BURUNDI :
LE CONSEIL DES
MINISTRES ADOPTE LES PROJETS DE LOI PORTANT CREATION DE LA BRIGADE ANTI-CORRUPTION
ET LA COUR ANTI-CORRUPTION
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Au cours de sa séance du 27
avril 2006 le conseil des ministres a adopté les projets de loi portant
création, organisation et fonctionnement de la brigade anti-corruption et la
cour anti-corruption. De cette manière le gouvernement entend lutter
énergiquement contre la corruption et les malversations économiques.
LE PRESIDENT SUD-AFRICAIN NOMME UN MINISTRE QUI VA ASSURER
LA MEDIATION DANS LE CONFLIT BURUNDAIS
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-L'ambassadeur de Tanzanie au
Burundi vient d'indiquer que les négociations entre le gouvernement et le
FNL/Palipehutu vont finalement commencer la semaine prochaine. Le président
sud-africain a déjà nommé un membre de son gouvernement qui va remplacer
Jacob Zuma pour assurer la médiation dans le conflit burundais.
LE CHEF DE L'ETAT BURUNDAIS S'ENTRETIENT AVEC LE HAUT
COMMANDEMENT DE L'ARMEE ET DE LA POLICE EN COMMUNE DE GIHANGA
Bujumbura, le 26 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Le président du Burundi Pierre
Nkurunziza s'est entretenu ce mercredi 26 avril 2006 avec le haut
commandement de la force de défense nationale et de la police nationale.
Cette rencontre a eu lieu dans la zone de Buringa de la commune Gihanga en
province de Bubanza. Une localité qui fait encore face aux infiltrations
sporadiques des éléments du FNL/Palipehutu qui commettent des vols à main
armée. De retour de cette rencontre le chef de l'Etat a visité le site de
Mpanda où sera érigé un hôpital moderne. Il s'est également rendu à l'école
militaire des métiers du camp Muzinda qui vient d'être réhabilité grâce à la
coopération française.
LE SENAT ADOPTE L'ACCORD DE DON DE LA BANQUE MONDIALE DE
31 MILLIARDS DE FBU DESTINES AU PROJET PTPCE
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Les sénateurs ont voté le 27
avril 2006 le projet de loi ratifiant l'accord de don de 31 milliards de FBU
que la Banque Mondiale vient d'octroyer au Projet de Travaux Publics et de
Création d'Emplois (PTPCE). Ce montant permettra de démarrer la deuxième
phase du projet en mai prochain. Il s'agit essentiellement de la
construction des marchés modernes et du pavage des rues à Bujumbura. Ce
projet va générer deux millions d'emplois.
LA DEMOLITION DES INFRASTRUCTURES ROUTIERES PAR LES AGENTS
DE L'ONATEL ET DE LA REGIDESO SONT LAISSES POUR COMPTE N'EN DEPLAISE A LA
REGLEMENTATION DE RESTAURATION IMMEDIATE
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-La télévision nationale a
retransmis ce jeudi 27 avril 2006 un reportage montrant la démolition des
infrastructures routières par les travaux des agents de l'ONATEL et de la
REGIDESO au moment de l'installation et de l'entretien de leurs câbles et
cela sur les nouvelles routes de la capitale récemment pavées de pierres
taillées. Les services techniques municipaux qui sont chargés de l'entretien
de la voirie urbaine affirment qu'il y a une réglementation qui exige la
restauration immédiate des infrastructures routières par l'opérateur qui a
entrepris les travaux de pose de câbles dans les voiries. Cependant cette
réglementation est loin d'être respectée à la lettre.
LE SENAT ADOPTE L'ACCORD DE DON DE LA BANQUE MONDIALE DE
31 MILLIARDS DE FBU DESTINES AU PROJET PTPCE
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Les sénateurs ont voté le 27
avril 2006 le projet de loi ratifiant l'accord de don de 31 milliards de FBU
que la Banque Mondiale vient d'octroyer au Projet de Travaux Publics et de
Création d'Emplois (PTPCE). Ce montant permettra de démarrer la deuxième
phase du projet en mai prochain. Il s'agit essentiellement de la
construction des marchés modernes et du pavage des rues à Bujumbura. Ce
projet va générer deux millions d'emplois.
LA LOI BUDGETAIRE DOIT ETRE SUIVIE A LA LETTRE RELEVE LA
COUR DES COMPTES DANS SES RAPPORTS SUR LES EXERCICES 2004-2005
Bujumbura, le 27 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Dans ses rapports pour les
exercices budgétaires 2004 et 2005, la cour des comptes estime que la loi
budgétaire doit être suivie à la lettre, c'est-à-dire que les tableaux des
chiffres doivent comporter des annexes contenant des explications. Le
président de la cour des comptes Dwima Fulgence Bakana a fait savoir qu'il y
a eu un dépassement de 10% dans l'exécution de la loi budgétaire. Par
ailleurs il relève des cas de recrutement qui n'étaient pas prévus dans la
loi budgétaire 2004. Il s'agit d'un recrutement de 711 personnes au
ministère en charge de l'artisanat en 2004, il s'agit des irrégularités
d'après le président de la cour des comptes.
BURUNDI: South
Africa agrees to facilitate peace talks
April 28, 2006 Source: Irin News By
Andnetwork .com
South Africa has announced that it would take over peace talks between the
government of Burundi and the country's only remaining rebel group, the
Forces nationales de libération (FNL).
"South Africa was approached by the president of Tanzania and the government
of Burundi to take over the facilitation process," Mdu Lembede, South
Africa's ambassador to Burundi, said on Thursday on state-owned Radio
Burundi.
He said South African President Thabo Mbeki agreed to take on the role after
consulting with the chairman of the Regional Initiative for Burundi, Ugandan
President Yoweri Museveni.
The South African government has designated a chief facilitator for the
talks, Lembede said, but he did not give the name. Technical teams
representing Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa "will meet next week in Dar
es Salaam and consult the FNL and the government of Burundi to fix the
agenda and timetable for the talks," he said.
The Tanzanian government had agreed to facilitate the talks in early April
but they were postponed in the last minute. The head of the Burundian
delegation and former Interior minister Salvator Ntacobamaze denied reports
that the Burundi government had boycotted the talks. Ntacobamaze said it was
the Tanzania government that had cancelled the talks.
The FNL split into two factions in 2005, one headed by Agathon Rwasa and the
other by Jean Bosco Sindayigaya. Sindayigaya's faction has stopped fighting
and is ready to negotiate with the Burundian government. In March, Rwasa
said he would also negotiate and since then he and his negotiating team have
been in Dar es Salaam waiting for the talks to begin.
However, Rwasa's FNL is still active in the Burundian provinces of Bujumbura
Rural and Bubanza with reports of skirmishes taking place with the army at
least every two weeks.
The Burundi government is preparing a demobilisation camp for FNL combatants
near the Congolese border. In early April, it announced that security had
improved in most of the country and lifted a curfew in the capital,
Bujumbura. It has, however, maintained security roadblocks connecting the
city with the countryside.
Two million face
hunger in Burundi: aid group
April 28, 2006 Reuters
About two million people face hunger in drought-hit Burundi, aid group
ActionAid said on Tuesday as it began food deliveries in the central African
country.
Hundreds of people and tens of thousands of livestock in east and central
Africa have died in one of the worst droughts to hit the region in years.
ActionAid said poor rainfall over the past six years in the north,
northeastern and central provinces have brought starvation to areas
traditionally regarded as Burundi's food basket, with crops of maize and
sorghum failing.
"In the countryside, many families are picking and cooking wild leaves in an
attempt to satisfy their hunger," ActionAid said in a statement. Chronic
poverty and 12 years of civil war, in which more than 300 000 people have
been killed and many displaced, have compounded the effects of poor rainfall,
the group added.
70 tonnes of food delivered
The anti-poverty organisation said it delivered 70 tonnes of food worth $35
800 last week to one of five provinces the government has declared to be in
a state of famine.
It said malnutrition in the country of seven million people was widespread
and hundreds are believed to have died. Diseases such as malaria were on the
increase. Millions across the region are in urgent need of assistance, the
United Nations says, with Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia taking the brunt of
the drought.
Other agencies such as the UN World Food Programme
have distributed food aid in Burundi. An estimated $75 million of aid is
still needed for the country, ActionAid said. -
Burundi rape
accused 'confessed to murder'
Hanti Otto April 28 2006
"I shot my children and my wife," Sergeant Flippie Venter allegedly told his
sister over the phone shortly after the family tragedy on Wednesday evening
at the Hoedspruit Air Force Base.
He also tried to slit his own throat after he apparently ran out of
ammunition for the R4 assault rifle used in the attack.
The body of his daughter, Milleze, four, lay on the doorstep of the Venter's
home on the base, possibly indicating that she was trying to run away,
police said. Her brother, Janco, two, was found in the passage. Both were
shot in the head.
Venter, 34, who is currently on trial for the rape and murder of a teenage
Burundi sex worker, and his wife Millie, 28, apparently returned from a
function on Wednesday. Witnesses said they had an argument.
At about 6.30pm Venter allegedly
shot Millie in the abdomen, Mopane police Superintendent Moatshe Ngoepe said.
He then apparently turned the gun on his toddlers.
Ngoepe said neighbours heard screams and shots and contacted the military
police.
"They found him behind the house. He had cut himself across the throat and
was bleeding. He did not resist when the MPs arrested him," Ngoepe said.
Millie was flown to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria.
Venter was part of the VIP protection unit in Burundi in 2004. After he was
arrested on charges of murdering Therese Nkeshimana, 14, he was returned to
South Africa where he was released. He was allowed to remain on the
Hoedspruit base as a security guard. Millie is a secretary at the base.
Hospital spokesperson Major Niko Allie said Millie was in a stable condition
in ICU.
Her grandmother, Millie Grieshaber, said it was "terribly sad about the two
little ones".
