Weekly anb04264.txt #7

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

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 26-04-2001      PART #4/7

* Kenya. New bank chief pledges tight fiscal policy  -  Nahashon Nyagah, 
Kenya's new central bank governor, said he would maintain the country's 
commitment to tight monetary policy and low inflation, that donors would 
resume funding by the beginning of July -- and that God would help him do 
it. "I am aware of the arguments put forward by some critics that this 
monetary policy deprives the economy of the liquidity necessary for 
growth," he said. "But allowing a little more inflation is the wrong 
strategy -- in fact there is no quicker way to undermine the progress we 
have made so far." His statement will be seen as encouraging in a country 
struggling to combat its worst economic crisis since independence, and 
whose backtracking on economic reforms has led to the temporary suspension 
of aid flows. But it coincides with fears that the replacement as governor 
of Micah Cheserem by Mr Nyagah reflects government efforts to curb 
independent criticism ahead of next year's elections. Mr Cheserem had been 
seen by donors as a strong independent voice. Mr Nyagah assured journalists 
he would resist any pressure to print money --but would take account of 
concerns raised by government and other stakeholders in the economy. He 
also indicated there were plans to develop "longer-term debt instruments" 
to address the country's Ks177bn ($2.3bn) domestic debt, and said he would 
encourage consolidation in the banking sector -- currently saddled with a 
38 per cent non-performing loan book. Mr Nyagah remained committed to 
market-determined interest rates. Finally, Kenyans should learn to trust in 
God. "The performance of this economy... is determined from high above," he 
said. "Divine intervention is key. I can tell you that. God is with 
us."   (Financial Times, UK, 25 April 2001)

* Kenya/Tanzania. Zanzibar refugees in stand-off  -  Zanzibari refugees in 
Kenya are resisting attempts to move them from their present camp in 
Shimoni on the Indian Ocean coast in the south-east of the country. Kenyan 
officials warned the 1,500 refugees that they will be forcibly moved if 
they continue to resist. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) is 
currently trying to negotiate with Kenyan officials over the resettlement. 
The refugees complain that the conditions in the new camp in Dadaab in the 
dessert area north-east of the country are too harsh. Kenyan authorities 
sent buses and policemen to Shimoni to transport the refugees to Dadaab. 
But the refugees have not boarded the buses. Dadaab is one of two official 
camps in Kenya where refugees are housed. The Kenyan Government has always 
said that the camp in Shimoni was a temporary base. The Zanzibaris say that 
they prefer to be by the coast and closer to Zanzibar rather than dropped 
in the middle of the country. If they do move, the Zanzibaris will join 
about 120,000 southern Sudanese and Somali refugees in Dadaab.   (BBC News 
UK, 24 April 2001)

* Lesotho. Mbeki promises to help Lesotho develop  -  The President of 
South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, has promised to help develop the kingdom of 
Lesotho, the small mountain enclave in the southeast of South Africa. Mr 
Mbeki was speaking on a one-day visit aimed at improving relations between 
the two countries. Earlier, Mr Mbeki presented a cow to King Letsie the 
Third, as a fine incurred by the South African president for failing to 
attend the king's wedding last year. King Letsie had the right to fine Mr 
Mbeki under tradition, because the President's mother was born in the 
Kingdom. Opposition groups have said Mr Mbeki is unwelcome, because South 
Africa has not apologised for its part in a regional intervention in 
Lesotho in 1998.   (BBC News, UK, 20 April 2001)

* Malawi. Marking 100 Years of Evangelization  -  The Church in Malawi will 
hold a National Centenary Celebration in Lilongwe on July 28 to mark the 
100th anniversary of the Church's presence in this southern African country 
of 10.3 million people. The Holy Father's special envoy for the occasion 
will be Cardinal Francis Arinze, who will arrive July 25. Montfort 
missionaries first arrived in Malawi on July 25, 1901. Other early 
missionaries included the White Fathers (now Missionaries for Africa), the 
Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, Daughters of Wisdom, and the 
Xaverian and Marist Brothers. On March 24, a centenary pastoral letter was 
published, which expressed the theme of the centenary as a "time of 
thanksgiving for all the blessings we have received from God and His 
Church." Moreover, the pastoral letter stated that it "is an occasion to 
correct our mistakes, a time for forgiveness, reconciliation and healing. 
Above all, it is a time of renewal and rededication." On April 28, there 
will be a special celebration at Nzama, to commemorate the founding of the 
first mission station by the Montfort Missionaries. The Anglican and 
Catholic Churches in Zomba have planned joint Stations of the Cross, 
presided over by their respective bishops.   (Zenith, Italy, 24 April 2001)

