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IRIN Update No. 345 for Central and Eastern Africa (Saturday-Monday 31 January-2 February 1998)
SUDAN: Rebels say they control Aweil
Sudanese rebels on Sunday said they had captured another southern town, Aweil, in Bahr-el-Ghazal state, and were moving towards a government garrison west of the town, Reuters reported. Last week, the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) claimed to have captured parts of the key city of Wau, where they said fighting was still underway. Reuters quoted an SPLA spokesman in Nairobi as saying the rebels were fighting under the command of Kerubino Kwanyin Bol and were preparing for a "final offensive" on Aweil. Meanwhile, in a statement broadcast over opposition radio, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) described the battle for Wau as "part of a comprehensive plan of the SPLA forces and the joint military command of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)."
Army denies southern towns under rebel control
The Sudanese army described last week's rebel assault on Wau as "intended to cripple the peace process". Spokesman Lieutenant-General Abd al-Rahman Sirr al-Khatim acknowledged losing 23 men, but stressed the government still controlled Wau, as well as Aweil. He also said the rebels had launched an attack on Kassala near the Eritrean border on Friday, but this had been repulsed by the army. Former rebel Riak Machar, now chairman of the pro-government Southern States' Coordination Council, told Suna news agency the rebel attacks would not derail the peace process.
OLS needs more resources to cope with growing crisis
Operation Lifeline Sudan, in a statement released today (Monday), said it was hard-pressed to meet the growing humanitarian crisis in Bahr-el-Ghazal state. An estimated 100,000 displaced people were fleeing intense fighting in Wau, Aweil and Gogrial. "We simply do not have the resources to meet the survival needs of these growing numbers of people," OLS said. NGOs and UN agencies on the ground needed both funds and supplies "to respond on the scale the situation demands".
UGANDA: Army kills ADF rebels
The Ugandan army has killed nine members of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the western districts of Kasese and Bundibugyo, the 'Sunday Nation' reported. It said there had been a series of clashes recently between soldiers and rebels in the Rwenzori mountains. Meanwhile, the ADF warned it would "crack down" on those responsible for the deaths of its members. In a press release, ADF chairman Frank Kithasamba called on President Yoweri Museveni to arrest the "killers" and told people in Kasese to "be on the lookout for politicians who kill, intimidate opponents and voters for their own interests".
Rebel activity in north on the increase
The state-owned 'New Vision' on Saturday said rebels in northern Uganda had abducted over 80 people in the Kitgum area over the last two weeks. It said rebel groups belonging to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) had been "terrorising" villages in the area, abducting people and ambushing vehicles on the Kitgum-Lira road. The LRA had been stepping up its activities since early January, forcing residents to flee their homes, the newspaper added.
"Numerous" human rights problems, US says
The US State Department, in its annual human rights report, said Uganda faced "numerous, serious" human rights problems. It accused the armed forces of using excessive force, of beating and sometimes torturing suspects, according to AFP. Rebel groups too had committed "numerous serious abuses", the report said.
KENYA: Rift Valley violence continues to claim lives
Several thousand people have been displaced by clashes in the Nakuru and Laikipia area of Rift Valley province, aid agencies estimate. At least 100 people are believed to have been killed, according to unofficial figures. The 'Daily Nation' today wrote that the violence had now spread to Baringo district and paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) troops had been despatched to the area. Residents were reportedly fleeing their homes with displaced people camping out at local police stations and churches.
Mombasa road closed again
The key Mombasa-Nairobi road was again closed over the weekend, after a bridge collapsed on Sunday following heavy rain. The closure of the road, a major artery for east Africa, resulted in huge traffic queues building up on either side of the collapsed bridge and hundreds of stranded passengers. This is the second time in as many months the road has been closed due to collapsed bridges.
WHO says Rift Valley fever not sole cause of death
A report by WHO says although Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been confirmed in Kenya and Somalia, it is evident that other causes have contributed to the high rate of haemorrhagic symptoms and deaths among animals and humans. According to the report, severe haemorrhagic disease is not common for RVF and the absence of RVF virus antibody in about two-thirds of cases tested in the laboratory is further indication that another infectious or toxic agent is involved. WHO, along with other agencies, will take part in an intensive one-month investigation, due to begin this week.
WFP signs rail deal with Kenya
WFP has signed a US $1.3 million agreement with the Kenya Railways Corporation to improve food deliveries in the Great Lakes region. Under the agreement, WFP will provide parts to refurbish 10 locomotives on the Mombasa-Kampala line. The increased rail capacity will allow WFP to load food shipments directly onto freight cars in Mombasa, saving almost US $7,000 a day in warehousing costs.
RWANDA: Croatian priest murdered
A Croatian Roman Catholic priest, who had lived in Rwanda for 17 years, was shot dead in Kigali on Saturday, the Rwanda News Agency reported. Father Vjeko Curic was found dead in his car near the Sainte-Famille church, reportedly killed by a man who was travelling with him. The priest was based in Kivumu parish at Kabgayi in Gitarama prefecture. RNA quoted sources in Gitarama as saying he had received many death threats. Much of his work involved the construction of houses for genocide survivors and returnees in collaboration with Caritas, RNA said.
Soldier executed
A Rwandan soldier was executed in public on Thursday for the murder of a journalist with Radio Rwanda, Wilson Ndayambaje. The soldier, Private Emmanuel Rutayisire, was killed by firing squad at the soccer stadium in Gisenyi. He reportedly shot dead the journalist in the town following a disagreement and was arrested and put on trial. "We regret that all this is extra-judicial," army spokesman Major Emmanuel Ndahiro told RNA. But it was "absolutely unacceptable" for someone to take another person's life, he said. Meanwhile, an army officer Major Sam Bigabiro was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of murdering 30 civilians in July 1994 in Gihara village, near Kigali, RNA reported. In a press release, leader of the exiled Forces de resistance pour la democratie (FRD), Seth Sendashonga, said there was a disparity between the two sentences.
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: Police chief killed
The police chief of Congo's Criminal Investigation Department, Colonel Jean Malonda, was shot and killed during an argument with a soldier over the collection of arms from militia forces, AFP reported. It cited official Radio Congo as saying the incident occurred last Thursday in Gamboma, central Congo. The police chief died from his wounds on the way to hospital.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Army launches newspaper
The DRC army has launched a newspaper, called 'Echos Militaires', which claims to offer its readers "exclusives", Radio France Internationale reported.In the first issue, the newspaper writes about a military exercise conducted in Bakongo and Bandundu which had remained a secret. It also reports on the transfer of ex-FAZ soldiers to the interior of the country in Kitona, 400 km west of Kinshasa, where they have been undergoing training.
Nairobi, 2 February 1998, 15:00 gmt
[ENDS]
[The material contained in this communication comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. UN IRIN Tel: +254 2 622123 Fax: +254 2 622129 e-mail: irin@dha.unon.org for more information or subscriptions. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. IRIN reports are archived on the WWW at: http://www.reliefweb.int/emergenc or can be retrieved automatically by sending e-mail to archive@dha.unon.org. Mailing list: irin-cea-updates]
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 18:04:02 +0300 (GMT+0300) From: UN IRIN - Central and Eastern Africa <irin@dha.unon.org> Subject: Central and Eastern Africa: IRIN Update 345 for 31 Jan-2 Feb 98.2.2 Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.980202180215.6916C-100000@dha.unon.org>
Editor: Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D
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