She lived with Millie's parents, Las and Elize de Vaal, in Lephalale (Ellisras).
Venter's sister called them at about 7pm on Wednesday to inform them of the
incident. The De Vaals then rushed to Pretoria.
"Las and Elize are shattered. They have lost their only two grandchildren.
Milleze's name was a combination of my and Millie's names and Elize's,
bringing three generations together," Grieshaber said.
Janco and Milleze stayed with them while Venter stood trial in Burundi.
Millie went to support him.
Grieshaber said they visited the Venters in Hoedspruit over the Easter
Weekend.
Venter's lawyer, Jenny Brewis, said Venter called her late on Thursday.
Apparently he wanted to call her from the Hoedspruit police station shortly
after his arrest, but he was so confused he could not remember Brewis's
number.
"He didn't sound emotionally well and said his neck was sore. He remains
innocent until proven otherwise. Let's not crucify him," she said.
She said the SANDF was also to blame for the tragedy, as since the alleged
Burundi incident Venter had been very depressed.
"I was concerned about him and Millie. His whole life was on the line.
Millie stuck by his side," Brewis said.
Venter will appear in the Phalaborwa magistrate's court on Friday on charges
of murder and attempted murder.
Arguments in his Burundi trial are supposed to continue at Thaba Tshwane (Voortrekkerhoogte)
on Thursday. According to an agreement, judgment is supposed to be given in
Burundi.
However, if kept in custody for this incident, it would be difficult to get
Venter to Burundi, where the news of the family slaughter was reported on
the local radio on Thursday.
Boyd Webb reports that Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota expressed his shock
and sadness at the incident.
"He is very saddened. SANDF Chief Godfrey Ngwenya phoned immediately after
the incident to let him know," defence spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said.
But while it was confirmed that the South African government had been in
contact with the Burundian authorities, it is uncertain what the next legal
step will be.
Justice Ministry spokesperson Leslie Mashokwe said it would be up to the
National Prosecuting Authority to decide what happens next.
Youth in
Burundi Come Together for Peace
Friday, April 28 , 2006 Maria Mackay
www.christiantoday.com/
The peace training event brought together youth between the ages of 15 and
25 who will now return to their own communities equipped with the skills to
bring the peace message to others. (Anglican Communion)
Youth from across the six dioceses of the Province of the Anglican Church of
Burundi came together last week to take part in a special training programme
on peace-building, justice, truth and reconciliation in a post-conflict
context.
The weeklong training event was part of a wider project aimed at securing
long-term peace in Burundi by teaching the younger generations how to
rebuild relations of respect and mutual trust among one another.
“Burundi needs a godly, educated generation of leaders to proclaim the
Gospel and to influence decision–making in the Church and the nation,” said
one participant in the training, read an Anglican Communion statement.
The training was made possible by financial support from the World Council
of Churches, with organisers hoping the experience would encourage the young
participants to make a commitment to building peace both on the individual
as well as the community level.
The young people who ranged in age from 15 to 25 were able to contemplate
some of the most important current issues facing Burundi at this moment in
time and enjoy talks from key speakers at the event which included the
Archbishop of Burundi, the Most Rev. Bernard Ntahoturi, and a host of other
bishops from across the country.
The training encouraged the participants to commit themselves to the process
of transformation in Burundi particularly as Christian youth, through
realising the Church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church without
frontiers.
The training programme also urged that families and communities should be
transformed through changed attitudes and positive relationships.
“In the country transformation would occur as young people mobilised
themselves to use their energies, resources, education, dreams, and hopes in
peace-building, restoration of culture and tradition, reconciliation, and
the pursuit of truth and justice,” read the Anglican Communion statement.
The young participants were encouraged to make responsible decisions, to
practise discipline, and to be determined in the pursuit of goals.
Considerations are already being taken as to whether to run more
peace-building training weeks following the overwhelming success of the
event.
LE
MINISTRE DE L'EDUCATION NATIONALE ET DE LA CULTURE DEMANDE AUX ETUDIANTS DE
L'ENS DE REPRENDRE LES COURS
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Les étudiants de l'Ecole
Normale Supérieure (ENS) sont en grève depuis ce lundi 24 avril 2006, ils
revendiquent notamment l'ouverture du deuxième cycle de formation à l'ENS.
Le ministre de l'éducation nationale, monsieur Saidi Kibeya a réagi à cette
grève des étudiants de l'ENS en demandant à ces derniers de reprendre le
chemin des auditoires car a-t-il dit les problèmes qu'ils posent sont
entrain de trouver des solutions à l'instar de la mise en place d'un
deuxième cycle aboutissant au diplôme de Licence dès la prochaine rentrée
académique de l'ENS. Le ministre Kibeya n'a pas toutefois retenu la
revendication pour la similitude de sanction pour les tricheries à l'examen
telles que sont pratiquées à l'université du Burundi disant que chaque
institution a son mode de discipline et que de surcroît le futur formateur
doit être très exigeant pour la répression des tricheries à l'examen afin
que le mauvais précédent ne serve pas de référence dans l'enseignement au
Burundi.
LA POPULATION DE KAMESA ET DE KINANIRA II DE LA COMMUNE
MUSAGA DEMANDE A L'ETAT DE LES PROTEGER CONTRE LE RAVIN QUI MENACE LEURS
HABITATIONS
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-La population de Kamesa et de
Kinanira II de la commune urbaine de Musaga est menacée par un ravin qui
sépare les deux quartiers. Et pour cause, l'eau de pluie et de ruissellement
continue d'agrandir ce ravin qui entraîne à son tour l'écroulement des
maisons riveraines à ce ravin. La population de Kamesa et de Kinanira II a
laissé entendre qu'elle est dépassée par les événements et a demandé en
conséquence à l'Etat d'utiliser les moyens adéquats afin d'intervenir pour
éviter cette catastrophe prévisible.
LE HCR DISPONIBILISE DEUX CENT MAISONS POUR LES RAPATRIES
EN PROVINCE DE RUYIGI
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Le ministre burundais en
charge de la solidarité nationale vient d'inaugurer deux cent maisons et une
école primaire à Ruyigi destinés aux rapatriés qui rentrent de la Tanzanie.
Ces infrastructures ont été construites grâce à l'appui financière du HCR.
Le ministre de la solidarité nationale a également remis une aide
alimentaire et vestimentaire aux personnes nécessiteuses de la commune
Gisuru.
L'ASSOCIATION DES ELEVEURS DE BUJUMBURA ADRESSENT UNE
LETTRE DE RECOURS AU CHEF DE L'ETAT BURUNDAIS
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-L'association des éleveurs de
vaches de Bujumbura vient d'adresser une correspondance signée par 175
personnes au chef de l'Etat Pierre Nkurunziza, lui demandant de les écouter.
En effet ces éleveurs doivent déménager sans conditions de Bujumbura vers
Maramvya en commune de Mutimbuzi. Pour eux les conditions de vie des bêtes
ne sont pas remplies. Ils évoquent un problème de sécurité et le manque
d'eau. Ils proposent que le gouvernement leur accorde une partie de la
réserve de Rukoko et de Gatumba.
LE MINISTERE DE L'EDUCATION NATIONALE AFFIRME QUE LES ARRIERES DES
ENSEIGNANTS VONT ETRE DEBLOQUES A PARTIR DU MOIS DE MAI 2006
Bujumbura, le 28 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Alors que le syndicat CONAPES
avait déjà annoncé qu'il allait entamer un mouvement de grève le 2 mai 2006,
le chef de cabinet au ministère de l'éducation nationale monsieur Venant
Nyobewe a indiqué à la presse que les arriérés des enseignants pour l'an
2003 vont être débloqués en tranches, à partir du mois de mai 2006. Il a
fait savoir que le gouvernement du Burundi a déjà disponibiliser un milliard
de francs burundais.
LE SYNDICAT DES PROFESSEURS DE L'ENSEIGNEMENT SECONDAIRE
CONAPES LANCE UN PREAVIS DE GREVE POUR CE MARDI 2 MAI 2006
Bujumbura, le 27 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Le syndicat des professeurs de
l'enseignement secondaire, CONAPES en sigle a décidé ce mercredi 26 avril
2006 de suspendre ses activités d'enseignement depuis le mardi 2 mai 2006 et
cela durant une période illimitée. Le mouvement de grève annoncé par le
syndicat CONAPES est consécutif au défaut de réalisations d'un accord signé
entre le gouvernement et les représentants des syndicats du ministère de
l'éducation nationale. Dans une lettre écrite au ministère de l'éducation et
de la culture, le syndicat CONAPES a demandé le paiement d'un bonus de
fidélité et d'enseignement pendant les heures supplémentaires. Le syndicat
CONAPES a également demandé le réajustement statutaire des professeurs qui
ont un diplôme supérieur au D6 et la régularisation de carrière pour l'année
2002. Le syndicat CONAPES a appelé ses adhérents pour respecter le service
minimum durant cette grève qui commence ce mardi.
L'EPOUSE DU CHEF DE L'ETAT MADAME DENISE NKURUNZIZA
CLOTURE L'ATELIER D'INFORMATION DES PREMIERES DAMES SUR LA PREVENTION DU VIH/SIDA
Bujumbura, le 27 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-L'épouse du chef de l'Etat,
madame Denise Nkurunziza a procédé ce mercredi 26 avril 2006 à la clôture de
l'atelier d'information des premières dames d'Afrique relatives à la
prévention de la jeunesse sur l'infection du VIH/SIDA. L'objectif de cet
atelier est de renforcer les capacités des premières dames d'Afrique à
mobiliser des réponses contre ce fléau en Afrique.
