BURUNDI :
Le Burundi accuse
la Tanzanie de soutenir un groupe terroriste
umuco.com / lundi 17 avril 2006.
BRUXELLES, U.N.A.-Il n’y a pas de négociations entre le gouvernement du
Burundi et les Forces nationales de libération, FNL-Palipehutu d’Agathon
Rwasa. Le Burundi accuse la Tanzanie de soutenir un groupe terroriste. Le
gouvernement tanzanien avait récemment envoyé une invitation au gouvernement
du Burundi pour participer aux négociations avec les FNL. Cette
organisation, qualifiée de terroriste en 2004 au lendemain des massacres de
réfugiés Banyamulenge, a sa délégation à Dar-Es-Salaam depuis des mois.
Alors que le Président Kikwete s’estimait très confiant que les négociations
allaient enfin débuter, voilà que le gouvernement de Bujumbura refuse d’y
participer. Tout au plus, a dit une source officielle burundaise, une équipe
exploratoire a été envoyée à Dar-Es-Salaam pour écouter le gouvernement
tanzanien. Selon la même source, le Burundi serait surpris par le rôle joué
par la Tanzanie qui offre une plateforme à un groupe "terroriste".
Un officiel du ministère tanzanien des affaires étrangères estime que la
Tanzanie est devenue médiatrice dans le conflit burundais depuis que le
Président Museveni lui a cédé ce rôle.
Il y a quelques semaines, les FNL d’Agathon Rwasa avaient offert de négocier
avec le gouvernement du Burundi. Celui-ci est resté sceptique des véritables
intentions des Fnl, malgré les appels répétés du gouvernement tanzanien.
avec The East African
Léger report des pourparlers inter
burundais de paix
PANAPRESS / lundi 17 avril
BURUNDI
Le long week-end pascal serait à l'origine d'un léger report dans les
négociations inter burundaises de paix qui devaient s'ouvrir lundi à Dar
Es-Salaam, en Tanzanie, entre des émissaires gouvernementaux et ceux du
Front national de libération (FNL, rébellion), a-t-on appris de source
officielle à Bujumbura.
Le chef de la délégation gouvernementale, Salvator Ntacobamaze, a indiqué
dimanche à la presse que le départ de Bujumbura se fera finalement lundi au
lieu de samedi et les pourparlers ne pourraient débuter que le lendemain.
"Les lundis de Pâques sont généralement chômés dans les pays de l'Afrique de
l'Est et on n'a pas voulu aller passer un long week- end à Dar Es-Salaam
sans rien faire", a simplement expliqué Ntacobamaze.
De son côté, la dernière rébellion encore active au Burundi dispose d'une
délégation prête à négocier à Dar Es-Salaam depuis bientôt deux mois.
Par ailleurs, le pouvoir de Bujumbura a introduit une nouvelle donne
politique en annonçant des négociations en deux temps, d'abord avec l'aile
majoritaire du FNL présente à Dar Es-Salaam et dont se réclame le chef
historique du mouvement, Agathon Rwasa.
"Nous allons aussi trouver du temps pour écouter l'autre aile dissidente de
Jean Bosco Sindayigaya, dans le souci majeur de lever tous les obstacles à
une paix globale au Burundi", a déclaré le négociateur gouvernemental.
Le gouvernement a encore compliqué le jeu des négociations en annonçant
l'ouverture d'un centre de désarmement et de démobilisation des rebelles
volontaires avant la conclusion d'un éventuel accord de cessez-le-feu, ce
qui a été reçu comme un appel déguisé à la désertion au sein du FNL.
RWANDA
Decent burial for
Genocide remains in Uganda - Rwanda
The New Times / Charles Kazooba /
Andnetwork .com / April 17, 2006
Rwanda intends to exhume and re-bury the Genocide remains at the shores of
Lake Victoria in Uganda the Rwandan Ambassador to Uganda, said on Saturday.
Ignatius Karegesa Kamali, however, neither stated how soon the exercise
would start nor the cost Rwanda would incur.
Over a million Rwandans were exterminated during the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda
in 100 days until the Rwanda Patriotic Forces (RPF/A) intervened. Former
Rwandan leader Juvenal Habyarimana’s forces masterminded the Genocide. “We
are still trying to accord the Genocide remains a decent burial. Some are
still in makeshift graves,” Karegesa said during prayers to commemorate the
12th anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide at All Saints Church in Kampala on
Friday 14. According to statistics presented to the Rwandan Embassy by
Emmanuel Pinto, a Member of Parliament, over 10,000 Rwandan dead bodies were
buried at the shores of Lake Victoria. Pinto also said there are 370 mass
graves in Uganda.
Majority of those butchered in Rwanda were hurled in River Akagera that
flows into Lake Victoria. The private sector and several Non Government
Organizations sponsored the burial of the Rwandan remains during the
Genocide. In the private sector, those that heavily contributed include
Mukwano Industries Limited, the Madhvani Group, BAT and Nile Breweries. The
NGOs and diplomatic missions that swiftly intervened were UNDP, the
British High Commission, World Vision and UNICEF. “It was a horrendous
incident. On June 25 (1994), dogs were feasting on the dead bodies washed
ashore at Kasensero. As Ugandans, we had to intervene. I organised and we
started collecting the bodies for burial. I remember we collected 11,254 of
them,” Pinto told the congregation. Pinto has been
a legislator representing Kakuto County, Rakai in Parliament since the early
1990s.
In Rakai, 3,070 bodies were recovered and buried; 7,154 were buried in
Masaka, whereas 955 were buried in Mpigi and 59 in Kalangala districts.
Another eyewitness, Victoria Namusisi, who participated in the burial, said:
“Once time passes after an event, people tend to forget. I do believe we are
here (church) so that we do not forget what happened in 1994.”
Namusisi, who was then the Mpigi Resident District Commissioner, criticised
the United Nations for disregarding the Genocide. “We continue to blame the
UN for not intervening at the right time despite having the capacity,”
Namusisi said.
Karegesa expressed anger at critics who claim Rwanda is exploring the post
Genocide era as an opportunity to win sympathy and political gains. “Some
people claim we are using the Genocide for political capital and sympathy.
But for whom and for what reason? We needed sympathy when people were dying
during the Genocide. We are not ready to forget (the Genocide) and we shall
not forget,” he stressed. The Ambassador explained that the Gacaca judicial
system remains the best option to water down the post genocide nervousness.
He said Gacaca will establish the truth, eradicate the culture of impunity
and foster a speedy trial that would eventually assert reconciliation. “Let
us remember before God and (pray for) those who were massacred in the
genocide in Rwanda and all those we knew, and whose memories we treasure and
all who have died innocently in a war situation, in Burundi, DR Congo and
Uganda, and all who have lived and died in the service of
humankind,” Bishop Dr. Zac Niringiye prayed.
The State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Okello Oryem, represented the Uganda
government. Hundreds of Rwandans, diplomats and Ugandans attended the
memorial service.
Uganda, Rwanda on good terms – Oryem
newvision.co.ug / Geresom Musamali /
Monday, 17th April, 2006
UGANDA’s relations with Rwanda are healthy despite press reports to the
contrary, Henry Okello Oryem, the foreign affairs state minister, said on
Friday.
