From Africa Recovery, Vol.17 #1 (May 2003), page 28

IRAQ
War putting Africa on 'back burner'?

South African leaders have been warning that the political and economic repercussions of the war in Iraq may move Africa's interests and concerns further down the international agenda. Speaking during a debate on the war in the country's National Assembly on 19 March, Deputy President Jacob Zuma warned that the war "has the potential to push Africa to the back burner in the international arena," and may "aggravate the misery and poverty in Africa and other parts of the developing world." In the same way, he said, the war might "reverse all our gains achieved through the NEPAD initiative," referring to the New Partnership for Africa's Development, the continent's development framework.

A few days later, President Thabo Mbeki noted that the enormous humanitarian and reconstruction requirements in Iraq could draw away financial resources that might otherwise have gone to NEPAD. But, he added, diminished attention to Africa might also have the effect of forcing Africa to become more self-sufficient. "We will have to rely on ourselves, our own resources and our own efforts."

President Mbeki has appointed a special ministerial committee to investigate how the fluctuating oil price, other economic repercussions and the security situation in the Middle East may affect South Africa. Similarly, at a meeting in early March of NEPAD heads of state (see page 8), Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was mandated to set up a steering committee to examine the Iraq war's broader impact on Africa.

The International Monetary Fund, in its World Economic Outlook released in April, warns that as a result of the Iraq war, Africa may be hit by "a double blow from higher oil prices and lower non-fuel commodity prices, and in some cases a decline in tourism."

ENVIRONMENT
A lead-free Africa is 'in sight'

Most African countries will be using lead-free petrol, or come close to phasing out the hazardous heavy metal, within five years, according to a survey by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The UNEP survey reports that Egypt, Libya, Mauritius and Sudan are already fully lead-free, and indicates that Tunisia, the French territory of Réunion off Africa's east coast, and Morocco and Western Sahara will join them this year.

"This is one of, if not the first, concrete outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development," UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said in February. The summit, held last year in Johannesburg, called for the rapid, global phasing out of the pollutant. African countries agreed several months earlier to phase out the use of leaded fuel by 2005.

Although about 90 per cent of the world's petrol supplies are now unleaded, the remaining 10 per cent is concentrated in developing countries, especially in Africa. "It has been known for many years that lead in petrol or gasoline is a serious health risk, particularly to children," Mr. Toepfer said. "This is why it has been phased out and banned in countries in Western Europe, North America, parts of the Far East and elsewhere. But much of Africa ... has lagged behind," including for technological reasons and a lack of awareness of the health risks. He added that the situation is rapidly changing and "a lead-free Africa is in sight."

ANGOLA
Aid for combatant demobilization

The World Bank has decided to grant Angola nearly $50 mn to boost its reconstruction and economic recovery efforts, following decades of civil war. The bulk of the funds ($33 mn) will help to support the government's programme for the demobilization, resettlement and reintegration of former combatants, as well as for rebuilding infrastructure, especially schools and clinics in communities where people are being resettled.

"From all indications, the government and other interested parties are committed to lasting peace. The grant signals that the World Bank supports this new dispensation and hopes to maintain this renewed trust between ourselves and the government," said Mr. Laurence Clarke, the World Bank's new country manager in Luanda. It is the World Bank's first financing agreement with Angola since 2000.

The grant comes amid growing concern over the slow delivery of assistance to an estimated 105,000 former combatants of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). These former rebels, along with 33,000 former government soldiers, have each been promised resettlement packages of blankets, seeds and tools worth $100, as well as access to suitable land for resettlement. Citing financial difficulties for the delay, the government appealed in December for international support.

Reflecting concern among donor agencies over allegations of corruption in the Angolan administration, the remaining $17 mn of the World Bank grant will be allocated to increasing transparency in public resource management. Mr. Clarke noted that one condition for the disbursement of any money is that the government set up an autonomous financial and auditing system. "There will be regular auditing to assess just exactly how the money is being used," he said.

APPOINTMENTS Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Mr. Albert Tévoédjrè, of Benin, as his special envoy for Côte d'Ivoire. Mr. Tévoédjrè began his career at independence in 1960 as Benin's minister of information. In 1965 he became secretary-general of the Union of African and Malagasy States. He joined the International Labour Organization (ILO) that same year, and in 1974 was appointed director of the International Institute for Social Studies, with the rank of deputy director-general of the ILO. With the return of multiparty elections in Benin in 1991, Mr. Tévoédjrè became a prominent political figure, and from 1996 to 1999 served as Benin's minister for planning, economic rehabilitation and employment promotion. The Executive Board of the World Health Organization has nominated Dr. Jong Wook Lee of the Republic of Korea to lead the organization as director-general for five years, starting 21 July 2003. Dr. Lee, an epidemiologist and expert in vaccines, tuberculosis and diseases associated with poverty, joined WHO in 1983. In 1994 he became head of the WHO Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunizations and in 2000 was appointed director of the Stop TB Programme, a coalition of more than 250 international partners, including WHO member states, donors agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses and foundations. Dr. Lee's nomination will be submitted for ratification to the 56th World Health Assembly, which meets in Geneva from 19-28 May 2003.

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