CONGO-KINSHASA The Kivus jolt Kinshasa, again 11th June 2004 The revolt in remote Bukavu threatens the peace and Kabila's transitional regime The capture of Bukavu by General Laurent Nkunda's rebels on 2 June sent tremors across the country. It was a huge blow to the power-sharing government in Kinshasa and the attempt to build a new national army from former government soldiers and different rebel factions. Almost everyone except Eastern Congo's rebels looks weaker as a result. At first, Congolese workers and students demonstrated against the impotence of government and United Nations' peacekeepers in the face of rebel fire. Quickly the protests turned to riots in Kinshasa, Kisangani, Kindu and Lubumbashi. UN offices were attacked and robbed, about 30 vehicles were burnt and UN peacekeepers shot dead at least three looters in Kinshasa. President Joseph Kabila's year-old transitional government lost even more popular support and the opposition took advantage. In Kinshasa on 3 June, tens of thousands of demonstrators brandished the old flag of Zaïre, sang the Mobutist national anthem and chanted the late President Mobutu Sese Seko's name.
SUDAN Peace without honour 11th June 2004 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site The Khartoum government's genocide in Darfur overshadows the North-South peace deal The Naivasha peace deal of 26 May was signed under the dark shadow of the National Islamic Front regime's genocide in Darfur (AC Vol 45 Nos 9, 10...
SUDAN A good deal missing 11th June 2004 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site Three documents were signed on 26 May in Kenya by the National Islamic Front regime and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army. The protocols were: On Power Sharing, On...
SUDAN The road from Nyala to El Geneina 11th June 2004 Between Kass and El Geneina, there was not one village that had not been burnt. Between Zalingei and Geneina, Africa Confidential counted 18 villages destroyed, some of them...
NAMIBIA Sam's man 11th June 2004 SWAPO's new flagbearer offers Nujomaism without Nujoma at the helm It was the result President Sam Nujoma wanted. The congress of the governing South West African People's Organisation on 28-29 May chose party Vice-President Hifikepunye Pohamba as its...
MALAWI Did they vote for this? 11th June 2004 The new President's main opponent could not beat him – so he joined him Opposition darling Gwanda Chakuamba, leader of the Mgwirizano alliance, shocked Malawians by taking his Republican Party (RP) into the governing coalition led by the United Democratic Front government....
SOUTH AFRICAIRAQ A very private war 11th June 2004 A Pretoria-based military company is at the centre of a security row in Iraq South African-based Erinys International (AC Vol 45 No 4) and its affiliate Erinys Iraq have secured the renewal of their US$50 million contract, awarded by Iraq's Coalition Provisional...
MALAWI Winners and losers 11th June 2004 The election has seriously weakened the UDF, although its candidate, Bingu wa Mutharika, won the presidency with 36 per cent of the vote. Over 20 cabinet ministers...
EQUATORIAL GUINEA Liberating the liberator 11th June 2004 President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has thwarted a second mercenary-sponsored coup attempt in three months, government officials claim. Five rebels were killed, others were captured and a security...
GHANA Fly me, I'm Moroni 11th June 2004 Ghana Airways, the bankrupt state airline, is to get a helping hand from an unlikely and controversial source two Mormon-owned companies from Salt Lake City in the...
CONGO-KINSHASA Send for Tintin 11th June 2004 A Belgian judge has issued an international arrest warrant for a senior member of President Joseph Kabila's team, Jean-Charles Okoto. He is in charge of organisation and recruitment...
CONGO-KINSHASA Chez Ntemba spreads its wings 11th June 2004 Lubumbashi-born K.W. Kayembe, perhaps Africa's most successful nightclub entrepreneur, is to open a new venue, in Manor House, North London. Kayembe established his first Chez Ntemba ('preferred corner'...