Burundi: En bref ce 27 JUIN 2006 ...

Nqakula upbeat on Burundi peace
27 June 2006 Jonathan Katzenellenbogen
International Affairs Editor http://www.businessday.co.za

SAFETY and Security Minister Charles Nqakula, who is SA’s mediator in the Burundi peace process, expects a final cease-fire agreement to be signed by the end of the week between the government and the one remaining rebel movement outside the peace accord.

Although Nqakula had earlier this month brokered a peace accord between the Burundian government and the National Liberation Force (Palipehutu-FNL), a comprehensive cease-fire accord had yet to be signed.

It will bring to an end 13 years of conflict in the country that began when Tutsi soldiers shot the country’s first elected Hutu president. The Tutsi constitute 11% of the country’s population

SA’s efforts to secure a political settlement in Burundi began under former president Nelson Mandela and were continued under President Thabo Mbeki by his deputy, Jacob Zuma. Since his expulsion from cabinet, Zuma’s role as mediator has been taken over by Nqakula.

About 1500 South African troops are serving in Burundi under a United Nations peacekeeping force.

Burundi is a key part of the wider Tutsi-Hutu conflict which has also affected neighbouring Rwanda and areas of the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nqakula said yesterday that while the implementation of the cease-fire “ought to be easy”, it was likely to be problematic because of the large number of difficult steps. For instance, the FNL had boycotted Burundi’s elections last year and there will not be fresh elections now that they have signed an agreement.

Under the recent peace accord, Nqakula said all sides had agreed “to stop hostilities and negative propaganda that could inflame the situation”.

But they needed to agree on the detail of the implementation of a cease-fire.

The future of the Burundian armed forces was a problem because of the FNL’s demand that the army and the police force be dismantled and new institutions be established.

Nqakula said this was a demand that could not be met, since the Burundi government was legitimately elected.

How- ever, there was a strong argument that the armed forces needed “transformation and modernisation.”

Repatriating members of the FNL, many of whom are in the eastern part of Congo, was another challenge. Those who return will require immunity from prosecution, a process that will be undertaken during a truth and reconciliation process.

Burundian rebels get amnesty for massacre
Beauregard Tromp June 27 2006 http://www.int.iol.co.za

Johannesburg - The FNL rebel group in Burundi responsible for the massacre of more than 150 civilians and many of their own soldiers has been given provisional amnesty for the killings in a deal brokered by South Africa to help advance the peace process in the troubled country.

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula announced this on Monday. He is the facilitator in talks between the last rebel group, the FNL - the Forces Nationales de Liberation - and the Burundi government. The two have just signed a tentative ceasefire agreement.

Reporting back on Monday from the negotiations in Dar es Salaam, Nqakula said that the parties were currently working on a comprehensive ceasefire agreement which should be concluded by July 1.

"All returning exiles will have provisional immunity from arrest and prosecution and all political prisoners will be freed," said Nqakula.

In August 2004, FNL rebels attacked a refugee camp in Gatumba in western Burundi, killing 156 mostly women and children. Claiming responsibility for the attack, the FNL later said the camp was a military base, an allegation UN investigators into the incident disproved.

Banyamulenge Tutsis - ethnic Tutsis living in the Democratic Republic of Congo - were said to have been targeted in the attack.

Human Rights Watch reported that the FNL had been responsible for the death of hundreds of their own colleagues, whom they suspected of being in cahoots with the Burundian government and planning to assassinate the FNL leadership.

"When the ceasefire agreement has been signed, the programme to repatriate members of the Palipehutu-FNL and other exiles will start. Processes will also begin to assimilate the returning Barundi into the socio-econo-politico life of the country,"said Nqakula.

The FNL remain the only rebel group outside of the peace process in Burundi where elections last year brought to power the largest rebel group the FDD, led by a former FNL ally Pierre Nkurunziza.

The elections largely ended 13 years of civil war, although the FNL continued attacking the government and civilians from the hills around the country's capital, Bujumbura.

Nqakula said there would not be another election to accommodate the FNL and no government positions had been offered to them either.

The FNL had previously insisted that a national dialogue be held to achieve reconciliation between Hutus and Tutsi before peace could be reached. They have since dropped this demand and accepted a SA-style Truth and Reconciliation Commission process after a peace agreement.

Part of the ceasefire agreement is to allow FNL combatants to be assimilated into the Burundian security forces. The rebels will also be allowed to form a political party.

Burundi talks with rebels falter
Tuesday, 27 June 2006 BBC
Hundreds of thousands have fled the Burundi conflict over the years
Burundi's last active rebel group has walked out of talks aimed at ending the country's 12-year civil conflict.
Delegates from the government and the Hutu National Liberation Forces (FNL) have been meeting in Tanzania.

