Africanews

Views and news on peace, justice and reconciliation in Africa

July 1996

CLIPPINGS

Kigali, RWANDA

A total of 34 local government officials were killed in Rwanda in the first five months of this year, the U.N. human rights office in Rwanda said on 16 June.
In a statement, it said that it was concerned at the increasing attacks on local government officials that peaked in March with 15 assassinations, followed by eight in April and seven in May.
It said 27 killings were in regions bordering Zaire and Burundi where Rwanda's Tutsi-led army is fighting rebels of the Hutu majority.
It said investigations suggested infiltrators appeared to have been behind the majority of attacks against officials.
The most senior of the victims was the mayor of Karengera village bordering on Burundi. The statement said he was shot eight times at close range and killed by alleged infiltrators.
Western aid officials have said the Karengera mayor, a Hutu, had poor relations with the army.
The U.N. human rights office also said it was concerned at the killings from January to May of 48 survivors of Rwanda's genocide in 1994.
It said members of the Hutu former government army, driven into exile in Zaire, or infiltrators were probably behind 53 out of a total of 61 attacks against genocide survivors this year.
In a separate monthly report, the U.N. resident coordinator's office in Rwanda has said 162 people were killed in Rwanda in the month of May including 72 prisoners in 56 incidents.
It said 67 victims were killed by government forces, 39 by rebels and the remainder by unidentified gunmen. May's victims included 72 detainees -- up sharply from 20 deaths in detention in March.
Western diplomats fear insecurity will grow in the border regions of Rwanda where the number of people killed each month has doubled over January. The United Nations however early this month gave Rwanda an improved security rating, lifted a ban on its staff bringing their families into the country and said security was improving.

Arusha, TANZANIA

A regional military force to stabilise Burundi is likely to be composed mainly of soldiers from Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia, experts on a technical panel planning the force here said on 1 July.
The Ministers from five African countries, meeting in this northern Tanzanian town on how to provide military aid to the strife-torn central African nation, formed a committee of experts to set up a peacekeeping force. "We have the feeling that Burundi is on the edge of the precipice; something has to be done fast," said Rwandan Foreign Minister Anastase Gasana.

Rome, ITALY

On 2 July Southern Sudanese rebel leader John Garang called for international economic aid for areas under his control, saying support would force the Islamist-backed military government into a settlement. Garang, whose Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM/SPLA) has fought government troops for 13 years, said humanitarian and development assistance for rebel territory could lead to peace.
"In our situation, the international community really has the window of opportunity to impact on the region," Colonel Garang said in Rome, where he was ending a tour of Norway, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
He told a news conference that development of the mainly Christian and animist south would "erode the appeal of Islamic fundamentalism."

Algiers, ALGERIA

Two leaders of the Algerian national association for children of the Mujahedeen (ONEM), veterans of the independence war against France, have been murdered, the private daily Al-Khabar said on 24 June. Rabah Ayache and Rachid Boukha were assassinated on 21 June as they were leaving one of their homes in the southeastern Algiers suburb of Semmar, the paper stated without giving further details. Officials have not confirmed the report. The ONEM was founded by the National Organisation of the Mujahedeen, which is considered to be a significant political force in Algeria. Former resistance fighters have been a primary target of Islamic fundamentalists at war with the regime, and more than 1,000 have lost their lives.

Monrovia, LIBERIA

On 24 June Liberia's interim government granted clemency to former Liberian army general Charles Julu and six other officers serving jail sentences for plotting against the government, a communique said.
The communique issued by the Executive Mansion (state house) said the officers, who were convicted and each sentenced to seven years hard labour last July by a military court, have also been retired from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) "with immediate effect."
It said the ruling council of state took the decision "in the interest of reconciliation and peace."

Harare, ZIMBABWE

A crusade by President Robert Mugabe against white economic power in Zimbabwe, including fierce attacks on multinationals Lonrho and Anglo-American, sparked sharp reaction on 24 June.
Anglo-American executive director Nicky Oppenheimer, while admitting that Anglo may have made mistakes in the past, warned that President Mugabe's strong criticisms could harm the country's drive for vital foreign investment.
"I think this paints a picture of conflict between business and government and when you are trying to attract investors in your country, it is not a good idea in my view," Mr Oppenheimer told the country's government-controlled Herald newspaper.

Niamey, NIGER

The four defeated candidates in Niger's presidential elections will appeal to the country's supreme court to cancel the vote in several constituencies due to fraud, sources close to the also-rans said on 10 July.
The four candidates, who failed to prevent junta leader General Ibrahim Bare Mainassara from securing an absolute majority in the first-round vote, dispute the fairness of the poll and spoke of "massive fraud" in some areas, according to the sources.
They also deplored the "intervention" of the army during the counting process.
Gen Mainassara won an absolute majority in the first round of the poll with 52.22 per cent of the vote, according to figures released by the new National Election Commission (CNE).

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PeaceLink 1996