LE MINISTRE DE LA SANTE PUBLIQUE INDIQUE QUE LA PRIME D'ENCOURAGEMENT
S'ETENDRA A TOUT LE PERSONNEL SOIGNANT
Bujumbura, le 27 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Au premier jour du mouvement
de grève lancé par les syndicats des personnels soignants dans les hôpitaux
de Bujumbura, le ministre de la santé publique le docteur Barnabé Mbonimpa a
indiqué à la presse que la prime d'encouragement qui sera octroyée aux
médecins dans un premier temps s'étendra ensuite aux autres personnels
soignants notamment les infirmiers, les aides infirmiers et le personnel
paramédical. Il a rencontré les représentants de ces syndicats mais
visiblement il ne les a pas convaincus car ils ont décidé de maintenir le
mot d'ordre de grève lancé le 25 avril 2006.
Le cheptel bovin hors de la capitale
(La Tribune 28/04/2006)
Les éleveurs de la capitale du Burundi ne décolèrent pas: leurs vaches ont
jusqu'au 1er mai pour quitter les rues pleines de nid de poule de Bujumbura
pour les prés alentours dans ce petit pays d'Afrique centrale qui tente de
sortir de 12 ans de guerre civile.
"On nous a ordonné de retirer notre cheptel de la capitale d'ici le 1er mai,
mais aucune vache n'est en train de bouger. C'est tout à fait impossible",
affirme Adolphe Maderi, le président de l'association pour le développement
agro-pastoral (Adap).
Les éleveurs estiment le cheptel bovin de Bujumbura à 15.000 têtes. Le 11
avril, les ministres de l'Intérieur, de l'Agriculture et de l'Environnement
ont signé une ordonnance qui "interdit tout établissement de bétail dans la
municipalité de Bujumbura à compter du 1er mai 2006".
De son côté, le maire de Bujumbura, Célestin Sebutama, a interdit tout
ravitaillement en fourrage pour les vaches de la capitale à partir du 1er
mai. "Ces décisions équivalent à une condamnation à mort de notre cheptel",
estime M. Maderi. "Nous en appelons au chef de l'Etat (Pierre Nkurunziza, un
Hutu), qui est notre dernier recours, devant cette volonté délibérée de nous
mettre à genoux", lance-t-il.
Les vaches, très prisées par les Tutsis, traditionnellement des éleveurs,
ont été l'une des cibles privilégiées de la rébellion hutue pendant la
guerre civile qui l'opposait à l'armée, dominée par la minorité tutsie. Plus
de 50% du cheptel a été tué pendant le conflit, ce qui a contraint les
éleveurs à se réfugier dans la capitale pour mettre leurs bêtes à l'abri,
selon une pétition signée par 180 éleveurs.
"Certains milieux très proches du pouvoir actuel se félicitent de cette
décision qui viserait à pénaliser les seuls Tutsis", estiment les éleveurs,
dans leur pétition. "C'est totalement faux. La paix est revenue sur presque
tout le territoire national, et ces vaches polluent, gênent énormément la
circulation et indisposent les autres citadins", se défend un des
responsables de la mairie de Bujumbura, sous couvert d'anonymat.
Aujourd'hui, un seul mouvement rebelle hutu, sur sept au plus fort du
conflit, les Forces nationales de libération (FNL), continue de se battre,
essentiellement dans la province de Bujumbura rural (ouest). Et depuis août
dernier, le pays s'est doté, pour la première fois depuis de la début de la
guerre en 1993, d'un pouvoir élu, dominé par les Hutus.
Dans Bujumbura, il n'est pas rare que la circulation soit bloquée par un
troupeau de vaches. La plupart des bovins se concentrent sur un banc herbeux
d'une centaine de mètres situé entre la ville et le lac Tanganyika, qui
borde Bujumbura. Sur les plages, les baigneurs et les pêcheurs côtoient
régulièrement des vaches, qui fouillent dans les détritus.
Dans certains quartiers, même les plus chics de la capitale, comme celui de
Rohero, des éleveurs ont aussi aménagé illégalement des étables dans les
propriétés de riches notables. Les autorités burundaises ont ordonné aux
éleveurs de conduire leurs vaches dans la localité de Maramvya (15 km au
nord de la capitale), située dans Bujumbura rural, affirme la pétition.
"Le site de Maramvya est caractérisé par l'insécurité, le manque d'eau, il
n'y a pas de pistes d'accès", assure M. Maderi. "Nous sommes prêts à
déménager, mais nous demandons le dialogue, ce que nous ont refusé jusqu'ici
le maire de la ville et les ministres concernés", ajoute-t-il.
L'Onu soutient la presse
(Le Point 28/04/2006)
Une vingtaine de correspondants provinciaux de l'Agence burundaise de presse
(Abp, gouvernementale) viennent de terminer une formation financée par
l'Opération des Nations unies au Burundi (Onub) pour renforcer leurs
capacités et affiner leurs aptitudes à être des "témoins privilégiés du pays
profond", a-t-on appris de source officielle à Bujumbura.
La formation a notamment permis de rafraîchir la mémoire des correspondants
de l'Abp sur le code, l'éthique et la déontologie de la profession
journalistique, lit-on dans un communiqué de presse de l'Onub parvenu hier à
la Pana. Les correspondants de l'Abp se sont également penchés sur leur rôle
dans la bonne gouvernance démocratique, le partenariat entre les médias, la
société civile, les institutions étatiques et les partis politiques.
Cette activité inaugure par ailleurs une longue série d'autres formations en
faveur des médias burundais et s'inscrit globalement dans le droit fil des
efforts de l'Onub visant à permettre à la presse nationale de "conquérir
plus d'espace de liberté, une indépendance et un professionnalisme réels",
indique l'Onub. "Le peuple burundais vient de se doter d'institutions
démocratiquement élues et a plus que jamais besoin d'une presse encore plus
libre et crédible", souligne le communiqué.
A quelques jours seulement de la célébration de la Journée mondiale de la
liberté de la presse, le 3 mai, l'Onub n'a pas manqué d'exhorter au passage
les médias locaux à "une stricte observance de l'éthique et de la
déontologie de leur métier qui
passe par l'exercice conscient et responsable de la profession, le respect
des institutions et du droit des individus". L'Onub exhorte en même temps
les pouvoirs publics à "respecter les droits des journalistes à exercer
librement leur profession".
(Pana)
Un dictateur burundais
honoré par la France et son réseau africain. La CEEAC ne manque pas de
toupet. Le RDC a une mémoire de souris !
L'ancien président burundais désigné chef de la délégation d'observateurs de
la CEEAC lors des élections en RDCongo
KINSHASA, 25 avril (XINHUA) -- L'ancien chef de l'Etat burundais, Pierre
Buyoya, a été désigné chef de la délégation de 20 observateurs de la
Communauté économique des Etats de l'Afrique centrale (CEEAC) lors des
prochaines élections en RDCongo, a annoncé mardi son secrétaire général
adjoint Tiker Tiker.
A l'issue de son entretien à Kinshasa avec le président de la Commission
électorale indépendante (CEI) congolaise, l'abbé Appolinaire Malu Malu, il a
exprimé l'appui de cette organisation sous-régionale au processus électoral
en cours en RDCongo.
M. Tiker a aussi rappelé des missions de la même nature de la CEEAC dans la
sous-région, dont en Centrafrique, au Burundi et au Gabon.
Il a déclaré avoir obtenu beaucoup d'informations auprès de l'abbé Malu Malu
sur les préparatifs pour les premières élections démocratiques depuis 45 ans
en RDCongo.
Sans compter les observateurs nationaux et ceux de la CEEAC, l'Union
européenne (UE) ainsi que la Communauté de développement de l'Afrique
australe (SADC) ont aussi décidé d'envoyer des observateurs en RDCongo pour
ses élections, initialement prévues au 18 juin prochain mais certainement
reportées à cause de la lenteur dans leur organisation.
Le Burundi avait tenu avec succès sa présidentielle en août 2005 et mis fin
à une période de transition politique initiée en 2001. L'histoire moderne de
ce petit pays voisin de la RDCongo est jalonnée de massacres inter-ethniques.
La RDCongo attend pour sa part les élections pour mettre fin à sa transition
initiée en 2003, suite à une guerre dans laquelle plus d'une demi-douzaine
de pays africains s'étaient impliqués, avec quatre millions de morts et 3,5
millions de déplacés.
AGNEWS rend un dernier
hommage à cet Homme plein de coeur ... L' abbé Bukubiyeko.
Un pèlerin burundais franchit l’horizon
umuco.com : mercredi 26 avril 2006.
L’abbé Bukubiyeko est décédé il y a seulement quelques jours, le 18 avril
2006 exactement. Umuco.com lui rend un hommage vibrant. Ici nous retraçons
sa biographie en peu de lignes et en deux parties. Elle pourrait s’écrire en
livres.
L’abbé Bukubiyeko a passé toute sa vie au service des autres
Ière partie
Note : Avec l’aide de Joseph Ntamahungiro pour les éléments biographiques et
extraits d’interview en rapport avec le disparu.
Bruxelles, U.N.A.-Comment parler d’un autre ? Comment violer son intimité ?
On ne sait jamais tout d’un homme, car, comme dirait J.P.Sartre, "on n’entre
pas dans la mort d’un homme comme dans un moulin."Le moulin fait du bruit.
Il n’est pas indifférent. Quand il y a un moulin dans un village, on le
sait. L’abbé Bukubiyeko a vécu comme un moulin, un qui tourne fort. Ce n’est
cependant pas de cette manière qu’il a quitté ce monde un matin d’avril. Il
s’est éteint dans le calme total, entre 10 heures et midi, dans sa paroisse
à Ngozi.
Le plus petit, comme le plus âgé parmi les Burundais connaissent bien le
doyen Bukubiyeko. Les Burundais qui ont vécu en exil au Rwanda se
souviennent bien de lui. Il y a passé vingt ans de sa vie. Au seuil de sa
quarantaine, l’abbé Bukubiyeko quitte le Burundi. Un tout petit peu avant le
génocide Hutu de 1972. Aumônier militaire, il prend l’avion pour des études
en Belgique. C’est peu de temps après son départ que le sang coule à travers
monticules et plaines. Les réfugiés cherchent la paix et le pain dans les
pays voisins.
