Tunisian group accuses authorities of mass expulsions of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa
The nongovernmental organization said that migrants in Sfax, which is 117 miles (188 kilometers) from the Italian Island of Lampedusa, regularly experience arbitrary arrests and violence. Such treatment hasn’t been limited to migrants who enter Tunisia without authorization and has extended to refugees, students, and workers, the group said. It said it had received frequent reports of mass expulsions across the Algerian and Libyan borders. Tunisian officials have said small groups of migrants have been pushed back across the country’s desert borders but disputed reports of systemic abuse and expulsions. Tunisian migration groups estimate there are between 20,000 and 50,000 sub-Saharan migrants in the country.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 13:55 UTC
Famine threatens Sudan after war claims harvest
Amin says his crops need water and fertiliser that he and other farmers in the area can no longer provide. Sign up Also receive offers from The Africa Report Also receive offers from The Africa Report's partnersLocal officials had announced plans in October to plant 600,000 acres of wheat – vital to fend off widespread hunger. Most of its food is imported, and with a war-crippled economy and 5.8 million people displaced within the country, the spectre of famine has stalked Sudan for months. “Unless peace magically descends on Sudan, there is going to be famine. Sudan was already suffering before the war, with triple-digit inflation and a third of the population needing humanitarian aid.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 13:46 UTC
Backlash at Mauritania’s customs duty hike on Moroccan goods – The North Africa Post
Mauritania has hiked customs duty on goods entering the country from the Guerguarat border crossing with Morocco, triggering the wrath of local consumers who see the move as a hit to Mauritanians purchasing power. Most goods transiting through El Guerguarata to Mauritania and the wider West African regions are fresh produce. The hike meant that a truck loaded with vegetables or fruits will have to pay 4600 euros instead of 1600 euros in customs duty, an increase that would affect retail prices for the end consumer. Mauritania relies on Morocco for most of its imports of fresh produce as the country is also Morocco’s only land route to other African markets. The customs decision led many truckers to make a u-turn back to sell their produce in local Moroccan markets, leaving Mauritania in serious shortage.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 13:11 UTC
The Coming War Between Israel and Hezbollah
Hilal Khashan is a Professor of political science at the American University of Beirut. He is a respected author and analyst of Middle Eastern affairs. He is the author of six books, including Hizbullah: A Mission to Nowhere. He is currently writing a book titled Saudi Arabia: The Dilemma of Political Reform and the Illusion of Economic Development. He is also the author of more than 110 articles that appeared in journals such as Orbis, The Journal of Conflict Resolution, The Brown Journal of World Affairs, Middle East Quarterly, Third World Quarterly, Israel Affairs, Journal of Religion and Society, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, and The British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 11:55 UTC
Morocco: Bilal El Khannouss praises San Pedro training facilities
Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss is full of praise for the training facilities in the city of San Pedro ahead of the 34th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d'Ivoire 2023. The hotel is also perfect,” said El Khannouss. I thank them for the support they give us all the time,” said El Khannouss. El Khannouss is playing in his first TotalEnergies CAF AFCON and will be relying on mentorship from current CAF Awards Coach of the Year Walid Regragui. All matches will be played at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 11:29 UTC
Carriers deny deal with Houthis, some respite in Red Sea
With as many as 25 attacks in the Red Sea on container shipping lines, there are reports that carriers have reached out to Yemen-based Houthis for safe passage, Shipping Watch reported. COSCO stops Israel callsChinese carrier COSCO has decided not to call any Israeli port, according to Israeli business daily Globes. Platts assessed rates for import freight into West Coast North America from North Asia was up $200 to $3,000/FEU -- the highest level since September 20, 2022, the update added. On the spot market, the same carrier cited $7,900/FEU into the East Coast and $5,800/FEU into the West Coast for mid-month validity. Sources remained sceptical that the market will fully accept the elevated rates but most market participants expect further rate increases on the horizon."
