Weekly anb01104.txt #9

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

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 10-01-2002      PART #4/9

* Egypt. US attacks put Cairo Islamists on defensive  -  Egypt's Muslim 
Brotherhood, the main opposition to the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, 
finds itself on the defensive in the wake of the September 11 attacks on 
the US and the defeat of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The government 
has pursued its relentless crackdown of the mainstream Islamist group. 
Twenty-two senior members of the group are on trial in a military court 
outside Cairo. At the same time, the Egyptian authorities have embarked on 
the trial of another 94 alleged Islamic militants, apparently unconnected 
with the Brotherhood, who were arrested before September's attacks on the 
US. The 94 are charged, among other things, with forming a group known as 
al-Wa'ad (the promise), planning to assassinate Mr Mubarak and to establish 
an Islamic state. The crackdown is no harsher than in previous years, 
although analysts say the events of September 11 have toughened the 
government's resolve to act against its opponents. The repressive measures 
are useful in demonstrating that Egypt is tough on 
"terrorism".   (Financial Times, UK, 9 January 2002)

* Eritrea/Ethiopia. UNMEE says buffer zone calm and stable  -  The UN 
peacekeeping mission for Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has said the 
situation in the buffer zone between the two countries is calm and stable, 
and reiterated there was no evidence of a troop build-up. UNMEE spokesman 
Jean Victor Nkolo told a press briefing in the Eritrean capital Asmara on 4 
January, that the peace process was on track and no specific difficulties 
were envisaged over the next six months. Regarding freedom of movement for 
the peacekeepers, he acknowledged this was a recurring problem. "We hope 
that this will be resolved and that UNMEE peacekeepers will be given all 
the freedom of movement that we need," he said. "However, we do not expect 
that in next six months we will face major difficulties due the lack of 
freedom of movement...Nevertheless we continue to demand that this freedom 
of movement be granted to us in an unrestricted manner."   (IRIN, 7 January 
2002)

* Ethiopia/Somalia. Ethiopia accused of training Somali militias  -  The 
transitional government in Somalia has repeated accusations that Ethiopia 
has sent troops across the border to train militia groups opposed to it. 
The interim Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Abshir Farah, speaking at a news 
conference in the capital, Mogadishu, also accused Ethiopia of dispatching 
troops to Garowe to support the ousted leader of the north-eastern Puntland 
region, Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf. Meanwhile, a leader of one of the armed 
groups opposed to the transitional Somali government, the Rahanwein 
Resistance Army, has been quoted as saying that Ethiopian troops are 
helping to train their forces, but he said this was for 
demobilisation.   (BBC News, UK, 3 January 2002)

* Ethiopia. New law could usher in independent TV  -  Ethiopia looks set to 
have its first ever independent television channel with the introduction of 
new broadcasting laws. The ministry of information is pushing forward plans 
for an agency to implement new laws freeing up existing legislation. Under 
the scheme the new Broadcasting Agency would offer licences to 
entrepreneurs wanting to set up radio stations and television channels. 
Already speculation is mounting over who would start a rival to the 
government-controlled Ethiopian Television (ETV) -- the only Ethiopian 
station in the country. According to informed sources within Ethiopian 
Television, at least three organisations have thrown their hat into the 
ring. One Ethiopian media expert and senior member of ETV said that any 
competition would only improve journalism in the country and help foster 
greater accountability and democracy. He predicted that a new station could 
be up and running in a little over a year once the Broadcasting Agency had 
granted its licence. "This will provide fresh enthusiasm for Ethiopian 
journalism and that is very important", the ETV source said. "The media in 
Ethiopia has largely been ineffectual over the past 40 years and this new 
law is long overdue. It is very exciting. The media is essential in 
bringing unjust and corrupt governments to account and furnishing true 
democracy within a country."   (IRIN, 4 January 2002)

