Weekly ANB1009_04.txt #9

[anb-bia <anb-bia at village.uunet.be>]

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 09-10-2003      PART #4/6

* Libya. Gadaffi quits Juventus board  -  2 October: Al-Saadi Gadaffi, son 
of Libyan leader Muammar, has resigned from the board of Juventus. 
Gadaffi's company, the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (Lafico) has 
held a 7.5 per cent stake in the Serie A club since October 2002. His 
decision to end his involvement with the Italian champions paves the way 
for his long-awaited league debut for Serie A rivals Perugia. The 
30-year-old signed a contract with the club in the summer. The Italian 
Football Federation (FIGC) have been reluctant to give Gadaffi clearance to 
play for Perugia as his business ties with Juventus were regarded as a 
conflict of interest. Gadaffi, a Libyan international and vice-chairman of 
his national football federation, was also linked with a move to buy 
cash-strapped Rome giants Lazio earlier this year.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 2 
October 2003)

* Malawi. School children killed under a tree  -  Due to a lack of 
infrastructures in Malawi's education sector, such as lack of classrooms, 
many classes have to be given outside under trees. But on 30 September, 
disaster struck the Mkomachi Primary School, Lilongwe, when a trunk of a 
tree snapped and fell on the pupils killing two and wounding seven others. 
The seven injured children were rushed to the Lilongwe Central Hospital 
after sustaining various injuries from branches of the tree. The school's 
headmaster, Austin Kamzati, said that the school has 3,200 pupils in 27 
classes. But there are only 8 classrooms which means the remaining 19 
classes have to have their lessons outside. Each class has well over 100 
pupils. Free primary school education was introduced by the United 
Democratic Front government when it came to power in 1994.   (Frank Jomo, 
ANB-BIA, Malawi, 2 October 2003)

* Malawi. High Court nullifies constitutional provision  -  On 6 October, 
the Blantyre High Court declared "invalid and unconstitutional", Section 65 
of the Malawi Constitution, describing the provision as an "oppressive 
monster" that limits rights to freedom of association in a democratic 
country. In his landmark ruling, Justice Anaclet Chipeta said he saw a 
heavy threat of oppression in the piece of legislation. Responding to 
Attorney General Peter Fachi's argument that the June 2001 amendment was 
designed to stop MPs from crossing the floor of the House at will, Chipeta 
said the issue of discipline should be left to individual political parties 
and not the national Constitution. Section 65 empowered the Speaker of 
Parliament to declare vacant the seat of MPs who leave their original 
parties to join another party, organisation or association "whose 
objectives are political in nature." But lawyers Ralph Kasambara and 
Chifundo Ngwira countered that the legislation contradicts the Bill of 
Rights in the same Constitution that guarantees freedom of association for 
every Malawian. Opposition figure Green Lulilo Mwamondwe who was among the 
latest victim of the controversial law after breaking ranks with the 
opposition Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) after its leader, Chakufwa 
Chihana and four aides joined the government, welcomed the ruling.   (PANA, 
Senegal, 6 October 2003)

* Maroc. Visite de Jacques Chirac  -  Le président français Jacques Chirac 
se rend aujourd'hui, 9 octobre, au Maroc pour une visite officielle de 
trois jours, au cours de laquelle il devrait apporter un soutien de la 
France à la politique de réformes et de modernisation du roi Mohammed VI. 
M. Chirac a notamment exprimé sa volonté de poursuivre le "renforcement" de 
la coopération dans la lutte contre le terrorisme, après les attentats 
meurtriers en mai dernier à Casablanca. Ces derniers mois, la justice 
marocaine a condamné à la chaîne des islamistes radicaux. Mohammed VI est 
aujourd'hui confronté plus que jamais à deux problèmes: une pauvreté, qui 
fait le lit des intégristes, et le Sahara occidental. Ces enjeux seront de 
toute évidence au coeur de la visite de M. Chirac. Paris a déjà annoncé un 
doublement, pour les trois années à venir, des financements de l'Agence 
française de développement, qui atteindront 300 millions d'euros. Sur la 
scène diplomatique, le soutien français sur l'interminable conflit du 
Sahara occidental se révèle aussi déterminant.   (D'après Le Figaro et 
Libération, France, 9 octobre 2003)

* Nigeria. Journalists harassed  -  On 5 October, the Nigerian government 
was facing questions over an alleged abortive threat to deport two foreign 
journalists including Jeff Koinange, West Africa bureau chief of CNN. Mr 
Koinange said he was detained for several hours on arrival at Lagos' 
international airport on the night of 4 October was released only after the 
intervention of senior government officials contacted by himself and other 
journalists. The incident highlights continued concerns about the 
harassment of journalists and ordinary citizens by Nigeria's security 
services, despite significant improvements since the return of civilian 
rule in 1999. "At least they corrected it quickly, and it was good to see 
that," Mr Koinange said. "But if it was someone else less well-known, less 
recognisable, it could have been worse." Mr Koinange, a Kenyan-American, 
said he and his colleague Simon Matiri, a Kenyan camera operator, were met 
on arrival from Ghana by a group of a dozen men, comprising immigration 
officers and secret police. The two correspondents were told that they 
would have to leave on the next flight out of the country, Mr Koinange 
said, adding that Mr Matiri was slapped to the ground when he tried to film 
the incident. Remi Oyo, spokesman for President Olusegun Obasanjo, declined 
to comment on Mr Koinange's allegations. The US embassy also declined to 
comment.   (Financial Times, UK, 6 October 2003)

* Nigeria. The All-Africa Games  -  4 October: The All-Africa Games open 
today in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Fifty-three countries will send 7,000 
athletes to compete in 23 sports, but the games are taking place under the 
shadow of a threatened general strike. The Games are the continent's 
sporting equivalent of the Olympics and the Nigerian Government has taken 
its role as host seriously. It has spent at least $600m on a sports 
complex, athletes' village and a stadium that seats 60,000 people. 
Officials say everything is more or less in place and they are ready for 
the grand opening ceremony which will be attended by President Olusegun 
Obasanjo. This is the second time that Nigeria has hosted the All-Africa 
Games which were initiated in the 1960s and are held every four years. The 
government hopes the games will entice investors and consolidate Nigeria's 
image as a big brother of the continent. Critics say that in a country 
where most people live below the poverty line, the money would have been 
better spent on health, education and improving infrastructure. The 
government's plan to showcase Nigeria may also be undermined by its 
decision this week to lift fuel price subsidies. 7 October: Abuja's Daily 
Trust reports that South Africa continues to maintain a steady lead in the 
medal's table, with seven gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Egypt 
is second with three gold, five silver and seven bronze.   (ANB-BIA, 
Belgium, 7 October 2003)

* Nigeria. Grève générale annoncée  -  Le Congrès des travailleurs 
nigérians, un des principaux syndicats du pays, a annoncé une grève 
générale pour le jeudi 9 octobre. La décision a été prise après que le 
gouvernement ait communiqué à l'improviste une augmentation du prix du 
carburant à la pompe, qui passe de 34 à 39 nairas le litre. Le syndicat a 
recommandé à la population de se ravitailler, car la grève pourrait durer 
au moins deux semaines. Deux autres syndicats pourraient se joindre au 
mouvement. Pour sa part, la police nigériane, qui en juin dernier avait tué 
plusieurs personnes durant une grève, a déjà promis de ne pas tirer sur les 
manifestants. - Le 7 octobre, le Sénat nigérian a demandé au président 
Obasanjo d'ordonner immédiatement l'annulation de la hausse des prix du 
carburant, estimant que cette hausse est "inopportune, inappropriée, et 
doit donc être annulée".   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 7 octobre 2003)

* Nigeria. Fuel prices controversy  -  2 October: The price of fuel in 
Nigeria has gone up by 12% without the government making any kind of 
intelligible public announcement to explain just what is going on. Earlier 
this week, the petroleum pricing body said that in principle they supported 
deregulating the price of petroleum products, but it did not explain this 
would actually take effect the following day. "The government is just 
trying to trick us," a despondent taxi driver said while standing in a one 
hour long queue for fuel in Lagos. The increase in fuel prices has outraged 
the Nigerian Labour Congress, which has warned that if the price does not 
come down they will call a general strike. A fuel price hike three months 
ago led to a 10 day nationwide strike which ended in a partial government 
back down. The price of fuel is a controversial issue in Nigeria. The 
country is among the world's top 10 largest exporters of crude oil, but the 
government has until now imported the refined product and sold it at a 
subsidised fixed price. The government hopes that by lifting subsidies they 
will generate revenue which they can use to improve the country's crumbling 
infrastructure. It is on the face of it an odd time to launch such a 
potentially explosive economic policy. On 4 October, Nigeria hosts the All 
Africa Games which are the continent's equivalent of the Olympic Games. 4 
October: Trade unions say they will begin a general strike next week in 
protest at the recent increase in the price of fuel which until now has 
been subsidised by the government. At the end of an all-day meeting, the 
Nigerian Labour Congress calls for an indefinite general strike from 9 
October. The union leaders also urge Nigerians to stay away from the 
All-Africa Games. 7 October: The Senate calls on President Obasanjo to 
immediately direct the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency to 
return to the old prices of petroleum products. 8 October: Rilwanu Lukman, 
the top adviser on oil issues to President Obasanjo, leaves his position 
but gives no reasons for his departure. -- The main trade unions suspend 
plans for a general strike on 9 October. The Nigerian Labour Congress says 
oil marketing companies have agreed to revert to the previous oil 
prices.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 8 October 2003)

* Nigeria. Corruption rife  -  7 October: Corruption remains rife in many 
of the world's poorest countries and seems to be worsening in several key 
industrialised states as well, a new report has said. The annual Corruption 
Perception Index (CPI), published by anti-corruption group, Transparency 
International puts Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Haiti at the bottom of the 
133-country list. At the top of the list -- which measures the perception 
of corruption among both locals and expatriates -- countries such as 
Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and New Zealand remain the cleanest places to do 
business. 8 October: A Nigerian minister tells a corruption investigation 
that two senators had asked him to pay $414,000 for them to confirm his 
appointment. Nasir el-Rufai says that when he said he did not have the 
money, he was told to recoup his "investment" from land sales. The two men 
he accuses are leading figures in the ruling People's Democratic Party. 
They deny Mr El-Rufai's claims.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 8 October 2003)

* Nigeria. Former English captain to coach Nigeria's team  -  8 October: 
Bryan Robson, the former England captain, has been appointed manager of 
Nigeria's national team. His priority will be to prepare the Super Eagles 
for the African Nations Cup in January next year. Robson has signed an 
initial six-month contract, with the prospect of a longer deal if both 
sides are happy with the team's progress. Robson has been out of work since 
he lost his job with Middlesbrough (UK) in 2001. He will be Nigeria's 4th 
foreign manager since 1998.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 8 October 2003)

* Rwanda. Résultats des législatives  -  Selon les résultats définitifs 
annoncés le 3 octobre, la coalition autour du parti du président Kagame 
obtient une large majorité à la Chambre des députés. Le Front patriotique 
rwandais (FPR) et les quatre petits partis membres de la coalition 
obtiennent 40 des 53 sièges de députés attribués au suffrage universel. En 
outre, au moins un des deux représentants de la jeunesse appartient au FPR. 
Par ailleurs, une grande partie des 24 représentantes des associations 
féminines sont considérées comme proches de la mouvance 
présidentielle.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 3 octobre 2003)

* Sao Tome/Nigeria. Better terms offered in oil auction  -  The governments 
of Nigeria and Sao Tomé & Principe are to improve the terms on offer to oil 
companies in this month's long-awaited auction of west African offshore 
oilfields thought to contain billions of barrels of crude. Leading oil 
companies have expressed interest in the fields, although some have raised 
concerns about the decision to grant preferential bidding rights to 
ExxonMobil of the US and Chrome Energy Corporation, which is controlled by 
Nigerian investors. In a memorandum to investors published on its website 
on 2 October the Nigeria-Sao Tome e Principe Joint Development Authority 
(JDA) said it had decided to make the offer more competitive by allowing 
companies additional tax reliefs on their investments. Hassan Tukur, the 
authority's deputy director, said more than 15 companies had collected 
information on the auction of nine blocks in the joint development zone, 
which the JDA estimates contains 6bn to 11bn barrels of crude. Bids close 
on October 18. Mr Tukur said the improved terms were a recognition of risk 
factors such as the high capital cost of producing oil deep offshore, 
rather than a response to lack of investor enthusiasm. The auction 
underlines growing interest in west African oil and is a big test of 
promises of transparency made by the authorities managing the oilfields on 
behalf of Nigeria, Africa's largest crude producer, and Sao Tomé, the 
continent's newest petrostate. The auction has taken place against a 
backdrop of political turbulence in Sao Tomé, a tiny archipelago of fewer 
than 200,000 people where President Fradique de Menezes was briefly 
unseated in July after a military coup. Mr de Menezes was returned to power 
later in the month after the intervention of Nigeria and the signing of an 
agreement with the rebels, who demanded a greater role in developing the 
country's oil reserves.   (Financial Times, UK, 3 October 2003)

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