la sante (OMS) affirmait le 7 mars qúune epidemie de meningite en Afrique a
* Afrique occidentale. Epidemie de meningite – L’Organisation mondiale de
fait deja 1.506 victimes, sur 11.175 personnes atteintes par la maladie.
Sept pays ont annonce des cas: Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambie, Ghana, Mali,
Niger et Togo. Le Burkina Faso est le pays le plus frappe avec 724 deces
sur 5.571 cas. L’agence des Nations unies lance un appel d’urgence pour
financer et distribuer des vaccins. (Newspot, USA, 7 mars 1997)
* Afrique du Sud. Violente manifestation zouloue – Une manifestation
organisee par les Zoulous conservateurs, dont de nombreux partisans du
mouvement Inkatha, a degenere en fusillade nourrie avec les forces de
l’ordre, le 12 mars a Johannesburg, faisant au moins un blesse grave. Le
cortege, fort de 13.000 personnes, se dirigeait vers le centre-ville pour
commemorer des affrontements qui avaient fait une cinquantaine de morts en
1994. De nombreux manifestants portaient leurs «armes traditionnelles».
Certains d’entre eux ont sorti des fusils et des pistolets en arrivant en
vue des policiers qui ont immediatement riposte. Dans la matinee, plusieurs
gares de banlieues avaient ete le theatre de violences. (Liberation,
France, 13 mars 1997)
* South Africa. T & R Commission – On 5 March, Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
Chairperson of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC), issued the
following statement: «The TRC is to give strong consideration to
investigating allegations, that people now in government acted as
informants for the security Police in the apartheid era. I have noted the
decision of the TRC Amnesty Committee this week, that it does not consider
the naming of alleged informants to be appropriate for the present purposes
of the Committee in the hearing that it is currently conducting in
Pretoria. I shall be discussing the matter fully with the Amnesty
Committee. However, I do not understand that their decision necessarily
precludes other sections of the Commission from conducting an
investigation, at least for purposes other than those of the amnesty
process. Should the Commission decide to investigate the matter, we should
first call for statements from those making the allegations. Then, in terms
of the recent Appellate Division judgement requiring us to give adequate
notice of allegations, implicating individuals, we would give the
individuals 21 days to prepare a response and take the matter from there».
On 7 March, Archbishop Tutu said that almost everyone agreed that apartheid
was evil, but the TRC had yet to decide if the armed struggle against it
was justified. Tutu, addressing a news conference after a meeting with
leaders of the ruling ANC, urged members of the former liberation group, to
apply for amnesty along with the police and soldiers of the apartheid era.
He said that the theory of a «just war» had to be tested against a range of
criteria. (Update by ANB- BIA: On 10 March, President Mandela said that
people in his ruling ANC who served as informants for the apartheid
government, had to be exposed.) (TRC, South Africa, 6 March 1997)
* South Africa. Families left homeless in floods – 6 March: About 300
people have been left homeless and seven people injured, after heavy rains
flooded a rural town in South Africás KwaZulu-Natal province. A Red Cross
official said: «There was a terrible storm up there last night (5 March)
and many homes were badly damaged». Two South African Air Force helicopters
ferried Red Cross supplies for temporary homes, to the estimated 60
families in the province. (Newspot, USA, 6 March 1997)
* Algerie. Elections – Le president algerien Liamine Zeroual a souhaite,
le 7 mars, que le scrutin legislatif du 5 juin connaisse «une participation
massive, pour mettre fin a une periode d’instabilite institutionnelle».
