Readers are always referred to the original sources for complete versions. When HAB uses a secondary source, the secondary source is given first, followed by the primary source in square brackets. Some items are re-titled to best reflect the content of chosen excerpts. Sections marked with "/HAB/" are introductions or comments made by the editors. Square brackets are used to indicate changes/ additions made by the editors. (Square brackets appearing within a secondary source may also indicate changes made by a previous editor.)

Note of Thanks: We are particularly indebted to our readers for their contributions and to our sources for their invaluable cooperation.

** COPYRIGHT **

Reposting or reproducing items in this publication is prohibited without the permission of the Life & Peace Institute. Send inquiries to Everett Nelson <enelson@nn.apc.org>.

** ABBREVIATIONS **

Abbreviations of sources used in this publication:
AA © Africa Analysis; AB - African Business; AC - Africa Confidential; AED - Africa Economic Digest via RBB; AFP - Agence France Presse, Paris; AGKED © Arbeitsgemeinschaft Kirchlicher Entwicklungsdienst, Informationen zum Horn von Afrika; AI - Amnesty International; AN - Africa News; ANB - African News Bulletin; APS - Africa Press Service; AR - Africa Report; ARN - Arab News; CSM - Christian Science Monitor, World Edition; DN - Daily Nation; DNR - Dagens Nyheter; DT -Daily Telegraph via RBB; EC - Ethiopian Commentator; EH Ethiopian Herald; EN - Ethiopia News; ENA - Ethiopian News Service; EP © Eritrean Profile via Eritrea©L; ER - Ethiopian Review; FOA - Focus on Africa; GI - Guardian Independent; GW - Guardian Weekly; HRM - Human Rights Monitor; IHT - International Herald Tribune; IND - The Independent via RBB; ION - Indian Ocean Newsletter; KT - Kenya Times; LICR - Lloyd's Information Casualty Report via RBB; LWI - Lutheran World Information; MD - Monday Developments; MEED - Middle East Economic Digest via RBB; NA - New African; NFE - News from Ethiopia; NN - NordNet; NNS - NGO Networking Service's Monthly Update via NordNet; NYT - New York Times; RBB - Reuters Business Briefing; SCSG - Scottish Churches' Sudan Group Newsletter; SDG - Sudan Democratic Gazette; SHRV - Sudan Human Rights Voice; SN - Sudan Embassy News; SNU - Somalia News Update; SSV - Southern Sudan Vision; STD - Standard; SU - Sudan Update; SvD - Svenska Dagbladet; SWB - BBC Monitoring Summary of World Broadcasts via RBB; UNIC - United Nations Information Center, Sydney, via NN; WH - The White House via <almanac@esusda.gov>; WP - Washington Post.

Radio stations are abbreviated as follows:

RE © Radio Ethiopia, Addis Ababa; REE © Radio Ethiopia External Service, Addis Ababa; RFI - Radio France Internationale, Paris; RH - Radio Hargeisa, Voice of Republic of Somaliland; RMO - Radio Mogadishu; RMV - Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Great Somali People; RNU - Radio National Unity, Omdurman; RSR - Republic of Sudan Radio, Omdurman; RVSP © Radio Mogadishu, Voice of Somali Pacification; VBME - Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, Asmara; VOA © Voice of America; VOEN - Voice of Ethiopia National Service, Addis Ababa.

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E D I T O R I A L

The NGO Forum is particularly important to Somalia's women, who will have no official government delegation at the parallel official UN Conference. The women in the Somali NGO delegation are engaged in a joint effort to carry to the world the message that they are united in their struggle for peace.

Somalia's women are not only talking©©they are working concretely for peace. There is a strong predominance of women(TM)led NGOs active in and for their communities. They have all seen that there can be no development in their communities and country without peace, and conversely, there can be no peace without development. It is true that most, or all, of these NGOs are clan©based. It is also true that there is a lot of competition and in©fighting among the women. However, without undue glorification of the Somali women, it is also clear that they have managed to go beyond clan boundaries and factional politics, reaching out across clan lines and joining hands in the struggle to rebuild the country: something which is still rare among the men. For instance, the NGO delegation preparing to go to Beijing has representatives from most regions of Somalia and even two from Boroma and Hargeisa in Somaliland.

The women are showing the way, realizing that one must acknowledge differences, allow for them and cooperate in spite of them if one wants to move from war to peace. If the women of Somalia can continue along this path, they will gain credibility and show the way forward not only in their country, but also in a larger context, Africa and the world.

Most of us see conflict as something negative, something that must be avoided at all cost. This, of course, is true if we define conflict as armed conflict. However, in a nonviolent environment, conflict can actually lead to new insights and enrich discussion, and can therefore be seen to contain a positive element.

Conflicts are a natural part of life. Actually, all human beings are in one way or the other experts at handling conflicts in a nonviolent way. We do it daily, otherwise we would be constantly fighting.

Realizing that not everyone will be, or should have to be, of the same opinion is difficult but necessary to prevent a deterioration of conflict. The important thing is how we handle conflict in the early stages when we still can talk it out and not allow the conflict to deteriorate into violence, hatred and vengeance.

Regarding Sudan, there is of course a government delegation going to the official meeting in Beijing, but it is highly unlikely that it will in any way reflect the reality of the Sudanese women who are living in war zones or in the displacement camps around Khartoum, nor will it reflect the situation of those northern women who are forced into exile around the world. There is a need for an alternative voice which can inform the world about this war which has generated so little media interest and is therefore so little known. Beijing will hopefully offer them an opportunity to make their voices heard.

As in the case of the Somali women, the women of Sudan are also making peace their main message at Beijing, and they too are engaged in conflict transformation by showing a way out of the factional fighting in the south by working across religious, tribal and factional lines. They deserve to be heard.

These women are asking no special favours, just a very basic human right: to be able to participate in the work for a new and better life for themselves, their families, their regions and their countries.

T H E H O R N OF A F R I C A

The US Agency for International Development is producing an Inventory of Food Security Activities in the "Greater Horn of Africa". The inventory is intended as a resource to support the co-ordination of the work of NGOs, governments and donors on food security in the Greater Horn region. The co-ordinator of the project, Brian D'Silva, is collecting information and analytical work on existing projects, and documentation related to food security in the Horn so that anyone working on related issues can access up to date data and avoid duplicating work. At present the plan is for the computerised database to be transferred for use in the region in September 1995. In order to maintain the broadest possible accessibility by groups, it is a software package which requires only a computer which operates using `Windows'.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT NEEDED FOR DEMOBILISATION
(IPS 25 Jul 95, by Ramesh Jaura)
BONN - The ongoing demobilisation of armed forces in Africa and the reintegration of ex- combatants into civilian life needs continued international support, says a newly published report.

Once attuned to the political, economic, social and cultural needs of a country or a region, international financial and technical assistance will create a climate of mutual trust and encourage human development, adds the report published by the `Bonn International Centre for Conversion' (BICC)...

"In most efforts to support reintegration, policymakers face a dilemma on whether or not to treat the ex-soldiers as a special target group," according to the report.

The report pleads for striking a balance between dealing with the specific needs of the demobilised troops and at the same time not creating discontent among the rest of their often poor communities. In the absence of such a balance, a true reintegration will be jeopardised, the report warns...

The BICC study advises the donors to get involved in demobilisation and reintegration programmes only to the extent a government or parties to a peace agreement wish them to.

The donors should guard against creating the suspicion of"external involvement", which would be counter-productive, the report warns.

Pleading for continued international backing, BICC researcher Kees Kingma said an important reason for lending a helping hand to demobilisation was that the process was closely interlinked with"broader security concerns".

"Freeing large numbers of ex-combatants and arms can have a potentially destabilising effect in a country or a region," nullifying the goals demobilisation had set out to achieve, said Kingma...

The report entitled `Demobilisation in the Horn of Africa' incorporates the proceedings of a workshop held last December in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia...

/HAB/ The workshop was arranged by the secretariat of IRG (International Resource Group on Disarmament and Security in the HoA). IRG is an international group of key experts on disarmament and demobilization issues, and it is convened by a group of North American and European non-governmental humanitarian and policy organizations in the interest of stimulating a more focussed and sustained exploration of alternative security structures and disarmament measures for the HoA region as a whole.

The IRG Secretariat consists of:
* Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPACS©©Canada)
* Arbeitsgemeinschaft Kirchlicher Entwicklungsdienst (AGKED©(TM)Germany)
* Life & Peace Institute (LPI©©Sweden)

OAU SAYS TIME FOR AFRICA TO FACE UP TO INSTABILITY (Reuter 25 Jun 95, by John Chiahemen) ADDIS ABABA - The head of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) said on Sunday Africa could not properly assert itself in international affairs without first tackling instability.

"The issue of security and stability in our continent is pre-eminent," OAU's secretary general Salim Ahmed Salim told Reuters on the eve of the opening of an annual continental summit.

"Clearly the single most important issue before the summit is how we address ourselves specifically to the conflict situations © what can we do about Burundi, what can we do to support the effort in Rwanda, what can we do on Somalia, what can we do on Liberia and what can we do on Sierra Leone?"

Beyond the specific issues, heads of state gathered in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa must tackle the OAU's ambitious plan to strengthen Africa's capacity for preventing or resolving conflicts, said Salim, who is championing the initiative.

"Unless we make decisive progress in this exercise our efforts in making the lives of our people better and efforts at making our continent more relevant in international affairs will be severely undermined," Salim declared.

After three decades of concentrating on decolonisation of Africa, the OAU decided in 1990 to focus on conflict management, taking a step into the minefield of involvement in internal crises in member states...

MOI OPPOSES OAU CONFLICT-RESOLUTION FORCE
(SWB 28 Jun 95 [KBC radio, Nairobi, in English 26 Jun 95]) HE President Daniel arap Moi today vehemently opposed the idea of forming an OAU [Organization of African Unity] conflict-resolution force. Addressing the OAU session in Addis Ababa, President Moi said the formation of such a force would be in contravention of Article Three, Subsection Four of the OAU charter. The article stipulates that the OAU shall adhere to the principle of the peaceful resolution of conflicts by dialogue, negotiation and arbitration. In this connection, President Moi made it clear that Kenya was not prepared to support either morally or financially the formation of such military force. He added that such a force would kill the ordinary people and jeopardize their human rights...

US WANTS PARTNERSHIP WITH OAU
(AA 30 Jun 95, p.5)
The US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, George E. Moose, recently told a group of Washington-based African diplomats that the US was interested in a new partnership with the OAU in the area of conflict resolution and management. Moose made the remarks during a closed seminar at a Washington think-tank. He said that this was possible because the OAU was assuming a more constructive role in the post-Cold War era. He attributed changes in the OAU to new leadership and the democratisation movement on the continent...

The US diplomat said that the US wanted to support OAU capacity-building in the areas of communication, transport and training. He also talked positively about cooperation with France, the US's major rival in Africa, to prevent and resolve African conflicts.

What Moose did not say is as important as what he did. He did not mention new expenditures of US funds for conflict-resolution in Africa. This is indicative of the tight- fisted posture of the Republican-dominated Congress, where there is only lukewarm support for aid to Africa.

TUNISIA HANDS OVER OAU CHAIRMANSHIP TO ETHIOPIA
(SWB 28 Jun 95 [Republic of Tunisia Radio, Tunis, in Arabic 26 Jun 95]) After the setting up of the session's bureau, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali handed over the chairmanship of the OAU to the Ethiopian head of state...

REGIONAL CO-OPERATION©©AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR THE HORN
OF AFRICA, IGADD (NNS June 95)
The Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Desertification which groups Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda may soon take on a broader and more effective mandate and a new name. Following a decision taken in April by the Heads of State to strengthen the organisation, technical experts from each country met for two weeks this month in Addis Ababa to co-ordinate policy and lay the practical foundations for effective future action; they presented their findings to a Ministerial meeting for consideration and final decisions will be taken at the next Heads of State meeting in September.

The proposed new IGADD structure would include the following in its mandate:

- conflict prevention and resolution

- agricultural development and food security

- early warning

- plant and animal disease cntrol

- agricultural research

- environment

- natural resources development

- desertification control

- promotion of trade and harmonisation of trade policies and practices including barriers to trade

- transport and communications

- monetary and fiscal policies

- cross border investments

- energy

- science and technology

- free movement of people and establishment of residence

Emphasis has been placed on the need for aid to be used more effectively so that as the quantity decreases with tighter donor budgets, quality can increase...

These developments clearly reflect a new determination to cooperate from the regional governments. Although the tensions between states in the region (Uganda v Sudan and Eritrea v Sudan) and within them (Somalia) are reasons to recall the formidable political obstacles to be overcome. The fact that representatives from the countries were able to sit together to streamline approaches is, however, a sign of the willingness to work towards common goals despite such problems. A timetable of activities to develop the decisions taken has been set out for the months up to September.

This is a major development for the Horn of Africa and one which deserves the input of all concered parties. To date, NGOs have been absent from the debate, although a paper outlining issues at the meeting raises NGO-state relations: "NGOs have played a positive role in mobilising resources and implementing emergency and development programmes in the subregion,...they should be encouraged to do more, and to mobilise additional resources, rather than limiting their role to serving as a channel for resources already earmarked for IGADD member states". It also noted that there were concerns about NGOs being `highly politicised'. However, it recognised that "IGADD should acquaint itself more with the activities of NGOs in the subregion", should exchange views and should encourage NGOs to take a subregional approach in their programming...

D J I B O U T I

ADDHL - Djibouti Association for the Defense of Human Rights
and Liberties
DRA - Djibouti Relief Association
FDF - Front of Democratic Forces
FRUD - Front for the Restauration of Unity and Democracy
FNS - Force Nationale de Securite
MND - Mouvement National Djiboutien
MSR - Mouvement pour le Salut et la Reconstruction
MUD - Movement pour l'Unite de la Democratie
PCRD - Parti Centriste et des Reformes Democratiques
PND - Parti National Democratique
PRD - Parti du Renouveau Democratique
RPP - Rassemblement Populaire pour le Progres
UDD - Union des Democrates Djiboutiens
UDSJ - Union for Democracy and Social Justice
UMD - Union des Movements Democratiques

** FRAGIL PEACE **

POLITICAL OUTLOOK
(Economist Intelligence Unit via RBB 11 Jul 95) ...Rumours of the ill-health of Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the septuagenarian president, will continue to fuel speculation and infighting within his Somali-Issa entourage over the succession. Under the constitution Aptidon himself will name his successor. Ismael Omar Guelleh, his hardline chef de cabinet, remains by far the most likely candidate. However, Guelleh has many enemies within the elite who feel that, if appointed president, he would reinforce the autocratic, uncompromising style increasingly favoured by Aptidon.

DJIBOUTIAN GUNMEN KILL PRO-PEACE RELIGIOUS LEADER
(Reuter 26 Jun 95)
Gunmen have assasinated a religious leader in northern Djibouti, an incident described by his allies on Monday as an attempt to derail a peace accord ending a three-year uprising in the tiny Red Sea state.

Ali Houmed Soule, a key supporter of the peace process between the government and the former rebel Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD), was killed on Saturday a few metres (yards) away from his home in the village of Randa, a FRUD stronghold in the north.

The cleric's brother, Mohamed Houmed Soule, a leading human rights activist, blamed "elements of the Djibouti army who are hostile to the peace accord" for the attack.

But FRUD chairman Ali Hassan Daoud, who was named health minister in the country's newly-formed coalition government, dismissed the incident as an "isolated event".

The government has made no comment on the murder of Soule but has ordered an official inquiry into the killing.

Djiboutian President Hassan Gouled Aptidon appointed the country's first coalition government three weeks ago which saw two former rebels named ministers.

Under a peace pact in December, FRUD undertook to abandon armed resistance and transform itself into a political party so the former rebels would share power with Issa Somalis.

Hostilities in the arid state effectively ended in July 1992 followed by months of secret talks, which Houmed Soule fully supported, leading to a peace deal.

EIGHT SOLDIERS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH KILLING OF TRADITIONAL CHIEF
(SWB 6 Jul 95 [RFI in French, 4 Jul 95])
According to legal sources in Jibuti, eight soldiers have been arrested in connection with the killing on 26th June of the qadi - the traditional and religious chief - of Randa, 40 km northeast of the city of Jibuti. Charges of murder and complicity to murder have been brought against the eight soldiers.

FOUR INJURED IN RESTAURANT GRENADE BLAST
(SWB 5 Aug 95 [RFI in French, 3 Aug 95])
In Jibuti this morning, an unidentified person threw a grenade into a restaurant, and the resulting explosion injured four people, two of them seriously. This is the latest of a number of mysterious attacks in the past few months...

There is every reason to believe, however, that behind the wave of mysterious attacks are opponents of the peace process which has been developing over the past year between the government and the opposition Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy [FRUD].

** FOREIGN RELATIONS **

GOULED MEETS CHIRAC
(ION 8 Jul 95, p.3) During head of state Hassan Gouled Aptidon's visit to Paris this week, he met with the new French head of state Jacques Chirac, in the presence of Chirac's Africa counsellor Michel Dupuch, Djibouti's foreign affairs and cooperation minister Mohamed Moussa Chechem, the head of the presidential office Ismail Gedi Hared, and Djibouti's ambassador to France Ahmed Omar Farah. A good part of their discussions covered Gouled Aptidon's request for France to assist his country make sure that the conference of international fund donors, scheduled to be held in Geneva in a few months, was a success. Here, Chirac accepted the principle of French assistance, in order to help the Djibouti authorities prepare documents which they will be presenting during negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. An IMF mission is expected to be in Djibouti on July 12.

President Chirac also accepted a second request from his Djibouti opposite number, namely, French financial assistance for rehabilitation (rebuilding schools and dispensaries, etc) in regions in the northern part of the country which have been devastated by years of civil war...

FRENCH POLICE AGAIN TRY TO BREAK UP PRO-AFAR DEMONSTRATION IN PARIS
(SWB 11 Jul 95 [RFI in French, 9 Jul 95])
For four days now, 10 or so members of the charity SOS Africa have been demonstrating outside the Jibuti embassy in Paris. They started a hunger strike in protest against the aid given to that country by France. SOS Africa condemns what it regards as repression in Afar territory and is asking to be able to go there. This morning the French security forces once again dislodged the hunger strikers, who nevertheless intend to continue with their action.

DJIBOUTIAN AIR FORCE
(Flight International via RBB 5 Jul 95)
Force Aerienne Djiboutienne

The country's position at the mouth of the Red Sea is of great strategic value to the West. Although the country has no combat capability, at the request of the Djibouti Government France bases a force of 3,250 men in the country, consisting of armoured, artillery and infantry battalions with their integral Puma helicopter support. The French air force detachment includes ten Mirage F.1Cs, a C-160 Transall, one SA.319 Alouette III and two SA.355 [Ecureuil] helicopters, together with ground forces...

YEMEN, DJIBOUTI DISCUSS BILATERAL SECURITY TIES
(Reuter 27 Jul 95)
ADEN - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Thursday received a message from President Hassan Gouled Aptidon of Djibouti on the latest developments in the Horn of Africa, the official SABA news agency said...

Yemen and Djibouti face each other on the Asian and African sides respectively of the strategic Bab al-Mandab straits controlling the southern entrance of the Red Sea.

[Djibouti chief of staff, Brigadier Fathi Ahmad Hussein], who arrived in Yemen on Tuesday, said his talks with Yemeni officials would cover the possibility of creating distinctive security relations and mutual coordination in the joint waters and Bab al- Mandab.

** ECONOMIC NEWS **

COUNTRY UPDATE
(Economist Intelligence Unit via RBB 11 Jul 95) ...[Djibouti's] port is the country's sole viable economic asset. The port authority handled a total of 1.3m tons of cargo during 1994. This represented only a 4% decline from the 1993 total, reflecting a steep recovery during the second half after a poor first six months. Around 60% of total volume consists of unotably [sic] petroleum products, which account for 27% of total cargo. These figures lend support to those who have favoured a policy of investment and constant upgrading of the facilities of the port, notably its capacity to handle container traffic for which demand still remains buoyant.

The port is benefiting from the increasing volume of exports from Ethiopia, Djibouti's main trading partner and the port's largest customer. The Ethiopian Shipping Line operates principally out of Djibouti and the [Eritrean] port of Assab, Djibouti's main Red Sea competitor...

DJIBOUTI UNVEILS AUSTERITY PLANS
(Reuter 16 Aug 95)
DJIBOUTI - Djibouti has announced plans for a 50 percent increase in income tax under an austerity drive to curb public spending and edge closer to a balanced budget.

The finance minister of the small Red Sea state, Mohamed Ali Mohamed, went on state television on Tuesday night and said the only alternative to the tough measures was big cuts in the 7,000-strong civil service.

Mohamed said a special tax known as "the patriotic contribution" would soon increase from 10 percent of all gross salaries to 15 percent. Only a small minority of Djibouti's 500,000 people are formally employed and taxable...' Mohamed also announced a 60 percent reduction in all allowances paid to civil servants and an end to their free housing. He said salaries to civil servants and other government employees © apparently including the army © swallowed up 20 billion Djibouti francs ($113 million) or 80 percent of the state budget.

Mohamed said his austerity measures were intended to trim government spending by 6.6 billion francs ($37 million) between next month and December 1996.

Mohamed will shortly present his detailed plans to the national assembly (parliament) which has to approve them.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) called for spending cuts after two recent missions to Djibouti...

E R I T R E A

ARDU - Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union
ARDUF - Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front
CERA - Commission for Eritrean Refugee Affairs
CRS - Catholic Relief Secretariat
ECE - Evangelical Church of Eritrea
EDLM - Eritrean Democratic Liberation Movement
EDM - Eritrean Democratic Movement
ELF - Eritrean Liberation Front
ELF-RC - ELF-Revolutionary Council
ELF-UO - ELF-Unity Organisation
EPLF Eritrean People's Liberation Front
ERRA - Eritrean Relief and Rehabilitation Association
ERD - Emergency Relief Desk
PFDJ - People's Front for Democracy and Justice
PGE - Provisional Government of Eritrea
PROFERI - Programme for Refugee Reintegration and Rehabilitation of Resettlement Areas in Eritrea

** POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS **

DRAFT CONSTITUTION BY NOV 95
(Economic Intelligence Unit via RBB 11 Jul 95) ...[The] 50-member Constitutional Commission anticipates that the draft constitution will be completed by November and submitted to the proposed Constituent Assembly by April or May 1996.

ERITREA MAKES A CONSTITUTION
(NA Sep 95)
Eritrea is nearing the end of a massive two-year process of popular participation to draft a Constitution.

In 1993, the government pledged a four-year transitional period, during which a constitution, laws on political parties and the press would be drafted, and elections to be held in 1997.

In March 1994, the legislative arm, the National Assembly, established the Constitutional Commission of Eritrea (CCE) to draft a constitution. It has 50 members, including 20 women. Its Chair is Dr Bereket Habteselassie, for many years Eritrea's representative at the UN.

Members represent all elements of Eritrean society--ex-fighters and PFDJ members, those who were in the diaspora during the struggle, rural and urban populations and the nine nationalities, but not the opposition parties.

An advisory board is made up of community elders and religious leaders from the provinces and nationalities. A board of advisors consists of foreign experts who bring the experiences of other countries.

CCE branch offices were opened in five zones and the capital, Asmara...

This immense task has involved hundreds of meetings; the CCE held international conferences in July 1994 and January 1995, bringing together political scientists, historians, and sociologists from Eritrea and abroad on aspects of constitutional development.

By May 1995, it was estimated that over 1,000 meetings had been conducted all over Eritrea, with about half a million people attending, an extraordinary effort at popular participation although disappointingly the participation of women has been minimal. Eritrea has, as a late comer to independence, the opportunity to learn from others.

ERITREA HOPES BATTLEFIELD AUSTERITY WILL WIN PEACE
(Reuter 17 Jul 95, by Nicholas Kotch)
ASMARA - Foreign businessmen dare not offer bribes in Eritrea, Africa's newest state, where austere former guerrillas are firmly in command.

"If there is corruption in a society everything is in ruins.

"There is no corruption in Eritrea now. If we do everything properly, if money laundering, drugs and corruption are kept out, we can achieve our goals," said Tekie Beyene, acting governor of the Bank of Eritrea, the central bank.

Like the rest of the key players in Asmara, the Italianate inland capital, Beyene is an "ex-fighter".

This means he paid his dues with the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), in Beyene's case from 1980 until victory over Ethiopia's then-Marxist government in 1991...

Everyone pays income tax in Eritrea, even foreign aid workers whose occasional squeals are ignored.

The government imposes a two percent levy on the salaries of tens of thousands of Eritreans abroad, whether trading in the Gulf or driving a taxi in Washington, D.C.

Diplomats say foreign businessmen, attracted to the Red Sea state by the lure of oil and mineral reserves and reconstruction contracts on the horizon, are never asked for bribes and offer them at their peril.

"This is the cleanest government by far I have ever had the pleasure of being associated with anywhere. I haven't heard of one piece of corruption," said Robert Houdek, the U.S. ambassador in Asmara.

"There is a big difference here compared with the rest of Africa," said Herbert M'Cleod, representative of the United Nations Development Programme.

"People are much more interested in their country than in themselves. They all made sacrifices."...

Civil service salaries were paid for the first time in June after four years of almost unpaid labour.

"We used to get 130-150 birr ($18-$21) a month, enough for cigarettes and tea. Now we are upgrading to an average of 1,000 birr ($140)," said Beyene, the acting central bank governor.

"Our goal is a small, highly efficient and highly paid civil service.

