[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 Tuesday night of every week]
Algeria
A (Silicon) Valley Grows in Algeria Elizabeth Nicholas interviews several entrepreneurs on the difficulties of startups and the tech industry in Algeria.
Le chanteur de raï algérien Cheb Mami et la société d`édition EMI condamnés à 200.000 euros pour plagiat French courts ordered Algerian singer Cheb Mami to pay author Mr. Zerradine for plagiarism on five accounts.
Amazigh Kateb, musicien et chanteur algérien Thameur Mekki interviews the prolific musician Amazigh Kateb on Africanism and different North African music styles.
Ibadites et Malékites: Des déjeuners pour la paix After violence broke out in Ghardaïa, several communal meals were set up in hopes of sparking intercommunication between Ibadites and Malekites in the region.
Algérie: les recettes de pétrole et de gaz ont baissé de 50% Algerian oil revenues fell by fifty percent in the first quarter of 2015, which has placed added stress on the country’s economy.
Evolving Approaches in Algerian Security Cooperation Kal Ben Khalid analyzes Algeria’s shift in security policy from an inward to regional approach.
Libya
Is the Skhirat Agreement Libya’s First Step to a Brighter Future? Karim Mezran’s analyzes the Libyan Political Agreement, which he sees as a “starting point, not a solution in and of itself” of the Libyan crisis.
Migrant Boom Is Saharan Boon The Wall Street Journal reports on human trafficking between Agadez, Niger, and Libya, is a booming and very lucrative route for smugglers.
Daesh puts up a billboard on women`s dress code in Libya In Sirte, ISIS puts up billboards explaining women’s imposed dress code.
Tripoli government calls on Tunisia for joint border security action The Middle East Monitor reports on the Libyan Tripoli government`s efforts to coordinate joint border security action with Tunisia.
بالفيديو.. داعش يقر بخسارته درنة في ليبيا This video footage shows ISIS representatives announcing that they lost control over Derna.
Open Doors: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia Film selection for the 2015 Locarno Film Festival will take place from 8-11 August. This year’s edition brings about directors from Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Mauritania
دياز يعيد تخصيب الراب Nafhamag reviews the political rap of the Algerian artist Diaz from 2006 until his most recent song “Civilian in a Military State.”
(ولد الكوري، يتحدث لتقدمي عن الحوار و الاقتصاد و الفساد وتغيير الدستور (فيديو Sidi Oueld Al-Kobri, the leader of the opposition Inad party, discusses economic corruption in the country since president Aziz’s rise to power.
موريتانيا: الحزب الحاكم يوزع الهدايا على السجناء The ruling Union for the Republic Party distributed presents to prisoners in the capital city of Nouakchott for Eid al-Fitr, stating that the party “will not give up on any human in the country no matter their sin.”
Mariem Mint Cheikh : “En Mauritanie, les visages changent, le système esclavagiste reste” CRIDEM and Mondafrique interview Mariem Mint Cheikh, a leading anti-slavery activist on race issues in Mauritania.
Morocco
Les sénateurs français approuvent le protocole judiciaire franco-marocain French parliament approves controversial protocol on bilateral judiciary cooperation between Morocco and France.
هولاند يوشح الحموشي الخريف المقبل خلال زيارة مبرمجة للمغرب Head of Moroccan Secret Services Abdellatif Hammouchi will be awarded the French Légion D’Honneur in the fall, thus putting an end to the recent diplomatic tensions between Morocco and France.
خطيب الجمعة: الملك وَحد علماء المغرب وإفريقيا لخدمة الدين King Mohamed VI launches the Foundation of African Ulemas, an initiative seeking to strengthen African unity and combat religious extremism.
Morocco: Homophobic Response to Mob Attack Human Rights Watch denounces the homophobic position of Moroccan officials in regards mob attack in Fez.
Morocco`s stunning architecture This video looks at artistic, architectural, and historical restoration and preservation in Morocco.
Tunisia
Tunisie, la vie en état d’urgence Contemporary history professor Kmar Bendana shares her experience and explores the social and political ramifications of the state of emergency declared on 4 July 2015.
Who killed Houssem Saidi? من قتل حسام السعيدي؟ Facebook group in memory of Tunisian journalist and activist Houssem Saidi, found dead on 16 July in Algeria after receiving death threats. Tunisian authorities, whom Saidi alerted since he began receiving death threats in May 2015, concluded to the death was a suicide. Tunisian media has been silent so far.
Tunisia’s Illiterate Democracy Eric Reidy addresses the question of illiteracy in Tunisia and its correlation with democracy: “The persistence of illiteracy, particularly in rural areas and among women, is a symptom of a broken educational system that is ill-equipped for educating the citizens of the new, democratic Tunisia.”
Why closing Tunisia-Libya border would hurt local economy This France24 video reports on black market activity at the Tunisia-Libya border and its vital importance for the local communities.
Western Sahara
Toy Soldiers by Simon Brann Thorpe review – a powerful meditation on war The Guardian reviews Simon Brann Thorpe’s photography project and book on the Western Sahara conflict.
Western Sahara: Sahrawi Jurists Union Strongly Condemns Exploration Projects of British - Irish Company San Leon. Western Saharan activists accuse oil explorations of violating international law and exploiting Sahrawi natural resources.
Western Sahara: EU backs UN efforts to settle conflict with Morocco The European Union announced its support for the United Nations-backed plan to reach a solution for Western Sahara’s right to self-determination.
Recent Jadaliyya Articles on the Maghreb
France Decorates a Moroccan Facing Justice on Bastille Day: A Portrait of Abdellatif Hammouchi Writing for OrientXXI, Omar Brouksy profiles Moroccan intelligence chief, Abdellatif Hammouchi, on the eve of Bastille Day—when Hammouch was expected to receive the Legion of Honor.
The Rise and Fall of Abu ‘Iyadh: Reported Death Leaves Questions Unanswered Nathaniel Greenberg writes about the media attention surrounding the figure of Abu `Iyadh, addressing doubts over reports claiming his death.
A Dangerous Dualism: The Myth of Two Algerias Thomas Serres dispels the prevailing notion of a dualistic Algeria, instead pointing to the nuances and complexities that make up Algerian society. Read the French version here.
Tunisia: Democratic Miracle or Mirage? Nadia Marzouki and Hamza Meddeb complicate the perception of the Tunisian exception and model, honing in on a more critical approach to the state of Tunisian politics today.
الثورة القادمة إلى شمال أفريقيا: الكفاح من أجل العدالة المناخية Jadaliyya interviews Hamza Hamouchene and Mika Minio-Paluello on the release of their new book on climate justice in North Africa. Read the English version here.
Un portrait de la jeunesse des banlieues populaires de Tunis aujourd’hui Olivier Legros reviews Les jeunes de Douar Hicher et d’Ettadhamen: Une enquête sociologique, a book that touches upon the experiences of Tunisian youth in popular, working-class neighborhoods.
Paradigms Lost in Morocco: How Urban Mega-Projects Should Disturb our Understanding of Arab Politics Koenraad Bogaert addresses the issues surrounding major urban projects in Casablanca within a contentious political context following the advent of Morocco`s 20 February Movement.