Weekly ANB1120_04.txt #7



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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 20-11-2003      PART #4/7

* Egypt. Mubarak taken ill in parliament - 19 November: President Hosni Mubarak suffered a "health crisis" as he was making a live televised speech, state TV said, cutting the transmission. Mr Mubarak was addressing parliament and the broadcast was briefly cut after he started slurring his words. But he later returned smiling to the chamber to continue his speech. Deputies gave the 75-year old president -- who has led Egypt since 1981 -- a standing ovation after his 45-minute absence. Mr Mubarak, who spoke for about another five minutes after returning to parliament, told deputies that he had not fully shaken off a bout of flu. According to the Egyptian Information Minister, Safwat el-Sherif, Mr Mubarak had been observing the Muslim fast for the holy month of Ramadan, despite taking antibiotics. (BBC News, UK, 19 November 2003)

* Egypte. Moubarak pris d'un malaise - Le 19 novembre, le président Hosni Moubarak a dû interrompre un discours devant l'Assemblée nationale diffusé en direct à la télévision publique égyptienne, en raison d'un "ennui de santé". Le raïs, âgé de 75 ans, est revenu à la tribune plus d'une demi-heure plus tard, sous un tonnerre d'applaudissements. Hosni Moubarak, qui observe le ramadan en dépit d'un refroidissement pour lequel il est traité aux antibiotiques, aurait eu une chute de tension. (La Croix, France, 20 novembre 2003)

* Eritrea. Growing dependence on aid - Earlier this year -- in the wake of yet another drought there were dire predictions of a human catastrophe in Eritrea. Nearly 90% of the country's food needs had been appealed for -- and response rates were disappointingly poor. Yet there have been no reports of starvation. Some $160m was needed to feed the 2.1 million said to be at risk. A special envoy was despatched by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, the former Finland President Marti Ahtisaari, charged with raising awareness in the international community. This week, on his second trip to Eritrea he said he was pleased by the improved response of the donor community "to avoid a major disaster". Of course no-one is disappointed that a humanitarian disaster has not occurred -- but behind the scenes some diplomats are questioning whether all the figures added up. UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator Simon Nhongo denies that aid agencies exaggerated the problem. "There was no question of crying wolf," he said. "By February or March we had not got more than 20 or 25%, which was pretty low. Since then it has risen to 62%. You don't have to see people starving on the streets or dying -- it's the damage that happens because of the nutrition deficiencies." But of course if the donors start questioning the figures it makes it harder to raise the money next time around. In fact the 2004 appeal is just being launched. There has been rain this year but the harvest has still been disappointing. It is expected that the amount asked for will be very similar to what was asked for this year -- so why the lack of improvement? One theory is that a lack of manpower to tend the fields has perpetuated the problem -- Eritrea's standing army amounts to about 10% of the total population. Eritrean Minister of Agriculture Arefaine Berhe says he feels the main problem is that "there is no lasting peace here and there is not the right environment for people to do their jobs". But a recurring pattern of drought is becoming something Eritreans are getting used to -- and so in many communities is a dependence on aid handouts. For a proud country with a fierce sense of independence and self-reliance -- the goal of finally feeding itself is still a distant one. (BBC News, UK, 18 November 2003)

* Ethiopia. World Bank to help preserve cultural heritage - Ethiopia has launched an innovative scheme to try and preserve the country's fast disappearing cultural heritage. The Tourism Commission aims to tap the growing interest in the traditions of Ethiopia while encouraging artists not to lose ancient craft skills passed down to them. "This is a brand new government initiative to preserve our cultural heritage," said Dr Tewodros Atlabachew, who heads the project at the commission. "But in order to preserve it we have to show the local community that it can benefit both economically and socially," he added. "That is the best way to sustain our heritage." Under the scheme, the country is planning to help preserve and properly document "archaeological and historic" building and sites as well as boost conservation projects. The pilot project is funded by the World Bank to the tune of US $5 million and is one of the first times that the Washington-based organisation has backed tourism initiatives. Ethiopia at present has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites that act as a magnet to the increasing numbers of tourists visiting the country. Among top sites are the ancient obelisks of Axum dating back 2,000 and 3,000 years, and the centuries-old rock hewn churches in Lalibela. But fears are growing that much of the heritage of the country is being "eroded" by modernisation and development, and ancient craft skills are being lost forever. (IRIN, Kenya, 18 November 2003)