"As we all know, people who work in government in Africa are badly paid and looked down upon, which pushes them towards corruption," he added...

ASMARA'S FINEST
(AC 4 Aug 95, p.7)
At the end of August, the ruling party is planning a special conference. High on its agenda will be the party's `vision': many policies, such as pruning the bureaucracy and demobilising fighters, have gone down badly. Four years after its key role in defeating Ethiopia's Mengistu Haile Mariam, there is a feeling the party--which has changed its name from Eritrean People's Liberation Front to People's Front for Democracy and Justice--has not made the transition from liberation movement to government. Nor are Eritreans so willing to make great sacrifices in peacetime, as they did in over 30 years of war.

Those concerned about the all-pervading PFDJ and its monopoly on power are a potential, though not yet vocal, centre of opposition. More important in the short term is the restructuring of the military. The government has cut the army to some 55,000 troops from about 95,000. The plan is to end up with about 35,000--still a very large force for Eritrea's two million people. But Asmara aspires to a major regional role and wants to maintain its army's high standing.

After his January visit to Washington, President Isayas Aferworki indicated he wanted a professional army and said the United States would provide funds and training. His requests for arms were turned down. There are now 30 US military advisors/ trainers/ de-miners based in Keren and more are expected. Egyptian and Israeli advisors are more closely involved with National Service training or anti-Sudan government activity. The USA has strongly encouraged Eritrea in its anti-Khartoum policies and was enthusiastic about May's Sudanese opposition meeting in Asmara (AC Vol 36 No 14).

Yet the army is unsure of its future. Size, demobilisation and pay are all open questions. Protests over pay in 1993 led to over 100 alleged ringleaders being gaoled but pushed Asmara to create a formal pay structure. The government also swiftly purged Department 72 (security, previously known as Halewa Sowra) restructuring it as the Department of Political Security.

The National Service programme has had a mixed reception. The second batch of 26,000 youngsters passed out of Sawa military training camp in July: 250,000 are due to be trained in five years. Some soldiers believe the real aim of National Service is to disband the liberation army and build a more malleable force.

Changes in command have fed army unease. At the EPLF's Third Congress in February 1994, one of the most popular military figures, Mesfin Hagos, received the second highest number of votes for election to the Central and Executive Committees, reportedly only one less than Isayas. He then became Defence Minister. This was widely welcomed but his popularity in the army and his reported disagreements with government over army policy saw him replaced within a year by the army Commander at liberation, Sebhat Ibrahim (AC Vol 35 No 23). As Sebhat tried to establish control and weed out potential critics, other leading figured were dismissed, including Filipos Woldeyohannes and other unit commanders. Current army leaders were significant in the liberation war, including: Chief of Staff Haile Samuel `China', Ground Forces Commander Berhane Gebregziabher and the Chief of Operations, Teklai Habteselassie. The debate over the army's future is set to continue: there are still key officers who are not party members...

PRESIDENT TELLS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO STAY OUT OF POLITICS
(SWB 8 Jul 95 [VBME in Tigrigna, 7 Jul 95])
President Isayas Afewerki yesterday in his office met and briefed religious leaders on the government's policy regarding the role of religious institutions.

President Isayas briefed the leaders on the importance of the separation of politics from religion and vice versa. He clearly stated that religious institutions should depend only on contributions from their congregations and followers and not on the alms of foreigners. He also assured them that the government would try to assist them.

However, he said religious institutions are not allowed to establish relations with or to represent any foreign government or political organization or to participate in any political activities for or against the government [of Eritrea].

Finally, the president said development programmes and social services were first and foremost the responsibility of the government and the people, and not of religious institutions. However, he said they could help with financing [the development programmes] but had no responsibilities for planning or implementing them. He said a decree would be issued in the near future regarding this issue...

** HUMANITARIAN ISSUES **

THE USE OF FOOD AID: LEARNING FROM THE PAST
(ERRA Newsletter Apr-May 95, editorial, p.1)
Eritrea has been depending on steadily increasing amounts of emergency food aid for the last two decades as a result of recurrent drought and war. In recent years, up to four out of five Eritreans have been dependent on food aid. There is now a growing awareness that Eritrea has remained dependent on food aid for too long. There is no doubt that this has serious economic, political and social repercussions.

The people and the government of Eritrea are committed to laying the foundations for a sustainable economic development. One of the major goals that has to be achieved sooner than later is food security through adequate local food production. In this regard, the strategy laid out in the new economic policy of the government emphasizes the need for increased food production including environmental conservation, distribution of required inputs, and infrastructure development.

At present there are various applications of food aid, including free distribution, Food for Work (both used for several years) and, on a limited scale, Cash for Work. However, keeping in view the avowed goal of food self-sufficiency in the long-run, the new government plan stipulates a moratorium on free food distribution, except to the most needy groups. The emphasis will be on a combinaiton of Food for Work and Cash for Work. Both Food for Work and Cash for Work taken separately have some problems. Perhaps a more practical approach for Eritrea is to use a proper mix of the two taking [the] local situation into consideration. This is a more realistic option which, due to its flexibility, serves better the long-term interests of the recipients.

It is against this background that ERRA has decided to initiate a dialogue with donors on issues related to the rational use of food aid in Eritrea. The monetization of food aid for Cash for Work projects, coupled with realistic prices and timely delivery, is essential if Eritrea is ever to achieve food security and ERRA hopes that donors will cooperate in this regard by showing flexibility in the use of food aid...

SEMINAR FOCUSES ON WOMEN'S ROLE IN PEACE
(NN/hrnet.africa 13 Aug 95 [EP 29(?) Aug 95])
A national seminar recently held at the headquarters of the National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW) discussed current situations in the Horn of Africa and women's role in promoting peace. The seminar picked "Women in Peace Process" as the central topic of discussions. It brought together 60 women participants from the country's different regions. The participants issued a "Position Statement on Peace" at the end of the seminar besides planting a Peace Tree to manifest their commitment to pecekeeping. Major statements by the July 29 seminar follow:

* Call for Eritrean women's enhanced role in maintaining peace; and joining hands with women counterparts in the region in a unified voice for peace;

* Call upon governments and political factions to reconcile their differences through peaceful negotiations. A similar workshop on peace, organized by Novib and the Fund for Peace, was held in Addis Ababa May 1-3 in which women from the region representing different NGOs resolved to join hands and have a unified voice for peace. They also issued "Strategic Initiative for the Horn of Africa" (SIHA)...

SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY OPENS
(EP 10 Jun 95)
A School of Medical Technology was inaugurated in Asmara this week. The new school aiming at training anesthetists, senior ophthalmic assistants, senior laboratory technicians, pharmacy technicians and X- Ray technicians is part of a national effort to overcome shortage of health personnel. 150 ex-fighters have been admitted to the school already and courses are scheduled to begin this month. Training in two other fields - dental therapy and assistant midwifery - are due to start shortly...

** ERITREA--SUDAN **

/HAB/ For more on the Sudanese opposition meeting in Asmara, see "Opposition" under Sudan.

RULING PARTY TO HOST CONFERENCE OF SUDANESE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN ASMARA
(SWB 15 Jun 95 [VBME in Tigrigna, 13 Jun 95])
Mr Amin Muhammad Sa'id, secretary of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice [PFDJ], said in a press statement to the Eritrean news agency yesterday [12th June] that the PFDJ would host [a meeting of] all Sudanese opposition forces in Asmara. Mr Amin said these parties and organizations would be holding a meeting embracing all the forces struggling against the existing political regime in Sudan. He added that the PFDJ had very strong ties and relations with all the Sudanese political parties during its 30 years of armed struggle. In the light of the request made by the Sudanese brothers to hold their meeting in Asmara, the PFDJ would do its best to give them excellent hospitality...

SUDAN TIGHTENS SECURITY ON BORDER WITH ERITREA
(Reuter 22 Jun 95, by Alfred Taban)
KHARTOUM - Sudan has beefed up security on its border with Eritrea in response to a meeting in Asmara of Sudanese rebels and political exiles, a senior military official said.

Major-General Mohammad Abdalla Oweida, head of the security and defence committee of Sudan's Transitional National Assembly, said on Wednesday security had been tightened at government buildings and installations in the border areas.

Army and police forces had also heightened vigilance at border posts, bridges, main roads and ports, he added...

ERITREA SAYS SUDAN SEEKS TO DESTABILISE AFRICA
(Reuter 22 Jun 95, by Tsegaye Tadesse)
ADDIS ABABA - Eritrea accused Sudan of seeking to destabilise the African continent on Thursday, dealing a blow to Organisation of African Unity (OAU) efforts to end their dispute.

Eritrean Foreign Minister Petros Soloman, replying to a statement by his Sudanese counterpart to OAU foreign ministers, said Eritrea had long raised the problem with the U.N. security council.

"The deep-seated problem with the government of the Sudan rooted in its well-known policies of expansion and subversion to destabilise not only Eritrea but the whole region and indeed the continent long compelled the government of Eritrea to submit its case to the U.N. security council," Petros said in a statement...

OAU SECRETARY-GENERAL WARNS AGAINST ESCALATION OF SUDAN-- ERITREA ROW
(SWB 27 Jun 95 [RSR in English, 25 Jun 95])
The secretary-general of the Organization of African Unity [OAU], Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, has urged avoiding escalation on the situation between the Sudan and Eritrea.

Responding to a question on the Eritrean position that it does not want the OAU to deal with its dispute with Sudan, Salim said the OAU is responsible in such case[es] and that all states are obliged to abide by any resolution issued by the organization.

** FOREIGN RELATIONS **

PRESIDENT RECEIVES CREDENTIALS
(EP 10 Jun 95)
President Isaias Afwerki yesterday received the credentials of new heads of diplomatic missions.

During a ceremony at the State Guest House on June 9, ambassadors, Rochsjad Dahlan of Indonesia, Caetano da Costa Pereira of Portugal, T. A. G. Makambe of Zimbabwe, Vassilios Vassolos of Greece, and Jan Dubbeldam, head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Eritrea, respectively expressed readiness to further promote friendly relations. The Greek Embassy in Addis Ababa disclosed that Mr. Socratis Bourboulis has been appointed Honorary Consul General in Asmara.

US DIPLOMAT COMMENDS ERITREAN STATESMANSHIP
(EP 10 Jun 95)
The birth of the State of Eritrea was not a miracle but rather the product of "wisdom and foresight" by patriots who abided by a transition process that led to a non-violent process of Eritrea's independence, said career US diplomat Mark Baas.

Mr. Baas, who was U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia immediately following the overthrow of the Mengistu regime in 1991, told a panel discussion on Eritrea, held on Capitol Hill June 2, that after Ethiopia was liberated from the Mengistu dictatorship, "the Eritreans demonstrated very great statesmanship and foresight" in their dealings with the new Ethiopian government.

The United States Information Agency (USIA) quoted him as saying, Eritreans "could have said we are independent today, we won by right of arms, and we are going to declare independence."

Instead, said the diplomat, Eritreans agreed to wait until the end of a two-year transition period to hold a referendum that led to the declaration of independence on May 24.

Mr. Bass, who was an international observer to the Eritrean referendum in 1993, further stated that when he visited Eritrea, he was struck by how "law-abiding" the population was.

Noting that he once had a meeting with President Isaias Afwerki in Asmara, he said: "I was surprised to see him walk into the hotel lobby all alone with no security guards.

This would never be done in America or in any of the neighboring countries."...

SO-CALLED "VOICE OF ERITREA" BROADCAST FROM IRAQ
(SWB 10 Jul 95 ["Voice of Eritrea" in Arabic and Tigrigna 6 Jul 95])
Broadcasts in Arabic and Tigrigna

A broadcast calling itself "Voice of Eritrea" and carried on an Iraqi shortwave transmitter on 17740 kHz is currently being heard at 1600-1700 gmt. This broadcast was first heard on 19th June (poor reception delayed positive identification).

The broadcast is in both Arabic and Tigrigna (in the latter language the announcer does not sound like a native Tigrigna speaker). It identifies itself in Tigrigna as "Ezi nay Eritrea fenewe Demtsi eyu" ("This is the Voice of

E T H I O P I A

AAPO - All Amhamra People's Organisation
ALF - Afar Liberation Front
ARDU - Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union
BPLM - Benishangul People's Liberation Movement
CAFPDE - Council of the Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia
COEDF - Coalition of Ethiopian Democratic Forces
CRDA - Christian Relief and Development Association
ECS - Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat
EDC - Ethiopian Democratic Organization Coalition
EDUP - Ethiopian Democratic Unionist Party
EECMY - Eth. Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
ENDP - Ethiopian National Democratic Party
EPDA - Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Alliance
EPDM - Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement
EPRDF - Ethiopian People's Rev. Democratic Front
ESDL - Ethiopian Somali Democratic League
ESDM - Ethiopian Somali Democratic Movement
GDU - Gamo Democratic Union
GPDF - Gurage People's Democratic Front
HPDO - Hadia People's Democratic Organisation
IFLO - Islamic Front for the Liberation of Oromia
IGLF - Issa Gurgura Liberation Front
KPC - Kembata People's Congress
OLF - Oromo Liberation Front
ONLF - Ogaden National Liberation Front
OPDO - Oromo People's Democratic Organisation
ORA - Oromo Relief Association
SEPDC - Southern Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Coalition
SPDO - Sidama People's Democratic Organisation
TPLF - Tigray People's Liberation Front
WSLF - Western Somali Liberation Front

** POST-ELECTION DEVELOPMENTS **

NEW PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT
(Reuter 23 Aug 95)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia's parliament elected former guerrilla leader and president Meles Zenawi as prime minister of the newly-named Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Meles, head of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPDRF), served as president in a four-year transitional government that handed power over to parliament on Tuesday. He was elected prime minister with strong executive powers a day after Negaso Gidada was voted in as president, a figurehead post in the new federation of nine ethnically-based states.

