First Independent Mena Newspaper
The killing of three French journalists in northern Malian region of Kidal in early November 2013 is indicative of the ability of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to conduct terrorist attacks in the region despite French military presence. Similarly, the announcement of the creation of a new terrorist group called Al Mourabitoun out of […]
The ruling UPR party has emerged victorious in the second round of the legislative elections after winning more than 50% of the parliamentary seats. The elections have been criticized in several quarters and some opposition political parties preferred to boycott it. Tawassoul, a party participating for the first time, won majority of the seats among […]
Because of the mounting security situation in the region of Sahel, closer cooperation and integration in Maghreb is needed. According to the final concluding remarks of the 11th Morocco-EU Association Council, the EU28 stressed the salience of tight cooperation between the MENA and Sahel-Sahara region. The effort of closer collaboration between Sahel and Maghreb was […]
The ongoing military action in Mali may soon be over, but the crucial task of protecting the Sahel and the Maghreb region from terrorists and traffickers is just getting started. Terrorist groups and international criminal gangs who are still roaming in northern Mali are still a source of concern among political and security establishment in […]
Mauritanians voted in an election over that weekend that was boycotted by most of the radical opposition. While the country’s current President, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, is expected to retain power, the formerly banned Islamist party Tewassoul that wants to establish Sharia law looks poised to win seats in parliament. It was the first time […]
Algiers has shifted its attention to agriculture after warnings from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund of the necessity to diversify its oil based economy. Recent studies have claimed that its reserves are depleting. Agriculture is now the booming sector in the country and provides more employment than the oil industry after hefty […]
Prime Minister Zeidan has gone to Algeria for a brief visit to discuss “issues of mutual interest” with his counterparts. The rising security threats and smuggling was high on the agenda during their meetings. Both sides have agreed on taking common steps to curb it through their Joint Commission. Algeria’s Prime Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal has […]
Many security pundits have repeatedly warned that the political unrest, the eroding security situation and the flourishing weapons, human and drug trafficking in the Sahel/Sahara region have made of the area a terrorism breeding ground, an exploding powder keg, or what some have called ‘an arc of instability.’ The warning has just been echoed in […]
The minister responsible for investment has voiced out that the country’s actual economic situation might force the government to ask for a precautionary standby credit line worth $2.5 billion from the International Monetary Fund. He said they not completely ruling out the idea because they need the sum in order to give assurances to their […]
Reports from Algeria claim that Egypt has received in the last few days a 53,000 tons shipment of gas from Algeria in a move to ease its energy demands. The shipment is part of a negotiated deal brokered between the Egyptian government and the Algerian petroleum company SONATRACH for the increment of butane gas imports […]