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The African Economist Vol. XXIV No. 40 September 2005 NEWS
According to Seyoum, the Committee will hold discussions with representatives of other continents to promote Africa's position concerning UN's reform. Differences between Cairo and Algeria over Arab summit CAIRO, Egypt- the secretary general of the Arab league (AL) Amr Moussa admitted that there are differences between Egypt and Algeria over the urgent Arab summit due to be held on August 3 in Sharm el-Sheikh. However, Amr Moussa considered in press statements that there is still plenty of time for contacts with Algeria, so that its President Abdul Aziz Butaflika will preside over the summit. Sources in the AL stressed that Moussa and several Arab leaders are currently in intensive contacts with Butaflika to convince him on the summit. The Egyptian foreign minister Ahamd Abu al-Gheit expressed his regret over what was announced by the Algerian foreign Minister Abu Jarra Sultani the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak prepared for this summit in preparation to launch his domestic election campaign. Abu al-Gheit said in a statement that his contacts made by Egypt to this effect proves the safe measures taken by the Arab League for this summit, nothing that the Algerian minister of state might not have had enough information about contacts made between Cairo and officials in his country. Abu al-Gheit added that he made contacts with his Algerian peer Abdul Aziz Balkhadem over the idea of the summit, stressing that the Algerian side stressed during the contacts readiness to take part in the summit at the highest level and the date and place agreed upon. Meantime, Chinese CCTV reported that the summit would be delayed as a result of the death of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd bin Abdul al-Aziz. US lawmaker urges Ethiopian Opposition not to boycott parliament The visiting US Congressman Christopher H. Smith urged Ethiopia’s opposition not to put into effect threats to boycott parliament in protest against alleged fraud in May general elections. Congressman Smith said the opposition would be better off voicing its views within the parliamentary system than from outside. However, according to a report by AFP, opposition party officials said they were disappointed by Smith’s calls for them to drop protests over alleged fraud, complaining the congressman did not understand the situation in Ethiopia. “We have realized Congressman Smith had not been well informed of the situation,” AFP quoted Dr. Beyene Petros, vice chair of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Froces (UEDF) as saying. “by implication, his message was asking us to join (Parliament) as the opposition with more seats than we had before and prepare ourselves for the next elections,” Dr. Beyene told AFP. He said Smith would convey the opposition’s concerns to Meles in follow-up meetings in the coming days. It is to be recalled that Congressman Smith was reported to have said “Opposition parties can play a positive role by actively participating in debates and other mutual concerns of the country peacefully.” “That is why multi-party or two-party systems are so good,” said Smith, the chairman of the House International Relations Committee’s panel of Africa and human rights. South Africa launches mosquito repellent candle factory PRETORIA, South Africa – a factory producing mosquito repellent candle factory was launched marking an innovation and scientific breakthrough to support the fight against malaria. Deputy Minster of Science and Technology, Mr. Derek Hanekom, accompanied by the Premier Mr Sello Moloto officially launched the mosquito repellent candle factory of the Hi-Hanyille community, in Giyani, Limpopo. According a press release from the Ministry, the project was funded by the Department of Science and Technology to the tune of R7, 205m, (about USD 1.1 million) and supported by through scientific research from the CSIR on the efficacy of the BPI essential oil in repelling mosquitoes; this project promises to be a huge success. The statement disclosed that the product was tested by SABS and is rated to be above the efficacy rate of what is currently available in the market. the Deputy Minister commended the CSIR for excellent scientific research done and the traditional healers for the insight they have provided into the potency of the plant. He further said that community projects must graduate from being mere community projects to becoming successful business enterprises for the good of communities themselves. Premier Moloto affirmed his government’s commitment to work together with the Department of Science and Technology and the CSIR in ensuring that there are greater prospects of expansion of the project both in Giyani as well as throughout the Province, in order to create work and fight poverty. The Deputy Minister concluded by saying that there is every reason to fell proud and enthusiastic based on the achievements of the community, but that great tribute must be paid to ordinary people who have labored hard to make this a success. He emphatically state that the onus was on those who has the skill, knowledge and determination to ensure that the market demands more of the product. The proceedings were concluded with the touring of the facility and the demonstration of distillation process as well as the actual manufacturing and packaging of the candle that will be sold under the brand the name of ‘Ulwazi Botanicals’ an effective mosquito repellent with a fresh fragrance and a promise of a better life for the community both in terms of a better income as well as reducing the incidence of malaria. Algeria to vote on amnesty plan