A rebel spokesman said they had declined to meet a demand to sign a ceasefire agreement.

Observers say a deal on a ceasefire with the FNL is seen as one of the final hurdles for stability after the long civil war.

On 18 June a partial agreement was reached between the Burundi government and the FNL and 2 July had been set as a deadline for a permanent truce.

About 300,000 people have been killed in the civil war sparked in 1993 by the assassination of Burundi's first Hutu head of state and democratically-elected president, Melchior Ndadaye.

Ahern to raise archbishop's murder with Pope
26/06/2006 - http://breakingnews.iol.ie

The murder of a Nenagh-born Vatican diplomat in Africa will be raised by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern when he meets the Pope and Vatican officials in Rome on Wednesday.

Mr Ahern will call for an international inquiry into the death of Archbishop Michael Courtney, Papal Nuncio to Burundi, who died in December 2003 when his car was ambushed by gunmen as he returned from a funeral.

The minister has been granted a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Goivanni Lajolo, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States at midday on Wednesday.

The Co Louth TD will also brief the Vatican on the peace process, the situation in the Middle East, stem cell research and United Nations reform.

Mr Ahern said today: “At my meeting with Archbishop Goivanni Lajolo on Wednesday, we will be reviewing progress being made into bringing the murderers of Archbishop Michael Courtney to justice.

“I have remained in close contact with the Burundian authorities regarding the on-going internal investigation into Archbishop Courtney’s murder.

“While some may doubt whether any charges or prosecutions will ever result from this internal investigation, we must continue our efforts to bring the murderers to justice.

“We have always had an open mind on the question of establishing an international commission of inquiry into the murder, in the event of lack of progress in the internal investigation.”

The initial blame for Archbishop Courtney’s murder was placed at the rebel forces of the Forces Nationales de Liberation (FNL).

However the FNL has strenuously denied responsibility and accused the Burundian Army, or Tutsi elements within it, of deliberately targeting the diplomat due to his efforts to promote peace and reconciliation between the Tutsi and Hutu communities in Burundi.

An official investigation was launched by the Burundian authorities following the murder of Archbishop Courtney, 58.

The Government has maintained regular contact with the Burundian authorities and Mr Ahern also raised the matter with his Burundian counterpart at the UN General Assembly in September 2005.

“The Government remains open to the idea of an international commission of inquiry being launched, in the event that the official Burundian investigation fails to make any further progress,” Mr Ahern said today.

“In our view, we need to find out the true circumstances of what occurred. We may work through the proposed United Nations special Tribunal which would also be supportive generally of the UN’s efforts in promoting reconciliation and reconstruction within Burundi.

“We intend to continue encouraging the UN Secretariat in this direction. We will be informing the Vatican authorities of how our efforts are proceeding.

Archbishop Courtney was returning from a funeral when gunmen fired on his car at Minago, 30 miles south of the capital, Bujumburu.

The Archbishop’s remains were flown home and he is buried at Dromineer, six miles outside Nenagh.

Some 1,500 people also attended a funeral service for him in Burundi.

South Africa: Nqakula Upbeat On Burundi Peace
Business Day (Johannesburg) June 27, 2006
Jonathan Katzenellenbogen Johannesburg

SAFETY and Security Minister Charles Nqakula, who is SA's mediator in the Burundi peace process, expects a final cease-fire agreement to be signed by the end of the week between the government and the one remaining rebel movement outside the peace accord.

Although Nqakula had earlier this month brokered a peace accord between the Burundian government and the National Liberation Force (Palipehutu-FNL), a comprehensive cease-fire accord had yet to be signed.

It will bring to an end 13 years of conflict in the country that began when Tutsi soldiers shot the country's first elected Hutu president. The Tutsi constitute 11% of the country's population

SA's efforts to secure a political settlement in Burundi began under former president Nelson Mandela and were continued under President Thabo Mbeki by his deputy, Jacob Zuma. Since his expulsion from cabinet, Zuma's role as mediator has been taken over by Nqakula.

About 1500 South African troops are serving in Burundi under a United Nations peacekeeping force.

Burundi is a key part of the wider Tutsi-Hutu conflict which has also affected neighbouring Rwanda and areas of the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nqakula said yesterday that while the implementation of the cease-fire "ought to be easy", it was likely to be problematic because of the large number of difficult steps. For instance, the FNL had boycotted Burundi's elections last year and there will not be fresh elections now that they have signed an agreement.

Under the recent peace accord, Nqakula said all sides had agreed "to stop hostilities and negative propaganda that could inflame the situation".