Du pays des mille collines au pays plat
Rilima. Ce camp recueille les jeunes, certains très jeunes, rescapés du
génocide de l’outre-Kanyaru. Ils sont nombreux à avoir fui leur pays. Des
bienfaiteurs, des pères blancs notamment, les prennent en charge. Quelques
deux ans plus tard, l’abbé Bukubiyeko quitte la Belgique. Direction, Kigali.
Il entre au camp, aide plusieurs Burundais, qui à payer les frais scolaires,
qui, à s’acheter des habits, tant et si bien la plupart sont dans le
dénuement. Il restera au Rwanda, depuis cette époque, jusqu’en 1994, année
où il va au Zaïre (actuelle République démocratique du Congo). A cette
période, l’abbé Bukubiyeko a déjà plus de soixante ans. Les conditions
d’exil et de vie au Zaïre s’avèrent difficiles. La santé décline. C’est la
lutte pour la survie. Il prend l’avion. Destination ? Rome. Un homme très
fatigué, très malade. Il est "passé au peigne fin", du moins sa santé. Petit
à petit, la forme revient. Il se décide alors de s’établir en Belgique, un
pays qu’il connaît très bien. Il y a habité quelques années. Il y a des
connaissances burundaises. L’Eglise catholique, à laquelle il appartient,
l’envoie dans la province de Liège, à Sclessin. Là, dans une paroisse
éloignée, le soixantenaire est seul, tout à fait seul. Sa santé, son
éloignement du pays de sa naissance, rendent difficile la vie de cet homme
respecté de plusieurs Burundais.
Qui était Juvénal Bukubiyeko ?
Retour aux sources
Naissance dans une grande famille le 12 décembre 1932 à Ruguzwe, colline
Mibazi, en commune Muhanga, et jadis province Ngozi, actuellement province
Kayanza. Son père, Setarago, décède en 1940, juste avant son école primaire.
Sa mère, Baranyizigiye, elle, quitte ce monde en 1952. A ce moment, le futur
abbé Bukubiyeko se prépare à entrer au grand séminaire de Burasira.
La grande aventure intellectuelle, il la commence par curiosité. A cette
époque, ce sont les enseignants et autres catéchistes qui parcourent les
collines à la recherche d’enfants à inscrire à l’école. Lui, il n’attendra
pas qu’on le recrute. Il attend que des élèves dûment inscrits soient déjà
en classe pour se présenter derrière celle-ci, par curiosité dira-t-il. Il
veut écouter ce que leur dit leur maître. Un jour, le maître le repère. Il
lui demande de se joindre aux autres. Ainsi commence sa grande aventure
scolaire et académique.
1945, il entre au petit séminaire, qu’il termine en 1952. C’est également
cette année que sa mère tire sa révérence. Période difficile dans sa vie
mais aussi d’engagement. Le jeune Juvénal s’engage à suivre l’éducation que
lui a léguée sa maman. Rentrant à la maison pour ses vacances, il est
accueilli par sa sœur, en larmes. Il ne sait pas que sa chère maman, qui l’a
élevé après la disparition de son père et surtout qui lui a donné une
éducation exemplaire, que ce cher parent est parti. Il refuse d’entrer dans
la maison et exige que sa sœur lui montre sa dernière demeure. Il s’y
recueille.
Juvénal Bukubiyeko termine sa formation de prêtre à la fin des années 1950.
Le 13 avril 1960, il est ordonné par Mgr Joseph Martin, de la Société
missionnaires d’Afrique et évêque de Ngozi.
Jusqu’au début de 1961, il est nommé vicaire à l’évêché de Ngozi et
directeur d’école primaire. Cette même année, il est nommé professeur de
latin et préfet de discipline au petit séminaire St Joseph de Mureke. De
1961 à 1963, il conduit le service du dimanche à la caserne de Ngozi. En
1963, il est nommé curé de la paroisse de Ngozi par le nouvel évêque de ce
diocèse, Mgr Makarakiza, en remplacement de Mgr Joseph Martin, devenu évêque
de Bururi. Voici ce qu’il dit de cette période de grands bouleversements :
"Fin 1968, j’ai eu l’occasion, une heureuse occasion d’accueillir mon nouvel
évêque, Mgr Kaburungu Stanislas. En cette année-la il y a eu la conférence
des évêques à Gitega. Notons qu’avant la nomination de Mgr Makarakiza comme
successeur de Mgr Antoine Grauls, c’était Mgr Gihimbare Gabriel qui devait
remplacer l’archevêque de Gitega parce qu’il était coadjuteur de Mgr Antoine
Grauls. Malheureusement, il avait entre temps été assassiné par des
militaires à Kirundo en province Muyinga le 15 décembre 1964. » Fin Ière
partie
Un pèlerin burundais franchit l’horizon (IIème partie)
umuco.com : mercredi 26 avril 2006.
L’abbé Bukubiyeko a passé toute sa vie au service des autres
IIème partie
Note : Avec l’aide de Joseph Ntamahungiro pour les éléments biographiques et
extraits d’interview en rapport avec le disparu.
Aumônier militaire
Son nom est présenté par l’État-major de l’armée à la conférence des évêques
comme Aumônier de l’armée. La conférence le nomme, mais il refuse dans un
premier temps. Deux éléments motivent son "Non ». L’abbé Nikoyangize
aumônier au camp commando a démissionné d’une part, et Mgr Gihimbare, un
autre aumônier, a, lui, purement et simplement, été assassiné, d’autre part.
Il accepte enfin, non sans exiger la présence de l’évêque Kaburungu et de
l’archevêque à son rendez-vous à l’État-major.
L’abbé Bukubiyeko est envoyé à Bruxelles début 1972, dans la discrétion. Il
dit : " début mars 1972, je recevais une bourse pou la Belgique. Arrivé à
Bujumbura, avant de prendre mon avion, voilà une lettre de l’État-major me
disant qu’il faut attendre. A l’ambassade de Belgique au Burundi, je passe
pour expliquer la lettre de l’état-major. Et de m’entendre dire que de toute
façon, la Belgique m’attend la date fixée. Mais finalement l’ambassadeur et
son conseiller militaire me conseillent de retourner à Gitega et qu’un jour,
on m’avertirait par téléphone. Je partirais de Gitega pour aller directement
à l’aéroport pour prendre la SABENA. » Un beau jour, en fin de journée, il
reçoit le coup de fil de l’ambassade. Départ pour Bujumbura et le lendemain,
c’est le vol vers Bruxelles, comme prévu. Il résidera à l’école royale des
cadets où il s’immergera dans l’univers militaire et sa discipline.
Maintes fois, Bujumbura l’appelle à rentrer après sa formation. Mais des
informations concordantes faisant état de la mort de plusieurs de ses amis,
tués par les mêmes militaires dont il allait diriger les services religieux,
le contraignent à la prudence. Il partira en Afrique mais au Rwanda, où il
s’engage dans le service auprès des réfugiés burundais qui y arrivent en
masse après 1972.
Le Rwanda, pourquoi ?
Ainsi s’exprime l’abbé Bukubiyeko. "A Bukavu, les réfugiés étaient avec le
Père Farcy qui a vraiment beaucoup fait pour les étudiants qui avaient
échappé à la mort. C’était un père et une mère pour eux. En Tanzanie,
j’avais des nouvelles comme quoi la plupart des jeunes étudiants étaient
avec leurs parents. Mais alors, au Rwanda c’était des jeunes étudiants et
étudiantes qui venaient du Burundi spécialement des écoles de Ngozi, de
Muyinga et peut-être même de Gitega. Mais ils étaient seuls ; ils n’avaient
pas leurs parents avec eux. » Voilà résumés en quelques mots la raison qui
le pousse à prendre de Bruxelles l’avion du 5 octobre 1972, en plein
génocide Hutu au Burundi.
Quelque temps après, il se dirige au Bugesera, où vivent la plupart des
réfugiés, des jeunes, qui arrivent du Burundi. Il se résout à être au milieu
d’eux, parmi eux, dans une tente à Rilima, là même où une école «
buissonnière » au sens premier du terme va être organisée, du primaire au
secondaire. C’est ainsi qu’est née le collège de Rilima, qu’ont fréquenté
d’illustres hommes d’état burundais comme Melchior Ndadaye ou Cyprien
Ntaryamira et bien d’autres.
L’abbé Bukubiyeko s’est aussi rendu en Tanzanie, pour plaider en faveur des
réfugiés burundais y résidant. Quelques jeunes ont fait le chemin du Rwanda,
et ont fait également le collège de Rilima.
Avec l’arrivée de plusieurs rescapés grand-séminaristes, l’abbé Bukubiyeko a
beaucoup fait pour ceux-ci, contactant plusieurs autorités de l’Eglise
catholique rwandaise et même de Rome. Neuf grand-séminaristes ont été
envoyés au Zaïre (actuelle République démocratique du Congo).
Il ne s’arrête pas là. Il prend son bâton de pèlerin pour se rendre au
Vatican, en France, en Allemagne et en Suisse. Il décroche une cinquantaine
de bourses d’études pour les finalistes et étudiants burundais du Rwanda. La
plupart partiront à l’Université du Rwanda, à Kinshasa, au Sénégal, et
quelques uns en Allemagne.
Une vie très active
L’abbé Bukubiyeko a passé plus de vingt ans au Rwanda. Il a exercé comme
vicaire à la paroisse de la cathédrale St Michel, aumônier du mouvement
Xavéri et aumônier des étrangers à Kigali, de 1974 à 1978. De 1979 à 1980 il
est curé de la paroisse Shorongi. De 1980 à 1982, il est nommé vicaire et
économe à la paroisse Ste Famille à Kigali et à partir de 1982, il sera
vicaire à la paroisse de Kabuye qu’il ne quittera qu’en 1994, à
l’intensification de la guerre débutée en octobre 1990.