The EPRDF holds a majority of 483 out of 548 seats in the Council of Representatives, which was elected in May in what was billed as the country's first multi-party election.

Meles, who will serve a five-year term, was expected to make a policy statement later on Wednesday and present a 15-minister cabinet to parliament for approval on Thursday.

The previous transitional cabinet had 22 ministries.

Official sources said most ministers who served in the transitional government were expected to be retained...

Negaso served as information minister in the transitional government and is a member of the Oromo People's Democratic Organisation (OPDO), a coalition partner of the EPDRF.

EPRDF SCORE IS WORRYING
(ION 22 Jul 95, p.4)
Ahead of the European Union's African working group meeting in Brussels on July 5 and 6, heads of EU diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa drafted a balance sheet of Ethiopia's elections for the federal and regional councils. Recalling that Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front had gained about 98.6 percent of seats in the federal assembly, the report says that the ballot was carried out "calmly but in relative indifference". The final results showed "an almost total absence of the opposition" in national and regional commissions, raising "the medium-term question of how the opposition will be able to express its views". The vote therefore consolidated "a situation of near-monopoly in favour of the party elected" and "a system with [sic] democratic evolution is not assured."

UK DEVELOPMENT MINISTER SAYS BRITAIN PLEASED WITH RECENT ELECTIONS
(SWB 28 Jul 95 [RE in Amharic, 26 Jul 95])
President Meles Zenawi today held talks in his office and with the British overseas development minister, Baroness Lynda Chalker, with whom he discussed British aid for Ethiopia, cooperation on education, food supplies and (national reform)...

She also said that the recently-concluded elections for people's representatives and regional council members had pleased the British government and that she had seen for herself how the people were going about their business freely...

WORKSHOP ON WOMEN AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
("Women and the Making of Regional Constitutions", InterAfrica Group 14 Apr 95) In the second of a series of occasional meetings on "Women's concerns: implications for Democracy", the InterAfrica Group invited women from around Ethiopia to Addis Ababa who work with regional women's bureaux to discuss the making of regional constitutions and women's participation therein...

Fifty women from five regions of Ethiopia (Southern, 5, 4, 13, 3) participated in the workshop on "Women and the making of regional constitutions" on April 14 1995. The women discussed issues presented by the InterAfrica Group, and those raised by two papers presented at the meeting in working groups and as a group during the day. The workshop was intended as an information sharing exercise which would raise issues of concern to the women present and suggest responses to them, and also alert programme on women and constitutional rights.

The discussions covered topics including: the role of the regional women's bureaux, the operations of NGOs in the respective regions regarding women, experiences of women in participating in national constitution making, how to mobilise women to participate in regional constitution making and methodologies for doing so...

TIGRAY COUNCIL APPROVES 1995-96 BUDGET
(SWB 27 Jun 95 [REE in English, 19 Jun 95])
The ongoing conference of the new Council of Tigray has approved a 328.5m birr budget for the 1988 Ethiopian calendar [1995-96] fiscal year. The report on the budget indicated that 62m birr of the annual budget would be secured from various revenue sources in the region, while the balance is expected from the central government and donors.

The preparation of the budget was based on the five-year plan of the region for boosting agriculture, conserving natural resources and expanding development infrastructure. The council is expected to end its first conference today after discussing draft proposals pertaining to members of its executive committees and the federal council, as well as the flag of the region.

AFAR REGION FOUNDING CONFERENCE OPENS
(SWB 25 Jul 95 [RE in Amharic, 23 Jul 95])
The founding conference of the Afar [Region Two] regional government council was held yesterday [22nd July], during which it was decided that (?Zamara) should be the regional capital. In yesterday's meeting seven articles of the regional constitution were debated and approved. There was extensive debate on the two differing views of whether the region should have borders or not. The view upholding the need for defined borders was adopted. Agreement was reached on the basis that the region shares borders with the Amhara, Oromiya, Ethiopian Somali and Tigray regions, as well as with Jibuti and Eritrea. It was decided to insert an article on this in the constitution.

It was also resolved that for the time being Amharic should remain the region's official language, but when the region's activities and language began to develop, Afar should become the official language...

On the subject of the regional government's capital, some participants of the meeting advocated the suitability of Asayita, saying a great deal of construction work had been carried out there and that the government offices were situated there... However, for the time being, all government work should continue to be carried out in Asayita town. The timing of the transfer of the capital would be decided by the participants in the meeting in the future.

On discussion of the article on equal rights for women, the Ethiopian News Agency reported that the view that women should be freed from traditional Afar pressures and have equal rights to men in government was adopted by 39 votes.

/HAB/ According to Ethiopian radio as reported by SWB, similar developments are occurring in other regions.

** TIGHTENED SECURITY **

MURDER OF OROMO NATIONALIST
(ION 1 Jul 95, p.2)
In an official communique issued June 18, the Oromo Liberation Front accused the Ethiopian authorities of being responsible for the shooting to death, at 6.30 am on May 21, of one of its members, an Oromo merchant doing business in the main Addis Ababa market of Mercato, Aliyi Yusuf. He was killed outside his shop located near the Ras cinema in the Tekle Haymanot district, which is generally very busy even on Sundays. His killers got away in several cars. Yusuf had been imprisoned and tortured under the regime of former head of state Mengistu Haile Mariam, for having supported the Oromo cause. After the regime fell, he had been a member of the OLF delegation to the Addis conference which, from July 5 to 11, 1991, had drafted and approved the charter for the transitional period. After OLF broke off relations with the transitional government, Yusuf had gone back to his business.

According to OLF, the assassination of Aliyi Yusuf is not an isolated act but forms part of a whole series of eliminations of OLF members and supporters. A young 26-year old farmer, Henok Jonatan, was arrested by government forces in Najjo, in the western Oromia region, on March 16. He is believed to have been tortured afterwards, along with nine other Oromo prisoners, and their bodies were discovered on April 28 at Mucha Fugiso, near the town of Babo Gambel. Similarly, Jafar Ibrahim Utto, a village elder in Kiyyo, in Oborra Province (eastern Oromia), who had been detained by pro-government militiamen, was found dead on April 8. Two months earlier, two of his sons had been arrested, tortured and murdered by members of the same militia.

ETHIOPIAN AUTHORITIES CLOSE DOWN ORA
(Oromo Relief Association UK press release 8 Aug 95, by Lydia Namarra) We have just got the shocking news about ORA's projects in Hararghe, Wallagga and Borana. They have been closed, in fact the office in Borana is occupied by the EPRDF army and its property confiscated. The compound is now being used as an army camp.

Since its formation, ORA has struggled against all odds and managed to bring the plight of needy Oromo to international attention and raise support for them. This continued for nearly two decades. As of August 1991, ORA has been functioning under difficult circumstances, even though it has been legally recognized NGO under the Relief & Rehabilitation Commission of Ethiopia. In these four years ORA has expanded its outstanding work in relief and rehabilitation among the Oromo people.

...[The] government has closed important project [sic] in areas where ORA was legally allocated to work; this agreement had just been renewed.

ORA's project work is just beginning to bear fruit. Stores are filled with food and medical items awaiting distribution. The case of Borana is particularly urgent as the region has been suffering from serious drought and ORA's assistance is badly needed.

The responsibility for the damage done, and the lives that may be lost if food and medicine are not distributed, lies at the door of the Regional Government of Oromia who gave this order, and the Ethiopian Government which permitted it...

RCC REVOKES LICENCES OF 47 AID GROUPS
(Reuter 17 Aug 95)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia said on Thursday it had revoked licences of 47 international and local relief and development groups.

"Some of these NGOs (non-governmental organisations) were egnaged in raising funds in the name of assistance for Ethiopia and using them for their personal needs," the government-run Relief and Rehabilitation Commission said in a statement.

It said the names of the 47 banned groups would be made public next week and they would be asked to surrender all equipment they had been allowed to import duty-free.

Some 252 NGOs - international and local - are licensed to carry out relief and development activities in different parts of the Horn of African country, according to the commission.

DECREES ON AGREEMENTS WITH FOREIGNERS TO BE OBSERVED FOR SAKE OF SECURITY
(SWB 11 Aug 95 [RE in Amharic 1700 gmt 9 Aug 95])
Excerpt from report by Ethiopian radio on 9th August

The police central office has urged Ethiopians who rent out their houses to foreigners to submit their lease agreements to a court for registration. Individuals who rent out their houses and vehicles to foreigners should check and register the name and passport number, and see if the foreigner has a valid visa and legal entry permit and inform the immigration department of the Ministry of Interior, added the office...

Excerpts from statement issued by police headquarters; broadcast by Ethiopian radio on 9th August

It is through strengthening the comprehensive participation of the people and having people contribute towards respect for the law that we can maintain the country's peace, stability and social security...

** THE PRESS **

NEWSPAPER EDITOR SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT
(SWB 8 Jul 95 [RE in Amharic, 6 Jul 95])
One of the two editors of (?`Zog') newspaper convicted of publishing baseless allegations by the third criminal jury at the central high court has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment. The court said the editor-in-chief of (?`Zog'), Mr Twedros Kebede, had been found guilty of printing groundless allegations and rumours as if they were facts, knowing full well that he was duty-bound to make sure that what they were publishing was not liable to criminal proceedings.

One of the editors, Alemu Bogale, was set free because he was ill and in bad health at the time the allegations were published. The central prosecutor-general's office in its conviction statement said the newspaper had carried stories about agreements between the Oromo opposition military organizations which alleged that the Oromo Unity Liberation Front was fighting against the Weyane [a name given to the Tigray People's Liberation Front] on various war fronts, vowing not to put down its arms until what it described as the oppressed Muslim people of Oromia had attained freedom...

JUSTICE MINISTER WARNS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THEY MUST COOPERATE WITH MEDIA
(SWB 4 Aug 95 [RE in Amharic, 2 Aug 95])
The justice minister, Mehitema Soloman, today warned that all government officials are obliged to cooperate with the press. Since people have a right to be informed, government officials are obliged to cooperate with the press. He said journalists should also examine their approach in the pursuit of information. Tewodros Neway has the details from the Ethiopian News Agency.

[Tewodros - recording] In response to recent complaints from journalists that some government officials have created problems by not giving them information, Justice Minister Mr Mehitema Soloman said that since government officials are civil servants who draw up and implement plans and strategies, they should let people know what they are doing and allow them to judge it.

The minister said the press law stipulates that citizens are entitled to a balanced understanding of various crucial issues and to comment on government leadership and activities. He added that press institutions and their agents had the right to ask for news and information from any government information or broadcasting institution, to receive this information and to comment on it...

** DOMESTIC NEWS **

ETHIOPIA'S 1995-96 BUDGET PUT AT $1.6 BILLION
(Reuter 26 Jul 95)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia's council of representatives said on Wednesday it had approved a budget of $1.6 billion for 1995-96 with more than half allocated to the central government.

The council, the highest authority in the transitional government, said of the total $473 million would be secured from foreign aid with the rest generated from local revenue.

Ethiopia's annual budget for 1994-95 was $1.6 billion. Most of its income comes from exporting agricultural commodities such as coffee, pulses, hides and skin and livestock. The fiscal year begins on July 7.

The council said $877 million was allocated to the central government while the budget for nine new ethically-based federal regions would be around $650 million, taking into account population size, development and capacity to generate revenue...

AUTHORITY PLANS TO CONSTRUCT 11,000 KMS OF ROAD IN FIVE YEARS
(NN/pol.ethiopia 9 Aug 95 [EH 29 Jul 95])
WOLAITA SODO (ENA) - 11,000 kilometers of new asphalted and feeder roads wuld be constructed in the coming five years, an official disclosed. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Sodo-Shashemene road which opened to traffic last week Ato Haile Assegide, Minister of Works and Urban Development, said a plan has already been finalized to construct and repair 10,952 kilometers of road during the stated period.

Ato Haile, who is also board chairman of the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA), said the authority would undertake the construction of about 2,000 kilometers - new and old ones - and the remaining 9,000 kilometers would be carried out by private contractors.