* Ethiopie. Forêts disparues  -  Selon un rapport des Nations unies, 
presque toutes les forêts en Ethiopie ont été détruites au cours des 
quarante dernières années. Il ne reste que 3% de terres boisées. Les causes 
sont des interventions humaines: défrichements pour terres arables et bois 
de chauffe. La plupart des 65 millions d'habitants n'utilisent que des feux 
de bois. Un des auteurs du rapport se dit très pessimiste et pense que les 
efforts du gouvernement pour protéger les forêts resteront vains. Les 
conséquences sont l'érosion et une hausse de la température dans les 
régions antérieurement boisées. Les pluies y diminuent, avec toutes les 
conséquences que cela comporte.   (D'après De Standaard, Belgique, 9 
janvier 2002)

* Ethiopie. Arrestations pour corruption  -  Une cinquantaine de hauts 
responsables ont été arrêtés pour corruption en Ethiopie. Parmi eux 
figurent Tilahun Abbay, président de la banque commerciale d'Ethiopie, une 
quarantaine d'employés et une dizaine d'entrepreneurs. L'accusation porte 
sur certains prêts "illégaux" accordés par la banque et estimés à 105 
millions de dollars. En mai dernier, Addis Abeba avait lancé un plan de 
lutte contre la corruption et de nombreuses personnes avaient été 
arrêtées.   (Misna, Italie, 9 janvier 2002)

* Gabon. Majorité pour Bongo  -  Le parti du président Bongo a reconquis 
une majorité absolue d'au moins 84 députés sur 120, selon les résultats 
provisoires des législatives dont le second tour s'est déroulé le 23 
décembre. Les partis d'opposition, qui se sont présentés en ordre dispersé, 
n'ont obtenu qu'un total de douze sièges. Onze candidats indépendants, 
souvent des transfuges du parti au pouvoir qui leur avait refusé 
l'investiture, ont également été élus. Des partielles doivent encore avoir 
lieu dans des circonscriptions où le vote n'a pas eu lieu ou a été 
contesté.   (Le Monde, France, 29 décembre 2001)

* Gabon/Congo-Brazza. Ebola  -  Selon un bilan publié le 28 décembre par 
l'OMS à Genève, vingt personnes sont mortes de la fièvre hémorragique de 
type Ebola au Gabon et au Congo-Brazzaville. 29 cas de fièvre de ce type 
ont été confirmés dans ces deux pays, 17 au Gabon et 12 au Congo. Huit 
nouveaux cas suspects ont été enregistrés. Environ 206 personnes ayant été 
en contact direct avec des victimes sont suivis par une équipe médicale 
internationale. Ces derniers jours, des experts avaient déclaré que la 
maladie était sous contrôle. - 6 janvier. Le gouvernement gabonais a décidé 
de boucler la province d'Ogooué-Ivindo (nord-est), afin d'arrêter la 
propagation de la fièvre Ebola. On ignore le nombre exact des personnes 
contaminées, mais on craint qu'il pourrait s'agir de plusieurs dizaines. 
Selon les experts, une des causes possibles de la contamination pourrait 
être la consommation de viande de singe.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 7 
janvier 2002)

* Gabon. Ebola outbreak  -  The authorities in the West African state of 
Gabon say they have stepped up their efforts to isolate an outbreak of the 
usually deadly ebola virus, warning people in the affected area not to 
travel beyond the province. Officials from the World Health Organisation 
(WHO), who are helping the government contain the virus, say 23 people have 
died since the outbreak in the remote north-eastern province of Ogooue 
Ivindo was first noted by the outside world last month. Ebola is a highly 
dangerous disease that usually causes death by internal bleeding. It can be 
transmitted by an infected person touching another and so spreads quickly, 
often among extended families. On 9 January, it was reported that an 
international team of medical experts has pulled out of the remote town of 
Mekambo, a jungle town about 750 kms northeast of Libreville. The team from 
WHO and Gabon's health ministry have temporarily relocated to the 
provincial capital, Makokou, about 180 kms southwest of 
Mekambo.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 10 January 2002)

