| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
QQ QQ QQQQ QQQQQQQ QQQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQQQ QQ QQ QQQQQ QQQQQQQ Q Q QQQQQQQ QQ QQ QQ Q Q QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQQQ Q Q QQQQ QQ QQ QQQQ QQ QQ QQ QQQ QQ QQ QQQ QQQQQQ QQQQQQQ QQQQQQQQ QQQQQ QQQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQQQQQQ QQQQQ QQQQQQQ QQ QQ QQQQQQQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQQQQQQQ QQQQQ QQ QQ QQQQQQQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQQQQQQ QQQQQQQQ QQQQQQQQ QQQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQQQ QQ QQQQQQQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQQQQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQ QQQQ QQQQQQQ QQQQQ QQQQQQ QQQQQQ QQQQQQQ QQ QQQQQQQQ QQ QQQ
Vol.6 No.3 May-June 94
** EDITORIAL PRINCIPLES **
The Horn of Africa Bulletin (HAB) is an international media review, compiling and recording news and comments on the Horn of Africa. Reports published in HAB represent a variety of published sources and do not necessarily represent the views of the editors.
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 the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Uppsala, for their cooperation.
** ABBREVIATIONS **
Abbreviations of sources used in this publication:
AB - African Business; AC - African Concord; AED - Africa Economic
Digest; AFP - Agence France Presse, Paris; 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; ER - Ethiopian Review; FOA
Focus on Africa; GI - Guardian Independent; GN - The Guardian via RBB;
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 - Luth. 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; NN/UNIC - United Nations Information Center, Sydney, via
NordNet; NYT - New York Times; RBB - Reuters Business Briefing; SCSG -
Scottish Churches' Sudan Group Newsletter via NN; 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 Summary of World
Broadcasts via RBB; WH - The White House via
Radio stations are abbreviated as follows:
RNU - Radio National Unity, Omdurman; RFI - Radio France Internationale,
Paris; RH - Radio Hargeisa, Voice of Republic of Somaliland; RM - Radio
Manta, Mogadishu; RMO - Radio Mogadishu; RMV - Radio Mogadishu, Voice of
the Great Somali People; RSR - Republic of Sudan Radio, Omdurman; VBME -
Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, Asmara; VOE - Voice of Ethiopia,
Addis Ababa; VOEE - Voice of Ethiopia External Service, Addis Ababa; VOEN
Voice of Ethiopia National Service, Addis Ababa.
** PUBLISHER INFORMATION **
The Horn of Africa Bulletin is published bimonthly by the
LIFE & PEACE INSTITUTE, Box 297, S-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
Tel: (+46) 18-16 95 00; Fax: (+46) 18-69 30 59
Email: enelson@nn.apc.org
Publisher: Sture Normark
Although the electronic Horn of Africa Bulletin is free of charge,
donations are greatly appreciated.
Annual _hardcopy_ subscription fees: Organizations -- SEK 300 (US$ 50);
Individuals are asked to give a donation to HORN OF AFRICA PROGRAM/LPI to
cover production costs and postage. Back issues cost SEK 30 (US$ 5).
Terms of payment:
Post giro 494 74 05-9 (Sweden and some European countries); Eurocheck in
SEK only; International Money Order in SEK (or US$) drawn on a Swedish
(or US) bank. NO PERSONAL CHECKS OR CASH. Please make money order payable
to HORN OF AFRICA PROGRAM.
** ELECTRONIC ACCESS **
HAB is now available via email! Send your subscription request to
Everett Nelson
HAB is also available on APC networks under the conference title
"lpi.hab". APC access info for your country can be made available at your
request. Contact Everett Nelson
HAB is now on THE HORNET in Addis Ababa! Call the Hornet 24 hours a day
at (+251) 1-514534. Parameters: N-8-1; 1200, 2400 and 9600 baud access.
The service is free. Contact Ben Parker (
** E D I T O R I A L **
EARLY WARNING
According to one estimate, 22 million people in 10 countries in eastern
Africa are affected by conflicts and/or natural disasters which cause
widespread famine, displacement and death.
Over the years, NGOs and governments have become increasingly skilled in
reading the early warning signs of drought and famine, and mechanisms
have been developed to cope with these problems. By mobilizing massive
amounts of food and development aid, the international community has on
the one hand been quite successful in preventing and treating the
symptoms of famine, as well as some of the causes. On the other hand, the
international community has not given due attention to one of the
recurring basic causes of famine-- war. What are the early warning
signals which the international community should identify and act on to
prevent conflict? What can we learn from history?
In 1972 in Addis Ababa, the conflicting parties in Sudan reached a peace
agreement that had the potential to last. Why, then, did it last only 10
years? One basic reason was that the agreement was never followed up in a
thorough way. A peace agreement is never enough. The work for peace must
go on. Groups and individuals must be reconciled and rehabilitated so
that they are assured a basic decent life with food, security, work,
health care, education, etc. In Sudan one very concrete reason why the
war boke out again in 1983 was due to the fact that the rebel soldiers of
Anyanya 2 were never properly demobilized and reintegrated into society.
Should not the precedent of 1983 in Sudan serve as an incentive for the
international community to continue its assistance to the new government
in Ethiopia, which is trying to cope with the demoblization and
rehabilitation of 500,000 government soldiers? The same question applies
to Eritrea where up to 90,000 freedom fighters must be integrated into
society again. There are signs of unrest among them and they will have to
compete for meagre resources with hundreds of thousands of refugees who
are waiting to go back home. The Eritrea question was neglected for 30
years; they should not have to struggle alone to preserve the peace for
which they paid so dearly.
Eritrea's and Ethiopia's capacities for acquiring food security for their
peoples are better today than during the war, but we are talking about
two of the world's poorest countries, whose economies have been ground to
dust by 30 years of war. Furthermore, population growth in the Horn far
surpasses increases in food production. They are fighting an uphill
battle and must have longterm outside help to be able to reverse the
trend, or we will witness how two relatively stable states collapse into
famine and political instability again.
Whereas the early warning signals for conflict in Ethiopia and especially
in Eritrea are seen, but not given enough attention by the international
community, the warning signals in Somalia reflect support and energies
focussed in the wrong area. In Somalia, the UN is intent on legitimizing
the very warlords whose quest for power destroyed much of Somalia during
the civil war.
Furthermore, Somalia has been faced by an ultimatum from the
international community that if there are no positive signs in the peace
process before the middle of July, the UN will withdraw earlier than
planned. In fact, a powerful signal was given at the beginning of June,
when UNOSOM's mandate was renewed for only four months instead of the six
that the Secretary General had recommended. An important question in this
context is, what "positive sign" is the international community waiting
for? If they are waiting for the warlords to give a sign, they will have
to wait in vain. Or, will the international community and UN be able to
see the positive signs that are already there and that can be built upon?
There is a healthy reconciliation and democratization process going on in
Somalia among the grass roots in the regions. It is a process in which
the Somali people are the actors and which is ensuring broad-based
participation at different levels of Somali society. Today, in most of
Somalia's districts and regions there are councils which have been set up
through elders and local clan leaders. The councils are in place and they
are eager to go ahead, but they are very fragile structures. If they are
not given support and protection many might succomb to corruption, as
there are many parties who have an interest in securing power through
these councils.
In Somalia the early warning signs are loud and clear: If the US and the
UN, in their eagerness to see something spectacular happen at a
negotiation table, hand over the future of Somalia entirely to the
warlords, the result will be a renewed civil war.
Amidst UN and US reluctance to remain actively engaged in peacekeeping
operations in Africa, there have, however, been some positive trends in
the field of conflict resolution and mediation by regional organizations,
such as the IGADD initiative in Sudan.
In conclusion, it is of vital importance that the international community
recognizes that the famines in Ethiopia/Eritrea in the early seventies
and mid-eighties, in Somalia in 1992 and today in Sudan, although
initially caused by drought, took on catastrophic proportions as a direct
result of conflict and war, which hinders both domestic food production
and emergency food distribution. The early warning signs of
demobilization difficulties and economic fragility in Ethiopia and
Eritrea, as well as the emphasis on warlords in Somalia must be
recognized as such and acted upon. If not, the international community
will one day look back and have to acknowledge that it was possible to
foresee the outbreak of yet more armed conflict in this already
war-ravaged region of the world.
** T H E H O R N O F A F R I C A **
22 MILLION AFRICANS COULD STARVE, U.S. SAYS
Fred Fisher, director of the U.S. Agency for International Development
regional office for East and South Africa, said drought and man-made
factors created "an emergency crisis" in the Horn of Africa.
He told a news conference in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa that
those especially at risk among 22.6 million people facing hunger in the
10 countries were refugees and those displaced by civil war, tribal
clashes, anarchy or drought...
The entire Rwandan population of 7.6 million people should be considered
at risk because of war and massacres since the president was killed on
April 6, he said.
Fisher said the United States, as the world's major donor of food aid,
was preparing to help the needy in the 10 countries against the
additional threat of widespread famine if drought worsened...
He listed the famine hit countries as Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti,
Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.
The United States would provide Ethiopia with 360,000 tonnes of food aid,
nearly half the 770,000 tonnes Addis Ababa appealed for to feed its 6.7
million people facing hunger this year, Fisher said.
Washington would give 60,000 tonnes of food to the Red Sea state of
Eritrea for its 1.3 million people hit by famine.
He said the situation in Somalia, where international aid had helped cut
the number of famine-affected people from 1.5 million to 700,000, was
bound to worsen after the withdrawal of U.S. troops and other Western
U.N. contingents last month.
FAO WARNS OF CATASTROPHE
The U.N. agency attributes the vicious cycle of famine in the region to
drought and civil strife in a report released here Friday.
It describes the food situation in conflict-torn countries - Rwanda,
Burundi, Somali and Sudan--as "grave"...
In strife-torn Somalia, cereal production last year was 25 percent below
the poor harvest of 1992. An estimated 1.6 million people require
emergency food aid this year.
The situation is worse in Sudan. Compounding the problem of the fall in
sorghum and millet production last year is the war in the south. A total
of 3.7 million people require food aid because of drought and internal
displacement.
Conditions are particularly disastrous in the south-west. Fighting has
led to mass movements of people towards the Uganda border, and has
created an acute humanitarian crisis. Twenty thousand displaced people in
the southern town of Wau are in dire need, and deaths have been reported.
In Ethiopia, there were poor harvests last year and the already serious
food situation is expected to worsen with the number of drought affected
people rising from 4.5 million to 6.7 million.
In the hardest hit areas, destitute villagers having already sold their
posessions are on the move looking for food. A catastrophe is in the
making which needs urgent international action, FAO stresses.
In Eritrea the situation is said to be deteriorating in the provinces of
Barka, Senhit and Sahel, and starvation related deaths have been
reported.
Kenya had poor harvests both in the main and short rains seasons. Large
numbers of subsistence farmers have become vulnerable, the report says...
CLINTON SENDING ENVOY TO AFRICA DROUGHT REGION
A White House statement said Clinton had asked J. Brian Atwood,
administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, to head
the bipartisan delegation that will include members of Congress and
private organisations.
It said the group would try to prevent massive starvation in Ethiopia,
Eritrea and Kenya by investigating and then raising and coordinating more
assistance from global organisations.
"The crisis in the East Africa region threatens every nation in the
region and is caused by drought conditions and civil conflicts," the
White House statement said...
It said concerted regional and international action two years ago
prevented a similar drought in southern Africa from becoming a major
famine.
"Our effort to head off the incipient famine will be both short- and
long-term and will help the nations of the region address what have
become chronic food shortages," it said.
The delegation was to leave Washington Thursday. It will examine
programmes sponsored by the U.S. government and other donors in Ethiopia,
Eritrea, and Kenya, and meet with heads of state and government
representatives...
EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND USA TO COORDINATE HUMANITARIAN AID
Mr. Marin set out the initiatives taken by the Commission in order to
combat famine in the Horn of Africa since the mid-80s, these are: - food
early warning systems, with various projects having been undertaken at
national level to impose monitoring and "mapping" of the risk areas; -
food security and market liberalization programmes. In Kenya, eg., the
Commission undertook a Mecu 65 programme with a major food security
element; - transport infrastructure to facilitate the distribution of aid
(eg.: railway communications between Djibouti and Ethiopia).
OAU MINISTERS DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES
OAU Secretary General Salim Ahmed Salim raised the issue Monday as
foreign ministers from across the continent began a week-long Council of
Ministers meeting to lay the groundwork for the Jun 13- 15 summit which
will also be held in the Tunisian capital.
But Salim was happy to report that it is not all doom and gloom on the
continent which is still celebrating the successful democratic elections
in South Africa. The region can also look forward to the prospect of
increased intra-regional trade, he said.
But the immediate business at hand is the Rwandan crisis and the
organisation's ability to respond to Africa's security concerns as a
whole with wars also raging in Angola and Sudan, and the situation uneasy
in Burundi and Liberia.
The reconstruction process of strife-torn Somalia is also a matter being
taken up at the Jun. 6-11 60th Council of Ministers meeting...