The five-year road construction project includes the maintenance of asphalted and feeder roads and bridges. "Nearly 40 new bridges will be constructed," he added.

The board chairman further said the government would allocate a budget for the projects and at the same time, make efforts to get funds from foreign creditors.

Ethiopia has about 20,000 kms of ashalted and feeder roads, according to ERA publications.

US-ETHIOPIAN TASK FORCE TRAINS LAND-MINE CLEARANCE OPERATIVES
(SWB 29 Jul 95 [REE in English, 27 Jul 95])
The commander of the Ethio-American joint operation task force has said (?40) de-mining cadres drawn from the various divisions of the Ethiopian Defence Force are currently taking part in a three-week training that would enable them [to] acquire knowledge. According to Maj Cariel Bishop [both elements phonetic], commander of the joint task force, the programme will start by establishing a project under which the current batch of trainees would act as trainers and teach others who would carry out the remaining programmes.

Mr Haile Selase Wolde Gerima, coordinator of the programme on the Ethiopian side, said well-trained staff were necessary in the safe disposal of mines, which are hurdles to development endeavours.

On the gravity of the problem in Ethiopia Maj Bishop said there were an estimated 10m mines in Ethiopia and Eritrea, reducing land to unproductivity and killing a lot of people and animals each year.

** FOOD SECURITY **

EARLY RAINS MOSTLY GOOD
(NNS July 95)
USAID's Famine Early Warning System in Addis Ababa report that this year's Belg (early rain) was `generally good and much better than 1994'. The report, which covers five months from February, expects good harvests in most areas and at the national level. Pastoral areas also had a good season. The western highlands of North and South Wello and North Shewa alone are suffering their fourth poor season in succession -but food deliveries to those areas have already been underway for some months.

GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES REVOLVING FUNDS TO ASSIST PEASANTS
(NN/pol.ethiopia 1 Aug 95 [EH 1 Aug 95])
ADDIS ABABA (ENA) - An official of the Ministry of Agriculture disclosed that the government has earmarked 47 million Birr revolving and extension service promotion fund to help peasants in seven regional states.

Cooperatives and Extension Promotion Department Head Belay Ejigu said more than 36,000 peasants in 229 woredas of Somali, Benishangul, Harari, Amhara, Oromyia, Tigrai and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional States will benefit from the fund which will be used to buy fertilizers, seeds and other inputs as well as to promote extension services.

Peasants will borrow from the revolving fund and pay back within a year and would borrow again if they need it. The success of the new extension program depends on the timely reimbursement of the revolving fund.

Two hundred and ninety development workers have been deployed in the areas selected for the implementation of the programme. They are rendering counselling and practical services and educating farmers to effectively use the money they borrow from the fund...

INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL NGOS
(NNS July 95)
The US based Private Agencies Collaborating Together (PACT) will shortly be starting a new initiative to support and develop the NGO sector in Ethiopia.

The Director of the initiative, Mr Eugene Chivaroli, former USAID representative to Nigeria, has begun work in the country, and will be recruiting staff to work with him on the multi-year US$3.6 million programme which is being provided by USAID. The initiative will aim to work with and through existing local consortia and NGOs such as the Christian Relief and Development Association, Consortium of Ethiopian Voluntary Organisations and the InterAfrica Group in providing targeted training, technical assistance and management consulting services to NGOs.

The main areas of NGO work which the initiative aims to support are food security, democracy and governance, education, and support to street children activities - after the initial phase of the programme, the PACT initiative will provide small grants to NGOs to support programmes in these four sectors.

ETHIOPIAN NGOS MEET WORLD BANK EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
(NNS July 95)
Seven of the twenty four Executive Directors of the World Bank passed through Ethiopia as part of a four country tour of Africa on July 26-28. They met with private sector, government and NGOs in Addis Ababa. The NGO meeting gave leaders in the sector the opportunity to put their points of view across to some of the most powerful policy makers in the World Bank. They raised the need for the Resident Mission in Addis Ababa to communicate more with NGOs, concerns about the impact of structural adjustment policies in the country, possible NGO participation in poverty assessments and other missions, and that they would like to get more information on the Bank and its activities...

[Issues raised] include: that NGOs should contribute their experience in, for example, land, agriculture or irrigation; that NGOs should demonstrate to government their capacity to undertake social mobilisation, participation and projects with positive impact; that NGOs should get greater access to national project information - the World Bank has made some improvements in this area but they can still do more to ensure that it reaches people; not only the Bank and governments should participate in discussions on projects - NGOs, grass roots groups, regional governments and local authorities should also be involved; the Bank should encourage NGOs' negotiation with them; it should also support institutional strengthening of NGOs and also public officials, ministries, and local and regional government representatives; finally NGOs should be able to participate in the design, methodology, execution, monitoring and evaluation of projects (i.e. the whole project cycle) starting at the early stage and not at the end, as usually happens.

WORLD BANK FUNDS TWO FARMING PROJECTS IN ETHIOPIA
(Reuter 15 Jun 95)
WASHINGTON - The International Development Association, the lending affiliate of the World Bank, approved two projects valued at $142 million to enhance farming production in Ethiopia, the World Bank said on Thursday.

One project valued at $120 million will help achieve accelerated and sustainable growth in agricultural production and productivity by helping promote growth of a competitive fertiliser sector...

The second project, valued at $22 million, would lay the foundation for development of a broad-based and competitive seed industry...

EU FUNDS FISHING DEVELOPMENT
(AED 19 Jun 95)
The EU has granted the government EB20.15 million ($3.2 million) to finance the development of inland fisheries in the country, the Ethiopian News Agency has reported.

The report quoted Ato Sileshi, a fishery resources development officer, as saying the money would be used by the people interested in involvement in fishery development activities and increasing the consumption of the not-yet-exploited national wealth...

** REFUGEES AND REPATRIATION **

REFUGEES FROM SOMALIA AND SUDAN
(NN/africa.horn 20 Jun 95 [UNHCR Refugees Update May 95])
...There was a slight increase in the number of Somali refugees listed by the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) in the eastern camps in the past one month. The most recent arrivals, since the outbreak of fighting in Burao, N.W. Somalia, last March, now total some 9,000 with the majority in Daror camp in the Aware area. Added to the old caseload and those who fled following the fighting in Hargeisa in November 1994, the total assisted Somali population in the eastern camps has now reached 271,847.

The fighting which broke out late last March in Burao seemed to have been reduced to sporadic hit-and-run attacks.

In the western refugee settlements of Bonga, Fugnido and Dimma, an increase of 2,181 in the number of Sudanese refugees was registered. The assisted Sudanese refugee population stands at 55,443.

Moreover, ARRA informed UNHCR that over 1,200 Sudanese asylum seekers were awaiting screening in Tharpam screening centre in Gambella region. The newly-arrived asylum seekers may have come from Nasir town in the Sudanese Upper Nile Province. Nasir town, once a stronghold of Riak Machar s South Sudanese Independent Movement (SSIM), was recaptured by the Sudanese army in late March.

Repatriation of Ethiopians from Sudan and Kenya continues

Some 2,100 Ethiopian returnees were repatriated this month from Port-Sudan in three convoys...

Meanwhile the airlift repatriation from Dadaab, Kenya, to Gode, in south-eastern Ethiopia, continued with a total of 801 arrivals during May aboard 14 flights. So far, some 1,775 Ethiopian returnees have been airlifted back to Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Jijiga and Gode from Kenya. Another 707 returnees were repatriated overland via Moyale bringing the total number of Ethiopian refugees repatriated this year from Kenya to 2,482...

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
(United Nations Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia, Monthly Situation Report, July 95)
An estimated 1,000 unaccompanied minors from various ethnic backgrounds (Nibian, Dinka and Nuer) crossed into Ethiopia from Nassir area in July, having initially fled into Mawit before the recapturing of the town by government forces in March 1995. Following registration, the new arrivals were transferred to Fugnido camp. General nutritional status of these refugees seems satisfactory despite the long period of time they have spent in transit between Mawit and Gambella.

The assisted population in the western refugee settlement areas has reached 57, 225 with the following breakdown: Bonga 15,469; Fugnido 31,704; and Dimma 10, 052. This includes the new influx in July.

REFUGEES RETURN FROM JIBUTI
(SWB 28 Jul 95 [RE in English, 26 Jul 95])
Some 1,500 Ethiopians who sought refuge in the Shebele [phonetic] camp of Jibuti have been repatriated and reached the town of Dire Dawa [eastern Ethiopia]...

** FOREIGN RELATIONS **

SECRETARY-GENERAL MAKES ONE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO ETHIOPIA
(UNIC 18 Jul 95 [UN document SG/T/1983 17 Jul 95])
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali arrived at Addis Ababa today, 17 July, in the late afternoon for a one-day visit to Ethiopia...

The Secretary-General proceeded to the presidential palace to meet with the President of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia, Ato Meles Zenawi, who is also the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). They had an extremely positive tete-a-tete which lasted 50 minutes. The Secretary-General briefed the President on his just completed tour in Africa during which he visited 6 countries: Egypt, Uganda, Rwanda, Angola, Zaire and Burundi. They had a discussion on the political situation in Africa.

The Secretary-General invited the President to come to New York from 20 to 24 October to speak on behalf of the OAU at the summit meeting of the General Assembly to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. The President stated that he also supported fully the Secretary-General with regard to the need to strengthen cooperation between the OAU and the United Nations...

US EMBASSY DENIES REDUCTION IN AID
(SWB 20 Jul 95 [REE in English, 18 Jul 95])
The US embassy here in Addis Ababa has issued a press release statement concerning misleading reports on aid to Ethiopia that appeared in the international and local electronic and print media. The press release issued by the embassy said that claims that the US Congress is cutting or prohibiting aid to Ethiopia, as it has been reported by some media quarters, were incorrect. It said the amendment that foreign operations appropriations are unanimously accepted by the US House of Representatives did not prohibit or cut off current or future aid to Ethiopia but calls for monitoring of the human rights situation as the fiscal year 1996 aid is being disbursed...

KUWAIT TO OPEN EMBASSY IN ETHIOPIA
(SWB 15 Jul 95 [REE in English, 13 Jul 95])
Kuwait Crown Prince Emir Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah has disclosed that his country will open its embassy in Ethiopia in a bid to strengthen its relations...

QATAR AND ETHIOPIA ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
(SWB 18 Jul 95 [Wakh news agency, Manama, in Arabic 16 Jul 95])
Text of report by the Gulf news agency Wakh
Doha, 16th July: The State of Qatar and Ethiopia have agreed to establish diplomatic relations on a non-resident ambassador level...

** ECONOMIC NEWS **

EIU COUNTRY UPDATE
(Economic Intelligence Unit via RBB 7 Jul 95)
OVERVIEW: The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front's (EPRDF) overwhelming victory in the elections in May should boost its confidence and ability to push ahead with policy reforms. Further steps towards a market economy are expected.

Nonetheless, doubts remain over the principles underlying reforms and the modalities of changes scheduled, led by proposals for privatisation, joint ventures and the attraction of foreign direct investment. Growth for this fiscal year is confidently expected to attain the target of 5-6%, with inflation remaining below the 10% ceiling.

The recovery in agricultural output and the continued buoyancy of world coffee prices should boost tax revenue, contain the government deficit and restrict the current-account deficit to the target of 3% of GDP...

COFFEE EXPORTS RISE TO 78,000 T IN '94/95
(Reuter 12 Jul 95)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia has exported 78,000 tonnes of coffee in the 1994/95 crop year (October-September), up from 73,000 tonnes in 1993/94 and 69,362 in 1992/93, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority said.

Ethiopia has earned $298.2 million and could have exported more coffee but held back some stocks because of fluctuating international prices, the authority said.

Export earnings were $153.8 million in 1993/94 and $130 million in 1992/93...

ETHIOPIA EARNS $66.5 MILLION FROM HIDES AND SKINS
(Reuter 19 Jul 95)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia, Africa's largest livestock owner, said on Wednesday it earned $66.5 million from exporting animal hides and skin in the fiscal year ending July 7.

The National Bank of Ethiopia, the central bank, said the $66.5 million was the result of an export drive by private and state-owned enterprises. Ethiopia has an estimated 25 million head of cattle.

But because of lack of proper management of livestock, the country usually makes little money from export, economists said...

ASSAB FREIGHT UP 20 PER CENT
(AED 17 Jul 95)
About 1.1 million tonnes of freight entered the country via Eritrea's Assab port during 1994. This represents a 20 per cent increase on the previous year.

