AFRICA NEW BLOC

Once the playground of tyrants like Uganda's Idi Amin, Ethiopia's Meng istu Haile Mariam, and Zaire's Mobutu Sese Seko, Africa is finally she dding its postcolonial heritage of despotism and chaos. In Uganda, Rwa nda, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, a new generation of nationalist leaders wi th strong and disciplined armies is emerging to take control of the co ntinent. Their fights against the old foreign-supported order have lef t them suspicious of anything that comes from abroad, especially from France. Still, they are far more accountable and egalitarian than thei r predecessors-and they want to get into the United Stares' good books .