* Mali/Sénégal. Chemin de fer  -  La gestion de la voie ferrée reliant 
Dakar à Koulikoro (Mali) est en passe d'être confiée à une société 
concessionnaire, a-t-on appris le 19 avril à Bamako. Le Sénégal et le Mali 
avaient décidé en février de retenir le schéma de la concession globale de 
l'activité ferrovière sur l'axe Dakar-Bamako. Selon ce schéma, une société 
concessionnaire sera constituée avec la participation des deux Etats, du 
personnel, des privés nationaux et d'un privé étranger. Cette société sera 
chargée de l'exploitation technique et commerciale des services de 
transport des marchandises et voyageurs et de l'aménagement des 
infrastructures.   (PANA, Sénégal, 19 avril 2001)

* Maroc. Prisonniers politiques  -  Le Maroc compte encore une soixantaine 
de prisonniers politiques issus de la mouvance islamiste ou sahraouie, a 
déclaré le 23 avril à Rabat, Pierre Sané, secrétaire général d'Amnesty 
International (AI). Au terme d'un séjour dans le royaume pour célébrer la 
naissance officielle de la section nationale marocaine d'AI, Pierre Sané a 
estimé que ces prisonniers avaient droit à un procès équitable et selon les 
normes du droit international. Selon les autorités marocaines, il n'existe 
plus aucun détenu politique dans les prisons du royaume depuis l'accession 
au trône de Mohammed VI en juillet 1999. Pierre Sané, qui a été reçu par le 
Premier ministre Abderrahmane Youssoufi, s'est par ailleurs félicité des 
relations apaisées qu'entretenait désormais AI avec le Maroc, en raison des 
"progrès remarquables" accomplis par ce pays depuis le début des années 
90.   (AP, 23 avril 2001)

* Morocco. Amnesty International consolidates its presence  -  In Press 
Release issued on 24 April, Amnesty International said that the acquisition 
by Amnesty International groups in Morocco of section status, is a 
recognition of the achievements of the organisation's members in the field 
of protection and promotion of human rights. It will contribute to 
strengthening the already very active human rights movement in 
Morocco.   (Amnesty International, 24 April 2001)

* Maroc. Dévaluation  -  Les autorités marocaines ont décidé de procéder, 
le 25 avril, à une dévaluation à effet immédiat de 5% de la devise 
nationale, a-t-on appris auprès d'un responsable du ministère des Finances. 
"Il a été décidé d'une dévaluation de 5% pour stimuler les exportations", 
a-t-il déclaré. Le dirham s'était apprécié de près de 10% par rapport à 
l'euro depuis début 2000. La décision de la banque centrale marocaine 
entrainait les parités suivantes, le 25 avril au matin: 1 $US = 11,5 DH; 1 
euro = 10,25 DH.   (AP, 25 avril 2001)

* Morocco. EU abandons Morocco fish talks  -  The European Union and 
Morocco have abandoned hope of renewing a fisheries agreement after more 
than 15 months of talks. The agreement would have given about 400 mainly 
Spanish and Portuguese small boats the right to fish in Moroccan waters. 
Instead the EU will focus efforts on help for fishermen in the south of 
Spain and Portugal to restructure and find alternative jobs. EU boats 
fished in Moroccan waters for more than a decade in return for which 
Morocco received millions of dollars worth of EU aid. But the agreement 
expired at the end of 1999 and the two sides have made little progress 
since then, despite repeated meetings. Last month talks collapsed over the 
restrictions Rabat wanted to impose on EU boats and the amount of EU 
financial assistance Morocco should receive in return.   (BBC News, UK, 25 
April 2001)

* Mauritius. Torture complaints  -  In a Press Release dated 25 April, 
Amnesty International expressed concern over the continuing failure of the 
Mauritian government to investigate allegations of torture and 
ill-treatment during criminal investigation procedures. Ill-treatment of 
criminal suspects during interrogation has been reported in a number of 
cases in Mauritius in recent months, and has for many years been of concern 
to local and international human rights monitors.   (Amnesty International, 
25 April 2001)
* Niger. Solidarité dans la famine  -  Le 20 avril, les partis de 
l'opposition nigérienne ont lancé un pressant appel à l'ensemble de la 
population pour une grande chaîne de solidarité en vue d'aider les 
populations menacées par la famine. Ils ont demandé au gouvernement des 
ressources additionnelles et lancé un appel aux partenaires du Niger pour 
une aide conséquente. L'opposition exige également la diminution du train 
de vie de l'Etat, et suggère une lutte sans pitié contre les spéculateurs 
des céréales. A l'issue de la dernière campagne agricole, le Niger accuse 
un déficit céréalier de 163.300 tonnes, exposant quelque 3,5 millions de 
Nigériens à la famine.   (PANA, Sénégal, 20 avril 2001)

