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

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


HORN OF AFRICA
IRIN-HOA Weekly Round-up 58
6 - 12 October 2001


CONTENTS:

ERITREA: Government defends crackdown on opposition
ERITREA: Diplomatic rift with European Union
ERITREA:  Government dismisses reports of army infighting
ERITREA-SUDAN: Concern over opposition crackdown
ETHIOPIA: Former Speaker elected president
ETHIOPIA: New government to be announced
ETHIOPIA: Premier outlines five-year plan
ETHIOPIA: Government to relax press restrictions
ETHIOPIA: Export earnings fall
ETHIOPIA: Foreigners to be registered
ETHIOPIA: Paedophile suspect for closed-doors trial
SOMALIA: Calm returns after demonstrations
SOMALIA: Zanzibari refugees in Mogadishu
SOMALIA: Religious leader condemns attacks on Afghanistan

ERITREA: Government defends crackdown on opposition

With European Union (EU) ambassadors to Eritrea leaving, following their
recall by their home governments "for consultations", and with more
arrests of opponents witnessed in recent days, the Eritrean government has
defended a recent crackdown on its opponents and the media. The government
spokesman, Yemane Gebremeskel, told the BBC on Wednesday that those
arrested had been involved in "illegal activities which had endangered the
country". He described those arrested as "dissidents", saying they had
transgressed the law. He was, however, unable to define specific charges
they might face. The Eritrean government's web site, Shaebia, reiterated
accusations that those now under arrest had been organising clandestine
cells inside the country, saying they were guilty of treachery and
cooperation with opposition groups based in Ethiopia.

The BBC reported that those arrested in the last few days included Idris
Abaire, the director-general of the labour ministry, Abdu Ahmad Yonus, a
businessman, and Miriam Hagos, who was in charge of Eritrea's film
festival due to start later this month.

ERITREA: Diplomatic rift with European Union

The crackdown on the opposition and media has been the cause of an ongoing
diplomatic row between Eritrea and the EU. Italy's ambassador to Eritrea,
Antonio Bandini, who was also the EU representative in Eritrea, was
expelled on 1 October after protesting against the crackdown. In turn,
Italy expelled Eritrea's ambassador, Tseggai Mogos, on 2 October. On
Monday, the EU in Luxembourg decided to recall all its ambassadors in
Asmara, although their missions would remain open. The German ambassador
has already left, while the French envoy was due to have left on
Wednesday, to be followed by the Dutch and Danish representatives, said
AFP.

The French ambassador, Louis le Vert, was quoted by AFP as saying that
"recalling an ambassador for consultations is the traditional way for a
government to show displeasure. It is unusual, though, for EU countries to
do this jointly."

ERITREA:  Government dismisses reports of army infighting

Eritrea's defence minister, General Sebhat Ephrem, has dismissed
allegations of infighting within the armed forces as unsubstantiated
rumours, AFP reported on Thursday. The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia
and Eritrea (UNMEE), for its part, is aware of the reports, but has been
unable to confirm them.

Early this week, reports in the Sudanese press and on the Eritrea
opposition web site, http://www.Eritrea1.org, claimed infighting occurred
between soldiers loyal to President Isayas Afewerki and those opposed to
him, near the southwestern town of Guluj. It was claimed on the web site
that the ruling People's Front for Democracy and Justice had ordered the
arrest of two army brigades in Guluj. Soldiers of the two brigades, said
to be sympathetic to some of Isayas's opponents were said to have resisted
arrest, sparking off the fighting. "These are rumours by the opposition
trying to destroy the image of Eritrea," Sebhat said. Special
Representative of the UN Secretary-General Legwaila Joseph Legwaila was
quoted in an UNMEE press release as saying UNMEE had "investigated the
reports but found nothing unusual".

ERITREA-SUDAN: Concern over opposition crackdown

The Sudanese government was to send a presidential envoy to Eritrea to
review the situation there, AFP reported on 7 October. The agency quotes
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Uthman Isma'il as saying that Sudanese
President Umar al-Bashir, in his capacity as the current chairman of the
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), "follows the situation
closely and will dispatch an envoy to Asmara in the coming few days to
discuss the situation with Eritrean officials". Sudan was confident that
President Isayas Afewerki would address the problem with wisdom and
responsibility, said Isma'il, adding that Bashir "wants to reassure
himself that the problem will be resolved, as what happens in neighbouring
Eritrea will affect Sudan," according to AFP.

ETHIOPIA: Former Speaker elected president

Elected unanimously by both houses of parliament on Monday for a six-year
term, Ethiopia's new President Lieutenant Girma Woldegiorgis, 76, may have
been a surprise choice, but he is no stranger to the country's political
trials and tribulations. The president, whose name never came up during
the days of widespread speculation by the local media, replaces Negaso
Gidada - the first president under the constitution which made Ethiopia a
federal republic in 1995.