Dans un discours a la television, le chef de l’Etat algerien s’est aussi
engage a «respecter le choix» des electeurs. D’autre part, des dissidents
du Front des forces socialistes (FFS) ont cree un nouveau parti politique,
le Mouvement pour la democratie et la citoyennete. S’y retrouvent ceux qui
sont hostiles a l’alliance entre le FFS et le FIS. (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 8-10 mars 1997)
* Algerie. Les femmes contre le Code de la famille – Dans une lettre
ouverte publiee le 6 mars plusieurs associations feminines algeriennes se
mobilisent contre le Code de la famille adopte en 1984. Ce code, inspire
par la Charía, les a enfermees dans un statut de «mineures a vie». Le 22
fevrier, elles avaient lance une petition proposant «d’amender 22 articles
du Code, parmi les plus discriminatoires». Le gouvernement s’est prononce
en faveur de ces revendications, mais en a remis la discussion apres les
elections. Ceci a declenche les foudres du mouvement islamiste Ënnahdá,
repute modere, pour qui les femmes «expriment une rebellion contre le
Createur». (d’apres Ait-Larbi, La Libre Belgique, 8 mars 1997)
* Algerie. Milices d’autodefense – Les autorites algeriennes ont decide
de reglementer l’activite des groupes d’autodefense, surnommes «patriotes»,
apparus il y a trois ans. Un decret, publie au journal officiel, definit
«les conditions d’exercice de l’action de legitime defense dans un cadre
organise» de ces groupes dont les effectifs approcheraient les 200.000
hommes. La montee en puissance de ces groupes a ete favorisee par les
autorites, qui voyaient la une facon de quadriller le terrain. Le 12 mars,
le journal iberté annoncait que des dizaines de militaires, policiers,
gardes communaux et «patriotes» comparaitront prochainement devant les
tribunaux, accuses notamment d’atteintes aux libertes et de sevices. Ces
proces constitueraient une grande premiere. (Le Soir, Belgique, 13 mars
1997)
* Amnesty International. 1997 refugee campaign – At least 15 million
people around the world are refugees, a further 20 million are internally
displaced. Every single refugee is the consequence of a government’s
failure to protect human rights. Refugees are entitled to international
protection… In response to the worldwide refugee crisis, Amnesty
International (AI) this month is launching a campaign for refugees’ human
rights, which are being threatened, undermined or ignored by governments
around the world. The campaign has three main aims: 1) To prevent human
rights violations. 2) To ensure that those who flee human rights violations
are allowed to reach a place of safety, are given effective protection
against forcible return, and are guaranteed minimum standards of humane
treatment while they are displaced. 3) To press for human rights to be a
priority when considering refugee issues. (AI, Focus, March 1997)
* Angola. Unity government – The UN said on 5 March that the Angola
government and the former UNITA rebels have set 20 March as a new date to
establish a national unity government. The decision came after the UN
Security Council put pressure on UNITA to comply, by threatening to close
down the UN peacekeeping operation if no progress was made. The formation
of a new government, scheduled for 25 January, was postponed over problems
finding an acceptable role for Jonas Savimbi. (Newspot, USA, 6 March
1997)
* Burundi. 500.000 personnes dans des camps – Le gouvernement burundais a
annonce que 500.000 personnes seraient transferees dans des «camps de
regroupement» pour les conduire hors des zones de conflit. Le coordinateur
de l’action humanitaire des Nations unies, M. Griffith, a dit que les
organismes humanitaires refuseraient «d’etre complices d’une politique
inspiree par des mesures policieres». Il a indique que les occupants des
camps s’ajoutaient aux 300.000 Hutu que les troubles au Burundi ont deja
pousses a l’exode. Il a ajoute, apres avoir visite un camp, qúil y a vu des
«signes horribles» de malnutrition des enfants. M. Griffith reitere son
appel pour exempter les organisations humanitaires des sanctions imposees
au Burundi par ses voisins. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 7 mars 1997)
* Burundi. Tentative d’attentat contre le president – Pour la premiere
fois on parle publiquement d’attentat contre le president. Le 12 mars, le
