Columns Features Opinions

Doing Business in the MENA Region: Going the SMART Way?

Doing business in North Africa seems to be very challenging and still largely for the intrepid. The World Bank’s annual survey ‘Doing Business’ provides data on the relative easiness (or difficulty) of running a business around the world. A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means the regulatory environment is more conducive […]

Features Letters to the Editor Opinions

Who are the “Islamists” in the Arab Spring?

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 […]

Business Finance

Tunisia: financial support to the small and medium sized enterprises

Tunisia is mingled in chaos and that are fears that it might continue for a long period. Its economy and finance are hardly affected by the current situation. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has shown its intention to help the small and medium sized enterprises in the country. In a statement by Jamel, the chief […]

Headlines Morocco

Chabat’s Shilly-Shallying, a Way of Being or a Tactic to Baffle the Enemy?

Hamid Chabat, the Secretary General of the Istiqlal Party, has been threatening for months now to withdraw from the coalition government, led by Abdelilah Benkiran’s Party for Justice and Development (PJD), if his repeated calls for a cabinet reshuffle were not heeded. Likewise, he has not missed any opportunity to lash out at the head […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Who Killed Tunisian Opposition Politician Chokri Belaid?

Thousands of angry Tunisians have mourned the assassination of opposition political figure Chokri Belaïd, a prominent opponent of the Islamist-led government of Hamadi Jebali. They took to the streets of the Tunisian capital in a huge march against the killing of the human rights militant who was shot in the head and the chest outside […]

Business Energy Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: PAR and Sondes waiting on partnership

Since the conclusion of a preliminary agreement with Canadian oil and gas exploration and production company Sonde Resources in December, PA Resources (PAR) is still looking for farm-in partners for the Zarat license offshore Tunisia. The two companies hold the joint oil block license north of the Zarat concession, concerning unitization principles for the Zarat […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Emergency plans to save mausoleums

Following the repeated attacks of shrines by unidentified individuals, the Tunisian government has decided to adopt emergency measures to protect Sufi Muslim mausoleums, considered as religious and cultural treasures. The latest such attack took place last Thursday when two Sufi mausoleums were torched. Many believe that ultra-conservative Salafist Muslims are behind such acts. The government […]

Algeria Features Headlines

Algeria Hostage Crisis Ends in Bloodbath: 37 Foreign Workers Killed, 5 still Missing

At least some 37 foreign workers, who were taken lately hostage by Islamist militants linked to Al Qaeda at a gas plant in Southern Algerian city of In Amenas, were killed during a military operation launched by the Algerian Special Forces to release the captives and retake to the gasfield compound. The identified slain hostages […]