Weekly ANB1120_04.txt #7

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

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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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