ministre de l’Interieur a dit qúil y avait eu une tentative d’attentat
contre le president de la Republique, attribuee a des gens de la meme
famille politique. L’attentat aurait ete prepare par deux militaires, deux
civils et un etranger. On a su ensuite qúil s’agissait du commandant du
camp de Muharo et d’un de ses officiers, et que l’etranger etait un
Rwandais. Les cinq ont ete arretes. On a recommande a la population de
rester a la maison et de garder le calme. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses,
13 mars 1997)
* Egypte. Droits de l’homme – L’Organisation egyptienne des droits de
l’homme a annonce le 8 mars que la torture dans les commissariats de police
en Egypte a atteint un niveau «tragique». Elle a exhorte le gouvernement a
prendre des mesures «severes et immediates» pour y remedier. D’autre part,
le procureur general a disculpe le 8 mars les etudiants arretes en janvier
et accuses d’etre des «adorateurs de Satan». «Aucun crime n’a ete commis»,
a estime le procureur. (Le Monde, France, 11 mars 1997)
——— ——–_____________________________________________________________ ANB-BIA
WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 13-03-1997 PART #2/4
* Erythree. Elections regionales – Les elections regionales erythreennes,
qui se sont deroulees du 4 janvier au 1 mars, ont permis l’election de 399
representants des six regions du pays. Ces membres apolitiques des
Assemblees regionales vont s’ajouter a ceux de l’Assemblee nationale, qui
sera composee de 150 personnes: 75 du comite central du parti au pouvoir et
75 non-membres, parmi lesquels figureront des representants des Erythreens
vivant a l’etranger. L’Assemblee constituante durera un an ou un an et
demi. Apres l’adoption d’une Constitution, elle sera remplacee par une
Assemblee nationale elue pour cinq ans. (D’apres Marches Tropicaux,
France, 7 mars 1997)
* Ethiopie. Etat d’urgence – L’etat d’urgence a ete decrete le 7 mars en
Ogaden, region somalie dans l’Etat de l’Ethiopie affectee par la
secheresse. Selon l’agence de presse officielle, le conseil regional de
l’Ogaden a lance un appel aux organisations humanitaires pour qúelles
viennent en aide a quelque 600.000 personnes. (Liberation, France, 8 mars
1997)
* Kenya. Eastern Zaire summit – 6 March: Kenya will host a summit on the
conflict in eastern Zaire on 19 March, but rebel leader Laurent Kabila is
not invited. Kenya has asked President Mobutu of Zaire to attend the
one-day talks with South Africás President Mandela and five other African
heads of state. (Newspot, USA, 6 March 1997)
* Liberia. Kromah arrested – On 7 March, ECOMOG peacekeepers arrested
Alhaji Kromah, leader of the ULIMO-K faction, when a search of his home
uncovered bombs, grenades, anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons that
violate a cease-fire accord. He was questioned at the HQ of the forcés
commander, General Victor Malu. The General said: «After our investigation,
we will turn Kromah over to the interim government for prosecution. He will
be treated like other criminals found with illegal weapons». (AFJN,
Washington, 7 March 1997)
* Libye. Relations diplomatiques avec le Vatican. – Le Saint- Siege et la
Libye ont etabli des relations diplomatiques au niveau de nonciature
apostolique et d’ambassade, a annonce le Vatican le 10 mars. Le premier
nonce a Tripoli sera Mgr. Jose Sebastian Laboa. Quelque 50.000 chretiens
vivent en Libye, en majorite des travailleurs asiatiques et arabes. Rome a
declare qúavec ces rapports diplomatiques le Saint-Siege entend reconnaitre
«les resultats positifs obtenus grace a la collaboration des autorites
libyennes dans le domaine de la liberte religieuse». Il y a quelques jours,
cette decision du Vatican avait ete critiquee par Washington, qui accuse la
Libye d’avoir pratique le terrorisme d’Etat. (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 11 mars 1997)
* Mali. Dissolution de l’Assemblee – Conformement a la Constitution, le
president Konare a annonce, au cours d’une reunion extraordinaire du
Conseil des ministres le 3 mars, la dissolution de l’Assemblee nationale
«apres analyse de la situation et pour lever les hypotheques qui pesent sur
la poursuite du processus electoral». Les elections legislatives ont ete
fixees au 13 avril pour le premier tour et au 27 pour le second. Les
presidentielles se tiendraient les 4 et 18 mai; les municipales le 1 juin.
