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)

——— –

14 mars 1997 | 00:00
par webmaster@kath.ch
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