But they needed to agree on the detail of the implementation of a cease-fire.

The future of the Burundian armed forces was a problem because of the FNL's demand that the army and the police force be dismantled and new institutions be established.

Nqakula said this was a demand that could not be met, since the Burundi government was legitimately elected.

How- ever, there was a strong argument that the armed forces needed "transformation and modernisation."

Repatriating members of the FNL, many of whom are in the eastern part of Congo, was another challenge. Those who return will require immunity from prosecution, a process that will be undertaken during a truth and reconciliation process.

Rwanda scoops UN award

June 27, 2006, By ANDnetwork .com Newtimes By INNOCENT GAHIGANA
Rwanda has been announced the winner of the United Nations global competition on public service on the African continent.

The disclosure was made on Sunday June 25, by Joseph Murekeraho, the State Minister for primary and secondary education, shortly after he awarded certificates to 954 teachers who completed the three-week training in Information and Communication Technology
at Remera Petit Stadium.

Murekeraho said that the government, through National Examination Council (NEC), last October submitted a document to the UN, outlining the developments registered by the public service sector in the country.

In an exclusive interview with The New Times, Murekeraho said good governance, service delivery, transparency and equity were some of the benchmarks which enabled Rwanda to scoop the prestigious award.

He also revealed that the Ombudsman’s Office and the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) were the guarantors of Rwanda in the competition.

“It was Ombudsman’s Office and NURC that made the recommendation on what we are doing in the public service domain,” Murekeraho said.

He added that celebrations for the victory are to be held during the course of the week.

While commenting on teachers who obtained the certificates in ICT, the Minister said that the government would provide all schools with ICT by 2007.

UGANDA

Uganda: China to Build Rail to Juba
New Vision (Kampala) June 25, 2006 Kampala
CHINA has agreed to finance the construction of a railway line from Pakwach to the southern Sudanese capital Juba, state minister for foreign affairs Okello Oryem has revealed.

"We signed an agreement under which China will finance a railway line linking Pakwach and Juba," AFP quoted Okello Oryem yesterday. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has just been to Uganda.

"After the feasibility study, China will consider funding one of their companies to construct the railway line," Oryem added.

Jiabao wrapped up a seven-nation tour of Africa aimed at boosting ties and shoring up resources for his country's unquenchable economy.

Jiabao and President Yoweri Museveni signed agreements for economic and technical cooperation, energy and infrastructure, information and communication technology, mining, textiles, vehicle assembly, oil exploration, tourism and food processing.

Under the deal, China will provide anti-malaria medicine for Uganda, build a model agriculture centre and countryside school in Uganda.

Wen Jiabao's tour also took him to Egypt, Ghana, the Congo Republic, Angola, Tanzania and South Africa.

The Chinese news Agency, Xinhua, quoted Museveni as saying China's development was not a threat, but beneficial for peace and development of Uganda, Africa and the world.

Museveni made the remarks at a meeting with Wen Jiabao, who left for home on Saturday.

Museveni, according to Xinhua, refuted the claim that China's development was a threat to Africa and China was coveting Africa's resources, saying the Ugandan people were happy for the tremendous achievements the Chinese have scored.

Museveni thanked China for providing assistance to Uganda in its fight for national liberation and giving it help in its national development after it became an independent nation, saying the Ugandan people would remember the kindness.

He said Uganda wished to enhance cooperation with China in agriculture, traffic, telecommunications, mineral development, tourism and infrastructure.

Wen Jiabao said Sino-Ugandan relationship was established on mutual respect and support.

He said Uganda had supported China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Wen Jiabao said the two countries would maintain their partnership and bring their friendship and cooperation to a new level.

Wen Jiabao said China would continue to take measures to increase imports from Uganda.

China encourages its businesses to invest in Uganda's agriculture, water conservation, traffic, telecommunications and infrastructure.

China is willing to help Uganda in education and health,including prevention and treatment of malaria and AIDS.

Wen Jiabao said he deeply felt the African people's profound friendship with Chinese people during his visit to the continent, which started on June 17, with Uganda being the last stop.

The Chinese people will not forget their African friends, he said, adding that China, which has developed, will give more support and help to Africa.

Tanzanian president to attend China-Africa summit
Source: Xinhua June 24, 2006

Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has accepted an invitation to attend the China- Africa summit slated for later this year, according to a joint communique issued at the end of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's two- day official visit to the United Republic of Tanzania.

The statement said that President Kikwete had accepted the invitation extended by his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao with pleasure.

The China-Africa summit of heads of state is scheduled to be held in Beijing in November.