The presidency itself is ceremonial, but the new president vowed in a
maiden speech to a joint session of the Council of People's
Representatives and the House of the Federation in Addis Ababa on Monday
to lead and serve the country diligently and fairly, Ethiopian Tigray
Radio reported. The outgoing president told the session he was pleased,
because the transition of power had been smooth, which was a sign of
democratic development. He was, the radio reported, ready to serve the
country in any other capacity.

Like Negaso, the new president is a member of the majority Oromo ethnic
group, which constitutes over 30 percent of Ethiopia's 63 million people.
He served as parliamentary Speaker under Emperor Haile Selassie, prior to
which he had been an air force officer. At the time of the emperor's
overthrow in 1974, he was president of the Red Cross in Eritrea. After the
subsequent ousting of Mengistu Hailemariam in 1991 by the current ruling
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), he went into
private business. He was later re-elected to parliament as an independent
member.

ETHIOPIA: New government to be announced

A new government in Ethiopia is expected to be announced by Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi very soon. Composed mainly of MPs, the new government line-up
is expected to have a broader ethnic representation, a Western diplomat in
Addis Ababa told IRIN on Thursday. The 545-member parliament, where the
ruling (EPRDF) coalition enjoys a majority of 518 members, was expected by
end of the week to pass wide-ranging proposals by Meles on a new
government structure. "We have been told the announcements will be made
either on Friday or Monday, and the new cabinet will be more balanced in
terms of ethnicity and gender. The prime minister had said it would
reflect an equitable ethnic representation without prejudice to its
efficient operation," the diplomat, who described Meles's proposals as
"exciting", said.

On Tuesday, Meles told parliament he planned to restructure government,
create new ministries, and merge others. "The proposals are intended to
redefine the organisation, structure, and power of Ethiopia's Council of
Ministers in a bid to improve the executive decision-making process", AFP
quoted Meles saying. New ministries would include those of rural
development, federal affairs, and infrastructure development and culture.
The ministries of economic development and cooperation, and of finance
would be merged to form the ministry of economic development and finance.
A national security council is also to be set up composed of six people
including the deputy prime minister, the ministers of foreign affairs and
defence, the army chief-of-staff, the head of security, immigration and
refugee affairs, and the head of the prime minister's office. It would be
answerable to the prime minister.

ETHIOPIA: Premier outlines five-year plan

Building democracy, strengthening the judiciary, and promoting respect for
human rights are to feature prominently in Ethiopia's new five-year
development plan presented to the Council of the People's Representatives
on Tuesday by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian radio reported. In
making his submission, Meles described the issue of human rights as
"crucial", and went on to say that the second five-year plan of action
aimed to bring about rapid economic development, reinforce the country's
foreign policy, and to address questions of good governance. It would also
set up mechanisms to enable public bodies ranging from local councils to
the federal government to discuss their plans and policy recommendations
at all levels. Major restructuring would also be undertaken to strengthen
the Council of Ministers, he said, according to the radio.

ETHIOPIA: Government to relax press restrictions

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Tuesday announced that "responsible and
constructive" independent newspapers would now begin to have access to
official information and briefings, AP reported. Meles, who has in the
past described Ethiopia's private newspapers as the "gutter press" and
denied them access to official statements and briefings, told parliament
that the press could perform a constructive role in developing a
democratic culture alongside a serious, peaceful opposition. About half a
dozen independent newspapers - mainly weeklies and some tabloids - exist
in Ethiopia. However, television and radio remain under the control of the
state or the ruling EPRDF.

In related news, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ended a
fact-finding mission to Ethiopia on Tuesday with a visit to jailed
journalist Tamirat Zuma, according to a report on the web site of the
Pan-African News Agency (PANA). Tamirat is being held on various charges,
including defamation and incitement to rebellion.  During a one-week stay
in Addis Ababa, the CPJ Africa programme coordinator, Yves Sorokobi, met
various government officials, including Deputy Justice Minister Ali
Sulayman. PANA said Sorokobi had urged the government to release Tamirat,
and to repeal the more restrictive provisions of Ethiopia's Press
Proclamation 34 of 1992. He also urged the government to improve the
private media's access to official information and to drop pending charges
against some 80 local journalists.  PANA report Sorokobi as saying a broad
amnesty for press offences would give Ethiopian journalism a much-needed
boost.

ETHIOPIA: Export earnings fall

Ethiopia's export earnings fell by 6.5 per cent in 2001, compared to last
year, PANA reported on 7 October. Total export earnings this year were US
$400 million, a drop of US $30 million from last year, according to the
director-general of the Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency, Fantaye Biftu,
said PANA. Biftu said the customs and land lease systems in Ethiopia had
contributed to the decline. Addressing participants marking Exporters' Day
in Addis Ababa, Biftu is reported to have said that customs and land
leases were becoming obstacles to exports, and that reforms were needed in
those systems. The decline in the demand for coffee, Ethiopia's main
export crop, on the international market, had also contributed to the
revenue shortfall, he said.