Oryem was addressing hundreds of people commemorating the 12th anniversary
of the Rwandese genocide, during a special service at All Saints Church,
Nakasero. The occasion coincided with Good Friday.
Rwanda recently sent home Uganda’s Kigali Embassy first secretary Arthur
Kasigazi, after a diplomatic row.
The row was sparked off when Ugandan security officials stormed a room at
Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel Entebbe, where Rwandese diplomat John Ngarambe
was allegedly making love to a married woman.
“Uganda and Rwanda continue to enjoy very cordial relations despite press
speculation and wishful thinking in some quarters. Common sense and
pragmatism will guide us through any strains of the relations,” Oryem said.
Many of the 1994 genocide victims of the Tutsi-Hutu tribal clashes were
thrown into the rivers draining into Lake Victoria and Uganda buried them in
six mass graves in Kalangala, Masaka, Rakai and Mpigi districts.
Oryem said what happened in Rwanda should be a reminder that it could happen
in Uganda if Ugandans do not avoid tribal conflicts.
Rwandese ambassador Ignatius Kamali said Rwanda had put in place mechanisms
to avoid another genocide.
Ends
ANGOLA
Des agents électoraux en séminaire de
formation à Luena
Angop /
17/04
Luena (Angola) - Quatre-vingt-dix agents de la commission et des cabinets
municipaux électoraux de la province de Moxico (est) participent lundi à
Luena à un séminaire de formation organisé par la commission nationale
électorale (CNE).
Durant cinq jours, les participants discuteront de divers thèmes liés à la
Démocratie, notamment l`exercice de la souveraineté du peuple, la
constitution des organes électoraux, le registe électoral, le contentieux du
registre électoral ainsi que le code de conduite.
La présidente de la commission locale électorale en exercice, Madalena
Baptista Dilai a appelé à l`usage des instruments légaux de support pour que
l`exercice de l`activité puisse être réalisé avec consistance et confiance.
Ont pris part à la cérémonie d`ouverture, les membres du conseil de la
province, les représentants des partis politiques, des autorités religieuses
et traditionnelles.
Approbation d`un accord sur l`organisation des produits de la pêche
Angop / 17/04
Luanda - L`Assemblée nationale (Parlement angolais) a signé par adhésion
l`accord portant création de l`organisation intergouvernementale de
l`information et de coopération pour la commercialisation des produits de
pêche en Afrique (Infopêche) en vue de favoriser la promotion, la
coopération technique et économique entre les parties signataires et
l`équilibre des disponibilités en produits de pêche et l`exportation à
l`intérieur et l`extérieur du continent.
Cette information est contenue dans la Ière série du nº 26 du journal
officiel de République d`Angola, datée du 27 février 2006 parvenue lundi à
l`Angop.
Le document signé par le président de l`Assemblée nationale, Roberto de
Almeida considère que la conférence des plénipotenciaires qui s`est déroulée
à Abidjan, en Côte d`Ivoire du 12 au 13 décembre 1991, transforme l`Infopêche
à une organisation intergouvernementale de l`information et de coopération
pour la commercialisation des produits de pêche en Afrique.
A cet effet, l`organisation constitue une mesure concrète d`application des
objectifs, des stratégies et du programme d`action adopté en 1984 par la
conférence mondiale sur le développement des pêches convoqué par
l`organisation des Nations Unies pour l`Alimentation et l`Agriculture(FAO).
L`Infopêche vise à contribuer au développement et à la modernisation du
secteur des pêches, favoriser un meilleur écoulement de ces produits, bien
explorer les exportations à l`intérieur et à l`extérieur de l`Afrique ainsi
que promouvoir la coopération technique, économique entre les parties.
Les informations sur les marchés des produits de pêche, notamment les
marchés et les perspectives d`offre, à l`intérieur et l`extérieur de
l`Afrique, les opinions sur les innovations techniques, les spécificités
applicables aux produits, les méthodes de traitement et normes de qualité
correspondant aux exigences de la demande figurent parmi les obligations des
Etats signataires.
La conférence des plénipotentiaires a réuni les responsables de 13 Etats
africains dont le Cameroun, la Sierra Leone, Cap-vert, la Côte d`Ivoitre, le
Gabon, la Gambie, le Ghana, la Guiinée-Bissau, le Liberia, le Maroc, la
Mauritanie, le Nigéria et le Senégal.
Angola: Cabinet approves transformation of ABAMAT-UEE company
Angop / Andnetwork .com / April 17, 2006
The Angolan
Cabinet Council recently approved the transformation of the state-owned
company ABAMAT-UEE, into anonymous commercial society, under the
denomination of Materials Supply Company - S.A, in short ABAMAT-S.A.
A decree published in Series I, nº 22 of the State Gazette of February 17,
that ANGOP had got access, states that ABAMAT-S.A is ruled by this diploma,
its statute, through the rules of law that regulate commercial societies and
by the special standards, whose application is of social object, under the
necessity of an anonymous society and with legal personality of a
state-owned company and preserve every right and duty inherent its juridical
sphere.
It establishes that the State Rights, as a share-holder of the company, are
exerted by one or more entities named by a combined dispatch from the
Finance and Transport ministers.
In its statute establishes as a social object the exploration of goods and
passengers vehicles, trading of cars and spare parts, machines, tools as
well as the practice of other activities that the Board of Directors decides
and be allowed by the law.
Angola proposes creation of African rail transport agency
macauhub / 2006-04-17
Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo - Angola proposed Friday in
Brazzaville the creation of an African rail transport agency and a fund to
finance the rehabilitation and construction of new transport
infrastructures.
The proposal was made to the Union of African Railways (UAR), by Angolan
Transport Minister, André Luís Brandão, on assessing the report project
presented by sector experts during the meeting of African transport
ministers, which took place on April 13 and 14 at the parliamentary palace
in Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the ministerial meeting, the participants heard about Angola’s
experiences in terms of investment in the rail sector.
Figures from the United Nations economic commission for Africa point to a
rail network estimated at 89,390 kilometers of railway lines covering an
area of 30.2 million square kilometers.
The density of this network is of around 2.96 kilometers per 1,000 square
kilometers, while Europe has around 60 kilometers of railway line per 1,000
square kilometers.
The southern Africa region, of which Angola is a part, has a bigger network
with around 38,513 kilometers, followed by North Africa with 19,931
kilometers, East Africa with 19,293 kilometers and West Africa with 9,717
kilometers. Central Africa has the smallest network of just 2,526 kilometers.
The ministers were unanimous in recognizing that rail was the best-adapted
means of transport for moving large quantities of goods over long distances
and that its was particularly useful for transporting goods to and from
African countries with no seaboard.
Angola: Catholic faithful told to cultivate spirit of love
Angop / Andnetwork .com / April 17, 2006
Luanda Catholic Church`s assistant Bishop Dom Anastacio Kahango encouraged
on Sunday the faithful to cultivate faith, spirit of love and solidarity in
Christ communion, as a way of establishing unity, harmony and national
reconciliation.
Speaking at the solemn mass on occasion of Easter ceremonies (Easter
Sunday), that took place at Luanda Higher Seminary and attended by dozen of
faithfuls, the bishop also called for the need of forgiveness among each
other.
He added that Easter has a special meaning, because it illustrates, not only
the death and resurrection of Christ, also as repentance and conversion of
the believers.
