With the future of millions of young refugees jeopardized by war, hatred and exile, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan last week appealed to the international community to make "serious and sustained efforts" to solve the problems that cause displacement in the first place.

The U.N. Security Council should hold governments in West Africa accountable for their support of abusive regimes and rebel groups, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper presented to the Security Council. Members of the Security Council are scheduled to begin an eight-day trip to the region on June 28.

Amnesty International has called on the Sudanese government and security forces to immediately stop harassing, detaining incommunicado and impeding Sudanese civil society activists from discussing issues related to the peace talks on Sudan.

The Bush administration has found its next target for pre-emptive war, but it's not Iran, Syria or North Korea -- not yet, anyway. "Before launching any new foreign adventures, the Bush gang has some homeland housekeeping to take care of: It is going to sweep up those pesky non-governmental organisations that are helping to turn world opinion against U.S. bombs and brands," writes anti-globalisation activist Naomi Klein.

Uganda will receive US$200,000 (about sh400m) in military aid from the US following the non-surrender agreement the two governments signed last week. President Yoweri Museveni, while on a visit to the US, signed the non-surrender pact with Secretary of State Collin Powell, exempting US soldiers on international combat assignments from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This year's World Refugee Day, which falls on Friday June 20, is dedicated to the millions of young people whose futures have been jeopardized by war, persecution and exile, said a message released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Phillippe Lavanchy on Thursday.

Sudan has strongly denied accusations, made on Monday by the Acholi Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative (ARLPI) in northern Uganda, that the Sudanese army is continuing to arm the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group.

The Northern Mali Peace and Reconciliation Project, supported by a small grant, has helped to promote peace through radio programming in Northern Mali and is positive proof that small projects can bring large results. The six-month activity has contributed to the significant conflict reduction in the Timbuktu Region of Mali and left participating stations with mechanisms and a mission to promote peace and reconciliation.

They believe God created an elect group of whites to rule the peoples of the world. They also believe the Bible forbids racial "interbreeding". Yet Jaco van der Merwe, spiritual leader of the Lewende Hoop (Living Hope) congregation in Kroonstad, denies their message is political. Police and intelligence officers do not seem to agree that the teachings of the Lewende Hoop church are a-political.

Nearly a month after it was to have started, the treason trial of 22 alleged Boeremag members was postponed for the fourth time because of unresolved legal aid issues on Tuesday.

Negotiations to reach a ceasefire among various armed groups in North Kivu Province of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were due to resume on Wednesday in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi, a UN official said.

Zimbabwe's opposition has described the hanging of four convicted murderers as a show of "brute force" at a time when its leader faces treason charges that could lead to a death sentence.

The governments of Rwanda and Congo-Brazzaville together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have agreed to return home 5,000 Rwandan citizens who fled the country during the 1994 genocide. However, over 1,000 of the refugees residing in western Tanzania have appealed against repatriation, alleging that they will be persecuted if they returned to their country.

No-one is hailing the ceasefire agreed in Ghana on Tuesday between Liberian adversaries as the end of that country's civil war. But most people, especially Liberians, are hoping it will achieve a halt in the fighting - a first step along a long road to peace.

The treason trial of Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, accused of plotting to eliminate President Robert Mugabe ahead of presidential elections last year, resumed on Tuesday. The trial, which resumed after a three week break, concerns the first charges of treason brought against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader and two key members of his party, Welshman Ncube and Renson Gasela. Tsvangirai has also been charged with treason - punishable by death in Zimbabwe - in connection with anti-government protests organised by his party two weeks ago.
Related Link:
* Youths plan protests for Tsvangirai's release
http://allafrica.com/stories/200306180683.html

A recent manifesto by PUDEMO, the main opposition party in Swaziland, marks a new phase in opposition politics, setting out detailed policies on issues such as poverty and HIV/AIDS. But despite a growing yearning for freedom and a rise in support of democratic forces, all opposition movements are forced to operate illegally. Visit Action for Southern Africa's web site for an interview with Mario Masuku, leader of PUDEMO.

The full scale rebellion in Liberia is part of a complicated web of conflicts which began more than a decade ago. Governments in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast have been struggling to hold power against rebel groups, trading accusations with neighbouring nations over who is backing who. Liberia's rebel-turned-president, Charles Taylor is accused of arming rebels in Sierra Leone's civil war, but is now under threat himself from a rebel group which he claims started operating out of Guinea.

This paper from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) reports on the proceedings of two one-day workshops held with communities in the Trans-Mara District where a human-elephant conflict study has taken place. The workshop concluded that farming is increasing because communities receive no other form of benefit from their land. Therefore, if wildlife could be made to pay, residents would be willing to set land aside for conservation and tolerate the presence of wildlife in the area. To ensure that, better local coordination and planning are also needed.

The Trainer trains and coaches local workshop-leaders in the identification of psychosocial needs and in conducting creative workshops. The trainer reports to the Content Supervisor and/or Head of Mission.

Joy erupted in the battle-scarred streets of Monrovia Wednesday after a ceasefire between Liberia's besieged government and two rebel groups brought hope of an end to 14 years of war.
Related Links:
* Ceasefire signed in Ghana
http://irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=34806
* Fighting resumes in interior
http://irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=34782