[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 Tuesday night of every week]
Algeria
Le rapport de l’Unesco insiste sur la nécessité de l’enseignement en langue maternelle Linguist Abderrezak Dourari makes a case for dialectical Arabic and Amazigh instruction in schools.
أسبوع الملل واللَعن والطَعن في اللَغات Said Khatibi comments on the recent media storm over the role of dialectical Arabic in Algerian society and education.
Algérie: Les origines du Chaâbi présenté par Réda Doumaz.. Réda Doumaz’s specials on Algerian Chaabi music from the casbah of Algiers.
Les chansons marocaines ne sont pas interdites sur les ondes des radios algériennes Members of the Algerian National Radio respond to allegations claiming that Moroccan music is prohibited on national airwaves. Despite some considerations of a ban, the national radio insists that Moroccan music is allowed within the country.
A Much Needed New Economic Paradigm For Algeria Sasha Toperich and Samy Boukaila highlight Algeria’s infrastructure investment program and suggest policy moves to strengthen the struggling economy.
Ooredoo launches three mobile health clinics in Algeria Algerian mobile phone service company Oreedo is working with the Red Crescent to provide health clinics that will give service to around 250,000 locals.
Libya
UN`s Leon holds fresh Libya peace talks in Algiers UN envoy Bernardino Leon will be holding new peace talks in Algiers with the General National Congress, who boycotted previously held talks as well as the UN agreement put forth last month.
UK government spent 13 times more bombing Libya than on rebuilding post war “Official figures show that the eight-month military intervention unleashed by David Cameron in support of rebels fighting Colonel Gadaffi’s regime cost 320 million pounds. But efforts to stabilize the country following Gaddafi’s death and the collapse of his government have amounted to just 25 million pounds, which has failed to prevent Libya from sliding into chaos as feuding militias battle for control."
Libya food imports fall as turmoil disrupts deliveries Al Arabiya report on the dropping food imports in Libya due to the current political instability.
Libya Court Sentences Gadhafi`s Son To Death The Jurist reviews the verdict sentencing Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and eight others to death for the war crimes they allegedly committed during the 2011 revolution.
13 Hours trailer: does Libya embassy thriller reveal Michael Bay`s subtle side? Trailer and commentary of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Michael Bay’s adaptation of the 2012 attack on the US compound in Benghazi.
Mauritania
الذهب… ثروة موريتانيا الضائعة Falling gold prices began to hit the Mauritanian economy, and concerns over mining company Kinross Tasiast’s potential to reduce labor costs have begun to spread.
قانون جديد يحارب الرشوة في موريتانيا لدرء تهم التطبيع مع الفساد Oppositional political parties continue to express their discontent against President Aziz’s anti-corruption measures.
قمة أفريقية بنواكشوط لمواجهة التحديات المناخية في القارة عبر مشاريع طموحة Mauritania participated in the recent Africa Summit to discuss food security and potential links between poverty and terrorist threat.
Transparency Advocate: Mauritania`s Fishing Sector Still Opaque Till Bruckner interviews Ba Aliou Coulibaly on Mauritania’s fishing sector and evaluations of public transparency.
Morocco
نص الخطاب الذي وجهه الملك محمد السادس إلى الأمة بمناسبة عيد العرش المجيد Text and video of King Mohamed VI`s speech delivered on Throne Day.
Rethinking Retail Development in Morocco Fulbright scholar Kaylee Steck discusses the economic ramifications of the Hanout, a popular local convenience store in Morocco, and its endurance in the face of supermarket growth.
"Mdinti", l`application pour signaler des anomalies dans votre ville A new application launched by two Moroccan entrepreneurs enables users to report anomalies in the public infrastructure.
An insider`s guide to Fez: Ceramics, courtyards and Macbook decals Jadaliyya co-editor Samia Errazzouki explores the ancient city of Fez in the Guardian’s Insider’s Guide.
Morocco - Uber’s first steps in the Maghreb The Middle East Eye “speaks to drivers and customers using Uber in Morocco, currently in a test phase in Casablanca.”
بنسعيد ايت يدر : الوسام الملكي لا يعفيني من مواقفي والملكية البرلمانية طريقنا نحو الديموقراطية وأدعو الى تغيير طقوس البروتوكول الملكي Veteran resistant fighter Mohamed Bensaid Aït Idder responds to critiques and reaffirms his political stances after receiving a medal from King Mohamed VI on Throne Day.