Easter is considered by Christians around the world as the biggest feast of
Catholic Church, because Jesus Christ died for the salvation of men and rose
on the third day.
Speaking to ANGOP, on the sidelines of the ceremony, the believers said that
Easter is the start of a new life for the change of bad behaviour in search
of reconciliation, mutual help and love among people
UGANDA
UGANDA :
Army arrests Congolese rebels
Agencies / Andnetwork .com
/ April 17, 2006
The Ugandan army said on Sunday that it had arrested eight members of a
Congolese rebel group which operates in the volatile eastern region of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Uganda.
Army spokesperson Major Felix Kulaigye said that the eight members of the
Congolese Revolutionary Movement (MRC) were arrested between Thursday and
and Saturday and would be charged for illegally entering Uganda.
"We have arrested the eight and they will be charged with illegal entry into
Uganda," Kulaigye told reporters.
He added that one of those arrested, Bwambale Kakolele, had been declared
"persona non grata" last year and was ordered out of the country, but had
since returned.
The MRC was founded in Kampala in June 2005 among various militias opposed
to the disarmament process in DRC's troubled eastern Ituri region where
violence has claimed 50 000 lives and displaced an estimated 500 000 others
since 1999.
Uganda’s Army assures residents of security
andnetwork.com / Gerald Businge / April
17, 2006
Uganda People’s Defence Forces’ spokesman Major Felix Kulaigye has assured
the people of Kanungu in southwestern Uganda that the army is working hard
to protect them from suspected rebels who crossed from DR Congo into Kanungu
district.
This follows reports from Kanungu that the people of Kanungu are living in
fear after rebels attacked several villages, looted food and fled back to
Congo.
Two people were reportedly killed in the attack. One of the residents was
seriously injured and was admitted at Kambuga hospital.
In an interview, Major Kulaigye acknowledged the presence of the alleged
rebels whom he says recently attacked a family in Kanungu killing two
people.
He says the army has deployed in Kanungu to adequately protect the people
and their property.
Kampala (AND)
Uganda: Govt to protect corruption whistle blowers
The Monitor / Andnetwork .com / April 17,
2006
In yet another strategy to fight corruption, the Directorate of Ethics and
Integrity is set to enact whistle blower protection laws to protect people
who divulge information about acts of corruption.
The Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Mr Tim Lwanga, said this at
the launch of a partnership between government anti-corruption agencies and
civil society organisations at Hotel Equatorial on Friday.
Lwanga anticipated the move would increase reporting of corruption cases to
authorities. He said there was need to revise the 1970 Corruption Act to
bring it to terms with the current situation.
The Leadership Code Act of 2002 had been revised to remove inconsistencies
within the constitution. “Fighting corruption is more than having the
political will, building institutions and enactment laws,” Lwanga said.
“ It requires a concerted approach from the government and society,” said
Lwanga. He said the partnership is a three-year plan aimed at creating a
structured relationship among anti-corruption bodies.
Uganda: Mengo govt applies for Buganda varsity permit
The Monitor / Andnetwork .com /
April 17, 2006
The Buganda government has written to the National Council for Higher
Education requesting for a working licence for Mutesa one Royal University.
The Deputy Katikkiro, Mr Emmanuel Ndawula, said the kingdom had fulfilled
all the necessary requirements to open up the university this year but was
waiting for the government’s approval.
“We have covered the basic requirements like course and subjects for the
first three years, administration block and structure are under renovation
at Kakeeka, Mengo,” Ndawula said at Mengo on Sunday.
The university will be started at Buganda Royal Institute in Mengo. He said
the licence would help to mobilise more funds for the university and start
student registration.
“We are still lacking about Shs1 billion to kick start the university but
this will not stop us. We expect to open in November this year,” Ndawula
also the Mengo Minister for Education and Sports, said.
Last year the government granted the university an interim certificate
allowing it to start preparatory operations and recruit staff.
The certificate, however, bars them from recruiting students. The government
promised to hand over Masaka Technical Institute to Buganda government but
this has not yet been done.
Ndawula said despite talks on the return of the institute, the government is
reluctant to do so. Masaka Technical Institute is the proposed headquarters
for the planned Buganda University also known as Mutesa one Royal University.
The Chairman of Buganda University Council, Mr John Ssebaana, the Minister
for Education and Sports, Ms Namirembe Bitamazire , told Mengo that the
institute would be given back to the kingdom in March 2006.
The university vice chancellor Prof. Munakukaama Nsereko, while meeting
Nsamizi Institute students on Tuesday, asked higher institutions of learning,
friends and companies to support the kingdom’s initiative.
“We need everybody’s support including students in higher institutions of
learning. The University will benefit all of us,” Nsereko said.
Ugandan gov't provides over 1 million dollar books for primary schools
Xinhua / April 17, 2006
The Ugandan government will spend over one million U.S. dollars on providing
textbooks for primary schools in the 24 districts in eastern Uganda, local
media reported on Monday.
According to a recent Ministry of Education and Sports document, quoted by
the Daily Monitor, the project worth 2.31 billion Ugandan shillings (1.27
million dollars) will start running this year under a newly designed program
DIMP IV.
The document indicates that 10 percent of the funds will be released this
financial year. The money will be spent on supplementary reading materials.
More than a dozen of districts were included in the package, which aimed to
boost free primary school education, a key national policy which
considerably decreased the illiteracy rate in the east African country.
Districts have been ordered to set up an instructional materials procurement
steering committee that will invite competent local booksellers for
pre-qualification.
Uganda's education authority has often come under attack for churning out
half baked pupils and the text books would come in handy to aid the teachers
and pupils in proper teaching and learning processes.
New list of countries eligible for HIPIC passed
Gerald Businge / April 17, 2006
Kampala (AND) The Executive Board of the World Bank’s International
Development Association (IDA) has approved the paper “Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) Initiative — List of Ring-Fenced Countries that Meet the
Income and Indebtedness Criteria at end-2004”. The paper was prepared
jointly by the staffs of the IMF and the World Bank. The Executive Directors
endorsed the results presented in the document as well as staff’s
recommendations. A media statement from the World Bank says that the
document identifies 11 countries that meet the HIPC Initiative income and
indebtedness criteria using end-2004 data and might wish to be considered
for debt relief under the Initiative.
The paper was prepared jointly by the staffs of the IMF and the World Bank.
The Executive Directors endorsed the results presented in the document as
well as staff’s recommendations.
A media statement from the World Bank says that the document identifies 11
countries that meet the HIPC Initiative income and indebtedness criteria
using end-2004 data and might wish to be considered for debt relief under
the Initiative.
These include seven countries identified previously as potential HIPCs
(Central African Republic, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan,
and Togo) and four additional countries (Eritrea, Haiti, the Kyrgyz Republic,
and Nepal). The cost of HIPC Initiative debt relief for the 11 countries is
estimated at US$21 billion (about 39trillion Uganda shillings) in 2004,
roughly half of the cost of providing debt relief to the 29 HIPCs that have
already reached their decision points.
To become eligible for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative, the 11
identified countries must have begun a reform program supported by the IMF
and IDA between October 1, 1996 and December 31, 2006, the date of the HIPC
Initiative sunset clause. Uganda was among the first countries to benefit
from the HIPIC.
