[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Maghreb and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Maghreb Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to maghreb@jadaliyya.com by Thursday night of every week.]
Algeria
North African diversities: Algerian tales, Maghrebi dreams Francis Ghilés describes a history of oil and gas extraction in Algeria, as influence by key actors since independence.
La forte hausse des crédits à l’économie ne profite pas à l’investissement productif Lilia Oufella analyzes the most recent report issued by the Bank of Algeria.
Kaddour Chouicha. «La cooptation d’un président ne servira pas l’Algérie» Cherif Lahdiri interviews human rights activist Kaddour Chouicha on the political situation in Algeria given Bouteflika’s grave illness.
Algeria to unify fatwas Algeria considers unifying fatwas after Salafist scholars issued opinions on loans that differed from official government opinions.
Libya
Libya’s “growing” drugs/HIV problem IRIN reports on an alarming increase in drug use and HIV connected to weaker governance in the country, lack of border control and the emotional duress of conflict.
Libya: Blasphemy Charges Over Election Posters Human Rights Watch demands that Libya drop charges against protesters who created cartoons criticizing Libyan National Party officials.
Libyans say no to militias Rhiannon Smith situates the deaths of thirty one Libyans on June 8 as a part of a building frustration with the influence of militias in the country.
Mauritania
Social movements and unrest in Mauritania since the Arab Uprisings Hassan Ould Moctar diverges from the usual focus on security issues and highlights the recent democratic uprisings in Mauritania.
L`opposition exige un bulletin de santé du président Aziz A coalition of Mauritanian opposition parties demands that the government release a statement regarding the health of President General Abdel Aziz.
IRA-Mauritanie prépare une révolution ouvrière, selon son président The Mauritanian Initiative for the Resurgence of an Abolitionist Movement announces its preparations for a peaceful workers revolution.
Femmes mauritaniennes et gestions des conflits Baye Tidiane Diagana describes the integral role that women play in resolving conflict and tension in Mauritania.
Morocco
‘Qandisha`, the Women`s Webzine that is Ruffling Feathers in Morocco Claire Ulrich of Global Voices interviews Fedoua Miski, the founder of Moroccan feminist e-zine Qandisha.
حركة عشرين فبراير و تحديات المرحلة الراهنة Mamfakinch offers a synopsis of a recent symposium held in Casablanca reflecting on strengths and weaknesses of the 20 February movement, particularly in its relationship with opposition parties.
Affaire des primes Mezouar/Bensouda : plainte classée, Ramid interpellé par la société civile Lakome investigates the scandal of former Minister of Treasury and Finances and Treasurer General, who channeled funds into personal accounts.
Tunisia
Weld El 15: Two Years for “Rapped Retaliation”? Yosr Dridi condemns the two year sentence handed down to rapper Ould El 15 for his song slamming Tunisian police.
Grève des imams : la neutralité et l’indépendance des mosquées comme véritable enjeu Sana Sbouai explores a hunger strike by Tunisian imams as representative of a debate on independence of mosques.
Tunisia: Sweeping Political Exclusion Law Human Rights Watch condemns political isolation law written into newest version of Tunisian constitution.
Western Sahara
Bernabe Lopez : «Rabat doit accepter de faire son autocritique dans la gestion de la question du Sahara» Spanish researcher Bernabe Lopez criticizes Morocco’s policy in Western Sahara, calling it a “crisis of confidence.”
Inside the Saharawi Refugee Camps: Is the UN part of the problem? Angel L. Martinez offers a special report, investigating the inefficiencies of the UN’s role in the territory and the difficulties faced by NGOs
Western Sahara: the inconvenient uprising nobody wants to talk (or hear) about Hicham Yezza underscores the relative indifference of the international community on the struggles in Western Sahara.
Recent Jadaliyya Articles on the Maghreb
معتقلو موريتانيا في غوانتانامو Ahmed Jedou describes confusion and outrage over the recent reports that Mauritanian Guantanamo detainees Mohamed Ould Slahi and Ahmed Ould Abdel Aziz had been handed over to Mauritanian authorities.
Erdogan in Morocco: The Politics of Reception Samia Errazzouki analyzes Erdogan’s visit to Morocco, where he met not King Mohammed VI, but an increasingly isolated Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane.
Roundtable Introduction: Beyond Dominant Narratives on the Western Sahara Samia Errazzouki and Allison McManus introduce a roundtable of articles on the contours of the Western Saharan “cold war.”
The Last Colony Stephen Zunes sheds light on Morocco’s policies towards the territory and its people, including human rights abuses and policies of settlement.
US Policy Between a Rock and a Hard Place John P. Entelis explores the Western Sahara’s significance for the region, particularly as the conflict has been mobilized in narratives of decolonization both in Algeria and Morocco.
The Cost of Authoritarianism Aboubakr Jamaï and Ali Anouzla underscore the intensification of the call for self-determination in recent years.
Global Geopolitics of the Western Sahara Allison L. McManus places the conflict in a global context, examining the role of the United Nations as a mediator.