[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
#DZ2014, A Hashtag against Fraud and Dictatorship in Algeria Abdou Semmar surveys Algerian’s attitudes towards a fourth term for Bouteflika.
Bouteflika : Retour vers le futur n°4. Baki 7our Mansour muses on Bouteflika’s candidacy announcement in this “back to the future” bit of political fiction.
Gestion des manifestations par la police et disparition des formulaires de Nekkaz : les explications de Hamel (Actualisé) Hadjer Guenafa highlights the differing actions of police in their response to the Barakat movement against a fourth term for Bouteflika’s demonstrations and the rallies in support of Rachid Nekkaz’ announcement of his bid for candidacy.
Libya
Plus de 20 exactions contre des médias et des journalistes depuis le début de l`année Reporters Without Borders assess press freedom in Libya since the beginning of the year.
2014 budget expected to be LD 68.59bn – salaries and subsidies shoot up Sami Zaptia analyzes Libya’s recent budget announcement.
Dispatch: Libya`s Rome Conference Karim Mezran offers a dispatch from the recent Rome Conference on Libya, designed as a show of support for the country.
مؤتمر أصدقاء ليبيا في العاصمة روما .. Mohamed Al Najm outlines the highlights of the recent Rome Conference, focusing on the need for disarmament and a return to peace during the transition period.
Mauritania
Quran Desecration Sparks Trouble in Mauritania Ahmed Jedou describes violent altercations after an alleged Quran burning incident, prompting warnings against extremism.
Les imams ont-ils pris la place de Dieu en Mauritanie ? Diko Hanoune rages against recent violence in the name of Islam in Mauritania.
Ould Maham accuse "implicitement" l`opposition d`être derrière l`incident de profanation de coran This article in Al Akhbar demonstrates one way in which the alleged Quran burning incident is being politically mobilized.
Morocco
Sub-Saharan African migrants invisible in Morocco Nahrain al-Mousawi describes the situation for sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco.
Morocco’s Amal Center: Women Train for Economic Empowerment Erin Kilbride spotlights Morocco’s first full-time job training program exclusively for women.
Moroccan Poet Mohammed Bennis Receives France’s Max Jacob ‘Étranger’ Prize M. Lynx Qualey highlights the poet Mohammed Bennis who received the prestigious award for his book A Pagan Place.
Morocco migration policy wins accolades Siham Ali reports on the UN’s overwhelmingly positive response towards Moroccan migration policy.
Language, Theatre & Morocco’s February 20th Movement George Bajalia explores the significance of Moroccan-Arabic language theater as an alternative outlet for public discourse.
Tunisia
Tunisia fights terrorist finance networks Mourad El Hattab traces the financing of terrorist operations in Tunisia.
Tunisian energy sector at crossroads Sarra Hlaoui predicts energy challenges on Tunisia’s horizon and offers insight as to areas that may be developed for greater energy security.
Tunisia: Pardoned Facebook User Released From Jail After nearly two years in jail, and after an official pardon, Afef Abrougui declares that Jabeur Mejri has been released.
Le dilemme tunisien face au terrorisme Julie Schneider probes whether it is necessary to sacrifice fundamental rights in establishing a secure Tunisia.
Tunisia’s Adapting Borderland Economy Eileen Byrne highlights the experience of a businessman at Tunisia’s border with Algeria, as he lives between hope for continued development and fear of insecurity.
الترويكا ونداء تونس وراء عودة رموز النظام السابق بقوة للساحة السياسية؟ Khawla Euchi laments the lack of accountability in the rise of Ben Ail-era faithfuls to the forefront of today’s Tunisian political scene.
Western Sahara
Western Sahara activists feel full force of Moroccan intimidation John Hilary (Executive Director of the War on Want organization) describes oppression of Sahrawi activists during the recent visit of British MPs to the region.
Ten Inspiring Saharawi Women You Never Heard Of Agaila Abba profiles ten remarkable Sahrawi women activists.
Algeria: Politics & Regional Power George Bajalia and Toshiro Baum analyze the role of Algeria in the Western Sahara conflict.
Recent Jadaliyya Articles on the Maghreb
Tunisia’s Consensus, or When a Kiss is Just a Kiss After the euphoric moment of the adoption of Tunisia’s constitution, Yasmine Ryan explores the political field as Tunisia manages a faltering economy and upcoming elections.
Jihadism and Contraband on Tunisia`s Borders Jadaliyya Reports on the recent International Crisis Group summary and recommendations regarding Tunisia’s security situation.
Creation and Cooptation: The Story of Morocco’s Migration Reform In the second article in a series on migration in Morocco, Anna Jacobs situates Morocco’s dynamic civil society in the public debates on, and eventual adoption of, migration reform.
Bouteflika’s Fourth Mandate: The Cartel’s Gamble Thomas Serres describes the announcement of Bouteflika’s run for a fourth term as an act maintenance for the status quo on the part of a “cartel” that will continue to control the state. (French version)
Cynical and Macabre `Politics of Migration` at Morocco’s Borders In the first article in a series on migration in Morocco, Sebastien Bachelet describes Morocco’s borders with its Spanish enclaves as the frontlines in a political battle involving Spain, Morocco, and the crossing migrants.
Les harragas à l’épreuve de la nouvelle donne portuaire tangéroise Sarah Przybyl situates the clandestine migrants’ journeys toward Europe in the changing urban space of Tangier.
القانون الانتخابي في تونس بين فخّ المال السياسي والصعوبات القانونية واللوجستية Khawla Euchi analyzes the development of Tunisia’s electoral law and challenges to its implementation.
Nouveau Webdoc: Au centre de Tunis: géographies de l’espace public après une révolution Jadaliyya Reports on a new web documentary about public space after the revolution in Tunisia.
The Tunisian Constitution: The Process and the Outcome Mohamed-Salah Omri traces the ups and downs of writing the Tunisian Constitution, and offers some indicators for the future.
The State of the Western Sahara Maghreb page co-editor Allison L McManus conducts an interview with four Sahrawi activists and writers, who speak on the current state of affairs in both Morocco-occupied and SADR-administrated Western Sahara.