Soluna’s Trailblazing Cryptocurrency Project in Dakhla Irks Algeria-funded NGOs
The project will help develop use of renewable energies to resolve the extensive and unsustainable use of electricity in cryptocurrency computing. The rise of blockchain and other cryptocurrency activities have resulted in a use of energy that equals what Ireland would consume. Besides, the project will employ nearly 1000 and will create excellence centers to train and develop cryptocurrency technology in the region, Belizzaire told the Independent. Morocco recently unveiled a comprehensive development project worth $7 billion where renewable energies take pride of place. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Sahara continues to attract leading companies to bring innovative investments that will shape the future of humanity: renewable energies and cryptocurrency.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 19, 2018 10:41 UTC
Moroccan Army Seeks Closer Cooperation with US Land Forces
The visit comes as Morocco has been reinforcing its land forces with batches of M1A1 Abrams tanks. The Moroccan armed forces have received so far no less than 127 M1A1 Abrams Tanks from the US, said infodefensa, a defense news agency. The Donald Trump administration has approved the shipping of 162 Abrams tanks to Morocco last year to help the kingdom respond to regional challenges. Land forces are key to the Moroccan army, which has fought a guerilla war by the Algerian-backed separatists until the UN brokered a ceasefire in 1991. Designed for modern armored ground warfare, Abrams tank is the main battle tank in the US Army and Marine Corps.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 18, 2018 23:03 UTC
Heading For The ECOWAS’ Eldorado; Invasion Of The Beggars
I have learnt that it was so successful that it was almost impossible to set eyes on beggars in the state. This clampdown on begging in Lagos and perhaps others parts of the federation is a major factor for the influx of beggars to the country, especially Accra today. Upon landing in the oil-rich country, these beggars are offloaded onto strategic locations to commence business, especially at the peak of the annual pilgrimage. Sabon Zongo, the mostly Hausa settlement which shares a border with Abossey Okai, is the area of choice for this class of beggars. The mosque offers many beggars, especially the Nigerien ones, a place to relax and receive alms even when they are not in the streets.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 18, 2018 10:18 UTC
Tough Days Ahead for Algeria’s Currency
The health of Algeria’s currency, the dinar, has always been measured against oil prices. The dinar’s exchange rate against hard currencies moved from 79.82 dinars per dollar and 106,9 dinars per Euro four years ago, to 118,14 dinars per dollar and 137,07 dinars per Euro four days ago. The fall of the dinar aggravates Algeria’s trade deficit, which deepened about 16 percent in the first five months of the year. Inflation has also been exacerbated by the government’s money printing policy further eroding the dinar’s fragile stability. What further complicates future prospects for the dinar are the measures taken by the government to cover the budget deficit.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 18, 2018 09:11 UTC
Key Insights On Digital Activities Across Some North African Countries
We attempt to explore key statistics on digital activities in four North African countries; Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia & Morocco based on a January 2018 ‘We Are Social’ report by Hootsuite, the 2016 Mobile Economy report by GSMA Intelligence, among others . Mobile Penetration & UsageMobile penetration is about 103% in Egypt and there are 64.95 million unique mobile users. Algeria on the other hand has 19 million mobile internet users while Tunisia has 7 million mobile internet users. *Data used was from the 2018 We Are Social Report by HootSuite. *** Data used was from the 2018 We Are Social report and the 2016 Mobile Economy report by GSMA Intelligence
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 19:41 UTC
AFRIMA unveils nominees for 2018 awards
By Benjamin NjokuThe 13-man Jury of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, on Tuesday, unveiled the nominees list for the 2018 edition. The released nominees list covers the five Regional Categories divided into Female and Male categories as follows: Best Female Artiste in Central Africa; Best Male Artiste in Central Africa; Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Female Artistein Northern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa; Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa; Best Female Artiste in Western Africa and Best Male Artiste in Western Africa. In the male category, Kenya and Tanzania maintain three nominations each Tanzania ties with Ethiopia & Tanzania registering one nomination apiece. The Male category has Moroccan artistes occupying four of the eight spots,Algeria 2, Egypt and Tunisia earning one nomination each. The Best Female Artiste in the Western region has Nigeria and Ghana in a tie of 2 spotsrespectively, with Benin (1), Mali (1), Senegal (1), and Cote d’Ivoire (1).
