First Independent Mena Newspaper
The French Senate issued recently a report accusing Algeria of complicity over a host of sorts of arms and goods trafficking in the Sahel and Saharan region. The report dubbed, Rethinking Public Development Aid in The Sahel, says Algeria turns a blind eye to arms trafficking originating from Libya and transiting through its territories to […]
France flatly rejected on Saturday claims by the Algerian state-owned new agency APS that diplomatic tension between Paris and Rabat led to the postponement of French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault’s week-end visit to Morocco. “I categorically deny (the claims by APS;) this is not the case. This is a technical postponement that is in no […]
The passing away on Tuesday of the long-serving Polisario Leader, Mohamed Abdelaziz, who sat for 40 years at the helm of the Algeria-backed separatist front, is unlikely to end the senseless Sahara standoff because the deceased was not a decision maker in the Sahara issue but a mere underling that executed the orders of his […]
The UN Security Council debated on Wednesday a draft resolution tabled by the United States that urges the UN Chief and Morocco to ensure that the MINURSO becomes fully operational within four months. The Draft called the UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon to find agreement with Rabat to allow the return of the civilian component of […]
King Salman of Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed that the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council reject any act that may affect Morocco’s supreme interests. In his opening address before the first Morocco-GCC summit held Wednesday in Riyadh with the participation of King Mohammed VI, King Salman reaffirmed “total rejection” by Saudi Arabia and the […]
Algerian lawmakers Sunday re-introduced two-term limit into the national constitution formerly removed by President Bouteflika in a move to stay in power for life. The two-term limit is part of a package of modifications adopted by 499 lawmakers to two, with 16 abstentions. Long demanded by the opposition, the modification comes as the regime struggles […]
President Bouteflika Monday kick-started revision of the Algerian constitution seeking gradually establishment a “sheer civil rule” and a stronger opposition after long months of delay, Presidency announced. Monday close meeting led by ailing President Bouteflika was the first ever meeting related to the modification of the Algerian constitution ever promised by the President. The meeting […]
Former head of the Algerian counter-terrorism agency General Hassan was handed a five-year prison sentence by a military court in a behind closed doors trial. Abdelkader Ait-Ouarabi, known as General Hassan, was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of destroying documents and disobeying military orders. Gen. Hassan headed successfully the Algerian counter-terrorism department […]
President Bouteflika seems to be solidifying his position, according to experts, by arresting several top security officials and by sacking or ordering the resignations of others with the help of his allies, amongst them the army chief of staff Ahmed Gaid Salah. The arrest of the anti-terrorism chief and the sacking of top officials in […]
Algeria is trying to rally members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as well as non-members to work towards stopping the fall of oil prices. President Bouteflika has sent messages to more than 10 countries regarding the issue and Energy Minister Youcef Yousfi met with Angola’s Oil Minister Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos […]