Geographic Genteelisms: How we use Geography to hide our prejudice
In this week’s column I call attention to both international and Nigerian geographic genteelisms. “Sub-Saharan Africa” is merely a geographic gentilism for “Black Africa,” that is, the part of Africa demographicallydominated by and under the majority rule of black people. It’s a less racist-sounding way to distinguish “white” North Africa from the rest of Africa.Interestingly, South Africa wasn’t considered a part of “sub-Saharan Africa” until white minority ruleended in the early 1990s. But Berbers who are in North Africa are easily identified as Middle Easterners. In other words, just like “core north” is a geographic genteelism for “Hausa Muslim North,” “Middle Belt” is a geographic genteelism for a Christian ethnic minority from what colonial cartographers designated as the “north” since the early 1900s.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 25, 2017 03:56 UTC
Meet Africa’s sit-tight leaders
Over the past decade, more 30 African countries have witnessed a direct or indirect presidential election that resulted in change of leaders. Obiang was re-elected in 2009 with 95% of the vote in presidential elections. Republic of CongoDenis Sassou Nguesso, 74, extended his 32 years in power, after he won the 2016 presidential elections. The internal troubles led to political discord, which eventually resulted in the two main opposition groups boycotting the 2005 presidential election. TogoFaure Gnassingbe’s family has ruled the small West African country for half a century.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 25, 2017 03:11 UTC
Morocco Foils Separatist Plot at UN’s Special Committee on Decolonization
Morocco and its allies in the UN Special Committee on Decolonization succeeded in averting a plot by Algeria and Venezuela to confer the Polisario separatist entity the status of representative of the Sahara. Thanks to the vigilance of Morocco and its African, Caribbean, Asian and Pacific allies within the UN Committee, Algeria and Venezuela failed in their scheme to impose the representativeness of the separatist Polisario entity at the Committee. Earlier this month, The Fourth Committee elected Yasser Halfouni of Morocco as the Vice-Chair by 88 votes to 58 for the Algerian candidate Zaina Benhabouche. Morocco has on multiple occasions protested against maintaining the Sahara issue on the decolonization agenda of the Fourth Committee on grounds that it violates the UN charter and the mandate of the Security Council. The Security Council uses accurate terms calling the Sahara issue a “regional conflict.”
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 25, 2017 01:52 UTC
Netanyahu to attend Central European summit
Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to Budapest next month for a meeting with the heads of the four central European countries that make up the Visegrad group, as Israel continues to try to build relationships with various regional subgroupings around the world. Netanyahu is expected to meet with the heads of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the summit on July 18-19. This visit will come less than a month after Netanyahu met with the heads of Cyprus and Greece in Thessaloniki, with Israel having developed a close alliance with those EU countries. He is expected to hold both bilateral talks with the leaders of each of the Visegrad countries, as well as a joint meeting as well.Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was in Israel in May. If extraction begins according to schedule in 2019-20, Hungary will have an interest in purchasing gas [either via a pipeline or in the form of liquefied natural gas] in view of the fact that we would like to purchase natural gas form as many sources as possible.”
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 22:30 UTC
Rwanda’s Muslim leadership deserves our accolades
Today many parts of the world are in turmoil fueled by Islamic extremism. What has been most astounding is that radicalization has been taking place in places of worship, by respected religious leaders. But that would not have been possible without the help it received and continues to receive from the country’s Islamic leadership. Their teachings mirror the true teachings of Islam that should be the guiding principles of the faith. Let us wish the Muslim brotherhood continue on this peaceful path as we continue to build our country.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 19:51 UTC
Umnia Bank to have 10 branches in Morocco by July-end
Umnia Bank will have 10 branches in Morocco by July-end, said Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei, chief executive officer of QIIB, which is the key joint venture partner in the pioneering Islamic bank in the North African kingdom. “Umnia has already opened three branches in Morocco; in Casablanca and Rabat,” al-Shaibei said. “We see Morocco as our gateway to North Africa. In an earlier interview, al-Shaibei had also said with the entry of Islamic banks, more channels would be opened in Morocco. Al-Shaibei also emphasised that the new JV bank in Morocco was not in competition with conventional banks.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 18:00 UTC
Amid Calls to Kick out Sub-Saharan Migrants, Algerian PM Says Algeria is ‘Not Racist’
Amid Calls to Kick out Sub-Saharan Migrants, Algerian PM Says Algeria is...Rabat – Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmajid Tebboune has responded to anti-Sub-Saharan migrants sentiments shared by some Algerians on social media this week, by saying his country is “not racist”. “On social media there are some calls to expel Sub-Saharan refugees,as if we [Algerians] were racist,” he said. — This.is.the.1 (@radmou30) June 20, 2017In December 2016, the Algerian government was criticized after a massive wave of arrests and deportations of Sub-Saharan migrants. Some Algerian media outlets started spreading conspiracy theories about a ”secret French and Zionist plot” to undermine Algeria’ security through pushing a large number of Sub-Saharan migrants into the country. In another shocking accusation, Farid Ksentini, head of a state body in charge of promoting human rights, said Sub-Saharan migrants are responsible for the spread of HIV in Algeria.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 17:48 UTC
Pests, diseases threaten Kenya's food basket
News Pests, diseases put North Rift’s food basket status under threatA farm infected with the Maize Lethal Necrosis disease. They are classified as high maize growing areas, forming the country’s food basket. Trans-Nzoia County, a high maize producing region, harvested 4.7 million bags of maize, down from 5 million bags last season. “Wheat production is highly mechanical. Limited availability of breeder and certified seed and instability in producer prices following limited government intervention in wheat marketing are yet other factors contributing to low wheat production.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 16:07 UTC
Eid Moon Sighted in Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Algeria and Morocco; Eid-al-Fitr 2017 to be celebrated on Sunday
Live UpdatesLoad MoreAlgiers, June 24: Nearly 33 Muslim-majority nations across the globe would attempt to sight the crescent moon of 29th Ramzan, which would mark the end of the month. If the moon is sighted today in North Africa, all Maghreb nations, including Algeria, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt and Morocco would celebrate Eid-al-Fitr 2017 tomorrow. Stay tuned above for the all the live and latest updates of moon sighting from the above nations. In Egypt, the moon would be spotted following the sunset at 7:00 PM, whereas, Morocco expects the moon to be sighted after 7:44 PM. The holidays would begin from tomorrow if the moon is sighted in the evening.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 15:39 UTC
The 2017 COSAFA Castle Cup kicks-off at the Moruleng Stadium in South Africa’s North West province on Sunday.
