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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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