North Africa: IOM Repatriates 130 Stranded Liberian Migrants From North Africa
Abadez is in Niger and was used by the International Organization for Migration as a pickup point for Liberian migrants to bring them home. She was among 130 stranded Liberian migrants that the IOM helped to return home. Many of them became stranded while traveling from North Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. Kabla Amihere, Chief of Mission of the IOM, told reporters that the decision of migrants to return to their country was best-suited move. The IOM confirmed Thursday that several Liberians are still stranded in exile and need assistance to return home.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 08, 2018 00:45 UTC
Durum demand lackluster
Durum demand could be as soggy as a wet spaghetti noodle this year based on good crop conditions in key growing regions. “Winter cereals are reaching maturity under good conditions and remote sensing indicators corroborate a very good winter crop season,” the monitor said in a May 22 report. Algeria received “abundant” rains in April prior to flowering, improving the yield outlook for winter crops. The crop monitor is forecasting average durum yields for the EU of 53 bushels per acre, which is five percent above the five-year average. New crop harvest prices are lower than the nearby prices, suggesting that buyers are not in “search mode” for durum.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 22:41 UTC
Africa seeing signs of revival
According to Sverre Strandenes, head of sales and services at Oslo-listed Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS), seismic activity in Africa “has been somewhat slower in the past few years compared to what we saw five, six or seven years ago”, but he sees certain areas showing signs of a revival. For PGS — which owns eight marine seismic vessels — activity is also picking up in Namibia and South Africa. Planned roundOff North Africa, PGS is supporting a planned licence round for the West Mediterranean area and aims to carry out further 2D and 3D seismic work to support this offering. WesternGeco is also active in 3D operations in Angolan ultra-deepwater blocks and reprocessing of 2D seismic on open acreage off Guinea. Elsewhere in Africa, Eng said “oil companies are very active along the Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and further to the south” while companies such as Total are shifting focus to Africa’s South Atlantic margin.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 22:07 UTC
Saving golf from decline
According to Golf Digest, the number of golfers in North America has fallen from a high of nearly 30 million in 2002 to about 21 million in 2016 – the decline continues. Not only have the number of golfers fallen, the average number of rounds per golfer have also fallen. Other arguments advanced for the decline in the game centre around demographics; apparently golf doesn’t appeal to the millennials, although research shows that they actually watch golf on TV. According to Golf Digest the number of courses closing down every year is higher that the number of courses opening, a trend that is expected to continue. According to the National Golf Foundation in the US, the game has to do more to appeal to new golfers.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 19:07 UTC
UNCTAD: Morocco Attracts $2.7 Bln FDI in 2017
Foreign Direct Investment flows in Morocco increased by 23 per cent in 2017 to reach $2.7 billion, while FDI to the rest of North Africa dropped by 4 per cent, according to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2018 (WIR). According to WIR, FDI flows to Africa slumped to $42 billion in 2017, a 21 per cent decline from 2016. Global FDI flows fell by 23 pc in 2017, to $1.43 trillion from $1.87 trillion in 2016. “Downward pressure on FDI and the slowdown in global value chains are a major concern for policymakers worldwide, and especially in developing countries,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said. According to the UNCTAD chief, broadening of trade tensions could negatively affect global investment, citing in this regard tax reforms in the United States.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 17:26 UTC
Tunisia tops Africa in latest FIFA ranking released a week to World Cup
World Cup bound Tunisia has lost ground in the latest FIFA rankings released just a week before the start of the world’s biggest football competition. Guinea Bissau is Africa’s biggest loser in the new rankings, losing ground to the tune of 17 positions (from 104 – 121). Rwanda also lost ground, sliding from 123 – 136. In the overall rankings, current world champions Germany retained their position at the top ahead of Brazil and Belgium. https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/1004634348920954880Here’s how the top 10 looks like, both worldwide and from Africa;World FIFA RankingGermany Brazil Belgium Portugal Argentina Switzerland France Poland Chile SpainCAF FIFA Ranking
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 13:18 UTC
Berkeley, a Look Back: ‘Zoot suit’ violence spreads north
Seventy-five years ago there was a rare mention in the Berkeley Daily Gazette of racial issues with a local connection. Haircut costs: Local barbers voted to increase the cost of a haircut in Alameda County from a typical 75 cents to one dollar on June 11, 1943. Mirror drive: Berkeley women were asked to donate unused “purse and pocket book mirrors” in a June 8 article. Enemies near: There were German soldiers very close to the shores of Berkeley, the Gazette reported June 10. Steven Finacom is a Bay Area native and community historian in Berkeley.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 12:56 UTC
Video: Cameroon’s Anglophone secessionists try abducted cop, send him to their Ambazonia prison
Anglophone secessionists have released videos of a policeman they abducted in Cameroon on Tuesday. He said government forces are storming Anglophone regions, killing innocent people, including children and women and throwing them into the water. He was reportedly tried by the Ambazonia Judiciary Court(AJC) and sent to the secessionists prison. The armed secessionists have killed many security forces, burned down schools and government institutions and kidnapped several prominent people. They have accused security forces of killing many activists in their bid to quell pro-independence protests, and of arresting and torturing many activist leaders who have remained in detention without trial.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 12:56 UTC
Secrets on How to Establish an International firm Beyond South Africa
Payment24 is a South African based fleet fuel management and mobile payment app. Their primary strategic focus according to Rahil forced the company to target regions where the market-fit was right only. Its selection supported the drastic growth of the firm among the 36 participants of global 500 Start-ups Global Seed Accelerator program in San Francisco in 2017. Payment24 product fit for the US groundbreaking fuel management and payment solutions mobile app looks promising. The two aims to be among the top three players in Africa in the fuel payment sector in the next few years to come.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 12:22 UTC
Emirates Airlines Doubles Number of Chinese Passengers Visiting Morocco in 2017
UAE airlines, Emirates, said it doubled the number of Chinese passengers and increased by 60% that of Japanese travelers visiting Morocco in 2017 compared to 2016. The company said in a statement that the introduction of A380 aircrafts has helped it contribute to promote Morocco’s tourism among Far East tourists. The airline counts 670 Moroccan staff working in different departments in its hub in Dubai. As it seeks to diversify its tourist emitting markets, Morocco sees enormous opportunities in the Chinese market, which has 130 million tourists traveling abroad annually and spending generously. Morocco has therefore taken a series of incentives to attract 500,000 Chinese tourists by 2020 up from 10,000 in 2015.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 11:03 UTC
‘Take Advantage Of Trade Liberalisation Scheme’
Mohammed Habibu TijaniDeputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mohammed Habibu Tijani, has encouraged Ghanaian businesses to take advantage of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), which allows products originating from member states to be exported free of custom duties and other charges within the sub-region to promote business growth. The different levels of commitment and implementation of the protocols on trade and investment by individual member state is a case in point. “Unfortunately, when it comes to intra-African trade, generally, the statistics do not look appealing. Trade among African countries currently stands at about 16 percent, compared to 19 percent intra- regional trade in Latin America, 51 percent in Asia, 54 percent in North America and 70 percent in Europe,” he said. He stressed the need to work towards boosting trade among African countries in order to increase the potential for achieving sustainable economic development and deepening integration on the continent.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 10:52 UTC
Nigeria’s Population Commission releases controversial report ahead of census exercise
The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics has released a report that estimates Nigeria’s population to be 193, 392, 517, ahead of a proposed National Population Census in Nigeria later this year. This data was gathered by Nigeria’s National Population Commission. The number, which is Nigeria’s population for 2016, is about 6 million people more than United Nations’ estimate of 186,988,000. The population estimate has thrown up interesting numbers, even as the National Population Commission prepares itself for a N272 billion (Yes!) The Census conundrumHe further claimed only a valid census will put a rest to speculations and projections about Nigeria’s real population.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 10:41 UTC
New row over US forces in Africa
New row over US forces in Africafrom SAID ABOUBAKER in Djibouti, DjiboutiDJIBOUTI, (CAJ News) – BY a unanimous vote, Congress has demanded answers on Washington’s vulnerability in Africa, just as the Pentagon is set to slash troop numbers across the continent. President Donald Trump has pledged to win the war on extremists but a review of the country’s special forces ordered by defence secretary Jim Mattis could see troop numbers slashed in Africa. What impact China will have on Camp Lemonier, the only permanent US base in Africa2. It is not yet clear whether a cut in US troop numbers will affect the nearly 4 000 personnel at Camp Lemonier or what role special forces may have in curtailing the growth of militia groups. And Donald Hunter’s motion will add to calls within Congress and the Senate for a review of relations with Mr Guelleh.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 09:00 UTC
Graft: Governors in court next week
News Graft: Governors in court next weekHalakhe Waqo, EACC Chief Executive. FILE PHOTO | NMGThree sitting governors and a former one are set to appear in court next week while 20 others are under investigations over corruption involving millions of shillings mostly related to procurement and abuse of office. “Until we produce them in court, we can’t reveal their identities but I can only promise you that we have a watertight case,” Mr Waqo said. “You will soon see governors in court. Mr Waqo said the agency was doing its best, only citing slow judicial process in dealing with corruption cases.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 07:52 UTC
Chapman Freeborn marks 45 years in air chartering business
Chapman Freeborn marks 45 years in air chartering businessJune 7, 2018 : Chapman Freeborn air chartering is celebrating 45 years of success in the aviation industry. Over the past four and half decades the charter company has grown from a small UK-based operation to become an internationally-renowned business with a global footprint. I have been with Chapman Freeborn for over 30 years and many of my colleagues have also been with the company for 10, 20 years or more. Last year, Chapman Freeborn welcomed the newest addition to the group by increasing its stake in UK-based Magma Aviation to a majority shareholding of 75 percent to help support the company’s long-term growth plans. The company’s charter work has also helped to generate a number of successful subsidiaries including Chapman Freeborn OBC, Logik Logistics and Wings 24 - providing on board courier services, time-critical logistics and flight operation services, respectively.
Source:The North Africa Journal
June 07, 2018 06:00 UTC