Café
rencontre du 24/03/2006
DAM, AGNEWS, NY,
24/03/2006)
En Afrique,
cette semaine, il s'y est passé énormément de choses. Les groupes régionaux
se mettent en place et existent peu à peu.
L’information principale concernant notre région est que les actualités
rwandaises et ougandaises surpassent celles de la RDC Congo.
Au Rwanda, la diplomatie a été plus dense que l'actualité sur le Génocide de
1994.
Chez MUSEVENI, l'opposition ne digère toujours pas sa défaite aux urnes ...
Les questions sécuritaires concernant le LRA et le Nord Ouganda
préoccupent.
Le gouvernement NKURUNZIZA
intensifie ses actions dans ce petit pays pauvre d'Afrique australe qu’est
le BURUNDI.
Les partis politiques burundais (gouvernementaux et d'opposition), ainsi
que la société civile baissent de régime cette semaine.
Le politique est l'actualité
principale burundaise. Les préoccupations socio-économiques devancent les
questions sécuritaires.
La politique burundaise est
d'abord l'affaire du gouvernement à plus de moitié. On notera une intensité
diplomatique avec deux sujets qui retiendront notre attention : Les
négociations avec le FNL-PALIPEHUTU RWASA (DAR) ; et la visite de la
Présidente de l'Assemblée Nationale à Londres. L’opposition burundaise
(Le CNDD et la SOCIETE CIVILE - UPRONA -) occupent 1/4 du champ politique
actuel, près du double de celle des partis politiques faisant parties de la
coalition gouvernementale.
L'économie et la santé sont
deux dossiers en pointe dans l'actualité socio-économique burundaise.
Comment "pouvoir manger, s'abriter ou cultiver" restent des questions
d'urgences mais moindre qu'il y a deux mois. "Pouvoir s'éduquer" demeure
cette semaine un soucis mineur.
Le sécuritaire au Burundi, ce
sont les premiers pas de la nouvelle FDN à près d'un tiers ensuite la
présence de l'ONUB et de la SANDF.
Les réfugiés RWANDAIS et CONGOLAIS, le banditisme préoccupent au même
titre que le FNL-PALIPEHUTU (sujet très intéressé par la RADIO RPA).
BURUNDI :
Burundi's main
Hutu party pulls out of government
By Patrick Nduwimana
BUJUMBURA (Reuters) Sunday March 26 - Burundi's main opposition Hutu party
said on Saturday it was withdrawing from a national unity government,
dealing a blow to reconciliation efforts after a civil war but unlikely to
disrupt the ruling coalition.
The Hutu FRODEBU party accused President Pierre Nkurunziza's coalition of
failing to abide by a constitutional agreement on power-sharing and failing
to promote democracy.
Nkurunziza's election in August 2005 was a crowning moment in peace plan
signed in 2000 to end 12 years of conflict between rebels from the Hutu
majority and a Tutsi elite that has controlled the state for most of the
post-independence years since 1962. Some 300,000 people were killed in the
civil war.
"FRODEBU party has decided to stop any co-operation with the government that
is not keen to return the country to the rule of law and democracy,"
FRODEBU's chairman Leonce Ngendakumana said after a meeting of senior party
officials.
FRODEBU's main complaint is that Nkurunziza has dominated his cabinet with
ministers from his party, the former rebel Forces for the Defence of
Democracy (FDD), going against the constitution which encourages a
broad-based government.
When he formed his cabinet last August, Nkurunziza gave 12 ministerial posts
to FDD members and three to FRODEBU, despite its coming second during
elections.
Although Nkurunziza gave Hutus 60 percent of cabinet posts and 40 percent to
Tutsis as stipulated in the constitution, FRODEBU says most of the Hutu
posts went to FDD members.
FRODEBU says it was entitled to five posts, including vice president which
Nkurunziza gave to the largest Tutsi party UPRONA.
"This government does not respect the country's constitution which is a
social contract between the ruling party and the other partners,"
Ngendakumana said.
