First Independent Mena Newspaper
Three years down the road from the wave of Arab Spring revolutions that affected the Middle East and North Africa region, MENA economies remain depressed. Egypt’s gross domestic product contracted by about 3 percent in the second quarter of 2013 while the growth rate amounted to only 2 percent last year, when compared to 2.3 […]
Questions have been raised among presidential candidates and former government officials on whether Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s ailing condition would permit him to run a fourth term in office. Among those who raised concern is presidential candidate and retired Algerian Navy commander Mohamed Al-Taher .In his criticism against the election process he said “preparations for […]
France on Monday made an announcement refusing Niger’s appeal, last week, for western military action against Islamist fighters who have established bases in Southern Libya since the 2011 overthrow of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Niger’s call for help is a desperate one as Islamist attacks and kidnappings on its mineral-rich soil have posed a threat to […]
In a unique moment of unity, a group of Algerian and Moroccan artists gathered on the set of Moubachara Maakom (Live with You) broadcast last week to discuss national, social, political and cultural issues. On the Moroccan side, the lively discussion was attended by young rapper Taoufiq Hazeb, nicknamed “Bigg”, actor Driss Roukhe, and actress […]
As the deadline to offer his candidacy is fast approaching, Algeria’s 76 year old president Abdelaziz Bouteflika is yet to announce whether he’ll contest in the next election. There are worries if the president is fit to stand for elections due to his age and unstable health especially after he suffered a mini-stroke last year. […]
For his first official visit since taking office, Tunisian Interim Prime Minister Mehdi Jommaa escorted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mongi Hamdi, honored the invitation of Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, on Saturday evening for a two-day official visit. Part of the visit’s outline was to strengthen security cooperation between Tunisia and Algeria as security […]
After last year’s attack on the ‘’In Amenas’’ gas plant by Islamist militants, which left 39 foreigners and one Algerian dead during a four-day siege, it has been reported that the gas plant will be fully functional within weeks. The plant used to produce about 11,5% of Algeria’s natural gas output before the attack. The […]
The oasis town of Ghardia located 600 kilometers south of the capital and dubbed to be a major drug trafficking point is entangled in sectarian violence between the Chaamba community of Arab origin and the Mozabites, a Berber minority group which adheres to the Ibadi faith, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Recent clashes have left […]
Energy Minister Youcef Yousfi announced that there will be new biddings for the exploration of oil and gas in the “coming weeks”. The state has declared that it discovered 32 oil and gas wells last year. The ‘’In Amenas’’ gas plant attack in 2013 left more than 40 employees dead and has terrorized most of […]
Algeria is to reopen the major gas plant Tiguentourine after foreign investors and firms operating at the plant negotiated a deal with the Algerian government to resume work. British Petroleum and Statoil workers are about to return to their previous workplace, which they left after the terrorist attack on January 13 last year. The attack […]