To qualify for debt relief, eligible countries need to demonstrate the
capacity to use the expected assistance prudently by establishing a
satisfactory track record under IMF- and IDA-supported programs and by
having put in place a poverty reduction strategy.
In 1996, the World Bank and IMF launched the HIPC Initiative to create a
framework in which all creditors, including multilateral creditors, can
provide debt relief to the world’s poorest and most heavily indebted
countries, and thereby reduce the constraints on economic growth and poverty
reduction imposed by the debt-service burdens in these countries.
To date, 29 HIPC countries have reached their decision points, of which 18
have reached completion point.
Kampala (AND)
Uganda : Bunyoro King approves new Parliament
andnetwork.com / Gerald Businge / April 17,
2006
Kampala (AND) After a year of discussions, the Omukama (King) of the Bunyoro
Kitara Kingdom, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, has finally approved a new Bunyoro
kingdom parliament.
The new parliament, which is to be inaugurated on April 22nd, is the largest
parliament in Uganda’s cultural institutions.
According to a letter signed by the chairperson of the kingdom’s electoral
commission, Christopher Sabiiti, the parliament will made up of 150 members.
The kingdom parliamentarians will represent all interest groups in the
districts of Masindi, Hoima and Kibaale.
Sabiiti says the parliamentarians will be expected to honor the Bunyoro law
and custom. They will be charged with advising the Omukama and his council
of ministers on issues of development and the advancement of the people of
Bunyoro Kitara kingdom, once a real kindom that stretched beyond Uganda’s
current borders.
Sabiiti says the elected members will work on a voluntary basis.
The old Bunyoro kingdom parliament was dismissed from office a year ago
after a prolonged acrimonious relationship with the Omukama and the council
of ministers.
But like in other kingdoms, a none paid Parliament will unlikely be
effective in fulfilling its mandate as some of its members will continue to
lack transport, and obligation to go for Parliamentary meetings at Karuzika,
the kingdom’s seat.
Kampala (AND)
Uganda : Christians Celebrate the Resurrection of Christ
andnetwork.com / Gerald Businge / April 17, 2006
Kampala (AND) Tens of Thousands of Christians across Uganda today joined the
rest of the world in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter
Monday.
The main
celebrations at Lubaga Catholic cathedral were led by Cardinal Emmanuel
Wamala. In his sermon cardinal Wamala criticised the malpractices and death
that marred the general elections in February, 2006.
He says such acts show that Uganda is still backward. Cardinal Wamala also
decried the rising levels witch craft among Christians today. At All Saints
Cathedral the Arch Bishop of the Church of Uganda His Grace Henry Luke
Orombi told Christians that a new message of Hope is born on Easter. He said
the resurrection of Christ gives Christians new hope for life. He adds that
the Christians worldwide should know and exalt Jesus and God the Father.
Kampala (AND)
Gifted by nature brand to market Uganda
The Monitor / Andnetwork .com / April 17,
2006
After the end of the CNN advertising campaign of the nascent national brand,
Gifted by Nature, the promoters of the project have now registered a company
to permanently own the brand and continue the efforts to entrench Uganda's
growing profile as a favoured investment and tourist destination.
Officially known as Gifted by Nature Inc, the company, according to the
Brand Uganda Steering Committee, will undertake identification of founding
partners, production of criteria for use of the brand logo and formulation
of membership fee structures.
It would also "nurture nationalism and a sense of pride in what is true to
every Uganda," according to a briefing paper provided by the committee.
The company will principally operate as a not-for-profit organisation. It
will vigorously promote the brand as a necessary identification feature for
all commercial products as a seal of their Uganda authenticity. But carrying
the logo will not be free and Gifted by Nature Inc will be vetting all
applicants desiring to use the logo on their products and charging them an
unspecified amount.
The spokesperson of the steering committee, Mr Ignie Igundura, said the
company would ensure absolute quality control: the features of the logo (colours,
fonts and design) for instance must be maintained in their truest form
wherever they are used even as the dimensions are varied.
The Minister of tourism, Trade and Industry, Mr Daudi Migereko, speaking at
a function to lure private companies to buy membership into the
organisation, hailed the idea saying it would provide the much needed
momentum into efforts to project the country well and expose it's hidden
treasures. Igundura said the CNN campaign which stretched for six months,
run a total of 1,324 ads mainly in it's Inside Africa programme and banners
on several pages in it's website.
As a result, CNN detected increased visits to the www.visituganda.com where
those who clicked on the banner links were being led.
Also, Ugandans who participated in the recent trade and tourism expos in
Berlin, London and the Netherlands said they had been approached by
westerners who said they had seen the country's ads on CNN and demonstrated
interest in visiting the country.
A number of products have started to carry the logo of Gifted by Nature Inc:
One Coffee, a coffee brewing company that sources it's coffees from Uganda
and Rwenzori Coffee while dozens of others have reportedly expressed
interest.
TANZANIE:
CONGO RDC
:
Six mois de crise humanitaire au
Katanga, l'aide s'organise lentement
jeuneafrique.com / AFP / lundi 17 avril
CONGO (RDC)
Plus de 167.000 personnes ont fui depuis la mi-novembre 2005 des combats
entre armée congolaise et miliciens locaux Maï Maï au Katanga, région
minière du sud-est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) où l'aide
humanitaire commence à s'organiser.
Ces déplacés ont fui leur village dans les territoires de Bukama, Manono,
Mitwaba et Pweto, situés entre 350 et 600 km au nord-est et nord-ouest de
Lubumbashi (capitale du Katanga), dans une zone grande comme quatre fois la
Belgique, selon le Bureau des affaires humanitaires des Nations unies (Ocha)
au Katanga.
"Le nombre des déplacés continue d'augmenter parce que plusieurs milliers
d'entre eux, qui étaient restés cachés dans la brousse par peur d'emprunter
les routes, commencent à gagner les localités où l'aide est acheminée",
explique le chef du bureau d'Ocha pour le centre du Katanga, Alfred Gondo.
Début avril, le Programme alimentaire mondial (Pam) des Nations unies a
lancé sa première opération de largage aérien de vivres en RDC au Katanga:
375 tonnes de farine de maïs et de pois vont ainsi être distribuées dans le
territoire de Mitwaba.
"Nous avons essayé d'envoyer des convois par la route, mais ils mettent cinq
semaines à arriver, quand ils arrivent, vu l'état des routes pendant la
saison des pluies", indique Thomas Mokake, responsable du bureau du Pam à
Lubumbashi.
"La situation est vraiment dramatique. Nos prévisions des besoins
alimentaires sont déjà dépassées parce que les déplacés arrivent toujours
plus nombreux. Nous n'avons plus que 700 tonnes de stock à Lubumbashi, et à
moins d'une aide d'urgence, nous ne pourrons pas venir en aide à ces
déplacés", prévient-il.
"Nous devons envisager la crise dans la durée, car les déplacés n'ont pas pu
cultiver leurs champs, et même s'ils rentraient chez eux maintenant, ils
mourraient de faim pendant la saison sèche", souligne-t-il.
A Sampwe, une localité située à plus de 250 km au nord de Lubumbashi qui a
vu sa population plus que doubler après l'arrivée de 16.760 déplacés des
villages alentours, les habitants parviennent à peine à faire un repas par
jour.
