First Independent Mena Newspaper
Tunisia has gained the European Union advanced status, becoming the 2nd North African country after Morocco to obtain such a title, the status of a privileged partner with the EU. The decision was made during the Tunisia-European Union (EU) Association Council’s 9th session held lately in Brussels. Tunisia has requested last March an EU advanced […]
ADX Energy is in the process of completing two farm outs in relation to its Chorbane permit. The two farm outs are found onshore. The company is seeking for the permit so that it can carry out a seismic acquisition campaign next year. It is therefore working towards getting the permit as early as possible […]
When the 26-year-old fruit vendor, Mohammed Bouazizi – after being slapped around by local authorities one time too many – in an act of desperation and protest, set himself on fire in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid, no analyst or politician could have foreseen the wave of regional uprisings that were to follow. What […]
After a one-month suspension, the extraction and exploitation of phosphates in the Gafsa mining basin (south-west) as well as the phosphate washing activities have resumed their normal pace last week. The transport of phosphate and triphosphate via the railway has also resumed starting from Métlaoui (one of the towns on the mining field) towards Gafsa, […]
The country is going through a transition period but its financial limitations has forced the Prime Minister to call for more financial support “before it’s too late” because those that pledged to help have not lived up to expectations. Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali called on the West to come to the country’s aid as he […]
It is common today to associate Salafism with radicalism, nihilist violence and failed states. In fact, Salafism is a heterogeneous religious and political tendency. Salafis agree on the glorification of the early Muslim community, its religious texts, its supposed unity, its energy and moral conduct. However, they differ considerably on the way to revive this […]
Huge financial challenges lie ahead according to Finance Minister Slim Besbes with estimations pegged around 7 billion dinars. The country is struggling to stand on its feet and it is hoping to raise the amount through loans and aids. The economy and revenue earning ventures are suffering from the effects of the revolution and the […]
The US elections and the monotonous presidential debates bear little to no substance on North Africa. In the much-anticipated third debate on foreign policy, there was scant mention of the countries of the Maghreb and their important strategic worth in US global fight against terrorism. Except for Libya (mentioned 12 times) in the context of […]
By 18 October 2012, a report that Salafis destroyed an 8,000-year-old petroglyph in Yakour Plain not far from Marrakesh quickly spread on Facebook and Twitter. The rock-drawing depicting the animistic divinity of the sun is one of thousands of stone carvings in the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains. Print and online newspapers repeated these rumors, […]
The air forces of the five Maghreb countries (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania &Tunisia) and their European partners France, Spain, Italy, Malta and Portugal have staged lately a joint aerial military drill destined to counter terror threats. The joint regional exercise, code-named “Circaete 2012”, seeks to enhance the combat capabilities of the air forces to prevent […]