* Ghana. Ghanaians quiz their president  -  President John Kufuor of Ghana 
has marked the completion of his first year in power by holding an 
unprecedented public question-and-answer session. Mr Kufuor, flanked by his 
entire cabinet, was quizzed by an audience filling the Accra international 
conference centre to capacity, with many more people watching outside on TV 
screens. A BBC correspondent in Accra says it was the simple questions from 
ordinary people that lit up the event, dubbed the "people's assembly". He 
says the Ghanaian authorities will be delighted if the assembly achieves 
the psychological and political effect of lightening the burden of poverty. 
Groups of ministers are being sent out to the countryside to hold similar 
assemblies. Correspondents say life remains tough for Ghanaians, with fuel, 
electricity and water prices on the rise.   (BBC News, UK, 8 January 2002)

* Kenya. Emeutes à Mombasa  -  Le 26 décembre, la police a tiré à balles 
réelles sur des émeutiers au quatrième jour d'affrontements de rues à 
Mombasa, le grand port kényan du littoral de l'océan Indien, faisant un 
mort et plusieurs blessés. La police a procédé à de nombreuses arrestations 
d'émeutiers dans la ville, peuplée majoritairement de musulmans. Les 
troubles ont commencé avec la campagne de nettoyage de la ville, ordonnée 
par l'administration locale, qui a entrepris de démolir les étals et autres 
kiosques sauvages bordant la plupart des rues de Mombasa.   (Libération, 
France, 27 décembre 2001)

* Kenya. Vol de bétail: 53 morts  -  53 Kényans, gardiens de troupeaux de 
la tribu Turkana, ont été tués la semaine dernière dans le nord-ouest du 
pays par des voleurs de bétail soupçonnés d'être des Toposas du Sud-Soudan, 
a annoncé la police le 27 décembre. Les accrochages entre ces deux groupes 
tribaux sont fréquents.   (La Libre Belgique, 28 décembre 2001)

* Kenya. Ruling parties to merge  -  The two parties in the governing 
coalition in Kenya have said they will merge. The announcement came in a 
statement from President Daniel arap Moi, leader of the Kenya African 
National Union (Kanu), and Raila Odinga of the National Democratic Party 
(NDP). Party officials will be meeting to work out a joint manifesto before 
elections due in December. The move follows last year's coalition agreement 
between the two parties, when Mr Odinga became Kenya's first non-Kanu 
minister. Raila Odinga, who draws his support from the large Luo ethnic 
group, had previously been a bitter critic of President Moi and had been 
imprisoned three times. Correspondents say the merged party will create a 
much stronger political force in Kenya's complex, ethnically-based 
politics. Mr Odinga said the merger would definitely happen within the next 
six months. Some observers have predicted that Mr Odinga might become the 
presidential candidate of the new party, leap-frogging senior Kanu 
officials, though he said that was not the reason for the merger. Mr Odinga 
accepted that there was some opposition to the plans, both from Kanu and 
the NDP but said the majority of both parties were in favour.   (BBC News, 
UK, 2 January 2002)

* Kenya. Fusion KANU-NDP  -  Le 2 janvier, le parti KANU, au pouvoir au 
Kenya, et le Parti pour le développement national (NDP, opposition) ont 
annoncé avoir fusionné. Une commission technique a été mise sur pied pour 
régler les détails de cette fusion avant que les deux partis ne dissolvent 
leurs conseils exécutifs nationaux. Selon les observateurs, cette fusion 
est une autre stratégie de ces deux partis pour contrer une forte 
opposition en prévision des élections en décembre 2002 au cours desquelles 
les Kényans vont se rendre aux urnes pour élire un nouveau président, des 
députés et des gouverneurs locaux. Le président Daniel arap Moï a déjà 
indiqué qu'il ne briguerait pas un autre mandat. C'est après les élections 
de 1997 que M. Odinga, leader du NDP, a commencé à mettre au point un 
accord avec la KANU, qui a culminé par sa nomination au poste de ministre 
de l'Energie, bien qu'il ait toujours conservé son statut de leader de 
l'opposition.   (PANA, Sénégal, 3 janvier 2002)

WEEKLY anb0110.txt - End of #4/9