Africa Cup of Nations: Power ranking all 24 teams
Namibia were flattered, perhaps, by a second-placed finish in Group K, and only actually managed two wins—against Mozambique home and away. Their matchday six 4-1 demolition by already eliminated Zambia was maybe a clearer indication of their level, and being pooled into the Group of Death doesn't help either...
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 19, 2019 01:56 UTC
Casablanca Finance City sees promising growth prospects
“CFC is not a tax haven. Enterprises do not come to Morocco for its tax regime,” the Moroccan paper quoted the CFC chief as saying. The UAE was placed in the EU’s tax haven black list. Ibrahimi said that investments by CFC companies were materialized in 46 African states as the financial center aims at raising $100 billion in Africa. For now, some $5 billion dollars have been invested by CFC companies across the continent in fields such as renewable energy, finance and infrastructure.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 19, 2019 00:33 UTC
2019 Africa Cup of Nations ultimate preview: Salah, Mane & Co. ready to put on a show
The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations was a watchable, enjoyable tournament that was settled in thrilling style and showcased the best of what the continent has to offer. - The best players in Egypt this summer- When is the Africa Cup of Nations? It seems impossible that a country producing such a steady flow of talent has never won an Africa Cup of Nations. There has never been an Africa Cup of Nations this vast. Why they won't: Senegal have just never been able to get over the line in the Africa Nations Cup.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 21:33 UTC
Africa SDG Index Finds Stagnating Progress, Calls for Accelerated Action
14 June 2019: The SDG Center for Africa (SDGC/A) and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) released the 2019 Africa SDG Index and Dashboards Report. Overall, African countries performed poorly on SDG 1, SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9, SDG 11, and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). Across all Goals, the report finds the “most frequently-observed trend is stagnation,” particularly for SDG 1, SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3, SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7, SDG 9 and SDG 16. The 2019 Africa SDG Index and Dashboards Report emphasizes that its findings cannot be compared to the findings of the 2018 Africa SDG Index and Dashboards Report because of methodological changes. [Publication: 2019 Africa SDG Index and Dashboards Report] [SDSN Press Release]
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 20:48 UTC
John Obi Mikel crucial to Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations hopes, says Efe Ambrose
John Obi Mikel crucial to Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations hopes, says Efe AmbroseGernot Rohr’s men have made winning a fourth African title their priority in Egypt, and the 32-year-old will be crucial if they are to do soJohn Obi Mikel has vast experience and will make the difference for at the 2019 , says Efe Ambrose. Mikel, skipper of Gernot Rohr’s men, helped the Super Eagles win the competition in 2013, and will be aiming to lead the team to victory in . Nigeria have failed to qualify for the last two editions and are looking to win a fourth African crown in the North African nation. Rohr’s side face Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea in the group stage, and Nigeria international Ambrose is backing Mikel to help the three-time champions go far once again. “I believe this squad has got the belief, zeal, passion and hunger and will be hoping to repeat our feat in South Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 19:18 UTC
LETTERS: Climate change has sparked conflict in county
Letters LETTERS: Climate change has sparked conflict in countyA herder with his camels. Because of climate change and variability, the dry land mass is extending southwards. Taita Taveta County spans nearly 17,084 square kilometres of which slightly more than 60 percent is a protected area under the Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks. As climate change continues to intensify there will be more direct and indirect shocks that society must contend with. While it can also be conjectured that it is climate change that is building the heat between the two groups, use of inappropriate interventions does not provide the much needed solution.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 18:52 UTC
Tunisia approves law excluding presidential candidate leading in polls
“It is a law dedicated to my exclusion from the race after polls revealed that millions of Tunisians intend to vote for me,” Karoui told Reuters. The police raid in April followed the revocation of the Nesma channel’s license last year by broadcasting regulator HAICA. The government, a coalition of the secular Tahya Tounes party and the Ennahda party, has denied any responsibility for rulings by the HAICA. Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on Oct. 6 with a presidential vote following on Nov. 17. Among the declared presidential candidates are Hamadi Jbeli, the former prime minister, and Karoui.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 17:26 UTC
A dangerous ideological battle in Africa's Sahel arena
Six years have passed since Operation Serval in northern Mali, neither this, nor Barkhane nor the G5 Sahel have so far managed to defeat or even contain terrorism in the region. The G5 Sahel irrelevanceThe G5 Sahel (Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad) group is supposed to eventually take over from Barkhane’s forces in the fight against terrorism. Meanwhile, African countries in general, and the G5 Sahel leaders in particular, remain behind on the platform. In so doing, they however endanger not only the entire Sahel region - in its broadest definition - but also much of the African continent, if not Africa as a whole. That ideological-strategic battle for the control of the entire region of the Sahel, from the Red Sea to the Atlantic coast.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 17:15 UTC
UN: Moroccan diplomat deflates Algeria’s claims about its observer status in Sahara Issue
Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN Omar Hilale has deflated with sound and accurate arguments Algeria’s claims that it only has an observer status in the Sahara issue, stressing that the genesis of the conflict and the ensuing facts confirm that without Algeria’s aggressive activism, interference, and support to separatist theses, there will be no Polisario, no Sahara issue, and the UN will not be debating the matter. Omar Hilale presented his arguments in his right of reply before the UN Committee of 24, in New York, Monday, following the intervention of the Algerian Chargé d’Affaires. The Algerian diplomat aggressively aimed at the 15 countries that have all cited Algeria’s responsibility as one of the four stakeholders in the regional dispute as evidence by its participation in the two Geneva roundtable meetings, held in December 2018 and March 2019, insisting that his country “is not a party but just an observer”. Omar Hilale also wondered why a mere observer would nurture hatred towards neighboring Morocco and advocate separatism in school books and end-of-year examinations. Among other practices evidencing that Algeria is a stakeholder in the Sahara issue, the Moroccan diplomat talked about its refusal to allow a registration and census of the Tindouf camps populations despite the repeated calls of the international community, the Security Council and other UN bodies.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 16:07 UTC
Tunisia’s elections are a test for the Arab Spring
Appreciating Tunisia’s successesTunisia remains the cradle of the Arab Spring. The country remains split into factions; oil production (and consequently revenue) is volatile and human trafficking is rampant due to the massive migrant situation. Competition for state resources will only intensify in the run-up to the electionsThe competition for access to state resources – revenue, jobs, etc. The future of the country – and hope for the Arab Spring – is very much tied to the 2019 elections. These elections will be the second democratic presidential and parliamentary elections for the country, provided the state of emergency is lifted to facilitate them.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 15:33 UTC
Egypt: Opposition party accuses Egyptian authorities of “deliberately killing” Morsi
Israel'Abd al-Rahman al-Banna, the brother of the Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna, went to Mandatory Palestine and established the Muslim Brotherhood there in 1935. [243]Other statesIndonesiaSeveral parties and organizations in Indonesia are linked or at least inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood, although none have a formal relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood. The PKS's relationship with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood was confirmed by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a prominent Muslim Brotherhood leader. [274]The Sudanese Muzammil Faqiri attacked the Muslim Brotherhood for murdering people and said that Takfir wal-Hijra, ISIS, Sururism and Al-Qaeda were products of the Muslim Brotherhood. [318]Gehad El-Haddad, a Muslim Brotherhood member, denied that terrorism was practiced by the Muslim Brotherhood in an editorial published by The New York Times.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 15:11 UTC
UNIDO supports implementation of AfCFTA
With the support of the African Union Commission’s Department of Trade and Industry, the Permanent Mission of the African Union in Belgium organized a sensitization workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The agreement to create the single market for goods and services was signed by 44 out of the 55 Member States of the African Union. “The EU will also set up the African Union Trade Observatory, a key pillar of the African Continental Free Trade Area.”The African Continental Free Trade Area aims at progressively eliminating tariffs and removing non-tariff barriers on intra-African trade, thus creating opportunities for African businesses making the African market – comprising more than 1.2 billion people – the largest free trade area in the world. “Industrial development is a very important factor in the fight against poverty”, said UNIDO Representative to the European Union and the ACP Group Patrick Gilabert. The workshop brought together over 60 participants from Europe and Africa, including representatives of embassies, civil society organizations, international organizations and African development partners.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 15:11 UTC
Algeria: General Gaid Salah issues threats against those who don’t agree with him
Algiers, June 18, 2019 – Military chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah said Tuesday that those who oppose the army were “enemies of Algeria”, as the country’s protest movement demands an overhaul of the entire regime. Those with “grudges and animosity towards the army and its command… are undoubtedly enemies of Algeria”, said Gaid Salah, the country’s strongman since longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika was ousted in April. “Those who are knowingly trying to circumvent… terms of the constitution, do they realise what it means to suppress all state institutions?” he asked in a speech. Gaid Salah said a constitutional void would amount to “the destruction of the foundations of the Algerian national state”. By AFPEmail this story to a friend or colleague EmailLike this: Like Loading...
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 15:11 UTC
With Med crossing claiming 500 migrants this year, Europe warned it’s about to risk more lives
The EU’s five-year action plan is focussed on restricting help to those making the crossing amid warnings that puts many more lives at risk. And fewer than 23,000 refugees and migrants have made it across the sea to Europe so far this year. The Council of Europe said its was the EU’s clear obligation under international humanitarian law to run effective sea rescue missions, guarantee entry for those picked up, and provide legal migration avenues to Europe. The main EU states of arrival, including Greece and Italy, say they cannot cope themselves. The search and rescue operations are continuing.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 15:11 UTC
The Most (and Least) Peaceful Countries in the World, Ranked
Afghanistan is now the least peaceful country in the world, replacing Syria, according to the latest Global Peace Index published Wednesday. On average, country scores improved 0.09 percent, as 86 countries recorded more peacefulness and 76 countries showed deterioration. However, even as some crises and conflicts of the last decade finally begin to subside, the report found that the world is notably less peaceful than 10 years ago. As a region, Europe remains the most peaceful, while the Middle East and North Africa are still the least peaceful. According to the report, this is actually the first time that Yemen has been listed among the five least peaceful countries.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 18, 2019 15:11 UTC