Indian Ocean Newsletter

THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER Sample from Past Issue

SPOTLIGHT

KENYA

Kenya: President Moi Prepares His Succession

By declaring on October 20 that when the time comes, he would transmit his national responsibilities "to a younger Kenyan leader", President Daniel arap Moi has put an end to speculation that he would modify the constitution in order to run for another term in late 2002. (...).

REGIONAL DIPLOMACY

ETHIOPIA/EGYPT

Customs Not Immune to Diplomats

Addis Ababa's customs authorities have confiscated the duty-free merchandise imported by an Egyptian diplomat which he subsequently sold on the black market. (...).

SUDAN/UNITED STATES

Anti-Terrorist Horse Trading

A delegation from the U.S. state department is scheduled to arrive in Khartoum on October 25 both to pave the way for next month’s visit of John Danforth, the U. (...).

UGANDA/SUDAN

Museveni to Visit Khartoum

According to a source close to Uganda's presidential office, Yoweri Museveni might soon visit Khartoum, albeit not before mid-December. The official visit ought to allow the two countries to restore diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level. (...).

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE COMPANIES

AVIATION

Direct Air France Flights to Djibouti

After reducing the number of flights to Djibouti (ION 967), France's national airline is to convert its last air route to that country into a direct flight. (...).

PRIVATE SAFETY

The ANC's Second About-Face in South Africa

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) performed another startling about-face when Parliament’s Safety and Security Portfolio Committee adopted a Private Security Industry Regulation Bill on October 16. (...).

AGRICULTURE

Mugabe Takes Back MDC Leader's Land

The government of President Robert Mugabe is probably going to give in to the demands of villagers from the region of Lower Gweru and take back a farm that, in the framework of land reform, had been granted to Welshman Ncube, secretary general for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). (...).

SIEMENS

Technical Jackpot in South Africa

After winning a contract for the technical implementation of the Cell C company's mobile telephone network in South Africa, the Siemens Information and Communications Group has just won another important contract in that country. (...).

COASTAL AGRICULTURE LTD

Hearings Postponed with Kenya

Scheduled for October 19, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) court hearings on the suit brought by Coastal Agriculture Ltd against the Kenyan government (ION 967) ended up being postponed. (...).

DAALO AIRLINES

A New Link to the Comoro Islands

In the framework of the implementation of a sky agreement between Djibouti and the Comoro Islands, Air Djibouti has selected Daallo Airlines to carry out its traffic rights to Moroni. (...).

ECONOMICS & PROJECTS BRIEFS

MADAGASCAR

BSM Seeks a Banking Correspondent

In view to find a banking correspondent for the bank being created at the behest of President Didier Ratsiraka, its director general flew to Paris on October 19. (...).

SEYCHELLES

SMB's Food Price Inflation Denounced

In order to bring light upon the over-charging accusations against the state Seychelles Marketing Board (SMB) and to define the actions necessary to solve the problem, the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has requested the creation of an independent investigation commission. (...).

TANZANIA

French Projects in Dar es-Salaam

A delegation of small and medium-sized French enterprises landed in Dar es-Salaam last week to negotiate a plethora of projects. (...).

COMOROS ISLANDS

More Hassles for Comores Airlines

On October 15, France's civil aviation general directorate came close to stranding the fleet of Comores Airlines, which consists of a single aircraft. (...).

MADAGASCAR

The Museum That Is the Island's Lifeline

Described in private by Emilio Sancerdoti as the "museum upon which the nation's life depends", the Toamasina refinery which was sold to the Galana company is in an advanced state of technical obsolescence. (...).

KENYA

French Employers Put Off Mission to East Africa

The chairman of the Africa committee of France's employers' organization will finally not be leading any commercial mission to Kenya and Tanzania this year. (...).

TANZANIA

Ministerial Privilege Includes a Land Cruiser

Certain donors are registering dissatisfaction with certain of the government's expenses, namely the offering of automobiles to its ministers, high civil servants, and MPs. (...).

POLITICS & POWER BRIEFS

MAURITIUS

Airline Disclosures' Ripple Effect

After rocking Air Mauritius, Rogers Co Ltd, and the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), the ripples from union leader Jack Bizlall's disclosures on the airline's secret fund (ION 963) are now reaching the political leadership of the island. (...).

ETHIOPIA

Zenawi to Clash with Al Amoudi

A sweaty confrontation between Ethiopia's prime minister and the Saudi Arabian magnate who is the main private investor in the country is to take place not around a negotiation table but on a football field. (...).

ERITREA

Doubts Over Scheduled Election

After arresting leaders of the reformist wing of the ruling Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) and muzzling the independent press (ION 966), Eritrean president Issayas Afeworki could now be tempted to cancel legislative elections scheduled for December. (...).

KENYA/BELGIUM

An Embarrassing Ambassador

If the remarks he is said to have made to the Kenyan press turn out to be true, the Belgian ambassador to Nairobi runs a serious risk of getting, at the very least, a rebuke of the strongest variety from his hierarchy in Brussels. (...).

KENYA

Diplomats to the Rescue of Prisoners

The embassies of Denmark and the Netherlands are getting ready to pay the 3.5 million shillings ($1 = 78.5 shillings) necessary to bail out the 70 militants of Release Political Prisoners (RPP) who were imprisoned in Nairobi on October 20. (...).

ETHIOPIA

Twelve Little Judges… And Then There Were None?

The last few months have seen the resignation of a dozen judges, including four from the Supreme Court, in addition to two deaths among their number. (...).

MOZAMBIQUE

The Savana Is Alive with the Rumors of a Strike

The journalists and the administrative personnel of the most important independent weekly in Mozambique have threatened to strike if their salary demands are not met. (...).

WHO'S WHO AGENDA

MADAGASCAR

Modeste Ratongavelonahary

Madagascar's new water and forests minister is a 49-year-old officer whose nomination was sponsored by a counselor to Prime Minister Tantely Andrianarivo, Senator Olga Raveloarisoa. (...).

ERITREA

Mesfin Hagos

One of the few members of the ruling Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) not to have been arrested - due to his presence abroad when his comrades were arrested in Asmara - Mesfin Hagos has still not returned to his country as he had announced. (...).