* Ethiopia. Ethiopians needing aid set to soar - 18 November: The World Food Programme (WFP) is warning that the number of people needing food aid in Ethiopia is likely to soar unless new schemes to manage water prove successful. A drought earlier this year left 14 million dependent on food aid. Despite massive arrivals of aid poured into the country, the WFP says the country's population growth of 3% a year, combined with the growing frequency of droughts, is leading to what its country director, Georgia Shaver, calls an "explosive situation". She warns that unless a range of water management and land reform schemes prove successful, the international community will find it increasingly difficult to cope with the likely scale of future crises. (BBC News, UK, 18 November 2003)

* Ghana. Hausse des exportations agricoles - Les exportations ghanéennes de produits agricoles ont enregistrés une considérable augmentation: de $22 millions en 1992 à $85 millions en 2002, a-t-on appris le 13 novembre à Accra de source officielle. Entre 1992 et 2002, le sous-secteur de l'agriculture a contribué en moyenne pour 22% des recettes d'exportations non traditionnelles. Pour renforcer la compétitivité du Ghana sur le marché international, des efforts ont été réalisés dans le but d'améliorer le conditionnement, assurer la commercialisation en groupe, réduire les coûts de fret et de manutention, et renforcer les associations d'exportateurs. (PANA, Sénégal, 13 novembre 2003)

* Guinea. Easy poll for Conte - 12 November: Guinea's diabetic leader looks set to secure another seven years in office in presidential elections next month. The Supreme Court announced that only President Lansana Conte and one other candidate met the requirements to contest the 21 December poll. Last week, the opposition alliance announced a boycott saying the vote would not be free and fair. The challenger, Mamadou Bhoye Barry, of the Union for National Progress party is barely known - even among Guineans. Six other presidential hopefuls were disqualified by the Supreme Court panel for a variety of reasons. These ranged from a failure to pay the application fee, to the failure on the part of at least one candidate, to convince the panel of his correct date of birth. The European Union has announced that it will not finance or send election observers because of doubts over the conduct of the poll. 14 November: An opposition leader is detained in Guinea after casting doubts on the health of President Lansana Conte. Jean-Marie Dore was taken to an unknown destination after being questioned by police, his lawyers say. He will be charged with "insulting the president" after telling French radio that Mr Conte is too ill to contest elections on 21 December. Mr Dore is a member of parliament and leader of the small Union for Progress (UPG) in Guinea. The UPG is part of an opposition alliance which is boycotting next month's poll, saying that it will not be free and fair. 15 November: Jean-Marie Dore is released. He says: "They told me I could go home and that the case would take its course". (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 15 November 2003)

* Equatorial Guinea. President described as "father and real master of the nation" - A Catholic Church Congregation in Acureman, in the south of Equatorial Guinea has described the country's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo as "father and real master" of the nation. "The Catholic Church looks at Equatorial Guinea's current realities and proclaims its trust in this nation from the heritage and the light of the Christ message," the Acureman Parish priest said in his homily broadcast live by the official radio on 16 November. According to him, the Catholic Church "feels that President Obiang is the father and true master of the Nation. The parish of Santa Barbara of Acurenam recognises and greatly admires the tremendous efforts and progress achieved by the Head of State, his government and the ruling party, Equatorial Guinea Democratic Party (PDGE)". (...) Of late, the Catholic Church in Equatorial Guinea, which has often desisted from commenting on human rights violations in the country, has showed praise for the actions being taken by President Obiang and his party. A few months ago, the official radio even went further and claimed that President Obiang was "the God of Equatorial Guinea". (PANA, Senegal, 17 November 2003)

* Guinée-Bissau. Première université - Le président Henrique Rosa a officiellement inauguré la première université publique de la Guinée-Bissau, presque 30 ans après l'indépendance du pays. La création de l'université avait été décidée par décret gouvernemental en 1999; en janvier 2004 les premiers étudiants à un cours pré-universitaire y seront admis. L'université est baptisée "Amilcar Cabral", du nom du fondateur du Parti africain pour l'indépendance de la Guinée et du Cap Vert (PAIGC) qui a lutté pour leur autonomie. Elle proposera des cours de maîtrise en droit, médecine, économie agraire, ingénierie, sociologie, langues modernes et journalisme. (Misna, Italie, 15 novembre 2003)