S O M A L I A

SACB - Somalia Aid Coordination Body
SAMO - Somali African Muki Organisation
SDA - Somali Democratic Alliance
SDM - Somali Democratic Movement
SLA - Somali Liberation Army
SNA - Somali National Alliance
SNDU - Somali National Democratic Union
SNF - Somali National Front
SNM - Somali National Movement
SNU - Somali National Union
SORRA - Somali Relief and Rehabilitation Agency
SPM - Somali Patriotic Movement
SSA - Somali Salvation Alliance
SSDF - Somali Salvation Democratic Front
SSNM - Southern Somali National Movement
USC - United Somali Congress
USF - United Somali Front
USP - United Somali Party

** HUNGER THREATENS SOMALIA **

USAID SITUATION REPORT
(USAID/BHR/OFDA Situation Report #3, 7 Jul 95) U.S. Agency for International Development Bureau for Humanitarian Response (BHR) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)

...Current Situation

A tenuous peace continues to hold throughout Somalia in the wake of the withdrawal of UNOSOM forces and the expiration of the U.N.'s mandate on March 30, 1995. The Mogadishu seaport, the main conduit for food and other supplies into the capital and other areas, remains open, albeit sporadically, due to an agreement between rival Hawiye subclans. While localized fighting continues in portions of the country, Somalia has not reverted to anarchy, as many analysts had feared. The international community remains cautiously optimistic regarding the long- term prospects of nation building in Somalia as a result of the relatively positive security situation following the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces.

Other effects of UNOSOM's withdrawal do, however, continue to reverberate throughout the country. UNOSOM spent an estimated $1 billion per year in Somalia, primarily in Mogadishu, and served as the country's largest employer. Since March, Mogadishu has experienced hyperinflation, currency depreciation, and rising unemployment as approximately 5,000 Somalis lost their jobs. Coupled with rising food prices in the capital, this decrease in purchasing power appears to have resulted in declining nutritional conditions in Mogadishu, particularly among the highly vulnerable internally displaced population (IDP). Other pockets of malnutrition, unrelated to UNOSOM's departure, were also discovered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Lower Juba. Comprehensive assessments are underway in both areas to determine the full extent of food insecurity.

Food insecurity could increase in the next few months as the upcoming main season ("Gu") harvest is estimated at about 235,000 to 250,000 metric tons (MT). This represents a 20% decrease from last year's main harvest and about 50% of the pre-war average. A comprehensive crop assessment will be conducted by the World Food Program's (WFP's) Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) next month. Carryover food stocks from 1994 remain high, so it is expected that the result of the poor harvest will be higher prices in urban areas, rather than widespread food shortages...

Relief Efforts

Despite the withdrawal of U.N. peacekeepers, international involvement in Somalia continues through the funding and operation of extensive humanitarian programs. The U.N. estimates that 47 U.N. agencies and NGOs are active throughout Somalia. Despite isolated security incidents, program implementation appears to be progressing well in most areas. A recent assessment of the IDP in Mogadishu, conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), resulted in a major revision of IDP roles. IOM concluded that there are only 138,359 people who qualify in this category in the capital-- half of what had previously been estimated by UNOSOM. The majority of the IDP reside in shelters throughout Mogadishu...

AGENCIES FEAR WORSE TO COME IN SOUTHERN SOMALIA
(Reuter 9 Aug 95)
NAIROBI - Aid agencies said on Wednesday that malnutrition rates may increase in Somalia's southern port of Kismayu due to an influx of people driven by a poor harvest in the nearby Juba Valley.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF-Doctors Without Borders) Belgium said a nutritional survey in July showed moderate and severe malnutrition in Kismayu and surrounding displaced camps stood at 17.8 percent.

MSF said this was no significant change from a survey last September which put moderate and severe malnutrition at 14.3 percent. But overall the situation appeared to be deteriorating. It said residents of Kismayu town in the survey showed higher malnutrition rates than displaced people in the camps.

"This is because the people in the camps have been there for about five years so they have found ways of making some money and surviving," MSF Kismayu coordinator Gilbert Hascoet told Reuters.

"In contrast we have had 15,000 newcomers arriving in the town itself in the last six months and mostly they haven't been able to find a way of earning money to buy food," he added.

Aid agencies are concerned about increasing malnutrition, especially in the capital Mogadishu, following the withdrawal of the last U.N. peacekeepers in March and fear that famine may return to Somalia unless they are allowed to operate in safety...

WFP TO RESUME FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN KISMAAYO
(SWB 29 Jul 95 [KNA news agency, Nairobi, in English 28 Jul 95])
Nairobi, 28th July: The World Food Programme (WFP) announced yesterday that it will attempt to distribute 140 tons of urgently needed food to the most vulnerable people in Kismaayo this weekend [29th-30th July], following a five-week suspension of WFP operations in the city. WFP was forced to halt activities [on] 19th June, when local militia went on yet another looting spree in its warehouse, stealing 240 tons of wheat flour. They then seized full control of the facility. Other UN agencies also suspended non-emergency operations.

Harassment of international staff, including frequent attempts to extort food and cash from WFP staff, resulted in the withdrawal of WFP internationals from Kismaayo in late April. WFP national staff kept the office open until all operations were suspended on 19th June, a faxed statement from [the] WFP Nairobi office reported.

WFP decided to make a renewed attempt at distribution after community elders promised to ensure that the militia would release the food from the warehouse...

** AID EFFORTS **

ECHO SUPPORTS MEDICAL AND FOOD AID FOR VICTIMS OF CONFLICT IN SOMALIA (European Commission press release via RBB, Ref: IP/95/694, 30 Jun 95) The conflict that has been devastating Somalia since 1991 has left its people very vulnerable and dependent on humanitarian aid. The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has approved a grant of 350,000 ECU for medical aid and for a survey to check on food needs.

ECHO plans to work with two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on programmes scheduled to last up to six months.

The Coordinating Committee of the Organization for Voluntary Service (COSV), an Italian NGO, will work at the medical centre in Hoddur, where no other international agency is active at present. Its aim is to set up a programme that will benefit a catchment area covering some 100,000 people, and to train personnel to take over in due course. This programme is being carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation and World Food Programme.

Action Internationale Contre la Faim, a French NGO, will carry out a survey to establish food needs in six potentially endangered parts of the country. Somalia has a population of about nine million, and about a third is thought to be vulnerable to malnutrition. This survey will define current needs and set out a framework for future action in this area. It will be carried out in collaboration with the World Food Programme.

An ECHO representative on the spot will continue to monitor these activities for the next six months.

OPERATION ECHO-FLIGHT EXTENDED IN EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
(RBB 15 Aug 95 [RAPID Ref: IP/95/907, 9 Aug 95])
Humanitarian aid for crisis-stricken areas of Somalia and Southern Sudan will have the back-up of Operation ECHO-Flight at least until February 1996 thanks to European Union funding for this lifeline. A grant of 3,500,000 ECU will maintain the service for six months from August.

The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) launched the ECHO-Flight service in May 1994. It works with nine aircraft, based in Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti and Somalia. The grant of 3,500,000 ECU will provide the funding for a C-130 Hercules "heavy lift" aircraft.

The service is essential in a region where overland transport is too hazardous because of security risks. ECHO-Flight aircraft in general are used to fly cargo and passengers, as well as evacuating emergency medical cases. The service has been designed primarily for the benefit of non-governmental organisations working in humanitarian aid operations. It is free of charge to them. The heavy lift aircraft is used mainly to airdrop food aid. It can also land with seeds and tools as necessary...

SAUDI TV TO ORGANISE CHARITY CAMPAIGN
(Moneyclips via RBB 9 Aug 95 [Saudi Gazette])
Riyadh, Aug. 4 (SPA): The Saudi Television will organise a charity campaign in co- operation with the Higher Authority for collecting donations for the Muslims of Bosnia- Herzegovina and Somalia next Friday, August 11, in line with directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahad.

The programme entitled 'Campaign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for solidarity with the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina' will be a 12-hour programme from 1 pm to 1 am. It will receive offers of cash donations through telephone and fax numbers which will be announced tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a second consignment of relief materials destined for the Bosnian Muslims collected by the authority left Jeddah Islamic Port yesterday, the Okaz Arabic daily reported. A major portion of the urgent dispatch will be distributed among refugees anxiously waiting for food and medical supplies near Tuzla airport who are the victims of the latest Serb aggression in the Bosnian cities of Srebrenica and Zepa.

The Higher Authority for collecting donations is headed by Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh Region.

** BAIDOA **

BAIDOA REBORN
(ION 8 Jul 95, p.4)
Lengthy negotiations earlier this year led in May to the creation of a supreme council of the Dighil-Mirifle clans under the chairmanship of Abdulkadir Mohamed (aka Zoppo, an Italian word meaning lame) and under the executive leadership of the lawyer Hassan Sheikh Ibrahim ..., who drafted the "constitutional act" of this new regional unit which includes the administrative regions of Bay and Bakol (with Baidoa as capital). The draft constitution defends the indentity of the Dighil-Mirifle clans, declares Islam to be the state religion, rejects separatism, calls for disarmament of the local population, and proposes a federal type framework for Somalia. The Nairobi-based European Union representative for Somalia, Sigurd Illing, was present in Baidoa on May 25 when the supreme council was officially installed. He said afterwards that an EU representative office would be opened in the town and would be set up in a building made available by the regional body and which is to be renovated at a cost of about US$ 70,000. Other offices have been put at the disposal of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the US agency USAID. The supreme council has already promulgated a fiscal law, another on the detention of firearms, and has made initial contacts with a view to repairing Baidoa airport (which the EU may agree to finance)...

SOMALIS MAKE PEACE TRADITIONAL WAY
(Reuter 19 Jul 95)
MOGADISHU - Clan elders in central Somalia have reached a peace agreement after at least 20 people were killed in violence between ethnic militias last weekend, residents contacted by radio said on Wednesday.

A traditional "peace feast" will be held in the central town of Baidoa and other spots where clashes took place for three days last week between the Leysan on the one hand and the allied Haren and Eley clans on the other, elders said.

The fighting, in which about 45 people were wounded in Baidoa, forced aid workers from the United Nations and other relief agencies to stop work. They were able to resume the work as a result of the peace agreement.

Clan elders have also forged a peace deal between the Hadame and Jirron clans which recently fought in the central Bakool province, forcing expatriate workers of the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) to evacuate.

An estimated 300,000 people starved to death in the 1993 famine, which was worst in Bakool and the Bay province of which Baidoa is the capital...

** HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES **

INDEPENDENT EXPERT TO STUDY SOMALIA
(UNIC 28 Jul 95 [UN document ECOSOC/5622 27 Jul 95])
GENEVA, 25 July--The Economic and Social Council this afternoon adopted 59 resolutions and decisions on human rights concerns, including the right to development and the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities...

In a decision on assistance to Somalia in human rights, the Council approved the Commission's request to the independent expert to study ways and means of how best to implement a programme of advisory services for that country upon request. That would be effected through the contributions of agencies and programmes of the United Nations currently in the field, aimed at re-establishing respect for human rights and the rule of law and strengthening the police, the judicial and prison systems in Somalia...

ECHO TO AID SOMALI REFUGEES IN KENYA
(RBB 15 Aug 95 [RAPID, Ref: IP/95/911, 9 Aug 95])
Kenya is currently hosting some 48,500 Somali refugees fleeing the breakdown of law and order in Somalia since 1991. The European Union is contributing to an appeal on their behalf with a grant of 329,000 ECU.

The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) will work in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross on a project to provide food, water and sanitation, as well as basic medical care for the refugees. About a quarter of them are now very vulnerable. They are living in refugee camps based in Marafa, Swaleh-Nguru, Hatimi and Jomvu on the Kenyan coast.

ECHO's contribution will cover the costs of hiring staff, both expatriate and local, and transport on the spot for six months.

This operation is being carried out in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Kenyan authorities.

LIBYA EXPELS HUNDREDS OF SOMALIS
(Reuter 20 Jun 95)
TUNIS - Libya has expelled nearly 350 Somalis who are now stranded on the Libya- Tunisia border, travellers said on Tuesday.

The Somali group, including women and children, has since Monday been in the no- man's-land between the Libyan and Tunisian control posts unable to cross to Tunisia because of lack of passports and visas, a witness told Reuters by telephone from the border.

Tunisian officials would not comment.

Libya earlier this year said it would expell about 2.5 million foreign workers, saying that U.N. sanctions imposed on it since 1992 had a negative impact on the work force...

TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR SOMALIS EXTENDED IN US
(Business Wire via RBB 1 Aug 95)
WASHINGTON--Attorney General Janet Reno has ordered an extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for approximately 350 nationals of Somalia currently living in the United States. The extension designation, effective immediately, will be valid until Sept. 17, 1996.

Because this is an extension, and not a new designation, all Somali registrants must have been "continuously physically present" in the United States since Sept. 16, 1991, and either already registered for TPS or eligible for late initial registration. This extension will ensure that eligible Somalis will not be forced to return to their homeland while present dangers exist...

** VIOLENCE CONTINUES **

MORE THAN 60 KILLED IN CLAN FIGHTING IN SOMALIA
(Reuter 8 Jul 95, by Aden Ali)
MOGADISHU - At least 61 people have been killed in central Somalia and the capital Mogadishu in fighting between rival clan militias in the past week, Somalia sources and militia officials said on Saturday.