Alors que l'aide s'organise peu à peu dans le territoire de Mitwaba, "il y a
encore de nombreuses zones inaccessibles aux humanitaires", selon Ocha.
"Il y a deux semaines, des combats ont fait dix morts au nord de Mitwaba.
Plus à l'est, vers Bukama, l'armée continue des opérations de ratissage",
affirme M. Gondo.
Dans ces zones, les populations sont à la fois victimes des miliciens, qui
brûlent les villages, tuent et enlèvent des civils pour servir de porteurs,
et des militaires, qui vivent sur le dos des populations.
Pour un observateur des Nations unies, qui a requis l'anonymat, le processus
électoral en cours en RDC - où des élections générales sont prévues en 2006
pour mettre fin à une fragile transition politique amorcée en 2003 après des
années de guerre - "est un facteur aggravant".
"Les déplacés en possession de cartes électorales sont considérés par les
miliciens comme des traîtres soutenant le gouvernement, et ceux qui n'ont
pas été enregistrés sont considérés comme des ennemis par les militaires qui
les accusent de soutenir les Maï Maï", explique-t-il.
L'arrivée au Katanga de 1.400 Casques bleus, prévue d'ici mai, "va
contribuer à sécuriser les populations, mais ne règlera pas le problème de
fond", estime cet observateur.
"Il faudrait relever les troupes gouvernementales basées depuis 1997 au
Katanga et beaucoup trop impliquées localement", plaide-t-il, tout en
s'interrogeant sur l'approvisionnement en armes des Maï Maï, "entretenus
pendant des années par Kinshasa".
DR Congo rejects
Uganda envoys
New Vision / Andnetwork .com /
Emmy Allio / April 17, 2006
A dossier compiled for Kinshasa by a Congolese diplomat in Kampala has
caused a row between Uganda and the DR Congo, hampering restoration of full
diplomatic ties.
Security sources said the Congolese diplomat referred to Uganda’s ambassador
designate to the DRC, Jacob Okello, as “one of the UPDF generals who
plundered Congo resources between 1998 and 2003.”
Consequently, Okello, a businessman and former general manager of the
defunct Uganda Motors, was rejected by Joseph Kabila’s transitional
government.
Uganda then appointed another ambassador, Dr. Moses Ebuk, a Makerere
University lecturer. But Ebuk’s appointment is also in balance because Congo
is yet to send the agremont, a document that permits an envoy into the
recipient country.
“I am ready for my job and only waiting for the agremont,” said the
neuro-physiology lecturer.
“The row is serious because Okello was rejected on false grounds. He has
neither served in the army nor been doing business in Congo. The issue has
painted a dark picture on our plans to exchange ambassadors and resume full
ties,” a senior security official said.
The DRC appears to be backtracking on naming its own ambassador to Kampala
yet diplomatic rules require that naming and posting of envoys be reciprocal.
The DRC’s first secretary in Uganda, Marcel Yeta Ossomba, yesterday said, “I
don’t know about our ambassador coming to Kampala.”
“To iron out these differences, I am meeting my Congolese counterpart
Ramazani Baya on April 21 in Bujumbura, Burundi,” foreign affairs minister
Sam Kuteesa said yesterday.
One of the sticky issues has been the presence in Kampala of leaders of the
Congolese Revolutionary Movement (MRC), a militia group in Congo’s Ituri
region which is registering stunning victories against the Congolese army (FARDC).
In recent arrests, Uganda has rounded up over a dozen MRC leaders, who may
be deported to Kinshasa, albeit in the absence of an existing extradition
treaty between the neighbours.
DRC’s foreign minister Baya on Friday lauded Uganda for the arrests, saying
they demonstrated a positive change of the Ugandan government’s attitude
toward the Ituri militia groups.
Kutesa and Baya said the row would be resolved in the Bujumbura meeting.
Currently, Uganda’s mission to Kinshasa is led by charge d’Affaires Onan,
who operates in rented premises. Both the embassy and ambassador’s residence
were plundered by Congolese soldiers in 1998. Kampala has asked Kinshasa to
repair the properties in vain.
Congolese police guards have rented out the premises which now house a bar
for local potent gin, sources said in Kinshasa.
KENYA :
AFRIQUE DU SUD :
South Africa Invests in Nuclear Power
npr.org / April 17, 2006
Morning Edition · South Africa has suffered crippling electricity blackouts
and is looking to nuclear energy to solve its power problems. Currently
South Africa has the only nuclear power plant on the continent of Africa. It
is planning to build a second plant. Jason Beaubien reports.
AFRIQUE
/ U A :
Pan
Afrique: L'ONU et le maintien de la paix dans le monde
Le Patriote (Abidjan) / Charles Sanga / le 17 Avril 2006
ANALYSE
Depuis 2004, l'ONU enregistre une augmentation des opérations de maintien de
la paix. Est-ce le signe d'une volonté de régler les conflits interminables
ou est-ce le fait des nouvelles guerres qui naissent.
Après le génocide du Rwanda en avril 1994, la maison de verre de New York a
fait son autocritique. Le département des opérations de maintien de la paix
de l'ONU (DPKO) a déployé et continue de le faire, diverses missions partout
dans le monde avec de fortunes diverses. Pour l'instant, la plus vaste est
celle du Liberia. Les activités du maintien de la paix à travers le monde,
sont demeurées efficaces du point de vue opérationnel.
Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, RDC, Burundi sont quelques succès de
maintenant. Mais, il y a eu aussi, la Namibie, le Cambodge, El Salvador, le
Mozambique et le Timor Oriental. En 1988, les Nations Unies avaient reçu le
prix Nobel de la paix pour leur réussite dans ces régions. Mais, s'il y a un
blâme à attribuer, il s'agit bien des reve rs au Rwanda, en Bosnie
Herzégovine. Mais, la résistance des pays donateurs se fait ressentir de
plus en plus.
Depuis 2004, les dépenses afférées aux opérations de maintien de la paix se
situent au dessus de la barre des quatre millions de dollars. Sur près de
75.000 personnels, militaires, civils ou de polices, affectés à quelque 17
opérations en cours, plus des deux tiers sont en Afrique. Toutefois, les
opérations de maintien de la paix restent confrontées aux ressources
financières fournies à plus de 40% par les Etats-Unis.
Pâques: le pape lance un cri d'alarme en faveur du Darfour
jeuneafrique.com / AFP / lundi 17 avril
SOUDAN
Le pape Benoît XVI a lancé dimanche un cri d'alarme en faveur des
populations du Darfour "qui s'enfoncent dans une dramatique situation
humanitaire", dans son message au monde délivré du Vatican à l'occasion de
Pâques.
Le pape a associé à son appel les populations d'autres régions d'Afrique
"qui aspirent aussi à la réconciliation, à la justice et au développement":
celles de région des grands Lacs, de la corne de l'Afrique, de la Côte
d'Ivoire, de l'Ouganda et du Zimbabwe.
"Que l'Esprit du Ressuscité apporte tout particulièrement réconfort et
sécurité en Afrique, aux populations du Darfour, qui s'enfoncent dans une
dramatique situation humanitaire qui n'est plus tolérable", a déclaré le
pape.
