North Africa
Setback for a Pan-Maghreb TV Channel: Nessma TV Likely to Fold
The owners of Nessma TV are facing the nightmare scenario, challenging their belief that North Africa’s Maghreb region needed a common broadcast platform. Largely owned by Tunisian businessman Tarek Ben Ammar, Nessma TV is finding hard to operate in the region.
Al-Qaeda’s Execution of a French Hostage to Escalate Crisis in the Sahel
The recent killing, execution style, of a French hostage by Al Qaeda’s North Africa unit in Mali is expected to worsen the security situation in the Sahel and by extension North Africa and beyond. France is likely to expand its efforts to seek revenge, or bring to justice the killers of the 78 year old Michel Germaneau, in particular targeting Al Qaeda’s regional leader Abdelhamid Abuzeid....
Despite Global Economic Downturn, Tunisia's Economic Growth Stays in Positive Territory
Tunisia has managed somewhat to resist the effects of the world’s economic recession in 2009. ...
Tunisian Journalist Must Be Freed
North Africa is facing a dangerous period for press freedom and objective reporting. Governments continue or have recently launched fresh attacks against journalists who report their observations of the facts on the ground based on their independent views. From Morocco's crackdown on any discussion over the Western Sahara conflict to Tunisia's sustained harassment of reporters, there is no shortage of bad news from the region. Newspapers are punished for having a different view, and reporters jailed without a serious due process. ...
Immigration in France: “No Inner City is Above the Law,” Sarkozy
During a recent visit at the French Prefecture in a Seine Saint-Denis suburb, French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his unwavering support to Christian Lambert recently elected as new Prefect (equivalent to Governor) of the Seine-Saint-Denis’ Department, setting forth his intent to implement strict anti-juvenile laws, imposing stiff penalties to those that would skip class or create disorder at school. The issue is of high interest to the immigrant communities in France, in particular North Africans who may be the first targets of upcoming measures....
North Africa Security Assessment and Business Outlook Briefing
Concord, MA: The North Africa Journal is pleased to announce the holding of a breakfast briefing in Washington DC on June 17, 2010 that would provide an assessment of the state of security in North Africa, along with a business outlook. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to interact with leading experts on North African affairs, Arezki Daoud and Alessandro Bruno. ...
Dubai’s Illusive Dream and Impact on North Africa: Seeing through the Arabian Mirage
Ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi once said “a country is never as poor as when it seems filled with riches,” and that may be very true for Dubai....
Capturing Business Opportunities in North Africa While Avoiding Risk
The North Africa Journal is pleased to provide a free presentation on how to capture business opportunities in North Africa while avoiding risk....
Irrational Behavior
I certainly don’t want to minimize the difficulty facing the Algerians and Egyptians as they dance around the crisis that came out of a football match this week. But I predict that it will soon be water under the bridge. ...
Spain Coming Opportunity for Leadership in the Mediterranean
Owing to booming oil revenues and aggressive sovereign wealth funds, rich Gulf countries have been leading the way as foreign investors in North Africa since 2003, as well as in the southern Mediterranean zone, displacing western investors. But the ongoing global economic crisis appears to be reshuffling the cards once again. The southern Med (SoMed) region is also hit by the financial turmoil that started in the US market. As such, foreign direct investments (FDI) moving into SoMed dropped by an estimated 40% in 2008 in value terms to settle at €35.5 billion, according to ANIMA Investment Network....
Microsoft's North Africa Opportunity and Challenge
With shrinking computer sales, the engine of Microsoft (MS) revenue with operating system sales, every penny counts no matter where it comes from. Software giant Microsoft is expanded its focus on the North Africa region seeking to up its revenue from that emerging market. But although the Maghreb is a region full of opportunities, in particular as Microsoft begins to push for its latest operating system Windows 7, the company is facing a set of challenges, from convincing North Africans to upgrade, to actually making a dent on piracy, and competing against open source software....Unions Pressure Belgian Government to Allow Arms Export to Libya
This is rather ironic that a labor union would be used to pressure a government to give a company license to export arms....Globalization and Libya's Invesments: Not Always a Safe Bet
Briefs: Libya may be wanting to reintegrate the global community, but it needs to watch out for the mine fields out there....
Emirates Telecommunications Has Funds for Meditel Buyout
Emirates Telecommunications (Etisalat) recently announced that it has enough funds to acquire Morocco's second-largest carrier Meditel, citing bankers close to the deal. Other bidders include companies like Oger Telecom, controlled by the Saudi Oger Group, Qatar Telecommunications (Qtel). According to Reuters, confirmed bids are due by September 14. A decision should be known at the end of September. ...
No Smoking Gun in the Megrahi Release, But Big Projects in Libya Await British Companies
Despite arguments that the release of Al Megrahi was not motivated by economic gains, it is hard to believe that UK companies may not fully benefit from it, even if there is no paper trail on a deal between the UK and Libya. Ask British executive working in Libya and you will find an interesting consensus. British businesses have themselves made public statements that the release has removed “the last remaining obstacle to the Libyan market opening up to British firms,” according to a British construction industry publication (Building). ...
Global Economic Contraction and Impact on Morocco: The Good and the Bad
While many sectors of the Moroccan economy are struggling to cope with the reality of the global economic meltdown, ......
Uncompetitive Moroccan Travel Industry
For millions of people, the months of April through June are travel planning period. In particular for the diasporas that is looking to go back home to North Africa during the summer season, but also for foreign tourists as well. This latter category is a critical target for the Moroccan tourism industry, which is apparently finding difficulties offering competitive prices in a highly budget-sensitive period....
Inside Bouteflika's Presidential Election Resources
The North Africa Journal : As expected, Abdelaziz Bouteflika won a third presidential mandate following a campaign that was unchallenged and underwhelming. ...
Avoiding Risk and Finding Opportunities on the Casablanca Stock Exchange in 2009
The North Africa Journal: The Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) started the year 2009 on a volatile path and with no clear orientation. In this context, analysts recommend investors to adopt a selective strategy offering low risk in an uncertain market. ...
A Troubled Bluefin Tuna in North Africa
The stocks of bluefin tuna along the southern shores of the Mediterranean coast are quickly depleting. This is also the case in the entire Mediterranean Sea, not just the souther rim. Over fishing and capture practices that some qualify as savage hunting are all leading to the fast disappearance of tuna stocks in the region. Of a particular worry is the aggressive stance of industrial fishing fleets that do not hesitate to seek and capture tuna even in the reproductive zone of the Gulf of Syrte, offshore Libya. Because of the profitable nature of this activity, fraud and lack of transparency are paramount, while the canning industry in the region is facing its own troubles. ...
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