First Independent Mena Newspaper
“Disguised imports”. It is thus that critics have described Algeria’s policy to set up car assembly plants. Since 2012, Algeria has been trying to attract foreign investments by automotive giants in order to reduce its imports bill, but the results so far are disappointing. Indeed, the opening of a car assembly plant by Volkswagen in […]
A silent struggle for power is brewing between different interest groups at the top of the Algerian regime ignited by the obvious deteriorating health of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika whose public appearances are a thing of the past. The media has long been speaking of a soft coup by the brother of the ailing President, Said […]
Illicit cigarettes accounted for over 20% of consumption across the Maghreb region in 2016. However successful prevention strategies have resulted in a 24% decline since 2015, said the Amsterdam based professional service and auditing company KPMG in a recent study. The study, dubbed “Illicit Cigarette Trade in the Maghreb Region,” shows the 13 billion smuggled […]
Algeria, Africa’s largest country, shares borders with 6 countries, all of them are closed with the exception of its land frontiers with Tunisia. This closed-border attitude is reflective of a lack of a neighborhood policy in an increasingly integrated continent where collective efforts are the best means to countering trans-border challenges. With Morocco, the borders […]
Algerians wishing to study in France have seen conditions to get a visa toughened as the French general consulate in Algiers imposes payment of at least 30 per cent of hotel bookings in advance. Student associations in the North African country have slammed the decision, which they deem discriminatory as the same decision has not […]
After the scandalous racist remarks of Algerian leaders against sub-Saharan migrants, and in a blatant violation of commitment under the 1951 Geneva Convention, Algerian authorities resumed earlier this week arbitrary expulsions of Sub-Saharan migrants and asylum seekers who were abandoned in harsh conditions on the border with Niger, media reports said quoting international humanitarian NGOs. […]
Algeria’s ailing president whose public appearances are a thing of the past is said to be bracing for a fifth term at the Presidency of North Africa’s largest country, beset by the fall in oil prices threatening its fragile social peace. A report by the French Senate members said that 80-year old Bouteflika may surprise […]
To boost their economic competitiveness in an increasingly globalised world, the normal solution for countries is to take steps towards economic integration, facilitating the flow of goods and investments, only two regions show anomalies from this trend persisting on closing borders and hindering the achievement of their region’s full trade potential: the Korean peninsula and […]
Algerian authorities have busted a cell loyal to the Islamic State, led by former Al Qaeda commander, Mohamed Yacine Aknouche, who was once based in France operating with Algeria’s Islamic Armed Group (GIA) Aknouche, 43, was convicted in France in 2004 for planning an attempted bombing in Strasbourg and was sentenced in absentia to eight […]
Spanish rescue service said Monday it has saved 19 migrants from Algeria as they were attempting to cross the Mediterranean onboard a small boat. Two days earlier, Spain rescued 57 migrants at sea on Saturday as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean towards Europe from Morocco. Spain has become the new backdoor to Europe following […]