North Africa
Algeria to Nationalize Orascom Algeria’s Mobile Phone Unit
The North Africa Journal | The Algerian government is slated to take over a majority stake in the mobile phone operator Djezzy. Previously owned by the Egyptian Orascom, then sold to Russia’s Vimpelcom, the company is likely to be 51% under the control of the State of Algeria after a long battle pitting Orascom CEO Naguib Sawiris against Algeria. The news of the takeover was announced by the Algerian postal and technology minister on Saturday, January 8, 2012.
French-Algerian Relations: The Weight of History
By Dr. Yahia H. Zoubir | In 1974, Algeria’s President Houari Boumediene declared that, “Relations between France and Algeria may be good or bad, but in no way can they be trivial.” Twenty-six years later, in 2000, his long-time foreign minister and now Algeria’s President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1999-present) declared that, “Algeria seeks to have extraordinary, non trivial, not normal, [but] exemplary and exceptional relations with France.” Yet, despite this willingness to turn the page, which, as Boumediene suggested, “cannot be torn up,” relations have often been marred with misunderstandings, conflicts, mutual suspicions and mistrust. ...
With an Islamist Electoral Victory, Morocco Forced to Adopt Political Cohabitation
The North Africa Journal | With less than half the eligible voters going into the voting booths on Friday, the Moroccans woke up on Saturday with the news that the Islamists of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) were bracing to form a coaltion government. ...
Is Egypt's Military Kneeling Under Public Pressure?
The North Africa Journal | After the bloody crackdown of the past days leading to dozens of deaths on the civilian side, the Egyptian military rulers say they will seek a political exit to the crisis. Although the military's public statements are still considered by protesters as insufficient, the Egyptian second uprising is clearly putting enormous pressure on the Junta....
Saif Gaddafi Captured Trying to Escape to Niger
The North Africa Journal | The ruthless Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the killed Libyan dictator Muamar Gaddafi was captured somewhere between Obari and Sabha, in the south of Libya. Saif was apparently preparing to cross to Niger....
Maroc Telecom Struggles under Competitive Pressure
The North Africa Journal | Equity Research | The Moroccan telecom giant Maroc Telecom has had a difficult time these days. The company has been delivering weak performances with both its domestic and African businesses facing saturated mobile phone markets and stiff competition. ...
Manipulated, the Touaregs in Search for a Way Forward
The North Africa Journal | By Arezki Daoud | A dignified Berber population, the Touaregs often consider themselves as free nomadic pastoralist people and want to remain so. For decades, they have resisted pressure from various governments to force them to settle. But their refusal to do so led to retaliations in form of social segregation and economic "starvation." Vulnerable, the Touaregs have also become the toys of ruthless politicians and governments in the regions who have been using them to settle scores against one another....
Despair and Self-Immolation in Algeria
The North Africa Journal | It is ironic how Africa’s second largest economy is unable to cope with its housing shortage. The situation is so bad that virtually all riots and too many recorded suicides are the result of housing despair. ...
Post-Gaddafi Analysis: Deepening Crisis Expected in the Sahel and Beyond
The North Africa Journal | Already the source of terrorism, organized crime, failed states and misery, the Sahel can become even more dangerous for itself and its neighbors. The crisis in Libya is setting the stage for what appears to be a serious looming crisis. With the proliferation of weapons, an abundance of former pro-Gaddafi fighters, combined with the massive movement of migrants from Sub-Sahara Africa, the Sahel region is bracing for further destabilization....
Petroleum Activity Resumes in Libya
The North Africa Journal | With the Gaddafi regime eliminated, oil industry activity is resuming in Libya on a fast pace. The Italian energy giant ENI, Libya's biggest player in the oil sector, managed to get its Mellitah Oil & Gas operation going, with a resumption of gas production from the offshore platform of Sabratha on November 2, 2011. ...
The Failed State of Yemen: Poverty, Security, Regional Concerns & Outlook
Yemen’s instability is a risk for the whole Middle East region. Both western and regional powers have been too focused on Yemen’s perceived security threats, focusing on military solutions only. The problems are more complex and rooted in Yemen’s failure to develop institutions, weakening the State. This has resulted in instability and factionalism....
