First Independent Mena Newspaper
The European Union has just inflicted a stinging blow to the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, when the EU spokesperson, Catherine Ray affirmed that “the EU shall not recognize the SADR even if it participates in the EU-Africa Summit”, scheduled to take place in Abidjan November 29 -30. “Any participation in this summit, as is the case […]
The newly-established G5-joint force, set up by Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime and to promote stability and development in the region is gaining increasing support, given the challenges facing the restive region. While the European Union has already committed $56 million to the Sahel force, on […]
Morocco reiterated at the extraordinary meeting of the African Union (AU) Executive Council, held recently in Addis Abeba, that only sovereign states are entitled to take part in the EU-Africa Summit at a time separatist proponents are pushing in vain to impose the participation of the Polisario in the event. Morocco maintains that the format […]
The European Council has severely criticized Algeria over its deplorable human rights record notably with regards to the freedom of assembly and expression. The European Council deplored, in the EU annual report on human rights and democracy in the world in 2016, that the exercise of fundamental rights “notably the freedom of assembly and freedom […]
Morocco recorded “significant progress” in the field of human rights in conformity with its constitutional commitments, said the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016. The report points out to the legislative reforms undertaken by Morocco to protect human rights, strengthen the rule of law and promote democratic practices. […]
Tunisia will get €200 million loan from the European Union, part of the second Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA-II) program to the North African country. The disbursement of the loan was approved Monday by The European Commission, said a EU press release, adding that a total of €500 million will be disbursed in three instalments in 2017 […]
Algeria’s disillusioned diplomacy is apparently resorting to fake news claiming that the SADR separatist entity will be invited to the Africa-EU summit. As it endures setbacks one after the other in its ideologically anachronistic foreign policy, Algeria indulges in terminology games claiming that the African Union and the EU are negotiation to change the appellation […]
Spanish interior minister Juan Ignacio Zoido urged the EU to support Morocco’s “considerable” efforts to fight illegal immigration. “The EU should lend more support to African partners, such as Morocco, in their colossal efforts” in countering illegal immigration, said the Spanish official at a meeting of the EU’s justice and domestic affairs council. Zoido, whose […]
Libyan Prime Minister Faiez Serraj, head of the UN-backed unity government in Tripoli, called for help from the EU to stem the flow of migrants, warning that some illegal migrants may pose a terrorist threat when they reach Europe. He warned that would-be terrorists were among the tens of thousands of people able to pass […]
Rape, torture and slave labor are among the horrendous daily realities for people stuck in Libya in their desperate attempt to escape war, persecution and poverty in African countries, and reach Europe. The dark picture was described in a new report compiled by Oxfam and Italian partners, MEDU and Borderline Sicilia, which called on Italy […]