Niqab: Somali police seize hundreds of veils in Kismayo amid security fears
Warsame Ahmed Gelle told state TV that authorities have been conducting operations to "fight" the veils, also known as niqabs. Security forces in Somalia's southern city of Kismayo have seized hundreds of Islamic face veils from female residents, the city's police chief says. Officers in Kismayo have been confiscating the veils by stopping women in the streets and forcing them to remove the garment. Women caught wearing the niqab, which covers the whole face expect for the eyes, also face jail or a fine. However most Somali women still opt for the hijab, which covers a woman's hair but not her face.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 22:16 UTC
Africa poised for mega investment opportunities with energy transition
Africas energy transition presents one of the most significant investment opportunities globally as the continent strives to improve electricity access while prioritising decarbonisation. He says South Africa , in particular, exemplifies the urgent need for energy investments as Eskoms operational failures and maintenance issues have led to persistent blackouts. Opportunities across AfricaOther African nations are also opening their energy markets to private investment. In the Democratic Republic of Congo , energy shortages impede mining activities critical for the global energy transition. Lawson noted, Partnerships will be crucial to generating the capital Africa needs for its energy and digital transition.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 21:27 UTC
Tunisian President Saied files paperwork to run in October's election
Saied submitted 242,224 signatures from registered voters to qualify for inclusion on the Oct. 6 ballot in the North African nation. TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisian President Kais Saied filed papers Monday to run in the October presidential election, where he is expected to face little competition as potential challengers have been imprisoned during his first term. Four other candidates have gathered signatures to run including Abir Moussi, a right-wing critic of the president who has been behind bars since she staged a protest outside his residence last year. Her attorneys said they filed her paperwork on Sunday.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 19:49 UTC
Pan African DataCentres Exhibition & Conference, incorporating Cloud Solutions Africa, was heralded as a great success! – Intelligent CIO Africa
The Second Edition of the Pan African DataCentres event was heralded as a success by exhibitors, visitors and speakers alike, as it delivered more attendees, more content and more delegates than ever before. !” – Venessa Moffat, EMEA Channel Partner Manager, EkkoSenseThe Pan African DataCentres Event, delivered nearly 1500 attendees across the two days of the event, from 29 countries, this is a growth of over 40% year on year. “Pan African Data Centers has become a major event when it comes to data centers in Africa. The variety of exhibitors and visitors, together with the quality of the conferences and speakers have made this year’s event a great success again.”- Stephane Duproz, Independent ConsultantThe Pan African DataCentres event (inc. The Pan African DataCentres Exhibition & Conference will be taking place again on 23-24 June 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 19:13 UTC
Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs meets Minister for Middle East, North Africa at British Foreign Office
QNALondon: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met on Monday in London with the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa at the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HE Hamish Falconer. The meeting discussed bilateral cooperation relations and ways to enhance and develop them. It also discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, and the latest updates in the region. During the meeting, HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need to reach an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and accelerating the pace of delivering humanitarian aid to the Strip. Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United Kingdom HE Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani attended the meeting.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 18:19 UTC
Kaylia Nemour Wins Africa's First Olympic Gymnastics Gold
Kaylia Nemour of Team Algeria celebrates winning the Gold medal during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Uneven Bars Final on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 17:45 UTC
Defense: Morocco & U.S. strengthening cooperation in electronic warfare amid mounting regional tension – The North Africa Post
Morocco is strengthening its military cooperation with the United States and western allies in electromagnetic warfare through “Arcane Thunder 24” exercise which is taking place in the North African Kingdom and Germany this August 5 through 16. A press release issued by U.S. Army Europe/Africa Command says this multi-domain exercise is designed to reinforce strong and strategic relationships between U.S. its Allies and partners. “It’s another opportunity to further strengthen cooperation and highlight the longstanding partnership between the U.S. and Morocco through the testing and synchronization of capabilities”, he added. The U.S. is participating in this exercise with 200 soldiers, while the United Kingdom, Germany and Morocco are taking part with approximately 100 soldiers. A series of complex missions and challenges will test participating nations’ planning and incorporate industry technology.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 16:42 UTC
M23 rebels take DRC town near border with Uganda – The North Africa Post
Majority-tutsi armed group, M23 rebels, captured Ishasha, a border town in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo near Uganda, dealing a blow to a fragile ceasefire between DRC and Rwanda. M23 entered the border town the same day a cease-fire between DRC and Rwanda was beginning. DRC accuses Rwanda of arming M23. The rebels have taken large parts in the mineral-rich east DRC since they have launched their offensive in 2021. The country’s mineral wealth, estimated at $25 trillion, has yet to be tapped into due to corruption and instability in the country’s east, where different rebellions are ongoing, notably that led by the M23 movement.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 16:32 UTC
North Korea's Kim oversees delivery of new tactical ballistic missile launchers
By Hyunsu Yim North Korea's Kim oversees delivery of new tactical ballistic missile launchersSEOUL, - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the delivery of 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers to frontier troops, state media KCNA reported on Monday, which Seoul said he would use to threaten South Korea. North Korea said it test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile last month. "We believe are intended to be used in various ways, such to attack or threaten South Korea... North Korea has long condemned joint drills between the United States and South Korea as a rehearsal for invasion. North Korea's state media has reported on her public activities, but not on her political future.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 16:27 UTC
Daily Memo: Israel-Iran Escalation, Asian Market Downturn
Tehran could be preparing to respond to Israel's strikes last week. Preemptive strike? There are reports that an Iranian attack against Israel could be imminent and that U.S. President Joe Biden will hold talks on the issue with his national security team on Monday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly discussed the matter at a meeting with top security and defense officials on Sunday. According to Israeli media, […]
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 16:12 UTC
Paris 2024 football: Morocco a nation on the rise as men’s team eyes Olympic gold
Morocco is a football nation on the rise. Over the last few years, the north African country has been on an unstoppable climb at major tournaments. And it seems that has passed down to the Under-23s, who are doing their country proud at Paris 2024. The Atlas Lions have broken new ground at these Olympic Games, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in their history. Regardless of what happens for the remainder of this tournament, though, Morocco is on the up and they are here to stay.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 16:12 UTC
Disguised ships and front companies: how North Korea has evaded sanctions to grow a global weapons industry
But the international sanctions monitoring regime on North Korea has been disbanded, raising concerns about the unimpeded flow of North Korean weapons to global hotspots from Ukraine to Gaza. For example, North Korea has bought a number of ships that it uses to disguise its trading activities through front companies. To further facilitate its illicit trade, North Korea also continues to use Automated Identification System (AIS) spoofing for its ships. Now, the end of much enforcement of North Korean sanctions will enable it to further expand its buyer network. North Korean weapons were reportedly used by Hamas in its operations against Israel from October 2023 onward.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 16:02 UTC
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un oversees transfer of missile launchers to border
North Korea has been expanding its short-range weaponry designed to overwhelm missile defences in neighbouring South Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presided over a ceremony to mark the delivery of 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers to military units at the border. Addressing the crowds, Kim described the launchers as an “up-to-date tactical attack weapon” that he had “personally designed”. North Korea has long condemned joint drills between the United States and South Korea as a rehearsal for invasion. North Korea has moved troops to the border, ramped up weapons testing and sent hundreds of balloons stuffed with rubbish to South Korea.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 13:38 UTC
Energy players sign MoU with Tunisia
TE H2, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe, and fellow energy company Verbund have cemented an energy partnership. The parties have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Tunisia on a green hydrogen project. The project’s anticipated initial yield of 200,000 tonnes of green hydrogen yearly has the prospect of growing five-fold in the future. TE H2 is a joint venture 80% owned by New York and Paris-listed integrated energy company TotalEnergies, with Luxembourg-headquartered renewable-energy focused EREN holding the remaining 20%. Elsewhere in Africa, US-based renewable energy investor Fortis Green Renewables acquired a significant minority interest in a Rwandan hydropower plant in January.
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 13:20 UTC
Nigeria: Integrating EVs and mini-grids can change rural mobility
The deployment of EVs in rural areas in Nigeria can be an alternative productive use, benefitting customers and solar mini-grid developers. This is according to a report – Integrating E-Mobility with Mini Grids in Rural Nigeria – compiled by the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria and the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs. The report says that the proliferation of mini-grids in rural Nigeria providing reliable electricity supply – and some offering spare generation capacity – makes vehicle electrification achievable. Nigeria plans to gradually replace all ICE vehicles on its roads with Electric Vehicles (EVs). See the Integrating E-Mobility with Mini Grids in Rural Nigeria report
Source:The North Africa Journal
August 05, 2024 13:19 UTC