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 11:20 UTC
Gabon increases by 3 per cent budget for armed forces – The North Africa Post
The junta-led government in Gabon has increased by three per cent the 2024 budget allotted for armed forces, up from $30 million of last year. The 2024 budget will cover clothing and food for the troops, as well as fuel for the various vehicles of the armed forces. The increase, Gabon Review reports, follows several years of demands by the army for the improvement of working conditions under former President Omar Bongo Odimba. The central African country is currently led by a transitional leadership headed by General Brice Oligui Nguema. The CRTI in November announced August 2025 as the end of transition through elections.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 11:16 UTC
Three solar farms inaugurated for Burkina Faso power grid
December saw the commissioning of three different solar farms in Burkina Faso, with national electricity utility SONABEL as sole offtaker. The first two were earmarked to be officially inaugurated on 16 December, namely the Kodeni solar PV power plant in the region of Hauts Basins and the Pâ solar PV power plant in the region of the Mouhoun loop. This is compared to an 18.36% renewable energy share of 410MW of installed capacity in the Burkina Faso energy mix in 2019, according to Africa Energy Portal. Burkina Faso turns to solar energy to connect rural regionsPrime Minister Appolinaire Joachimson Kyélem de Tambela was on hand for the inauguration of the first two solar plants. The 24MWc Zano solar PV power plant is also the result of a public-private partnership, this time between the state of Burkina Faso, Qair Energy, Quadran Burkina Faso Group and SONABEL.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 10:14 UTC
When the size of solar farms affects weather patterns
Beyond a certain size, solar farms become large enough to affect the weather around them and ultimately the climate as a whole. In our new research we have looked at the effect such climate-altering solar farms might have on solar power production elsewhere in the world. We know that solar power is affected by weather conditions and output varies through the days and seasons. This would in turn affect patterns of cloud cover and how much solar energy could be generated around the world. If huge solar farms were installed in other drylands:Changes in solar potential annually (top panels), in december-january-february (middle panel), and june-july-august (bottom panel) in four scenarios where huge solar farms were constructed.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 07:54 UTC
Algeria : Tribunal set up for MSC's dispute with government
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Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 07:16 UTC
Egyptian online tutoring startup Orcas acquired by Kuwaiti ed-tech firm Baims
Egyptian online tutoring startup Orcas has been acquired by Baims, a leading Kuwaiti ed-tech company, in a strategic move to help the latter capture the flourishing US$100 billion education market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Founded by Hossam Taher and Amira El Gharib, Orcas is a one-on-one personalised tutoring platform designed to enhance the learning experience for students. The startup raised pre-Series A funding last year, and has expanded to markets like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. It has now been acquired by the Kuwait-based Baims, a leading ed-tech company with a focus on university and high school education. “By acquiring Orcas Tutoring, we are not just expanding our reach; we are redefining the ed-tech landscape in MENA,” said Yousef AlHusaini, CEO of Baims.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 07:15 UTC
Desperate missions to end decades-long AFCON drought
They are among some previous winners desperate to end a trophy drought running for decades. That the Moroccans are the first team to land in Ivory Coast highlights their determination. In Ivory Coast, coach Walid Regragui’s Morocco are in Group F alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia. The hosts are in a formidable Group A that also has West Africa rivals, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea. North and West Africa have dominated Africa’s prime football tournament.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 07:13 UTC
North Africa oil discovery tests from new formation
Texas, US-based IPR Energy Group (IPR) has made an oil discovery with its West AY-1X exploration well onshore Egypt, and the operator is already considering further wells to exploit the same sand. The successful wildcat tested and produced from a new formation — Kharita — in Alamein-44, adding an incremental 2850 barrels per day of oil to the Yidma-Alamein Western Desert Development Lease. West AY-1X was drilled to a depth of 13,166 feet, utilising a 1500 HP drilling rig. The well was lifted by coil tubing/nitrogen, then placed on production with an electric submersible pump (ESP) at a rate of 703 bpd of oil. IPR is currently evaluating the option for additional BMB sand development offset wells to West AY-1X.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 09, 2024 01:05 UTC
EU provides Mauritania €9.5m to support reforms in health, education – The North Africa Post
The European Union has granted Mauritania €9.5 million earmarked to prop up the national budget of the African country in favor of some reforms in the areas of education and health. For Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, the assistance illustrates the quality of our partnership with the European Union, and the mutual trust we have built up. The EU is pleased with the significant progress made in health and education sectors and dialogue so far between the two sides, the EU envoy to Mauritania Gwilym Jones noted. This year, the European bloc and Mauritania will focus on operationalization of the SCAPP program and consolidation of the African country’s pension and health fund. The EU is keen to provide additional institutional support to the tune of €26 million.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2024 23:50 UTC
Middle East & North Africa Data Center Market Report 2023-2028: Submarine Cables Boost Connectivity, Strategic Investments Transforming the Landscape
DUBLIN, Jan. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Middle East & North Africa Data Center Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The UAE dominates the Middle East and North Africa data center market regarding data center developments. In the Middle East and North Africa data center market, the presence of smart cities in the region also drives investments. Due to the burgeoning data center activities, the Middle East and North Africa data center market is poised to offer significant revenue opportunities for construction contractors. The Middle East and North Africa data center market is investing substantially in the power infrastructure, ensuring a minimum N+1 redundancy.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 08, 2024 19:02 UTC