The joint communique quoted the Chinese visitor and his Tanzanian hosts as pledging to lift China-Tanzania "all-weather" partnership to a higher level through enhancing political mutual trust and friendly cooperation in all fields.

The two sides also pledged to support each other on issues concerning national development, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tanzania expressed its opposition to "Taiwan independence", the creation of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" as well as Taiwan's efforts to accede to any regional or international organizations for which statehood is required.

The Chinese premier and Tanzanian president during their talks agreed that their two countries enjoy great potential for economic cooperation and expressed their readiness to actively expand mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, telecommunications, trade, investment, resources exploration, infrastructure, and human resources development.

The two leaders also expressed their countries' readiness to expand exchange and cooperation in culture, education, health, tourism, public security, immigration and auditing, according to the joint communique.

Wen is the fourth Chinese premier to have visited Tanzania since the two countries forged diplomatic relations in 1964.

Tanzania is the sixth stop of Wen's seven-country Africa tour which already took the Chinese premier to Egypt, Ghana, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, South Africa and Tanzania. Wen is to wind up in Uganda his eight-day trip to Africa that started on June 17.

Joseph Kabila accueilli chaleureusement à Bukavu
Kinshasa, 27/06/2006 / Politique L.P http://www.digitalcongo.net

Le Président de la République, Joseph Kabange, est arrivé lundi après-midi, à Bukavu, chef-lieu de la province du Sud-Kivu pour une visite de travail de quelques jours.
C’est depuis Lundi en fin de soirée, que le Chef de l’Etat, Joseph Kabila Kabange est arrivé à Bukavu, première étape d’une longue tournée qu’il effectue au Sud et au Nord-Kivu. A l’aéroport de Kavumu où son avion a atterri, le Chef de l’Etat a été accueilli par la notabilité de la place, et par une foule en liesse venue lui réaffirmer son soutien en rapport avec sa candidature à la prochaine élection présidentielle. Tout au long du parcours, la population de Bukavu n’a cessé de pousser des cris de joie et scander des slogans pour saluer la troisième visite du Chef de l’Etat en l’espace de quelques mois. Des sources mieux renseignées rapportent que, après Bukavu, Joseph Kabila Kabange se rendra successivement à Uvira, Béni, Butembo et Goma. Son retour dans la capitale interviendra probablement le 29 juin prochain, où l’attendent les adulées des concertations politiques que lui- même a eu le mérite de convoquer pour apaiser le climat politique qui allait de mal en pis. Bien plus, cette date correspond au lancement officiel de la campagne électorale sur toute l’étendue de la République par la Commission électorale indépendante que préside. Apollinaire MaluMalu.
C’est la deuxième visite qu’effectue, cette année le chef de l’Etat dans la ville de Bukavu, ville qu’il avait choisie pour installer son Quartier Général afin de coordonner les actions en vue de sécuriser cette partie du pays.

SA to send 128 election observers to volatile DRC
June 27, 2006, http://www.sabcnews.com

South Africa is to send a 128-strong election observer mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Voting in the vast Great Lakes state is scheduled for July 30, the first democratic elections to be staged since 1961.

Joseph Kabila, the president, is running for re-election against more than 30 other presidential candidates, whilst thousands are running for 500 legislative seats. Briefing the media in Tshwane, Aziz Pahad, the deputy foreign affairs minister, conceded that some logistical hitches could be experienced during the course of the staging of the crucial polls.

Pahad says in a country such as the Congo, which is for the first time having an election, they cannot underestimate logistical problems that will set into the situation and one can expect some technical problems. "But generally we hope there is going to be observers from all over the world, especially the European Union."

UN peacekeepers freed in DRC
27/06/2006 08:48 - (SA)

Kinshasa - Militiamen in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday released two of seven Nepalese members of the United Nations peacekeeping force they seized last month, said an official.

Carmine Camerini, spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping force (Monuc), said: "Two UN soldiers have been released. We are doing our utmost to obtain the release of the others.

"I can't give any more details for the moment."

The seven Nepalese soldiers were seized on May 28 during a joint military operation - involving Monuc and the DRC army - aimed at ousting militiamen from Fataki, about 60km northeast of Bunia, the main town in Ituri province.

Armed militias in the conflict-prone northeastern region had remained active after the end of a war that embroiled the whole of the vast central African country between 1998 and 2003.

Congo-Kinshasa: UN And Government Launch New Support Programme for Army
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa) June 27, 2006 Eioin Young

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and MONUC will jointly provide direct support to three new integrated FARDC brigades in eastern DRC, as part of a new 20 month pilot programme. This initiative follows the brassage* process that was conducted over the last year by EUSEC, the European Union security reform programme in the DRC.

