[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Maghreb and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Maghreb Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to maghreb@jadaliyya.com by Thursday night of every week.]
Algeria
Algeria: the real lessons for Egypt Karima Bennoune explains why recent comparisons between Algeria in the nineties and Egypt today must be engaged with critically, and the danger in adopting popular narratives wholesale.
Benflis entre un fauteuil roulant et le DRS Mohamed Benchicou challenges the predominant analyses that discount Bouteflika’s possiblity as winner in the 2014 elections.
Aïssa Kadri. Sociologue Et Chercheur : «Les Intellectuels Algériens Sont Fascinés Par Le Pouvoir» In an interview with El Watan, Aissa Kadri probes the disengagement of Algerian intellectuals from national sociological debates.
Libya
A Bad Omen for Libya Mohamed Eljarh warns of the danger of Libya’s political isolation law.
The “New” Libya: Symbols of Change Edward Randall explores the role of symbols in learning from Libya’s past and rebuilding the future.
Opinion: “Use of force” may be necessary – Prime Minister Ali Zeidan Sami Zaptia highlights frustration at Libya’s stagnation and draws attention to the Ali Zeidan’s threat of violence against violent militias.
Mauritania
Alive and Well in Mauritania? Slavery and its Stubborn `Vestiges` Ann McDougall traces the history of slavery in Mauritania and describes the current state of exploitation in the country.
مواجهات عنيفة بين الشرطة ومجموعة من الشبان في كيهيدي After a merchant dispute, riots and protests erupt in Kaedi, prompting observers to reference “ethnic clashes” and sparking discussions on racism in the country.
Mauritania posts low bac pass rate Bakari Gueye reports on the mere nine percent success rate for Mauritanian students on their baccalaureate examinations.
Morocco
Morocco: Free Student Imprisoned for ‘Insulting’ King Despite the promise of the 2011 constitutional reform, Human Rights Watch questions judicial independence in Morocco and calls for the release of a student imprisoned for insulting the king.
Morocco: Dance with the deep state Borzou Daraghi attempts an explanation of the Moroccan political scene since 2011.
Maroc : « Nous ne rembourserons pas ! Dégage micro-crédit, dégage ! » Christine Vanden Daelen tells the story of women who refuse to pay back microcredit loans in protest of neoliberal measures encouraged by the World Bank.
Le Maroc dans le Baromètre Mondial de la Corruption Azeddine Aksebi analyzes the state of deleterious state of corruption in Morocco.
De la réponse à la crise à l’intelligence sociétale Nabil El Mabrouki analyzes the phosphate industry’s varied responses to crisis.
Tunisia
Tunisia: Grant Feminist Activist Pretrial Release Human Rights Watch suggests that charges against Amina Tyler are politically motivated and asks for her release from prison prior to trial.
La nouvelle Constitution: Ils veulent tromper les Tunisiens Rachid Bernat condemns the new constitution as failing the address the revolutionary aims of the people.
مقترح قانون يخول للجنة الإصلاح الإداري و مكافحة الفساد بالمجلس التأسيسي النفاذ إلى وثائق الإدارة و المؤسسات العمومية Med Dhia Hammami reports on the National Assembly’s most recent meeting and their efforts to draft laws aimed to fight corruption.
Western Sahara
Women on frontline in struggle for Western Sahara Loveday Morris highlights the integral role that women play in the fight for Sahrawi independence.
Recent Jadaliyya Articles on the Maghreb
The New European Union and Mauritania Fisheries Agreement: Between Sustainability and Vested Interests Hassan Ould Moctar weighs the positive and negative aspects of proposed fishing agreements for Mauritania and the EU.
Dissecting `Opposing` Views: Morocco Reacts to Events in Egypt Samia Errazzouki unpacks the seemingly contradictory positions of the PJD and Moroccan palace, highlighting the role they play in bolstering the king’s neutral image.
Sailing for Safe Abortion Access: The Emergence of a Conscious Social Nonmovement in Morocco Julia Ellis-Kahana chronicles the voyage of Women on Waves’ vessel in its attempt to bring contraception to Morocco, as it illuminates connections between nonmovements and public health initiatives.
Eye on the Libyan General National Congress: Ninth Report Jadaliyya reports on the H20 Team and Bokra Youth Organization’s ninth report on the Libyan National Congress’ meetings.
HRW Report on Tainted Trials and Statements Obtained by Torture in Morocco Jadaliyya reports on Human Rights Watch’s recent condemnation of unjust police and judicial procedures in Morocco.
معتقلو موريتانيا في غوانتانامو Ahmed Jedou describes confusion and outrage over the recent reports that Mauritanian Guantanamo detainees Mohamed Ould Slahi and Ahmed Ould Abdel Aziz had been handed over to Mauritanian authorities.
Erdogan in Morocco: The Politics of Reception Samia Errazzouki analyzes Erdogan’s visit to Morocco, where he met not King Mohammed VI, but an increasingly isolated Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane.
Roundtable Introduction: Beyond Dominant Narratives on the Western Sahara Samia Errazzouki and Allison McManus introduce a roundtable of articles on the contours of the Western Saharan “cold war.”
The Last Colony Stephen Zunes sheds light on Morocco’s policies towards the territory and its people, including human rights abuses and policies of settlement.
US Policy Between a Rock and a Hard Place John P. Entelis explores the Western Sahara’s significance for the region, particularly as the conflict has been mobilized in narratives of decolonization both in Algeria and Morocco.