ETHIOPIA: Foreigners to be registered

The Department of Immigration and Nationalities Affairs has finalised
preparations to register foreigners living in Ethiopia, Ethiopian radio
reported on 5 October. All foreign nationals living in Addis Ababa,
permanently or temporarily, were required to register between 8 and 17
October, said the radio. Foreigners with resident permits are required to
present a residence permit card and two photographs, while non-residents
are required to bring in their passports. Foreign nationals with
diplomatic status are exempted from the exercise. The schedule for
registration of foreign nationals living outside Addis Ababa would be
announced later, the radio said. Foreigners who fail to register within
the specified time will face the relevant immigration laws.

ETHIOPIA: Paedophile suspect for closed-doors trial

A Briton suspected of sexually abusing children at an orphanage he ran in
Ethiopia will be tried behind closed doors, Associated Press (AP) reported
on Thursday. Ethiopia's federal high court made the ruling on the trial of
David Allen Christie to protect the identities and rights of the children
who were allegedly abused by him, said AP. Christie, 59, is charged with
sexually molesting and trafficking in children at an orphanage funded by
Swiss-based charity Terre des Hommes established to care for children
orphaned by famine. He was arrested at Addis Ababa's Bole airport on 17
August following a joint operation between Ethiopian and Zambian police,
who suspected he was planning to open a children's home in Zambia.

SOMALIA: Calm returns after demonstrations

A tense calm has returned to Mogadishu following a day of demonstrations,
a local source told IRIN. Thousands of people took to the streets of the
city on Tuesday to protest against the refusal by traders to accept the
500 Somali shilling banknote. The demonstrations, which began peacefully,
turned violent when bandits infiltrated the demonstrators to take
advantage of the situation in order to steal and to loot businesses, a
Mogadishu resident told IRIN on Tuesday. Security guards for businesses
who were attacked by the mob fired and reportedly killed two people and
injured over a dozen, Ahmad Abdi, a local businessman, told IRIN on
Wednesday.

Abdi said "calm was returning to the city", but that few public transport
vehicles had ventured onto the streets for fear of being attacked. Police
are reported to be out in force removing barricades and roadblocks erected
on Tuesday by the demonstrators. In a radio address, the president of the
Transitional National Government (TNG) had called on the public to remain
calm, the TNG director of information, Abdirahman Dinari, told IRIN. The
president reminded members of the business community that they were
required by law to accept the 500 shilling note, because it was legal
tender, according to Dinari. The controversial banknote was now back in
circulation and being universally accepted, Ahmad Abdi said. Public
transport vehicles, which were not on the streets on Tuesday and
Wednesday, were back on the streets on Thursday, while the markets were
operating normally, said sources in the capital told IRIN.

SOMALIA: Zanzibari refugees in Mogadishu

Over 100 refugees from Zanzibar arrived in Mogadishu on 6 October, a
senior official of the TNG confirmed to IRIN on Monday. The 103 refugees
included three children and two women, the TNG director of information,
Abdirahman Dinari, said. Volunteers from Muslim organisations in Mogadishu
are trying to assist the refugees, "but don't have much to offer", a
Mogadishu resident, Muhammad Ali, told IRIN. The refugees had reportedly
come from refugee camps in Kenya, by road, Dinari said. He added that the
TNG had informed UN agencies of the presence of the refugees.

Paul Stromberg, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees in Nairobi, told IRIN that the agency was aware of the refugees'
presence in Mogadishu, but said the agency could not help them. "We don't
have the facilities to aid them there," he said. It is not clear why the
Zanzibaris chose to leave Kenya to go to Somalia. Muhammad Ali said they
had come "to a place even poorer their own".  He said the refugees had now
been provided with temporary housing in the city.

SOMALIA: Religious leader condemns attacks on Afghanistan

One of the best-known religious leaders in Mogadishu, has condemned the
US-led attacks on Afghanistan. Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Muhyidin told IRIN on
Tuesday that attacks on Afghanistan were unacceptable and unjustifiable.
"I condemned the attacks on America, because they were wrong," he said. "I
am also condemning these attacks [on Afghanistan], because they are not
only wrong, but will accomplish nothing other than to increase the misery
of the poor Muslim people of Afghanistan," he added. Shaykh Sharif, is one
of the most powerful tariqahs (orthodox Sunni mystical Islamic order)
clerics in the city, and is regarded as a moderate in Somali religious
circles, a Somali source told IRIN. "He hates fundamentalists and is
vehemently opposed to Al-Ittihad al-Islami," said the source. Al-Ittihad
al-Islami is one of the groups whose assets the US has frozen following
the 11 September attacks.


IRIN-CEA Tel: +254 2 622147
Fax: +254 2 622129
Email: IRIN@ocha.unon.org

[This Item is Delivered to the "Africa-English" Service of the UN's IRIN
humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views
of the United Nations. For further information, free subscriptions, or to
change your keywords, contact e-mail: IRIN@ocha.unon.org or Web:
http://www.irinnews.org . If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this
item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Reposting by commercial
sites requires written IRIN permission.]

Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2001


distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International Disaster Information
Volunteers in Technical Assistance
                                          web: www.cidi.org
                                     listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Horn of Africa                   www.cidi.org/humanitarian/irin/hafrica