Il a étendu ses voeux "aux populations de la région des Grands Lacs où de
nombreuses plaies ne sont pas encore cicatrisées" et "aux peuples de la
Corne de l'Afrique, de la Côte d'Ivoire, de l'Ouganda, du Zimbabwe et
d'autres nations, qui aspirent à la réconciliation, à la justice et au
développement".
Afrique de l'Ouest: Impact économique de la crise sur la sous-région : les
résultats connus
Le Patriote (Abidjan) / Jean Eric Adingra /
le 17 Avril 2006
Il n'y a plus de supputations. Les résultats de l'impact économique de la
crise ivoirienne sur la sous-région sont désormais connus.
En effet, l'hôtel ivoire a abrité le jeudi 13 avril 2006, la cérémonie de
restitution et de diffusion de l'étude réalisée par la CGECI. Dans son
intervention, Mme Françoise Leguennou, au nom du président de la CGECI, a
précisé que cette étude a enregistré la participation des patronats du
Burkina Faso et du mali. Mme Legennou a rendu hommage à tous ceux qui ont
apporté leur expertise à cette étude.
Car la crise que vit la Côte d'Ivoire a d'indéniables conséquences sur la
vie économique de ses voisins de l'hinterland qui utilisent les ports
d'Abidjan et de San Pedro aussi bien pour leurs importations que pour leurs
exportations. Selon Mme Leguennou, cette étude fait l'état des lieux de
façon sectorielle en posant un diagnostic sans complaisance, avec en prime
des pistes sur les conditions de redémarrage de l'économie ivoirienne. Cette
étude qui a démarré le 03 octobre 2004 a pris fin le 30 octobre de la même
année. Mais tous sont conscients qu'il sera nécessaire de procéder à une
mise à jour qui fera l'objet d'une autre demande auprès de Proinvest.
Après la présentation de l'étude par M. Parfait Tano, Directeur délégué de
la CGECI, plusieurs recommandations ont été faites pour compléter ce
travail. C'est ainsi qu'il a été retenu le principe d'organiser une table
ronde (avec des thèmes) à laquelle prendra part le secteur privé de la
sous-région. Par ailleurs, l'on s'est accordé à sensibiliser les autorités
politiques. Mme Amah Tehoua, ministre de l'Industrie et de la Promotion du
secteur privé, présente à cette cérémonie a salué cette initiative et
remercié tous ceux qui ont contribué à faire cette étude. «Je me réjouis de
disposer d'un document aussi précieux sur les effets enduits de la crise
ivoirienne tant sur le plan national que sous-régional».
Selon elle, cette étude démontre l'interdépendance entre les économ ies de
la sous-région. Surtout que la crise a détérioré l'économie nationale et
perturbé l'économie sous-régionale. Aussi, a-t-elle appelé de tous ses
voeux, la fin de la crise pour une plus grande lisibilité.
Boosting education in Africa
washingtontimes.com / April 17, 2006
Britain should be commended for its April 10 pledge of $15 billion toward
the goal of primary education for children in the poorest countries over the
next 10 years. In Mozambique, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown
announced the landmark step toward the lofty and ambitious goal put forth at
the World Economic Forum in Senegal six years ago: that no country's serious
commitment to education would fail because of lack of resources.
Mr. Brown's announcement, which was made in anticipation of the meeting of
finance ministers of the G-7 countries this weekend at the World Bank, harks
back to the theme at the 2005 Group of Eight summit in Gleneagles, Scotland,
of aggressively increasing aid to Africa and a broad commitment to "make
poverty history."
For many of Africa's ills, education is a promising panacea. Mr. Brown noted
on April 10 that, "education is vital in preventing the further spread of
HIV/AIDS," and during her January trip to West Africa, First Lady Laura Bush
commented, "education is our greatest ally in the effort to stop the spread
of HIV/AIDS." The statistical link between education and AIDS is compelling:
In Uganda, for instance, HIV is less than half as common in individuals with
a primary education than in those with no education, and a secondary
education cuts that number in half again, according to the Global AIDS
Alliance. The impact falls harder on girls, who make up almost 60 percent of
the 100 million children who do not attend school and who also contract HIV
at a disproportionately high rate, particularly in their teenage years.
The substantial, upfront commitment to a decade of funding is essential for
facilitating the elimination of school fees and the investment in teacher
training and salaries. School fees are prohibitive for many families, and
eliminating them -- as Kenya successfully did in 2003, increasing primary
school enrollment and lowering the dropout rate to less than 3 percent --
brings more children to school. Eliminating the school fees without an
alternative source of funding, however, leaves schools overcrowded and
underperforming. A meeting of UNICEF and World Bank officials in Nairobi two
weeks ago recognized getting rid of primary school fees as a critical step
for universal schooling.
For its bold commitment toward making primary education a right for children
in developing countries, Britain should be lauded at the World Bank meeting
this weekend.
UN /ONU :
Pan
Afrique: De Patrice Lumumba à Laurent Gbagbo : 60 ans de magouilles de l'ONU
en Afrique
Notre Voie (Abidjan) / le 17 Avril 2006
DOCUMENT
L'Organisation des Nations unies (ONU) fondée à la fin de la guerre de
1939-1945 s'est fixé pour but, entre autres, de veiller au maintien de la
paix entre les peuples et les nations et de permettre la coopération entre
les Etats. Et elle le dit à qui veut l'entendre. Pour elle, tous les Etats
sont égaux en droits. Et, pourtant, que de magouilles derrière ces belles
déclarations?
Dès 1946, traitant du sort des anciennes colonies allemandes que la Société
des nations (SDN) avait placées "sous mandat de la SDN", l'ONU décida de
faire de ces anciennes colonies des "pays sous tutelle de l'ONU". Tel fut le
cas du Kamerun, du Togo, mais aussi de la Namibie, etc. Bien entendu,
aujourd'hui, plusieurs personnes vous diront que l'ONU rend de nombreux
services aux peuples africains, qu'en ce moment même, elle intervient au
Darfour et en d'autres contrées de notre continent, et qu'en conséquence, il
ne faut pas oublier ce rôle positif de l'organisation, sans parler des
actions de ses agences spécialisées comme l'Unicef, le Pam, l'Onudi,
l'Unesco, etc. Donc, concluront ces personnes, "il ne faut quand même pas
exagérer".
Je me propose de suggérer ici que ces personnes ne voient que l'arbre qui
cache la forêt. Elles refusent de voir ou font semblant de ne pas voir le
rôle de l'ONU dans des situations décisives pour le présent et l'avenir des
peuples africains. Car, même l'être humain le plus méchant et le plus vil a
certains côtés positifs et humains ; il lui arrive parfois de poser des
actes positifs. Mais, ce qui est important quand on apprécie un être humain,
c'est l'aspect dominant, ce qui est fondamental. Et, en ce qui concerne
l'ONU et son rôle en Afrique depuis 60 ans, depuis sa fondation, c'est ce
que je m'en vais essayer de mettre en lumière en examinant trois cas.