** D J I B O U T I **
ACRONYMS:
** TENSE SITUATION IN COUNTRY **
DJIBOUTI RELIEF ASSOCIATION RURAL SITUATIONAL REPORT
1. Drought
Severe drought has extremely weakened both animals and people in all
regions. In parts of the northern border regions, Alaili Dadda and
Adgeno, rain had not fallen for over one year. The border regions from
Boyna/ Siarou, Balho/Allol, Adgeno/Moussa Ali to Alaili Dadda and into
the Dalha are the worst affected showing heavy herd losses and, in some
districts visited, universal malnutrition among children below 10 years.
2. Animal Herds
Overall, it is estimated that 50% of goat and sheep herds have died,
mostly as a direct result of drought or as losses inflicted during war,
over the past 6 months...
3. Displacement
Following the brutal killings, widespread destruction of property and
multiple civilian arrests and interrogation in the Goda Mont region in
late December (see human rights abuses account), some 2-3,000 people fled
out of the region. 1,000 such displaced from Dey and Goda were found in
the Allol district with their cattle herds...
Again, following the March 2-6 war in the Mebla region, civilian attacks
in the districts of Adailu, Ripta, Terdo and Ayree caused substantial
population displacement deeper into the surrounding territory. In all
accounts, people had lost considerable numbers of goats, either driven
off by the Djibouti army or abandoned in flight. When the Djibouti army
destroyed by explosive the Isilou water well on March 2 which had
supplied the rural populations of Bole, Adailu and Assageila, an
estimated 4,000 people were immediately without water and some herds died
of thirst. These people [were] displaced mainly to Ayah 'Adou...
/HAB/ The DRA report goes on to document a number of human rights abuses
which are reported to have occurred on 31 Dec 93 and during the period of
2-4 Mar 94. All the incidents appear to be in retribution for FRUD
ambushes on army convoys at Dey and Bekenef (30 Dec 93) and at Aywali (24
Feb).
Summarizing some of the human rights violations mentioned in the report,
25 people were tortured, 7 people burnt alive (including two children),
an Oromo goat herder was killed while cutting trees, two men were shot, a
number of homes were set on fire (In Ayree, a fire claimed the lives of 4
people.), and almost the entire town of Adailu was taken hostage and kept
in Bekenef from 2 to 18 March.
TEACHERS ON STRIKE, UNION DISSOLVED
ETHIOPIAN RADIO REPORTS FOUR WERE KILLED DURING AFAR DEMONSTRATION
The incident was seen as the latest in a conflict between Jibuti's Afars,
and the authorities and security forces dominated by Issas, the main
ethnic group in Jibuti. The Association for [the Defence of] Human Rights
and Freedom quoted witnesses as saying that there were many demonstrators
wounded. It said more than 300 people have been left homeless and
dispossessed of anything which might be useful to them.
** OPPOSITION **
COURT SENTENCES AND RELEASES FOUR JAILED FUOD LEADERS
The freeing of the opposition figures followed their court trial on 2nd
May. Each of the four opposition figures, who are accused of attempting
in writing to incite, and inciting, armed riot, received three-month jail
terms. Three other FUOD leaders living abroad, Ahmed Dini, Mohamed
Hussein Hassan and Omar Elmi Khaire, who also signed the Addis Ababa
appeal, were each sentenced to three-year jail terms. FUOD is made up of
several unrecognized political movements including the Front for the
Restoration of Unity and Democracy, the Afar guerrilla movement.
ALI AREF PREVENTED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY
DISSIDENT FRUD LEADER EXPELLED FROM THE ORGANIZATION
/HAB/ See HAB 2/94 p.2.
** REGIONAL RELATIONS **
JIBUTI PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES WITH MESSAGES TO YEMEN
The letter stressed Jibuti's concern for stability in our country and its
support for Yemen's unity and democratic policy as well as Jibuti' s
willingness to do anything or offer any good offices to help our country
circumvent the challenges imposed by the crisis. The letter pointed out
that Yemen's security and stability were of concern to Jibuti and other
regional states, led by the Horn of Africa states...
PLANES, SHIPS HELP FOREIGNERS FLEE YEMEN'S WAR
Hundreds more people left the war-torn Red Sea Arab state by ship.
The French air force flew 395 foreigners from Sanaa to Djibouti on
Sunday.
An Italian C-130 transport plane evacuated 100 people from the city on
Monday, and another was on its way in to fly out 50 others, an air force
spokesman in Rome said...
COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH ETHIOPIA SIGNED
Various protocols and memorandums of understanding in the political,
economic, social and cultural fields were also signed by the relevant
officials of the two countries. The new points on cooperation signed by
the two prime ministers during the meeting related to agriculture,
industry, border patrols, exchange of criminals and customs. Existing
agreements which were amended were approved again and include the use of
port facilities, culture and sports, training, capital, trade subsidy and
movement of commercial goods...
** E R I T R E A **
ACRONYMS:
** ONE YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE **
ERITREA CELEBRATES FIRST BIRTHDAY IN STYLE
Eritreans woke up to a 21-gun salute to honour those killed in a bitter
30-year war of secession from Ethiopia.
But it was the only military activity planned for the day. Festivity
organisers instead arranged soccer matches and street parties to
celebrate. Colourful bunting hung from all the main buildings in the
attractive Italianate capital.
In his anniversary speech, President Isayas Afewerki focused on the
difficult tasks of recovering from Africa's longest civil war.
The 47-year-old leader said a shortage of skilled professionals and
capital investment was of grave concern to an administration trying to
tackle a shattered economy, soaring unemployment and emerging tribal and
religious tensions.
"Massive problems lie ahead," Afewerki told Eritreans in remarks
broadcast by radio.
"On-going discussions with the World Bank had opened the way for loans to
rebuild the country's infrastructure but also raised the question of debt
dependency that the government had always been anxious to avoid,"
Afewerki added.
Eritrea's rulers estimated late last year they needed about $2 billion in
emergency aid alone to kickstart the economy. It is not known how much of
this money has been negotiated and Afewerki offered no details on the
loans negotiations.
"A national reconstruction effort involving ex-fighters and civilians has
simply not been able to reverse the effects of civil war," a government
economist said...
CHAIRMAN OF CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION APPEALS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
(SWB 4 May 94 [VBME in Tigrigna, 29 Apr 94])
Dr Bereket Habte Selasie, the chairman of the Eritrean Constitutional
Commission, at the Eritrean embassy in Addis Ababa yesterday briefed
foreign diplomats about the commission...
The commissioner noted that the commission would require about 4.5m US
dollars. So far the commission has received a building for its offices
and 100,000 US dollars from the Eritrean government. In conclusion, the
commissioner called on government and nongovernmental organizations to
assist the commission.
PRESIDENT EXPLAINS THE NEED FOR NATIONAL SERVICE
President Isayas noted that the delay in implementing this exercise was a
loss to the nation, the delay was incurred because the government had
found essential technical requirements lacking in some ministries.
President Isayas said about 10,000 youths in Asmara Province would be
registered within two weeks and deployed in this first round of national
service being carried out under the full responsibility of the Ministry
of Defence. National service would last for 18 months. The first six
months would focus on military training, while the remaining 12 months
would be devoted to reconstructing the nation's agricultural sector and
learning about the country, he noted.
During this occasion, the head of military logistics at the Ministry of
Defence, Mr Tekle Habte Selasie, and the deputy administrator of Asmara
city, Mr Fisehaye Haile, gave additional briefings...
GOVERNMENT GRANTS AMNESTY TO 132 POLITICAL PRISONERS
PRESIDENT ISAYAS IN PARIS; DISCUSSES REGIONAL ROLE AND MULTIPARTYISM
[Isayas - recording, in English with French superimposed] I don't think
we can be mediators in regional questions. We are our neighbours'
partners. Eritrea is coming out of a war that has been very long and very
destructive but the stability of the region concerns us all and the
development of the region can only come about through peace and
stability...
[Q] The Eritrean government is working on a new draft constitution which
should come into force in three years' time. Does this constitution
provide for a multiparty system?
[A] We are not linking the question of political parties with the
constitution. You can see that the constitution of the United States
doesn't talk about political parties. That doesn't necessarily mean that
we don't accept a multiparty system in Eritrea. We are already in the
process of drawing up the law on the press, which we expect to be the
basis of all multiparty activity in the country. What is certain is that
a law on parties will follow and it will give the opposition parties the
possibility of being active during the transition period.
We are putting the emphasis on state institutions: we can have an elected
parliament, an executive that is responsible to the institutions and an
independent judicial system. We believe that these are the pillars of a
nation and of a democracy. It is in this context that we can speak of a
multiparty system, of press freedom and of other basic laws that would
guarantee the rights of every citizen in the country.
** DEVELOPING THE FUTURE **
PRESIDENT ISSAIAS DISCUSSES POLITICAL ISSUES
[Dahli] Every single Eritrean merchant is today complaining of the tax
burden imposed on him by the government, to the degree that some say
their slim profits are used to pay the government tax bill. What is your
response?
[Issaias] This isn't just in Eritrea. In every country in the world
merchants cry and complain about the terrible tax burden. In Eritrea's
case, I firmly believe that there is a certain exaggeration in the volume
of merchant complaints. I have heard the merchants' complaints because
their voices are loud, and that is because they control the markets. The
simple consumers, on the other hand, complain of price-gouging and hardly
anyone hears them...
[Dahli] Where have the raw materials disappeared to--the gold, oil,
natural gas, uranium, and other things that the Eritrean Front's
pamphlets spoke of before independence?
[Issaias] I am extremely cautious about what is said about the existence
of minerals in commercial quantities in Eritrea.
[Dahli] Why?
[Issaias] We don't want to give people ideas about things we aren't sure
exist.
[Dahli] But there are civil studies conducted by Italian experts between
the world wars. And the Ethiopian Government gave oil concessions to
foreign countries--etc.
[Issaias] True, some foreign companies did surveying and exploring in the
era of the Derg, which proved the existence of natural gas in substantial
quantities. But with oil, no one knows now whether it's there in
commercial quantities, or very limited quantities.
[Dahli] Have you signed agreements with foreign companies to explore for
oil?
[Issaias] We are in the process now. The surveying process, then
exploitation, will take some time. The trouble is that people are in a
hurry.
In addition, we are currently reviewing the contracts the colonial
Ethiopian authorities signed with international commercial
establishments, which are trying to monopolize the Eritrean market at the
expense of other companies. It is in our interest to open the door to
global competition among all companies before giving concession rights to
this one instead of that one.
The important thing, in my view, is that Eritrea possesses considerable
agricultural possibilities and priceless marine resources, but,
unfortunately Third World countries have a tendency to dream about oil
wells as the solution to their problems...
The Press and Opposition Parties
[Dahli] The question of economic development is linked to political
stability. Do you have a specific timetable for the implementation of
political pluralism, which can open the way to broad participation in all
fields?
[Issaias] The important thing, the central thing, in my view, is that the
conference members confirmed the principle of political pluralism.
Translating it into reality requires objective terms. Thus it is
difficult to specify a time table for the formation of opposition
parties.
[Dahli] There are Eritrean leaders abroad expressing their desire to
establish parties. Where do you stand on this?
[Issaias] So far there is no desire to form parties with the people who
are active in some Arab and Western countries. The whole has to do with
some elements who still have mentalities of the past, stuck to the legacy
of the ELF...
[Dahli] What would your conditions be for any party to pursue its
political activity officially?
[Issaias] I do not want to get ahead of events, but in general, and in
order to safeguard Eritreas national unity and Eritrean political
independence, we believe it is essential for parties to be independent of
direct and indirect outside influence. Nor should they be founded on
religious, ethnic, regional, or tribal bases.
These are the redlines that must be respected. it does not mean that
there can be no discussion of this very sensitive issue. On the contrary,
discussion will be initiated, so that Eritreans can give their views on
every single issue.
[Dahli] How can that happen, when the very few media in the country are
under government control?
[Issaias] Modern Eritrea, the only official newspaper published in Arabic
and Tigrinya, has worked hard from the beginning to open its columns to
Eritrean writers in a limited fashion. Thus the dialogue that is
underway, I think, cannot continue without a law for the freedom of the
press, which will be introduced in the next few days. Only then can the
provisions of the Constitution, the laws, and party rules be discussed.
It will be up to the Eritreans to draw the broad lines of the modern
state.
[Dahli] Will there be laws regulating the freedom of the press?
[Issaias] One cannot allow things to take a rambling course. There have
to be rules.
[Dahli] Such as?
[Issaias] Not tampering with national unity; the avoidance of cursing;
and avoiding vituperative and litigious methods, to the greatest extent
possible. In return, we will reconsider erroneous decisions, expose
negative stands, and bring citizens' complaints and expectations into the
open. And, in line with neighboring countries' experiences with press
freedom, we will permit no foreign funding for our local newspapers, to
eliminate foreign disruptions...