Après quelques années passées en République démocratique du Congo, il s’est
établi en Belgique depuis 1997. Il est retourné au Burundi en 2004 pour
habiter dans une paroisse à Ngozi. Il est mort là où il avait fait ses
"premières armes" de prêtre et d’aumônier militaire. Comme disent les
Burundais, "Intoóre ntíraamba" ou les braves ne vivent pas très longtemps.
Alain Aimé Nyamitwe
DEBUT D'UNE FORMATION HARMONISEE DE SOIXANTE OFFICIERS
SUPERIEURS ISSUS DES EX-MOUVEMENTS REBELLES
Bujumbura, le 25 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Le ministre de la défense nationale et
des anciens combattants, le Général de brigade Germain Niyoyankana a ouvert
une session de formation harmonisée de soixante officiers supérieurs issus
des ex-mouvements rebelles à l'ISCAM, ce lundi 24 avril 2006. Cette
formation des cadres militaires va s'étaler sur douze semaines et sera
assurée par des experts militaires belges. Il faudrait remarquer que la même
formation aurait pu être bénéficiée à tout au plus deux officiers de la
défense nationale au cas où la méthode traditionnelle d'envoi des stagiaires
en Belgique avait été privilégiée et à la place, le gouvernement a préféré
faire venir sur place les experts militaires belges afin de former le plus
grand nombre.
LA LOI BUDGETAIRE DOIT ETRE SUIVIE A LA LETTRE RELEVE LA
COUR DES COMPTES DANS SES RAPPORTS SUR LES EXERCICES 2004-2005
Bujumbura, le 27 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Dans ses rapports pour les
exercices budgétaires 2004 et 2005, la cour des comptes estime que la loi
budgétaire doit être suivie à la lettre, c'est-à-dire que les tableaux des
chiffres doivent comporter des annexes contenant des explications. Le
président de la cour des comptes Dwima Fulgence Bakana a fait savoir qu'il y
a eu un dépassement de 10% dans l'exécution de la loi budgétaire. Par
ailleurs il relève des cas de recrutement qui n'étaient pas prévus dans la
loi budgétaire 2004. Il s'agit d'un recrutement de 711 personnes au
ministère en charge de l'artisanat en 2004, il s'agit des irrégularités
d'après le président de la cour des comptes.
LES TRAVAUX DE REHABILITATION DU SITE DE GASHINYIRA DANS LA
COMMUNE MATANA EN PROVINCE BURURI
Bujumbura, le 27 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-Le ministre de l'éducation
nationale et de la culture monsieur Saidi Kibeya a lancé officiellement ce
mardi 25 avril 2006 les travaux de réhabilitation du site historique de
Gashinyira dans la commune Matana en province Bururi. Les travaux de
réhabilitation du site historique de Gashinyira ont été financés par
l'UNESCO avec une enveloppe américaine de vingt quatre mille dollars
américains soit près de vingt cinq millions de francs burundais. Il faudrait
signaler que le site de Gashinyira serait l'endroit où le premier roi du
Burundi, Ntare Rugamba aurait vu le jour et dirigeait le Burundi à partir de
site où se trouve toujours un tableau de jeu d'échec traditionnel dénommé
"URUBUGU" taillé dans la pierre et qui occupait le roi dans ses heures de
repos et servait d'entraînement à la stratégie.
LA DEUXIEME VICE-PRESIDENTE LANCE LES TRAVAUX DU FORUM
NATIONAL SUR LE SPORT AU BURUNDI
Bujumbura, le 25 Avril 2006 (RTNB)-La deuxième vice-présidente du
Burundi madame Alice Nzomukunda a présidé le 24 avril 2006 au chef-lieu de
la province Gitega, les travaux du forum national sur le sport. Toutes les
personnes impliquées par cette question participent à cette rencontre qui va
durer trois jours. En effet au terme de ce forum le ministère en charge des
sports va présenter un guide en matière des sports qui va aider le
gouvernement à élaborer une politique nationale y relative dans toutes les
disciplines sportives.
RWANDA
Rwandan held
on war crimes charges denied bail Alleged to have masterminded genocide
SUE MONTGOMERY, The Gazette
Friday, April 28, 2006
smontgomery@thegazette.canwest.com
Desire Munyaneza shook his head in disbelief and his wife sobbed as a judge
decided yesterday he'd have to stay locked up until his trial for the role
he is alleged to have played in Rwanda's genocide 12 years ago.
Superior Court Justice Andre Denis cited the severity of the charges in
denying bail to Munyaneza, 38, the first person accused in Canada under the
Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act passed in 2000.
Denis placed a publication ban on the details of his decision.
The parties are to return to court May 26 to hear an application for a
commission of inquiry to travel to the central African country.
Munyaneza, a wealthy member of Rwanda's Hutu tribe, is alleged to have
masterminded the 1994 bloodbath in his homeland.
He was arrested last fall in Toronto, where he had been living with his wife
and two children. He was transported to Montreal, where he will eventually
stand trial.
He faces seven counts: two of genocide, two of crimes against humanity and
three of war crimes - all of which carry a life sentence in prison.
Munyaneza is accused of participating in "intentional murder," psychological
terror, physical attacks, sexual violence and pillaging - all with the
purpose of wiping out the Tutsis, according to the indictment.
Jean-Paul Nyilinkwaya, a member of a Montreal group that seeks to expose
escaped perpetrators of the genocide, said the fact bail was denied sends a
strong message that the Canadian justice system is taking the charges
seriously.
The crimes Munyaneza is alleged to have committed occurred between April 1
and July 31 of 1994 in the southern province of Butare, near the border of
Burundi.
The ethnic conflict saw 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus massacred, mainly
by Hutus.
Rwanda: Kagame
invited for Museveni swearing-in
Source: Newtimes April 28, 2006 By Andnetwork .com
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is among 30 Heads of State invited to attend
the swearing-in ceremony of the Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni, slated for
May 12.
Kampala authorities have said that save for only three of the invited Heads
of State, others are leaders of African countries. “Of course, we have
invited President Kagame. Rwanda is our neighbour. We share a very warm
relationship with them. He therefore must be invited for such an event,” the
Information Minister, James Nsaba Buturo said on Thursday, April 27, at a
Government press briefing.
The Ceremonial Grounds at Kololo have been identified as the official venue
for the both the swearing-in and inauguration celebrations. The State
leaders will attend both ceremonies at their convenience.
The government has disclosed that it will spend between US$16 million and
US$27million on the guests, in a city where most facilities are currently
under construction and renovation in preparation for next year’s
Commonwealth Summit.
Museveni, who was elected President on February 23, 2006, for a five-year
term, stood on an NRM ticket and won with 59% against his close arch-rival,
the Forum for Democratic Change president, Col. (Rtd) Kizza Besigye who got
37% of the vote.
After the swearing-in, the country is expected to start on its course under
a multi-party system of governance after 20 years of the Movement system.
According to the press release, the NRM government has also sent invitations
to opposition leaders, local, national and international leaders.
“Invitations will go to a variety of people who will include leaders of
political parties that are registered. Others who will be invited include
local, national as well as international leaders,” the government press
statement indicated.
After the swearing-in ceremony, national prayers will be held in various
corners of the country, Buturo said.
“In the week preceding the swearing-in and inauguration day, prayers will be
held in various places of worship. This will be one way for Ugandans to
acknowledge the centrality of God in our daily lives. It will also be a way
to express gratitude to the Creator for taking us through the transition
period. Finally, it will be a way to ask God to bless Uganda in the years to
come,” Buturo further divulged.
UGANDA
Uganda: 30 presidents to attend Museveni swearing-in
April 28, 2006 Source: Newtimes By Andnetwork .com
Thirty heads of State and government are to attend the swearing-in and
inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for his next term of
office on May 12, 2006.
Information state minister Nsaba Buturo told journalists yesterday that the
leaders to attend the ceremonies at Kololo Ceremonial Ground had been
invited.
He said leaders of registered political parties in Uganda had also been
invited.
The minister said during the government weekly press briefing that in the
week preceding the ceremonies, prayers would be held in different places of
worship.
“This will be one way of Ugandans to acknowledge the centrality of God in
our daily lives,” Buturo said. “It will also express gratitude to the
Creator for taking us through the transition period. Finally, it will be a
way to ask God to bless Uganda in the years to come,” he said.
Buturo attacked The Monitor newspaper for saying sh50b was used on
Museveni’s re-election. He said the article was intended to show that
Museveni and the NRM used taxpayers’ money.
He said The Daily Monitor’s intentions were betrayed by “their
tongue-in-cheek” assertion that the money could have been used on health,
education and transport sectors.
The New Vision and Daily Monitor quoted Ssezi Cheeye, the ISO chief for
economic monitoring, as saying the media failed to report on the
commercialisation of politics. Giving a breakdown of the Movement
expenditure over the last three presidential elections, Cheeye said it spent
sh50b in the February 23, 2006 elections.
He said private funds were used by the NRM and the source would be revealed
at the right time.
“Private funds were secured to run the campaigns of the NRM party and the
re-election of the President. The same funds were never meant for spending
on government programmes,” he said.
Buturo criticised FDC over what he called attempts to decampaign the
Commonwealth Summit scheduled for November 2007. “It has become one of the
defining issues between the Movement government and the FDC.
“This subject won’t go away because of the conduct as well as attitude of
the leadership of FDC towards this historic event,” Buturo said.
He said the FDC had vowed to use the Commonwealth Summit to “vent their
anger and frustration” allegedly because of the leadership of Museveni.
UGANDA-SUDAN: Repatriation of refugees to start next week
28 Apr 2006 Source: IRIN
KAMPALA, 28 April (IRIN) - The voluntary repatriation of southern Sudanese
refugees who have lived in neighbouring Uganda for decades will begin next
week, thanks to better security in the region, the United Nations refugee
agency (UNHCR) said on Thursday.