(D’apres Marches Tropicaux, France, 7 mars 1997)
* Mauritius. Proposed regional cooperation – On 6 March, foreign
ministers from 14 African and Asian countries bordering the Indian Ocean,
met to examine the constitution of a proposed regional cooperation
organisation, which could eventually embrace about 30 States. Mauritius has
been lobbying to host the regional bodýs secretariat in Port Louis.
Although this bid enjoys the support of some states, it also faces
opposition of powerful countries such as South Africa, Australia and
Singapore. (AFJN, Washington, 7 March 1997)
* Nigeria. Transparence? – Trois membres de la Commission des droits de
l’homme de l’Organisation de l’unite africaine sont arrives le 7 mars a
Abuja et vont enqueter cette semaine au Nigeria. Invitee par Lagos, cette
delegation devrait en principe avoir toute liberte de circuler dans le pays
et de rencontrer les detenus politiques. Fin fevrier, une mission de deux
rapporteurs de l’ONU avait ete ajournee sine die, en raison du refus des
autorites nigerianes de leur garantir l’acces aux detenus politiques.
(D’apres AFP, France, 9 mars 1997)
* Nigeria. Nigeria Airways banned from Britain – Nigeria Airways, the
countrýs troubled national carrier, has been barred from flying into
Britain because it has no insurance on its aircraft. The British Civil
Aviation Authority informed Nigeria Airways to keep out of British airspace
until it produced proof that its fleet had insurance cover. However,
Nigeria Airways Public Affairs Manager, Chris Aligbe, said the airline
would still be flying its Lagos-London routes regularly with leased
aircraft. The ban affects only the carrier’s aircraft not its flying right.
(AFJN, Washington, 5 March 1997)
* Nigeria. Treason charge – On 12 March, the exiled Nigerian writer, Wole
Soyinka, and eleven other dissidents were charged with treason by Nigeriás
military government, for a spate of recent bomb blasts in the country. They
face the death penalty if convicted. Mr Soyinka, who won the Nobel prize
for Literature in 1996 and is a leading opponent of the Nigerian military
leader, General Sani Abacha, said he was not surprised. «We learned the
decision to try us on treason charges had been taken before the recent
violence. The whole thing is orchestrated. Abacha is trying to get rid of
us». (The Guardian, U.K., 13 March 1997)
* Nigeria. Prix Nobel inculpe – Le prix Nobel de litterature 1986, Wole
Soyinka, et 14 autres personnes ont ete inculpes de trahison, le 12 mars,
par un tribunal de Lagos. L’ecrivain et opposant au regime militaire vit en
exil depuis 1994, comme trois autres inculpes. Parmi les 11 autres inculpes
figuraient deux ex- candidats a l’election presidentielle de 1993, Olu
Falae et Frederick Fasheun. Les 15 sont accuses d’avoir «cause des
explosions dans divers endroits du Nigeria dans le but d’intimider» le chef
de l’Etat, le general Abacha, et d’avoir «conspire pour faire la guerre au
gouvernement militaire federal du Nigeria». (Le Soir, Belgique, 13 mars
1997)
* Rwanda. Message des eveques – Reunie en session ordinaire du 25 au 27
fevrier, la conference episcopale rwandaise – renouvelee de moitie depuis
le genocide de 1994 – a publie un message sur la degradation de la
securite en plusieurs endroits du pays. Rappelons que Jean-Paul II avait
nomme trois nouveaux eveques le 19 janvier dernier. Dans le document (qui
ne porte cependant pas la signature du nouvel eveque de Nyundo ni de celui
de Butare), les eveques s’inquietent «devant cette montee constante de la
violence qui semble nous replonger dans la periode tragique que nous
croyions avoir traversee pour de bon». En abordant le probleme de la
reintegration des recents rapatries – une tache qui «n’est pas facile» –,
le message demande que tout soit fait «pour qúils reintegrent leurs biens,
le travail et les ecoles, sans trop les faire attendre». Jusqúici, les
eveques rwandais avaient publie des textes consacres a la reconstruction du
pays et a la reconciliation des habitants. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses,
13 mars 1997)
* Sahara occidental. Emissaire de l’ONU – Le Front Polisario s’est dit
pret a offrir sa «cooperation» a l’ancien secretaire d’Etat americain James
Baker, pressenti comme envoye personnel au Sahara occidental du secretaire
general de l’ONU, Kofi Annan. De son cote, le ministre marocain des