Minister of communication Karenga Ramadhani said the government would study
FRODEBU's complaints before giving its position.
FRODEBU also accused the government of authoritarianism and lacking the will
to promote peace and reconciliation.
"We have noticed that everyday there are arbitrary arrests and imprisonment
of people accused of collaborating with FNL," the chairman said, referring
to the Hutu Forces for National Liberation, the last remaining group of
rebels. "This is unacceptable."
RWANDA
UGANDA
TANZANIE:
CONGO RDC
:
KENYA :
Des
hommes d'affaires au secours des réfugiés au Kenya
26 mars 2006 (Reuters) par Helen Nyambura-Mwaura
DADAAB, Kenya - L'une vit avec toute sa famille dans une hutte de paille et
de boue dans l'est du Kenya. L'autre possède une salle de bain d'une taille
similiaire dans son appartement bruxellois.
La jeune réfugiée éthiopienne n'a peut-être pas grand chose en commun avec
le cadre de Microsoft, mais elle espère que ce dernier l'aidera à aller à
l'école.
"Nous n'avons pas assez de livres. Nous devons en partager un avec toute la
classe", explique Jerusalem Alem.
"Nous avons besoin de davantage de professeurs, de bureaux et de classes",
ajoute l'écolière de 13 ans aux cadres occidentaux venus lui rendre visite
dans sa salle de classe installée au milieu de la savanne.
C'est avec l'objectif avoué de collecter des fonds que le Haut commissariat
des Nations unies pour les réfugiés
(UNHCR) a emmené au début du mois des
hommes et des femmes d'affaires dans plusieurs camps au Kenya, en Tanzanie
et au Burundi, là où vivent des centaines de milliers de personnes ayant fui
la guerre et le chaos dans leur pays.
Le groupe de visiteurs comptait notamment des responsables du géant
informatique Microsoft, des laboratoires pharmaceutiques Merck et du groupe
d'articles de sport Nike. Ils font partie du Council of Business Leaders de
l'UNHCR, une instance créée en janvier 2005 au Forum économique mondial pour
récolter des fonds.
En l'absence de dons suffisants, l'organisation basée à Genève est obligée
de faire appel à la générorité des pays membres de l'Onu pour mener à bien
ses opérations. Cette année, elle a recueilli 800 millions de dollars de
promesses de dons, mais son budget est d'1,4 milliard.
"Nos donateurs continuent d'être généreux mais nous trouvons de plus en plus
difficile de faire face aux besoins", déplore le haut commissaire Wendy
Chamberlin à Dadaab.
A Dadaab, première étape de leur tournée, les cadres ont visité un hôpital
poussérieux où des mères accouchent sur des lits
rouillés recouverts d'une bâche usée.
Jeffrey Sturchio, responsables de Merck pour le Moyen-Orient et l'Afrique, a
jugé "choquantes" les conditions de vie dans ces camps.
Nike a financé pour 430.000 dollars un projet-pilote d'éducation des jeunes
filles dans les trois camps de Dadaab, où vivent 140.000 réfugiés, des
Somaliens pour la plupart.
APPROVISIONNEMENT DEUX FOIS PAR MOIS
A l'école primaire de Midnimo, les enfants sont assis sur des pupitres
chancelants entourés de murs fabriqués avec des boites d'huile de cuisine
vides.
Les jeunes musulmanes, vêtues d'un uniforme et coiffées d'un foulard,
représentent aujourd'hui un tiers des élèves. Après la donation de Nike,
leur nombre a augmenté sensiblement dans les écoles.
Un panneau écrit à la main sur un groupe de cinq latrines, trop rares dans
les camps, annonce fièrement qu'elles ont été "sponsorisées par Nike" pour
la modique somme de 50 dollars.
L'argent de Nike a aussi facilité la construction de nouvelles classes et
permis de payer les professeurs, qui avaient parfois jusqu'à 95 élèves par
classe.
Assis devant les modestes pupitres de bois, les visiteurs écoutent les
histoires des élèves qui, bien qu'ayant faim sur le chemin de l'école, ne
manquent pas d'ambition.
