Economy
World Bank as Santa Claus
afrol.com, 24 December - The World Bank and the IMF have been under substantial pressure to implement the long promised debt relief for heavily indebted African countries in year 2000. Before closing down offices for Christmas, billions of dollars are cut from Rwandan, Guinean, Malagasy, Malawian, Nigerien, Nigerian, Malian, Senegalese, Sao Tomean, Djiboutian, Eritrean, Gambian and Bissauan debt.  

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Guinea
Emergency teams underway to assist refugees in Guinea
afrol.com, 23 December - After this months heavy attacks on civilians and refugees in Guinea by Sierra Leonean and Liberian terrorists, tens of thousands of people have been uprooted. While the Guinean army and ECOWAS forces are to respond to the military threat, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and organisations help avoiding a humanitarian disaster.  

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South Africa
Kalahari nomads negotiate management of returned lands
afrol.com, 23 December - The Khomani San and Mier communities in the Kalahari have had their land returned. But, how best to make use of it? WWF-South Africa, through its Green Trust project, stepped in and funded facilitators to make sure both communities were aware of all the options.  

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Zambia
Zambian editor acquitted on charges of espionage
afrol.com, 22 December - Fred M'membe, editor-in-chief of the "The Post" newspaper, has been acquitted on charges of espionage by the Lusaka High Court. He and 12 journalists had been charged of espionage profitting Angola after publishing an article in March 1999 disclosing that the Zambian army was weeker than the war trained Angolan.  

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Tanzania
Long march to success in Tanzanian Udzungwa Park
afrol.com, 22 December - Udzungwa National Park in Tanzania tenyears ago was threatened by encroachment from surrounding human populations. An awareness programme led by the WWF has since managed to engage locals in sustainable management and tourism.  

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Sierra Leone
RUF-officials deny there is a split among Sierra Leonean terrorists
afrol.com, 21 December - After rumors of a split within the Sierra Leone terrorist group, further fueled by contradictional messages from the group about their interim leader's willingness to accept the Abuja ceasefire, RUF officials yesterday told afrol.com the rumors were a product of sensationalist journlism, but admitted "an isolated incidence of insubordination".  

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Malawi
Gender issues paramount for Malawi police service
Misanet.com/Chronicle, 21 December - The National Coordinator for Women and Law in Southern Africa Malawi Chapter, Seodi White has said it is paramount that investigators and prosecutors in the police service should be conversant with gender issues if they are to discharge their duties efficiently.  

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Analysis
Africa 2001: For better or for worse
afrol.com, 20 December - In this vast mosaic where war and misery surround a few oases of prosperity, the main challenges to overcome in 2001, in addition to the general phenomenon of globalisation which is threatening to worsen the marginalisation of the weaker members of society are conflicts of identity, hasty agricultural reforms and the spread of surrounding conflicts. François Misser assesses Africa's prospects.  

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Congo Brazzaville
Oil revenues pay reconstruction costs in Congo-Brazzaville
Misanet.com/IPS, 20 December - The Congo is holding its breath as skyrocketing petroleum prices on the world market provide hope of a revitalised economy and reconstruction of its war-torn infrastructure. Congolese authorities have revised the 2000 budget in light of the petroleum windfall.  

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Sierra Leone
UN confusion over situation in Sierra Leone
afrol.com, 19 December - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today recommended extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) through the end of March 2001 to respond to the requirements of the Abuja ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, there is outright confusion whether the RUF-leadership is agreeing to the Abuja terms or not.  

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Mozambique
Mozambican journalists receive death threats
afrol.com, 19 December - The editor of the independent weekly "Savana", Salomao Moyana, along with one of the paper's senior reporters, Paulo Machava, have received an anonymous phone call threatening them with death, reports the Mozambican news agency, AIM.  

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Cameroon
Cameroon preparing for Internet revolution?
afrol.com, 18 December - The message about the importance of using Information Communications Technologies (ICT) seems to be hitting Cameroonians through all available media. There seems to be a genuine enthusiasm to learn more about what it can do. But Mathias Nyeck describes how this has yet to translate into widespread use of the Internet.  

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South Africa