What populists get wrong about migration
Scapegoating migrants and criminalizing migration in transit countries across the Mediterranean and at European borders will only result in even more human rights abuses and lives lost. The EU’s policies in the region have led to a criminalization of migration, forcing people onto different and more dangerous routes. The EU’s policies in the region have led to a criminalization of migration, forcing people onto different and more dangerous routes. The EU has tied development assistance to harsh migration policies in the transit countries of the Sahel. The only way to successfully address the challenges of migration in Italy and the EU is to develop a sustainable, realistic, and — above all — humane approach to the crisis.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 06, 2018 01:52 UTC
Morocco Supports Local Farmers, Wheat Harvesting and Storage
Cereal harvest of the North African country is expected to reach 9.82 million tons in 2018, matching last year’s harvest despite late rainfall. More than 4.5 million hectares were sowed with soft wheat, hard wheat and barley in 2018. This year’s agricultural season takes place in good conditions after abundant rainfall, up 16 percent on an average year. Last year, Morocco imported 4.2 million tons of soft wheat, 2.1 million tons of maize, 850,000 tons of durum wheat and 440,000 tons of barley. In 2015, Moroccan authorities raised customs duty on soft wheat imports to 75 pc from 17.5 pc to protect the local harvest.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 06, 2018 00:56 UTC
Calls Mount for Bolstering G5 Sahel Force
French President Emmanuel Macron called for more support to the counterterrorism Sahel force known as G5. “Money now needs to be disbursed” to allow the five-nation regional force fulfil its tasks, said Macron at a press conference with visiting Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou. Previously, international donors pledged €414 million ($510 million) to help Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger set up a counter terrorism force to combat the deadly jihadist threat in the Sahel region. “We will put forward a very strong argument for the G5 to have the necessary financial resources and equipment to be effective,” he said. Guterres, as well as Macron, have been lobbying for the force to speed up its work and pushing for UN funding, which would be in addition to technical support from MINUSMA.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 06, 2018 00:43 UTC
Three sent on leave in Sh58.8bn tenders probe at KPC
Economy Three sent on leave in Sh58.8bn tenders probe at KPCA section of the Kenya Pipeline Company depot in Eldoret. FILE PHOTO | NMGThree Kenya Pipeline Company officials have been sent on leave to pave the way for investigations into irregular issuing of multi-million tenders at the state-owned agency. KPC Managing Director Joe Sang on Tuesday said the three were suspended on Monday as investigators review tenders worth Sh58.8 billion. The investigators want to establish whether some of the tenders were irregular and led to loss of taxpayers’ money. The tenders include Sh48 billion for a new pipeline from Mombasa to Nairobi, the Sh2.1 billion Sinendet–Kisumu pipeline, and the Sh1.7 billion Kisumu oil jetty.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 18:56 UTC
EU nations split over asylum; 112 migrants die in shipwreck
EU migration ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, were pessimistic that new proposals to update the bloc's asylum system would be accepted by many of the bloc's 28 nations. EU leaders have insisted that the deadlock over how to handle migrants and refugees must be broken this month. Italy has been the primary entry point for thousands of migrants to Europe via the Mediterranean this year. "First we have to fix the front door, fix the back door," Belgian Migration Minister Theo Francken told reporters. When we don't have a solution for the massive influx of illegal aliens in our Europe, Europe will end, and we will never get out of this crisis."
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 18:22 UTC
Dongo Kundu Sh25bn second phase tender to be awarded
Shipping & Logistics Dongo Kundu Sh25bn second phase tender to be awardedWorkers put final touches on the first phase of Dongo Kundu bypass in May. FILE PHOTO | NMGThe Japanese government is set to award the multi-billion shilling tender for the second phase of dualling of Dongo Kundu bypass, paving the way for the upgrade of the key infrastructure that will connects the North and South coast. “The tender for the second phase of Dongo Kundu bypass which stretches between Mwache Junction and Mteza will be awarded towards the end of June and is set to start by August,” said the Kenya National Highway Authority (Kenha) general manager for special projects David Muchilwa on Tuesday. Phase three of the project involves the construction of a 6.9-km road from Mteza and Kibundani-connecting the highway to the Likoni-Lunga Lunga road. The Dongo Kundu road also referred to as the Southern bypass, is seen as the solution to the perennial problem of congestion at the Likoni Ferry, which is blamed for underdevelopment of the South Coast.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 18:11 UTC
FIFA Chief Breaks Neutrality in Race to 2026 World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has once more fell short of upholding neutrality in the race to hosting the 2026 World Cup opposing Morocco to the joint North American bid. In an interview with Equipe du Jour, Infantino has vindicated the information that he supports the Joint American bid. In a stark breach of neutrality required by his position, he said if the world cup is organized in North America it would generate 10 billion dollars in revenues. Head of Morocco’s campaign bid, Moulay Hafid El Alamy, had previously expressed concern that Infantino may favor the joint North American bid. The Moroccan bid passed the FIFA taskforce test last week and is now poised to face the North American bid in an open vote on June 13.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 17:48 UTC
This African explorer traveled the world way before the European ‘discovery’ of the continent
Abū ʿAbd al-Lāh Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Lāh l-Lawātī ṭ-Ṭanǧī ibn Baṭūṭah otherwise known as Ibn Battuta was born on February 25, 1304. After his pilgrimage, Battuta travelled to the North African coast. After being a part of the royal caravan, Battuta went to Tabriz. After his third pilgrimage, Battuta requested employment with the Sultan of Delhi, Muhammad bin Tugluq. In 1345, Battuta went to Sumatra then Malacca before arriving in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 16:30 UTC
The sources of instability in the Sahel
The North Africa Journal – June 5, 2018: This is a presentation made by MEA Risk Analyst and North Africa Journal Editor Arezki Daoud on understanding the sources of instability in the Sahel. To downloadable PDF slides and an MP3 audio please visit this page on MEA-Risk.comThe North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 15:56 UTC
North American 2026 World Cup bid happy with Southern Africa trip
Africa makes up a sizeable proportion of the voting delegates in Moscow with 56 out of the 211 FIFA member associations. North American bid members presented at the weekend to COSAFA associations that have gathered for the regional COSAFA Cup in Polokwane, and they feel they have been well received. We want to host the best competition possible, but also give back to everyone, all the other federations throughout the world. Reed says they were pleased with the feedback they got from the Southern African associations. There were very good questions from the Southern African delegates [and] we are pleased with the outcome."
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 14:03 UTC
Tunis Protests Italian Official’s Statement Calling Tunisia ‘ex-detainees exporter’
After summoning the Italian ambassador, the ministry also released a statement indicating that it was “very surprised” by Matteo Salvini’s remarks during his visit to Sicilia. Salvini paid a visit to migration camps of Pozzallo province in Sicilia soon after his nomination as the country’s interior minister following May elections. The head of the anti-migration party Legal Nord stood against the repeated arrivals of thousands of illegal migrants to the Italian coasts. “Here, more and more illegal migrants are coming from Tunisia; they are not war refugees but often criminals and ex-detainees,” he said. The Italian official who stressed that Italy is not Europe’s refugee camp indicated that he would have talk with his Tunisian counterpart on the migration issue.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 13:59 UTC
Tunisia Slams Italian Vice PM for Remark It Sends 'Convicts' to EU
© REUTERS / Tony Gentile Islamists Roam Italy, Include Naturalized Citizens and Migrants - AnalystThe Tunisian Foreign Ministry has expressed its "great surprise" at Salvini's comment, which came shortly after at least 48 migrants were reported to have drowned when their boat capsized off the Tunisian coast. He said that Italy and Sicily will no longer be what he calls "Europe's refugee camp" and promised to reduce the number of arrivals and increase the number of expulsions. He added that because they agree to work for less, migrants undermine the working condition of Italians, many of whom are forced to settle for lower pay or lose their jobs. READ MORE: Salvini, Italy's "Farage" Threatens Brussels With "Italexit" Ahead of ElectionsEven though Tunisia has largely stopped human-smuggling operations, almost 3,000 Tunisian migrants have reached Italy’s shores since January – more than from any other country. An opinion poll by the Ipsos agency published on Saturday in the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera showed support for the anti-immigrant League party had jumped to 28.5 percent, up from the 17 percent the party garnered during the March 4 election.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 13:18 UTC
Libya: Pro-Haftar Hopefuls Receiving UAE’s Financial Support
Emirati authorities have been funding Libyan potential candidates, known as close to eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar, in December 10 presidential and parliamentarian elections. United Arab Emirates has reportedly held secret meetings in Egypt, Tunisia and Oman to prepare the December elections, backing elections hopefuls, supportive of the east-based army commander. Haftar himself will not run for the elections. The UAE has been one of Haftar’s iconic foreign backers. The Libyan self-style commander also receives support from Russia, France and Egypt.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 12:33 UTC
At least 60 dead after Tunisian migrant ship sinks - IOM
Relatives carry a coffin containing the body of an immigrant who drowned when a boat sank, at a hospital morgue in Sfax, Tunisia June 4, 2018. At least 100 people were killed or are missing, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Tunisian authorities, which on Sunday said they had recovered 48 bodies, provided no new figures but said the coast guard was still searching for dozens of missing migrants. The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said 52 people were confirmed dead with 60 missing and voiced concern about incidents along the central Mediterranean route. The IOM said 68 people had been rescued after the vessel sank - 60 Tunisians, two Moroccans, one Libyan, one Malian, one Cameroonian national and three Ivorians.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 10:56 UTC
Birds and rain wreck KBL sorghum plans in Nyanza
Economy Birds and rain wreck KBL sorghum plans in NyanzaSorghum farmer Selemiah Ogolla inspects his farm in Nyagome Village in Lambwe Valley in Suba North, Homa Bay County. Over 12,000 growers in Nyando, West Karachuonyo and Lambwe Valley in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties have been hit by the torrents and ravenous birds. Chairperson of Homa Bay County sorghum farmers Ager Kiroho expressed fear the two may slash their harvests. “Floods have destroyed our sorghum farms and rendered roads impassable. Ojuka Adede, a sorghum farmer in Kagan, Rangwe said the incentives issued to them made their farming easy.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 05, 2018 10:30 UTC