WAR-EMANCIPATED WOMEN
"Some of the civilians don't understand that a woman must be free to go
out, to work, to sit in a bar like a man," she says. While the society
sees her as a heroine, she worries that it doesn't necessarily see her as
an eligible bride. Some fighters who married at the front have been
divorced by husbands under family pressure to take submissive civilian
wives.
Meanwhile, Fatieha's "friend Saleh misses a different kind of Equality.
At the front, he says, university graduates shared the same status as
fighters who had never had a chance to go to school. Now, he works at an
unpaid job alongside non-fighters earning fat salaries from the U.N.
"It's hard, when you've been at war and they've had the chance to get an
education," he says. "When we were at the front, we didn't need money,
but in town, you need clothes, you need cash to have a beer."
The rebels' success in war also has raised high peacetime expectations
that aren't easily met with a shattered infrastructure and an empty
treasury. So committed to education that they carried blackboards in to
the trenches for literacy classes during breaks in fighting, the
Eritreans now have too few teachers to serve the civilian population. In
some areas, children draw lots to see who will go to school.
Health care, too, is a problem. "Their health-care system in war was
excellent, but it was an emergency system," says Cesar Manetti, an
Eritrean born pathologist from Rockford, Ill. "When it had to meet the
needs of a civilian population, it faltered. People in the cities felt
'Now our brothers are here - they'll help us.'" Faced by pent-up demand
created by neglect during Ethiopian rule, barefoot doctors from the front
lines couldn't cope. For at least a year, the health minister, a surgeon,
had to divided his day between the operating theater and his government
office because demand for his surgical skills was high.
Dr. Manetti is trying to set up a volunteer program to have U.S. experts
help the Eritreans with the training. But the government, faced with an
acute housing shortage, hasn't yet been able to figure out where to put
the volunteers when they arrive.
The short-term answer is an infusion of foreign aid, but with the demands
from Eastern Europe and the former Yugoslavia, Eritrea hasn't enjoyed the
attention from donors that it might have merited a few years ago.
That makes one U.S. aid official wistful. Of more than 20 countries he
has worked in, he says, Eritrea "is the one where you feel comfortable
that every nickel you put into the place is going to be used properly."
He hopes the U.S. will open its purse a bit wider. "They're on a take off
here," he says. "All they need is a little wind."
SOLAR POWER BRINGS SHORT-TERM ENERGY RELIEF
Wood stoves and lamps are the most popular domestic alternative to
electric power, but the indescriminate cutting of trees, compounded with
the effects of the 30-year war, have led to a drastic decline in
Eritrea's forest area, from 30% of the country to a mere 0.4%, or 53,220
hectares. Scarcity of wood has led some households to burn dung, thereby
depriving the land of natural fertiliser.
Eritrea does have abundant reserves of energy in the shape of the wind,
water and the sun. Preliminary feasibility studies indicate a hydropower
potential of over 5.7m kilowatts, and work is under way to identify sites
for the construction of riverine dams.
It is solar energy, however, which has the most promising potential in
the short term. Eritrean forces used solar power for their underground
hospitals, schools and cultural centres. Independence has brought this
suberranean technology into the open.
So far, 37 schools and three hospitals have been built and equiped to run
on solar power. According to Debesai Ghebrehiwot of the Ministry of
Energy, there are plans to develop a further 20 solar-powered health
centres and dozens of schools across the country. "Our children", he
laughs, "can even learn during the night."...
ERITREA MEMBER OF AFDB
There was one happy development.
The Bank started the week with 51 members and ended it with 52, when
Eritrea was admitted.
And, in the week of President Nelson Mandela's inauguration, the new
South Africa formally applied to join. When it is admitted, the whole of
Africa will be united in the AfDB.
EC COMMISSIONER MARIN VISITS ERITREA
The purpose of this visit was the signing of the "National Indicative
Programme" for Eritrea under the Lome Convention, by Vice-President
Manuel Marin and His Excellency the President of the State of Eritrea,
Isaias Afwerki.
The European Union's support to Eritrea given under this Programme for
the next two years amounts to 35 million ECU (just over 250 Million
Ethiopian Birr). All these funds are grants and therefore require no
repayment. This substantial programme of assistance covers many areas and
projects of national and regional significance and makes the European
Union one of the largest donors to Eritrea.
The main focal areas under this cooperation agreement will be the
rehabilitation of the infrastructure of Eritrea and the launching of
several studies including sectorial studies of the transport sector and
water resources in preparaton of the next financial protocol of the Lome
IV Convention.
Since 1992, Eritrea has already received from the European Union's budget
an assistance of approximately 105 million ECU (just over 650 million
Birr).
The European Union and 66 ACP States signed on 15 December 1989 the
Fourth Lome Convention. Two new Caribbean States, Haiti and the Dominican
Republic, joined the Convention. Namibia and Eritrea also became members
immediately after their independence; the Lome Convention thus comprises
a total of 70 African, Caribbean and Pacific States, including all the
countries of Sub-saharan Africa except South Africa.
** OPPOSITION AND RELATIONS TO ETHIOPIA **
ELF-RC MEMBERS DETAINED IN ETHIOPIA
On our part, we are fully convinced that we have not given the Ethiopian
government any reason that would have compelled it to take the measures
it has taken. And we know of no crime that our colleagues could have
committed against the Ethiopian people or their government, neither have
our activities in Ethiopia posed any danger to the genuine and brotherly
relationships of the two peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia...
At this point, we don't know yet as to whether this would mean a change
in the policy of the Ethiopian government in regard to this issue. For
us, the measures taken were in any case sudden and unexpected. Whatever
the outcome, we believe also that the Ethiopian government could have
handled the matter differently than they have done...
ETHIOPIAN CIVILIANS ARRESTED IN ASSAB
ETHIO-ERITREAN JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED
The members of the high level delegation of the two countries were led by
Ato Tamirat Layne, Prime Minister of the Transitional Government of
Ethiopia, and Mr. Mohammud Ahmed Sherifo, Minister of Local Government of
Eritrea, respectively.
With regard to political affairs, both sides expressed their appreciation
of the efforts undertaken so far in foreign relations, defence, justice,
security, and information and thus signed detailed programmes of action
with a view to implementing the protocol agreements signed in these
areas.
In the economic field the parties reached a common undertaking on the
need and mutual benefit of a closer and stage by stage integration
between the two economies.
They have specifically agreed to further expand Ethio-Eritrean economic
cooperation in the expansion of free trade, fiscal policies, agriculture,
transport and communications, natural resources and environment, mining
and energy, tourism, construction, and industry. They have also
reaffirmed their commitment to vigorously continue their cooperation in
civil aviation, telecommunications, road construction, and in upgrading
different infrastructures for the mutual benefit of both countries and
peoples...
Both sides expressed their conviction that the promotion of close
exemplary relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea will have a vital
contribution to the well-being of their peoples and to the promotion of
peace, stability and eventual economic integration of the sub-region, the
communique stated.
** REGIONAL RELATIONS **
FOREIGN MINISTRY REVIEWS TALKS WITH SUDAN
It is obvious that the relations between the people of Eritrean and Sudan
are historical and long standing. On the basis of this view, and
believing that the government of the national salvation revolution of
Sudan would place its national interest and the peace and stability of
the region above all else, our relations with Sudan were very special
before the independence of Eritrea. To further strengthen and develop
these relations, we have been working jointly with the Sudanese
Government.
However, the National Islamic Front of Sudan, from its political bases in
Sudan, wished to control a force in Eritrea and formed a group called the
Islamic Jihad of Eritrea in 1989. It continued to support this group
until and after the independence of Eritrea.
As the Government of Eritrea, we have placed those considerations
regarding relations between the two nations above everything else and we
hope that we will overcome the obstacles through communication and
dialogue. We have made every effort to further strengthen and develop
cooperation between the two peoples. It is true that we have noticed the
positive role played by the Sudanese Government in controlling and
containing the movements of this Eritrean group [Islamic Jihad], but
since the middle of 1993 up to now this group has been carrying out its
destructive activites, coming all the way from Sudan to collaborate with
other groups from other regions.
This new development compelled us to tell our people and the
international community everything about this. So the main reason for the
deterioration in relations was that the destructive activites which had
been directed against Eritrea had been emanating from Sudan. [passage
omitted] The practical implementation of the agreement reached will
guarantee positive developments in relations between the two countries.
ERITREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN YEMEN
Today's statement reiterated that Eritrea's position on the Yemeni
conflict had been clearly expressed in a Foreign Ministry statement
issued on 5th May 1994. The Eritrean government noted that the continuing
war among the Yemeni brothers was unacceptable to the government and
again urged both the conflicting Yemeni sides to halt the war and solve
their problems through dialogue.
OMAN-ERITREA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Both countries hope that the establishment diplomatic relations would
strengthen the bounds of friendship and cooperation between the two
countries.
** E T H I O P I A **
ACRONYMS:
** A FAMINE WORSE THAN IN 84-85? **
PRIME MINISTER SAYS OVER SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM FAMINE
[Tedros - recording] The prime minister first visited a village in
Bolosso District... Out of the 5,000 people who have perished in Bolosso
District 60% are children. A large number of cattle have also perished
because of the severe drought in the area. Over 295,000 famine victims
are registered in Bolosso District alone...
UN REPORT: INCREASE IN PLEDGES BUT FEW SHIPMENTS CONFIRMED
Following the late onset of rains, belg-dependent areas of Wello,
Southern Tigray, North Shewa, Bale and Wolaita are likely to face grave
problems in the coming months. Resources are now being mobilised, with
food aid being pre-positioned at strategic sites. However, shortfalls in
the overall national pipeline are of great concern for these areas in
particular.
Food aid requirements for the second quarter of the year have been
estimated by the RRC at 270,000 tons. This can be met by existing port
and in-country stocks, expected deliveries, loans from the State farms
and the Emergency Food Security Reserve (EFSR). However, meeting this
need will exhaust the food stocks within the country as no shipments have
yet been confirmed for the third quarter of 1994....
Pledges and food shipments
According to WFP, as of 5 May total pledges had reached a satisfactory
896,972 tons of which, 646,389 tons was either ear-marked for relief or
could be available to meet emergency needs if required (excluding pledges
for the EFSR). This is about 72% of the total relief food requirement for
the year given in the revised appeal. The increase in pledges is
principally attributable to the confirmation of the U.S. Title III
commitment of 190,000 tons, of which 100,000 tons have been allocated to
relief and regular requirements, 50,000 tons to EFSR and 40,000 to
monetization.
Figures released in the revised RRC food assistance appeal, show port
stocks at 39,366 tons and in-country stocks at 97,605 tons as at 31
March. A further 74,276 tons is available in the EFSR; however, 50,000
tons of this is currently being drawn by the RRC. The Government has also
arranged a loan of 100,000 tons from the State Farms and the EGTE to be
used for relief and regular purposes.
The issue of most concern remains the status of the food pipeline, which
has hardly improved at all since the end of February. As at 5 May, total
expected shipments stood at only 50,203 tons. Of this, 20,703 tons is
ear-marked for refugee and returnee programmes and 10,000 tons for
monetization, leaving just 19,500 tons specifically intended for
emergency use. There are no confirmed scheduled shipments due after 13
May...
RRC SAYS ONLY 20% OF AID PLEDGED HAS ARRIVED
The commissioner said unless donor countries and the international
agencies send their pledges on time, [a] massive displacement of people
and human tragedies are inevitable. He said [the] lack of accessible
roads and communications in remote areas of the highly drought-affected
parts of the country has become a strain on the smooth and timely
delivery of relief, thus making the situation much worse...
ETHIOPIA LAUNCHES MASSIVE AID OPERATION
The transport and communications ministry said on Thursday that over
3,000 heavy trucks and several planes and helicopters were deployed in a
one-month operation to ferry relief assistance to drought-stricken
districts.
"The operation is part of a one-month national plan aimed at transporting
134,000 tonnes of food, 25,000 tonnes of fertilisers, 7,000 tonnes of
seed as well as medicines from ports and other surplus production areas
to areas affected by drought," the ministry said in a statement.
It added that the food would be airlifted to areas which were
inaccessible by road.
The office of Ethiopia's prime minister said up to 7.5 million people
were affected by famine. Government officials have previously put the
figure at 6.7 million...
U.S. DELEGATION VISITS AFRICA ON HUNGER MISSION
Representative Tony Hall said Friday that he and Brian Atwood, the
administrator of the State Department's Agency for International
Development, would visit Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya over the next week
to discuss the threat of another famine in East Africa.
They will also have meetings with United Nations and Red Cross Officials
in Geneva and with the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome before
returning next Friday...
TOO MANY MOUTHS TO FEED?
The latest analysis of the Ethiopian population trends by the Central
Statistical Authority (CSA) shows the population of 54.9 million is
increasing by over three percent per year.
The growth projection over the next six years is even more alarming,
according to analysts.
Economic development planners had assumed that Ethiopia's population
growth rate was between 2.9 percent and three percent per year.
The CSA forecasts a 3.8 percent annual population rise between 1995 and
2000, a 3.4 percent yearly growth rate up to 2005 and a slight reduction
after that period.
In absolute figures, Ethiopia's urban population will almost double by
2005 and multiply by 4.6 times by 2010, particularly due to the
increasing drift of rural dwellers to urban centres.
The projections envisage the urban sector absorbing 7.73 million
additional people by 2005 and 29.64 million by 2020. Harsh living
conditions and poverty are considered the main causes pushing more people
from the countryside to towns.
In contrast, the rural population is growing at a slower pace. But, in 10
years time there will be 63.4 million people in the countryside,
accounting for 80 percent of the total population.
By 2020 the rural dwellers will have doubled, but their share of the
total figure would by then fall to about 70.8 Percent.
Food experts take fright in these projections - so are development
planners in the fields of employment and provision of social services...
Agricultural output growth throughout the 1980s was below 0.5 percent per
annum...
In order to achieve the daily per capita calorie intake recommended by
the World Health Organisation and the FAO, Ethiopia's food production
must increase by 6.5 percent a year...
"This means even the bold assumption of a 5.8 percent growth rate of
grain production over the next 17 years will not guarantee the country's
ability to feed its population."
ETHIOPIAN ELECTIONS APPROACHING
The CA candidate list includes about 60% independents, with twenty
political parties registered - the EPRDF parties and around fifteen
smaller parties representing Kembata, Gambela, Burji and other groups.
While the AAPO has registered as a party in the country it will not be
contesting the elections. Nor will the OLF: Gelassa Dilbo, the
organisation's General Secretary, issued a statement on April 12 which
included a denial of their participation.
Two parties which would have taken part but missed the deadline are the
Ethiopian National Democracy Party (whose establishment was covered in
the March Update) and the Harari National League. High level lobbying by
the parties has yet to succeed in persuading the National Election Board
(NEB) to extend the deadline, however some observers think that this may
still be a possibility.
Three local groups are considering involvement in the elections as
national observers: A-BU-GI-DA (the Ethiopian Congress for Democracy),
the Ad Hoc Peace Committee and the National Election Observer's Group
(NEOG) - a group including Trade Union, NGO and religious
representatives. The latter monitored the previous elections in June 1992
and is hoping to expand the number of its observers to around 100. On the
international side, the European Union is already involved in discussions
regarding observers and an invitation has also been extended to NGOs to
serve in this role...
COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES GIVES UNANIMOUS APPROVAL TO DRAFT CONSTITUTION
The Council of Representatives has ended its deliberations on the draft
constitution after approving it unanimously. During weeks of
deliberation, the council debated on the issues of the document presented
to it by the constitution commission. The council decided that certain
controversial items like the property rights and rights of
self-determination [for ethnic groups], up to secession, [are] to appear
before the Constituent Assembly for final decision. The amended document
will be presented for the public debate in the near future.
OPPOSITION PARTIES IN ETHIOPIA
On 14 March, former US President Jimmy Carter offered to mediate in talks
between the opposition and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Democratic Front (EPRDF), which dominates the TGE, at a meeting proposed
in Addis Ababa two weeks later, on 28 March. But Meles Zenawi, President
of the TGE, was quick to reject President Carter's proposal. He refused
to include three matters in the proposed negotiation, which Carter had
been prepared to put forward for discussion. These were the formulation
of a new broad-based transitional government, the restructuring of the
military and the police, and the postponement of the June election.
According to Jimmy Carter, President Meles was willing to discuss only
with those who "first publicly renounce violence and wish to have
discussions on the modalities of participating in the political
process."...
In the absence of the Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and
Democracy, five other parties in the ruling government coalition peeled
off in early April to form their own new "opposition" party, the
Ethiopian National Democratic Party. Its members include parties from
Gurage, Kembata and Wolayita in the south. It originally aimed to take
part in the June election. But by the of the month [sic] it had withdrawn
from the polls, reportedly in protest against the rejection of its
demands for an extension of the deadline for candidate registration.
Meanwhile the Oromo Liberation Front, which for many years has been the
dominant political force in the numerically important Oromo areas of the
south, has been losing support. Its Moslem members in the east have
drifted to the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Oromia, while a new
group, the Oromos of Ambo, has emerged in the west. And not to be
forgotten is the government-supported Oromo People's Democratic
Organisation (see NA October 1993) which has been making ground, largely
because it has adopted the OLF's programme of self-determination without
adopting enthusiasm for secession...
That is not to say secession is off the political agenda. The
secessionist Ogaden National Liberation Front is established in the east
of the country. The government has gone to the trouble of stating
publicly that the ONLF is backed by Libya, Iraq and Syria, and has
Egyptians within its ranks.
But generally opposition to the TGE has been ineffectual. Perennial
bickering has meant that no dominant opposition party has emerged to
challenge the EPRDF and its allies...
Thirty-nine organizations take part in 5th June Constituent Assembly
elections
(SWB 6 Jun 94 [VOE in Amharic, 4 Jun 94])
(SWB 6 Jun 94 [VOE in Amharic, 4 Jun 94])
COUNT BEGINS AFTER HUGE ETHIOPIA VOTE TURNOUT
"It was a smooth sail all the way. We are happy about the way it was
conducted," said Samson Gethahun, legal affairs head of Ethiopia's
Electoral Board.
A total of 15 million of Ethiopia's 50 million people were registered for
the vote to elect 547 members to a constituent assembly.
Ballot counting at 29,000 polling stations across the country was
completed after polls closed on Sunday, Gethahun told Reuters. Officials
were collating votes at constituency level and provisional results should
be known later this week.
Most foreign observers who watched the process declined comment in line
with a legal ban on such observations before full results are out.
But one monitor, who asked not to be named, said he thought polling was
fair, certainly better organised than regional elections in June 1992.
"The ballots were secret. Some people who registered to vote had some
difficulty mainly due to lack of education. Otherwise I saw no harassment
or intimidation," he said.
A hot issue in the draft constitution to be debated by the elected
members is whether it should include a provision on the right of any of
Ethiopia's regions to self-determination.
Some opposition parties, which draw most support from the Amhara ethnic
group in the capital, boycotted the polls because they believe the new
constitution could fragment one of Africa's most ancient empires.
The Red Sea province of Eritrea seceded last year after opting
overwhelmingly for independence in a self-determination referendum after
years of civil war.
Outsiders criticised the 1992 elections, alleging interference by the
government of President Meles Zenawi...
The new assembly has the power to adopt the draft constitution or draw up
a new one ahead of multi-party polls expected in the next two years.
** TENSION IN REGION 5 **
TURMOIL IN ETHIOPIA'S REGION FIVE
The present crisis started with a meeting of Region Five council members
in Jijiga ending on April 6. An announcement was made to the Ethiopian
News Agency that the incumbent Regional Executive Committee had been
removed from office for neglect of their duties and financial
irregularities. The new president, according to the group, was Ugaz
Abdulrahman Abdukenu, formerly a businessman in Mogadishu...
The Executive Committee hit back in a statement yesterday, saying that
only 14 members of the council and 21 "new faces" were present at the
Jijiga meeting, and as such it was illegal and its decisions invalid. It
also claimed that the expenses of the meeting were paid by the central
government's Election Board. Last week, the statement claimed, a legal
session of the regional council was held in Jijiga, but was ignored by
the Ethiopian News Agency and the central government. The press statement
defends the record of the present executive committee and bluntly accuses
the central government of political interference, military intimidation,
and delays in the transfer of the region's $10 million budget from Addis
Ababa.
To confuse the picture even further, in the same statement, the Ogaden
National Liberation Front, and the Western Somali Liberation Front, the
two largest parties in the regional council, claim that President Meles,
in a visit to Gode on 17 April, reassured elders that he neither knew nor
condoned the breakaway Jijiga group. Dr Abdul-Mejid Hussein's interview
on BBC World Service on April 21, muddied the waters still further,
denying the allegations of the Executive Committee emphatically.
To make sense of these events, the story starts with the elections of
1992. Much delayed and unobserved elections in late 1992 produced results
released by the Election Commission in February of 1993. Of 107 seats,
the Ogaden National Liberation Front won 38, with the Western Somali
Liberation Front taking 22. The remainder were won by independent
candidates, and eight other parties, mainly representing smaller clans.
Unlike in most other regions, the dominant Ethiopian People's
Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) had no satellite party organized
to defend its agenda.
Controversy began immediately when the Council decided that Gode should
be the capital, while the other parties representing smaller clans,
favoured Jijiga. The Oromo region had already claimed Dire Dawa. The ONLF
again managed to upset the other clans by insisting the name of Region
Five should be Ogadenia, despite the fact that at least five other clans
are living in the region.
Until the latest upset, the Region Five administration was headed by
Hassan Jire Kalinle, a former Air Force pilot in Somalia, born in
Ethiopia at Kelafo. The first regional council's President and other
ministers had been removed from office towards the end of 1993, accused
of expropriating about $1 million of missing funds from the region's
budget.
On January 28 1994, the ONLF repeated its proposal a referendum on
independence for the region at a press conference in Addis Ababa. Despite
the right of regions to self-determination "up to and including
secession" enshrined in the Transitional Charter, the EPRDF was alarmed
at the prospect, and stepped up its contacts with the minority parties in
the Regional Council. The ONLF, supported by Amnesty International,
alleged the extra-judicial killings of three of its officials and the
detention and torture of others.
The result was the formation of the Ethiopian Somali Democratic League,
led by Dr Abdul-Mejid Hussein, Minister for External Economic Cooperation
in Addis Ababa in early February. The party is a conglomeration of 10
smaller parties, at least three of whom had hardly been heard of before.
The formation of the party "signals a blow to those disgruntled elements
and anti-peace forces" said Dr Abdul-Mejid, referring to ONLF and
Al-Ittihad, the armed Islamic fundamentalist group.
It remains to be seen whether the combined forces of the ESDL, which does
not count the WSLF among its members, can force out the ONLF, WSLF and
Hassan Jire's party, the Western Somali Democratic Party. Previous pacts
among Ethiopian Somali parties have dissolved almost as soon as the ink
dried on the agreement, but then again, they never had a government
Minister for a leader before...
FORMER ONLF LEADERS ARRESTED
Hassan Jirreh Kalinle and Ahmed Ali Dahir are said to have been
transferred to detention in Addis Ababa, where their whereabouts are not
known. Many other detainees are held in military custody in Godey. There
have been allegations of ill-treatment of detainees.
In view of these allegations and reports of the torture of others
arrested recently in the Region Five, Amnesty International fears for the
physical safety of the detainees listed above...
GOVERNMENT SAYS IT CRACKED DOWN ON FUNDAMENTALISTS
Seye Abraha told a news conference the measures taken last week against
al-Ittihad (Unity) movement in an area northeast of the eastern Ethiopian
town of Ogaden was not a major offensive.
"It was a punitive measure aimed at containing disruptive activities of
the group," said Seye.
The minister said that most people and community leaders in the arid,
war-ravaged east wanted to concentrate on development except for "a few
disruptive fanatical groups like al-Ittihad".
He added elders and community leaders in the region played a major role
in settling the problem through political measures.
The government had offered an amnesty for al-Ittihad members and urged
people in the region to abandon the fundamentalists.
He declined to say whether foreign forces supported al-Ittihad.
He denied accusations by an opposition group that the army was involved
in a campaign of intimidation and coercion in the east to strengthen
pro-government organisations.
He disclosed there had been recent clashes between Ethiopian and Sudanese
forces but said they were caused by over-zealous Sudanese officers who
backed a Sudanese farmer who took Ethiopian land...
ONLF SAYS REPORT OF ATTACKS AND CLASHES IS INCORRECT AND FALSE
** HUMANITARIAN ISSUES **
TREATMENT OF FREE PRESS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Ethiopia ratified the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on June 11,
1993. Their first report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee is
due on June 11, 1994. Having ratified the covenant, Ethiopia has a legal
obligation to guarantee the security of the person and prohibit arbitrary
arrest (Article 9 of the Covenant), must inform individuals of the
charges against them and individuals must be tried within a reasonable
time or released (Article 9 of the Covenant), must presume individuals
innocent until proven guilty and individuals must be tried without undue
delay (Article 4 of the Covenant)...
"ANGEL OF FEAR" CHARGED WITH RED TERROR AND EXECUTIONS
Known as the "Butcher of Gondar", Melaku Tefera, whose real name
translates as "angel of fear", is accused of political assassinations,
including the execution of 60 ministers, the manipulation of famine
relief, and the "Red Terror" - a brutal political campaign of the 1970s
aimed at opposition groups and students.
Mr Melaku is infamous for his nine years as party chief in Gondar under
the 17-year communist dictatorship of the former president Mengistu Haile
Mariam. A mass grave exhumed near Gondar airport two years ago uncovered
more than 1,000 bodies.
The Ethiopian government has a "top 10" list of wanted men, headed by
Colonel Mengistu, who fled to Zimbabwe, and is seeking extraditions from
Africa, the United States and Europe.
Mr Melaku has complained about being extradited while under the
protection of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Amnesty
International says it is "obliged" to oppose the extradition on the
grounds that Mr Melaku could face the death penalty.