Most of the fighting took place in central Somalia between supporters of General Mohamed Farah Aideed's Habre Gedir clan and those of the Marehan clan of the Somali National Front (SNF) of late dictator Mohamed Siad Barre...

"Inter-clan skirmishes have risen in the three weeks since supporters of Aideed proclaimed him president of the whole of Somalia," Tarabi told reporters. "It is because people are a little more uncertain of political trends."

A spokesman for Aideed's Somali National Alliance (SNA) said that before the fighting broke out, mostly in Aideed-supporting villages in Galgadud, SNF militia had raided the area and killed 23 people to punish them for apparently backing the wrong group.

Tarabi denied that, saying SNF militia were not involved in any massacre of innocent people.

Somali sources said that among other deaths two people were killed and dozens wounded on Friday when rival factions within the SNA shot at each other along the road to the airport in Mogadishu.

Fighting then spread to the airport but died down in the night and on Saturday Mogadishu remain calm.

Tarabi said four Marehan clansmen had been killed in Mogadishu in the past three days, the body of one being found handcuffed on Mogadishu beach. He blamed their deaths of Aideed militia.

The SNA official blamed "blood feuds" for the fighting but Tarabi said jostling for political power led to the fresh wave of fighting.

In Mogadishu, Aideed on a visit to his radio, which he terms his information ministry, said that those who took part in the struggle for Somali emancipation would be honoured.

He also pledged that "the fruits of their treason" would go to those Somalis who he said had sided with the Horn of African country's enemies.

Three weeks ago, after Aideed was ousted as SNA chairman by his one-time financier, Osman Atto, in a party coup, Aideed's followers declared him president of the country.

SOMALI BLAZE TOLL AT LEAST 12
(Reuter 11 Jul 95)
MOGADISHU - At least 12 people, many of them looters shot by guards, were killed in a huge fire in the Somali capital's main market, witnesses said on Tuesday.

The overnight fire in Mogadishu caused millions of dollars of damage to the market which sells everything from food to guns and gold.

Clan militia leader Mohamed Farah Aideed led his men personally in battling the fire which started in south Mogadishu's Bakaaraha market at dusk on Monday.

Gunmen from his arch-rival Ali Mahdi Mohamed's faction in the north of the city also downed their weapons in an attempt to help during the 10-hour struggle against the blaze...

/HAB/ According to reports by pro-Aideed radio as reported by SWB, Aideed has appointed a committee to investigate the blaze, as well as a "peace committee and a force to ensure the security of the market..."

On the other hand, pro-Ali Mahdi radio has reported Ali Mahdi as saying that the fire was not an accident, but "the result of deliberate banditry". Ali Mahdi also accused Aydid of ordering militia members to shoot "indiscriminately" in order to prevent people from extinguishing the blaze and saving property.

MORE THAN 60 ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU CENTRAL PRISON
(Reuter 12 Aug 95)
MOGADISHU - More than 60 Somalis, former militia gunmen jailed for robbery, indiscipline or killings, escaped from Mogadishu's central prison on Friday, witnesses said.

They said 68 escaped from the prison near the port on Friday afternoon. Prison warders have not been paid since U.N. troops pulled out in March but receive food for work from the U.N. food agency.

The prison is in territory controlled by faction leader Mohamed Farah Aideed, elected "president" of Somalia by supporters in June. His government has received no international recognition.

** KIDNAPPINGS CONTINUE **

GERMAN VETERINARIAN FREED IN SOMALIA AFTER 19 DAYS
(Reuter 14 Jun 95)
NAIROBI - A German veterinarian kidnapped in northeastern Somalia was freed after 19 days and no ransom was paid, the European Union special envoy's office said on Wednesday.

In a statement it said Heinz Stachelsheid who works for the German aid agency Johanniter International was kidnapped by gunmen near from the village of Badhan on May 25.

"No clear reasons have as yet emerged for the abduction," said the statement, adding Stachelsheid was now resting in the Red Sea port of Djibouti and would return to Germany later on Wednesday.

It said his safe and unconditional release was the work of traditional leaders and particularly the sultan of the Warsengeli who showed commitment to international cooperation...

More than a dozen foreign aid workers have been kidnapped in Somalia since 1993 by gunmen demanding ransoms or in financial disputes with their agencies. All have been freed unharmed...

UNICEF INFORMATION OFFICER FREED
(Reuter 4 Aug 95)
NAIROBI - A Somali working for the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) was freed on Wednesday by supporters of faction leader Mohamed Farah Aideed after nearly two weeks in captivity.

In a statement on Friday, UNICEF said Aden Mohamed Ali, an assistant information officer in Mogadishu, was freed and flown to the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Thursday after talks with Aideed's administration and the supporters who arrested him.

It said he had been held "on suspicion of disseminating information harmful to Aideed's recently proclaimed government" but gave no details...

SOMALIS SET CONDITIONS FOR RELEASE OF PAKISTANIS
(Reuter 10 Aug 95)
MOGADISHU - A spokesman for Somali faction leader Mohamed Farah Aideed has set conditions for the release of 12 Pakistani fishermen held in Mogadishu for more than four months.

The spokesman for the government set up by Aideed in June, which has no international recognition, said on Wednesday the men should pay an unspecified fine for intruding into Somali territory.

He also said the government of Pakistan should formally recognise Aideed's group as the legitimate Somali government.

It only became publicly known last week that the Pakistanis and one man of Palestinian origin were being held at a house in south Mogadishu when journalists saw gunmen take them out one- by-one to wash shortly before Moslem prayers.

One of the gunmen told journalists this week the 13 had been held for more than four months in very bad conditions and were fed once every 24 hours. He said they had no change of clothes.

Guards said the Pakistanis and Palestinian were arrested for fishing illegally in Somali waters south of Mogadishu...

** SHARIA **

CLAN LEADER CALLS FOR ISLAMIC SHARIA LAW
(Reuter 10 Jul 95)
MOGADISHU - Clan militia leader Ali Mahdi Mohamed wants Islamic sharia law, with amputations for theft to execution for murder, imposed across Somalia to bring law and order to the anarchic country.

Mogadishu radio, which supports Ali Mahdi, quoted him late on Sunday as saying "implementation of Islamic sharia law is the only way out of the present economic and socio-political problems in the country".

He made this call during talks with religious leaders in the northern enclave of Mogadishu which is controlled by his militias and where sharia courts have been functioning since August 1994.

Sharia has become popular among many Somalis because the harsh system of punishments has helped drive off the streets armed thugs who have terrorised people since the country collapsed into lawlessness four years ago.

But sharia has been opposed by Ali Mahdi's arch-rival Mohamed Farah Aideed, whose clan militia controls parts of south Mogadishu.

Somalia had a secular constitution from independence in 1960 -although it has not been adhered to since all state institutions collapsed with the overthrow of the last government in 1991. Most Somalis have aligned themselves according to their clan in the troubled 1990s. Religion and nationalism have so far failed to bring them together.

Many Mogadishu residents also point out that swarms of Aideed's Habre Gedir clansmen have invaded Mogadishu and the fertile hinterland during the last four years of civil strife, occupying houses and vast swathes of farming land.

In north Mogadishu, the sharia courts have served to return properties to their original owners...

** SPLIT: AIDEED--OSMAN ATTO **

IN SOMALIA, A CHAMELEON THRIVES
(NomadNet [NYT 31 Jul 95, by Donatella Lorch])
A millionaire businessman, reputed arms dealer and drug trafficker, self-styled diplomat and peacemaker, Osman Hassan Ali has his own private army in Somalia. But as he limps into the lobby in Nairobi's Intercontinental Hotel, wearing a jacket and striped shirt and clutching a crutch in one hand, he hardly raises an eyebrow.

Accompanied by only one bodyguard, Osman Ato, as he is widely known (Ato is a nickname that means "skinny"), has come for coffee and a chat with an American Embassy official. The get-together is part of a whirlwind of meetings on Somalia's future that occupy much of his time these days as he commutes in and out of Mogadishu...

Straight-talking and focused but coy about his own ambitions, Osman Ato is the chameleon of Somali politicians, showing himself to be a master of survival and adapting to shifting alliances. He financed clan militias during Somalia's civil war; built deadly "technicals," the four-wheel-drive cars mounted with antiaircraft guns and other automatic weapons, and expanded his fortune with United Nations contracts.

Now he says he wants to bring peace to his country so business can thrive and Somalia can rebuild itself. Of all the Somali political players, Osman Ato is the most skillful and pragmatic, Western diplomats say...

In 1992, Osman Ato helped pave the way for the food airlift and later the American troop landing. He was the Americans' main contact and negotiator with General Aidid.

Within half a year as the tension escalated and the United Nations began an all-out assault against General Aidid, the American military bombed Osman Ato's garages, destroying hundreds of thousands of dollars of bulldozers and other equipment as well as equipment that gave him the ability to build technicals. American military officials described him as "General Aidid's evil genius."

As they searched for Mr. Aidid, the American military arrested and imprisoned Osman Ato. In prison on an island off the coast of Somalia for four months, he suffered from malnutrition and severe neglect, former Western diplomats in Somalia say.

A year and a half after his release, Osman Ato's garages are up and running and making technicals again, he says. He is also once again talking and dealing with the Americans, trying to negotiate for funds for reconciliation conferences.

"We had a dispute but that dispute can be settled at a later stage," Osman Ato said about his relationship with the American Government. "We have to work with the Americans. We cannot live without them. We need their help in assisting Somalia. Personal grievances can come at a later date."

His pragmatism has brought at least grudging respect.

"He's very shrewd," said Robert Oakley, a former United States Ambassador to Somalia and its special envoy during the United Nations mission there. "Obviously he knows how to make deals and how to work with the Americans. He understands what makes sense to us.

"Not that he's our man," he said. "Politically, he can't afford to be too close to the Americans. He's one of the people keenly aware of how much damage we did to Somalia."...

"He makes more money than the country is making," Mr. Oakley said.

When the civil war broke out in Somalia in 1991, Osman Ato allied himself with Mr. Aidid and financed his militias. They are both members of the Hawiye clan and its Habr Gedir sub clan.

Mr. Oakley remembers a night in June 1993 when a truck piled high with weapons was smuggled out of Osman Ato's compound just days before his garage was bombed. When United Nations troops dug up the huge sand berms blocking roads near Osman Ato's garage, they found weapons caches. In a recent interview, Osman Ato said his garages were back in business making technicals.

Late last year, his car drove over a land mine in western Somalia and the explosion broke both his feet. He said he was only visiting the area; American diplomats said he was organizing a weapons transaction near the Ethiopian border.

Osman Ato said that when he was imprisoned by the American military, he was handcuffed and blindfolded for long periods of time. American diplomats deny it. But Mr. Oakley said Osman Ato's health had so deteriorated because of neglect and malnutrition that he had to be transferred to a hospital in Baidoa...

UTHMAN ATO SETS UP NEW RADIO STATION
(SWB 1 Aug 95 [KBC radio, Nairobi, in English 30 Jul 95])
Uthman Ali Ato, a former ally of warlord Gen Muhammad Farah Aydid, has commissioned a new radio station in south Mogadishu, his faction said. The new station is to cover a 6,000 km area and will be known as Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Somali Pacification. It is to broadcast initially in Somali, but later in English and Arabic, and is to operate on the same frequency as the rival warlord's radio station...

NOW SOMALIA HAS TWO PRESIDENTS
(NA Sept 95, p. 29)
Alice in Wonderland would appreciate Somalia now that General Aideed is the second man to declare himself President. Aideed was unanimously elected by a conference of 15 political organizations meeting in June. But most of the 15 were factions of factions, som e not even representative of the parties they claimed to represent.

General Aideed also conveniently ignored the fact that his main rival Ali Mahdi Mohamed was also theoretically elected national president by a majority of factions in February 1991. So Somalia now has tow presidents, not one.

Within a couple of weeks of the attempted seizure of power by Aideed, heavy fighting broke out in the streets of Mogadishu between his faction and that of Ali Mahdi. At least four people were killed.

Aideed's precipitate action was caused by his chief rival Osman Hassan Ali Ato, who three days earlier had been elected head of the United Somali Congress and the Somali National Alliance, effectively deposing Aideed.

About 140 delegates elected Ato, but Aideed did keep the loyalty of some prominent USC leaders who were made vice presidents. Aideed and Osman Ato are both of the Saad sub- clan of the Habr Gidir clan of the Hawiyes. The division between the two has weakened Aideed's support base even among his own people. Ato's strength is that he is a wealthy businessman who has control over large amounts of heavy weapons and "technicals".

Aideed took the opportunity of his opening address to tell a large rally in Mogadishu that now the colonialists would not be able to poke their noses into Somali affairs.

