They are protesting at the slump in sales of pineapples to Europe, and calling for the closure of the country's main export firm, L'Organisation Centrale d'Ananas et de Bananes. The angry farmers accuse the firm which supplies 55% of Europe's pineapples, if stealing their profits. The farmers say they have received no income for the last nine months and will be forced to stop fruit production if nothing is done. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 January 2002)
* Ethiopia/Italy. UN urged to resolve Obelisk row - The Ethiopian Government has asked the UN to intervene to ensure Italy returns one of its most famous monuments -- the Obelisk of Axum. Although Addis Ababa has repeatedly asked for the return of the 3,000 year old monument and previous agreements have been signed between Ethiopia and Italy, the Italians have so far failed to fulfil their obligations. Ethiopia has now turned to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) asking them to help Ethiopia regain the obelisk, which now stands in central Rome. The ancient Ethiopian monument was taken by the army of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini more than 60 years ago. But Italy appears unwilling to part with the monument claiming it has become naturalised and Italian. (BBC News, UK, 10 January 2002)
* Ethiopie. Ministre chinois en visite - Le ministre chinois des Affaires étrangères, M. Tang Jiaxuan, qui a bouclé le 13 janvier une visite officielle de trois jours en Ethiopie, a déclaré que son gouvernement était prêt à travailler avec l'Ethiopie en vue de renforcer les relations de coopération entre les deux pays. Selon lui, l'Ethiopie et la Chine ont développé une coopération fructueuse dans les domaines politique, économique, commercial, culturel et éducatif. (PANA, Sénégal, 14 janvier 2002)
* Gabon. Opposition joins government - Reports from Gabon say the leader of the country's largest opposition party, Father Paul Mba Abessole, has persuaded the activists of his National Woodcutters' Rally or RNB/RPG, to allow the party to join the government. The move was in response to an invitation from the country's president, Omar Bongo, to take part in what he has called collective management of the state. Father Paul, who is also mayor of Libreville, said that Gabon was experiencing a political, social, economic and cultural crisis. He told activists that no one party could solve the problems alone. Correspondents say if Father Abessole's party joins the government it will be the first opposition party to do so since Gabon held its first multi-party election in 1990. President Bongo's governing Gabonese Democratic Party won a comfortable majority in parliamentary elections in December that were marred by violence, organisational problems and a low turnout in the big cities. (BBC News, UK, 13 January 2002)
* Gabon. L'opposition entre au gouvernement - Le 12 janvier, le parti du député-maire de Libreville, Paul Mba Abessole, opposant historique au président Omar Bongo, a négocié un virage politique majeur en acceptant le principe de sa participation à un "gouvernement d'ouverture". Il l'a justifié en estimant qu'"aucun camp ne peut résoudre tout seul" la crise aiguë que traverse le pays. (Le Figaro, France, 14 janvier 2002)
* Gabon. Ebola outbreak - 14 January: International medical experts investigating the deadly Ebola virus have agreed to return to a town in northeast Gabon after the government promised to address worries about their safety. The medical team left the town of Mekambo on 8 January because of local hostility to its attempts to stop traditional practices that could spread the disease. A spokesman for the International Red Cross, Andrei Neacsu, said the authorities had persuaded local inhabitants that the international team was needed there. Thirty-four cases of Ebola have been confirmed; 25 people have died of it in Gabon and neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville. The infection begins with flu-like symptoms and then attacks the internal organs. 15 January: The international team have yet to return to Mekambo. The move from Mekambo had been prompted by local hostility. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 January 2002)
* Kenya. Violences policières - Au Kenya, six des décès par balles sur dix survenus au cours des cinq dernières années ont été le fait de la police, a rapporté le 14 janvier un quotidien citant une étude confidentielle réalisée par des médecins et des juristes. L'an dernier, la police a tué dix fois plus de personnes que les criminels (232 contre 23), souligne le Daily National, qui précise que cette comparaison fournie par l'enquête, menée dans cinq centres urbains du pays, n'est disponible que pour la seule année 2001. Selon cette étude, la police a été à l'origine de 60% des décès par balles entre 1997 et 2001, 39% ont été le fait de criminels et 1% est attribué à des suicides ou à des coups de feu accidentels. (La Libre Belgique, 15 janvier 2002)
* Kenya. Clearing the way for drought and disaster by felling forest for votes - Fears of an environmental disaster are growing in Kenya because President Daniel arap Moi's government is pushing ahead with plans to clear vast areas of forest before elections later this year. The government says it needs 167,000 acres to settle squatters. But opponents say the scheme is merely a ploy to buy political favours. They warn that the notoriously corrupt regime will stop at nothing to win the poll, even if it means damaging the tea and tourism industries and threatening millions of ordinary Kenyans with drought. "They will go to any length to hold on to power. There is no other explanation," said Professor Wangarai Maathai, a leading environmentalist. On the edge of the Mau Forest -- a key area already eroded by illegal logging -- Francis Kimani, a farm labourer, shook his head as trucks laden with freshly cut trees trundled by. "This is what we call wanton destruction," he said."If these people keep cutting, we feel our country is going to run dry." Kenya has a critical shortage of tree cover. According to experts, at least 10 per cent of the land needs the cover to ensure a reliable water supply. While neighbouring Tanzania has 36 per cent, Kenya has 1.7 per cent. A severe drought last year brought the country to its knees. Four million people became dependent on food aid as reservoirs emptied, causing severe water and electricity rationing. The vanishing forest cover was an important factor. Kenya's problem is that it relies on a handful of "water towers" -- areas of highland forest that sponge up rainfall in the wet season, then release it slowly in dry times. But the government wants to chop down 15 per cent of the largest "tower", the Mau Forest. (The Independent, UK, 16 January 2002) 

Weekly anb0117.txt - En of #3/7