Ethiopia's special prosecutors office claims it has 200 documents
implicating Mr Melaku. But Mr Melaku, who is detained in Addis Ababa with
more than 1,000 other former communist officials and party members, says
he is innocent of any crime and believes he will walk free if the
forthcoming human rights trials are "fair".
He defends the Red Terror as a responsive measure, saying Gondar was
"full of counter-revolutionary groups". And he maintains: "If you put
Melaku on trial, you put socialism on trial."
MENGISTU 'BUTCHERS' FACE DAY OF RECKONING
The Ethiopian government, despite facing a famine which may be even more
serious than that 10 years ago, is launching a political experiment
unprecedented in Africa. It is to try 1,200 senior officials of the
Mengistu regime for crimes against humanity.
The former president, Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam, and his colleagues
stand accused of the murder of tens of thousands of "dissidents" in the
late 1970s; the systematic targeting of civilians during the wars against
rebel groups; and the exploitation of the famine for political ends.
"It's very important to prove to Ethiopians that those who mess around
with the law, human rights law, those who consider themselves above the
law, are not really above the law - that there will be some day of
reckoning," President Meles Zenawi said.
The trials may be the most comprehensive test of international human
rights legislation since the Nuremberg tribunals after the second world
war.
In Argentina, after the defeat of the generals following the
Falklands/Malvinas war, the democratic government of President Raul
Alfonsin tried senior members of the junta but stopped short of a wider
purge for fear of an army backlash.
In El Salvador, the commission for truth exposed the death squad
atrocities of the 1980s but did not press charges. The United
Nations-sponsored tribunal on former Yugoslavia has yet to achieve
anything, despite its #20 million budget.
In Ethiopia, there will be no shortage of evidence. The special
prosecutor's office set up to oversee the trials has so far received
250,000 pages of government documents, from death warrants to
calculations of the cost of execution - so relatives could be charged to
remove the corpses. Col Mengistu's was a vicious but highly
bureaucratised system - virtually every decision was noted, and copies
sent to superiors...
On June 22 1988, the Ethiopian air force bombed the market town of
Hausien in Tigray province, the heartland of the Tigrayan People's
Liberation Front, the precursor to the present government.
Market days attracted traders and farmers from surrounding provinces.
While Soviet-made MiG jets unleashed their bombs, two helicopter gunships
blocked escape routes. At least 1,800 civilians were killed in that
single war crime.
That Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world, should be
attempting such an ambitious judicial process is a measure of how far it
has come since the days of the Mengistu regime.
The country is at a point of transition from violent dictatorship to
nascent democracy...
But the transitional government's dealings with opposition groups are not
above criticism. The constituent elections this year will test the
government's commitment to pluralism...
** THE ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT **
DROUGHT HINDERS ETHIOPIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH
In a speech to mark the third anniversary of the toppling of Marxist
ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam, Meles conceded that a plan for economic
reconstruction under the government's new liberal economic policy had not
made as much progress as expected.
"Overall economic performance which was forecast to register a six
percent growth in 1994 is expected to be reduced drastically due to
drought," Meles told a rally.
Meles said Ethiopia recorded an impressive 7.5 percent growth in 1993
following the launch of a market-based policy that has unfettered an
economy burdened by years of Soviet-style policies...
EU WANTS CLOSER "ON THE SPOT" TIES WITH ETHIOPIA
Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Peru have
been chosen for the test as EU member states are represented in their
capitals in large enough numbers to make closer consultations feasible.
"The countries chosen are countries that need EU cooperation...We will
look at how we can improve cooperation on the spot," EU diplomats said.
The development council asked the European Commission to draw up a report
on the best ways to promote this new policy.
ETHIOPIA DEVALUES BY 8.06 PERCENT AGAINST DOLLAR
The central bank said the new official rate applied to imports of
petroleum, pharmaceuticals and fertilisers, official debt servicing and
government contributions to international agencies and foreign offices.
Ethiopia devalued the birr last month to 5.13 to the dollar from five to
the dollar, which was set in 1992 in a devaluation from 2.07 birr to the
dollar - the official rate for more than 25 years.
The bank did not give reasons for the latest devaluation.
TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT EARMARKS 14M BIRR FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION
JAPAN GIVES SOME 10M DOLLARS FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE
UNICEF TO INCREASE AID
During his stay in Ethiopia, Mr. Grant held talks with President Meles
Zenawi and senior government officials on UNICEF's programmes launched
throughout the country.
In a similar development, Ethiopia adopted the International Convention
on Child Protection and Development which was ratified in New York in
1991. The document was signed by President Meles Zenawi on March 15, 1994
in the presence of Mr. Grant and other officials...
** REGIONAL COOPERATION **
DJIBOUTI AND ETHIOPIA SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
The joint communique, which was released today at noon in the Jibuti
capital, was signed by Prime Minister Tamirat Layne and his Jibuti
counterpart Barkat Gourad Hamadou.
Various protocols and memorandums of understanding in the political,
economic, social and cultural fields were also signed by the relevant
officials of the two countries. The new points on cooperation signed by
the two prime ministers during the meeting related to agriculture,
industry, border patrols, exchange of criminals and customs. Existing
agreements which were amended were approved again and include the use of
port facilities, culture and sports, training, capital, trade subsidy and
movement of commercial goods...
ERITREAN-ETHIOPIAN JOINT COOPERATION MEETING
Mr Muhammad Sharifo briefed local journalists before his departure. In
his statement, he said the objectives of this visit were to assess the
outcome of the previous agreements between various committees and the
joint supreme committee, and also to discuss future plans.
The four-day meeting is expected to start today. The first session of the
Eritrean-Ethiopian joint cooperation meeting was held in Asmara on 23rd
September 1993.
FURTHER ECONOMIC COOPERATION AGREED WITH SUDAN
Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed to set up a trade centre in each
others'countries, which will be a way of boosting commercial relations.
The officials who signed the agreement also reviewed the implementation
of the border trade agreement and the commercial protocol signed earlier
by the two countries.
REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES FROM SUDAN CONTINUES
It may be recalled that there are nearly 300,000 Ethiopian refugees who
are to be voluntarily repatriated in accordance with an agreement between
Sudan and the government of Ethiopia under the auspices of the UNHCR...
ISRAEL AND ETHIOPIA WIDEN TRADE COOPERATION
Israeli exports to Ethiopia were $1.4 million in 1992, versus imports of
$360,000 the same year. Sixty-one percent of Israeli exports were
chemical products, 25 percent machinery and tools, and 10 percent
non-metallic minerals, resins and plastics. Imports from Ethiopia
consisted primarily of cotton (92 percent), and tools and machinery (8
percent)...
ETHIOPIA ACCEPTS UN REQUEST TO SEND TROOPS TO RWANDA
** S O M A L I A **
ACRONYMS:
** PEACE TALKS **
UN CLAIMS NAIROBI ACCORD A SUCCESS
The April meeting will set out voting rules and procedures and
criteria for participation in the National Reconciliation Conference.
It will also discuss ways and modalities to establish a new National
Legislative Assembly, to be set up after a new government is formed.
One of the first major challenges will beto bring the SNM, which has
declared 'Somaliland' independent, on board the peace process. The SNM
did not participate in the March talks and the declaration urges the
movement to attend the Apil meeting and all subsequent national
reconciliation conferences.
The more immediate challenge will be to ensure that the momentum for
peace is sustained while the UN adjusts its peace-keeping operations
following withdrawal of the last US troops...
IS IT PEACE FOR SOMALIA?
The earlier Addis Ababa agreement adopted a bottom-up approach. All 15
Somali factions agreed to form a new government by first creating
district and regional councils and then a Transitional National
Council.
The new Nairobi agreement was signed by Gen Mohammed Farah Aideed on
behalf of the four factions of his Somali National Alliance (SNA) and
by Ali Mahdi for the dozen or so factions allied to his Manifesto
Group. It adopted a top-down approach by creating first a national
government before setting up the lower levels.
Last year's agreement was much longer and worked out in considerably
more detail than the current one which was drafted in haste and under
intense UN pressure.
This time, just before the hurried signing, the UN said that
negotiations were proceeding too slowly and threatened to stop paying
the first class hotel bills for the delegates. (They paid for all
delegates except the SNA of Aideed).
This pressure prompted the delegates to hastily put something together
at the last moment. Broad outlines were agreed and the details
postponed to future conferences...
PLANNED INTER-FACTIONAL TALKS IN NAIROBI POSTPONED
AFP news agency (Paris, in English 1636 gmt 27 May 94) reported that
peace talks between Somalia's warring factions were due to begin in
Nairobi on 30th May. The talks were due to prepare the ground for a
national peace and reconciliation conference, the agency said. Africa
No 1 radio (Libreville, in French 1215 gmt 30 May) reported that the
talks had been postponed, "for the fourth time in two months".
** A BOTTOM-UP APPROACH **
FOUNDATION FOR CIVIL GOVERNMENT
Councils have not been established in self-declared "Somaliland" in
the northwest...
With the expansion of political institutions expected to complete a
process of national reconciliation by March 1995, UN Secretary General
Boutros-Boutros Ghali has urged the world not to "abandon the people
of Somalia as long as the vast majority of them desire the presence of
the UN."
LPI SUPPORTS A BOTTOM-UP PEACE PROCESS
/HAB/ Key actors from a two-year cooperation in the reconciliation
process in Somalia, from UNOSOM's Political Division and the Life and
Peace Institute (LPI), met in Uppsala, Sweden, June 10-12 for an
assessment meeting and an evaluation of their joint efforts in search
for peace and reconciliation in Somalia.
In spite of the reported shortcomings of the UN intervention in
Somalia, the assessments pointed to several important factors to
consider, if events thus far are to be viewed in terms of the goal.
Failure to make the warlords and the leaders for political factions
agree does not mean lack of progress in other sectors of the Somalia
society:
a) 17 successful reconciliation conferences and meetings have been
held in different parts of Somalia since 1991. Somali elders and
traditional leaders have been the initiators and actors at these
meetings. The limited role of outsiders like UNOSOM and LPI has been a
facilitating role.
b) These meetings have been crucial in the creation of the 55 district
councils and 9 regional councils set up so far all over Somalia.
c) 800 councillors from 42 district councils have been trained so far
in programs sponsored by UNOSOM, LPI and the Eastern and Southern
Management Institute (ESAMI).
d) In order to support further training of councillors, 12 Somalis
have gone through "training for trainers programs" in Arusha,
Tanzania.
e) In order to support the councils, financial assistance is provided
to each council to repair district sites, and basic office equipment
is provided.
f) A special program for empowering the women in the reconciliation
process has been set up. Women conferences will be held in each
region. The first was held in Benadir region (Mogadishu) March 29-31,
1994.
g) 23 women from 13 regions of Somalia have gone through a "training
for trainers program" in Arusha May 9 - June 3.
The Uppsala meeting stressed the importance of giving these bottom-up
approaches to peace building full support, and it urged the United
Nations and the international community to follow the so-called
"two-track approach" recommended by the Secretary General in his
Further Report of January 6, 1994. (See HAB 2/94.)
** UN IN SOMALIA **
SIX-MONTH RENEWAL OF SOMALIA OPERATION RECOMMENDED
"Renewal would signify the member states' determination to fulfil the
United Nations vision of assisting Somalia towards political
reconciliation, national reconstruction and peace," he said in a
report to the Security Council.
Deciding to phase out the operation would signify the abandonment of
that vision and the risk of the country's "sliding back into the abyss
from which it was barely rescued less than two years ago," he added,
referring to the famine and factional fighting which prompted U.N.
involvement.
UNOSOM's current mandate expires May 31 and the Security Council has
previously set an objective of completing the mission by March 1995
The United States and a number of other countries withdrew their
contingents in recent months, reducing UNOSOM's strength from more
than 29,000 last November to 19,000, although the council in February
authorised up to 22,000.
It also amended the force's mandate, abandoning any attempt to
forcibly disarm Somali factions responsible for hampering famine
relief and carrying out attacks on U.N. personnel.
The secretary-general said UNOSOM was stretched thin and he was trying
to obtain additional troops.
Giving what he called a "somewhat negative assessment of the political
and security situations," he said: "I believe that the Somali people
deserve a last chance. But this must be firmly tied to evidence of
serious and productive pursuit of the reconciliation process."
It must also entail strict observance of the ceasefire and cooperation
with UNOSOM in preventing the recurrence of clashes and in resolving
local clan and factional conflicts.
"I accordingly recommend that the Security Council reaffirm its
objective ... that UNOSOM complete its mission by March 1995, and
that, to this end, it now extend the UNOSOM mandate for a period of
six months."
Calling the political situation difficult but "not entirely devoid of
hope," he noted a unanimous commitment by the Somali parties to pursue
reconciliation and achieve disarmament and a permanent ceasefire,
although some factions had used their military strength to increase
the areas under their control to enhance their negotiating positions.
U.N. RENEWS TROOPS IN SOMALIA FOR FOUR MONTHS
A resolution, adopted by a 15-0 unanimous vote, also calls for a
review in mid-July of the operation which the United States demanded.