With this additional support the new Congolese army can be more effective for the provision of security in the country during this important period.

The programme, which involves British government support in the form of $9.2 million dollars, was officially signed last Friday, 23 June 2006 in the presence of DRC Vice President Azarias Ruberwa, British Ambassador Andy Sparks, the DRC Defense Minister Alphonse Onusumba, and UNDP Country Director Babacar Cisse.

More than 10,000 FARDC soldiers, and - for the first time - up to 30,000 of their dependants, as well as host communities in Bunia, Bukavu and Beni will benefit from this post brassage programme.

This is the first time that UNDP, through its rapid response mechanism, will be directly involved in supporting a national army. The programme involves a number of unique and diverse elements.

The first element is operational support, in the form of rehabilitation of basic military infrastructure, such as access to drinking water, the provision of primary healthcare posts and the provision of essential army supplies.

The second involves assistance to dependants of military personnel, in the form of household and agricultural reintegration kits.

The third strand is related to the training of the new FARDC soldiers in human rights, conflict resolution and the military justice system, with the support of MONUC's Rule of Law division.

The final part of the programme will give infrastructural support to the host communities in which the new integrated brigades are located. It will involve activities such as improving access to water, the rehabilitation and refurbishment of schools, healthcare centres and roads.

Gustavo Gonzalez, senior UNDP advisor on post conflict intervention in the DRC, explained that the country more than ever needs a secure environment for the holding of credible elections.

"There is a desertion factor, for example, because of lack of payment of salaries, which makes life difficult for the dependants of the soldiers as well. We feel, however, that with this additional support the new Congolese army can be a much more effective force for the provision of security in the country during this important period," he said.

Each community in which the new integrated brigades are located will also establish a local development committee, comprised of members of the local community and the brigade commanders. Analysts say this structure will contribute to better cooperation and understanding between the new integrated brigades and their host communities.

If successful, this post brassage programme is anticipated to be extended in the future to all of the 18 brigades of the FARDC.

Source: Xinhua News Agency Date: 26 Jun 2006
Print E-mail Save NGO lambastes sexual violence by armymen in eastern DR CongoKINSHASA, Jun 26, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Sex crimes perpetrated by armymen have been widespread in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), denounced an NGO of human rights in a communique sent to Xinhua on Monday.

At least 4,000 cases of sex violence have been reported in the first five months of this year in the eastern DRC, according to the Provincial Synergy of fighting against sexual violence in the province of South Kivu, an eastern Congolese frontier province with Rwanda.

The organization said most of these criminals are armymen from the Rwandan rebel Democratic Forces for Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the DRC rebel militia Mayi-Mayi and the National Army Forces of DRC (FARDC).

Provincial Synergy asked the political authorities and the administrators concerned to punish the criminals and ban the impunity.

Une joint venture RDC-Chine dans la fabrication de moustiquaires imprégnées pour le marché d'Afrique centrale
CONGO (RDC) - 26 juin 2006 - par XINHUA

Un accord sur la création d'une joint venture RDCongo-Chine a été signé, lundi à Kinshasa, dans la fabrication de moustiquaires imprégnées d'insecticide pour le marché d'Afrique centrale.
Il s'agit d'une entreprise mixte entre le groupe congolais Labo Médical et le groupe chnois Fuzhou Huasheng Textile Co. LTD.

L'investisseur chinois compte réaliser, d'ici trois mois, une capacité de fabrication de 1 500 moustiquaires par jour en RDCongo, tandis que la durée d'insecticide est de sept ans. Il va travailler avec le Labo Médical afin de répondre à la demande croissante de la moustiquaire imprégnée d'insecticide tant au Congo-K qu'au Congo-B,dont le Labo Médical seul ne peut plus faire face aux importations.

Selon le directeur général de Fuzhou Huasheng, Lin Yi Qing, qui s'est réservé de révéler le montant de l'investissement, non seulement son groupe vise à servir les deux Congo, mais aussi les pays limitrophes, dont l'Angola, le Burundi, le Rwanda, le Centrafrique, l'Ouganda, la Zambie et la Tanzanie.

Sur le plan statistique, le nombre des cas de paludisme enregistrés en RDCongo se situe autour de dix millions et 100 000 personnes en meurent chaque année.

Les besoins congolais en moustiquaire imprégnée d'insecticide sont estimés à 16 millions pour atteindre les objectifs d'Abuja ( Nigeria), établis en l'an 2000 par un sommet africain sur la question du paludisme avec l'initiative "Roll Black Malaria".

En RDCongo, 12% des cibles, au lieu de 60%, tel que recommandé par "Roll Black Malaria", sont couverts.