L'ONU au Congo en 1960-1961
Le 30 juin 1960, le Congo, ancienne colonie de la Belgique, recouvrait son
indépendance juridique. L'éveil du mouvement national en Afrique avait
contraint la Belgique aussi à admettre le principe de l'indépendance de ses
colonies dont le Congo était de loin le fleuron. Parmi les nationalistes
congolais, on notait en gros deux groupes de forces politiques : il y avait
les partis du nationalisme frelaté ou nationalisme avec la bouche comme le
désignait Um Nyobé ; et il y avait les partis du nationalisme africain
radical, le véritable nationalisme congolais, celui que les peuples
soutenaient à travers tout le continent, et notamment au Congo. Ce qui
séparait ces deux groupes, c'était le sens profond qu'il fallait donner à
l'indépendance du Congo.
Le camp du nationalisme frelaté pensait à une indépendance frelatée, une
indépendance que pouvaient accepter la Belgique et l'ensemble du monde
occidental. Il s'agissait de demander une indépendance qui laisserait la
liberté à à la Belgique et au monde occidental de continuer, comme avant, à
voler et piller les richesses du Congo et de l'Afrique. Les principales
figures de ce camp s'appelaient Joseph Kasavubu, Moïse Tschombe, Albert
Kalonji, etc. Le camp du nationalisme africain véritable voulait une vraie
indépendance, une indépendance radicale, qui donnerait désormais la liberté
au peuple congolais de contrôler ses richesses pour le bien de tous, dans
l'unité avec les autres peuples africains. Les principales figures de ce
camp s'appelaient Patrice Lumumba, Antoine Gizenga, etc.
La question centrale de la forme du futur Etat du Congo indépendant était un
des points de désaccord fondamental entre les deux camps : Lumumba et ses
amis voulaient un Congo uni, unitaire et démocr atique. Kasavubu, Tschombé
et consorts voulaient une fédération lâche et même une confédération. Pour
eux, il fallait laisser chaque province faire ce qu'elle voulait avec les
richesses de son sous-sol et les autres richesses.
Mais tout le monde savait que, derrière ces idées des nationalistes
frelatés, ce qui se jouait, c'était la question de savoir si, oui ou non, on
allait laisser les sociétés colonialistes comme la toute puissante Union
minière du Haut Katanga continuer à dominer l'économie du pays. Et tout le
monde savait que c'est l'Union minière du Haut Katanga et ses alliés qui
soufflaient leurs théories aux nationalistes frelatés qu'on avait rebaptisés
" les modérés ", tout comme les rebelles putschistes de Côte d'Ivoire ont
été rebaptisés " Forces nouvelles " aujourd'hui pour paraître plus
fréquentables. Que l'histoire bégaie sur le continent !
Bref, les Belges organisèrent des élections avant la date de proclamation de
l'indépendance du Congo. Les nationalistes radicaux gagnèrent les élections
organisées par les Belges, sans la présence des "observateurs
internationaux" qu'on n'avait pas encore imaginés. Le parti de Patrice
Lumumba, le Mouvement national congolais (MNC) sortit premier des élections
; il était donc premier à l'Assemblée. Donc, normalement, le chef du MNC
devait devenir chef du gouvernement congolais. Mais les Belges organisèrent
un "pré-Marcoussis", une étape vers l'autre Marcoussis à l'ivoirienne de nos
jours : on l'appela la Table ronde belgo-congolaise à Bruxelles.
Avec tous les chefs politiques congolais. L'OK Jazz de Luambo Makiadi alias
Franco et l'African Jazz de Joseph Kabasele immortalisèrent cette
table-ronde dans l'inoubliable chef- d'oeuvre musical " Indépendance Cha Cha
". Au cours du traquenard de Bruxelles, les Belges et leurs amis réussirent
à imposer un bicéphalisme au sommet du fut ur Etat congolais : Kasavubu fut
nommé président de la République pour bloquer l'action du Premier ministre
Patrice Lumumba, dans tous les cas où celui-ci tenterait de faire quelque
chose de déplaisant pour l'Occident.
USA :
Pétrole:
le Tchad accepte la médiation américaine
Reuters / 17/04
N'DJAMENA
- Le gouvernement tchadien a annoncé lundi avoir accepté une offre de
médiation américaine dans son litige avec la Banque mondiale portant sur
l'exploitation de son pétrole des gisements de Doba.
N'Djamena a repoussé dans le même temps de deux semaines son ultimatum à la
Banque mondiale, sommée de débloquer les redevances tirées de l'exploitation
du pétrole sous peine de fermer les robinets de l'"or noir".
Dans un premier temps, N'Djamena avait menacé d'arrêter sa production
pétrolière de 200.000 barils par jour à partir de (demain) mardi en milieu
de journée.
Le gouvernement a publié un communiqué annonçant que la date-limite fixée à
la Banque mondiale était repoussée à la fin du mois et qu'il acceptait une
offre de bons offices de l'administration américaine dans ce litige.
"Le gouvernement est heureux d'accepter l'offre de médiation du gouvernement
américain et a décidé d'accorder le répit pour cette médiation proposé par
le département d'Etat, à savoir jusqu'à la fin du mois d'avril", précise le
communiqué diffusé sur les ondes de la radio nationale tchadienne.
Le "M. Afrique du département d'Etat", Jendayi Frazer, est attendu à cet
effet dans la capitale tchadienne à une date non précisée.
La Banque mondiale, qui a financé la construction de l'oléoduc acheminant
l'"or noir" de Doba, dans le sud du Tchad, au terminal de Kribi (Cameroun),
sur le golfe de Guinée, a gelé depuis cinq mois les avoirs pétroliers
tchadiens.
Elle a pris cette mesure en rétorsion à la décision du gouvernement du
président Idriss Déby de revenir en décembre 2005 sur son engagement de
verser 10% des revenus de l'"or noir" à un "fonds pour les générations
futures", préférant financer des dépenses immédiates, probablement
militaires.
Le consortium qui exploite les gisements de Doba associe les Américaines
Exxon Mobil et Chevron au Malaisien Petronas.
Dans son communiqué, le gouvernement tchadien précise avoir demandé à ces
trois compagnies pétrolières de verser directement leurs redevances au
Trésor tchadien.
Outre le gel des avoirs pétroliers tchadiens, la Banque mondiale a suspendu
le 12 janvier ses prêts à ce pays en reprochant à N'Djamena d'avoir enfreint
leurs accords.
CANADA :
EUROPE :
CHINE :
ANGOLA: China entrenches position in booming
economy
irinnews.org /
Monday 17 April 2006
LUANDA - The announcement earlier this month that Angola had overtaken Saudi
Arabia as China's premier supplier of crude oil underlined the deepening
ties between the two red-hot economies.
Angola is sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer, after Nigeria,
pumping 1.3 million barrels a day (b/d) – a figure the government expects to
rise to 2 million b/d by 2008. Record oil prices are ensuring double-digit
growth, and the country is in the middle of a reconstruction boom after a
ruinous 27-year civil war ended in 2002.
China has a significant stake in the Angolan economy. Angola exported
456,000 barrels a day during both January and February this year -
accounting for 15 percent of China's total oil imports - outstripping both
Saudi Arabia and Iraq, according to figures from Switzerland-based energy
analysts Petromix.
Beijing's imports from Angola represent a 42 percent increase on comparable
figures in the same months of 2005. China is the second largest consumer of
Angolan oil after the United States, and under the terms of a US $3 billion
oil-backed loan made by China's state-owned Eximbank, the country will
remain a long-term importer of Angolan crude.