The Clinton administration originally wanted to begin withdrawing
troops in four months and cut the renewal to 45 days but was persuaded
by council members not to impose such conditions. The four-month
renewal was a compromise.
The United States wanted to send a strong message to Somali factions
to make peace in a move most diplomats ascribe to President Clinton's
new directives on U.N. peacekeeping.
The directive, first applied to Rwanda last month, has translated into
a cautious approach, a forseeable end to each operation and a cut-down
in costs...
U.S. RETICENCE ANGERS AFRICANS, ALLIES
Washington refused this week to go along with a recommendation by U.N.
Scretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and several Security Council
members to dispatch 5,500 peacekeepers to try to protect the innocent
from the ongoing slaughter in Rwanda.
And in Somalia, a press leak this week suggested that Washington is
pushing for a July 15 deadline for the U.N. mission in Somalia
(UNOSOM).
Unless feuding Somali clan leaders agree to a peace settlement by May
31, according to the report, the administration of President Bill
Clinton will push for a total withdrawal from the East African nation
45 days later.
One British diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, that
the proposed U.S. deadline actually would end UNOSOM's new mandate
even before peace talks are scheduled to take place.
"What kind of signal does that send?" he asked bitterly.
Meanwhile, African diplomats express concern that Washington's new
positions on these peacekeeping operations herald a policy that calls
for Africa to be left to its own devices.
"There is a trend, and Africa is the casualty," noted Ambassador Roble
Olhaye of Djibouti, an African member of the U.N. Security Council.
The debate over Rwanda and Somalia follows by just one week the
adoption of a new U.S. President Decision Directive (PDD) by Clinton
which is supposed to guide Washington's decisions on whether to fund
or participate in future U.N. peacekeeping operations.
The directive marks a major reversal from the early days of the
administration when Clinton embraced an "assertive multilateralism" as
the best policy to ensure peace and security in the world without
making Washington the planetary policeman.
That policy was undone when 18 U.S. Rangers were killed in a raid on a
Mogadishu slum last October. The disastrous raid effectively ended
Washington's participation in UNOSOM and opened a new, and more
skeptical chapter in Clinton's commitment to U.N. peacekeeping
operations.
The problem now is that Africa is feeling singled out. Even while
Washington has pushed for additional troops for the U.N. operation in
Bosnia and for the United Nations to launch a new operation in
Georgia, it seems to be pulling back from African troublespots...
UN ENVOY ATTENDS CEREMONY FOR HANDOVER OF EQUIPMENT TO POLICE
UN ENVOY IQBAL RIZA MEETS ALI MAHDI AND AYDID
(SWB 31 May 94 [RMV in Somali 28 May 94])
Mr Muhammad Farah Aydid, the chairman of the Somali National Alliance
leadership council and of the United Somali Congress, USC, has met a
UN delegation led by UN envoy Iqbal Riza. Mr Aydid expressed his
happiness with the delegation's visit and the meeting. He briefed
members of the delegation on the overall situation in the country,
saying that, regarding peace, the country was fine. He explained that
since March no interclan or intergroup fighting had taken place,
though banditry incidents had occurred here and there. Mr Aydid said
Unosom-2 [UN Operation in Somalia - 2] had not delivered the required
goods, adding that it had only assisted a limited number of people...
** CLASHES **
SOMALI BATTLEWAGONS PATROL MOGADISHU, NOT U.N. SOLDIERS
On Wednesday, 30 "technicals", the vehicles mounted with mortars or
machineguns in the service of warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed's militia,
were parked 300 metres (yards) from the gates of the U.N.-controlled
airport.
Egyptian soldiers with egg shell-blue helmets watched as the
"technicals" then slowly patrolled the streets outside in a bizarre
parody of law and order Somalia still does not have after three years
of anarchy.
The days when a "technical" was a legitimate target under United
Nations rules of engagement disappeared when the last U.S. marine left
Mogadishu's shores on March 26.
These days, the Asian and African U.N. force is meant to escort
humanitarian operations and nothing more, abandoning the aim of
restoring law and order while the militias plunge the African nation
back into clan feuding.
Mogadishu is recovering from the heaviest fighting residents have had
to endure for two years.
Aideed's Habr Gedir sub-clan took on the rival Hawadle sub-clan in
streets around the airport and drove them out of the vicinity after 10
days of fighting.
Aid workers say the feud began not in the capital, but far across the
desert wastes of central Somalia in the town of Belet Huen on the
frontier with Ethiopia.
Hawadle gunmen killed Muse Dir "Tosane" - a nickname that means The
Upright One - who was the head of Aideed's militia in Belet Huen. The
gunmen then triumphantly carted his body about the streets on May 2.
The same day Habr Gedir "Moryan" (country warriors) took their revenge
at night, stealing into Hawadle houses and killing at least seven of
their foes in cold blood, residents said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has been unable to
confirm these executions, but a spokesman said the agency was
disturbed at the reports and planned a series of local radio spots to
remind Somalis of basic human rights...
Efforts by Lansana Kouyate, acting U.N. Special Representative of the
Secretary-General in Somalia, to get the 15 faction leaders to hold
peace talks they agreed to pursue in a much-heralded document in March
have so far failed time and time again.
One set of talks that did not take place was supposed to deal with the
crisis developing in the southern port of Kismayu, hit by clan
fighting in recent weeks.
In the past month there have also been battles in Merka, 150 km (100
miles) south of Mogadishu, and in the central town of Belet Huen.
Aid workers say Aideed's militias are advancing on Baidoa, the inland
town devastated by the Habre Gedir and rival militias in feuding that
gave rise to the 1992 famine, which killed 300,000.
For the people of Baidoa, the only good news is that heavy seasonal
rains should assure a good harvest this year - as long as fresh
clashes do not drive them off their land again.
SOMALI GUNMEN KILL FIVE NEPALESE U.N. SOLDIERS
Witnesses said several Somalis were killed or wounded in the fighting
in a maze of streets near the U.N.-controlled airport.
"I understand there was inter-clan fighting in the area prior to the
attack. The Nepalese went in to mediate and were fired upon," U.N.
military spokesman Major Chris Budge told Reuters.
"I don't know whether they were caught in crossfire or directly
attacked. At present I am leaning towards a direct attack," Budge
added.
Budge said that after coming under small arms fire, "the Nepalese
returned fire and as the situation developed the Egyptian and
Pakistani Quick Reaction Forces (QRF) were deployed as a means of
precautionary protection".
The fighting was between members of warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed's
Habre Gedir clan and their rivals of the Hawadle, witnesses said. The
same district was the scene of a 10-day clash between the clans in
late April and early May.
Witnesses said the Habre Gedir, also blamed for killings of U.S.
peacekeepers last year which prompted a withdrawal of American
peacekeepers, were behind the attack on the Nepalese.
They were the first U.N. casualties since two Nepalese were killed in
the same area of Mogadishu on April 18...
Dozens of U.N. and American soldiers have died in Somalia since the
first U.S. Marines hit the beaches of Mogadishu in December, 1992,
aiming to end famine and chaos.
The last U.S. marines left Mogadishu on March 26 this year...
GUNFIRE AND BURNING TYRES IN MOGADISHU AND KISMAYU
Machine-gunfire echoed around Mogadishu and black plumes of smoke rose
into the sky from morning after truck drivers hired city youths to
protest against new port tariffs introduced at the U.N.-managed
facility.
The U.N. wants the tariffs to help the port finance itself, but
whenever it has tried to introduce them in recent months, the truck
drivers have prevented a return to the days when they were taxed
before the government collapsed in January 1991.
Other youths were mobilised by metal scrap dealers to protest at a
decree issued by warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed that they should not be
allowed to export from areas under his control.
Scrap metal was big business in Somalia during the clan wars, when
looters tore down everything from the factories built with Western aid
money to the bronze statues of Somali heroes.
The man widely blamed for most of the looting was Osman Hassan Ali
"Ato" - "The Thin One" - who is Aideed's right hand man and financier.
Aideed's militia radio also banned the exports of charcoal, which is
responsible for much of the deforestation in the arid nation, and
female goats - which Somalis traditionally do not like selling because
they want to maintain breeding stock.
"SNA (Aideed's Somali National Alliance) security men, police and port
authorities are all required to seize such things as scrap metal,
she-goats and charcoal. Handle them with great care and then bring the
perpetrators to a court of law," said Aideed's decree broadcast by
radio.
Aideed, whose militias battled U.S. troops on the streets of Mogadishu
and caused Western forces to pull out in last March, arrived back in
May after months abroad and apparently wants to establish a de-facto
government in his areas.
He has been unable to reach agreement with his many rivals despite an
accord much-publicised by the U.N. in March which promised a series of
talks to set up a new government.
In Kismayu, tensions mounted again as Ogadeni clan warlords Aden
Abdullahi Nur "Gabio" - "The Poet" - and Ahmed Omar Jess condemned
peace talks opened by the U.N. Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) last
week.
The militias of Gabio and Jess fought a series of bloody feuds for
control of Kismayu town and the fertile hinterland, but have recently
mended relations.
In U.N.-brokered deals, the clans were supposed to agree that the
Ogadenis would take control of the farming lands outside Kismayu but
that the city, port and airport would fall under the authority of the
rival Harte clan group.
The Ogadenis appear to have now rejected this concept and want a part
in controlling the lucrative facilities in the town.
** HUMANITARIAN ISSUES **
INTERVIEW WITH UNICEF'S REPRESENTATIVE IN SOMALIA
...[Q] What are your activities in Somalia?
[A] We are doing two things. One line is to try to make sure that
women and children survive the tragic events of 1991 and 1992. We also
have some basic support in terms of vaccination, water and sanitation,
primary health and education for children.
[Q] How do you go about all these programmes?
[A] At UNICEF, we are a practical people, so we try to go to the very
bottom line of what we do. We have chlorinated wells to make sure such
facilities are not contaminated which could contribute to the outbreak
of disease. In fact, more than 3,000 wells have been chlorinated in
the past months. In an area called Bosaso, we have chlorinated 237
wells. Regarding sanitation, we are training the people in this
matter. So far we have trained about 4,000 local staff and have a
programme to extend the training facilities to others. Through health
centres, we are able to reach more than 280,000 people. We have
vaccinated 753,000 children and have also assisted at least 63,000
children to go to school.
[Q] How dangerous is Somalia now?
[A] It is not true that all Somalia is dangerous and that there is war
everywhere. But it is also very true to say that some localities have
problems. In fact we are hopeful that the Somalis will find a better
solution to the problems than outsiders can offer. I hope there will
be no civil war after the departure of the UN troops. At this point,
let me say that the Kenyan authorities are contributing very much to
discussions on this matter of peace in Somalia...
[Q] How big is the UNICEF staff in Somalia. Is it coping?
[A] Our staff is one hundred and thirty of which one hundred are
composed of local workers. Only thirty of our workers are expatriates.
Can they cope? I would say, in normal circumstances--yes. This is
because many Somalis are also helping us in all of these programmes.
In fact most of the vaccinaitons were done by the Somalis.
[Q] Given that the donor community have shown reluctance in supporting
you, what is your next course of action?
[A] Well, the figures speak for themselves. Two years ago our budget
was 50 million dollars annually. This year alone we are struggling to
reach 18 million dollars. This shows that there is donor fatigue and
it makes us seriously concerned. At the moment we have only managed to
secure 12 million dollars to run the programmes.
CHOLERA KILLS 675, AFFECTS 17,000 IN SOMALIA
A statement by the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) said
that while the number of cases had peaked in some areas, the situation
was worsening in two southern regions and in the northwest.
It said 10 tonnes of medical supplies had been sent to the northwest,
known as Somaliland since the region seceded from the rest of chaotic
Somalia in May 1991, to cope with "the worsening epidemic" there.
The epidemic swept through large towns, including the capital
Mogadishu, the southern port of Kismayu and the northeastern port of
Bossaso almost unchecked for weeks in February but it appears to have
burned itself out in these urban areas...
EUROPEAN COMMISION GRANTS EMERGENCY AID OF 688,000 ECUS FOR THE PEOPLE
OF SOMALIA
This aid comes on top of the 3.7 million ecus of humanitarian aid the
Commission has already granted to the people of Somalia.
UNHCR CALLS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL BAN ON LAND-MINES
Editor: Susanne Thurfjell Lunden
Assistant Editor: Everett Nelson
(Reuter 20 Apr 94)
ADDIS ABABA - More than 22 million people scattered across 10 East
African countries could die of starvation without help, a U.S. government
aid official said on Wednesday.
(IPS 3 Jun 94)
NAIROBI - Famine threatens a swathe of eastern Africa from Sudan to
Tanzania, placing millions at risk, warns the U.N. Food and Agricultural
Organisation (FAO).
(Reuter 26 May 94)
WASHINGTON - President Clinton said Thursday he is sending a special
delegation to examine conditions in East Africa, where a possible famine
could threaten the lives of nearly 20 million people.
