First Independent Mena Newspaper
Many North African and Middle Eastern countries are in a state of great uncertainty. The struggles and revolutions of the Arab Spring struck down many oppressive governments, but violence has spread beyond North Africa and given way to insecurity in many states that were beyond the epicentre of the events – and these conflicts are […]
The popular uprisings and political turmoil rocking the region of North Africa and the Middle-East since 2011 have dealt a hard blow to the sector of tourism that suffered losses going up to $ 15 billion, according to Arab Tourism Organization (ATO). At a meeting held lately in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), ATO president Bandar Al-Fuhaid […]
Shortly after Prime Minister Ali Zeidan’s return from an overnight visit to Egypt, a source close to his cabinet have revealed that the visit was centered on developing bilateral economic relations amongst which is the establishment of a free trade zone. Part of Prime Minister Zeidan’s visit was aimed at how to get Egyptian companies […]
Mauritania and its northern neighbor, Morocco, have inked several cooperation agreements meant to give a new momentum to their partnership in various sectors of common interest. The two countries, members of Arab Maghreb Union gathering also Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, have agreed to bolster joint actions and projects in the fields of transport, energy & […]
Latelec manifested its desire to leave the shores of Tunisia, after a heavy loss due to frequent strikes caused by the revolution. An estimated loss of $22,5million has been registered by the French company which is a subsidiary to the group Latécoère. The company has plants in El Meghira and Charguia but the operations have […]
Hope is twinkling in Tunisia after a report stated that sectors involved in travel and tourism have attained positive results during 2012. The report from Timetric claimed that tourism has recovered from the woes of the 2011 revolution. It pointed out that the increase in activity of local tourism and the arrival of foreign tourists […]
The role of civil society in bringing about change in the Arab world has been widely acknowledged. Today, civil society organisations (CSOs) face the challenge of helping consolidate the process of reform at a time when progress towards democratisation is uncertain. Emerging think tank and policy research initiatives are at the centre of these efforts, […]
In the context of the Arab Spring, the use of the term “Islamism” is very common. The new political elites throughout the North Africa, commonly referred to as the “Islamists”, often talk of replacing the old and more or less authoritarian secular regimes in the Middle East. Journalists also use the term quite excessively and […]
The new governments formed in the aftermath of the Arab Spring are facing the challenge of creating rights-respecting democracies, says Human Rights Watch in its “World Report 2013”, wondering whether these new Arab governments will produce a genuine democracy and fall back into dictatorships. In its 665-page report, HRW says “the creation of a rights-respecting […]
Two years ago, Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution toppled Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali’s dictatorship and ignited the first flames of what would be called the Arab Spring. At the same time, it kindled Tunisians’ hopes and dreams for a better future, a better Tunisia where democracy, freedom and social justice will prevail. Two long years have elapsed, […]