Daily Memo: US Allies Press for More Support
We deliver cutting edge analysis and intelligence so you can stay ahead of the news. Take it from them: I can't emphasize enough my appreciation for you and the rest of the staff at Geopolitical Futures. Kevin G. Some times the politics and journalism of the world gets in the way of clear thinking (at my own peril). Full accessto our content With any paid subscription you get full access to our entire content. U.S. allies in the Middle East are calling on Washington for more support.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 22:41 UTC
Opening day of 1-54 Marrakech fair highlights growing business and even better vibes
The exterior of La Mamounia hotel, the main site of the 2024 edition of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in Marrakech. Copyright Salah Bouade, courtesy of 1-54 Contemporary African Art FairGrowing internationalismCompared to Casablanca, the crowd in Marrakech is more international, says Yasmine Berrada Sounni, the co-founder of Loft Art Gallery. The African art gallerist Ed Cross, the owner of London’s Ed Cross Fine Art, was also spotted working with Space UnTokyo, a new Japan-based arts organisation focused on contemporary African art. Courtesy of 1-54 African Art FairMultiple dealers also spoke of budding cooperation with their fellow exhibitors. The good vibes carried into Thursday’s collaborative Art Night—a fair-organised, gallery weekend-style event compressed into one evening, where the city welcomed Loft Art Gallery as its newest contemporary art space.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 22:31 UTC
Spain offers up to €200m in financial support for green hydrogen projects in Mauritania
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has offered Mauritania up to €200m ($215m) in financial support over the next five years to aid the development of green hydrogen projects in the North African state. Stay ahead on hydrogen with our free newsletter Keep up with the latest developments in the international hydrogen industry with the free Accelerate Hydrogen newsletter. Mauritania only had 122MW of renewable energy installed at the 2022, according to Irena figures, but there are several 10GW-plus green hydrogen projects planned in the country that would require vast amounts of new wind and solar power. Coincidentally, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck yesterday visited another North African state, Algeria, for talks on green hydrogen export. In November last year, Germany pledged €4bn of support for energy projects — with a focus on green hydrogen — in Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 17:00 UTC
Humiliating Submission: Algerian regime begging Spanish FM to visit Algiers to mend ties – The North Africa Post
They tried to blackmail Madrid into dropping its support for Morocco by cutting off their supplies of natural gas. In a press release, Spanish foreign ministry said Mr. Albares will visit Algeria February 12 at the invitation of Algerian peer Ahmed Attaf. Spain is now Morocco’s largest trading partner and the two countries have strengthened their cooperation against extremist and trafficking networks. While Algeria is supporting separatism and exporting instability, Morocco is seen a reliable partner by all African countries. The North African Kingdom is spearheading an initiative gathering all African countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean and a gas-pipeline with Nigeria.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 15:32 UTC
Tunisia Launches cutting-edge Remote, Appraisal, Supervision, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RASME) Tool for Project monitoring
The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has launched the Remote, Appraisal, Supervision, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RASME) initiative in Tunis to strengthen the supervision of development projects using cutting-edge processes. Mohamed El Azizi, African Development Bank Director General for North Africa, and Tarek Bouhlel, Director General of Cooperation in the Tunisian Ministry of Economy and Planning, led the launch event, attended by representatives of the public and private sectors. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Media Contact:External Relations and Communication Departmentmedia@afdb.orgAbout the African Development Bank Group:The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF).
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 14:43 UTC
In Ghana, who wins northern votes? A fight between NPP and NDC
Analysts debate historical ties and Bawumia’s influence as an internal National Democratic Congress (NDC) strife and regional conflicts add complexity. There's more to this storyGet unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Subscribe Nowcancel anytimeAlready a a subscriber Sign In
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 14:26 UTC
Three killed in Algerian military helicopter crash – The North Africa Post
Frequent crashes have become a dilemma for the Algerian military with three killed in a military helicopter on Feb 7, in an accident that raises questions over the efficiency of maintenance and acquisition choices. All three military personnel on board – a colonel, a lieutenant colonel, and a sergeant – were killed, it added. The frequent airplane crashes and accidents in the Algerian air force fleet are but a tree that hides a forest of mismanagement and a lack of strategy. These accidents indicate that the Algerian military is undergoing a crisis of doctrine. Analysts see that Algerian air force is much underdeveloped with a low skill pilots lacking battlefield experience compared to its regional rival Morocco, a western ally.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 14:25 UTC
North African drought may further increase wheat imports, report warns
An AI-powered insights company, Gro Intelligence, warns that continued drought in North Africa could push imports of key commodities like wheat even higher. The report utilizes Gro's own Drought Index, highlighting North Africa's position as the world's largest wheat importer. Wheat imports in the region already reached their highest level in seven years during 2023/24 due to drought conditions. While some recent rain improved wheat health in Tunisia, the Drought Index remains high, and soil moisture declines. Tunisia also saw rising wheat imports in 2023/24 due to production drops and depleted stocks.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 13:34 UTC
Swing Countries, Shifting Alliances: Tunisia between East and West
Amid the escalating Western-Eastern power rivalry, specifically the West versus Russia and China, ‘swing countries’ in the region are gaining significance. Tunisia signed a 10-year Road Map for Defense Cooperation in 2020, emphasizing the importance of the US relationship in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Russia’s strategic shift towards North Africa heightened after the 2014 Crimea annexation sanctions and persisted post-2022 Ukraine war. The move underscores Russia’s concerted effort to extend its economic footprint in North Africa and consolidate ties beyond mere political affiliations. Maintaining robust Western alliances with Tunisia is key to prevent a zero-sum game where Russia would supplant U.S. and European influence in the North Africa region.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 13:29 UTC
Nigeria: Tinubu battles to retain northern base
“The Nigeria of today is too bad. What we were buying at N200 before is N2,000 now… unemployment is escalating. I don’t want to go personal but the Sharia Council helped the Muslim-Muslim ticket to be successful. We campaigned and supported this government until it came to power, but we are suffering.”Thus spoke the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, which played a key role in convincing Muslims to usher Tinubu into power.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 13:13 UTC
Legal 500 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Awards 2024: 3VB wins Set of the Year and Tom Montagu-Smith KC awarded Commercial Silk of the Year
We are very proud to announce that at the inaugural Legal 500 MENA Awards, 3VB has been named as overall Set of the Year and Tom Montagu-Smith KC as Commercial Silk of the Year 2024. Tom has been appearing in the DIFC Courts since they were established. He is ranked in Tier 1 for his commercial work in the Middle East. He is also the co-editor of DIFC Courts Practice, the leading text on DIFC law and procedure, and was consulted on the forthcoming amendments to the constitutional legislation. Tom also drafted the AIFC Court and Arbitration Rules and the Court rules and regulations for a new free-zone in the middle east.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 11:07 UTC
Morocco : Compagnie minière de Touissit boss in firing line of forex regulator
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Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 10:31 UTC
The ISIS Threat Is Not to Be Forgotten
In recent years, Africa has been one of the primary areas of ISIS terrorist activity. [xvi] Today, the Islamic State Central Africa Province (with 1500-2000 fighters), the Islamic State Sahel Province, Islamic State Mozambique (with 180-220 fighters), the Islamic State Sinai Province (with 100-500 fighters), and the Islamic State West Africa Province (with 3500 fighters) are among the most prominent ISIS networks in Africa. [xviii] Given the presence of a large number of ISIS fighters in this region, a significant portion of the attacks may be attributed to ISIS. The increase in the number of displaced people has made Africa more vulnerable to the rise of ISIS in recent years. [xx] In 2023, the group carried out around 17 terrorist attacks in Pakistan alone.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 10:06 UTC
Ugandan electric cooking startup PowerUP raises seed funding for expansion
Uganda-based electric cooking startup PowerUP has announced the initial close of its seed round to expand to new geographies and products. PowerUP develops and deploys smart-metered PAYGO electric stoves customised for the African markets, with these solutions having so far cleaned up cooking in over 40,000 homes across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Ghana. PowerUP will use this new round of investment to expand its distribution presence, build its data platform, and launch its shared carbon programme. Our electric cooking solutions will save money, save time, and avoid harmful fumes for millions,” said CEO Kato Kibuka. PowerUP will start offering a new range of electric stoves later this year to address the diverse cooking styles across Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 09:58 UTC
Middle East and North Africa Pay TV Market Forecast: Subscriber Growth Amidst Revenue Decline
Dublin, Feb. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Middle East and North Africa Pay TV Forecasts" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Pay TV revenues for 20 MENA countries will drop by 43% between 2016 ($3.8 billion) and 2029 ($2.2 billion). This comes despite the number of pay TV subscribers growing by 3 million over the same period to 18 million - so ARPUs will fall. Simon Murray, Principal Analyst said: "Legitimate pay TV penetration has always been low in most MENA countries, but the decline is accelerating as pay TV subscribers convert to OTT platforms." Excel workbook covering each year from 2015 to 2029 for 20 countries by household penetration, by pay TV subscribers, by pay TV revenues and by major operator.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 09, 2024 09:11 UTC