Libya: The Aftermath
Post-Gaddafi
Analysis:
Deepening Crisis Expected in the Sahel and Beyond
The crisis in Libya, even as the Gaddafis fade away, is setting
the stage for what appears to be a looming and guaranteed
crisis in the region, and potentially beyond. 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. Already
the source of terrorism, organized crime, failed states and
misery, the Sahel can become an even more dangerous battleground
if the affected nations’ governments do not make a concerted
effort and collaborate as a common front...
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More
on the Libyan Crisis:
Manipulated,
the Vulnerable Touaregs in Search for a Way Forward
Op-Ed:
The
Second Arab Revolution Coming: Arab Rulers, You Have Been
Warned!
Gaddafi’s
Death: Summary Execution is the Most Likely Scenario
Sirte
Liberated, Gaddafi Dead
Social and Political Unrest in the Arab World
Despair
and Self-Immolation in Algeria
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. For politicians and the regime,
this seemingly simple issue is also source of constant trouble
in a nation that has the financial means and wherewithal to
deal with its problem in just a matter of a couple of years,
good will permitting. The housing crisis is not the only culprit.
Unemployment, police brutality, social exclusion, and societies
that are too demanding on their youth are among the various
factors that are leading many to commit suicide in gruesome
ways, pushing others to revolt...
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Social and Political Unrest in the Arab World
Morocco:
A Protest Movement Facing Headwinds
Created
in the aftermath of the Jasmine Revolution of Tunisia, the
Moroccan pro-democracy movement called the February 20th
Movement resumed its activities in mid-September through
a series of marches in the nation’s largest cities.
Despite the presence of pro-democracy militants calling for
political and economic rights for all, the movement weakened
considerably due to the Monarchy’s response to the protests.
Albeit of cosmetic nature, the King’s initiative to
make basic tweaks to the constitutions has taken some momentum
away from the movement. The demonstrations that took place
in Rabat on September 11th drew less than one thousand demonstrators.
In Rabat, they were between 2,000 and 3,000...
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Tunisia's
Economy:
Foreign
Investors Scale Back Exposure to Tunisia
The
Tunisian government says the economy will growth this year
at a rate of 0.2% to 1%. Although confirming the weakness
facing the domestic economy amid intense political turmoil,
the figure shared by Minister of Planning and International
Co-operation Abdelhamid Triki, still represents an optimistic
scenario. North Africa Journal Editors assume that the country
is likely to move into recession instead with a contraction
of about -3%...
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More
on the Libyan Crisis:
Tunisia’s
Public Debt Nears 26 billion Dinars
Tunisia
Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate to Help Sagging Economy
North
African Economic Notes
Special
Report | Diplomacy:
French-Algerian
Relations: The Weight of History
By Dr. Yahia H. Zoubir
Professor of International Studies/Director of Research in
Geopolitics, Euromed Management, Marseille, France
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. Under President
Jacques Chirac’s presidency, it seemed that the two
countries were heading toward a historic treaty of friendship
in 2005. Unfortunately as is often the case, a deceitful incident,
concocted in Paris by forces opposed to lasting reconciliation
between the two countries, derailed that process. Following
a promising start under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy,
relations quickly went from bad to worse, at least until the
last couple of months which seem to have augured yet another
hopeful development in relations, as is customary: through
economic relations. What are the main obstacles in Franco-Algerian
relations? Can they be overcome? What are the reasons for
the current seeming rejuvenation of those relations? It is
extremely difficult to write a short essay on the so-complex
Algerian-French relations. Therefore, I will review some of
the most salient factors which have impeded better ties between
these two Mediterranean countries whose fate is bound by inescapable
historical, political, economic, cultural, and human dimensions...
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Election
News:
Islamist
Ennahda Party Wins Big in Tunisia's First Free Elections
The
Islamists of the Ennahda Party have won a major victory. Preliminary
results of the votes of Tunisian expatriates abroad set the
stage for what to expect within Tunisia proper when the results
are announced. Ennahda has won 9 of the 18 seats allocated
to the Tunisians living abroad, according to election authority
"Instance Supérieure Indépendante pour
les Eléctions" of ISIE.
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