SOUTH AFRICA:

L'Afrique du Sud coopère avec les États-Unis dans le domaine de la défense
Le ministre adjoint de la défense d'Afrique du Sud fait le point de récentes réunions bilatérales.
26 juin 2006 http://usinfo.state.gov Par Jim Fisher-Thompson Rédacteur du « Washington File »

Washington - Les hauts responsables du ministère de la défense des États-Unis et leurs homologues sud-africains ont trouvé des terrains d'entente lors de récentes réunions tenues au Pentagone et sur le site de l'Académie militaire de West Point, dans l'État du New York.

C'est ce qu'a souligné le ministre adjoint de la défense d'Afrique du Sud, M. Mluleki George, le 16 juin, lors d'une interview accordée au « Washington File » à l'occasion d'une réception commémorant le 30e anniversaire du soulèvement des étudiants de Soweto, un événement qui a mobilisé l'opposition politique de même que l'opinion publique mondiale contre le régime d'apartheid en Afrique du Sud.

La réception avait été parrainée par l'ambassade d'Afrique du Sud et la chaîne de télévision câblée « Discovery » et organisée au siège de celle-ci à Silver Spring (Maryland).

M. George, dont les activités contre l'apartheid, dans les années 1970, lui ont valu d'être emprisonné pendant cinq ans dans la sinistre prison de Robben Island, a rendu hommage aux étudiants, dont certains ont été tués par balle alors qu'ils manifestaient contre l'obligation de suivre des cours dans la langue afrikaans, déclarant que les informations relatives à leur sacrifice s'étaient répandues comme une traînée de poudre et avaient captivé l'attention et l'imaginaiton du monde entier.

Selon M. George, qui s'est entretenu à plusieurs reprises avec de hauts responsables du ministère de la défense durant son séjour d'une semaine aux États-Unis (du 10 au 17 juin), les entretiens qu'il a eus ont été très « productifs » et ont « encore renforcé les liens de coopération entre les militaires de nos deux pays ».

Avant de se rendre à l'Académie militaire de West Point, a indiqué M. George, il s'était entretenu au Pentagone avec M. Gordon England, ministre adjoint de la défense, et les deux hommes s'étaient engagés à œuvrer à l'élaboration d'un partenariat entre les deux pays, notamment dans le domaine du maintien de la paix.

Le terrorisme et le rôle de l'Afrique du Sud en tant qu'importante puissance régionale en Afrique ont aussi été des thèmes de discussions, a-t-il dit.

M. George et les membres de sa délégation ont également eu des entretiens avec les responsables de l'Institut national de la santé (NIH) portant en particulier sur le partenariat entre les deux pays concernant la lutte contre le VIH/sida dans les rangs des militaires sud-africains.

Les entretiens qui se sont tenus à West Point, a-t-il expliqué, ont porté sur divers sujets, notamment le partenariat liant les Gardes nationaux de l'État du New York aux militaires sud-africains, un rapport sur la défense présenté par les Sud-Africains, et le Rapport quadriennal du ministère américain de la défense récemment rendu public.

« Nous avons fixé un ordre du jour sur lequel nos commissions chargées de la défense devront travailler en prévision de notre prochaine réunion, prévue à Durban le 11 février 2007 », a précisé M. George.

Des soldats sud-africains ont récemment participé à des opérations au Burundi, en Côte d'Ivoire, aux Comores, au Soudan et en République démocratique du Congo et, lorsqu'on lui a demandé si l'Afrique du Sud envisageait d'accroître ses initiatives en faveur du maintien de la paix, M. George a rappelé la solidité de l'engagement de l'Afrique du Sud vis-à-vis de l'Union africaine et de la Communauté de développement de l'Afrique australe (SADC).

« Au cours de nos discussions avec M. England, le ministre adjoint de la défense, nous nous sommes penchés sur la façon, pour les États-Unis, de renforcer notre capacité, notamment au plan des ressources. Il n'est pas question de déployer des soldats américains en Afrique, mais d'organiser des ponts aériens, entre autres. Les Américains se sont engagés à étudier la question et sont d'accord sur le fait que l'Union africaine et la SADC seraient incluses dans une telle coopération », a-t-il expliqué.

Le Rapport quadriennal, qui énonce les projets militaires des États-Unis pour les quatre prochaines années, a souligné l'important rôle qu'il appartient à l'Afrique du Sud de jouer en Afrique, en particulier lorsqu'il s'agit d'améliorer la gouvernance et d'étendre la société civile.

« Le ministère de la défense appuie le développement d'une capacité d'intervention de l'Union africaine dans les crises humanitaires, ce qui serait un bon exemple d'une organisation multilatérale faisant face au défi que représente la mise sur pied de missions régionales de stabilisation », souligne ce rapport.

