[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 Plane Crash Site Found in Mali With No Survivors After an extensive search effort, the crash site of Air Algerie Flight 5017, which went missing on Thursday with 118 passengers on board, was found near the border between Mali and Burkina Faso.
France Confirms No Survivors in Air Algerie Plane Crash The tragic crash of Air Algerie Flight 5017 claims the life of all its passengers as authorities continue to determine the cause of the crash.
Mali, Armed Groups to Hold Peace Talks in Algeria Wednesday Officials from the African Union comment on the talks Algeria was due to host between parties involved in the ongoing conflict in Mali this past week.
Algeria invests USD 42 bln for oil, gas production increase in five years Algerian government owned Sonatrach announces plan to invest in oil exploration, drilling, and production in the coming years.
Barakat manifeste à Alger pour dénoncer l’insécurité à Ghardaïa Members of the Barakat movement stage a protest blaming the Algerian state’s lack of ensuring security in Ghardaia.
Roadside bomb kills seven members of Algeria`s security forces Following an attack on Algerian soldiers in the western part of the country, which left seven dead, the Algerian government blamed “terrorists.”
Affrontements entre islamistes et déjeûneurs à Bejaïa Clashes erupt after a group in favor of eating in public during Ramadan stage a protest.
Nothing to Celebrate: France, Algeria, and Bastille Day For the first time in history, the French government invites Algeria to participate in France’s annual military march on the Champs-Elysées.
Algeria Appoints Three Female Army Generals The unprecedented decision to appoint three female army generals in Algeria has drawn region wide attention.
Tizi Ouzou : grève générale et marche à Azazga après la disparition d’un étudiant Over a thousand people stage a protest in Azazga after the mysterious disappearance of student Saïd Djennad.
An Insight into France: The Algeria National Football Team After its participation in the World Cup, the author examines the history of Algerian national football and its players.
Libya
U.S. Embassy in Libya Evacuated Following reports of ongoing violence in Libya, the US State Department, along with the support of US military, evacuate personnel from US embassy in Tripoli, Libya.
Libya seeks ceasefire as south Tripoli a militia `war zone` Libyan government calls upon all parties to bring an end to the violence that has marred Libya’s transition following the fall of the Gaddafi regime.
Gaddafi`s spy chief to be tried in Libya Former spy chief under Gaddafi’s regime, Abdallah al-Senoussi, to face trial in Libya following the International Criminal Court’s decision.
Libya looks to International Criminal Court to prosecute militias Libyan Minister of Justice addresses prospects of prosecuting militias responsible for violence in the International Criminal Court.
Gunmen kill 21 Egyptian military border guards near Libya Ongoing violence in Libya edges toward border with Egypt, resulting in the death of twenty-one Egyptian guards.
Libya asks U.N. Security Council for help protecting oil, airports Amidst growing security concerns, Libyan government seeks help from the international community, claiming it is not asking for intervention.
Libya Rebels Attack Tripoli Airport Fighting in Tripoli spread to its airport, following the death of former MP Fariha al-Barkawi and human rights activist Salwa Bugaighis.
`Libya`s future cannot be left to one renegade general` A critical profile of General Khalifa Haftar sheds light on his role in the future of Libya.
Killing of Libyan human rights lawyer shocks many The killing of human rights activist Salwa Bougaighis sparks widespread outrage within and outside of Libya.
Mauritania
Abolishing slavery in Mauritania: A government’s inaction Despite the passing of an anti-slavery law, the Mauritanian government has failed to implement concrete measures to abolish slavery in the country.
Mauritania`s highest court confirms election win for Abdel Aziz Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz wins Mauritania’s recent presidential elections with a 81.94 percent win, a figure many in Mauritania are contesting.
Sidi Mohamed Ould Haidallah extradé vers la Mauritanie Morocco extradites Sidi Mohamed Ould Haidallah to Mauritania after he was sentenced to seven years in prison for drug trafficking.
Mauritania passes anti-terrorism law A highly contested anti-terrorism law passes through Mauritanian parliament despite the opposition Islamist National Rally for Reform and Development’s (Tawassoul) refusal to approve the measures.
Economic reforms urgently needed in Mauritania As the International Monetary Fund reaffirms its continued support to Mauritania, various studies are calling for the urgent need of economic reform as the unemployment rate hovers at 10.1 percent.
US ramps up `terrorism` fight in Mauritania Citing the expanding threat of al Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the United States expands its counter terrorism support to Mauritania with a twenty one million dollar military aircraft and advanced surveillance equipment.
Mauritanie 2014 : des élections présidentielles si discrètes… Libération interviews Cheikhna Wagué on the results of the recent presidential elections in Mauritania.
US donates two Cessna Caravan aircraft to Mauritania Counter terrorism efforts top the agenda in US-Mauritanian relations, as the United States cites the expansion of its support to Mauritania in order to “boost its capacity to conduct patrols to counter maritime crimes and regional terrorist groups.”
IMF willing to continue cooperation with Mauritania Despite claims of a fraudulent election, the International Monetary Fund’s Christine Lagarde affirms her support for the Mauritanian president.
Kuwait approves $21m loan for Mauritania Facing a dire economic situation, Kuwait offers Mauritania a twenty one million dollar loan which it claims will be used for funding “small economic projects contributing to the socio-economic development of the North African country.”
Morocco
Le nouveau code de la presse est arrivé Moroccan Minister of Communications and government spokesperson, Mustapha Elkhalfi, announces the release of the country’s new press code, which he claims will prevent the ongoing detainment of critical journalists.
Choquant: une femme accouche à même le sol à Casablanca A video of a woman giving birth in the corridor of a hospital in Casablanca sparks outrage on the Moroccan online community, who have condemned the dire health care conditions in the country.
Affaire Lachkar: un journaliste poursuivi par la DGSN After a Moroccan journalist attempted to cover the mysterious death of a young activist in a police station in Hoceima, the Direction générale de la sûreté nationale (DGSN) announces it is filing charges against the journalist for “violating the honor” of the organization.
Al Adl, RNI, PJD, PAM… Ils marchent tous pour Gaza A number of feuding political parties, movements, and organizations march in Rabat in support of Gaza.
Trois ans de prison pour fausses allégations de viol Oussama Housni, an activist with the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), faces a three month prison sentence after authorities claim that his reports of being raped were untrue.
L’Espagne souhaite ouvrir un nouveau poste-frontière à Melilia The Moroccan and Spanish governments express their intention of opening another border control post to combat migration and smuggling.
Immobilier au Maroc : La production de logements en baisse, l’optimisme des professionnels mis à mal After the collapse of a number of homes in Casablanca, resulting in dozens of death, Yabiladi tackles the housing crisis in Morocco.
La journaliste égyptienne Amany El Khayat sanctionnée pour avoir insulté le Maroc Egyptian television network ONTV suspends Amany El Khayat for having “insulted Morocco” after she stated on television that “the Moroccan economy primarily depends on prostitution, even though the country is ruled by an Islamist government.”
Tunisia
U.S. evacuates Libyan Embassy staff to Tunisia Amidst the ongoing violence in Libya, the United States evacuates its embassy staff from Tripoli to Tunisia.
Police, violence et corruption : Le supplice de l’immolation ! Hamed Abdelaoui dies after self-immolating in response to experiencing torture and mistreatment at the hands of police in Sousse.
Tunisia to close down Salafist-run mosques After armed groups killed fourteen Tunisian soldiers in the Chaambi mountain area, the Tunisian government announces efforts to clamp down on mosques and radios not under its control.
Tunisia`s fight against Aids hampered by widespread discrimination Discrimination and misconception about AIDS remains prevalent in Tunisia despite efforts to raise awareness.
Adoptez une loi criminalisant la normalisation avec Israël si vous êtes de bonne foi ! A number of Tunisian activists and journalists issue an open letter calling upon the Tunisian government to criminalize normalization with Israel.
Militants kill 14 Tunisian soldiers in mountain ambush Militants with alleged ties with al Qa’ida carry out attacks on Tunisian soldiers in the mountainous Chaambi region near the border with Algeria.
Tunisia: Day of Rage on Republic Day Numbers of protesters march on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in downtown Tunis expressing their support for Gaza.