Last month, a new consortium Sonangol-Sinopec International, an enterprise
jointly controlled by the Angolan government-run Sonangol oil company and
China's Sinopec, won a multi-billion dollar contract to build a 240,000 b/d
oil refinery at the southern port of Lobito.
Chinese companies have been at the forefront of Angola's reconstruction
bonanza. A new airport is being built at Viana, just outside the capital
Luanda, one-third financed by the government, the rest by Chinese interests.
The war-damaged Benguela railway, which stretches from the Democratic
Republic of Congo to the coast, is being rebuilt as part of a Chinese deal
worth US $200-300 million.
The Asian powerhouse has also procured lucrative contracts to rebuild the
nation's roads and a rejuvenated Angola Airlines is considering opening a
direct route to Beijing.
Although Angola still has $9.7 billion in external debt, finance minister
Jose Pedro de Morais said that finance from foreign credit lines will rise
from $800 million in 2005 to US $5 billion in 2006 – most of which is
earmarked for rehabilitating the country's crumbling infrastructure.
Foreign credit and high oil prices has allowed Angola to double its budget
spending in 2006 to over $23 billion, compared with just $13 billion in
2005. Alongside China, Brazil, Spain, Portugal and India are also major
lenders.
But despite bulging government coffers, most people remained mired in
poverty. The United Nations estimates that 70 percent of the population live
on less than $1 a day, and nearly half of children are severely malnourished.
Angola's social spending is below the average for Southern Africa but, says
de Morais, it's increasing year on year. This year it accounts for nearly 30
percent of the budget – the largest single portion – up from 25 percent in
2004 and just over 12 percent in 2003. However, de Morais conceded that
improving social indicators would take many years.
Although much of Angola's cash is down to its business with China - in 2005
bilateral trade reportedly reached $6.95 billion, primarily in oil, an
increase of 41.6 percent on the previous year - Beijing's involvement in the
country has not been free of criticism.
Civil society organisations have accused China of turning a blind eye to
graft. International corruption watchdog Transparency International rated
Angola 151st out of 158 countries reviewed in its 2005 annual corruption
index.
Eximbank's $3 billion loan was criticised by the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and non-governmental organisation Global Witness as lacking
transparency.
Nicholas Shaxson, Africa fellow of the UK-based think-tank Chatham House
explained: "Chinese lending ... has allowed Angola's government to manage on
its own without IMF backing. Angola has used its huge economic potential to
secure a number of oil-backed bilateral credit agreements with foreign
governments - which further weaken the IMF's leverage."
Chinese loans have allowed Angola to forego IMF lending that would subject
government finance to greater scrutiny. Nevertheless, Jon Shields, Angola
head at the IMF, said that even with foreign loans Angola's economic and
social challenges remain formidable: "The biggest challenge is to ensure
that the money goes where it needs to go."
[ENDS]
President Hu's visit to Africa meaningful: Cote d'Ivoire ambassador
www.chinaview.cn / Yan
Zhonghua / 2006-04-17
BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's coming visit to
Africa is of great political significance, Cote d'Ivoire Ambassador to China
Coffie Alain Nicaise said here Monday.
President Hu Jintao is to pay state visit to Morroco, Nigeria and Kenya from
April 24 to 29. This will be the second trip that Hu made to Africa since he
became Chinese President in 2003. Hu visited Egypt, Gabon and Algeria
between January and February in 2004.
Coffie said the visit shows that China attaches priority to developing
relations with African countries in its foreign policy.
Coffie told a press conference held in the embassy that China has rendered
firm support to African people in their struggle for national liberalization,
development and rejuvenation of the continent. He said Cote d'Ivoire and
other African countries have great expectations to the Sino-African Forum
and the summit of Chinese and African leaders to be held in Beijing in
November.
Established in 2000, the Sino-African Forum serves as a platform for China
and African countries to expand political links and economic cooperation in
the new century.
Coffie expressed the hope that the November meeting of the forum will yield
substantial results that benefit both Chinese and African people.
Coffie said Cote d'Ivoire and China share a bright future in widening
bilateral cooperation. He welcomes Chinese companies to invest and set up
businesses in his country.
As Cote d'Ivoire struggled to advance peace process over the past few years,
China has all along given its support to the country, Coffie said. Bilateral
cooperation progressed smoothly in such fields as infrastructure,
agriculture, trade, education, culture, finance and mining, he said.
Coffie said bilateral relations have been excellent since the two countries
established diplomatic ties 23 years ago. Mutual respect, understanding and
trust have become pillars of relations between Cote d'Ivoire and China as
the two countries share same views on many regional and international
issues, he said.
Coffie arrived in Beijing and assumed the office of ambassador on Feb. 22.
He said he was deeply impressed with the conversation with President Hu
Jintao when presenting credentials to the Chinese leader. Enditem
INDE :
India
Gives $250m To ECOWAS Investment Bank
graphicghana.info /
4/17/2006
The government of India has given a $250 million line of credit to the
ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development to be utilised for lending
purposes to boost economic development in West Africa, as part of measures
to strengthen relations with ECOWAS.
The credit facility, which is repayable in 25 years, including a five year
moratorium, will be used for continued support of major development projects
in member states, as well as provide incentives to attract more of India's
private sector participation in the region.
The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign
Affairs and African Cooperation for Niger, Madam Aichatou Mindaoudou, who,
last week, led a high-level delegation comprising the Executive Secretary of
ECOWAS, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, and the Ministers of African Integration
from Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal to India, signed the agreement on behalf of
ECOWAS.
The Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Shri Anand Sharman,
signed for his country.
A statement signed by Mr Kwasi Asante, Economic Officer, Ministry of
Regional Co-operation and NEPAD said the ECOWAS delegation also met
separately with the President of India, the Prime Minister, and ministers
responsible for finance, commerce and industry as well as food processing
industries, to discuss various issues of mutual interest.
Both sides emphasised the immense potential for increased economic
cooperation, particularly in such sectors as railways development,
telecommunications, information technology, agriculture, and small and
medium enterprises.
They especially discussed India's possible participation in the development
of the West African rail interconnection network.
The ECOWAS delegation briefed their hosts on recent achievements in the
areas of infrastructural development, conflict resolution and the progress
made in restoring peace, security and democratic governance in the region.
The statement said both sides welcomed the establishment of the UN's peace
building commission as an important intergovernmental advisory body through
which the international community could provide long-term support to
countries emerging from conflicts, including the capacity-building efforts.
The Indian side also briefed the ECOWAS delegation on the Pan African
e-network project and the agreements that were signed between India and the
African Union for the implementation of the project.
While acknowledging the significance of the landmark project and the
potential impact on the education and health sectors through tele-education
and tele-medicine, both sides agreed to work closely towards the early
implementation of the project in West Africa.
They also committed themselves to completing a memorandum of understanding
that would provide the institutional framework to promote greater
interaction between India and ECOWAS.
Exchanging views on the need for urgent and comprehensive reforms in the UN
to enable it address contemporary challenges more effectively, ECOWAS and
India stated that reform and expansion of the UN Security Council were
central to the process of the UN reform.
They reiterated the need to expand the Security Council in both permanent
and non-permanent categories of membership so as to make it more democratic,
legitimate, representative and responsive.
BRAZIL:
