What Algeria’s football debacle tells about regime’s sportswashing? – The North Africa Post
Sportswashing by political regimes refers to hosting sports events or taking part in competitions with the aim to serve propaganda campaigns and stoke chauvinistic sentiments. Prior to the African Cup of Nations, Algerian media spoke with disdain against their opponents and put political pressure on players led by coach Belmadi. Another worrying trend revealed during the AFCON 2023 was the rampant racism prevailing among many Algerian fans. Emulating their political leaders in uttering racist slurs, many Algerian influencers became notorious for their disdain and racist comments on social media. In 2019, Moroccans took to the streets to celebrate Algeria’s win of the African cup of nations.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 22:15 UTC
CIA director to meet with Israel intel chief, Qatar's PM to try to reach a hostages breakthrough
WASHINGTON — CIA Director William Burns will meet with Israel's Mossad director, David Barnea, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani this weekend in Europe to try to further negotiations to secure the release of hostages being held in Gaza. A diplomat with knowledge of the matter confirmed the upcoming meeting to NBC News, first reported by The Washington Post. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby referred reporters to the CIA when asked about Burns' activities, noting the director has been involved in trying to reach another hostage deal. As part of a truce in November, more than 100 hostages were released from Gaza in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners by Israel. In early December, however, the cease-fire ended, with Israel and the U.S. saying Hamas broke the terms of the agreement and sent rockets into Israel.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 21:53 UTC
Countries worldwide to experience a slow economic growth this year despite continued declining inflation rate, warns a UN report
On inflation, the report says that after surging for two years, global inflation eased in 2023 but remained above the 2010-2019 average. Hopestone Chavula, ECA Economic Affairs Officer who presented the report highlighted that although the global inflation is ebbing, food price inflation can exacerbate food insecurity and poverty. After surging for two years, global inflation eased in 2023 but remained above the 2010-2019 average. In 2023, global trade growth weakened significantly to an estimated 0.6 per cent, a sharp decline from 5.7 per cent in 2022. Central banks must navigate a delicate balance between inflation, growth and financial stability.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 21:37 UTC
Burkina Faso: Drone Strikes on Civilians Apparent War Crimes
The drone strikes violated laws-of-war prohibitions against attacks that do not discriminate between civilians and military targets and were apparent war crimes. On December 20, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the Burkinabè justice minister, sharing its findings and requesting responses to specific questions. Human Rights Watch documented casualties and damage consistent with the blast and fragmentation effects created by using these guided munitions in concentrations of people. Based on this video, Human Rights Watch geolocated the attack site as approximately 135 meters from the northern edge of Bouro village. A Human Rights Watch analysis of a video of the attack showed shadows that corroborate the time frame identified by witnesses.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 21:25 UTC
Sought-After Mineral Discovered in Kenya but Citizens Are Wary of Development
Kenyan officials announced on Wednesday that they have discovered reserves of the precious metal coltan. Other precious metals like uranium and cobalt have been detected across the East African nation in previous years. Kenyan national Jonah Saitoti Tiren claims that the discovery is not likely to benefit Kenyans, and would lead to “land grabbing” by the government. Why are the EU and UN logos on a Kenyan Government [statement] on mapping of minerals in Kenya. The DRC is estimated to have close to 70 percent of the world’s coltan reserves.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 20:19 UTC
Tunisia repays 2023 debts amid financial strain, faces challenges securing external funding
Public Management(Ecofin Agency) - The government has repaid Tunisia's debts due in 2023, relying on new domestic loans. However, it struggles to secure external financing in the absence of a definitive agreement with the IMF on a $1.9 billion aid program. Tunisia's debt service is expected to increase by 40% in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching $4 billion amid a drying up of external funding, the Ministry of Finance revealed in a January 22 statement. According to the paper, Tunisia "successfully repaid all its domestic and external debts in 2023, despite significant pressure on public finances", dispelling doubts about the possibility of default. The country struggles to mobilize external financing in the absence of a definitive agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a $1.9 billion aid program.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 19:33 UTC
Meta urged to make platforms safer for LGBTQ users in the Middle East, North Africa
The group the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization held Roman-Gat hostage in Gaza until her release on Nov. 29. “She’s doing well,” Roman told the Washington Blade on Jan. 18 during an interview at a hotel near Union Station. “This is how she found out that she had been murdered, that her sister-in-law is still a hostage,” Roman told the Blade. Roman told the Blade that some of them had university degrees and they explained to Roman-Gat why she had been kidnapped. Roman told the Blade that many Israelis do not feel safe in their own country.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 15:34 UTC
BUTEC Group concludes 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 and 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 rationalization 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. Since its establishment in 1964, the BUTEC Group has been a regional leader, notably in the environment, energy, oil & gas and industrial construction sectors in the Middle East and North Africa, deploying more than 7,000 employees in about ten countries, with a track record of major projects. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 15:34 UTC
The future of the Red Sea
Two weeks ago, the United States and the United Kingdom launched airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the group’s continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. While the intervention degraded some of the Houthis’ military capabilities, the airstrikes were insufficient to sustainably secure the Red Sea and encourage a return of international shipping. Together, they discuss the crisis in the Red Sea and its escalation potential. How have countries on the Red Sea reacted to the crisis? What makes the Red Sea such a geopolitical tinderbox, and what should Europe’s role be?
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 15:23 UTC
NESR & BECL Announce Inauguration of ‘Carbon Light’ Brine Plant in North Rumaila Field Iraq
RUMAILA FIELD, IRAQ / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2024 / National Energy Services Reunited Corp. ("NESR" or the "Company") an international, industry-leading provider of integrated energy services in the Middle East and North Africa ("MENA") region, today announced the inauguration of its flagship ‘Carbon Light' oilfield brine plant in North Rumaila. The project and opening ceremony were conducted with BECL operating Rumaila Operating Organization ("ROO") in Iraq. NESR undertook the investment in the ‘Carbon Light' brine plant as part of an existing, long-term brine supply agreement to support ROO operations in North Rumaila. Story continuesSherif Foda, NESR CEO & Chairman remarked, "We are proud to collaborate with BECL to bring a new, low-carbon blueprint to oilfield brine production. For inquiries regarding NESR, please contact:Blake Gendron - VP Investor Relations & Business DevelopmentNational Energy Services Reunited Corp.832-925-3777investors@nesr.comSOURCE: National Energy Services Reunited CorpView the original press release on accesswire.com
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 14:44 UTC
‘Rice, marine exports bear brunt for now, but Red Sea woes for India Inc. may worsen’
Companies typically use the Red Sea route through the Suez Canal to trade with Europe, North America, North Africa and part of the middle-east--regions that accounted for almost half of India’s exports and 30% of imports in 2022-23. Around 95% of India’s goods trade volumes are shipped through sea. While sectors like textiles, chemicals may not be severely impacted yet, a sustained disruption of trade channels could crank up working capital needs and dent operating profits for them as well as capital goods players, CRISIL warned. “While the immediate impact of the crisis would be low for most of India Inc., a prolonged strife can affect the profitability and working capital cycle of export-oriented industries. Supply chain issues could also intensify, curbing trade volume and renewing inflationary pressures,” it concluded.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 14:43 UTC
Middle East Conflict Reshapes India-Iran Relations
Kamran Bokhari, PhD is the Senior Director, Eurasian Security & Prosperity Portfolio at the New Lines Institute for Strategy & Policy in Washington, DC. Dr. Bokhari is also a national security and foreign policy specialist at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute. He has served as the Coordinator for Central Asia Studies at the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute. Follow him on Twitter at @KamranBokhari
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 14:26 UTC
Workshop advances textile circular economy and legislative reforms
Textile and apparel enterprises from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia converged in Casablanca for a workshop on textile circularity. They looked at upcoming legislative reforms in the global textile and apparel trade, as they work towards fostering sustainable business opportunities. The workshop aimed to raise awareness among academic institutions regarding their role in the textile and apparel ecosystem. The workshop discussed circular economic models, exploration of the latest technologies, and issues related to carbon reduction and life cycle assessments in circular textile practices. ‘In our discussions, I highlighted the priorities of the Tunisian textile industry, emphasizing the importance of research and development, eco-design, and skill enhancement to address market demands,’ she said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 14:20 UTC
Iran vows to help Niger overcome sanctions – The North Africa Post
Iran has proposed to help Niger surmount economic sanctions it has been under since July 26 after incumbent leader General Abdourahamane Tiani removed Mohamed Bazoum in a military coup. “We will definitely share the experiences we have in this field with our brothers [from Niger],” Mokhber said. The ECOWAS even wielded a military intervention to reinstate Bazoum but the new Niger authorities buffered the threat. During Zeine’s stop in Iran, the two countries signed a number of documents on cooperation in trade, economic, banking, cultural, educational, healthcare and construction sectors. They also agreed to launch activities of Iranian high-tech companies in Niger.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 14:02 UTC
AFCON 2023: Algeria's Coach Leaves After Disaster in Group Stage
According to the official news agency APS, citing an official source, Belmadi, in the position since 2018, wanted to bid farewell to each of his players after failing to secure Algeria's qualification for the Round of 16 in this competition, the second consecutive time following the 2021 edition in Cameroon.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 25, 2024 13:49 UTC