Algeria inaugurates world’s third-largest mosque ahead of Ramadan
It’s also Africa’s largest, but critics view the mosque as a vanity project for a former president who tried to name it after himself. Algeria has inaugurated the world’s third-largest and Africa’s largest mosque, which had been delayed for years amid political shifts, ahead of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. Known locally as the Djamaa El-Djazair, it features the world’s tallest minaret at 265 metres (869 feet), can accommodate 120,000 people, and is the world’s largest mosque only after Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca and Medina. The vast mosque reportedly cost close to $900m to build and was constructed by a Chinese firm. Algeria now boasts the largest mosque outside of the holiest sites in Islam, but the project has been marked by years of delays and cost overruns.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 09:25 UTC
Deputy President to Address the launch of Principles and Guidelines for the use of Digital and Social Media in African Elections
His Excellency Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Tuesday, 27 February 2024, deliver a keynote address on the launch of principles and guidelines for the use of digital and social media in African elections at the Protea Hotel, Wanderers in Illovo, Johannesburg. These guidelines seek to create awareness among Election Management Bodies and other stakeholders on the benefits and threats of digital and social media to the electoral process and integrity. The Electoral Commission of South Africa provided secretariat support and facilitated the process for the development of these guidelines. These guidelines are relevant to the South African context as they are aligned to our appreciation of the pivotal role that social media plays in strengthening our democracy, and the importance of social media as a source for credible and factual information to the public. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 07:53 UTC
Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations receives Director General of West Asian and North African Affairs Department at Chinese Foreign Ministry
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations Ambassador Muhammad Hussein Muhammad Bahr Al-Ulum, received the Director-General of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Wang Di, with his accompanying delegation, at the Ministry’s headquarters. The meeting was attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Cui Wei, and the head of Asia and Australia Department Dr. Hamid Al-Jubouri. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Bahr Al-Ulum congratulated the Chinese delegation on the occasion of the Chinese New Year, and stressed respect for the one China principle. On his part, Mr. Wang Di, thanked Undersecretary Bahr Al-Ulum, for the warm hospitality, stressing the importance to further encourage cooperation between the two sides, to serve the common interests of both countries and find a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Iraq: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 07:53 UTC
A 'GCC-Africa Corridor' makes logistical sense
The UAE, for instance, announced a $4.5 billion investment in clean energy in Africa during a landmark climate summit in Kenya last September. Africa’s significant economic potential – including its vast uncultivated arable land, solar resources, fast-growing economies and critical minerals – presents a substantial opportunity for Gulf countries to unlock. Last year, Gulf countries funded more than $53 billion of projects in Africa, surpassing the US investment of $10 billion during the same period. A “GCC-Africa Corridor” makes sense from a logistical perspective. Closer ties benefit both regions, and the increased trade and investment flows highlight the potential of this partnership.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 07:04 UTC
Inauguration held for Africa's largest mosque
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Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 06:40 UTC
How Nigeria’s Pirano is reducing reliance on generators, cutting energy costs
Nigerian startup Pirano Energy is delivering reliable and affordable solar solutions to residential and commercial customers across the country, reducing their reliance on generators and grid usage, and empowering businesses to cut energy costs by between 20 and 60 per cent. Launched in 2018, Pirano Energy allows customers to purchase a solar system outright, or take advantage of its five-year rent-to-own scheme. It’s a win-win for everybody,” Bola Ogidan, founder and CEO of Pirano Energy, told Disrupt Africa. Ogidan founded Pirano in December 2018, with its first installation being in April 2019. It just so happens that it also dramatically reduces greenhouse gases at the same time – making it an even better solution.”Africa has a power problem, Ogidan said, and “power has a funding problem”.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 06:37 UTC
Wings of Sorrow: The Poignant Tale of a Spur-Winged Lapwing’s Migration Misstep
The recent appearance of the Spur-Winged Lapwing at Ammavaripet Lake near Warangal has unravelled a captivating chapter in ornithological exploration. The Spur-winged Lapwing is named for the distinctive spurs located on its wings. In the case of the Spur-winged Lapwing, the spurs are not only ornamental but also play a role in territorial defense and courtship behaviour. Would the Spur-Winged Lapwing choose to thrive in its newfound habitat, or was this merely a transient exploration? The unfolding narrative holds the promise of enriching our understanding of avian migration patterns, leaving an indelible mark on India’s wildlife records.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 05:35 UTC
Can the IMEC address the Red Sea crisis? | Explained
It has once again brought to the fore the vulnerabilities of global supply chains, highlighting the need to revisit alternate routes for global trade. Why is the Red Sea route important? The Red Sea owes its strategic importance for global trade to the Bab el-Mandab Strait which lies between Yemen and Djibouti. An immediate consequence of the Red Sea conflict has been that major container and oil carriers have been forced to re-route shipments via the Cape of Good Hope. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which was announced during the G-20 summit in 2023, is another alternative which is not receiving much attention.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 04:55 UTC
New Dates Announced: FESPA Middle East Set to Return to Dubai Exhibition Centre in 2025
Press release from the issuing companyFESPA has announced that the second edition of FESPA Middle East will return to the Dubai Exhibition Centre in 2025. FESPA’s decision to host this event in 2025 follows the positive response to the launch of the inaugural FESPA Middle East 2024. Taking place at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at the end of January 2024 (29 – 31 January 2024, Dubai Exhibition Centre), the event featured a line up of 150 brands and a comprehensive feature programme. Bazil Cassim, FESPA Regional Manager, Middle East & Africa, comments, “The exhibitor and visitor feedback to the launch of FESPA Middle East has been overwhelmingly positive and reaffirms our decision to expand our offering into the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region. In the meantime, we will continue supporting our growing community in this region through our FESPA Direct membership.”Further details of FESPA Middle East 2025 will follow on www.fespamiddleeast.com.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 26, 2024 00:54 UTC
Algeria inaugurates Africa's largest mosque after years of political delays and cost overruns
Algeria has inaugurated a gigantic mosque on its Mediterranean coastline after years of political upheaval transformed the project from a symbol of state-sponsored strength and religiosity to one of delays and cost overrunsALGIERS, Algeria -- ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria inaugurated a gigantic mosque on its Mediterranean coastline Sunday after years of political upheaval transformed the project from a symbol of state-sponsored strength and religiosity to one of delays and cost overruns. The third largest mosque in the world and largest outside Islam's holiest cities, its prayer room accommodates 120,000 people. Throughout the delays and cost overruns, the project never stopped feeding Algerians’ anger, with many saying they’d rather have four hospitals built throughout the country. He wanted it to be his legacy and called “Abdelaziz Bouteflika Mosque” much like Mosque Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco. That mosque, named after the former King of Morocco — Algeria's neighbor and regional rival — was once marketed as Africa's largest.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 25, 2024 18:51 UTC
Africa: Spiritual security, focus on the role of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema at a conference in Kampala – The North Africa Post
Participants in a scientific conference, held in Kampala, Uganda, Feb.24-25, highlighted the role and action of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in the achievement and preservation of spiritual security in Africa. Ugandan Deputy Prime Minister, Lukia Isanga Nakadama, who attended the opening of the conference, hailed the action of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema, as well as its objectives which consist of achieving spiritual security in Africa. Lukia Isanga Nakadama made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema. The President of the Foundation’s Uganda Section, Sheikh Ibrahim Sali, affirmed in an opening address that achieving spiritual security requires complementary and comprehensive efforts on the part of individuals, ulema, institutions, and society. The conference, held under the theme “The role of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in achieving spiritual security in Africa,” was attended by several religious figures, politicians, and diplomats.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 25, 2024 14:22 UTC
Turkish tuna farmers tripled exports to Japan over past decade
ISTANBUL -- Turkish tuna farmers have tripled exports to Japan over the past decade and expanded their operations into North Africa. Industry sources suggest that demand from China and South Korea is also surging. The harvesting of fattened bluefin tuna was well underway off the Aegean Sea coast of the western province of Izmir one day in January. Divers with electric harpoons dispatched tuna in farming pens 50 meters across, and cranes hoisted tuna weighing 300 to 600 kilograms one after another.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 25, 2024 09:37 UTC
South Africa's ANC launches manifesto ahead of May election
Ramaphosa delivered the party’s manifesto to thousands of ANC supporters at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday. The rally came as South Africa faces increasing poverty, unemployment and crime and a crippling electricity crisis. According to Ramaphosa, the ANC plans to create more than 2.5 million job opportunities in the next five years. He said some of these would come from South Africa's transition from coal-based power generation to cleaner energy. South Africa's elections are expected to be highly contested, with some opposition parties joining forces to form a coalition if the ANC receives less than 50% of the national vote.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 25, 2024 09:35 UTC
Exports venturing into uncharted territories of Africa, Central Asia, European regions: Commerce Ministry
At a time when global trade is facing geo-political uncertainties, India's exports of goods like automobiles and gold jewellery have ventured into uncharted territories of Central Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to an analysis by the commerce ministry. It added that these commodities captured a greater number of markets in the Central Asia, Africa, and European regions. "Together, exports to these markets capture 5 per cent of India's total exports of 42 principal commodities to the world. Imports contracted 6.71 per cent to USD 561.12 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 207.2 billion in the 10-month period of this fiscal as against USD 229.37 billion in April-January 2022-23. War in Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas too is impacting the global exports and imports.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 25, 2024 07:16 UTC
Exports venturing into uncharted territories of Africa, Asia, Europe: Govt
At a time when global trade is facing geo-political uncertainties, India's exports of goods like automobiles and gold jewellery have ventured into uncharted territories of Central Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to an analysis by the commerce ministry. It added that these commodities captured a greater number of markets in the Central Asia, Africa, and European regions. "Together, exports to these markets capture 5 per cent of India's total exports of 42 principal commodities to the world. Imports contracted 6.71 per cent to USD 561.12 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 207.2 billion in the 10-month period of this fiscal as against USD 229.37 billion in April-January 2022-23. War in Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas too is impacting the global exports and imports.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 25, 2024 07:02 UTC