The North Africa Journal: Where to Invest in the Moroccan Economy ================================================================================ Arezki Daoud on 02 February, 2010 06:55:00 Although 2009 was a difficult year for those looking to place their money in Moroccan general investment and in equities in particular, 2010 may not bring immediate relief either, but opportunities could be up for grabs. National Identity : Who is really French? [video] ================================================================================ The North Africa Journal on 28 January, 2010 07:46:00 What does it mean to be French? For the past few months, France has been asking itself that very question. But the debate over national identity launched by President Sarkozy now appears to be deepening racial tensions present for years. To get to the heart of the matter, our reporter James André went to Marseille, the most ethnically diverse city in France. General Larbi Belkheir Dies ================================================================================ The North Africa Journal on 27 January, 2010 11:13:00 The End of an Era: Algerian army General Larbi Belkheir, a figure that has been largely insignificant in today’s Algerian politics, died on January 25, 2010 at the age of 72. Belkheir has been a central figure in the Algerian ruling system in the past, though his activities and exact role are shrouded in mystery. A Nuclear North Africa ================================================================================ Arezki Daoud on 20 January, 2010 12:31:00 Oil and gas remain critical sources of power and energy for North African nations. In the medium term, hydrocarbons will remain the predominant sources of energy, whether it is for the OPEC countries of Algeria and Libya or the less-oil-endowed nations of Tunisia and Morocco. But in the longer term, the nuclear option appears interesting to all as oil reserves are depleted and securing new sources of energy is a strategic priority. The Big Jelly Ball of Global Insecurity: Terrorism is now a Permanent Fixture ================================================================================ Arezki Daoud and Alessandro Bruno on 17 January, 2010 06:55:00 The recent attempt by a young Nigerian man to down a US airliner brought back the topic of terrorism on the front pages of newspapers around the world. While the attempt failed given the fast reaction of passengers, as well as the poor execution of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the alleged terrorist, the impact has been important; the visibility of Al-Qaeda and global terrorism has increased considerably as a result. Although no one was harmed, Al-Qaeda managed a good media coup whether it directly planned it or not. The would-be terrorist has also prompted a lot of attention on Yemen, its poverty, mismanagement and potential to become a new haven for international terrorism in a manner similar to Afghanistan or even Somalia. Deja-Vu in Tripoli ================================================================================ Alessandro Bruno on 03 January, 2010 07:17:00 There was a clear reminder this week that Libya remains a country full of pitfalls for foreigners (western or non). In an all too common scene, witnessed so many times during the drawn out trial and appeal of the Bulgarian nurses throughout most of the past decade, a Libyan court has postponed the trial of two Swiss businessmen, who have been detained in Libya since July 2008. The U.S. Counterproductive Diplomacy. Tightened Flight Checks Do Nothing to Lessen Terror Threat ================================================================================ Arezki Daoud on 08 January, 2010 11:25:00 Scrambling to respond to new security threats following the attempt terror attack on a Detroit-bound airliner, the American government responded with an overnight measure aimed at calming fear but does little in ways of strengthening security. Furthermore, this populist measure is extremely counterproductive form a diplomatic standpoint, further alienating the people targeted by the new rules, and therefore potentially leading to further resentment in parts of the world where the new US administration has been seeking to reconnect. Top 10 Predictions for the North African Wireless and Telecom Markets in 2010 ================================================================================ Julien Blin on 07 January, 2010 07:00:00 The telecommunications and wireless sectors have been bright spots in North African economies and likely to continue to grow. The success of these sectors comes from a wide consumer adoption first of basic mobile phone services, in particular voice, at very affordable prices, then expanding into new services from SMS texting to ring tones. In this paper, Julien Blin, the North Africa Journal’s technology editor and CEO of JBB Research predicts what is to come in Africa’s wireless and telecom markets this year. (copyright JBB Research: http://www.jbbresearch.com) King Mohammed VI: 10 Years Later (in French) ================================================================================ The North Africa Journal on 05 January, 2010 11:27:00 French news channel France24 looks at King Mohammed VI accession to throne and his first decade as Morocco's monarch. This clip is in French. The Moroccan Monarchy Launches Plan ‘B’ to Counter Multi-Front Turbulence ================================================================================ Paul Wilson on 04 January, 2010 11:00:00 The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI has ordered a reshuffle of the executive branch with focus on security, justice and economic development. The reshuffle is substantial in that it involves very critical posts but is also a culmination of many years of unfulfilled social, political and economic promises.