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1. Somalia: Mini-split in SSDF
2. Ethiopia: 'Vantage to Djibouti
3. Jara Aba Gedda ( Ethiopia/Sudan)
4. Security Council launches process to cripple Sudan Airways
5. 1,381 Ethiopian refugees return home from Kenya
6. A Slow Path Through Ethiopia's Turbulent History
7. Ethiopia: African Coffee Producers face Drought
8. Somalia faction leader opposes plan for elections
9. Ethiopian Crop Scientists Hold 8th Annual Conference
10. 600 Killed in Fighting in Southern Sudan...
11. WFP plans to use Ethiopian food surplus for relief in Kenya,
Uganda
12. Inland Revenue Authority re-established
13. National Bank Reports Tremendous Boost to Foreign Exchange
Reserves
14. Ethiopian Parliament Approves Adf Loan for Airport
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The Indian Ocean Newsletter
March 1, 1997
HEADLINE: Mini-split in SSDF
BODY: The radio transmitter of faction leader Hussein Mohamed Aideed
announced on February 24 that Somali People's Democratic Union (SPDU)
had been created the previous week in Galcaio, capital of Mugud Region,
in central Somalia. General Muhammad Jibril Museh heads SPDU, which is
very critical of leaders of Somali Salvation Democratic Front from which
it split. The new movement appears to get support from a clan component
living in the southern part of the Mejertein land (north-eastern
Somalia) and close to zones inhabited by Hawiye members. SPDU is
allied to Hussein Aideed whereas SSDF leaders and adversaries of Aideed
recently signed an agreement in Ethiopia known as the Sodere
Agreement.
LOAD-DATE: February 28, 1997
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The Indian Ocean Newsletter
March 1, 1997
HEADLINE: 'Vantage to Djibouti
BODY: The monthly Ethiopian Register, published in the United States by
opponents to the regime of Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic
Front, released in February the copy of two confidential letters written
by the Ethiopian authorities to announce the award to Djibouti business-
men residing in Ethiopia of the same rights as Ethiopian nationals with
regard to making investments.
The first letter, written by Tamrat Layne on September 17, 1996 when he
was still defence minister and deputy prime minister, was addressed to
the administration of Region Fourteen (Addis Abeba) and presented the
decisions of a joint Djibouto-Ethiopian commission which had just met.
The second letter came a few days later from Tefera Waluwa, then
chairman of Region Fourteen and today deputy prime minister (in place of
Tamrat Layne); in the same terms as his erstwhile boss he informed the
economic administration of the Addis Abeba council of the new status
granted to Djibouti businessmen established in Ethiopia. These arran-
gements give them the possibility, so far still denied to other foreign
businessmen, of operating in sectors until then reserved for Ethiopians
such as, for example, those in banking and insurance, the production
and distribution of electricity (to a maximum output capacity of 25 MW),
and air transport (with a maximum of 25 passengers or 2.7 tons of
freight).
LOAD-DATE: February 28, 1997
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The Indian Ocean Newsletter
March 1, 1997
HEADLINE: Jara Aba Gedda ( Ethiopia/Sudan)
BODY: The official Sudanese radio service announced on February 23 that
the chairman of Islamic Front for the Liberation of Oromia (opposition)
Abdelkarim Ibrahim Hamid, better known as sheikh Jara Aba Gedda, had
given his support to the Sudanese authorities. In a letter addressed to
head of state Omar Hassan Al Bechir, he is understood to have condemned
the "aggression of Abyssinians" in Sudan, considering that it represent-
ed an affront to all Moslems. He also affirmed that his movement was
supporting the Sudanese army's resistance to the "Abyssinian invaders".
By thus adopting unhesitatingly the Sudanese thesis to explain the civil
conflict in Eastern Sudan, the IFLO chairman confirms the alignment of
his organization on the integrated Islamic movement promoted by the
Khartoum authorities.
LOAD-DATE: February 28, 1997
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Agence France Presse
February 28, 1997 28:16 GMT
HEADLINE: Security Council launches process to cripple Sudan Airways
DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS, Feb 28
BODY: The UN Security Council was to launch a process Friday culminating
in the enforcement of an air embargo against Khartoum over Sudan's
refusal to hand over Islamic terrorists.
Western diplomats said the 15-member Security Council would apply an
indefinite ban on international flights by the national carrier Sudan
Airways, after weeks of fierce discussion among council diplomats.
Washington insisted that a limited flight ban favoured by France and
Russia would fail to produce the intended effect on Khartoum.
But diplomats say that they see a long process before the Security
Council adopts a draft resolution enforcing the air embargo whose
principle was decided last August. The measures would reinforce
diplomatic sanctions in force since May last year.
Sudan has been under sanctions for failing to hand over to Ethiopia
three suspected Islamic militants wanted in connection with the June
1995 assassination attempt against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in
Addis Ababa. Sudan insists that the three are not on its territory.
On Friday, UN officials were to brief the Security Council on the flight
ban's possible humanitarian effects.
According to a UN report issued last week, because of Sudan Airways'
dependence on offshore maintenance capacities, the flight ban could have
"a serious impact" on Sudanese immunization programmes, drug distribu-
tion and food production.
The embargo would also "impair the capacity of the public health
authorities to facilitate patients' receiving specialised medical
treatment outside the country," the report said.
Because of the perceived effects of the new measures, diplomats say that
the Security Council is likely to provide for humanitarian exceptions to
the flight ban.
Council diplomats also say that clear criteria must be established
concerning the sanctions' lifting.
The Security Council is mindful of the example of Iraqi sanctions,
applied more than six years ago following the 1990 Iraqi invasion of
Kuwait, with no end in sight.
LOAD-DATE: February 28, 1997
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Reuters Financial Service
February 28, 1997, Friday, BC cycle
HEADLINE: U.N. COUNCIL DISCUSSES POSSIBLE SUDAN AIR EMBARGO
BYLINE: By Anthony Goodman
DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS, Feb 28
BODY: The Security Council held private consultations on Friday on
imposing an air embargo on Sudan but reached no immediate conclusion.
Council President Njuguna Mahugu of Kenya, who said "targeted and
limited" sanctions were being considered, added: "Because of the highly
complex and sensitive nature of sanctions, it was necessary to proceed
carefully, especially as regards its humanitarian impact on the people
of Sudan."
Sudan has been under diplomatic sanctions and its senior officials
subject to a foreign travel ban since last May. It was accused of
failing to extradite to Ethiopia three men accused of trying to
assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during a visit to Addis
Ababa on June 26, 1995. Sudan said it has found no trace of the wanted
men.
The Security Council last August voted in principle to add a ban on
flights abroad by Sudanese aircraft but postponed setting a date for
putting it into effect.
Mahugu said the council "regrets that Sudan has not been able to hand
over the three suspects... and urges action in this regard."
Under-Secretary-General Yasushi Akashi, who heads the U.N. department of
humanitarian affairs, briefed council members on a report setting out
the potential humanitarian impact of an aviation embargo.
The report, circulated among council members, says an air ban could
affect food production, patients seeking treatment abroad and the
distribution of medicines, but should not hamper food aid to Sudan,
where a civil war has long been raging.
Council sources said members generally agreed on the need to combat
international terrorism and that, in doing so, the possible effects on
the people of Sudan should be minimized.
There was no clear conclusion on how to achieve that, the sources added.
However, several council members raised the possibility of imposing an
air embargo while allowing for humanitarian exemptions.
These could include permitting flights for Sudanese wishing to make the
annual pilgrimage to Mecca or to obtain medical treatment abroad.
Arrangements might also be made for Sudanese aircraft to continue flying
abroad for maintenance, to enable them to keep operating on domestic
routes.
