Corruption
at the Top of the Political System
Algerian
Government Ministers Implicated in Corruption Cases: All
Eyes on Chakib Khelil, Mohamed Bedjaoui and Others
The murky nature of Algerian politics and lack of transparency
mean that the country is suffering from a major accountability
deficit that is allowing many of its top leaders to abuse
their power. As we approach the Presidential elections,
more political and financial scandals are making it to the
public, dragging with them names of politicians who used
to be seen internationally as credible. But in Algeria and
in the eyes of the general public however, anyone in government
is guilty until and unless proven innocent.
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Related
Analysis:
Subsidiary
of ENI Hit by Corruption Scandal on Algeria Business
North
Africa's Economies
The
Political Angle of a Stalled Moroccan Economy
Skeptics
of the Islamist PJD party's role and position in government
and its political enemies are rejoicing to the news that
a little more than a year after taking the Prime Minister’s
office no progress was delivered to the Moroccan people.
As we pointed out in the early stages of the PJD’s
control of the Primiership, PM Abdelilah Benkirane has inherited
a disastrous economy to begin with and was likely to fail,
risking to erode the image and credibility of his party,
in particular among the working class and the disenchanted.
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Related
Analysis:
Morocco's
Islamist Party not so Happy with Royal Prerogatives
The
In-Amenas Terror Attack
The
Aftermath
The
hostage crisis and subsequent killing of 38 workers in the
In-Amenas gas field, south of Algeria, has given foreign
companies pause to allow them enough time to reassess their
security posture. This major security breach is also used
by Western companies to pressure the Algerian government
to making changes in its hydrocarbons law, to get more concessions
perhaps, while requiring greater security capabilities in
oil and gas sites. For Algeria, this means the cost of running
its oil and gas sector is likely to skyrocket. This is particularly
true as oil giants are asking international insurance firms
to require Algeria to up its security capabilities in and
around oil and gas facilities as well as along the dense
pipeline networks crisscrossing Algeria and into Europe.
Manufacturers of security equipments and security services
providers are all looking at North Africa where the next
wave of business opportunities would come from. Continue
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Related
Analysis:
The
In-Amenas Terrorist Attack: Reality on the Ground
Algerian
Military Wants No Tourists in the Sahara
Competing
for Africa
Qatar's
Dangerous and Murky Game in West Africa
Qatar
is not a stranger in nations where strange things happen.
Like Saudi Arabia, it is almost everywhere where civil wars,
internal conflicts and crises are destroying whole nations.
Qatari dollars can be traced in places like Libya, Pakistan,
Indonesia, Syria, and the list goes on. It also seems to
be wherever the Islamist Jihadist elements operate. In short:
Qatar’s international meddling is just bad news. Continue
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Related
Analysis:
Red
Flag: Tunisia's Ennahda Party and the Qatar Connection
As
Mali Sinks into Despair, China and Turkey See Business As
Usual
Industries
& Corporate Affairs:
ArcelorMittal
Site in Algeria Headed Toward Nationalization
Steel
giant ArcelorMittal may be given a lifeline and a gift of
sort by the Algerian government. The company is reported
to be wanting the Algerian government to acquire an additional
21% stake in its Annaba unit, northeast Algeria for $200
million. While such transaction would make Algeria a majority
shareholder since Algeria already owns 30%, the Algerian
authorities are said to be wanting to add another $200 million
to make fresh investments to double the site’s capacity
to two million tons per year. Continue
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Tunisia’s
Politics:
Tunisian
PM Jebali Resigns: a Case of "Should I Stay or Should
I Go."
Tunisian
Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali is calling it quit. Having
failed to form a neutral technocratic cabinet as he promised
following the assassination of secular opposition leader
Chokri Belaid, Jebali decide to resign on Tuesday this week.
Is he really completely out of the picture or repositioning
himself to put pressure on his Islamist party Ennahda? Continue
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Related
Analysis:
Killing
of Belaïd in Tunisia Accelerates Confrontation Between
Secularists and Islamists, and Among Islamists Themselves
Development Issues:
Focus
on a Region: Ain
Leuh, Morocco
The
Moroccan government has a serious law enforcement deficit
when it comes to the militias that are targeting prostitutes
and brothels. For months now, and coinciding with the rise
of the PJD party in the government, attacks against prostitutes
have escalated and no arrests were made. The case of the
Aïn Leuh region has attracted international attention
given the particular level of violence witnessed there and
the change that has occurred over night. Continue
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