Les relations bilatérales entre les États-Unis et l'Afrique du Sud

Au sujet des relations entre les États-Unis et l'Afrique du Sud, un document du département d'État fait remarquer que « les militaires sud-africains continueront d'être des chefs de file importants dans le domaine du règlement des conflits et du maintien de la paix en Afrique ».

Ce document cite en exemple la participation de l'Afrique du Sud au programme « African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance » (ACOTA), un programme financé à hauteur de plusieurs millions de dollars qui vise à renforcer les capacités de maintien de la paix des appareils militaires africains.

Il précise en outre qu'en vertu du programme IMET (« International Military Education Training ») de formation de militaires étrangers, « les États-Unis renforceront leurs liens avec les chefs militaires actuels et futurs d'Afrique du Sud, appuieront l'intérêt que ces derniers exprimeront en faveur d'un renforcement des relations entre les militaires des deux pays et continueront à participer activement à l'élaboration de plans d'urgence ».

Le rapport indique également qu'en 2005, le gouvernement des États-unis a autorisé l'exportation vers l'Afrique du Sud d'équipements et de services relevant de la défense d'une valeur de plus de 51 millions de dollars.

En 2007, a indiqué le département d'État, l'Afrique du Sud sera aussi en mesure de recevoir gratuitement du matériel militaire de surplus « afin de l'aider dans ses efforts de maintien de la paix à l'échelle régionale et de renforcer ses capacité à assurer la sécurité de ses côtes et de ses frontières ».

AFRICA / AU :

Ministère de la Défense - Le ministre propose une force africaine de gendarmerie
(Yahoo 21/06/2006)
Michèle Alliot-Marie, ministre de la défense, a reçu mardi 20 juin 2006 le secrétaire général des Nations Unies Monsieur Kofi Annan.

Au cours de leurs entretiens, ils ont évoqué la situation en Afrique et le rôle de l'Union Européenne dans les opérations de maintien de la paix, en particulier en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC).

Michèle Alliot-Marie a souligné que les populations civiles acceptaient sans réserve la présence de forces armées étrangères pour consolider le processus de paix engagé, mais que cette présence devait être limitée dans le temps, comme ce sera le cas avec l'opération de l'UE en RDC.

Le ministre de la défense a fait part de son inquiétude sur la multiplication des crises en Afrique, et leurs conséquences sur les populations.

Madame Alliot-Marie a suggéré au secrétaire général des Nations Unies que soit créée une force de gendarmerie africaine, sur le modèle de la Force de Gendarmerie Européenne (FGE).

Elle a ajouté que la France était prête à apporter une aide en matière de formation en liaison avec le programme RECAMP (Renforcement des capacités africaines au maintien de la paix).

Monsieur Kofi Annan a marqué son intérêt pour cette proposition française et a insisté sur le besoin d'un accroissement des moyens en forces de l'ordre dans les opérations de maintien de la paix en Afrique. Il s'est réjoui que la France puisse participer à la formation de cette force de gendarmerie africaine.
Plus d'infos avec News Press

Sénégal: Association des télévisions privées d'Afrique : Mactar Sylla entame un plan d'action prioritaire
Le Soleil (Dakar) 26 Juin 2006
Notre compatriote Mactar Sylla, ancien directeur général de la Rts, actuellement directeur général de Spectrum Télévision au Cameroun, a été porté à la tête de l'Association privée des producteurs et télévisions d'Afrique.

Mactar Sylla, ancien directeur général de la RTS a été porté à la tête de l'Association privée des producteurs et télévisions d'Afrique (Appta). C'était à l'issue d'une Assemblée générale constitutive tenue mardi dernier à Cologne, en Allemagne et qui a réuni les 20 membres fondateurs originaires du Sénégal, Allemagne, France, Cameroun, Congo démocratique, Bénin, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Niger et du Rwanda.

L'Assemblée générale a fixé le siège de l'Appta ou réside actuellement son président, Macta Sylla. Elle a par ailleurs mis en place quatre commissions spécifiques et spécialisées, notamment pour les « News et Monitoring », « Echanges de programmes et co-productions », « Enjeux technologiques » et « Marketing et communication ».