Affaires etrangeres, Abdelatif Filali, s’est declare favorable a la
nomination de M. Baker. Le Sahara occidental fait l’objet d’un differend
entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario qui empeche la tenue du referendum
d’autodetermination preconise par les Nations unies. Les deux parties ne
s’entendent pas sur les criteres d’identification des electeurs. (La
Libre Belgique, 12 mars 1997)
* Sierra Leone. No place like home – 23 February: Amidst thunderous
applause from party supporters and former Ministers, inter-mingled with
boos from some on-lookers, the former president of Sierra Leone and leader
of the All Peoplés Congress (APC), Brigadier Joseph Saidu Momoh, who was
overthrown in a bloodless coup on 29 April 1992, arrived home from exile in
Guinea. There is an acrimonious debate taking place over the Nine Hundred
Thousand Leones monthly pension, the car, a house, and two security
officers approved by the government for J.S. Momoh. According to the
government, these are benefits he will receive if he stays out of politics.
(Cyphas Williams, Sierra Leone, 1 March 1997)
* Sierra Leone. Army ordered to crack down – On 6 March, Sierra Leonés
government ordered the army and Kamajor traditional hunters to flush out
rebels it said were attacking civilians – a further sign that the peace
deal may be unravelling. Deputy Defense Minister Samuel Hinga Norman said
that rebel leader, Foday Sankoh, was trying to wreck the deal signed in
Cote d’Ivoire on 30 November. He accused rebel leaders of killing 20
people. Under the peace deal, rebels were supposed to report to
demobilisation camps, but only 30 rebel fighters have reported. (Newspot,
USA, 6 March 1997)
——— ——–_____________________________________________________________ ANB-BIA
WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 13-03-1997 PART #3/4
* Soudan. Menaces de famine – Le journal soudanais Äl-Sudan Al- Hadith’ a
annonce le 7 mars que des nuees de sauterelles se sont abattues sur la
region est du Soudan, le long de la mer Rouge, et detruisent les recoltes.
La region de Gedaref, plus au sud, qui produit plus de la moitie du sorgho
du pays, la nourriture de base au Soudan, pourrait etre menacee. La guerre
civile empeche les autorites d’intervenir efficacement. D’autre part, des
cris d’alarme viennent egalement de la region des Monts Noubas, au centre
du pays, ou 500.000 personnes seraient menacees de famine. (ANB-BIA, de
sources diverses, 10 mars 1997)
* Sudan. Locusts destroy crops – On 7 March, the Al-Sudan Al- Hadith
newspaper reported that swarms of locusts are destroying crops in eastern
Sudan, where fighting with rebels has prevented government efforts to
inspect the damage. The locusts have overrun 8,000 acres of farmland along
the Red Sea, near the Eritrean border. Port Sudan and Tokar, main cities in
the region, are affected. Unmapped land mines and fighting that began in
eastern Sudan in January, have prevented the government from sending in
help to stop the insects. The swarms originated in Eritrea and Yemen,
across the red Sea. The locusts have not reached Gedaref, a region further
south that produces more than half of Sudan’s staple food, sorghum. (AP,
USA, 9 mars 1997)
* Swaziland. The King reviews Decree – On 6 March, it was announced that
King Mswati III is reviewing the controversial 1973 Royal Decree banning
political parties and unauthorised political gatherings in Swaziland. The
chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission, Prince Mangaliso Dlamini,
also announced on 6 March, that the King would review other legislation
deemed to impinge on human rights. King Mswati has said that Swazis must
decide through individual submissions to the Review Commission, whether the
ban on political parties should be lifted. (AFJN, Washington, 7 March
1997)
* Tanzania. Facilitating foreign investment – Tanzania is next month
(April) expected to pass a law creating an investment promotion centre, to
encourage foreign investment, by streamlining business procedures. The
Tanzania Investment Facilitation Authority Act envisages the creation of an
Investment Promotion Authority (IPA), which will reduce red tape for
potential investors. The IPA will be responsible for facilitating the
procurement of all documentation required by investors, including work and
resident permits, business and industrial licences and land title deeds.