"Je suis étudiant en géographie mais vous pouvez voir où je vis, je ne peux
pas aller visiter le monde", dit Paul Parach Majak, un jeune homme de 21 ans
en classe de septième, où se trouvent normalement les élèves à 13 ans.
"Pouvez-vous m'aider ?" Patrick De Smedt, de Microsoft, lui promet d'essayer
d'installer un ordinateur dans l'école.
La politique du gouvernement kényan concernant les camps reste stricte, et
les réfugiés ne peuvent espérer être installés ailleurs que dans des régions
désolées où il peut faire 45°C.
Il est impossible d'y lancer une activité économique et avoir accès à un
ordinateur relève de l'utopie pour des élèves comme Majak.
Les 138.863 réfugiés de Dadaab, dont plus de la moitié ont moins de 18 ans,
sont totalement dépendants du UNHCR, qui leur distribue des provisions deux
fois par mois. Les rations de maïs, de haricots et d'huile suffisent à peine
à tenir jusqu'à la distribution suivante.
Les femmes transportent dans des bidons posés sur leur tête l'eau qu'elles
vont chercher en différents points du camp. Les hommes mâchent toute la
journée des feuilles de khat aux vertus stimulantes.
A part le football et le volley, les jeunes réfugiés n'ont aucune activité
pour tuer le temps. Beaucoup de jeunes gens prennent de la drogue et les
filles se marient tôt.
"Cela me brise le coeur de voir les souffrances ici à Dadaab. Je ne peux pas
l'accepter", avoue Wendy Chamberlin.
Kenya : Kikwete makes unity call
By Andnetwork .com
Source : Nation Media
March 26, 2006
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete ended his State visit yesterday,
appealing to Kenyan leaders in and out of Government to work together and
avoid unnecessary conflicts.
President Kikwete told his hosts, who included President Kibaki and the
Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bonaya Godana, that "umoja ni nguvu (unity
is strength)."
The advice comes a week after Opposition MPs ganged up under the umbrella of
the Orange Democratic Movement to frustrate the work of the Leader of
Government Business in Parliament, Vice-President Moody Awori.
The Tanzanian leader said his wish was to see his Kenyan brothers and
sisters working together for the common good of what he described as "this
great nation."
Addressing guests at a State banquet held in his honour by President Kibaki
on Friday night, the Tanzanian leader said: "Unity is strength, especially
for a young and developing nation like Kenya and Tanzania. You should not
allow ideological or political differences in a multi-party setting to
divide your nation and people."
The former Foreign Affairs minister before his election last December to
take over from President Benjamin Mkapa, said that such differences should
instead add flavour and colour to politics of a nation that espouses
democratic governance.
President Kikwete, who was accompanied by his wife Salma, told the over 100
guests at the Grand Regency hotel, who included Cabinet ministers and
Members of Parliament, that political pluralism adds variety to politics and
breaks the boredom of mono-party politics.
Leaders included Vice-President Awori, Cabinet ministers John Michuki, Ms
Martha Karua, Mr Raphael Tuju and Opposition leaders Mr Raila Odinga, Mr
Kalonzo Musyoka and former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, Mr
Kiraitu Murungi.
There was a brief tense moment at the beginning of the colourful event when
there was a blackout occurred as the two Heads of State arrived. But there
was no incident.
Parliament has been split between the pro-Government MPs in the Government
of National Unity and those in the Opposition, in Kanu and the Liberal
Democratic Party. A day after Tuesday's state opening by President Kibaki,
when Kanu and LDP MPs rejected the House Business Committee list of members
and asked their six members to resign in protest.
"It (democracy) opens the scope of choice for citizens as they exercise
their freedom of association. Politicians who have love for their nations at
heart should always safeguard the unity of their people and their country,"
the Tanzanian leader said.
He also urged such leaders to guard against making politics or subscribing
to different political inclinations or beliefs a source of conflict in
society.