* Kenya. Church leaders seek to reintroduce religious education in schools - Confronted with increasing unrest in public schools, Church leaders in Kenya are calling for the re-introduction of compulsory religious education. The Church leaders, attending a consultative forum on school safety, argued that the abandonment of compulsory teaching of religious education in early 1990s had contributed to the decline in discipline in the country's schools. Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi suggested that in the 1990s Kenya followed a popular trend, without having critically analyzed the situation. "The choice was made following the trend at the time, but we are reaping pain and regret," Archbishop Nzimbi told CWN. He added that Christian leaders now see the restoration of religious instruction as a part of the solution because "it teaches children morals and the fear of God." Kenya's education minister, who attended the forum in Nairobi, said that the idea of religious education was worth discussing. Church groups sponsor about one-half of all Kenya's schools. (Africa Infodoc, Belgium, 18 November 2003)

* Kenya. Constitution talks at risk - 18 November: The academic charged with drafting Kenya's new constitution has said he will resign unless the government lets him finish the process. Professor Yash Pal Ghai accuses the authorities of reneging on promises to bring in a new constitution. Changing the constitution was one of President Mwai Kibaki's key campaign pledges during last year's elections. But the coalition government is now split, especially over whether the post of prime minister should be created. Professor Ghai says he was trying to discuss the issue with Mr Kibaki but he suspects some officials were blocking that meeting. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 18 November 2003)

* Kenya. Matatu strike causes chaos - 19 November: The owners of Kenya's minibus taxis, or "matatus", have gone on strike over new safety rules, forcing many commuters to walk long distances to work. The police say they have used teargas to stop strikers throwing stones at buses which were working normally. The government wants all matatus to be fitted with seatbelts and speed regulators to improve road safety. Matatu drivers are notorious for their dangerous driving but owners say the new rules will increase bus fares. Crowds of commuters scrambled to board the few available buses at bus stations on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi. Despite the safety concerns, many Kenyans use matatus because they are the cheapest form of public transport. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 19 November 2003)

* Liberia. Campagne de désarmement - 18 novembre. La mission des Nations unies au Liberia (MINUL) entamera en décembre une vaste campagne de désarmement de toutes les factions présentes dans le pays, rapporte l'agence Misna. Trois centres de récolte d'armes seront institués. Les Casques bleus donneront un maximum de 300 dollars par personne en échange du matériel de guerre qui leur sera remis. Selon des estimations officieuses, au moins 50.000 individus possèdent une arme au Liberia. Le désarmement est l'un des objectifs principaux du gouvernement de transition. -- 19 novembre. La MINUL a été empêchée de mener des missions d'évaluation dans les zones contrôlées par le groupe rebelle des Libériens unis pour la réconciliation et la démocratie (LURD). Le représentant de l'Onu au Liberia a dit que les rebelles refusent de coopérer, alors que les Casques bleus sont prêts à commencer le programme de désarmement le 7 décembre. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, novembre 2003)

* Malawi/Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean bishops want Muluzi to urge their leaders to talk - Three leading Zimbabwean bishops have appealed to Malawi President Bakili Muluzi to put pressure on his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe and the opposition to resume talks aimed at ending the current political and economic crises engulfing the once prosperous southern Africa nation. Bishops Sebastian Bakare of the Anglican Church, Patrick Matume of the Catholic Church and Trevor Mahnanga of the Evangelical Church made the appeal on 17 November at a meeting held in the Malawi capital of Lilongwe. Mahnanga told journalists the three were in Malawi to brief Muluzi on the current political stand-off between the Mugabe regime and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai. "Dr Bakili Muluzi has been involved in the discussions on Zimbabwe's political instability together with South African leader Thabo Mbeki and Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo," he said. "We have come here to appeal to President Bakili Muluzi to mount more pressure on President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to let their political parties resume talks," Mahnanga added. He said that it was important for leaders of Malawi, South Africa and Nigeria to continue urging the ruling ZANU-PF and MDC officials to have talks. (PANA, Senegal, 18 November 2003)

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