AFRICANEWS
Views and news on peace, justice and reconciliation in Africa
April 2001
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CÔTE D'IVOIREFar from the big courtroom battle over HIV-drug patents in South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire quietly imports knockoff generic HIV drugs as it has for years - without fuss, patent payments or apologies. "Believe me, I don't care", Kassim Sidibe, director of Côte d'Ivoire's AIDS program said on 19 March. "Our concern is what we can do for our people. The lower the prices are for us, the better for our people". (Source: ANB)BURUNDICivilians displaced by recent fierce fighting around Bujumbura between the Burundian army and the rebel Forces de la Liberation (FNL) are returning to their homes. Three weeks of intense warfare triggered last month by FNL attacks on Bujumbura displaced around 56,000 people. Most of the houses were looted, but there was not widespread destruction. The army organised markets in Mutakura and Kamenge to sell all the items they had looted. "Apart from the bodies of those killed in the attacks between 24 February and 10 March, each day there are new victims in the area. It seems someone wants to 'punish' civilians for collaboration in the progressive integration of the rebels," sources said. Over the past week, several clashes were reported in Gasarara, Bujumbura Rurale. "This reminds us of the clashes in Tenga which preceded the rebel attacks on Kinama. So right now we do not know which is closer, war or peace," added sources. (Source: JRS)ERITREAThe Eritrea Catholic Secretariat (ERCS) is focusing various programs on Women in Eritrea who are particularly vulnerable (displaced deportees and the poor women). The ErCS' department of Women in Development & Gender is conducting a three months course in the town of Dekemhare for twenty-four young women on a variety of topics: Training for Transformation, Group dynamics, Awareness of Gender and Leadership, Management, Communication, Health & Sanitation, Child care & Nutrition, Gardening, Poultry, Animal Husbandry, Home Economics, Savings & Credit Scheme and Basic Accounting. The course commenced on the 8th January and will terminate on 8th April. After completion of the course a certificate will be awarded to the women. Twenty of the students are from the three Eparchies, while the other four are from ENUWA and ENUYA. The young ladies have completed High school. There are 40 Women Promotion Centers in Eritrea, which are operated by the Catholic Church. Previously, the centers focused on traditional women's training programs. This new extensive training aims at expanding, improving and upgrading the Women's Promotion Centers. Back in their respective places, these women are expected to train others and uplift disadvantaged women to economic success. (Source: CISA)SUDANSources say that investigations continue into allegations that UNHCR staff in Nairobi may have extorted up to US$ 2,500 per person from refugees seeking resettlement. While this particular revelation is new, there has for many years been concern at the way UNHCR treats the very refugees who are its raison d'être. (Source: CISA)SOUTH AFRICAThe Standing Committee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), ended its meeting in Dakar, Senegal Saturday on the restructuring of SECAM and adopted a draft Pastoral letter on "peace and reconciliation in Africa. The Archbishops also lent their voices to the growing campaign against the law suit filed by the South African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PMA) to prevent the production of cheap generic drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. (Source: AllAfrica.com)TANZANIAThe threat of a forced repatriation of refugees from Tanzania seemed more and more likely, despite reluctance on the part of Burundian refugees to return to their war-stricken country, according to NGO sources cited by the Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS). The recent visit of Burundi peace talks facilitator Nelson Mandela, when he told Burundian refugees to prepare to go home, coupled with a visit of Burundian MPs last week and a visit by Tanzania's Deputy Home Affairs Minister this week, appeared to make involuntary repatriation more likely and more threatening, the church NGO quoted local sources as saying."What change in the political and military situation from which the refugees fled has been effected? Remarkably little that can be defined," said JRS Eastern Africa Director, Brother Stephen Power. "What evidence is there of the refugees' desire - or otherwise - to return?" he asked. Even the combination of the Arusha peace agreement [not yet implemented] and a reduction of food rations in refugee camps had failed to prompt significant returns to Burundi, he said. "There is the misguided idea that a return of refugees will act as a positive spur to peace, even though there is none yet - no ceasefire and no political breakthrough," Power added. (Source: CISA)
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