(IRIN, Nairobi, 11 March 1997)
* Tchad. Resultats des legislatives – Le MPS (Mouvement patriotique du
salut), du president Idriss Deby, a obtenu une majorite relative a
l’Assemblee nationale lors des elections legislatives. Selon les resultats
publies le 3 mars par la Commission electorale, le MPS a obtenu 55 sieges
sur 125. Il aura donc besoin d’allies pour disposer d’une majorite absolue.
Il faudra toutefois attendre le verdict de la Cour d’appel, qui doit
avaliser les resultats, contestes tant par le MPS que par une partie de
l’opposition. En attendant, le principal aspect du vote est son caractere
regionaliste tres marque. Ainsi, les partisans de M. Kamougue ont emporte
la totalite des sieges dans les 4 prefectures du sud-est du pays, peuplees
en majorite de chretiens et d’animistes, alors que le MPS a obtenu ses
meilleurs resultats dans les parties a majorite musulmane. (D’apres
Marches Tropicaux, France, 7 mars 1997)
* Uganda. Tourism industry hit – The escalating insurgency in parts of
northern and western Uganda has hit the countrýs tourism sector. Already,
two major sources of tourists, Britain and the United States have advised
their nationals against travelling to the rebel-hit areas, where some of
the major tourist attractions are located. All British nationals arriving
in the country are advised not to travel to the Rwenzori mountains where
the famous mountain gorillas are found in the nearby Mgahinga National
Park. British nationals have also been advised not to travel to the
districts of Gulu, Kitigum, Moyo and Arua, as well as parts of northern
Apac and southern Lira. (The East African, Kenya, 3-9 March 1997)
* Uganda. Children abducted by LRA – On 6 March, UNICEF Director, Carol
Bellamy, condemned the abduction of up to 10,000 children by the Lord
Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda, and called for their immediate
release. In a statement issued from New York, Bellamy said that captives
were often tortured, and those caught trying to escape were killed. Girls
are sexually abused by soldiers and are given as «wives» in lieu of other
forms of payment. The statement called for concerted international
pressure, and said the problem was «neither too big nor too complex to
solve». (IRIN, Nairobi, 7 March 1997)
——— ——–_____________________________________________________________ ANB-BIA
WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 13-03-1997 PART #4/4
* Zaire–UN. Reports of massacres of Rwandan Hutu refugees – In a Press
Release dated 6 March, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
Mr Jose Ayala-Lasso, says he is following with deep concern the human
rights situation in Eastern Zaire. He has received unconfirmed reports on
massacres of Rwandan Hutu refugees in various camps in Eastern Zaire.
According to local press reports and Zairian human rights groups, there may
be several mass graves in Eastern Zaire at various sites near Mugunga camp,
Kibumba, Katale, Sake and other locations…The High Commissioner has asked
the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Zaire, Mr Roberto
Garreton, to investigate these allegations and make recommendations to the
forthcoming session of the Commission on Human Rights for further action.