* Niger. Ravages de la méningite  -  Quelque 303 personnes sont mortes de 
la méningite, sur un total de 4.596 cas enregistrés du 1er janvier au 8 
avril, a annoncé le ministre de la Santé. L'ampleur de la méningite dans 
certaines localités est imputée au voisinage avec des pays où l'épidémie a 
atteint des proportions inquiétantes. Des ceintures de vaccination ont été 
mises en place dans les régions à risques, frontalières du Bénin, du Tchad, 
du Nigeria et du Burkina Faso. Le Niger est situé dans la ceinture de la 
méningite où chaque année plusieurs cas sont enregistrés. En 1999, il y a 
eu des épidémies dans les régions de Diffa et Zinder (est). En 2000, les 
départements de l'ouest, Dosso, Tillabéry et la communauté urbaine de 
Niamey ont été touchés par la maladie.   (PANA, Sénégal, 24 avril 2001)


* Niger. Meningitis takes a terrible toll  -  At least 300 persons out of a 
total of 4,596 cases of meningitis reported from 1 January to 8 April have 
died, Niger's Health Minister, Assoumane Adamou, has told the National 
Assembly. The spread of the disease in certain areas is said to be due to 
their proximity to countries where the epidemic has reached disturbing 
proportions, Adamou said. He was apparently referring to the Gaya 
administrative district on the Benin border, as well as that of Madaoua, on 
the border with Nigeria. Adamou added that vaccination zones have been set 
up in high-risk regions on the border with Benin, Chad, Nigeria and Burkina 
Faso in efforts to contain the disease. A stock of 1,200,000 
anti-meningitis vaccine doses have been dispatched to the various regions 
of the country. Another security stock of 321,000 doses has also been 
constituted. Health technicians have reinforced the epidemiological 
surveillance at all levels and 57 centres are operational throughout the 
country to alert the authorities of any new sources of the 
disease.   (PANA, Senegal, 24 April 2001)

* Nigeria. Rescue attempts at mosque  -  19 April: Rescue efforts are 
continuing in the Mushin district of Lagos at the site of a mosque which 
collapsed on 18 April. At least three people are now known to have died and 
others are still believed to be trapped under the rubble. Initial reports 
said there were at least 50 people including 20 children in the unfinished 
building when it collapsed following a period of heavy rains. Last night 
huge crowds of local residents stood and stared as cranes borrowed from 
local construction companies tried to get enough of a grip on the larger 
pieces of concrete to lift them clear of the site.   (BBC News, UK, 20 
April 2001)

* Nigeria. Preparing to host African AIDS summit  -  Nigeria hosts an 
African AIDS summit this week, but efforts to stem the epidemic are being 
undermined by the growing number of home-grown "cures," experts say. The 
United Nations says AIDS is Africa's number one killer and the UN-sponsored 
summit, in Abuja from April 25-27, is expected to find ways to avert an 
AIDS crisis in Nigeria, the continent's most populous nation. On the eve of 
the conference, to be attended by former US President Bill Clinton and UN 
chief Kofi Annan, the state assembly in northern Kano passed a bill 
endorsing a group claiming a spiritual cure for AIDS. The assembly's house 
health committee said last week it had studied clinical data and was 
satisfied with the cure, which involves smearing honey and petroleum jelly 
on sufferers and reading verses of the Koran.   (CNN, USA, 22 April 2001)

* Nigeria. Ruling party in crisis meeting  -  Officials from the ruling 
People's Democratic Party in Nigeria are meeting in what has been described 
as a crisis session to discuss threats of a breakaway. President Olusegun 
Obasanjo and senior party members from the country's thirty-six states are 
in the capital Abuja, for the closed door session. The meeting follows 
reports that some disgruntled members want the former military leader, 
General Ibrahim Babanginda, to lead the nation. Some members have already 
defected from the ruling party and joined rival groups. Nigeria is 
scheduled to have local elections in March, and presidential elections in 
two-years' time.   (BBC News, UK, 24 April 2001)

* Nigeria. Army chiefs "retired"  -  The Nigerian government on 24 April 
announced the unexpected retirement of the country's three military service 
chiefs in the first shake-up of senior defence ranks since more than 100 
officers were fired shortly after the army relinquished power two years 
ago. No official reason was given for what a brief statement called "the 
voluntary resignations" of the three men: General Victor Malu, the chief of 
army staff, Rear Admiral Victor Ombu and Air Vice-Marshal Ibrahim Alfa. 
Presidency officials said the principal target was Gen Malu, a former 
commander of regional peacekeeping forces in Liberia who served under Gen 
Sani Abacha, the most brutal of Nigeria's military dictators. Gen Malu was 
one of the most influential generals to have survived the mass retirement 
by President Olusegun Obasanjo of officers deemed to have had political 
ambitions potentially at odds with the administration's desire to 
consolidate the transition to civilian rule. Some officials say his 
outspoken hostility to US assistance in training Nigerian troops for 
regional peacekeeping duties to had annoyed Mr Obasanjo. "An officer cannot 
openly criticise the government or president... without being 
insubordinate," said a close aide to Mr Obasanjo. "Certain habits have 
survived the end of military rule. We are trying to "constitutionalise" the 
army."   (Financial Times, UK, 25 April 2001)

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