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 17:15 UTC
Algeria’s Sonatrach Struggles to Contain Brain Drain
State-owned oil and gas company Sonatrach, the backbone of Algeria’s economy, is reeling under an acute brain drain as its recent discoveries fail to offset the decades long depletion of the country’s hydrocarbon resources. He described such a brain drain as “acute bleeding,” adding that the company is working on measures to train new managers. Algeria’s oil and gas producing capacity is shrinking every year. International Think Tanks have been worrying in recent years over Algeria’s declining gas production coupled with a surge in domestic consumption. Since 2007, Algeria’s consumption of oil and natural gas has risen by more than 50 percent while its oil production has fallen by 25 percent.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 15:11 UTC
Bagbin Accuses Some NDC MPs Of Engaging In Propaganda
Alban BagbinThe Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin is accusing some NDC Members of Parliament of engaging in propaganda politics. Mr Bagbin who is also an NDC flagbearer aspirant said the recent list of MPs purporting to support the candidature of ex-president John Mahama was dubious. There was controversy in Parliament when a list of 94 MPs claiming to support Mr Mahama’s 2020 bid popped up. According to Clement Apaak, MP for Builsa North out of a total 106 MPs in Parliament, 94 of them have thrown their weight behind ex-president John Mahama. In his first public comment on the matter, Alban Bagbin suggested the list was dubious.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 13:30 UTC
UN report reveals how terrorist activities are funded
newsThe United Nations (UN) has exposed the activities of terrorist organisations in Nigeria and across Africa. “Member states reported that terrorist groups in North Africa derived substantial income from kidnapping for ransom, local extortion and the ‘taxing’ of smuggling routes. During the reporting period, however, there was no evidence that they were directly involved in trafficking in drugs or persons,” the report revealed. NigeriaThe report revealed that the cash economy is predominant in the region without controls. It further stated that terrorist groups are funded by extortion, charitable donations, smuggling, remittances and kidnapping.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 12:56 UTC
Mauritania: Campaigning Kicks off in Run-up to Polls
Electoral campaigns have started across Mauritania as politicians seek to woo 1.4 million voters in the upcoming parliamentary and municipal polls slated for Sept. 1. Mauritania’s ruling Union for the Republic Party of President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz listed its many “achievements” to voters on Thursday. Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz earlier this year reiterated that he would not stand for re-election next year, allowing for a peaceful transition of power for the first time. Mauritania’s history has been marred by repeated military coups, beginning with the first post-independence president, Mokhtar Ould Daddah. The most recent military coup took place in 2008, putting Ould Abdel Aziz at the helm of the country.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 12:33 UTC
North Africa and Middle East markets must be explored
South Africa has to explore North African and Middle Eastern markets, which will grow exponentially in the next decade. South Africa has to explore North African and Middle Eastern markets, which will grow exponentially in the next decade. “North Africa and the Middle East will need imports for basic food commodities as only 5% of the region is arable and has scarce water resources,” he said. He added that the economies of North African countries would be more challenged in future than Middle Eastern countries as Middle Eastern countries had income from oil exports to leverage when importing goods. “The Middle East primarily imports meat and fish, while North African countries primarily import cereals, sugar and vegetable oil.”
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 12:11 UTC
Stakeholders Raise Concerns
Some people in Nima and Kotobabi in the Ayawaso North District of the Greater Accra Region have raised concerns over the LPG Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). They expressed concern about the quality of cylinders that would be exchanged for filled LPG cylinders which would be re-circulated under the model. The concerns were raised at a stakeholders’ meeting to kick-start the nationwide community and regional based sensitization on the CRM and also solicit their inputs and support towards the full implementation of the programme. Addressing the concerns of the stakeholders during the dialogue, Alhassan Tampuli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NPA, noted that the CRM cylinders would be branded by the LPG marketing agencies. Mr. Tampuli explained that consumers would have to sign up with LPG marketing agencies to be able to purchase LPG from the distributors.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 11:03 UTC
First Person: BEDU offers North African dishes with Middle Eastern flavours mixed in
The décor and dishes are inspired by North African bedouin tribes as well as Middle Eastern classic ingredients. Australian chef Corey Riches has honed his culinary skills at Middle Eastern restaurants, and in BEDU, he puts his own twist of the classic flavours from that part of the world. The BEDU Sour goes well with the fragrant cured salmon with walnut tarator and tahini yogurt (HK$120). “Egg yolk it’s not usually used in Middle Eastern recipes, but it really brings out the flavour of the chermoula – usually chermoula is used with fish but it goes well with chicken,” he says. Chef Corey keeps with the Middle Eastern flavours with the spiced yogurt, and again it works well.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 09:08 UTC
Morocco Wants Closer Cooperation with Europol
Morocco has urged the Europol for closer cooperation to monitor radicalized youth in Europe, head of Morocco’s counterterrorism agency (BCIJ) Abdelhak Khiame said. Such access will help Moroccan security services better monitor radicalized youth in Europe, he said. The interview was carried out on the commemoration of the Barcelona attacks perpetrated by Spanish youth of Moroccan origins. He said that cooperation with Spanish intelligence services is “excellent,” urging other European countries to follow suit. In this regards, he deplored that French services did not contact Moroccan counterparts concerning the perpetrator of a recent terrorist attack, who was previously flagged by Moroccan services.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 09:00 UTC
Rebels kill dozens in eastern DRC conflict
Rebels kill dozens in eastern DRC conflictfrom JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRCKINSHASA, (CAJ News) – ARMED groups have killed at least 127 people in one of the most troubled regions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the beginning of the year. Insecurity linked to armed conflicts and violence coincides with the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the region. As of this week, 42 deaths have been reported, mostly in the territories of Beni and Lubero. Since August 1, the Ministry of Health has declared the outbreak in the locality of Mangina in Beni territory. “This public health crisis adds to a serious humanitarian crisis caused by insecurity linked to armed conflicts and violence,” said a spokesperson of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 17, 2018 04:52 UTC