Security in Sudan has improved, following the signing in 2005 of a peace
agreement between the Khartoum-based government and the former rebels of the
Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in the south, which ended
two decades of civil war. The SPLM is now a partner in Sudan's government of
national unity and administers southern Sudan.
The first UNHCR-assisted returns, scheduled to start earlier this month,
were put on hold after two attacks on UN compounds in southern Sudan in
March by suspected elements of the Ugandan rebel group, the Lord's
Resistance Army. "The security situation in the areas where UNHCR is
repatriating have been assessed as being safe," said Roberta Russo, the
agency's spokeswoman in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
UNHCR estimated that up to 10,000 Sudanese would be repatriated from Uganda
this year, beginning with 160 refugees who would return to the Kajo Keji
area - near the border between the two countries - on 2 May. UNHCR said they
decided to return following a recent visit to Uganda by a Sudanese
delegation from Kajo Keji County. The visit gave the refugees a chance to
ask delegates questions about what to expect in their homeland and raise
concerns. It enabled them to make voluntary and informed decisions about
returning, Russo said.
"For many of the refugees, the moment to return cannot come soon enough, but
others are cautious and are waiting to hear what the people on the
go-and-see visit report," said Russo.
Uganda hosts at least 170,000 registered Sudanese refugees. A large-scale
return became possible earlier this month when UNHCR finalised a tripartite
agreement with Sudan and Uganda on repatriation. Up to 27,000 refugees have
registered to return from Uganda, but many are from areas that are still
unsafe, Russo said. About 40 percent of the refugees were born in Uganda,
where Ugandan authorities have given them plots of land to cultivate. UNHCR
and other relief agencies have provided basic services such as health,
education and water.
There are an estimated 613,000 southern Sudanese refugees around the world,
and some 4.5 million people are displaced within Sudan.
TANZANIE:
British firm
signs $71bn oil exploration agreement with Tanzania
April 28, 2006 Source : IPP Media By Andnetwork .com
Tanzania signed a $71bn plus agreement with a foreign contractor, Dominion
Oil and Gas Limited of Britain to prospect for oil in the Selous basin
Dominion, is expected to spend over US$71 million in the next 11 years in
the exploration for oil, which has peaked in demand as a result of the
political instability in the Middle East where most of the world’s petroleum
comes from.
Energy and Minerals Minister Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, signed the agreement for
the government at a ceremony held in Dar es Salaam.
Managing Director of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC)
Yona Killagane and the Chief Executive of Dominion, Michael Garland, were
also present.
Dr Msabaha said the production-sharing agreement is expected to come in
force when the dry season sets in later in the year, after a study of
existing data in the exploration area.
’In the initial four year period, the contractor will spend over US$27
million to drill one well and acquire 500 line kilometres of seismic data,’
he said.
He said during the first phase in the initial four years, the contractor
would spend about US$30 million to sink two wells and acquire 300 line
kilometres of seismic data.
It added: ’In the second phase that will take three years, the contractor
would spend over US$14 million to drill one well for seismic data.’
Among the benefits of the agreement will be the creation of skilled and
non-skilled jobs, capacity building, acquisition of new geological and
geophysical data and discovery of oil or gas.
Dr Msabaha also said the Selous basin is still a virgin area that was first
explored for petroleum by Shell International in the early 1980s.
’The signing of the agreement brings to eleven the number of firms
prospecting for oil in the country along the coast and offshore in the
Indian Ocean.
The other companies involved in oil exploration (respective areas in
brackets) are: Petrobras of Brazil (Block 5, east of Mafia island), Ophir
Energy Company of Australia (Block 1, east Mtwara), Ndovu Resources of
Australia
(Ruvuma basin-Mtwara and Lindi regions), Nyuni, east of Songo Songo) and
Artumas Group Inc of Canada (Mnazi Bay gas).
The rest are Maurel and Prom of France (Bigwa and Mafia channel), Antrim
Resources of Canada (Pemba and Zanzibar) and Panafrican Energy (Songo Songo
Development block).
Tanzania: Lake
Tanganyika granted billions
April 28, 2006 Source: IPP Media By Andnetwork .com
African Development Bank (ADB) and Tanzanian government has put money in the
Lake Tanganyika project implementation.
The five-year project is aimed at improving fishing activities and
environment around the Lake.
"It is going to focus mainly on the collection of accurate data, research
studies and analysing fishing harvests and general activities," according to
the ministry official.
Marwa said improvement of infrastructures in areas surrounding the Lake,
health and water facilities and services in collaboration with communities,
would be key priorities in the project’s implementation.
The official was introducing the project to fishing stakeholders from Rukwa
and Kigoma at a one-day workshop held in Kigoma.
Partner countries where the project will be carried out include the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Zambia and Tanzania.
CONGO RDC
:
Ugandan gov't
denies sending troops to Congo
Xinhua 28 apr. 06
KAMPALA, Apr 28, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Ugandan government has
denied allegation by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) that Ugandan troops intruded into its territory from southern Sudan on
Wednesday night.
Okello Oryem, Uganda's Minister of State for International Affairs told
Xinhua by telephone on Friday that the Ugandan troops did not cross the
Sudan border to DRC.
"I can categorically tell you that our forces did not cross to DRC. This is
propaganda intended to create animosity between the two friendly countries,"
said Oryem
He said Uganda is interested in seeing a democratizing DRC and not to
destabilize it.
"Those giving this information do not want to see DRC go through a smooth
transition process. But for us we are ready to support the DRC," he added.
The DRC is slated to hold its general election in June this year after a
period of over 40 years.
However it on Thursday lodged a protest against the Ugandan government after
Ugandan troops allegedly entered the country in pursuit of rebels of the
Lord's Resistance Army from southern Sudan.
According to a DRC statement, about a company of Ugandan soldiers, riding in
two vehicles armed with cannons, crossed into the remote northeast DRC
region of Adau, 17 km from the border with Sudan. It said the Ugandan
soldiers clashed with the DRC army.
"During the clash, one Ugandan soldier was killed and the rest of Ugandan
soldiers then retreated back towards the border with Sudan," said the
statement.
The Ugandan army spokesman Felix Kulaigye dismissed the allegations saying
none of the Ugandan People's Defense soldiers in southern Sudan crossed to
DRC.
Ugandan troops are currently carrying out joint operations with the Sudanese
People's Liberation Army against the LRA in southern Sudan. The LRA had
crossed to the neighboring DRC following the intensified operations.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said Uganda would not hesitate to send
troops into DRC if the Congolese government and the UN do not handle the LRA
rebels who are hiding in Garamba National Park.
Uganda's Minister of Defense Amama Mbabazi also proposed to the UN Security
Council to allow Ugandan troops to pursue the rebels in DRC.
The LRA has waged a 20-year-old rebellion against the Ugandan government,
leaving tens of thousands of people dead and over 1.4 million people living
in internally displaced persons camps.
Ugandan troops entered DRC in 1998 to fight the Allied Democratic Forces, a
rebel group fighting the Ugandan government but ended up involving
themselves into local conflicts aimed at toppling the Kinshasa government.
Uganda later withdrew her troops from the vast central African country in
2003. The DRC also sued the Ugandan government for compensation, of which
the sum has not been agreed on.
DR Congo
angered by Uganda 'raid'
BBC News 28 apr. 06
The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Ugandan troops of illegally
crossing onto its territory - charges denied by the Ugandan army.
DR Congo said one Ugandan soldier had been killed after clashing with
Congolese soldiers in pursuit of Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army rebels.
Earlier this month, Uganda asked for permission to pursue the notorious LRA
rebels in DR Congo.
Uganda withdrew its troops from DR Congo under a 2002 peace deal.
Last year, the World Court ordered Uganda to pay compensation for looting DR
Congo's resources during the five year conflict, which involved several
African armies.
Uganda and Rwanda tried to topple the DR Congo government.
'Not true'
A statement from DR Congo's foreign ministry said that a company (about 120
men) of Ugandan soldiers had crossed the border in vehicles equipped with
canons.
"A note of protest has been handed to the embassy of Uganda in Kinshasa," a
statement said.
Ugandan army spokesman Maj Felix Kulaigye denied the Congolese accusations.
"It is not true that our troops entered DRC," he said.
DR Congo is due to hold its first multi-party elections in 40 years later
this year - to elect a government to rebuild the country after years of
conflict and mismanagement.
Parts of the east remain volatile and armed groups from Burundi, Rwanda and
Uganda, as well as locals, continue to roam, killing, raping and looting.
The LRA has been waging a war with no clear agenda against Uganda's
government for 20 years.
Their fighters have been active in northern Uganda, southern Sudan and more
recently eastern DR Congo.
The conflict has gained notoriety for the LRA's massacres and its tactic of
kidnapping children for use as soldiers and sex slaves.
DRC-UGANDA:
Kinshasa protests troops incursion, Kampala denies claim
KINSHASA, 28 April (IRIN) - The Democratic Republic of Congo has protested
to Uganda against its army's incursion into northeastern Congo in the
so-called pursuit of Ugandan rebels, the Congolese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said on Friday.
"A note of protest has been handed to the Embassy of Uganda in Kinshasa,"
the ministry said in a communiqué.
The ministry said the note condemned what it said was fighting between
Ugandan and Congolese troops on Wednesday southeast of Aba, in Orientale
Province. One Ugandan soldier was killed during the fighting, the Congolese
ministry said.
The ministry said the Ugandan troops, at about company strength, arrived
aboard two vehicles mounted with Mi 50 cannons and headed toward Kengezi
Base, in Orientale, close to the border between the Congo and Sudan.
The Ugandan Embassy in Kinshasa would not confirm whether or not it had
received the protest note. In Kampala, the acting permanent secretary in the
Ugandan Foreign Ministry, Julius Onen, said it had not yet received the
complaint.
However, Ugandan Army spokesman Maj Felix Kulaigye denied the Congolese
accusation.
"It is not true that our troops entered DRC," he said on Friday.
