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Weekly anb02141.txt #8

ANB-BIA - Av. Charles Woeste 184 - 1090 Bruxelles - Belg
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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 14-02-2002      PART #1/8
* Afrique. Air Afrique dépose le bilan - Réuni le 7 février à Abidjan, le conseil d'administration extraordinaire d'Air Afrique "a décidé à l'unanimité de faire procéder au dépôt de bilan", selon un communiqué. La justice dispose de 30 jours pour étudier d'éventuelles propositions de reprise ou prononcer la liquidation, considérée comme inévitable par beaucoup d'observateurs. La compagnie, endettée à hauteur de 510 millions d'euros, était en crise depuis plusieurs années. Le 11 janvier, les représentants des onze pays actionnaires avaient recommandé le dépôt de bilan, mais souhaitaient poursuivre des négociations afin de trouver un "partenaire stratégique". La mise en place d'un partenariat avec Air France avait été annoncée en août, mais les pourparlers ont achoppé, notamment sur le financement et l'étendue du plan social. La compagnie emploie 4.000 personnes. Le capital d'Air Afrique est actuellement détenu par le Bénin, le Burkina Faso, le Congo, la Centrafrique, la Côte d'Ivoire, le Tchad, le Togo, le Mali, la Mauritanie, le Niger, le Sénégal ainsi qu'Air France. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 8 février 2002)
* Africa. The Church and politics - Congo RDC: Archbishop Laurent Pasinya Monsengwo of Kisnangani says: "The Inter-Congolese Dialogue is the only way to give back stability and peace in our country. It is an occasion to face the complex political, economic and military situation in a democratic and realistic way. Enough of looting, of violation of human rights, of killing innocent people in Congo and in the whole of the Great Lakes". Zimbabwe: The Catholic Bishops Conference has called for unity, peace and harmony. In their February Pastoral Letter, the Bishops say: "As we approach the 9-10 March presidential elections, we wish to be close to you at this important moment in the history of our country. It is a call to responsibility and integrity to all of us as Christians and citizens of Zimbabwe". The Bishops say they appreciate President Robert Mugabe's appeal for an end to political violence, and they also call on the nation to heed his appeal. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 February 2002)
* Africa. Child soldiers banned by UN law - A United Nations treaty which bans children from being drafted into combat, comes into force on 12 February, following its ratification by the required number of signatory states. It is estimated that about 300,000 children are currently participating in fighting, in more than 35 countries. Ninety-four countries have now signed the optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits governments and rebel groups from deploying children under the age of 18 in any form of armed conflict. With 14 countries ratifying the treaty since it was adopted by the UN General Assembly in May 2000, the protocol is now no longer optional, but enforceable. A spokesman from the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, says he is convinced the treaty will make a difference. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 12 February 2002)
* Afrique. Enfants-soldats - Le traité international interdisant la participation des mineurs de moins de 18 ans aux conflits armés, signé par 94 pays, est formellement entré en vigueur le 12 février. Adopté en 2000 par l'Onu, il concerne plus de 300.000 mineurs à travers 40 pays du monde, notamment en Afrique et en Amérique Latine. Rory Mungoven, coordinateur de divers ONG, note que la situation s'est améliorée sensiblement en Amérique centrale et au Moyen-Orient, mais pas encore en Afrique. La situation empire à chaque nouvelle flambée de violence dans des pays comme la Sierra Leone, le Liberia ou la RD-Congo. La faiblesse essentielle du nouveau traité est qu'il ne prévoit aucun mécanisme de contrôle, souligne Silas Sinyigaya, secrétaire exécutif de la Fédération des ligues et associations des droits de l'homme au Rwanda. "Mais sur le principe, juge-t-il, le traité marque un énorme pas en avant pour cette région". (Libération, France, 13 février 2002)
* Africa. Preparation for "Earth Summit" - Development groups meeting in New Delhi, India, have called on the international community to commit to an action-plan on achieving better long-term environmental governance and an increase in poverty-targeted aid at this year's "Earth Summit" in Johannesburg, South Africa. Delegates at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit -- held earlier this week in preparation for the United Nations-sponsored World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in August and September -- expressed serious concern at the lack of progress in implementing principles agreed at the last Earth Summit in Brazil, 1992, which stressed the need for the poorest and most environmentally-vulnerable countries to receive special attention. Delhi delegates--who included representatives of environmental campaigns groups, research organizations, businesses, and government -- were particularly disappointed by the failure of richer nations to translate plans agreed at the Rio summit into an increase in development aid to impoverished countries. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 13 February 2002)
* Africa. Human rights - Press Freedom: On 7 February, in anticipation of the meeting of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in Paris on 8 February, Reporters sans Frontières has addressed a letter to the Presidents of Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa (in charge of NEPAD's steering committee), drawing their attention to repeated violations of press freedom by several NEPAD member States. Algeria: On 8 February, Amnesty International said that ten years after the declaration of the state of emergency in Algeria, the authorities have failed woefully to bring an end to the human rights crisis in the country. Burkina Faso; On 7 February, Amnesty International called on the government of Burkina Faso to investigate allegations made by the Burkina Faso Human and People's Rights Movement, that security forces, in a crackdown against increasing insecurity, have committed extra-judicial killings. Burundi: Despite recent political changes in Burundi, Amnesty International says (on 7 February) that it continues to receive reports of torture at an alarming rate. Congo RDC: On 13 February, Human Rights Watch said that Uganda should be held responsible for grave human rights violations taking place in territories it occupies in northeastern Congo RDC. Eritrea: On 7 February, Amnesty International said the resolutions of the recently concluded National Assembly session, seriously undermine the rule of law and the protection of human rights in Eritrea. Amnesty International expresses concern over the "worsening human rights crisis" in Eritrea. Liberia: On 11 February, Amnesty International said that the state of emergency declared in Liberia is being used as justification by the security forces to abuse power and commit human rights violations. Rwanda: On 11 February, the Zenit News Agency reported that the bishops of Central Africa as stating that the recent arrest of the theologian, Laurien Ntezimana, in Rwanda, is an attempt to halt the Church's efforts at reconciliation. Togo: On 12 February, in a letter to Togo's interior minister, General Sizing Walla, Reporters sans Frontières protested the forced closure of Radio Victoire, a private radio station accused of not signing the agreement governing the operation of private stations. Zimbabwe: Human rights groups in Zimbabwe say (7 February) that 16 political deaths were recorded in January 2002 --the highest monthly total since political violence began two years ago. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum blames supporters of President Robert Mugabe for most of the violence but says three activists from his Zanu-PF party were among the dead. In one province alone, 35 schools have had to close because of the political violence, according to the forum's latest report. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says that more than 100 of its supporters have been killed in the past two years. This reports contradicts the government's claims that political violence is lessening ahead of next month's presidential elections. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14 February 2002)
* Afrique/France. Mini-sommet - Le 8 février, lors d'un mini-sommet réuni à Paris, auquel participaient 13 chefs d'Etat africains, le président français Jacques Chirac a reconnu que l'aide internationale à l'Afrique décline "de façon inacceptable". Il a souligné "la nécessité morale et indispensable" pour les pays industrialisés de porter l'aide publique au développement à 0,7% de leur PIB. La France elle-même est loin de cet objectif fixé il y a 30 ans. Son aide est passée de 0,56% du PIB en 1994 à 0,34% en 2001. M. Chirac avait convié les dirigeants africains pour marquer son soutien à leur initiative, baptisée Nepad (Nouveau partenariat pour le développement en Afrique), qui lie les besoins de financement à la mise en oeuvre de réformes. Les pays industrialisés du G8 doivent apporter leur réponse au projet africain lors de leur prochain sommet prévu en juin au Canada. Esquissant le bilan des discussions de Paris, Chirac a constaté la volonté commune des pays africains et du G8 de mettre en oeuvre le Nepad sur la base d'obligations mutuelles. (D'après Le Figaro, France, 9 février 2002)
* Africa/France. Africa sets out economic plan - African heads of state meeting in the French president's Elysee Palace in Paris have expressed their determination to end famine and bloodshed on the continent. The 13 leaders met President Jacques Chirac to discuss a new economic initiative for Africa, which they launched last October. The plan, known as the New Partnership for African Development (Nepad), is an African-designed plan to rebuild the continent, which sets an annual target of $64 billion dollars in foreign investment. In return, Western countries are asking Africa to make a commitment to democracy and the fight against corruption. Heads of state attending the meeting include the Algerian, Nigerian and Senegalese leaders -- three of the four founding members of Nepad. The other is South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, who has remained at home to deliver his annual state of the nation address. He has been represented in Paris by Deputy President Jacob Zuma. The initiative has been compared to the Marshall Plan for rebuilding Europe after the Second World War. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) remains sceptical about its chances of success. And Western diplomats say that it remains a concept in need of fleshing out. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 9 February 2002)
* Africa/UK. Blair in West Africa - 7 February: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has hailed a new era of partnership between African nations and the West. Speaking after a two hour meeting with Nigerian president Olesegun Obasanjo, Mr Blair paid tribute to a new generation of African leaders who were committed to reforming the troubled continent. President Obasanjo Mr Blair also defended the need for a British prime minister to travel abroad, following criticism at home of his so-called "designer diplomacy". Mr Blair said the meeting with President Obasanjo fulfilled a promise he had made more than two years ago. The centrepiece of the talks was a new partnership for African development, he said. And he repeated his claim that this represented the best chance in a generation to make the partnership work. The partnership would focus in investment, health and conflict resolution, he said, aiming towards the next G8 summit later this year. There was a "a new generation of leaders in Africa, who see it as their responsibility to make sure it happens", Mr Blair told reporters. He said there was a "new urgency" and a "new momentum" to the process of reform in the continent. 8 February: Tony Blair is to underline his commitment to offer both economic and military aid to conflict-hit African states during a speech to the parliament in Ghana. The prime minister received the unprecedented invitation to address the country's political leaders in the capital, Accra, after his keynote speech in Nigeria on 7 February. It was a clear sign that his much-criticised tour of west Africa is increasingly being viewed as significant by the region's leaders. He is absolutely committed to his African mission and believes the majority of the British public are also concerned about tackling poverty and instability on the continent. His unexpected invitation to address the parliament in Accra will offer him ammunition in his claim that his trip is worthwhile. He will use the off-the-cuff remarks to flesh out his proposals on changing the nature of financial aid to the region. He believes the traditional practice of simply offering cash as a "handout" to the developing countries is flawed and fails to lead to lasting change.Instead, he wants to tie such aid to good governance as a way of "empowering people" to get their economies on a sound footing. It is a "we help you best when you help yourselves" policy which he has long been promoting. At the same time, the prime minister is to offer -- on a similar basis -- more military aid to African countries facing internal conflicts. During his visit to Ghana, the PM is taken to a village to see for himself why Africa is a "scar on the conscience of the world". The village is dependent on cocoa which is Ghana's second biggest export. But a lack of diversification in the country's economy means Ghana is vulnerable to a drop in commodity prices. 10 February: Speaking in Senegal, Tony Blair urges charities and campaign groups to crank up the pressure on the US and other leading industrial nations to deliver a new deal for Africa. The prime minister is aware that some G8 members could block a comprehensive package on increased aid, trade concessions and conflict prevention for Africa, and he therefore calls for an international campaign to back his stance. The G8 will hold a summit in Canada in June to thrash out a new deal for Africa that is supposed to buttress the continent's home-grown blueprint for recovery, called the New Partnership for Africa's Development. "It would be good if civil society was out campaigning for this partnership," says Mr Blair at the end of his four-day trip to west Africa. He says a similar campaign on debt relief had been successful. Mr Blair risks humiliation at the G8 summit since the outcome of the talks could fall well short of the ambitious proposals that he set out in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Senegal. The prime minister is expected to travel to Washington in the spring to try to enlist the support of George W. Bush, US president. Mr Bush has shown little public interest in Africa, and certainly does not share Mr Blair's willingness to engage in nation-building. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 February 2002) 

Weekly anb0214.txt - #1/8