The Maghreb maze: Harmonising divergent European policies in North Africa
Instead of standing together in the face of these moves, European countries have presented a fragmented response. France was traditionally the leader on European Maghreb policy, but tensions with Morocco and Algeria have limited its influence in the region. The four most influential European countries all have a stake in promoting stability, opportunity, and energy transitions across the region. European countries are already working together on this, as with the German, Italian, and Austrian cooperation on a planned green hydrogen pipeline. Among other subjects, Dworkin has conducted research and written on European and US frameworks for counterterrorism, European policy towards North Africa, and international cooperation in an era of geopolitical competition.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 14:56 UTC
BRICS delegation visits Niger – The North Africa Post
Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, Niger’s Premier, welcomed Monday January 29 a delegation of the BRICS, few days after his international tour that took him to Russia and Iran, two-member countries of the intergovernmental organization. The visit comes as Niger seeks to diversify its partners after it scaled down ties with former colonial power France. BRICS initially made of Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa has expanded to include since last year United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Zeine embarked earlier this month on an international tour that took him to Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Niger is currently led by a junta that seized power on July 26 2023 after deposing President Mohamed Bazoum.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 14:48 UTC
North Atlantic Right Whale Found Dead Near Martha’s Vineyard
A female North Atlantic right whale was found dead on Sunday with a rope wrapped around it off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., a rare event that had scientists worrying about the future of the critically endangered species with about 360 remaining animals. The whale, thought to be a juvenile because of its size, had washed ashore Joseph Sylvia State Beach on the island’s northeastern coast with a rope tangled around its peduncle, the part that connects the tail fluke to the body, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement. “It’s devastating to hear about another loss to North Atlantic right whales,” said Gib Brogan, a campaign director at Oceana, an international conservation group based in Washington. “This death is even more troubling when it is a female calf that could have gone on to have many calves of her own for decades to come.”The death came during the four-month period that such whales give birth. So far, 16 calves have been born during the current season, Oceana said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 14:45 UTC
US deepens ties with Angola, in bid to counter Chinese and Russian influence in Africa – The North Africa Post
As the US top diplomat wrapped up his visit to Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Angola (21-26 January), experts have hailed what they call the United States finally “making serious efforts to strengthen its relations with Africa”. But experts and observers have also pointed out that Blinken’s visit has also highlighted that the United States is playing catch-up with China and Russia in Africa. This was most notable in the case of the oil-rich Angola that long turned to China for infrastructure and to Russia for tanks and missiles, but it’s foreign relations now appear to be undergoing a major realignment. The Central African country has rejected China and embraced the US and European countries to help it build Angola’s vast $250 million Lobito Corridor that will eventually link Angola with mineral-rich parts of Zambia and the DR of Congo. This major railway project will channel cobalt, copper and other critical minerals out, diversifying US supplies of raw materials critical to the green revolution.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 14:01 UTC
BUTEC Group concludes an external growth operation in Morocco, reinforcing its African footprint in the energy and environment sectors
EMM caters to a large base of public and private sector customers, in the areas of water, sanitation and customer relations. The acquisition of EMM aligns with BUTEC Group’s growth strategy in Africa and the Middle East by combining businesses that are essential for the preservation of the environment through the rationalizing of water and energy resources. It follows the most recent acquisition by BUTEC Group of “Energy Services” businesses of ENGIE Group in Africa, which is also the operator of a proactive energy leak detection and repair project in Lebanon on a network serving nearly 2 million consumers. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BUTEC Group. Press contact:BUTEC: +961 1 512 333E-mail: rjamous@butec.comAbout BUTEC Group:Based in Beirut and Dubai, BUTEC Group is a privately held group active in Construction and Services, with an entrepreneurial shareholding base complemented by IFC (World Bank Group) and the management.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 13:59 UTC
The BRICS Wealth Report: Challenging the Global Economic Order
The total investable wealth currently held in the BRICS bloc amounts to USD 45 trillion and its millionaire population is expected to rise by 85% over the next 10 years, according to the inaugural BRICS Wealth Report, published today by international investment migration advisory firm Henley & Partners in partnership with global wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth. The past decade has also seen robust private wealth growth in Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia, with their millionaire populations rising by 35% and 30%, respectively. Commenting in the BRICS Wealth Report, leading personal finance and investment expert Jeff D. Opdyke says “nations once considered ‘developing’ or ‘emerging’ or the pejorative ‘third world’ are now dynamic economies that are changing the global order. China (85%), Ethiopia (75%), South Africa (60%), and Egypt (55%) are all forecast to enjoy wealth growth of over 50% in the next decade. BRICS wealth hubs of the futureAccording to exclusive data in the BRICS Wealth Report, there are five cities that didn’t make it into the BRICS Top 10 Wealthiest Cities list for 2024 but are expected to experience particularly strong (80%+) wealth growth over the coming decade.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 13:54 UTC
The ICJ’s Ruling on Genocide Is Actually a Gamechanger
Last week, 17 judges from the International Court of Justice issued a preliminary ruling in the case of South Africa v. Israel on the question of whether Israel may be committing genocide against the Palestinian people in waging its war against Hamas in Gaza, as well as on whether to uphold South Africa’s request for an injunction against further hostilities. The court’s provisional finding was that it would hear the case and that, while it did so, Israel could continue the war, but should report back in a month to demonstrate that it was not in fact committing genocide. The court noted in paragraph 14 of its ruling how this legal approach limited what it could consider, despite a series of United Nations resolutions drawing attention to other legal dimensions of the case. As law scholar Oona Hathaway explains, there was never any chance that the ICJ would return an immediate genocide ruling. This made it unlikely that the ICJ would issue a one-sided order that Israel stop its attacks on Hamas, as South Africa had asked, when the court—which only has jurisdiction over states—could not order Hamas to do the same.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 13:50 UTC
North African LNG exports decline in Jan despite bullish gas outlook
North African LNG exports in January declined slightly from December despite forecasts of strong gas development in the near term. Analysts at S&P Global see a bullish gas production outlook for Africa. There is available infrastructure in place for drilling activity, particularly for gas, S&P Global analysts said. Egypt and Algeria's gas production outlook is set to continue its upward trend set in 2022 through to 2030, according to data from S&P Global analysts. Platts, part of S&P Global, assessed the LNG Mediterranean marker at $8.367/MMBtu on Jan. 29, up 3.1 cents/MMBtu on the day.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 12:15 UTC
Red Sea crisis to affect global trade, fuel inflation in Africa and beyond – The North Africa Post
The Red Sea crisis and the mounting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are forcing vessels into longer and more costly journeys around Africa. If the conflict in Gaza drags on, the trade disruption in the Red Sea could surge inflation. Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping are becoming a big problem especially for Egypt. With many vessels now avoiding Red Sea routes and Egypt’s Suez Canal, Egypt’s government has seen considerable revenue disappear. While in fiscal year 2022-23, the Suez Canal brought Egypt $9.4 billion in transit fees, the escalating crisis means that the income is now down 40% compared to last year, according to Osama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 11:04 UTC
Mauritania: Energy projects geared toward electricity-for-all plan
Mauritania has received the finance to implement two energy projects that encompass solar power generation, transnational electricity interconnection and rural electrification. It also covers the project to strengthen productive and energy investments for the sustainable development of rural areas (RIMDIR). Mauritania: Clean energy ambitions could be fuelled by green hydrogenThe programme will develop solar power plants and establish a 1,373-kilometer high-voltage power line, with a transit capacity of 600MW between the two countries. The medium- and long-term objectives are to boost solar energy production and provide universal access to electricity in both countries. “Mauritania has significant opportunities to tap its renewable energy resources and accelerate its sustainable development journey in line with the government’s policy priorities,” said IEA Africa Programme Officer Rita Madeira.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 10:40 UTC
Germany to expand its engagement in Sahel despite Europe’s failed security strategy – The North Africa Post
Politicians and experts in Germany have called on the European country to continue its involvement in Africa’s Sahel region even after the 2020s did not turn out as expected for Berlin. According to Deutsche Welle, Africa’s Sahel is considered a strategic location for Germany, which has long been a significant player in stabilization and development efforts in the largely francophone region. But after military takeovers in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, it became obvious that “Europe’s initial security strategy in the Sahel has failed,” says Malte Lierl, a research fellow at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg. However, as Lierl also points out, the current situation is not one of total withdrawal but rather a new orientation of Europe’s engagement in the region. But this recalibration of Germany’s policies in the Sahel region also requires Berlin to take a wider perspective on the entire region, Bergmann added.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 10:12 UTC
Mooney dominates chase as Aussies win tense T20 decider
02:30 Play video Kapp lights up Bellerive in milestone matchThe win secured a 2-1 series victory, and saw Australia take a 4-2 lead in the multi-format series. Mooney had anchored Australia’s chase as regular wickets fell at the other end. Earlier, Kapp produced a career-best display with the bat, featuring 10 fours and a six, to lead South Africa to their highest total against Australia. AUSTRALIA: Alyssa Healy (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown. SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 09:06 UTC
Africa Live: Zimbabwe court frees Job Sikhala after almost 600 days
A Harare magistrate has sentenced Sikhala and his co-accused, MP Godfrey Sithole, to a two-year, wholly suspended term for five years. Sikhala, who was the Ali family lawyer, was accused of having used social media to encourage the violence. Convicting the duo, the trial magistrate said evidence showed that Sikhala, then a member of parliament, and Sithole were responsible for the violence. The courts granted Sithole bail after five months in remand, but Sikhala's several applications for bail failed. According to his lawyer, he is still facing charges of disorderly conduct, inciting violence and publishing falsehoods.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 08:46 UTC
Africa and Latin America set to lead high-impact well drilling in 2024, eyeing rebound after poor 2023
Africa and Latin America set to lead high-impact well drilling in 2024, eyeing rebound after poor 2023By Rystad EnergyThe upstream industry hopes 2024 can be a bounce-back year for high-impact oil and gas drilling after a lackluster 2023, with Africa and Latin America likely to spearhead activities. This would be a sizeable jump from the 27 high-impact wells drilled last year, and operators will hope for a better success rate. Only eight of the 27 high-impact wells drilled in 2023 resulted in commercially movable volumes, a success rate of less than 30%, well below the annual average of 42%. These high-impact wells accounted for 20% of the 5Billion BOE discovered by all exploration activities globally last year. In Latin America, a frontier well planned for offshore Argentina would be the first drilled well in the Argentine Basin.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 08:44 UTC
South Africa’s record against North African teams
Bafana Bafana take on Morocco in a crunch Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in San Pedro on Tuesday night, seeking to book a quarterfinal clash with Cape Verde. South Africa's first ever meeting with Egypt came in the 1995 Four Nations Cup and brought about a 2-0 victory … eventually. South Africa had already qualified so they rested a few key players. They were looking for back-to-back Nations Cup titles when they met Egypt in the final of the 1998 tournament in Burkina Faso. Morocco won 2-1 at home despite Lyle Foster giving Bafana an early lead, before South Africa claimed the reverse fixture by the same scoreline in Soweto.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 30, 2024 08:34 UTC