(RBB 8 Jun 94 [Agence Europe 7 June 94])
Brussels - European Commission vice-president Manuel Marin met Brian
Atwood, Administrator of USAID and President Clinton's special envoy to
the Horn of Africa, in Brussels last week with whom he decided that,
henceforth, American and European Commission officials would meet twice a
year on issues ranging from joint assessment of aid requirements to
improvement of food security and disaster prevention. Mr. Atwood said on
this occasion that crises prevention should become the backbone of
international cooperation in Africa, and that his administration was
focusing on the Horn of Africa where the situation was worrisome, and
where UN Agencies estimate that between 4.5 and 4.7 million people could
be victims of famine. Food aid is estimated at 1.19 million tonnes in
Ethiopia, 575,000 tonnes in Sudan, 300,000 tonnes in Eritrea and 175,000
tonnes in Somalia, thus a total of 2.24 million tonnes, whereas so far
donors have pledged 1.52 million tonnes, 462,000 of which financed by the
European Union budget.
(IPS 6 Jun 94, by Abdelmajid Bejar)
TUNIS - When African leaders meet next week to discuss the challenges
facing the continent, one issue high on the agenda is how the
Organisation of African Unity (OAU) should go about trying to solve the
ongoing conflicts.
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
(DRA Situational Report 1 Apr 94)
As compiled from field visit to Allol Region 12-15 March; Alailai Dadda/
Dalha/ Mebla Regions 17-25 March.
(ION 14 May 94, p.4)
The commissioner of the republic (head of the Djibouti district)
dissolved Syndicat des Enseignants du Premier Degre (primary
schoolteachers' trade union) on May 7 whilst it was engaged in a
massively-followed strike action commenced on May 3... The same day,
members of the Force Nationale de Securite occupied all schools in the
capital on government orders. Meanwhile, Syndicate des Enseignants du
Second Degre (the secondary schoolteachers' union) called out its
teachers on May 8 and 9.
(SWB 9 Jun 94 [VOEE in English, 7 Jun 94])
About 20 people have been injured by gunfire in Jibuti when police
dispersed a demonstration against the bulldozing of homes in an Afar
district of Jibuti's capital. Afar sources and the United Front of the
Jibuti Opposition said four people were killed during Sunday's [5th June]
protest in the Arhiba district of Jibuti. The opposition front also
claimed that security forces arrested more than 300 people including the
front's president, Muhammad Ahmad Issa, known as Cheiko.
(SWB 7 May 94 [Africa No 1 radio, Libreville, in French 4 May 94])
In Jibuti four detained opposition leaders have been set free. Four
senior officials of the United Front of the Jibuti Opposition [FUOD],
including the front's leader Mohamed Ahmed Issa alias Cheiko, who have
been in detention for over three months were released on 2nd May. The
three others are Kamil Ali Mohamed, Mahdi Ibrahim Ahmed and Galal
Abdirahman. They were all arrested in late January after they had, at the
second FUOD news conference held in Addis Ababa, called for the overthrow
of, quote, the dictatorial regime of President Hassan Gouled Aptidon and
the stepping up of the armed struggle.
(SWB 21 May 94 [RFI in French, 18 May 94])
In Jibuti the former chairman of the [Government] Council, Ali Aref
Bourhane, who was recently released from prison, has been prevented from
leaving the territory. Yesterday evening the border police withdrew his
passport while he was about to board a flight for Paris. The police have
given no reason, explaining that they were acting on instructions. The
Jibuti Association for the Defence of Human Rights condemned this
practice in a communique this morning.
(SWB 6 May 94 [RFI in French, 4 May 94]
In Jibuti, the FRUD [Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy],
which yesterday denied the existence of a new leadership, decided today
to expel Ougoureh Kifle, who said that he headed the revolt and even
announced the opening of negotiations with the Jibuti government. The
executive council of the armed movement believes that Ougoureh Kifle is
guilty of lack of discipline and usurpation of his post and authority.
(SWB 6 May 94 [Yemeni Republic Radio, San'a, in Arabic 4 May 94])
Brother Lt-Gen Ali Abdullah Salih, chairman of the Presidential Council,
today received Jibuti Prime Minister Barkat Hamadou, who conveyed to him
a letter from his brother Jibuti President Hassan Gouled. The letter
dealt with bilateral relations, issues of interest to both fraternal
countries, and developments in our country.
(Reuter 9 May 94, by Ashraf Fouad])
DJIBOUTI - French, German and Italian aircraft shuttled all day between
Yemen's capital Sanaa and Djibouti as evacuations continued on Monday of
foreigners fleeing civil war.
(SWB 3 May 94 [VOEE in Amharic, 28 Apr 94])
Ethiopia and Jibuti have signed a 16-point agreement aimed at further
strengthening existing relations and cooperation between the two
countries. They have also issued a joint communique. Of the 16 points in
the agreement - signed at the end of a working visit to Jibuti by a
senior Ethiopian delegation led by Prime Minister Tamirat Layne - six
were new and the rest had been signed earlier and needed amending...
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 - Popular Front for Democracy and Justice
PGE - Provisional Government of Eritrea
PROFERI - Programme for Refugee Reintegration and Rehabilitation of
Resettlement Areas in Eritrea
(Reuter 24 May 94, by Jacky Sutton)
ASMARA - The Red Sea state of Eritrea, Africa's youngest state,
celebrated its first birthday in style on Tuesday, honouring its dead
heroes but also focusing on a tough path ahead.
(SWB 18 May 94 [VBME in Tigrigna, 16 May 94])
President Isayas Afewerki, this morning at the Asmara city hall gave a
briefing on the Eritrean Defence Ministry's directive on the first round
of national service. During the meeting, which was attended by leaders of
the Central National Youth Service, administrators of Asmara city zones
and combatants and workers directly involved in the deployment of the
activities of the National Youth Service, President Isayas noted that
national service was an exercise which generated psychological and
physical strength, gave ability to face problems, abolished the spirit of
idleness which had for long been inculcated in the youth, brought about
new impetus in them and prepared them to defend their country at times of
travail. It also served to educate the youth about their country,
acquaint them with their culture and their society and performed an
important role in defending the country's unity. Performance of national
service was therefore the duty of every individual, the president noted.
(SWB 26 May 94 [VBME in Tigrigna, 23 May 94])
The Eritrean government has granted an amnesty to 132 political prisoners
who had served the enemy as spies and security officers and committed
crimes against the Eritrean people. The amnesty was granted to mark
Eritrea's first anniversary of independence, according to a statement
issued by the Eritrean President's Office. The statement added that the
purpose of the amnesty was to give the beneficiaries a chance to
reconstruct their country which they had destroyed and to compensate the
people they had wronged. It is to be recalled that the Eritrean
government has earlier amnestied people who worked as the enemy's spies
and security agents and committed crimes and atrocities against the
Eritrean people.
(SWB 7 May 94 [RFI in French, 5 May 94])
RFI's midday guest is Isayas Aferwerki, the president of Eritrea, who
left Paris this morning after a three-day visit to France. It was his
first official visit to the West since the independence of his country.
His visit ended with the signing of a protocol worth some 20m francs to
rehabilitate the airport and the water supply system of the Eritrean
capital. In the diplomatic field, the situation in the Horn of Africa was
at the centre of the talks that Isayas Aferwerki held with Francois
Mitterrand among others. Paris welcomes Eritrea's stabilizing action in
this area of the continent. Will the Eritrean president be able to act as
a mediator in the crisis rocking Jibuti, among other places? Isayas
Aferwerki spoke to Francois Picard [phonetic] and Ghislaine Dupont:
(FBIS 12 Apr 94 [Al-Hayah in Arabic, 19 Mar 94, p.7])
...Merchants' Complaints
(Eritrea-Info 1 Jun 94 [Wall Street Journal 31 May 93, p.1, by Geraldine
Brooks])
...At a bar in Massawa, a group of young fighters nurse glasses of tea
and discuss their predicament. For some, peace has brought bitter sweet
changes. Fatieha, a slightly built 20-year-old, is glad she won't have to
witness any more of wounding and killing that were a constant during five
years in the trenches. She has gladly shed her kaki shorts for a silky
dress. She has styled her hair and forced newly grown finger nails.
Still, she misses the sexual equality of the front.
(AB May 94, p.18)
Eritrea's economic recovery is hampered by a lack of energy. The
country's three power stations produce a mere 20 megawatts, barely
adequate for the capital, Asmara. Diesel is used in rural centres and by
several of the country's 42 state-run factories, but it is expensive and
eats into foreign exchange earmarked for spare parts and capital
equipment.
(Reuter 13 May 93, by Alan Raybould)
NAIROBI - The African Development Bank ended its annual meeting on Friday
with a crucial reform of its lending policy left up in the air and its
soft loan fund bare...
(European Commission press release via RBB 24 May 94, IP/94/423)
A mission from the European Commission, headed by Vice-President Manuel
Marin, responsible for development cooperation and humanitarian aid,
visited Eritrea on 22 May 1994.
(ELF-RC press release 011/94 F.1.0, 3 May 94)
We inform that several members of the leadership and cadres of the
Eritrean Liberation Front--Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC) who were active
in Ethiopia have been detained on 29.04.1994 and are now in custody by
the TG of Ethiopia. We have since been following the circumstances
surrounding their arrest and have also made contacts with several
Ethiopian officials in Addis Ababa concerning the case, but have so far
not been able to learn of the reasons behind the measures taken against
them or when they will be released. To our knowledge, no charges have as
yet been brought against them either.
(ION 7 May 94, p.4)
According to an eyewitness quoted by the Amharic-language newspapers
Tazabi and Tobia, Eritrean military personnel arrested 480 Ethiopian
civilians (aged between 7 and 28 years) in the Eritrean port of Assab on
March 29. They were detained for six days in a hangar 15 km outside the
town before being deported at the frontier post of Bure. Several
Ethiopians are believed to have been hospitalized afterwards and the
others made their way 400 km west to Kombolcha, arriving on April 13.
(EH 14 May 94, p.1 [ENA])
The Ethio-Eritrean Joint Ministerial Commission first follow-up meeting
which started on Wednesday ended yesterday by issuing a joint
communique...
(FBIS 26 Apr 94, p.6 [VBME in Tigrinya, 23 Apr 94])
Statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in Asmara on 23 April.
(SWB 14 May 94 [VBME in Tigrigna, 12 May 94])
The Foreign Ministry has issued a statement on Eritrea's position
regarding the continuing war in Yemen. In the statement, issued this
afternoon, the Eritrean government noted with amazement the false
information that was emanating from the media of some Arab countries. The
false information alleged that Eritrea had taken part in one opposition
general's side of [word indistinct]. This false information was aimed at
spoiling the good relationship between Eritrea and all Yemenis, the
statement noted.
(Moneyclips 24 May 94 [Times of Oman])
Muscat - The Sultanate of Oman and the state of Eritrea have decided to
establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with effect from
yesterday, a joint statement said.
AAPO - All Amhamra People's Organisation
ADU - Afar Democratic Union
ALF - Afar Liberation Front
APDO - Afar People's Democratic Organisation
ARDU - Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union
ARDUF - Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front
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
EDAG - Ethiopian Democratic Action Group
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
EPRP - Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
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
MEISONE - All Ethiopia Socialist Union
OALF - Oromo Abo Liberation Front
OLF - Oromo Liberation Front
ONLF - Ogaden National Liberation Front
OPDO - Oromo People's Democratic Organisation
ORA - Oromo Relief Association
OSAFU - Oromo Students Association of Finfine University
SEPDC - Southern Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Coalition
SGPDO - Sodo Gordena People's Democratic Organisation
SPDO - Sidama People's Democratic Organisation
TPLF - Tigray People's Liberation Front
TWU - Tigri-Worji Union
UODO - United Oromo Democratic Organisation
UOPLF - United Oromo People's Liberation Front
WPE - Workers' Party of Ethiopia
WPDF - Wolaita People's Democratic Front
WSLF - Western Somali Liberation Front
(SWB 4 Jun 94 [VOE in Amharic, 2 Jun 94])
Prime Minister Tamirat Layne began touring the famine-striken districts
in southern Ethiopia yesterday [1st June]. He visited a village in
Bolosso District where many famine-striken people are currently being
sheltered. During this visit, the prime minister said it was feared that
the number of famine victims throughout the country might now have
increased to beyond seven million. According to a report, in Bolosso
District alone, over 5,000 people have so far died as a consequence of
the prevailing famine as well as a malaria outbreak. Tedros Newaye has
sent us the details from Awasa by telephone:
(UN Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia Situation Report, Apr 94)
...Emergency needs and operations
(SWB 23 May 94 [VOEE in English, 20 May 94])
Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Simon Mechale had said only 20% of
the total humanitarian aid pledged by donors has arrived in the country
so far. During a (?WorldNet) interactive discussion between Addis,
Nairobi and Washington, Commissioner Simon said Ethiopia's 6.7m people
are on the brink of death and was highly concerned by the delay of the
already-pledged humanitarian aid.
(Reuter 27 May 94)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia has launched a massive operation involving
thousands of trucks and some aircraft to shuttle relief supplies to
drought-affected areas.