How Saudi Arabia Inhibits Democracy and Progress in the Arab World
[By Arezki Daoud | daoud@north-africa.com | 508-981-6937 | Twitter: @northafrica] President Obama’s Middle East and North Africa speech of May 19, 2011 was promising and encouraging yet incomplete. Setting aside the mine field of the never ending and unsolvable Arab-Israeli conflict, the speech will likely be a source of more strength for pro-democracy activists in some Arab nations as it confirmes America’s siding with the right side of history in countries like Tunisia and Egypt. But while the President managed to clearly define some of the key issues that led to the Arab revolt and provided some directions as what he expects the outcome to be, he has avoided focusing on the actions of a highly disruptive nation, a partner of the US, that has long been source of repression and insecurity worldwide. For those of you who wonder who this partner is, consider this basic quiz: What do the following statements have in common?...
Bin Laden’s Death Likely to Heighten Tension in North Africa and Europe
Americans and all those who suffered from the hands of Al Qaeda are rejoicing of the news that Osama Bin Laden has been found and eliminated. Having been responsible for countless deaths all over the world, not too many will shed a tear for him. But his death is likely to usher in a new era of terror, either directly by Al Qaeda franchises around the world, or by Arab governments' operatives who will unleash terror to justify their crackdown of pro-democracy movements and a maintain of the control of power in the Arab world. ...
Marrakech Terror Attack Risks to Derail Political Progress in Morocco and Could Slow Rapprochement with Algeria
[By Arezki Daoud | daoud@north-africa.com | 508-981-6937 | Twitter: @northafrica] It’s test time for King Mohamed VI. Moving forward with political reforms may have awakened nasty demons, and yet scaling them back could lead the country into violent turmoil. The terror attack that rocked the city of Marrakech, Morocco on April 28, 2011 is both puzzling and alarming but not entirely unpredictable. Morocco is moving on the fast track in a region full of drama. And so while emotions are running high, a lot remains at stake, and inevitably something is bound to go wrong. ...
North Africa’s Defense Expenditure: Serious Concern or Legitimate Spending?
[The North Africa Journal | By Arezki Daoud] Recent releases of defense expenditure data raised questions about North Africa’s procurement spending on military equipment. And so the question remains whether the billions spent in the region’s armies should be a source of concern or are we over thinking it?...
Why the Tunisians Fired Ben Ali
The North Africa Journal: The violent demonstrations leading up to the departure of Ben Ali were not necessirily just about the rise of food prices or unemployment. Although these factors were no doubt critical in the Tunisian uprising, the rotten political system built on cronyism and corruption forced many middle and upper class Tunisians to endorse the revolt as well and to actively take part to it. The system was locked by Ben Ali and those around him, including his wife’s family, according to many Tunisians....
The Tunisian Illusion
The North Africa Journal: This article written by Arezki Daoud was released in May 2009 and published in the Global Journalist magazine. Its re-release is meant to showcase the working of the Ben Ali regime in the areas of freedom of speeach and broad civil liberties | For economic observers, Tunisia has been a model to follow. Its economic performance generally surpasses its neighbors and gains constant praise from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as it is “making impressive progress in its reform agenda, and its prospects are favorable.”...
Tunisia: Latest developments as of January 16, 2011
The North Africa Journal: As we release this issue in the late night in Tunis, on Sunday, January 16, 2011, emotions are running high in Tunisia with the population feeling optimistic while the security situation remains tense. Information here in Tunisia seem to indicate that the abrupt departure of Ben Ali was triggered by the refusal of the military to intervene. The decision apparently came from the top military chief General Rachid Ammar, an indication that even the military hierarchy was fed up with the irrational Ben Ali regime. ...
A Season of Discontent: Algiers and Tunis Remain Under Stress
After ending the year in agitation, Tunis and Algiers are not out of woods yet. As 2011 starts, new crises continue to trouble authorities. For example Tunisia has been the target of Internet attacks, essentially bringing government websites out of commission. The Anonymous Group has been busy since January 2, 2011 staging distributed denial of service attacks and 3 days later government sites remain unreachable. These attacks are motivated by the Group's support of both Wikileaks, blocked in Tunisia and in support to Tunisian protesters in broad terms. Meanwhile, authorities in Tunisia have been on the edge as tension mounted during the Wednesday, January 5, 2011 burial of Mohamed Bouazzizi, the young unemployed man who burned himself to death on December 17. His death triggered a popular chain reaction of anger not seen in years....The Good and the Bad
2010 has come and gone and it is time for a quick reality check on where the Maghreb’s economy stands as we greet 2011. The good news first: broadly speaking, the region is getting wealthier. Despite their slow pace, national economies continued to grow in 2010 and managed to face the global economic crisis relatively well. Morocco and Tunisia were on track reforming several sectors to remain competitive; Algeria and Libya continued to benefit from sustained demand for oil and gas, fueling their own infrastructure investment projects. ...
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