The 2017 COSAFA Castle Cup kicks-off at the Moruleng Stadium in South Africa’s North West province on Sunday. Posted: 24 June 2017 Time: 17:31 Print this articleThe 2017 COSAFA Castle Cup kicks-off at the Moruleng Stadium in South Africa’s North West province on Sunday with a double-header of matches. This will be second meeting between the two sides in the COSAFA Castle Cup, with the first in the inaugural competition all the way back in 1997. This will be fourth meeting between the two sides in the COSAFA Castle Cup, with the first in Luanda in 2001. The previous meeting between the nations was actually the last in the COSAFA Castle Cup for both these sides – their final group game in Windhoek last year.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 15:33 UTC
Live – Eid Moon Sighting – Chand Raat 2017: Full List of countries to celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Sunday
Some unconfirmed reports also suggest that the Eid moon was also seen in Singapore but there is no official confirmation on this. In India, the moon was sighted in the coastal region of Kerala and Mangalore where Eid al-Fitr will be celebrarted tomorrow. Kerala Governer Justice P Sathasivam also confirmed the news about Eid al-Fitr celebration. If Eid moon is sighted in Saudi Arabia today, then Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated in Qatar, UAE, Iran Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan. To get updates on moon sighting and official declaration of Eid al-Fitr across the world stay tuned here.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 15:15 UTC
Finding the right foundation colour is still an ongoing battle
RelaxnewsDespite the rise in skintone-defining apps and new technology, many consumers still struggle to find the right shade. Beauty expert Aïmara Coupet talks about why brands are still finding creating makeup for medium to very dark skins a challenge. "The desire of every brand is to offer a product suiting every woman throughout the world," explains Aïmara Coupet. Developments in foundation are a perfect example of the search for the holy grail beauty product. Coupet applauded universal colour cosmetics label Stellar's efforts to cater to medium beige-toned skins and offer women in the Middle East, Asia and North Africa high-performance makeup.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 15:11 UTC
Spain coastguards rescue more than 200 migrants from five vessels in the Mediterranean
Madrid: Spanish coastguards rescued more than 200 migrants on Saturday as they attempted to make the perilous sea crossing from north Africa to Europe. A spokesman for Spain's state maritime rescue service told AFP that 224 people had been rescued from five vessels in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea, which separate Spain from Morocco. The first rescues occurred in the early hours, the spokesman said, with dozens rescued south of Gibraltar from three boats. Spain's sea rescue service said Thursday that it had saved more than 400 migrants this week alone. The relatively short sea crossing from Morocco to Spain is a popular route taken by migrants from sub-Saharan and north Africa in their quest to reach Europe.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 14:15 UTC
Eid Moon Sighting in Saudi Arabia 2017 Chand Raat: Shawwal moon sighted in Saudi Arab, Eid-al-Fitr to be celebrated in KSA on Sunday
Saudi Arabia, along with its neighbouring countries in the Middle East and Africa, embraced the holy month of Ramadan on May 27. For minutes by minutes updates on Shawwal moon, stay tuned here for on our live news coverage of Eid al-Fitr moon. For past few years, the coastal state has been celebrating Eid al-Fitr along with Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the country have declared their holidays for Eid al-Fitr. To get updates on moon sighting and official declaration of Eid al-Fitr in Saudia Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries stay tuned here.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 13:39 UTC
Spain rescues more than 200 migrants from Med
madrid, Jun 24 Spanish coastguards rescued more than 200 migrants on Saturday as they attempted to make the perilous sea crossing from north Africa to Europe. A spokesman for Spain's state maritime rescue service told AFP that 224 people had been rescued from five vessels in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea, which separate Spain from morocco. The first rescues occurred in the early hours, the spokesman said, with dozens rescued south of Gibraltar from three boats. Spain's sea rescue service said Thursday that it had saved more than 400 migrants this week alone. The relatively short sea crossing from Morocco to Spain is a popular route taken by migrants from sub-Saharan and north Africa in their quest to reach Europe.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 24, 2017 12:56 UTC