First Independent Mena Newspaper
Supporters of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, have claimed that the incumbent president has won a “crushing victory” in his bid to win a fourth term as Algeria’s leader, while his main rival and former prime minister, Ali Benflis, has accused the former of a “massive fraud”. On Thursday (April 17), Algerians casted their ballots in the presidential […]
After Amnesty International accused the authorities in Algeria of silencing critics and stepping up curbs on freedom of expression before the presidential election to be held later this week, Human Rights Watch has also reported that Algerian authorities are now deploying large numbers of police and arresting protesters to prevent demonstrations in the capital in […]
The Algerian authorities have tightened their grip on visa requests by foreign journalists. Visas for the media, which are usually issued within two weeks, have now been taking much longer in the run-up to the elections. Journalists with Spanish media (El Mundo and Agencia EFE) and French media (L’Express, Le Point, Le Monde, Journal du […]
Morocco has expressed concern about the United Nations Organization’s biased stands when it comes to the issue of human rights in Western Sahara and in the Algeria-based Tindouf camps that are run by the separatist Polisario Front. The worries were reignited by the report that the UN Secretary General Ban Ki -Moon is to submit […]
More than a dozen anti-Bouteflika protesters have been arrested by the police ahead of a campaign rally in Tizi-Ouzou, in the Berber region of Kabylie east of the capital of the National Liberation Front (FLN). Dozens of students were angry with the 77 year old incumbent president’s desire to bid for a fourth term in […]
Morocco’s security experts, politicians and civil-society groups are asking the same question: will Morocco follow its regional neighbors to see a rise in radicalism? To that end, it seems that Moroccan government and its people do not fear salafists as much as they fear the Salafi Jihadism movement. This is why when Moroccan King Mohammed […]
The Barcelona-based Union for the Mediterranean officially launched last week an employability-skills training program labelled “Skills for Success: Employability Skills for Women” aimed to provide economically disadvantaged girls and young women who have completed secondary school (aged 15-20) with specific knowledge, skills and tools to enter the job market. The program includes training in English […]
The co-founder and President of the Ennahda Party, Rached Ghannouchi, has revealed his views of what the future holds for Tunisia. Ennahda was heading a coalition government which was replaced by a technocratic government after two political assassinations. Tunisia has a new constitution and is preparing for elections. The country’s economy is struggling to recover […]
After Abdelmalek Sellal’s resignation as the Prime Minister at the beginning of the month to head the campaign of President Bouteflika, hints have begun to emerge over the possible reforms to be undertaken if the latter stays in power. Constitutional and administrative reforms are high on the agenda while efforts to attract investment will be […]
Algerian authorities have reacted to the new waves of violence in the province of Ghardaia after three people were killed. The Interior ministry has increased anti-riot troops to control the violence. Interim Prime Minister Youcef Yousfi has visited the area and called for an investigation. Clashes between the Arab Chaamba community and the Mozabite Berbers […]