He went on to attack the Somaliland government and said that the war there was between SNM supporters who wanted to preserve Somali unity and a group led by the President Mohamed Egal. Within a couple of weeks Aideed was pleading with the international relief agencies, asking them to return to Somalia to urgently tackle "malnutrition and widespread hunger". People are dying of hunger in many parts of the country, including Mogadishu.

AYDID OFFERS TO PAY FOR SURRENDERED WEAPONS
(SWB 18 Aug 95 [Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Masses of the Somali Republic, in Somali 15 Aug 95])
Excerpt from report by Somali pro-Muhammad Farah Aydid radio on 15th August

Mr Muhammad Farah Aydid, the president of the Republic of Somalia, has today issued Decree No 2...

Article One: With effect from 15th August 1995, all heavy and light weapons and explosives which are in the hands of communities, fighters, companies, agencies and Somali people in general are to be surrendered to the government of the Republic of Somalia so that they become national property.

[Article] Two: The government will pay a reasonable sum of money, within six months, for any weapons collected in line with Article One...

** SOMALI FACTIONS MEET IN KENYA **

SOMALIA ORGANIZATIONS' MEETING IN KENYA REPORTEDLY REACHES AGREEMENT (SWB 15 Aug 95 [RVSP in Somali, 12 Aug 95]) Text of report by Somali pro-Uthman Ali Ato radio on12th August

Reliable reports from Nairobi, Kenya, today said that the Somali organizations meeting there have agreed on 11 articles which are in the common interest of the Somali people, and which will be elaborated later.

This meeting was greatly facilitated by the Organization of the Islamic Conference and some Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Malaysia. The Kenya government also expended a lot of energy in making the Somali organizations agree on reconciliation and national reconstruction. The government of Ethiopia was also closely following the debate at the Somali organizations' meeting in Nairobi.

UN WELCOMES FACTIONS' AGREEMENT IN KENYA
(Reuter 17 Aug 95, by Nicholas Kotch)
NAIROBI - ...The U.N. representative for Somalia said he welcomed Thursday's initiative by Somali factions and communities towards forming a common platform to resolve the crisis in Somalia.

But Abdul Kabia, who represents U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in a statement urged the factions to include supporters of Egal and Aideed in their initiative.

"The United Nations also implores the supporters of these two individuals (Egal and Aideed)...to enter into genuine dialogue with their compatriots in achieving a peaceful political settlement of the Somali crisis," the statement added.

Representatives of Ali Mahdi Mohammed, who also calls himself president and controls north Mogadishu, endorsed Atto's stand [against Aideed's claim of being president] at the news conference but did not comment on Mahdi's current status.

"We are saying there is no government in Somalia. But we are not pointing the finger at anyone," was Atto's response...

** RIVAL GROUPS CLAIM EMPTY OAU SEAT **

RIVAL SOMALI GROUPS TRY TO CLAIM EMPTY OAU SEAT
(Reuter 22 Jun 95)
ADDIS ABABA - Delegations from rival Somali militias are trying to claim their destroyed country's vacant seat at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) before the annual heads of state summit starting on Monday.

Mogadishu warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed, whose supporters unilaterally declared him "president" last week, sent his new "foreign minister" Jama Mohamed Qalim on Thursday to Addis Ababa...

Meanwhile, a delegation representing Aideed's bitter rival Ali Mahdi Mohamed - who has claimed since 1991 he is the true president - is reported to have arrived in Addis Ababa to also lobby for the vacant seat.

At its head is Osman Hassan Ali Atto, Aideed's former financier and right hand man who fell out with him before United Nations forces abandoned Somalia in March.

OAU spokesman Ibrahim Dagash said Aideed had requested the organisation hand over the seat at the foreign ministers' talks, but the official said:

"The secretariat will not allow Aideed's delegation to occupy the Somali seat at the council unless the foreign ministers decide otherwise."

He said the foreign ministers were expected to discuss the issue of what to do with Somalia's seat on Thursday or Friday...

OAU DECIDES TO KEEP SOMALIA SEAT VACANT
(Reuter 6 Jul 95)
ADDIS ABABA - African leaders have decided to give Somalia's seat in the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU) to none of the warring Somali factions, OAU officials said on Thursday.

They said the OAU summit in Addis Ababa last week had decided to recognise no party in Somalia as the legitimate government and to keep Somali's seat vacant until a broad-based government was formed there...

** FOREIGN RELATIONS **

ALI MAHDI HITS OUT AGAINST LIBYA
(Reuter 19 Jul 95)
MOGADISHU - Somali clan militia leader Ali Mahdi Mohamed accused Libya on Wednesday of aiding rival Mohamed Farah Aideed and said it would be held responsible for any new fighting in Somalia.

Speaking to reporters at his north Mogadishu home, Ali Mahdi urged the international community to discourage Libya from backing Aideed's proclamation by supporters as president of Somalia...

MOI SUPPORTS AIDEED
(Reuter 26 Jul 95)
NAIROBI - ...Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi said at an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) heads of state summit in Addis Ababa last month that Aideed's election as president was a step in the right direction...

KENYA ARRESTS, RELEASES OSMAN ATTO
(Reuter 27 Jul 95, by Nanna Mwaluko)
NAIROBI - Kenyan authorities released Somali clan militia chief Osman Hassan Ali Atto overnight after holding him for nearly 24 hours, relatives said on Thursday.

No comment was available from the authorities on the arrest of Osman Atto, a former right- hand man of militia chief Mohamed Farah Aideed and now a major rival of his.

"He was released last night. He is now holding talks with government officials over the matter. It is only after the meeting that we will know why they arrested him in the first place," a relative told Reuters.

Between 30 and 40 Kenyan police officers, some in uniform and others in plain clothes, raided Osman Atto's Nairobi home on Tuesday night.

"They left early on Wednesday with Mr Atto and about 20 other Somalis under arrest and took his documents," another relative said. He said Atto and the other Somalis had valid visas for Kenya...

KENYA APOLOGISES FOR SOMALI FACTION CHIEF'S ARREST
(Reuter 28 Jul 95, by Peter Smerdon)
NAIROBI - Somali faction leader Osman Ali Hassan Atto said on Friday Kenya's president had apologised for his arrest and assured him he did not support any individual as Somalia's leader.

Osman Atto told Reuters President Daniel arap Moi was apparently unaware of his arrest by Kenyan police with 20 other Somalis in Nairobi early on Wednesday and the government had intervened for their release.

Moi met Osman Atto and representatives of other factions on Thursday and warned them not to use Kenya as a base to attack each other and said the government should be informed in advance of their meetings.

"His (Moi's) main topic was he did not support any faction or individual and there was no Somali government. He apologised for our arrest and said he was sorry for the incident," he said...

S O M A L I L A N D

** CLASHES **

ISSA REBELS CLASH WITH SOMALILAND TROOPS

(SWB 12 Aug 95 [RFI in French, 10 Aug 95])

The Jibuti army has this morning been put on alert along the country' s border with the self- proclaimed Republic of Somaliland. The Jibuti authorities fear a flare- up of clashes between the Somaliland army and the Issa militias of the United Somalia Front [untraced; in French: Front de la Somalie Unifiee]. Yesterday the militias attacked the locality of Barisle, less than five kilometres from the border. According to Radio Hargeisa, two soldiers and nine militiamen were killed. The Issa rebels admit to five deaths from among their ranks and say that 31 soldiers were killed. Our reporter is Abdi Aden:

[Aden] Today the Somaliland soldiers and the Issa rebels are facing each other at Tokhoshi, some 20 km from the Jibuti border, and fighting is likely to flare up anew.

The reason for the fighting is to see who can win control of a nine- square- kilometre area claimed by Issa nomads, who are also demanding regional autonomy based on the Boorama charter. The charter is supposed to regulate intertribal affairs in Somaliland. The government of Muhammad Ibrahim Egal does not see things that way, however. He wants to set up an administration which, he says, will represent the three main tribes that live in this area bordering on Jibuti. The tribes in question are the Issa, the Gadaboursy and the Issaq. The Somaliland Issas have categorically rejected this formula, which they suspect is a ploy to manoeuvre them out of the Somaliland political arena.

Jibuti, for its part, has put its troops along the border with Somaliland on a state of alert in order to prevent any fighting from spilling over the border.

Abdi Aden in Jibuti for RFI.

SOMALILAND TROOPS ATTACK REBELS, GOVERNMENT RADIO

(Reuter 15 Aug 95)

DJIBOUTI - Troops loyal to the president of self- declared Somaliland attacked rebels in a region in the southwest and broke through their lines, government radio said on Tuesday.

Radio Hargeisa said government troops launched a massive attack on rebel positions in southwestern Burao and immediately broke through rebel lines in fighting that lasted for several hours.

It was the latest in a series of confrontations since last month between President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal's forces and the rebels from the Issaq clan, known as the Somali National Movement.

A pro- government newsletter, the Voice of Hargeisa, said on Tuesday rebels used mortars in a weekend battle with Egal's troops at an airport near the Somaliland capital Hargeisa.

The newsletter said rebels were beaten back and suffered heavy losses in Saturday's battle with government troops.

It said up to 10 government soldiers were killed and 20 wounded at the airport, where fighting pitting clan militiamen against the president's forces in Hargeisa and the west began last November.

No comment was available from Egal, who said last November that he expected the insurrection to be put down within days...

SOMALILAND ARRESTS PLANE, SCANDINAVIAN DIPLOMATS

(Reuter 22 Aug 95)

DJIBOUTI - Government troops in self- declared Somaliland have seized a light plane and its passengers, including two Scandinavian diplomats, Radio Hargeisa reported on Tuesday.

It said the seven passengers and crew under arrest included diplomats Mikael Glas of Sweden and Oeyvind Nordgaren of Norway, both based in Nairobi...

Reports reaching Djibouti, quoting official Radio Hargeisa, said the King Air plane was seized by troops for "landing illegally" after it arrived from Nairobi on Monday.

The radio said a rebel militia in Somaliland, called the Somali National Movement Alliance (SNMA), was forced out of positions in the southern part of Hargeisa airport on Monday by troops loyal to President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal.

Without further explanation, the radio said the plane's arrest was linked to a SNMA statement on Sunday night broadcast from Mogadishu, the Somali capital. The radio said the statement claimed the militia controlled 70 percent of Hargeisa...

Radio Hargeisa said in Monday's fighting at the airport, pro- Egal forces captured an SNMA tank and destroyed one of its "technical" battle- wagons. It said three militiamen were captured while the rest fled.

One government soldier was killed and four were wounded, the radio said.

FREED NORWEGIAN SAYS FIVE STILL HELD IN SOMALIA

(Reuter 27 Aug 95)

NAIROBI - A Norwegian diplomat freed in northwestern Somalia said on Sunday five other foreigners were still held after flying in to repatriate three Somalis deported from Sweden.

Oeyvind Nordgaren, 42, a police officer with diplomatic status attached to Norway's embassy in Kenya, told reporters in Nairobi he was released on Saturday and flown to the Kenyan capital.

He said he was freed after a telephone conversation between Norway's deputy foreign minister and Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, the president of the self- proclaimed break- away state of Somaliland, and felt sure that the talks had helped secure his release.

The foreign minister of Somaliland, which has received no international recognition since it was set up in 1991, personally drove Nordgaren to an airport on the coast at Berbera from where he flew to Nairobi.

Nordgaren said he was held at a police compound in the Somaliland capital Hargeisa with Swedish diplomat Mikael Glas, two Kenyans and the French pilot and Italian co- pilot who flew them there last Monday.

He said they were arrested after landing in Somaliland without proper permission to repatriate three Somalis deported from Sweden. Nordgaren went on the trip because there was a spare seat.

He said the other five were still held and he found it hard to leave them but Sweden was conducting negotiations with representatives of Somaliland for the release of its diplomat.

Egal announced on Friday Nordgaren had been released. Asked by a Norwegian television station by telephone about the other detainees, he only said: "That is a different story altogether."...

"We were treated well and the food was okay," said Nordgaren, adding however they received no information and the uncertainty about what was going to happen to them was worrying...

/HAB/ As HAB goes to press, we have not received any further information on the status of the detainees from our local representative in Hargeisa, Mr. Jama M. Omar, who has been facilitating communication between the Somaliland authorities and the detainees.

** PEACE TALKS IN HARSHIN **

SENATORS IN ETHIOPIAN TOWN FOR PEACE CONFERENCE WITH OPPOSITION CLAN ELDERS

(SWB 21 Jul 95 [RH in Somali, 7 Jul 95])

Preparations for the peace conference in Harshin [in Ethiopia's Region Five] is proceeding well and without complications for the Somaliland senate delegation led by Mr Shaykh Yusuf Shaykh Madar, the Senate chairman. This was reported today by our conference correspondent, journalist Abdullahi Isma'il Fir. The Harshin peace conference is being attended by the Somaliland senators and elders of the Salahley community. About 150 elders from Salahley and 25 Republic of Somaliland