Columns Headlines Maghreb Morocco Opinions

Personal freedoms pit rights activists against Islamists

A debate has been triggered in the Moroccan civil society over the need to amend laws incriminating consensual sex between adults after a journalist has been arrested on charges of premarital sex and abortion. The arrest of Hajar Raissouni angered human rights activists at the national and international level who demanded her immediate release in […]

Africa Egypt Headlines International

Sudan: Al Sisi concerned about Islamists’ ties with TMC

Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi has asked the Sudanese Transitional Military Council (TMC) to distance itself from Islamists who formed the bacon of support for former ruler Omar al Bachir. This came during the meeting TMC leader Abdelfattah Burhan held in Cairo Sunday with President al-Sisi as talks for the formation of a Sudanese transition council […]

Americas Headlines International Tunisia

Tunisia: Trump’s adviser warns against Islamists’ attempt to topple regime

President Trump’s foreign policy adviser Walid Phares has warned against attempts by Tunisian Islamists and their Tripoli-based counterparts to bring down President Caid Essebsi’s democratically elected regime. The US official and Trump’s right-hand man for the Middle East indicated on his facebook page that Washington received intelligence that Tunisian Islamists are colliding with their Libyan […]

Headlines Morocco Tunisia

Morocco & Tunisia, ‘success stories’ of the Arab Spring- Former EU Commissioner says

Morocco and Tunisia managed to outlive the Arab Spring from which they emerged as success stories in the region thanks to the vitality of their civil societies and the spirit of compromise within their respective political class, former EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Fule said. In an interview with the EUbulletin, […]

Headlines Libya

Libya: Tunisia’s Ennahda leader called to mediate between Gaddafi loyalists and Islamists

Rached Ghannouchi and his party have been urged to reconcile Muammar Gaddafi’s loyalists and Islamists, London-based The New Arab reports. Ghannouchi according to Qatari media has been in contact with Libyan sides. A source in the Tunisian Islamist party told the media that Ghannouchi “had recently met with a delegation of acceptable Gaddafi-affiliated figures to […]

Egypt Headlines

Egypt: IS claims checkpoint attack

The Islamic state group (IS) Friday claimed credit for the check point attack that killed 12 soldiers in the restive province of North Sinai. “A number of caliphate soldiers attacked a checkpoint belonging to the apostate Egyptian army in the Sabeel village, southwest of Arish city, and the following clashes using light and medium weapons […]

Africa Egypt Headlines

Al-Sisi, against all odds, expresses support for Bachar

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said he supports the Syrian military, a position at odds with his country’s Gulf donators like Saudi Arabia. The former army chief, who has overseen a warming of ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main backer Russia, made the comments during an interview aired Tuesday with Portuguese broadcaster RTP. […]

Headlines Libya

Libya: Fayez Sarraj Vows to Restore Order after Coup Attempt

Fayez Al-Sarraj, Prime Minister of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has vowed to restore order in his country after the coup attempt staged lately by rival Libyan groups to capture key government buildings. Sarraj, who was in Tunisia during the coup attempt debating political solutions with some rebel factions, called on loyal militia […]

Headlines Morocco

King Mohammed VI Entrusts PJD Leader with Forming New Govt

King Mohammed VI of Morocco received on Monday Abdelilah Benkirane, Head of the moderate Islamist Party of Justice & Development (PJD), and appointed him Head of Government following the party’s victory in last week’s parliamentary elections. The Moroccan Sovereign also entrusted Mr. Benkirane with the task of forming a new government as stipulated by the […]

Headlines Morocco

Morocco: Washington, Paris & Madrid Hail Parliament Polls as Democratic

The United States, France and Spain, Morocco’s closest friends and strong allies, have congratulated the North African Kingdom for the free and fair democratic elections held Oct.07 to renew the country’s Parliament. “The United States congratulates Morocco for its continued commitment to democracy” US State Department said, reiterating the US administration’s resolve “to continue partnership […]