(UN, Geneva, 6 March 1997)
* Zaire. Francés lonely campaign – France is pursuing a lonely campaign
to revive plans for an international force in Zaire to halt the rebel
advance and prevent what it says is a genocide in the making. But sceptics
in Washington and among Francés European allies doubt the accusations of
widespread massacres of refugees, and also doubt French intent…Paris is
stepping up its efforts to win UN backing for a foreign force to halt the
fighting. It says it is concerned for hundreds of thousands of Rwandan Hutu
refugees who it claims are being systematically murdered by the
rebels…France is keen to highlight the massacre allegations, not only as
a means to justify intervention, but to shape how the conflict is seen by
the rest of the world…Paris argues that Rwandás Tutsi army has invaded
Zaire in an attempt to exterminate Hutu refugees before Rwanda resettles
Tutsis from its overcrowded land, in a divided Zaire. France accuses Uganda
of joining the invasion, and other countries in the region of supporting
it. The United States, Britain and some other European countries
disagree… (The Guardian, U.K., 11 March 1997)
* Zaire. Kindu – 27 February: The rebels capture Kindu. 4 March: Hundreds
of people emerge from forest hideouts around Kindu, days after Zairian
government soldiers retreated. Kindu was looted, first of all by the
retreating soldiers and then by civilians who stole anything left. (From a
report in The Independent, 5 March). 6 March: More than 120 Zairian
soldiers have surrendered to rebel troops in Kindu, since the ADFL took
over. The rebels say they have recovered about 100 assault rifles,
including M-16 submachine guns, Kalashnikovs, an armoured car and
munitions…In Kindu, the ADFL rebels have encountered problems as well as
applause by the local population. Villagers became angry with the ADFL
«Justice Minister», when he said he had asked district leaders and
traditional chiefs to appoint new authorities for Maniema Province. 10
March: Laurent Kabila is warmly welcomed by the population. (ANB-BIA,,
Brussels, 10 March 1997)
* Zaire. Kisangani – 5 March: A column of several thousand people
approaching Kisangani, is spotted, when a UN mission overflies the area
with the Dutch Minister of Development Cooperation, Jan Pronk. He meets
with government representatives and aid representatives in Kisangani. 6
March: Hundreds of people are fleeing Kisangani, ahead of a feared arrival
of rebels. The quay is full of men, women and children trying to bargain
for places in boats leaving Kisangani. Today, pirogues and other vessels
were leaving «crammed full of residents, desperate to get out». The rebel
Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL), is
reported to be besieging Kisangani. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are
also believed to be near the town. The Zairian Ministry of Defence says
there have been violent clashes with rebels, today, near Panga, some 80
kilometres northeast of Kisangani. 7 March: The UN calls on the rebels to
accept a ceasefire. 10 March: The international Press reports that
Kisanganís airport is awash with the wives and children of soldiers trying
to scramble on to the last flights before the rebels arrive. The region’s
governor, Lombeya Bosongo, would like to join the exodus, but the army has
twice prevented him from leaving Kisangani. He puts on a brave face: «The
rebels wanted to take Kisangani for a long time. Theýve claimed several
times to have taken it. But we are still here and we will defend the city».
Rebels are massing on the southeastern flank of the city, after using
Zairés vast river network to approach Kisangani to the north. (ANB-BIA,,
Brussels, 11 March 1997)
* Zaire. Kinshasa – On 7 March, troops broke up a bid by the main
opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) to march in the
capital, Kinshasa, in support of talks with rebel leader, Laurent Kabila.
Soldiers patrolled the city after dispersing opposition militants trying to
march in defiance of a government ban on all demonstrations. UDPS militants
in the Matonge district are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister
Kengo wa Dondo and President Mobutu. They vowed to march again on 8 March.
(Newspot, USA, 7 March 1997)
* Zaire. Evenements – 6 mars. Radio Vatican annonce que huit pretres et
trois religieuses, tous Hutu rwandais, ont ete assassines le 25 fevrier a
Kalima, deux jours apres que la region soit tombee aux mains des rebelles
tutsi. – Les premiers refugies de Tingi-Tingi arrivent a Ubundu. – Le
ministre kenyan des Affaires etrangeres annonce que son pays organisera le
19 mars un sommet de six chefs d’Etat sur le conflit dans l’est du Zaire,
mais que M. Kabila n’y est pas invite. – L’ex-president tanzanien, J.
Nyerere, a declare que les jours du president Mobutu etaient comptes: «Le
pauvre homme est en train de mourir». 7 mars. A Kinshasa, une marche
organisee par l’UDPS, appelant a des pourparlers avec Kabila, est dispersee
par l’armee. – On annonce de violents combats pres de Panga, a 80 km au
nord-est de Kisangani. Punia (au sud-est de Kisangani) serait occupe par
des ex-FAR. – Le Conseil de securite des Nations unies, le gouvernement
americain et l’Union europeenne insistent aupres de Kabila pour qúil
accepte un cessez- le-feu. Le gouvernement zairois a accepte le plan de
paix de l’ONU. 9 mars. M. Kabila se dit pret a accepter le plan de paix de
l’ONU, mais uniquement comme point de depart des futures negociations,
rejetant l’idee d’un cessez-le-feu immediat. Il assure poursuivre sa
progression vers l’ouest et le sud, mais reconnait que ses troupes
affrontent une resistance farouche pres de Kisangani. 10 mars. Un
porte-parole de l’Alliance affirme que leurs troupes prennent Kisangani en
tenaille en laissant un corridor ouvert a l’ouest «pour que les civils et
les soldats zairois puissent fuir». Ils annoncent aussi avoir pris le
controle de Moba, au sud, le dernier port sur le lac Tanganyika qui etait
encore aux mains des forces gouvernementales. (ANB-BIA, de sources
diverses, 11 mars 1997)
* Zaire. Efforts diplomatiques – 11 mars. La France lance a nouveau un
appel solennel pour arreter les combats et envisage la creation d’un
mini-pont aerien pour venir en aide aux refugies d’Ubundu, ou se regroupent
une partie des refugies de Tingi-Tingi. Par ailleurs, lors d’une conference
de presse donnee a Paris, l’eveque de Goma a conteste la realite des
massacres anti-hutu au Kivu. 12 mars. Le Vatican publie une lettre du pape,
datee du 4 mars, adressee au secretaire general des Nations unies, ou JeanPaul II fait appel a M. Annan pour qúil use de toute son influence pour
faire appliquer un cessez-le-feu au Zaire. Le pape insiste aussi pour que
«le principe de l’integrite territoriale soit respecte d’une facon
absolue». Quant a lui, Kabila reitere son refus d’arreter les combats avant
des negociations avec les autorites de Kinshasa. Les Etats-Unis disent
«partager le sentiment de frustration» de la France, mais ne veulent aller
plus loin que des efforts de «persuasion politique» en direction des
rebelles. – Sur le terrain, des sources font mention de tensions
croissantes au sein de l’Alliance, entre les ailes zairoise et rwandaise.
La raison en serait l’annulation de nominations de Banyamulenge a des
postes importants dans la nouvelle administration. Une delegation serait
partie a Kigali pour une concertation avec le general rwandais Kagame.
(ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 13 mars 1997)
* Zambia. Police arrest rioting students – 10 March: Zambian police
arrest 10 students after using teargas and batons to break up riots at the
University of Zambia. The street rampages started on 9 March. Riot police
were sent to the campus the next day and fought pitch battles with scores
of stone-throwing students. A university spokesman said that students are
unhappy over delays in the disbursement of book allowances. (Reuters, 10
March 1997)
* Zambia. Chiluba and Kaunda in Court – President Frederick Chiluba and
former president Kenneth Kaunda are both in Court defending their
citizenship, and their presidencies. The 53-year- old Chilubás re-election
and his pre-election declarations about his birth, parentage and
birth-place, is being challenged by opposition party petitioners before the
Supreme Court. The petition is based on the Electoral Amendment (1996) Act,
requiring presidential candidates to declare the above-mentioned details on
oath. President Chiluba was sworn in on 21 November 1996. Chief Justice
Matthews Ngulube adjourned Chilubás case until 18 March. The 73-year-old Dr
Kaundás Zambian citizenship is being challenged in Ndola High Court. The
petitioners in this case want Kaunda declared «stateless» and charged with
ruling Zambia «illegally» for 27 years. (Justin Mupundu, Zambia, 6 March
1997)
——— –