Djerba Desalination Plant Contract: Seawater Can be Purified, But Can Tunisia’s Water Management? Extensive analysis exploring the politics of water management in Tunisia.
Tunisia Oil Permit Decision Allegedly Yields Death Threats Mohammed Chafik Zorkin, President of the Commission on Energy and Productive Sectors, reveals that he has received death threats after refusing to extend permits for oil exploration for foreign companies.
Libya: Tunisia Cuts Libya Diplomatic Presence Amid Unrest Tunisia announces that it has withdrawn its diplomatic presence in Libya.
Questions of Justice in Tunisia as Ousted Leaders Are Freed Rafik Haj Kacem, interior minister under Ben Ali, and Ali Seriati, the head of the presidential security service, are quietly released from prison, raising concerns over questions of justice in post-Ben Ali Tunisia.
Tunisia`s voter registration disrupted by hackers After offering online voter registration for Tunisians, the election commission issues a report of a “sophisticated” hacking attack.
Aging former Tunisian premier to run for presidency Former Tunisian Prime Minister, Beji Caid El-Sebsi, reveals his intention of running for president in the forthcoming November elections.
Western Sahara
The Sahara`s Forgotten War (Full Length) Vice releases a five-part documentary on the Western Saharan conflict covering the refugee camps in Algeria, the liberated, and occupied territories.
Morocco jails journalist over coverage of protests Morocco jails journalist Mahmoud Lhaisan over his coverage of protests in the occupied Western Sahara.
Western Sahara: South African Parliament Pleads for Saharawi People`s Right to Self-Determination Chairperson of the international relations and cooperation committee of the South African parliament, Moses Masango, expresses his support for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people.
Morocco rejects African Union’s new special envoy for Western Sahara Morocco claims that the African Union is “taking sides” after its appointment of former Mozambican President, Joaquim Chissano, as the union’s special envoy for the Western Sahara.
Western Sahara: Saharawi Refugee Camps - Week of Solidarity With Cuban People Sahrawi refugees in the camps in southern Algerian announce a week of solidarity with the Cuban people in commemoration of the anniversary of the Cuban revolution.
Western Sahara: Danish MP Worried for Tens of Saharawi Journalists Having Detained By Moroccan Authorities Spokesman of the Red-Green Alliance Party in the Danish Parliament, MP Christian Juhl, expressed his “profound worry” over Morocco’s treatment of Sahrawi journalists and activists.
Western Sahara: Action to Boycott Azura Brand Tomatoes Launched At Auchan Stores in Bagnolet Activists launch an action in Auchan stores in Bagnolet to raise awareness over the mislabeling of Azura tomatoes, which are grown in the Western Sahara but labeled as a product of Morocco.
Recent Jadaliyya Articles on the Maghreb
Mohamed Bouazizi, l`ouvrier agricole : Relire la « révolution » depuis les campagnes tunisiennes Mathilde Fautras revisits the Tunisian uprising from the region of Sidi Bouzid and examines the significance of agricultural space in Tunisia.
Baya Mahieddine: A Profile from the Archives In cooperation with Assafir, Jadaliyya publishes a profile of Algerian plastic artist Baya Mahieddine (aka Fatima Haddad).
From the World Cup to the `Great Replacement`: Football and Racist Narratives in France Thomas Serres explores the prevalence of racists narratives in France in light of the World Cup and Algeria`s qualifications and performance.
Popular Neighborhoods and the Arab Spring: Elements for a Renewed Approach Eric Denis reviews Pierre-Arnaud Barthel and Sylvy Jaglin`s Informal Settlements in an Arab World in Transition: Reflections and Perspectives for Urban Action.
Sub-Saharan Migrants’ Quest for Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits Sébastien Bachelet compiles a number of images depicting the lives of Sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco, marking the final installment of Jadaliyya`s series on the sociopolitical landscape of migration in Morocco.
Quick Thoughts: Ali Ahmida on the Situation in Libya Jadaliyya interviews Libya specialist Ali Ahmida over the latest developments in Libya.
`Mind the Gap: Bridging Knowledge and Practices of Activism` at the Fourth Arab Bloggers Meeting Enrico De Angelis and Donatella Della Ratta publish an extensive report covering the latest edition of the annual Arab Bloggers Meeting.