LOAD-DATE: March 1, 1997
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The Xinhua News Agency.
FEBRUARY 28, 1997, FRIDAY
HEADLINE: 1,381 ethiopian refugees return home from kenya
DATELINE: addis ababa, february 28; ITEM NO: 0228305
BODY: over 1,300 ethiopian refugees, in exile in neighboring kenya, have
returned to their homeland, the administration for refugees and
returnees affairs announced here today. it said 1,381 returnees have
come back to ethiopia. the process began in january this year. about
2,000 others are expected to be repatriated in the near future,
according to the administration. some returnees said they have come back
home after taking refuge for more than a decade in kenya and somalia.
LOAD-DATE: March 1, 1997
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The Buffalo News
February 27, 1997, Thursday, CITY EDITION
Pg. 3C
HEADLINE: A SLOW PATH THROUGH ETHIOPIA'S TURBULENT HISTORY
BYLINE: RICHARD HUNTINGTON; News Critic
BODY: American filmmaker Haile Gerima, in his 1994 documentary on
Ethiopia, re-creates a journey he made in the late 1970s between his
hometown of Gondar and Addis Ababa,some 250 kilometers to the southeast.
At the time, a brutal Soviet-backed junta still ruled Ethiopia and the
roads were strewn with military hardware. In 1994 these same roads are
clear and the junta's indiscriminate violence -- the infamous "red
terror" that began in 1977 -- is a horrible nightmare of the past.
But the country, under what those in the film continually refer to as
"the present government," is hardly tranquil, as attested by the many
interviewees that appear later in the film with heads wrapped in cloth
or features filmically disguised. People still disappear and an air of
vague fear persists. As one man comments, at least there was no
ambiguity under the junta: "It named its enemies and killed them." Now,
with ethnic divisions being exploited by the government, nobody knows
whom to fear, whom to embrace. The early part of Gerima's journey
concentrates on the children of farmers, many of whom must walk two
hours to get to school. These children dwell on the need for education
as the only hope for freedom from the grueling demands of the land.
Young adults grumble about how "the present government hasn't given
anything yet" but express gratitude that at least the conscription has
stopped.
This first part of the film is slow going. Unless you are familiar with
the dominating role that primitive agriculture plays in Ethiopia,
these young witnesses are only passingly compelling. Gerima provides
little backdrop. He seems to be going after the mood of the people as
much as sifting history through their eyes.
But history brutally intrudes once Gerima, accompanied by Polish author
Ryszard Kapuscinski, begins to concentrate on the activities of the
junta. As individuals recount those dark days, memories and feelings
begin to swell up and the old griefs flood forth.
Curiously, as the content gets increasingly harrowing, the film's
languid pace changes not at all. Why this pace, with its slow pans and
indifferent pauses on details? I'm all in favor of suppression of the
artistic persona in documentaries, but as the film moves from gruesome
account to gruesome account, some slight inflection would be welcome.
>From these painful private thoughts we move on to public events -- the
inauguration of a monument to massacred officials of Haile Selassie's
government and a peace march by a group of young people. The film ends
quietly and gently as these young people calmly put forth hopes that
their beleaguered country may yet find peace.
REVIEW
Imperfect Journey Rating : ***1/2 A film by Haile Gerima with Ryszard
Kapuscinski. Documentary of Gerima's home land Ethiopia in the form of a
journey from the filmmaker's hometown to the nation's capital and a main
industrial center, Addis Ababa. Ethiopia's recent unsteady course since
the fall of the bloody Soviet-backed junta is recounted in conversations
with people along the way.
At Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Tri-Main Building, 2495 Main St.
(835-7362), tonight and Friday at 8 p.m.
LOAD-DATE: March 1, 1997
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Reuters Financial Service
February 27, 1997, Thursday, BC cycle
HEADLINE: AFRICAN COFFEE PRODUCERS FACE DROUGHT
BYLINE: By Manoah Esipisu
DATELINE: NAIROBI, Feb 27
BODY: Drought in East Africa has severely eroded efforts to improve
coffee output and could undermine overall economic growth, senior coffee
industry officials and agencies said on Thursday.
Coffee is the dominant foreign exchange earner in Uganda and Ethiopia
and accounts for a large percentage of export earnings in Tanzania and
Kenya.
Uganda is the leading African producer just ahead of Ivory Coast.
Ethiopia lies third while Kenya is fifth largest.
Kenya has already declared the drought a national disaster and appealed
for international relief to feed its hungry.
The state Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said Uganda was
unlikely to retain any 1996/97 export quota negotiated in a global
producers' agreement because drought and disease meant exports would be
reduced.
Ugandan coffee exports in the year ended September 1996 were around 4.1
million 60-kg bags compared to 2.8 million bags in 1994/95.
Ugandan authorities have already forecast exports in the range of 3.6
million to 3.8 million bags in 1996/97 but drought and a faster-than-
expected spread of coffee wilt disease mean the figure will be much
lower than that, according to industry officials.
UCDA officials said the real impact of the poor weather and disease
would be seen in a poor third quarter, ending in June, and the fourth
quarter would confirm the forecast of declining exports.
Peter Michori, researcher and director of Kenya's Coffee Research
Foundation (CRF), told Reuters the problem now facing the coffee
industry was severe drought ravaging the region.
In its third revision of the 1996/97 crop estimates, the Coffee Board of
Kenya last month forecast production at 85,000 tonnes in 1996/97
compared to a final figure of 97,575 tonnes in 1995/96 and 95,806 tonnes
in 1994/95.
"Drought has added a new dimension to our production jitters. The crop
on the trees right now will be affected by drought because it has been
persistently dry, so you could see production forecasts reduced again,"
a senior trader said.
Traders said coffee prices would rise internally at Nairobi's weekly
export auction based on weather jitters indicating a tight supply
equation. But they discounted a dramatic rise saying that depended on
global market trends.
In Tanzania, the agriculture ministry's Coffee Management Unit said the
drought had wiped out prospects for a recovery of Tanzania's coffe
production for the coming 1997/98 season.
"The current drought has wiped out the prospects for a quick recovery of
production in the coming season," the Unit added.
>From a production peak averaging 55,160 tonnes between 1981 and 1985,
the forecast yield for the current 1996/97 season ending in April is
between 41,000 and 43,000 tonnes worth $ 95 million.
Outbreaks of coffee wilt disease in Uganda and coffee berry disease in
Kenya in June-July 1996 have further dampened prospects for an improved
crop, industry leaders said.
In 1996/97 Ethiopia expected to better the 102,000 tonnes exported in
1995/96 but capricious weather meant production would perhaps be lower
than its average 250,000 tonnes, according to senior industry officials
in Addis Ababa.
LOAD-DATE: February 28, 1997
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Deutsche Presse-Agentur
February 26, 1997, Wednesday, BC Cycle 13:48 Central European Time
HEADLINE: Somalia faction leader opposes plan for elections
DATELINE: Mogadishu
BODY: The leader of the rebel faction in Somaliland, Abdurahman Ahmed
Ali Tur, has come out in strong opposition to the reelection of Mohamed
Hagi Ibrahim Egal as the preident of Somaliland for the next five years.
In a statement issued in Mogadishu, Tur described the conference that
elected Egal as head of the breakaway northern territory as illegal and
not representative of the Somaliland clans.
Tur together with three other factions from the north accused Egal of
creating hostility and insecurity among the people in Somaliland.
The statement which was also broadcast on Radio South Mogadishu
supporting Hussein Mohamed Aidid Wednesday morning particularly faulted
Egal for being responsible for the death of a greater number than those
killed in fighting against the former regime.
Speaking about what they called the patriotism of Somaliland, the
statement described Egal as a man with a deep hatred for Somali
nationality. The statement pointed out that Egal had recently handed
over three wanted Somalis to the government of Ethiopia.
According to the statement, Egal only controls about 28 per cent of the
breakaway northern territory.
The SNM, SDA, USP and USF political organizations, all members of the
government of Hussein Mohamed Aidid based in South Mogadishu, have also
accused Egal of printing money and causing inflation.
The organizations declared that they would support the territorial
integrity and unity of Somalia.
Egal was elected as president by clan delegates on Sunday. Among the
main clan leaders who elected him were the Sultan of Garhaji's subclan
of Issak which earlier mainly supported Tur.
Two field commanders of the rebel forces, Colonel Mohamed Hussein
Qualinle and Colonel Ahmed Mire, earlier swung behind Egal with most of
their military hardware including 500 armed militiamen and five tanks.
Tur and his less capable allied factions argue that they still maintain
representatives in some of the main towns of Somaliland such as Borame,
Burao and Odweyne, though there is little evidence for this. dpa ow jbp
LOAD-DATE: February 26, 1997
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The Xinhua News Agency.
FEBRUARY 26, 1997, WEDNESDAY
HEADLINE: ethiopian crop scientists hold 8th annual conference
DATELINE: addis ababa, february 26; ITEM NO: 0226250
BODY: ethiopian crop scientists today began here a two-day conference to
discuss ways of promoting effective research, disseminate scientific
information and encourage efforts geared toward professional competence,
according to the ethiopian news agency. opening the 8th annual
conference, minister of agriculture seifu ketema said the government of
ethiopia is laying down the opportunity to build a more peaceful,
advanced and prosperous country. he said the positive developments in
this respect are being followed by commensurable and people-centered
efforts in economic, social and political spheres. the distinguished
scientists and development actors taking part in the conference should
be the masters and captains of the research and development of ethio-
pia's agriculture and natural resources, he added. in his paper entitled
crop research, its contribution for sustainable agricultural
development, getnet gebeyehu, chairman of the crop science society of
ethiopia said the nation used to spend about 1.7 million u.s. dollars
between 1986 to 1991 to import hybrid seeds of maize which have been
saved through research by developing three varieties of maize locally.
the two-day conference will discuss 25 papers in genetics and plant
breeding, crop management, plant protection, agricultural economics and
technology transfer.
LOAD-DATE: February 27, 1997
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Agence France Presse
February 25, 1997 25:17 GMT
HEADLINE: 600 killed in fighting in southern Sudan: government
DATELINE: KHARTOUM, Feb 25
BODY: Six hundred people were killed when Ethiopian troops captured two
towns last month, with decomposing bodies left lying around making
Qeissan and Kurmuk uninhabitable places, a Sudanese government report
said Tuesday.
The government accuses Ethiopia of capturing the border towns of
Qeissan and Kurmuk with the support of Sudanese rebels on January 12
after heavy shelling.
Ethiopia has rejected the accusations.
Judge Mustafa Mohammed Bashar, president of a government committee
investigating alleged human rights violations during the fighting, said
the report drawn up by his committee was based on witness accounts.
Six hundred people died in the shelling, he said.
The report has not been confirmed by independent sources.
Bashar said civilians could not be allowed to return to Qeissan and
Kurmuk as they had become uninhabitable.
He also said that the Hamej and Maban tribes had been involved in
"ethnic cleansing" of the Fellatah tribe "because of a longstanding
tribal dispute."
LOAD-DATE: February 25, 1997
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British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
February 25, 1997, Tuesday
HEADLINE: WFP plans to use Ethiopian food surplus for relief in Kenya,
Uganda
SOURCE: Radio Ethiopia external service, Addis Ababa, in English 1630
gmt 20 Feb 97
BODY: Text of report by Ethiopian radio on 20th February, as heard
throughout.
The World Food Programme, WFP, says it is arranging to purchase and
export 6,000 tonnes of food crops from Ethiopia in aid to Kenya and
Uganda. Mr Cary Dougley [phonetic], WFP country director, reported today
that his office is very much glad to see that Ethiopia has started to
produce a surplus.
The UN official said that the WFP is also planning to purchase up to
100,000 t of food grains from Ethiopia to its operations within
Ethiopia itself. He said that WFP Ethiopia office has tendered for the
purchase of 45,000 t of wheat, maize and sorghum from different parts of
the country producing surplus.
He added that agricultural activity in Ethiopia is now different form
the past. The WFP official attributed the achievement to the prevalence
of peace, market liberalization policy, increase [in] the application
[of] agricultural inputs, modification of the land tenure system and the
conducive rainfall.
LOAD-DATE: February 24, 1997
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British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
February 25, 1997, Tuesday
HEADLINE: Inland Revenue Authority re-established
SOURCE:Ethiopian TV, Addis Ababa, in English 1930 gmt 20 Feb 97
BODY: Text of report by Ethiopian TV on 20th February
The House of People's Representatives in its 33rd regular session today
unanimously endorsed the bill re-establishing the federal Inland Revenue
Authority [IRA] following deliberations and amendments on the draft. The
house thoroughly discussed the amended and resolution [as heard] report
presented to it by the standing economic affairs committee.
According to the proclamation, the IRA would be established as a legal
entity and would be structured in such a way that it would effectively
carry out the levying and collection of taxes in regional administra-
tions. The proclamation also empowered the authority with the task of
gathering information and investigating cases regarding the levying and
collection of taxes, as well as taking legal measures against those who
might evade taxes.
LOAD-DATE: February 24, 1997
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British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
February 25, 1997, Tuesday
HEADLINE: National Bank reports tremendous boost to foreign exchange
reserves
SOURCE:Radio Ethiopia external service, Addis Ababa, in English 1630
gmt 19 Feb 97
BODY: Text of report by Ethiopian radio on 19th February.
The governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia has disclosed [that] the
amount of foreign exchange made available at the fortnightly auction has
now increased by sevenfold. The governor, Ato [Mr] Dubale Jale, told the
House of People's Representatives the 6m [US] dollars, which had been
auctioned fortnightly, has now reached 20m US dollars in the weekly
auction.
He said the growth in foreign trade has helped the country's foreign
exchange reserves reach 6.2bn US dollars from 22.9m US dollars about
seven years ago. He said the reserve, which was only sufficient to cover
a week's foreign trade payments some seven years ago, has shown an
upswing now to the level that it could settle an eight-month long
foreign debt.
The governor also said exporters are privileged to sell 40 per cent of
their foreign exchange earnings at the regular auction. He said foreign
investors are entitled to transfer or send abroad their earnings while
the provision prohibiting expatriates working here from transferring
their salary has been revised.
LOAD-DATE: February 24, 1997
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The Xinhua News Agency.
FEBRUARY 25, 1997, TUESDAY
HEADLINE: ethiopian parliament approves adf loan for airport
DATELINE: addis ababa, february 25; ITEM NO: 0225348
BODY: the house of people's representatives or parliament today approved
a 28 million u.s. dollar-loan obtained from the african development fund
(adf), the ethiopian news agency reported. the loan provided by the adf
for the modernization of the bole international airport in addis ababa
is free from interest and to be repaid in 40 years time after a 10 years
grace period. the proclamation approved by parliament said the expansion
of the airport holds a significant place in promoting the economic
activities being carried out in the country. the modernization project
which costs about 126 million u.s. dollars would enable the airport to
meet the standards set by the international civil aviation and acco-
mmodate ever increasing air-traffic during the coming 20 years, the
proclamation added. meanwhile, parliament today also approved the
air transport service agreement signed by the governments of ethiopia
and japan.
LOAD-DATE: February 26, 1997
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Sirak < smascio@ipass.net >
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