AFRICANEWS
WAR AND PEACECongo-BrazzavilleThe presidents of Congo-Brazzaville, Chad and the Central African Republic met in Southern Congolese city of Pointe Noire on April 4, to discuss security in the region. Radio France Internationale said they pledged to restore and maintain peace and security within their countries and along their borders. Sporadic shooting, frequently looting and banditry continue to be reported in Brazzaville. According to humanitarian sources, the insecurity is largely caused by ex-militiamen who are resisting the government's disarmament and demobilisation operation. As a result, much of Brazzaville's civilian population stays indoors after the sun sets. However, improvement in the overall security situation has been noted in the City over the past couple of weeks.The DRC foreign ministry has issued a press release accusing Belgium of "insulting behaviour". The Statement, broadcast by DRC television on April 7, expressed "deep indignation" over comments by Belgian Foreign Minister Eric derycke after Congo had accused Belgium of stashing weapons at its consulate in Lubumbashi. It deplored Belgium's "constant will to interfere in the DRC's domestic affairs", adding that Congo wanted to pursue co-operation with Belgium and hoped it would continue to finance its three year -old development programme.
Great LakesUN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Sergio Vieira de Mello has stressed that a UN priority for the Great Lakes region is ensuring a smooth transition between humanitarian and rehabilitation activities. He also called for a better regional co-ordination of humanitarian work. This was reported in IRIN Interview of April 6.
Sierra LeoneHundreds of exhausted Sierra Leoneans among thousands fleeing rebel attacks in the East have died en route to Guinea, Reuters reported on April 8. Large numbers of inhabitants of towns and villages have been fleeing fighting in the diamond-producing district of Kono in recent weeks.Reuters quoted refugees telling stories of rebels killing and pillaging, while boys and men were forcefully conscripted
GuineaA UNHCR Regional spokesman told IRIN refugee camps inside Guinea were now sheltering some 50,000 Sierra Leoneans with more streaming in daily. About 25, 000 refugees had arrived in February and March 1998. No new figures were available on the refugee influx in April. This was reported by Reuters on April 8.
LiberiaA Liberian jury on April 8 acquitted two former bodyguards of Liberian President Charles Taylor of the murder of an opposition member of parliament, Samuel Dokie, and three family members, news organisations reported. The jury decided that there was insufficient evidence to convict Richard Saydee and Kennedy Fineboy of murdering Dokies. The Dokie family were last seen on 29 November, 1997 in the custody of Special Security Services. (SSS)
NigeriaNigerian government on April 9 established a Constitutional Court as part of its transition programme to hand over power to a civilian government, AFP reported, quoting the Justice Ministry.. The Court will arbitrate electoral disputes and interpret and enforce a new constitution. Its decisions will be final except for rulings on the presidential elections, which may be challenged in the Supreme Court
RwandaPresident Pasteur Bizimungu on April 7 pointed out that it was Europe's duty to help genocide survivors because it had failed to stop the slaughter in 1994. In a speech in the Western prefecture of Kibuye to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the genocide, Bizimungu said Rwanda bore no grudge against Europe. During the genocide, some 50,000 people were killed by Hutu extremists in the Hills at Bisesero, where the commemoration ceremony was held.
TanzaniaThe Agence Burundaise de presse reports that a camp has been established in Northwest Tanzania housing mainly interahamwe and ex-FAR refugees. The camp, situated at Mbuba in the Rurenge area, reportedly houses some 1,200 such refugees who are undergoing paramilitary training. They had been hiding in remote villages to avoid returning home to Rwanda, ABP said on April 7.
SudanAccording to the latest World Food Programme (WFP) Emergency Report, people in Sudan's eastern Equatorial province are leaving their homes for refugee camps in Uganda and Kenya. Fighting has also increased in Western Upper Nile, displacing large inaccessible to WFP and operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS)
UgandaUganda rebels, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), exploded a small home-made bomb in Central Kampala on the eve of US President Bill Clinton's visit, Minister of State for Internal Affairs Tom Butime told AFP on April 8. He said the bomb exploded at Platinum House, less than a kilometre from the Sheraton Hotel, where Clinton stayed.. The government had attributed the explosion, which caused no casualties, to faulty electrical wiring. US diplomat have denied that the explosion at Platinum House was a bomb.
KenyaThree international human rights organisations have warned of a "downward spiral of violence and ethnic hatred" in Kenya. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Article 19 who have been jointly investigating violence in Kenya, told a press conference yesterday their united presence in Nairobi reflected the "seriousness of the situation". They expressed concern over "waning international attention" despite continuing human rights violations in Kenya. The focus of their investigations was the recent politically-motivated violence in Rift Valley province where over 100 people were killed. The three groups expressed fear "that supporters of the ruling party are instigating the political violence, but blaming it on spontaneous outbursts of ethnic hatred".Meanwhile least 10 people have died in raids this week by armed Pokot cattle rustlers in Kenya's northwestern Marakwet district, humanitarian sources in the region told IRIN today. In the latest attack today, two people were killed and thousands of cattle driven off towards the Ugandan border. Endemic insecurity has driven some Marakwet out of their villages and into the towns, one source said. "The situation is very tense right now," he added. He said that well-armed Pokot on both sides of the border had allied to raid rival pastoralist communities in northwestern Kenya. ""Part of it is politically motivated, part of it is due to poverty and some traditional practices," he noted.
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