(Reuter 27 May 94)
WASHINGTON - A senior U.S. official and a member of Congress are going to
Africa for meetings on ways to avert another famine.
(IPS 3 Jun 94)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia's endless dependence on food aid and a rapidly
increasing population are driving the donor community to doubt whether
the Horn of Africa country will ever be able attain food
self-sufficiency...
(NNS Apr 94)
Elections for the Constituent Assembly in Ethiopia are now just over a
month away. There have been two registration processes going on since
February, one for political parties who wish to retain legal status in
the country - deadline May 26 - and the other for candidacy in the
Constituent Assembly (CA) elections (as independent individuals or as
representatives of political parties) deadline was April 1.
(SWB 6 May 94 [VOEE in English, 4 May 94])
Text of report; as heard throughout
(NA June 94, p.31)
...Even at this late stage, relations between the various political
parties which might contest the elections remain fragile. Following the
establishment of the Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and
Democracy (CAFPD) after the Conference for Peace and Reconciliation in
Addis Ababa in December (see NA March 1994), it seemed that the
Transitional Government might be prepared to discuss a modus vivendi with
the Council, which comprises the main opposition groups including the
leftist-leaning Coalition of Ethiopian Democratic Forces (COEDF), the
Ethiopian Mehdin Democratic Party (Mehdin) and the Oromo Liberation Front
(OLF).
Tomorrow the Ethiopian people will march to around 26,865 polling
stations to elect the 548 members of the Constituent Assembly. The people
will start voting as early as 0600 [local time] to elect the right
candidate out of the 1,471 candidates. Out of this number 937 are
independent candidates, 42 of them being women candidates. The National
Electoral Board has issued permits to nearly 600 international observers
and journalists...
The National Electoral Board has noted that in the current Constituent
Assembly election 937 independent and 534 party candidates from 39
political organizations are expected to take part in the election...
(Reuter 6 Jun 94)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia said 90 percent of registered voters turned out in
Sunday's constituent assembly elections, an important stage in
entrenching democracy after centuries of feudal rule followed by Marxist
dictatorship.
(SNU 21 Apr 94)
Addis Ababa - While the remains of the Somali Republic still have no
government, ethnic Somalis in Ethiopia's Region Five are cursed with two.
A bloodless coup in the Regional Council backed by the central government
appears to have backfired...
(NN/hrnet.africa 22 May 94 [AI 19 May 94, AFR 25/14/94])
... The former President, former Vice-president and eight other ONLF
representatives in the Regional Assembly (regional parliament) in Region
Five were arrested by government troops on 13 May 1994 in the regional
capital of Godey. They had earlier been removed from their posts and a
new regional government appointed, with Jijiga designated as the new
regional capital. Hundreds of other ONLF supporters are also reported to
have been arrested in other parts of the region.
(Reuter 29 Apr 94)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia's defence minister said on Friday government
forces cracking down on Moslem fundamentalists had seized their main base
in the east of the country.
(SWB 11 May 94 [VOEE in Amharic, 9 May 94])
The Ogaden National Liberation Front [ONLF] today rejected as baseless
allegations contained in the "Zog" publication on 24th Miyazia 1986
[Ethiopian calendar, corresponding to 3rd May 1994] claiming that the
front's forces had carried out attacks. In its statement to the "Zog"
editor in chief entitled "the front has not carried out any attacks", a
copy of which was received by the Ethiopian News Agency, it said claims
by the newspaper that the ONLF had killed more than 620 people and
wounded over 251 were incorrect. The statement said the paper's report
alleging that the Ogaden National Liberation Front's military stronghold
which is in Region Five - had been engaged in a fierce battle and
scored victories was false. The report that the ONLF had engaged in
battle with TPLF [Tigre People's Liberation Front] fighters 31 times was
a complete lie. This had never occurred in the region and never would,
the front said in its statement.
(NN/hrnet.africa 20 May 94 [American Association for the Advancement of
Science Human Rights Action Network - Update of Alert, 18 May 94])
...The Committee to Protect Journalists ranks Ethiopia second to China in
its Annual Report, "Attacks on the Press in 1993." Although the Ethiopian
Government has committed itself to freedom of expression in the
Transitional Period Charter of Ethiopia, in effect the interim
constitution, through intimidation, harassment, and arbitrary arrests the
TGE is clearly violating Article One of the Charter which provides that
"individual human rights shall be respected fully in accordance with the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights," and specifies that everyone shall
have the "freedom of conscience, expression, association and peaceable
assembly..."
(GN 19 May 94, by Lucy Hannan)
ADDIS ABABA - One of the main architects of political terror in Ethiopia
has been extradited by Djibouti and now faces charges of crimes against
humanity.
(GN 23 May 94)
Ethiopia's pursuit of the former regime may spawn the biggest trial for
crimes against humanity since Nuremberg, writes George Alagiah in Addis
Ababa
(Reuter 28 May 94, by Tsegaye Taddesse)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian President Meles Zenawi said on Saturday efforts
to rebuild a country devastated by civil war and Marxist dictatorship
were now drastically hindered by drought.
(Reuter 6 May 94)
BRUSSELS - The Development Council agreed on Friday to forge closer
relations with six developing countries on an experimental basis,
diplomats said.
(Reuter 17 May 94)
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia devalued its birr currency by 8.065 percent on
Tuesday to 5.58 to the dollar from 5.13 at the official rate in its third
devaluation in two years.
(EH 13 May 94, p.1 [ENA])
ASSAYITA - The Transitional Government of Ethiopia has earmarked 14
million birr for the construction of a 335 kilometre gravel road in Afar
Region in a bid to alleviate the existing transportation problems of the
Afars, regional urban bureau said Wednesday...
(SWB 31 May 94 [VOEE in English, 20 May 94])
The Ethiopian roads authority has received vehicles and machineries worth
about 49m birr [approximately 10m US dollars] in aid from the government
of Japan...
(EN Apr 94, p.10)
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will give more than 100
million US dollars to Ethiopia for the execution of programmes intended
to promote the welfare of children and women in the country in the coming
two or three years, Mr. James Grant, Director General of UNICEF, said.
Mr. Grant made the statement during his five-day working visit to
Ethiopia aimed at getting first hand information on government's efforts
to improve the health situation of children in the country.
(SWB 4 May 94 [VOEE in Amharic, 28 Apr 94])
Ethiopia and Jibuti have signed a 16-point agreement aimed at further
strengthening existing relations and cooperation between the two
countries. They have also issued a joint communique...
(SWB 12 May 94 [VBME in Tigrigna, 11 May 94])
A senior Eritrean delegation left for Addis Ababa yesterday [10th May] to
take part in the second Eritrean-Ethiopian joint cooperation meeting.
This delegation is composed of officials from all ministries and headed
by Mr Muhammad Sharifo, minister for local government.
(SWB 24 May 94 [KNA news agency, Nairobi, in English 13 May 94])
Editorial report from item by PANA news agency, Dakar
(SWB 20 May 94 [Suna news agency, Khartoum, in Arabic 15 May 94])
Khartoum: Operations for the voluntary repatriation of Ethiopian
refugees, which began last Sunday [8th May], continue with the
repatriation overland so far of 3,739 of the original 7,000 refugees.
Their repatriation is expected to be complete by the end of this summer
and before the beginning of autumn. Repatriation operations are being
conducted in the refugee camps in Twa and Hawatah [both names phonetic],
in Damazin in eastern Sudan and towards the areas of Kawkit and Khawajah
[both names phonetic] in Ethiopia. They are being organized by the
refugee commission.
(Israel Business Today via RBB, 6 May 94)
Israel and Ethiopia will widen their cooperation in the area of trade,
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Masha Lubelsky announced. Lubelsky
met with the head of the Trade Promotion Division of the Ethiopian
government to discuss practical ways to expand trade between the two
countries.
(SWB 27 May 94 [VOEE in Amharic, 25 May 94])
The Foreign Ministry today stated that Ethiopia had accepted the request
of the UN to send her troops to Rwanda. Ethiopia accepted the request in
accordance with the UN Security Council's Resolution 918 on 17th May
1994, asking all member states to send troops towards the UN peacekeeping
force in Rwanda, which was passed to Ethiopia through the
secretary-general of the organization [UN]...
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
(Africa Recovery Dec 93-March 94, p.6, by Tom Malinowski)
In a breakthrough for the peace process, Somalia's 15 major movements
signed a long delayed declaration on national reconciliation on 24
March. The declaration, which followed 10 days of talks bokered by UN
Acting Special Representative Lansana Kouyate of Guinea, calls on
accord participants and the Somali National Movement (SNM) to meeti in
mid-April to prepare for a major converence to appoint a President,
Vice-Presidents, and Prime Minister on 15 May. It also sets out the
signatories' commitment to implementing a cease-fire, disarming their
militias and renouncing violence.
(NA May 94, p.7)
Will the new Somali agreement, signed in Nairobi on 24 March 1994
succeed any better than the old peace plan, signed almost exactly a
year earlier on 27 March 1993 in Addis Ababa?
(SWB 1 Jun 9)
Editorial report
(Africa Recovery Dec 93-March 94, p.6, by Tom Malinowski)
...UNOSOM II has laid a foundation for civil government where the rule
of law had collapsed. Under the Addis Ababa agreements, it has
supervised the creation of governing councils in 53 of Somalia's 81
districts, and in 8 of its 13 regions. The councils are taking charge
of public safety, educaiton, health and reconstruction. UNOSOM II has
also set up 107 police stations in the districts, and trained police
officers, judges and prison guards.
(Reuter 26 May 94)
UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, saying the
Somali people "deserve a last chance," Thursday recommended a
six-month renewal of the 19,000-strong U.N. Operation in Somalia
(UNOSOM).
(Reuter 31 May 94, by Evelyn Leopold)
UNITED NATIONS - The Security Council Tuesday, at the instigation of
the United States, renewed the 19,000-strong U.N. operation in Somalia
for only four months rather than the six months most members wanted.
(IPS 13 May 94, by Farhan Haq)
UNITED NATIONS--New U.S. concerns about U.N. peacekeeping operations
in Rwanda and Somalia are angering African nations and Washington's
European allies alike.
(SWB 26 May 94 [RMV in Somali, 21 May 94])
Lansana Kouyate, UN special envoy to Somalia, has attended a ceremony
for the handing over of military equipment to the Somali police force.
The ceremony took place at Mogadishu airport and was addressed by
Brig-Gen Abd al-Jalil Bilfaqrani [phonetic], the commander of the
Egyptian troops, whose forces and government have donated 2,000 light
arms, 200,000 rounds of ammuniton and explosives, communication
equipment and officers, to train the police...
(SWB 31 May 94 [RMO in Somali, 28 May 94])
Mr Ali Mahdi Muhammad... today in his office received Iqbal Riza, the
UN undersecretary for peacekeeping operations... The two sides
discussed issues pertaining to the UN operations in Somalia,
particularly peacekeeping. The meeting, which was also attended by
Ambassador Lansana Kouyate, the UN special envoy to Somalia, ended
positively.
(Reuter 12 May 94, by Julian Bedford)
MOGADISHU - Battlewagons full of Somali gunmen patrol the streets of
Mogadishu these days while United Nations soldiers who once hunted
them down watch meekly.
(Reuter 16 May 94)
MOGADISHU - Five Nepalese U.N. peacekeepers were killed and another
was wounded when they tried to stop fighting between Somali clan
militias in south Mogadishu, a U.N. military spokesman said.
(Reuter 2 Jun 94, by Mohamed Hassan)
MOGADISHU - ...In the troubled southern port of Kismayu, warlords who
led the country into clan feuding, famine and disease three years ago
quarrelled at yet another round of peace talks brokered by the United
Nations.
(ANB 15 Apr 94 [The Standard, Kenya, 20 Mar 94, by Haroun Wandalo])
An interview with Staffan de Mistura, United Nations Children Fund
representative in Somalia
(Reuter 30 May 94)
MOGADISHU - Cholera in Somalia has killed 675 people out of 17,000
cases since the epidemic broke out in late January, the United Nations
said on Monday.
(Agence Europe via RBB 19 May 94)
BRUSSELS, 18 May 94 - The European Commission decided on Wednesday to
grant emergency humanitarian aid of 688,000 ecus for the people of
Borhache, Gedo and Giohar, victims of the continuing civil war in
Somalia. This aid will finance three medical assistance programmes,
namely: (i) 170,000 ecus for a project to stem a cholera epidemic in
Giohar (creation and supervision of an epidemiology centre, public
awareness raising programme and medical assistance for three months;
this project will be carried out by the Spanish division of Medecins
sans Frontieres); (ii) 330,000 ecus to ensure six months of
functioning of a hospital in the Gedo region; (iii) 185,000 ecus for
six months of supervision by Medecins du Monde of essential health
care in the town of Borhache, the operation of mobile clinics in
neighbouring villages, basic training for local teams and a
vaccination programme for children under five years of age.
(NN/UNIC 31 May 94 [UN document DH/1654, 27 May 94])
The United Nations High Commissioner for