Maroc : le journaliste Ali Lmrabet cesse sa grève de la faim Journalist and political activist Ali Lmrabet ceases his hunger strike after Moroccan authorities promised to renew his Moroccan residence permit and passport. Lmrabet started a hunger strike outside Geneva’s United Nations offices on 24 June.
Tunisia
Should western countries support Tunisia and if so how? Scholar Ahmed Souaiaia’s view on Western involvement in Tunisia: “Young Tunisian entrepreneurs and government officials want to be treated fairly and with dignity. They do not want handouts. They do not want loans. They do not want to be dependent on tourism or for European leaders to risk the lives of their citizens to shore up tourism in Tunisia.”
Tunisia : Counterterror Law Endangers Rights The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) gives a critical review of the amended Tunisian Counterterror law that it deems a danger for human rights and civil liberties. The FIDH is among eight NGOs that signed a petition against the instrumentalization of the new law for non democratic purposes.
Des artistes et des professionnels du cinéma tunisien annulent leur participation au Festival de Locarno 2015 Tunisian artists and cinema professionals withdraw their participation from the 2015 Locarno Festival protesting the partnership between the festival’s organizers and the Israeli Film Fund.
La loi de finances complémentaire est une déception pour les Tunisiens Mongi Rahoui, chairman of the Finance Committee, Planning and Development of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP) criticizes the Supplementary Budget Bill, which he calls a “deception for the Tunisian people.”
بتهمة المسّ من هيبة الأمن: مدير إنتاج "بوليس حالة عادية" أمام القضاء Tunisian authorities bring Executive Producer Hassan Hosni to justice for attacking the prestige of security forces in his show “Bolis Hala ‘A’diya.”
Western Sahara
Esperanto vs Western Sahara Challenges Our Ideas Of What International Football Looks Like Paste magazine highlights a friendly soccer match between two states that do not technically exist.
Western Saharan star Aziza Brahim cancels Israel concert After fans of Aziza Brahim urged the star to cancel her concert in support of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, the star decided to cancel her show at the Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival.
Sahrawi government condemns Moroccan King speech Sahara Press Service announces the Sahrawi Republic’s condemnation of Mohammad VI’s speech during the celebration of his sixteenth year on the throne.
We Are Rebels: Western Sahara Intercontinental Cry features a documentary series on four colonized territories, with an issue on the Western Sahara.
Recent Jadaliyya Articles on the Maghreb
Daoud’s Camus Fanfiction Is More of the Same Nadia Sariahmed reviews Kamel Daoud`s critically-acclaimed novel, The Meursault Investigation.
France Decorates a Moroccan Facing Justice on Bastille Day: A Portrait of Abdellatif Hammouchi Writing for OrientXXI, Omar Brouksy profiles Moroccan intelligence chief, Abdellatif Hammouchi, on the eve of Bastille Day—when Hammouch was expected to receive the Legion of Honor.
The Rise and Fall of Abu ‘Iyadh: Reported Death Leaves Questions Unanswered Nathaniel Greenberg writes about the media attention surrounding the figure of Abu `Iyadh, addressing doubts over reports claiming his death.
A Dangerous Dualism: The Myth of Two Algerias Thomas Serres dispels the prevailing notion of a dualistic Algeria, instead pointing to the nuances and complexities that make up Algerian society. Read the French version here.
Tunisia: Democratic Miracle or Mirage? Nadia Marzouki and Hamza Meddeb complicate the perception of the Tunisian exception and model, honing in on a more critical approach to the state of Tunisian politics today.
الثورة القادمة إلى شمال أفريقيا: الكفاح من أجل العدالة المناخية Jadaliyya interviews Hamza Hamouchene and Mika Minio-Paluello on the release of their new book on climate justice in North Africa. Read the English version here.
Un portrait de la jeunesse des banlieues populaires de Tunis aujourd’hui Olivier Legros reviews Les jeunes de Douar Hicher et d’Ettadhamen: Une enquête sociologique, a book that touches upon the experiences of Tunisian youth in popular, working-class neighborhoods.
Paradigms Lost in Morocco: How Urban Mega-Projects Should Disturb our Understanding of Arab Politics Koenraad Bogaert addresses the issues surrounding major urban projects in Casablanca within a contentious political context following the advent of Morocco`s 20 February Movement.