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Algerian Officials Inaugurate the Largest Mosque in Africa
After seven years of construction, Algeria has inaugurated the largest mosque in Africa. The Great Mosque of Algiers (or the Djamaa El-Djazair) is also the third-largest in the world, eclipsed only by the Grand Mosque of Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. He planned to name the site the “Abdelaziz Bouteflika Mosque,” mirroring the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, which is named after Hassan II. His endeavor, however, was largely criticized as a “vanity project,” according to Al Jazeera. Experts worried the mosque was built on a site prone to earthquakes, though Algerian officials have since denied those claims.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 22:48 UTC
Nigerian fintech startup BFREE raises $2.95m funding to enhance product suite
Nigerian fintech startup BFREE, a leading ethical credit manager platform, has raised a US$2.95 million round of funding to enhance its product suite. The company aims to provide effective solutions for debt management while supporting financial institutions in their risk management efforts. BFREE will use the funding to significantly enhance its suite of risk management solutions customised for banks and lenders. “At BFREE, we are focused on addressing the challenges of risk management in African economies. We foresee the growing prominence of credit management and are confident that BFREE will spearhead the creation of a secondary market on the continent for distressed assets.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 21:58 UTC
How Middle East and North African countries can rise to the climate challenge
There is a lot at stake for the MENA region, which is viewed as being uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. People walk outside Expo City in Dubai on December 12, 2023 during the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28. (AFP)While many Western nations appear to be rolling back their climate commitments, the Middle East and North Africa region has risen to the challenge. (Supplied)All these plans are crucial if countries in the Middle East and North Africa region hope to address the effects of climate change, which are already impacting precipitation patterns, causing water scarcity and harming agriculture, thereby threatening livelihoods and food security. In the Gulf states, in particular, climate change is already contributing to an increase in the salinity of groundwater.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 21:12 UTC
UPDATE 1-Tunisia raises drinking water prices by up to 16% due to drought
TUNIS, March 1 (Reuters) – Tunisia has raised its drinking water prices by up to 16%, the official gazette said on Friday, in response to a drought that has lasted five years. After years of drought, average rainfall has increased in recent months but government officials said this week that Tunisian dams have only reached 35% of their stock capacity.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 20:18 UTC
Morocco & France agree to step up cooperation in agronomy, forestry, veterinary research – The North Africa Post
Morocco and France have agreed to enhance cooperation in agronomy, forestry & veterinary research as well as in agriculture vocational training on the sidelines of the ongoing Paris International agricultural show 2024. The agreement, which was inked Friday in Paris, aims to foster cooperation ties between the two countries’ agriculture universities and vocational training centres. Prior to the signing of the agreement, Moroccan minister of agriculture Mohamed Sadiki met with French peer Marc Fesneau. Talks focused on French-Moroccan technical cooperation, food security, climate change and cooperation prospects in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. During the visit, France and Morocco emphasized their determination to boost cooperation at all levels, including trade and economic cooperation.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 19:11 UTC
British-Moroccan trade thriving – The North Africa Post
British-Moroccan trade is thriving and the potential for the development of commercial relations is tremendous, said special envoy of the British Prime Minister for trade Rob Butler, who is on a visit to Morocco. “Last year, bilateral trade amounted to nearly £3.5 billion. This is a real illustration of the potential opportunities that exist between the UK and Morocco,” Butler told the press after a meeting Thursday in Rabat with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita. London and Rabat “maintain extremely important relations” marked by strong commercial potential, stated further the special envoy of the British Prime Minister for trade in Morocco. Rob Butler’s visit reflects the UK’s ambition to strengthen economic ties with Morocco, especially in terms of trade and investment, and to explore cooperation prospects in various sectors such as infrastructure, aerospace, healthcare, agriculture, and education.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 17:27 UTC
Stellantis Middle East and Africa Reports Strong 2023 Performance – Advancing Fast Toward Dare Forward 2030 Goals
Stellantis Middle East and Africa (MEA) (www.Stellantis.com) has shown robust performance in 2023, effectively advancing its Dare Forward 2030 objectives despite global challenges. Market share grew to 14.9%, a notable step towards the 22% leadership market share 2030 goal outlined in the Dare Forward 2030 MEA section of the plan, suggesting an expansion in market presence. In 2023, Stellantis made significant strides across diverse regions, from Turkey through the Middle East, North Africa, to Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. Enhance commercial performance across key markets, ramping up in the Middle East, South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa with a market share above 12% by 2030. These efforts will maintain the growth trajectory and continue delivering exceptional value to Stellantis MEA customers and stakeholders.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 17:25 UTC
Mokwena wants Sundowns to break north African dominance of Champions League
Rhulani Mokwena has set his Mamelodi Sundowns' team the tough task of breaking the north African monopoly of the CAF Champions League. The Brazilians have qualified for the quarter-finals of the continent's premier inter-club competition for the sixth successive season, highlighting their place as one of the big boys in Champions League football.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 16:54 UTC
Offshore Network launches Middle East and North Africa Well Intervention Outlook
As a quick, efficient, and cost-effective method of maximising existing resources, interventions are going to be a hot topic in the years to come." Middle East and North Africa's (MENA) eagerness to take up intervention activities is well evident as companies such as Coretrax is showing increased interest in the fossil fuel-driven region. In another multi-year contract in the Middle East signed as recently as October 2023, the well integrity and production optimisation leaser will be delivering production enhancement across a multi-well campaign. AIQ's autonomous well control solution called RoboWell that has been deployed by ADNOC in its North East Bab (NEB) assets remains one such instance. Offshore Network's Middle East and North Africa Well Intervention Outlook attempts to reflect on these industry developments, as OWI MENA 2024 gears up to return in Abu Dhabi from 17-18 September.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 16:48 UTC
Ericsson Report: Africa takes lead as 85% of global population expected to have 5G access by 2029 – The North Africa Post
The November 2023 release of the Ericsson Mobility Report predicts that by 2029, 5G access will reach 85% of the world’s population, with Africa taking the lead in this advancement. According to the report, 4G subscriptions are expected to constitute 49% of the total by 2029, while 2G subscriptions will maintain a significant share at 27%, primarily due to the region’s predominantly rural population. Fixed Wireless Access is emerging as a crucial technology to meet Africa’s rising broadband needs, with key markets like South Africa, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe already rolling out 5G FWA services. Ericsson’s report projects a substantial surge in global 5G subscriptions, with estimates indicating a more than 330% increase from 1.6 billion to 5.3 billion between the end of 2023 and 2029. By the end of 2023, 5G coverage is expected to reach over 45% of the global population, rising to 85% by the end of 2029.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 15:46 UTC
Russian, Turkish ministers discuss Middle East, North Africa, Black Sea - report
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday discussed the Middle East, North Africa and the Black Sea region at a conference in the Turkish city of Antalya, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 15:26 UTC
Morocco’s Ambassador in Paris presents her credentials to French President – The North Africa Post
Mrs Samira Sitail presented, on Thursday at a ceremony at the Elysée Palace, her credentials to President Emmanuel Macron, as Morocco’s Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary Ambassador to France. Mrs Sitail was appointed to the position by King Mohammed VI on November 30, 2023. The French Ambassador to Morocco had presented his credentials to King Mohammed VI in Rabat early October 2023. Ties between Rabat and Paris have been warming up lately after a series of diplomatic crises that marked bilateral relations during the past two years. The warming up highlighted by the visit last week of French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné to Morocco, where he held talks with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 14:39 UTC
Conference in Dakhla hails efforts to position Moroccan Sahara as gateway to Africa, other continents – The North Africa Post
The conference, held in Dakhla, aimed to position the region as a pivotal gateway connecting Morocco to Africa and beyond. The conference’s final statement, titled “Dakhla Declaration,” expressed appreciation for the leadership of King Mohammed VI and commended various Royal initiatives. Participants also hailed the prevailing climate of peace, security, freedom, and democracy in the Moroccan Sahara region. Additionally, they urged Algeria to acknowledge its historical responsibilities in the genesis, evolution, and persistence of the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. AUSACO, an independent organization uniting over 3,000 individuals from politics, diplomacy, academia, journalism, law, and civil society globally, is dedicated to defending the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 01, 2024 14:39 UTC