Ces commissions sont pilotées respectivement par IsmaÃ«l Soumanou, Pdg de Golfe Tv (Bénin), François Baudry, Dg de People Tv (France), Christian Lagnide, Pdg de Lc2 International (Bénin) et Constant Nemale, Dg de 3A Telesud (France). Au terme de ses travaux, l'Assemblée générale de l'association naissante des télévisions privées d'Afrique à adopté un plan d'actions prioritaire en huit (8) points essentiels. Il s'agit, entre autres, d'ouvrir les portes de l'Appta à d'autres chaînes de télévisions en Afrique et dans le monde, de lancer un concours pour la confection de son logo, d'élaborer une charte de coopération et d'échanges de programmes, d'étudier la faisabilité d'un bouquet africain et l'exploitation de toutes les opportunités offertes. La création d'un site Web de l'Appta et la mise en place d'un réseau « News » de réception et de reprise des éléments d'actualités nationales sont autant de défis que l'As sociation des producteurs et télévisions privées d'Afrique veut gagner dans les années avenir.

En attendant, l'association à besoin de l'appui et la collaboration des Etats, notamment du continent noir, de l'Union africaine, l'Union européenne et d'autres grandes institutions mondiales.

UN /ONU :

Congo-Kinshasa: UN And Government Launch New Support Programme for Army
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa) June 27, 2006 Eioin Young

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and MONUC will jointly provide direct support to three new integrated FARDC brigades in eastern DRC, as part of a new 20 month pilot programme. This initiative follows the brassage* process that was conducted over the last year by EUSEC, the European Union security reform programme in the DRC.

With this additional support the new Congolese army can be more effective for the provision of security in the country during this important period.

The programme, which involves British government support in the form of $9.2 million dollars, was officially signed last Friday, 23 June 2006 in the presence of DRC Vice President Azarias Ruberwa, British Ambassador Andy Sparks, the DRC Defense Minister Alphonse Onusumba, and UNDP Country Director Babacar Cisse.

More than 10,000 FARDC soldiers, and - for the first time - up to 30,000 of their dependants, as well as host communities in Bunia, Bukavu and Beni will benefit from this post brassage programme.

This is the first time that UNDP, through its rapid response mechanism, will be directly involved in supporting a national army. The programme involves a number of unique and diverse elements.

The first element is operational support, in the form of rehabilitation of basic military infrastructure, such as access to drinking water, the provision of primary healthcare posts and the provision of essential army supplies.

The second involves assistance to dependants of military personnel, in the form of household and agricultural reintegration kits.

The third strand is related to the training of the new FARDC soldiers in human rights, conflict resolution and the military justice system, with the support of MONUC's Rule of Law division.

The final part of the programme will give infrastructural support to the host communities in which the new integrated brigades are located. It will involve activities such as improving access to water, the rehabilitation and refurbishment of schools, healthcare centres and roads.

Gustavo Gonzalez, senior UNDP advisor on post conflict intervention in the DRC, explained that the country more than ever needs a secure environment for the holding of credible elections.

"There is a desertion factor, for example, because of lack of payment of salaries, which makes life difficult for the dependants of the soldiers as well. We feel, however, that with this additional support the new Congolese army can be a much more effective force for the provision of security in the country during this important period," he said.

Each community in which the new integrated brigades are located will also establish a local development committee, comprised of members of the local community and the brigade commanders. Analysts say this structure will contribute to better cooperation and understanding between the new integrated brigades and their host communities.

If successful, this post brassage programme is anticipated to be extended in the future to all of the 18 brigades of the FARDC.

USA :

CANADA :

AUSTRALIA :

EUROPE :

CHINA :

China says Africa trade for mutual good
Tue Jun 27, 2006 - BEIJING (Reuters) -
China defended its booming trade with Africa on Tuesday after rights groups accused it of helping sustain conflicts through arms sales and commodity deals that boost the coffers of oppressive regimes.

In a report issued earlier this month, Amnesty International said China was becoming one of the world's top exporters of guns and other weapons, and its customers included African governments that routinely used such arms against their own citizens.

"China is not interested in personal gain from its trade with Africa, but has all along acted in the principles of equality, mutual benefit and joint development in promoting trade relations," a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu, said.

"China is still a developing country. Deepening cooperation with other developing countries is one of the basic principles of our foreign policy," she told a regular news conference.

Jiang added that China offered preferential terms to African imports, and gave technical as well as economic aid, assisting Africans to help themselves.

"We are also making great efforts to train African people," Jiang said.

In 2005, total trade between Africa and China surged to $39 billion, fuelled by increased imports of African oil and commodities. China has said it has donated billions to Africa in aid and sent thousands of medical and technical personnel to help with aid projects.

China, which is vigorously pursuing sources of energy and raw materials for its booming economy, is one of many countries accused of dealing with governments that violate human rights.

The United States and former colonial powers such as Britain and France have also attracted criticism from rights groups for favouring their own companies and commercial interests in Africa.

INDIA :

BRASIL: