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AMERICA'S LEADING MAGAZINE ON AFRICA JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1995 74470 81632 u RAIN FOREST RESCUE: TM To HELP SAVE HALF OF THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS ON EARTH In the rain forest, the sounds of fires and bulldozers are replacing the sounds of nature. Recent studies show that the destruction of the rain forests wipes out 17.000 plant and animal species each year. That's ahout 48 extinctions per day, two per hour. These are plants and animals that will simply cease to exist, gone forever from the planet. And the toll mounts every day. Even though they occupy less than 2% of the earth's surface, rain forests are home to over half the world's plant and animal species. When we destroy the rain forest we are endangering our planet's % future. The chain of life depends on a variety of plants and animals that are being Bf destroyed by the day... from the smallest f tree frog to the largest tropical tree. Join The National Arbor Day Foundation and support Rain Forest Rescue to help put a stop to the destruction. When you join, the Foundation will preserve threatened rain forest in your name. An area of rain forest the size of 10 city blocks is burned every minute. Help stop the destruction. Before the sounds of nature are replaced by the sounds of silence. To contribute to Rain Forest Rescue, call 1-8OO-222-5312 The National 'Arbor Day Foundation The Margay is one of many species whose habitat is threatened ram forest MELILLA mako j~J >. Niamey BURKINA FASO GUINEA ) • Ouagadougou GUINEA-BISSA- . L Conakry ' BENIN Bissau Porto Novo AOL.|3 F reel own SIERRA LEONE T0G0 \^J CAMEROON ( aangul , Lome _ 1 _ . Yaounde EQUATORIAL GUINEA ^UGANDA Malabo JD Kampala , KENYA ' ' ' evme GABON ZAMB.A .,.->»•- MALAWI { COMORO MAUHITIUS MADAGASCAR ^ ^\ pon Louib Copyright © 1994 by the Afncan-Amencan Institute, Inc. IN THE NEWS The United States and Africa: Tough Times Ahead n June 1994. the Clinton administration convened a gest ending U.S. aid lo Africa completely, he will White House conference on U.S. policy toward require African countries "to compete with other coun- i Africa. It was hoped that this unique event would tries" for aid dollars. How must an impoverished prioritize African issues in Washington, and provide a African country win assistance? Be of strategic interest much-needed impetus for the administration to devise and "advance America's security and economic inter- new solutions to Africa's crises. Neither President Clin- ests," according to The Times. ton nor the conference participants could have predicted Other items in McConnell's foreign aid bill which that their discussions and recommendations would be will have a direct impacl on Africa are proposed cuts to made moot by the election of a predominantly conser- international population programs, dismantling the vative Republican majority to both houses of the U.S. Peace Corps as a separate agency and putting it under Congress a few months later. State Department control, and restructuring the U.S. Republican leaders in Congress, led by Rep. Newt Agency for International Development. The Wall Street Gingrich (R-GA). the new speaker of the House, have Jounal reports that "the GOP also may lake the ax lo the been explicit in their desire to limit U.S. aid to non- current $2 billion annual U.S. contribution lo mulitlater- strategic Third World countries, many of which arc in al development banks, particularly the World Bank's Africa. Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-NY). chairman of the soft-loan window." which provides low-interest loans lo House International Relations Committee, outlined his many African countries. party's policy initiatives, indicating that "national secu- Many consider McConnell a moderate in comparison rity" will be paramount in decision-making regarding to his colleague. Helms. However. McConnell's cuts U.S. foreign policy, particularly related to military inter- conform in good part to Helms' foreign policy ideology. vention and funding UN peace-keeping operations. Helms referred to the "so-called foreign aid pro- Gilman has been described as being "in the broad main- <:ram...$2 trillion...much of it going down foreign rai stream of American foreign policy." and is considered a holes"; and the "revaluation of U.S. relations with 'that moderate compared to his Senate counterpart. Sen. long-time nemesis of millions of Americans, the United Jesse Helms (R-NC). Nations...which costs the American taxpayers billions On the Senate side. Sen. UN/J Isaac of dollars." " Helms, known for Mitch McConnell (R-KY). hindering foreign service incoming chairman of the Sub- appointments in the pasi and of committee on Foreign Opera- being adamantly against "multi- tions, has proposed making lateralism." is expected to lead awards "to countries based on efforts to revamp U.S.AID. whether such aid would advance With the foreign policy battle America's security and econom- lines clearly drawn. Clinton ic interests." Using that criteria, administration officials have it is unlikely that Africa, many duly warned African leaders of of whose countries rank among the tough times ahead. As 1994 the poorest in the world, will be closed. National Security entitled to much. Adviser Anthony Lake, on a The congressional appropria- seven-nation swing through tion of $800 million for the Africa, warned, "Those of us 3 Development Fund for Africa in who recognize the importance the 1993-94 fiscal year remains of continued active engagement secure; however, a bill being and support for Africa are con- prepared by McConnell propos- fronting the reality of shrinking es to eliminate this subsidy in resources and an honest skepti- coming years. According to The cism aboul the return on our New York Times, McConnell investments in peace-keeping says that while he does not sug- Clinton and Boutros-Ghali: Fating cutbacks for Africa? and development." JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1995 AMERICAS VOLUME 40, NUMBER 1 LEADING MAGAZINE ON AFRICA A Publication of the VREPORT African-American Institute The African-American Institute Update 5 Editor-, Aiana Lee Chairman Roger Wilkins Mozambique President Fulfilling a Dream 13 Vivian Lowery Derryck By Dan Isaacs Publisher Angola Steve McDonald A Fragile Peace 22 Editor-in-Chief By Karl Maier Margaret A. Novicki Peace at Last? Page 22 Associate Editor Zimbabwe Joe Margolis The Land Scandal 28 By Andrew Meldrum Assistant Editor Russell Geekie South Africa Editorial Assistant Shantha Bloemen Reforming the Police 32 By Colleen Lowe Morna Contributing Editor Andrew Meldrum A Role Model for Activists 36 Art Director By Denis Herbslein Kenneth Jay Ross Advertising Office The Horror Revisited Rwanda 212 350-2958 Scenes From a Nightmare 40 Interns By Sonia Pace Debra Brookes Jennifer Thompson AIDS Pioneering Africa's Research 45 Africa Report (ISSN 0001-9836], a non-profit magazine of African affairs. By Wilson Wanene is published bimonthly and is sched- uled to appear at the beginning of each date period at 833 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 The Gambia Editorial correspondence and advertis- ing inquiries should be addressed to Out With the Old 48 Africa Report, at the above address. Subscription inquiries should be By Peter da Costa addressed to: Subscription Services, P.O. Box 3000. Dept. AR, Denville N J. 07834. Subscription rates Individuals: Interview USA $36. Canada $42, air rate over- seas $60. Institutions: USA $48, Cana- Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings: A First Among First Ladies 52 da $54, air rate overseas $72. Second- class postage paid al New York. N Y By Margaret A. Novicki and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: If this magazine is undeliverable, please send address changes to Africa Report at 833 UN Women Plaza, NY, NY 10017. Telephone: (212) 350-2958. Copyright © 1995 by Plus ga change 55 The African-American Institute, Inc. By Colleen Lowe Morna Culture Photo Credit: Africa's Film Capital 61 The cover photograph of young Frelimo supporters in the cen- By Rob Wright tral Mozambique province of Manica was taken by Ferhal Toward Beijing Momade/AIM. 1994 Index 64 Ethiopia and Rwanda: A Tale of Two Human Rights Trials aving witnessed scenes of horrifying brutality Charges included 211 counts of "mass murder, torture, inflicted by Africans on their fellow citizens, the and forced disappearance." The accused face the death H world watches as two different countries— penalty, if convicted. The trial is scheduled to resume in Ethiopia and Rwanda—prepare to face their recent histo- March, according to The Washington Post. ries and formally charge leaders alleged to be responsible The explanation given for the delay of the long- for crimes against humanity. As Ethiopian and Rwandan awaited trial is that the charges are unprecedented, and prosecutors prepare their cases, it is hoped that the trials thus the lawyers require more time to answer them and will begin a process of healing and reconciliation, allow- to prepare their defense. Mengistu and his co-defen- ing their governments to tum a page on the past. dants are not merely being charged with murder, In 1991, the guerrilla army of the Ethiopian People's although specific allegations have been made on Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) occupied behalf of the estimated 2,199 victims, including Addis Ababa, ending the 16-year regime of Mengistu Ethiopia's last monarch, Emperor Haile Selassie, who Haile Mariam. Soon after establishing control, EPRDF was executed by suffocation. Mengistu is also lo be soldiers seized over 300,000 documents from govern- held accountable for his government's policies of ment archives, which provided a detailed record of the forced relocations of rural populations and the result- human rights abuses and atrocities alleged to have taken ing famine, in which it is estimated that as many as place during Mengistu's "reign of terror." 100,000 people perished.