Those guilty of massacres, terror attacks or rapes would be excluded from the amnesty, he said. Militant Algerian groups have killed some 150,000 people since 1992, when elections in which an Islamic party was poised to win were cancelled. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said the referendum was aimed at "definitively turning the page on the political crisis" sparked by the insurgents' struggle. He vowed the vote would be "transparent, democratic and fair". Compensation The proposed amnesty entails dropping charges against rebels who gave up arms after 13 January 2000, when legislation on civil reconciliation took effect. It was initially expected to apply to all insurgents, but a re-think of the plan was prompted by the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which praised the murder of two Algerian diplomats in Iraq last month. The reconciliation charter, due to be voted on in the referendum, also envisages re-establishing the rights of Islamists who lost their jobs in the 1990s crackdown. But the president made it clear that whoever fomented "the policy of pseudo-jihad against the nation and its institutions" would be banned from entering politics. The families of those killed in the clashes will be entitled to compensation, he said. Mr Bouteflika first launched his controversial reconciliation initiative at the start of his first term as president in 1999. Violence has not ceased completely since, but the number of attacks has gone down in recent years. Somali leader plans war, MPs say Somalia's president is planning to start an internal war with Ethiopian help, a group of rebel MPs has said. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed has just returned from a trip to Ethiopia, his long-time ally, but officials have denied that he sought military assistance there. The MPs, who include ministers and former warlords led by the speaker of parliament, accuse Mr Yusuf of treason.
They accused Mr Yusuf of planning to send troops to the Hiiraan, Bakool and Bai regions of central Somalia. This was strongly denied by Deputy Information Minister Salad Ali Jeele. He said the president went to Ethiopia to have talks with traditional elders and politicians from Hiiran region in central Somalia as a confidence building measure. Mr Yusuf is based in Jowhar while his rivals are based in Mogadishu, which he says is too dangerous to host a government. In addition to the location of the capital, the two sides also disagree on whether foreign peacekeepers are needed in Somalia. Mr. Yusuf wants them - even Ethiopians who are distrusted by many Somalis. But the rebel MPs say peacekeepers are not necessary. Last month, Mr Yusuf said he was moving from his northern stronghold of Puntland to Jowhar and would recruit militia forces as he went to join a new army. Somalia has not had a functioning government since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, and 13 previous attempts to end the anarchy have failed. Correspondents say there are fears that this peace process could also be on the brink of collapse Mauritanian army coup condemned
The capital, Nouakchott, is calm, with people returning to work, traffic flowing and fewer soldiers on the streets. The Mauritanian army said it had ended the "totalitarian regime" of President Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya. The AU said it strongly condemned any seizure of power, while the US called for a peaceful return to order under President Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya. The junta said it had set up a 17-member Council for Justice and Democracy to rule the West African state for two years, after which it would organise free and fair elections. There are no reports of any casualties during the takeover. The airport has now reopened. Celebrations The council named security chief Colonel Ely Ould Mohammed Vall as the new leader. Col Vall, 55, has been director of national security since 1987 and, after playing a key role in the 1984 coup, which brought Mr. Taya to power, had been seen as one of the president's closest aides. There were street celebrations in the capital, Nouakchott, following the announcement on national radio. "It's the end of a long period of oppression and injustice," civil servant Fidi Kane told the Associated Press news agency. "We are very delighted with this change of regime." But the ruling PRDS party has condemned the coup. President Taya was returning from the funeral of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia when the coup took place. He is now in Niger. AU Commission President Alpha Oumar Konare said the union "strongly condemns any seizure of power or any attempt to take power by force". The US said it joined with the AU in condemning the coup and called "for a peaceful return for order under the constitution and the established government of President Taya". Britain, in its capacity as current president of the European Union, called for "full respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law" in Mauritania. Divided state President Taya took power in a bloodless coup in December 1984 and has been re-elected three times since. Correspondents say he later made enemies among Islamists in the country, which is an Islamic republic. Critics accuse the government of using the US-led war on terror to crack down on Islamic opponents.
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