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Weekly anb02134.txt #7

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 13-02-2003      PART #4/7
* Eritrea. Isayas says Ethiopia is "spoilt child" of the superpowers - 7 February: Eritrea's President Isayas Afewerki has described Ethiopia as the "spoilt child of the world's superpowers". In the first part of an interview with the ruling party's Shaebia website, he said some countries were afraid of Ethiopia's "disintegration" and therefore believed "it is better to take care of the present regime". He accused Ethiopia of hindering border demarcation, because of its "desire to incorporate Badme into Ethiopian territory". Isayas accused Ethiopia of trying to "influence" the commission to change the coordinates of Mai Anbesa and Mai Tomsa in southern Eritrea "in order to incorporate Badme. Generally speaking, we do not expect many changes in the demarcation process. The technical details of the implementation process are well handled by the commission" (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 7 February 2003)
* Eritrea/Ethiopia. Horn border in the balance - 7 February: The commission that is deciding on where the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea lies, is scheduled to meet in London on 8-9 February. A dispute over the border resulted in a two-and-a-half year long war that left as many as 100,000 dead. The commission has already given its judgement on the location of the border. However, the decision failed to clarify which country had been awarded the town of Badme, over which the war was fought. The commission is due to begin placing markers along the border in May, and it will then become clear whether Eritrea or Ethiopia has sovereignty over Badme. The meeting will be attended by senior representatives of both Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as the United Nations and the African Union. 9 February: Eritrea's President Afewerki accuses Ethiopia of massing troops at its border. The President accuses Ethiopia of trying to delay the border's demarcation because of a dispute over Badme. 11 February: Ethiopia has denied President Afewerki's accusations. Information Minister Bereket Simon told the UN that the last thing Ethiopia wanted was another conflict in the war-ravaged region. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 February 2003)
* Ethiopia. Malnutrition rates on the increase - Malnutrition rates in Ethiopia are gradually increasing despite widespread efforts to help millions of people facing starvation in the country, according to aid organisations. The UN's Country Team (UNCT) said the increase is particularly alarming because the so-called critical period -- when current harvests normally run out --has not been reached. "An increasing trend gives indication of a worsening nutritional and hence humanitarian situation," the UNCT said in its "Focus on Ethiopia" report. It added that typically at this time of year, when the harvests have been brought in, the malnutrition rates should be falling -- not slowly increasing. "When food is not available the nutritional status is highly dependent on timely and adequate food aid distributions," the report said. "It will be essential that food is delivered on time and in sufficient quantity to avert a major crisis and loss of life in the coming two to three months." (IRIN, Kenya, 5 February 2003)
* Ghana. Ghanaians tell of torture - 4 February: A retired soldier became the twentieth eyewitness to give his testimony to Ghana's National Reconciliation Commission, which has been running for three weeks now. The main task of the nine-member commission is to document accounts of human rights abuses since independence in 1957, but mostly under military regimes when there was no ombudsman. Private Samuel Twumhene was 22 years old when he was detained for almost nine years without trial in 1983, by the PNDC, the military regime led by Jerry Rawlings before he became a civilian president. Mr Twumhene said he was accused of plotting to overthrow the PNDC, with the help of the United States Government. He told the commission that he was arrested with six others and interrogated by three air force officers in a guardroom. He said the interrogators used concrete blocks to pound their bodies, and beat them with truncheons until blood oozed from their ears. Mr Twumhene said on one occasion, three of his co-detainees were taken away from the guardroom. Shortly afterwards, he heard screams --and then gunshots. One of the three was thought to be dead initially, but was discovered alive with bullet wounds in the stomach. The other two were never seen or heard of again. Subsequently, Mr Twumhene said he spent four months in solitary confinement before his transfer to the Nsawam Prisons near Accra, where he remained until his release