Earlier, President Kibaki steered clear of commenting on politics and
concentrated on the cordial relations between the two neighbouring
countries.
The President urged Kenyan MPs and their counterparts in Tanzania and Uganda
to enlighten their people on the benefits of the proposed political
integration.
AFRIQUE DU SUD :
AFRIQUE
/ U A :
Nigeria says to transfer Charles Taylor to
Liberia
Sun Mar 26, 2006 By Estelle Shirbon
LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria will transfer former Liberian President Charles
Taylor, who is living in exile in Nigeria and has been indicted for war
crimes, to Liberian custody, the Nigerian government said on Saturday.
The former warlord is seen as the mastermind behind once intertwined civil
wars in Liberia and neighbouring Sierra Leone, where a special U.N.-backed
court wants to try him for supporting brutal rebels in exchange for diamonds.
"President Olusegun Obasanjo has today ... informed President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf that the government of Liberia is free to take former
President Charles Taylor into its custody," the Nigerian government said in
a statement.
Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia's first post-war president who took office in
January, had asked Nigeria to consider handing over Taylor so he could stand
trial at the Sierra Leone court.
Johnson-Sirleaf made no public comment after arriving home on Saturday from
the United States, whose government has campaigned vociferously for Taylor
to stand trial. A Liberian official said there was no indication yet of when
Taylor might be transferred.
Taylor's departure was part of a peace deal to end 14 years of civil war in
Liberia which killed 250,000 people, spawned a generation of young gunmen
and spread violence to nearby states.
"It is a remarkable day for the Special Court and it is a defining day in
international criminal justice," said Desmond de Silva, chief prosecutor at
the court in Sierra Leone.
"It will take a little time, two to three days; I would hope no longer than
that," he said of Taylor's transfer to the court.
MANY FEAR IT WILL REOPEN WOUNDS
Many in Liberia and Sierra Leone fear that Taylor's return could reopen old
wounds, undermining a fragile peace.
Liberian security forces arrested around a dozen Taylor associates on Friday
including former bodyguards and fighters.
A senior member of Taylor's National Patriotic Party (NPP) said the arrests
were linked to widespread speculation in Monrovia that Taylor supporters may
try to stage a coup.
Taylor's spiritual adviser Kilari Anand Paul, who has been campaigning
against his return on the grounds that it could spark renewed killing, said
Taylor told him that his supporters would try to assassinate Johnson-Sirleaf.
"Taylor told me that Johnson will be killed. He said he has thousands of
forces on the ground and if he is extradited they cannot be controlled,"
Paul told Reuters from Ethiopia, where he is trying to negotiate an extended
asylum for Taylor.
Taylor stands accused of supporting rebels notorious for hacking off the
limbs of civilians during Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war, which cost an
estimated 50,000 lives.
The international rights group Human Rights Watch welcomed Nigeria's
decision.
"This is a great day for justice, not only for the victims of Sierra Leone's
brutal war but also for the fight against impunity, which has devastated so
many lives in West Africa," said Corinne Dufka, head of the group's West
African section.
Taylor's spokesman in Nigeria said African leaders who brokered the 2003
deal under which Taylor stepped down and went into exile had agreed he could
not be handed over to the court.
"African leaders cannot afford to renege on that agreement. They cannot
afford to give Western governments a carte blanche to terminate African
governments," Sylvester Paasewe said.
"There are many African leaders whose countries have a conflict situation,
like Sudan, Uganda, Congo ... They may no longer have faith in an African
solution and they may not agree to step down voluntarily as President Taylor
did," he said.
Taylor lives in a riverside villa in the southeastern Nigerian city of
Calabar, which is normally watched by armed guards. On Monday journalists
including a Reuters correspondent entered the villa without any security or
identity checks and met Taylor.
Airport sources in Calabar said about 20 members of his family and close
circle had left, carrying an unusually large amount of luggage, since
Johnson-Sirleaf's request to Nigeria became public.
UN /ONU :
USA :
CANADA :
EUROPE :
CHINE :
INDE :
BRAZIL:
