UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
IRIN Update 440 for 18 June 1998.6.18

IRIN Update 440 for 18 June 1998.6.18

U N I T E D N A T I O N S Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa

Tel: +254 2 622147 Fax: +254 2 622129 e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org

IRIN Update No. 440 for Central and Eastern Africa (Thursday 18 June 1998)

BURUNDI: CNDD-FDD says it will back deal guaranteeing democracy "for all"

The main CNDD rebel group, and its armed wing - Forces pour la defense de la democratie (FDD) - are ready to accept any peace solution found at the current all-party talks in Arusha as long as the deal guarantees CNDD-FDD objectives for "security and democracy for all", the organisation's spokesperson Jerome Ndiho said in a press release received by IRIN today (Thursday). He declared that CNDD-FDD was not invited to the Arusha peace talks and warned against "those who continue to conclude agreements in the name of CNDD".

Leonard Nyangoma has attended the Arusha talks as CNDD (Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie) president despite the announcement by the movement in May that he had been suspended and replaced by Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye, formerly CNDD's chief-of-staff. Informed sources told IRIN the CNDD split could be crucial to the success of attempts by mediator Julius Nyerere to persuade all factions to agree a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the leader-in-exile of FRODEBU (Front pour la democratie au Burundi) Jean Minani has called for "unconditional" talks to end armed struggle, Burundi radio reported yesterday (Wednesday). Minani, who was at first opposed to a recent "partnership" deal between his party and the Burundian government, said that as negotiations were in progress and as "everybody was committed to finding a solution" the armed struggle was no longer justified.

UGANDA: Insecurity hinders humanitarian activities

The recent upsurge of rebel activities has led to a significant reduction and, in some cases, suspension of relief activities, including emergency food distributions, in northern and western Uganda, WFP reported in its weekly emergency report. Humanitarian sources told IRIN today that some humanitarian organisations had relocated their staff from the field, notably from the Kitgum region. They added that extra security measures had been taken, but no general suspension or withdrawal was being considered for the time being. Meanwhile, Kitgum itself is reported to be calm.

Soldiers arrested after rebel attack

More than 20 soldiers have been arrested in relation with the rebel attack on a technical college in Kabarole, in western Uganda in which at least 48 people, mainly students, died, AFP reported quoting the daily 'New Vision' newspaper. The soldiers, who were part of the army detachment guarding the college, reportedly deserted their positions when the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked. The commanding officer of the detachment has also been arrested.

Kampala mayor released by US customs authorities

The mayor of Kampala, Haji Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, who was held by US customs at John Kennedy International Airport in New York on Saturday has been released, Ugandan radio reported. According to a statement issued by the minister for foreign affairs in Kampala, Sebaggala was released on Monday after the intervention of the Ugandan embassy and the permanent mission of Uganda to the UN.

RWANDA: Government grants importers tax breaks

Rwanda has decided to exempt local importers of heavy and light trucks from paying import duties for one year as a strategy of revitalising the war-torn transport sector, the Rwandan news agency reported. It said a notice issued by the commissioner of customs on 11 June declared all customs collectors had been instructed that "all lorries and trailers, pickups, buses and bulldozers were exempted with immediate effect from paying import duty".

KENYA: East African-US military exercises begin

A joint military exercise between East African and US troops was launched yesterday in Lodwar, Turkana District, the 'Daily Nation' reported. It said more than 100 Kenyan and US paratroopers began the operation with a drop from a US C130 military transport plane about 10 km from the town. They were welcomed by Kenya's Chief of Staff General Daudi Tonje and his counterparts in the Ugandan and Tanzanian armed forces, Alhaji Abubakar Jeje Odongo and Robert Mboma respectively.

SUDAN: "Partial ceasefire" proposal

A "partial ceasefire" is one of the proposals being tabled in a two-day meeting of 16 nations on Sudan. Representatives of the government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) were also meeting present at the meeting in the Hague, news agencies reported. A British Foreign Office

spokesperson told IRIN today that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Partners Forum meeting in the Dutch capital may consider suggestions of a "partial ceasefire" to allow for humanitarian relief to reach people in need in southern Sudan. Britain yesterday announced a new donation of $24.8 million for humanitarian relief in Sudan, two thirds of which is for WFP. IGAD is the sub-regional Horn of Africa grouping which leads the current Sudanese mediation process. Substantive talks were held in Nairobi in May, and follow-up meetings were planned for August in Addis Ababa.

Government claims successes in Blue Nile and Kassala provinces

A pro-government newspaper 'Alwan' yesterday claimed that government forces had killed 100 rebels and wounded 180 others in southeastern Blue Nile province, AFP reported from Khartoum. The report did not specify where the clash took place, but said "on the way to Kurmuk". Rebel-held Kurmuk is on the Ethiopian border. Two locations occupied by SPLA rebels in Kassala have been retaken by government forces, according to a provincial official quoted by the 'Akhbar Al-Youm' newspaper, AFP reported on Tuesday.

Clashes in western Sudan

Hundreds of people have been killed in clashes western Sudan between the Fur and Messelit ethnic groups, the governor of western Darfur province said on Wednesday. The governor, Ibrahim Abdel-Rahman told the 'Akhbar Al-Youm' newspaper that 235 people were killed and 43 injured recently. Thousands of other Sudanese are reported to have fled into neighbouring Chad to escape the fighting.

Britain details more funds

Britain said on Wednesday it was giving an extra $24.8 million to help victims of famine and fighting in Sudan. Reuters reported International Development Secretary Clare Short saying the move followed a recent reassessment by WFP which now believes 1.2 million people are in need of help.

TANZANIA: Dar es Salaam liberalises insurance industry

Tanzania has licensed the first private insurance company ending 31 years of state monopoly in the industry. Kenyan-based Jubilee Insurance Group was on Wednesday given a certificate allowing it to open a branch in the country, AFP quoted government officials as saying.

UNITED NATIONS: Holbrooke named new US ambassador to the United Nations

The United States has appointed Richard Holbrooke, the architect of the Dayton peace accords which ended the Bosnian war, as the country's new ambassador to the United Nations. Holbrooke, renowned for a "straight-talking, no-nonsense approach" to diplomacy, takes over from Bill Richardson. Richardson was recently appointed the new US Energy Secretary.

Nairobi, 18 June 1998 14:30 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 free 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/ or can be retrieved automatically by sending e-mail to archive@ocha.unon.org. Mailing list: irin-cea-updates]

Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 18:10:09 +0300 (GMT+0300) From: IRIN - Central and Eastern Africa <irin@ocha.unon.org> Subject: Central and Eastern Africa: IRIN Update 440 for 18 June 1998.6.18 Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.980618180923.15026A-100000@dha.unon.org>

Editor: Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D

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