shortly before multi-party elections in 1992. He went into exile in Côte d'Ivoire, and returned home just two years ago. Mr Twumhene, who now works as a security officer, said his ear-drums were damaged and continued to hurt. Last week the commission heard the story of a pastor, Twumasi Ankrah, who had electric shocks applied to his penis whilst in detention in 1988, for telling his congregation that Mr Rawlings would go to hell if he had killed anyone. Another witness, Emmanuel Sawundi, an ex-army corporal, told of how he was whipped with barbed wire, his toe-nails were pulled out with a pair of pliers, and hot metal applied to his flesh, for allegedly plotting to assassinate Mr Rawlings in 1985. In the case of Alex Hammah, a retired trade unionist, the authorities confiscated 56,000 cedis from him in 1972, when one cedi was equal to one dollar. He wants his money back. (BBC News, UK, 5 February 2003)
* Guinée équatoriale. Nouveau gouvernement - Le 7 février, le Premier ministre Candido Muatetema Rivas qui, la veille, avait présenté la démission de son gouvernement, a été reconduit dans ses fonctions par le président Nguema. Il devrait dans quelques jours proposer au chef de l'Etat les autres membres de son exécutif. Le président Nguema a dit vouloir former un gouvernement qualifié "d'unité nationale". Il compte pour ce faire sur les douze partis de l'opposition dite "démocratique", mais en réalité appartenant à la majorité présidentielle, dont huit avaient appuyé sa candidature. La véritable opposition se trouve toujours emprisonnée dans le pays ou obligée à l'exil. La Convergence pour la démocratie sociale (CPDS), principale formation d'opposition, a annoncé qu'elle ne participera pas au gouvernement. -- Le 11 février, le président Nguema a finalement constitué un gouvernement de "compromis" de 50 membres (contre 44 dans le précédent), au lieu d'un gouvernement "d'unité nationale". Il semble avoir constitué ce gouvernement pour remercier les partis et les personnalités qui l'ont appuyé lors de la présidentielle de décembre dernier. Seuls huit partis de l'opposition "démocratique" sont entrés dans ce gouvernement. (D'après PANA, Sénégal, 7-13 février 2003)
* Kenya. The challenge of providing free primary education - 7 February: Free and compulsory primary education for Kenyan children was one of the key pre-election promises that led the current government, led by President Mwai Kibaki, to power in December 2002. Since then an estimated 1.5 million children, who were previously out-of-school, have turned up to attend classes. "We will not be content until every child of primary school age is enroled. By educating the children we are investing in the future of this country. In the long term, educating children is one way to eradicate poverty," says the Minister for Education, George Saitoti. Parents and children alike have greeted the move with euphoria. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 7 February 2003)
* Kenya. L'éducation primaire gratuite - La Banque mondiale a promis une subvention de 40 millions de dollars au programme kényan d'éducation primaire gratuite, a révélé le ministre de l'Education, George Saitoti. Le ministère espère que cet argent sera débloqué d'ici juin. Les fonds serviront essentiellement à l'acquisition de matériels didactiques et à renforcer les capacités des écoles, a dit M. Saitoti. L'Unicef a aussi promis, la semaine dernière, 2 millions de dollars à ce programme. L'éducation primaire gratuite est un des chevaux de bataille du nouveau gouvernement kényan. Les élèves affluent actuellement en masse dans les écoles publiques. Leur nombre devrait atteindre la barre des 7 millions. (D'après PANA, Sénégal, 11 février 2003)
* Kenya. KANU party HQ seized - 11 February: The Kenyan Government has taken over the building which has been KANU's home since 1989. The Tourism and Information Minister, Raphael Tuju, said that KANU had moved into the International Kenyatta Conference Centre, on political grounds, and without making due payments. Members of KANU recently claimed that the party owned the building. A lawyer for KANU, Mutula Kilonzo, said the take-over was illegal and that the party will take the case to court. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 February 2003)
* Kenya. World Bank favour - 11 February: The World Bank has told the newly-elected Kenyan government that it is keen to resume lending to help it bridge a big budget short fall. The favourable comments came as the Bank's vice-president for Africa, Callisto Madavo, visited the capital Nairobi. "We are very keen to see the building of this relationship and for us to provide the new administration with strong support as you begin the long journey to save your people," Mr Madavo said. But he did not give a date for when lending could resume. Budgetary aid to Kenya was halted in 2001 due to concerns over corruption in the government of former President Daniel arap Moi. The offer comes as new finance minister David Mwiraria said the budget deficit was double that projected by the last government in June. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 February 2003)
* Liberia. Rebels agree to talks - 10 February: LURD rebels say they are prepared to hold talks with the Government. This decision was taken after talks in Sierra Leone with West African legislators. The Liberian government responds positively, saying it had been calling for a meeting with the rebels for years. Citizens of Monrovia have cautiously welcomed the rebels decision but are waiting to see whether it can mean peace for the country. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 10 February 2003)
* Liberia. Vers un dialogue? - 7 février. Les troupes gouvernementales libériennes ont repris la ville de Tubmansburg (à 60 km de la capitale Monrovia) et poursuivent les rebelles du LURD (Libériens unis pour la réconciliation et la démocratie) qui font retraite. Le LURD s'était emparé de la ville en début de semaine, créant des mouvements de panique dans la population de Monrovia. Le mardi 4 février, les dirigeants du LURD avaient lancé un ultimatum au président Taylor, mais ce dernier avait réfusé de quitter la ville. -- 8 février. Les entretiens inaugurés la veille à Freetown (Sierra Leone) pour mettre fin à quatre années de conflit au Liberia, sont déjà au bord de l'impasse. En effet, les rebelles du LURD demandent la démission du président Taylor et la réorganisation des forces armées libériennes. Toutefois, les négociations devraient reprendre le lendemain. Pendant ce temps, le calme est revenu à Monrovia. -- 10 février. Les rebelles du LURD ont accepté d'entamer un dialogue avec le gouvernement de Taylor. Ces pourparlers devraient se dérouler, à une date qui reste à préciser, sous l'égide de la CEDEAO. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 février 2003)
* Libye/Erythrée. Relations bilatérales - Le 9 février, le colonel Kadhafi et le président érythréen Issaias Afeworki ont examiné à Asmara les moyens de renforcer et consolider les relations entre leurs deux pays, a-t-on appris de source officielle à Tripoli. Au cours de cet entretien qui a marqué la fin de la visite entamée le 5 février en Erythrée par le dirigeant libyen, les deux hommes ont également discuté des questions africaines et internationales. Libye et Erythrée seraient sur la même longueur d'onde. En Afrique, ils partageraient des intérêts économiques. Il seraient aussi d'accord sur la "façon de combattre le terrorisme en général". Cette communauté de points de vues les a amenés à signer un protocole d'accord dans différents secteurs. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 février 2003)
* Malawi. Crisis-hit Malawians survive on grass - The food crisis in Malawi is now so severe that some of the worst-hit people are reduced to eating grass. Aid agencies fear that nearly a third of the population -- about 3.3 million people -- face starvation in the coming months if relief funds dwindle and erratic weather does not bring much-needed rain in time for the harvest. Modesta says her family have nothing to eat except grass, like the kind she holds up in her hand. Demonstrating as she speaks, she says: "We take it from the ground, rub it to take away the husks, then grind the seeds to make flour to cook with." She says it is the same for everyone in her village and the next one -- up to 1,000 people in all. And that is just the people she knows about. "It tastes sour, and everyone is constipated," she says. "It is not good for the children to eat. Sometimes if we have a little maize we give it to the children. When we have nothing we all eat grass." Modesta's village is in Malawi's southernmost Nsanje district, near the border with Mozambique. It is rainy season right now but that does not mean very much. Every river we crossed for 50 kilometres was completely dry. It means the maize cannot grow. Here, as in other, greener, parts of Malawi, the aim of the aid agencies is to help people to help themselves -by giving them fertiliser for their maize crops or chickens, whose eggs add a little protein to their diets. But now in arid Nsanje the priority is survival. At Tengani 1,000 people wait for up to six hours to collect rations that will keep their family alive for a month. Drawn from eight villages in the area, they have all walked for hours to get here -- mothers with babies, the elderly, even one man on crutches. They will have to walk back. It is the same across this district -- thousands queue, while thousands more wait at home. The system targets the most needy. You have to be registered to receive -- no form, no food. (BBC News, UK, 8 February 2003) 

Weekly anb0213.txt - #4/7