Rather, he added, a squad of Sudan People's Liberation Army troops had
pursued armed Congolese who had abducted people from southern Sudan. He said
tracks of the raiders led to a Congolese army defence line in Aba.
"We do not know whether these were LRA or Congolese army," he said.
He said the Ugandan army had received information that "armed people raided"
the areas of Lasu in southern Sudan and abducted people.
The SPLA was not immediately available for comment.
WFP-chartered
plane goes missing in eastern Congo
NAIROBI, April 28 (Reuters) - A light plane chartered by the
World Food Programme (WFP), with three people on board, has gone missing in
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the agency said on Friday.
The plane was flying from Goma, a town close to the Rwandan border, to Bunia.
"The plane, with two crew members and one passenger (the spouse of one of
the pilots) lost contact earlier this morning, prompting a search and rescue
operation in the area," WFP said in a statement released in Nairobi.
It said the plane had not been sighted and the search, coordinated through
the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in Congo would resume on Saturday.
WFP said the was operated by King Air Charter Services.
DRC: EU appoints
commanders for Congo force
NAIROBI, 28 April (IRIN) - The
Council of the European Union has appointed two commanders and adopted a
"Joint Action" on its military operation to support the UN Mission in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during general elections scheduled to be
held later this year.
"The EU is determined to support the electoral process and the Congolese
people at this historic juncture," Javier Solana, the EU High Representative
said in a statement issued on Thursday. "Today's decision, which follows the
authorisation of the EU operation by the Security Council, further confirms
that this operation is well on track. Support now will help embed peace in
the DRC and the region after years of conflict."
The EU appointed Maj-Gen Karlheinz Viereck of Germany the operations
commander for the reserve force, known as Eufor R.D. Congo; and Maj-Gen
Christian Damay of France as force commander. Prior to his appointment,
Viereck was the deputy commander, Bundeswehr Operations Command, Potsdam,
Germany, which is also home to the EU
operational command.
The appointments follow the passing
of a resolution by the UN Security Council on Tuesday, endorsing the
deployment of the EU troops. The force will be deployed for a period ending
four months after the date of the first round of the forthcoming general
elections. It is due to deploy and advance element of 400-450 military
personnel to Kinshasa, the Congolese capital.
The force will also have a battalion of troops "on-call", the EU said, which
would be based outside the DRC "but quickly deployable if necessary". It
said the decision on the launching of the operation would be adopted "at a
later stage and in the light of the electoral calendar in the DRC".
Viereck and Damay will work in close coordination with the UN
Secretary-General as well as with the EU high representative to the Great
Lakes region.
The EU troops are mandated to support the UN Mission in the DRC, known as
MONUC, to stabilise the situation in case MONUC faces serious difficulties
in fulfilling its mandate within its existing capabilities. The EU troops
are also to contribute to the protection of civilians under imminent threat
of physical violence in the areas of its deployment. The EU force is also
charged with contributing to airport protection in Kinshasa; and to ensure
the security and freedom of movement of its personnel as well as the
protection of its installations.
The EU said its military operation would be conducted in agreement with
Congolese authorities and in close coordination with them and MONUC. It
would be conducted in the framework of the European Security and Defence
Policy, the EU said. The troops will operate in accordance with the
objectives of EU support to MONUC as approved by the Security Council on 23
March.
The EU put the cost of the EU force for the four-month period at 16.7
million euros (US $20.9 million).
The EU said it had, in recent years, intensified its efforts to facilitate a
successful transition in the DRC, on the basis of a peace agreement signed
in Pretoria in 2002.
DRC: Preparations begin for IDP registration in
Katanga province
Date: 28 Apr 2006
Source: United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
This is a summary of what was
said by UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond – to whom quoted text may be
attributed – at the press briefing, on 28 April 2006, at the Palais des
Nations in Geneva.
UNHCR has begun preparations for the registration next week of thousands of
internally displaced persons in the conflict ravaged Katanga province of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The registration exercise, carried
out in cooperation with MSF-Belgium, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday in the
Mitwaba area of Katanga, and our teams are already in the region laying the
groundwork.
An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in
several villages in the Mitwaba area, and between 50 and 100 more displaced
are arriving every day after fleeing their villages earlier this year to
escape attacks, harassment and abuse by the Mayi-Mayi militia and government
soldiers. UNHCR staff report that many of the new arrivals, after hiding for
weeks in the bush, are in a terrible state, with few or no belongings and
malnourished. Many are in a state of complete exhaustion and are suffering
skin diseases.
A relative improvement in the security situation in recent weeks allowed
them to come in from the bush to seek help at Mitwaba. Many walked 30 to 60
kilometres before reaching the area. In all, an estimated 170,000 Congolese
have been displaced over the past six months in the Katanga province due to
fighting between government forces and Mayi-Mayi militia. The exact scale of
the humanitarian crisis is difficult to assess, as the situation in Katanga
is characterized by fragile security and an absence of passable roads across
the vast savannah-type landscape.
Civilians are not only displaced, but face serious harassment and abuse by
both sides. The abuse includes rape of women and children, looting and
destruction of villages.
Once the Mitwaba registration is complete in about two weeks, we are
planning to extend the registration to other IDP sites elsewhere in Katanga
province. Many of them can only be reached by plane or helicopter. Parallel
to the registration, NGOs and UN agencies are delivering aid to the IDPs,
including MSF, UNICEF and WFP, which is air-dropping food rations to major
IDP sites. But the current humanitarian assistance is far from enough.
An estimated 1.6 million Congolese are internally displaced, while some
420,000 remain in asylum as refugees in other countries.
Mozambique:
DRC Resumes Use of Beira Port
Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)
April 28, 2006
Maputo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) imported and exported, last year,
8,923 tonnes of assorted products through the central Mozambican port of
Beira, after many years of interruption due to the war in the Great Lakes
region, reports Friday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias".
But the vast bulk of Congolese exports (over 8,600 tonnes) consisted of
scrap metal.
The head of marketing of the Dutch-owned company Cornelder de Mocambique,
which is managing Beira port, Felix Machado, said that resumption of the use
of the port by the DRC was one of the factors leading to an increase of
about 12 per in the amount of cargo handled by the port in 2005.
He said that in 2005 Beira handled slightly more than 1.5 million tonnes of
goods, compared with about 1.4 million tonnes in 2004.
The net profit made by the port more than doubled, rising from 2.9 to 5.9
million US dollars.
Machado lamented the constraints the port faces. Its main customer should be
Zimbabwe, but trade to and from Zimbabwe is nowhere near the desired levels,
thanks to the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy, and Zimbabwe's desperate
shortage of foreign currency.
Furthermore, the technical conditions of the access channel (which must be
constantly dredged) do not allow very large ships to enter Beira.
Machado also complained of red tape in the customs services and the poor
quality of roads in the province, that pose difficulties in the transport of
goods to and from the port.
Beira is currently operating at only 50 per cent of its capacity. Among the
hopeful signs are significant increases in Zambian and Malawian use of the
port. Zambia has overtaken Zimbabwe as the main user of Beira: in 2005
601,815 tonnes of Zambian traffic moved through the port, and only 526,506
tonnes of Zimbabwean imports and exports.
Malawian trade accounted for 455,908 tonnes.
KENYA :
Kenya asks China not to block Africa-US AGOA
deal
Fri Apr 28, 2006
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya on Friday requested China to lift its opposition
to a preferential trade deal between African textile producers and the
United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Under AGOA, enacted in 2000, some African exports including textiles and
garments have duty- and quota-free access to the U.S. market, a major
destination for the Chinese clothing industry.
"On behalf of African trade ministers, I have conveyed a request that China
withdraws its opposition to the approval of AGOA to go beyond 2008," Kenyan
Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi, who is the chairman of African Union trade
ministers group, told journalists after meeting China's Commerce Minister,
Bo Xilai.
Bo is accompanying Chinese President Hu Jintao who is in Kenya for talks on
aid and investment and has signed bilateral deals with his Kenyan
counterpart, President Mwai Kibaki.
"The U.S. has applied at WTO (World Trade Organisation) for a waiver to
allow African countries to continue enjoying preferences under AGOA, because
all preference schemes must get WTO concurrence," Kituyi added.
"And on the issue of AGOA the only country that was standing in the way was
China."
The WTO agreed to a waiver that made room for the AGOA deal.
The waiver expires in 2008. The U.S. Congress has agreed to extend the trade
benefits to 2015 but an extension of the WTO waiver is needed to make it
possible.
Kituyi said that the total amount of textiles sold by 38 African countries
to the US were less than 2 percent of the total Chinese textile exports
there.
Lesotho, Kenya and Madagascar are leading African exporters of clothing to
the U.S. market under AGOA.
The preferential trade scheme covers 6,000 products including oil and cars.
Other products that have found their way into the U.S. under the deal
include pyrethrum from Rwanda, fruits and nuts from Malawi, processed fruit
products from Swaziland, footwear from Mauritius, basketry and wickerwork
from Madagascar.
China signs oil exploration deal in Kenya
Reuters 28/04/2006
NAIROBI - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday wrapped up a world shopping
trip for oil supplies to fuel his booming economy by concluding an offshore
exploration deal with Kenya.
The deal was one of a clutch of bilateral agreements signed at the end of
the five-nation tour, which has cemented Beijing’s economic and political
clout, especially in Africa where it seeks raw materials to feed its economy.
The pact allows China’s state-controlled CNOOC Ltd to explore in six blocks
covering 115,343 sq km in the north and south of Kenya, which produces no
oil but has attracted foreign companies sniffing after possible reserves.
"If they discover oil we will go into production sharing agreements,"
Kenya’s acting energy minister Henry Obwocha told Reuters, saying Chinese
exploration would start soon.
The exploration agreement covers 20 years, he said, giving no financial
value for the deal.
The other China-Kenya deals, which came two days after Beijing struck a $4bn
deal for drilling licences in Nigeria, included grants for economic and
technical cooperation, anti-malarial medicine and rice.
Hu’s delegation also agreed to maintain a Chinese-built sports stadium, help
carry out a feasibility study into revamping Nairobi’s potholed roads and
patchy street-lighting, as well as providing exchange programmes for Kenyan
students.
For its part, Kenya, which backs Beijing’s sovereignty over all of China,
said it would oppose the island of Taiwan if it declared independence from
the mainland.
"The Kenyan government expressed its opposition to ’Taiwan independence’ in
any form and expressed its support for China’s efforts to realise national
reunification," Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju said, reading a joint
communique.
Kenya and other African countries are eager for investment from China, which
offers aid without demands for good governance, unlike Western donors.
Hu reiterated China’s stance of non-intervention in other countries, which
critics say allows Beijing to turn a blind eye to human rights abuses,
corruption and political repression.
"We pursue a policy and ... the principle of non-interference in others’
internal affairs," Hu told reporters.
Last year, China handed Kenya $36,51m in aid, mainly to modernise its
state-run power firm.
China’s offer of "no strings" aid may be welcomed in the east African
country, under Western pressure to tackle rampant corruption. But critics
say a flood of cheap Chinese imports is the price Kenyans pay for Beijing’s
"good will".
"We want the trade between us to grow," Trade and Industry Minister Mukhisa
Kituyi told reporters. "But we want to see more ’made in Kenya’ available in
China," he said, urging China to drop its opposition to a preferential trade
deal between African textile producers and the US.
China’s exports to Kenya were worth $457 million in 2005, a 31% increase on
the previous year, while imports from Kenya rose only 4% to $17,6m.
Kenyan businessmen say this huge imbalance could be offset if China would
use its expertise to help foster domestic industry and encourage its
expanding middle class to visit Kenya’s scenic game parks and beaches.
"If we could only attract 1% of the Chinese population to travel to Kenya as
tourists, imagine the huge amounts to be earned in foreign currency," one
commentator, George Mutua, wrote in the Daily Nation.
Kenya was the final stop of a tour that has taken Hu to the US, Saudi Arabia,
Morocco and Nigeria.
ANGOLA :
ANGOLA: Cholera epidemic - NGO warns worst is yet to come
LUANDA, 28 April (IRIN) - Describing the cholera outbreak in
Angola a "national emergency", an international humanitarian NGO has warned
the government that the worst is yet to come.
"There are now over 20,000 cases and 941 deaths," said Richard Veerman, head
of the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) mission in Angola. "Today we have not
yet reached the peak of this epidemic. Even based on conservative estimates,
the toll of this epidemic will be extremely high. The number of cases at
least will double and we will try and contain the deaths. We have told the
government to prepare for the worst."
Ten weeks after the first case of cholera was confirmed in the capital,
Luanda, it has spread throughout the country, from the coastal urban centre
of Benguela to interior provinces such as Malange. MSF have upgraded the
outbreak to an "epidemic".
Tuesday saw the highest daily toll to date, with 929 new cases and 25 deaths.
Last week, MSF saw an average of 30 newly infected people and a death every
hour. In one of MSF's treatment centres in Luanda alone, 240 new patients
came in over a 24-hour period.
"By all measures, this outbreak is out of control," said Luis Encinas, MSF
emergency coordinator for the cholera outbreak.
Earlier this year Angolan health minister Sabastiao Veloso had said that the
outbreak was under control. But recent rains have exacerbated the situation,
said a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) official earlier this month.
Overcrowding and appalling sanitation are exacerbating the outbreak in the
informal townships or 'musseques', mainly inhabited by internally displaced
persons who fled the devastating 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.
Cholera is a waterborne disease, associated with poor sanitation and lack of
access to potable water.
This is the first outbreak in Luanda in over a decade. Angola's interior
areas have not recorded cholera for an even longer period, as people rarely
travelled internally during the war.
Angola, sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer after Nigeria, is
currently in the middle of a reconstruction boom fuelled by high oil prices.
But ironically, as the government tries to rehabilitate infrastructure it
also helps the disease to spread faster.
"During the war cholera never moved out of Luanda," said Veerman. "But now
there are roads [and] people are moving. The disease is following the best
roads."
Sonangol sees Angola oil output at 2 mln bpd by 2007
Fri Apr 28, 2006 LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola is on track to boost
oil output by more than 40 percent to two million barrels per day (bpd) by
the end of 2007 -- earlier than expected, state-run oil company Sonangol
said on Friday.
The company confirmed statements on Wednesday from National Director of
Petroleum Amadeu Azevedo who revealed the new output figures and start-up
target for the country's oil production, now running at 1.4 million bpd.
Azevedo said the new prediction, bringing the target forward from 2008, was
due to progress at Sonangol's lucrative offshore Girassol field using
advanced ultra-deep-water technology.
France's Total operates the Girassol field with a 40 percent stake. Other
equity holders are Exxon Mobil, BP, Statoil and Norsk Hydro.
Angola is sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer, after Nigeria,
and an important supplier to the United States.
The country in February became China's number one oil supplier, dislodging
Middle Eastern giant Saudi Arabia, according to Chinese government figures.
Angola: Mining Exhibition to Awaken Local Businesses
Angola Press Agency (Luanda) April 27, 2006
The chairman of Angola's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIA), António
dos Santos, said Thursday in Luanda that the International Exhibition Fair
is an opportunity to awaken local businesses to this sector of the country's
economic activity.
Speaking to Angop, the source highlighted the importance of the event to the
country's business sector explored by nationals.
He said the display constitutes an opportunity to the county's businesses to
exchange experience with foreign partners.
The first edition of the mining exhibition that started Sunday is being
attended by firms in the area of exploration and trade of diamonds,
ornamental rocks, construction materials, basic metals, jewellery and
equipments.
Angola: Public Administration Minister On Work Market Competitiveness
April 28, 2006 Source: Angola Press By Andnetwork .com
Angola`s minister of Public Administration, Employment and Social Security,
Pitra Neto, on Thursday in Luanda, said that it is necessary the
articulation of his institution with rural and urban schools and offer
professional training to all, in order to elevate the productivity and
competitiveness in work market.
Pitra Neto, was speaking at a talk held in the ambit of the colloquy on jobs
in Angola, that the Public Administration, Employment and Social Security
Minister is carrying out until Friday.
"This articulation will be fundamental, because after then there will be
noticed quality of workmanship in the work market, changing the current
situation and seek for a qualified national work-force in 70 percent", he
stressed.
On the other hand, he also considered as necessary the continuous training
of those who are already employed in order to keep the quality of services
and to fight sub-employment.
CONGO REPUBLIC : Foreign minister tours Angola
April 28, 2006 By Andnetwork .com Source : ANGOP
The Congolese foreign minister, Rodolphe Adada, arrived Thursday evening in
Luanda to discuss with Angolan authorities issues related to bilateral
cooperation.
Rodolphe Adada, who is still to speak to the local press, has come to Luanda
in his capacity as special envoy of the Congolese president, Denis Sassou
Nguessou, who is currently in charge of the African Union.
The Congolese diplomat will leave Angola on Friday, after meeting with his
local counterpart, João Bernardo de Miranda.
A diplomatic source told Angop that the two ministers will review some
documents being currently discussed within the African Union, including the
conflicts in Darfur (Sudan) and Chad and the elections in the Democratic
Republic of Congo and the situation prevailing in Côte d`Ivore.
AFRIQUE DU SUD :
South Africa: Massive Social Grant Fraud Uncovered
Business Day (Johannesburg) April 28, 2006
Business Day Reporter with Sapa
Johannesburg
MORE than 35000 new cases of social grant fraud have been uncovered, the
social development department said yesterday.
"We have collected the details of more than 35420 cases of allegations of
social grant fraud committed by members of the public," Social Development
Minister Zola Skweyiya said.
He said the crimes, which cover a period spanning two years, had come to
light through tip-offs to the department's national fraud hotline.
Last year more than 12000 public servants were found to be receiving social
grants for which they were not eligible.
Out of these, more than 750 were successfully prosecuted. More than 2120
officials signed acknowledgements of debt and investigations against the
others are continuing and cases are pending in courts.
"Government now provides social grants to more than 11-million people. The
social security budget will exceed R57bn this year and it is important that
we pay the right grant amount to the right person," Skweyiya said.
The social development department recently created the Social Security
Agency in response to massive fraud uncovered in the past two years.
The new agency has been operating for a month, paying social grants to
beneficiaries in three provinces.
At the launch of the agency, which is currently only operational in Gauteng,
Western Cape, and Northern Cape, Skweyiya said the Special Investigating
Unit had removed more than 130000 fraudulent grant recipients from the
grants register, and saved SA about R4,5bn.
AFRIQUE
/ U A :
Hard days for the media in Africa
BY LAURIE GOERING
Fri, Apr. 28, 2006 Chicago Tribune
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - When opposition leader Mwai Kibaki swept to
power in Kenya in 2002, ending 2 1/2 decades of corrupt one-party rule under
President Daniel arap Moi, he promised a new era of cleaner government,
stronger democratic institutions and greater freedom for the media.
It was a promise echoed around Africa, where "it was assumed when the era of
the one-party state ended, you'd have a flourishing free press," said
Charles Onyango-Obbo, an exiled Ugandan journalist now working at The
Nation, one of Kenya's leading papers.
But in Kenya, and elsewhere in Africa, new democracies are proving to be no
friend of the media.
In March, masked police officers carrying assault rifles staged a late-night
raid on the offices of Kenya's independent Standard newspaper, vandalizing
equipment and burning 20,000 copies of the paper. In another raid, on an
independent television station, police detained staffers, walked off with 40
computer hard drives and took the station off the air for half a day.
Government officials said the raids had been carried out to protect "state
security," and they accused the paper and television station of planning to
carry reports designed to provoke ethnic unrest.
But the operations came on the heels of a report by the country's exiled
