[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 roundup to maghreb@jadaliyya.com]
Algeria
الفساد: الجزائر تتراجع في ترتيب منظمة الشفافية الدولية Transparency International downgrades Algeria’s ranking, citing widespread corruption.
Oppositions algériennes : au-delà du pouvoir After many years out of politics, founder and former party leader of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), Said Sadi, writes an article on ambiguity and stagnation in Algerian politics.
هل ينتشل طريق الصحراء الجزائر اقتصاديا؟ Amid an economic crisis brought on by collapsing oil prices, the Algerian government is looking to further expand in African markets.
Algeria’s Libya Problem At a time when Algeria is politically and economically weakened, the country still has to face intervention and engagement in Libya in order to overcome the security threat posed by Libyan instability.
Fifteen years into his career, the Algerian taxi driver still finds beauty along Constantine’s roads An interview and photo essay gives a glimpse into the daily life of a taxi driver in Algeria
Bouteflika reçoit le ministre saoudien de l’Intérieur Algeria’s president Abdelaziz Bouteflika meets with Saudi Arabia’s interior minister, Abdel Aziz Ben Saoud Ben Nayef Ben Abdelaziz Al-Saoud.
Algérie : Abdelaziz Bouteflika ou le temps suspendu An analysis on the political future of Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who appears to be poised for a fifth mandate.
Libya
Millions flow from Gaddafi’s ‘frozen funds’ to unknown beneficiaries Although the Muammar Gaddafi Regime’s funds in the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) have been frozen, the interest on funds in Brussels has been channeled by the tens of millions of euros to anonymous beneficiaries, circumventing sanctions.
Libya's health sector reform moving ahead says head of committee The head of the National Center for Health System Reform (NCHSR) announced that progress is being made in the reform of Libya’s health sector, including launching health insurance and forming a medical supply organization.
ليبيا.. تعيينات عسكرية قد تفجر خلافا بين السراج وحفتر The Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, announced the appointment of a number of military officials, deepening conflict between him and the leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar.
Veteran commander vies for power in Libya's shifting sands Khalifa Haftar, former ally of Muammar Gaddafi, presents himself as a stabilizing force in Libya and exercises control over the Libyan National Army (LNA), but he favors the military over politics and may try to consolidate control over Libya under an authoritarian regime.
Morocco
بسبب الريف والصحافيين.. "امنيسيتي" ترسم صورة قاتمة عن حقوق الانسان في المغرب Amnesty International paints a grim picture regarding the status of human rights in Morocco, mainly due to the treatment of protesters in the Rif region and of journalists.
٣٠ شركة برتغالية تحط الرحال في الدار البيضاء بحثا عن سوق جديد Thirty Portuguese companies come to Casablanca in order to participate in an economic mission organized by the Portuguese Chamber of Industry, Trade, and Services.
Morocco looks to be front-runner for 2026 World Cup bid: report ESPN reports that Morocco may be the front-runner in the campaign to host the 2026 World Cup, facing a joint bid from the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Morocco's king undergoes successful heart surgery: state news agency King Mohammed VI underwent successful heart surgery on 26 February in Paris, after being diagnosed with an “atrial flutter."
Critical Moroccan journalist arrested on several charges The Committee to Protect Journalists provides a summary account of the events that led to the arrest of prominent journalist and publisher Taoufik Bouachrine.
بعد خروج محاميه..الوكيل العام للملك يقرر مصير توفيق بوعشرين Lawyers for Moroccan journalist Taoufik Bouachrine speak to journalists regarding the latest legal developments in the case against him.
Akhannouch: ce qu'il a dit sur 2M Moroccan businessman and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries gives an unprecedented interview on public channel 2M.
مغربيات الخليج Hespress publishes a brief report regarding the negative perceptions of Moroccan women who travel to the Gulf countries for economic opportunities.
Mauritania
نقاش جماهيري لتقرير البنك الدولي عن الاقتصاد الموريتاني The World Bank holds a dialogue with Mauritanian academics and policymakers following the publication of its latest report on the status of the country’s economy.
احتجاجات في المجرية بتكانت للمطالبة بتوفير مياه الشرب Locals in the city of Mejriya in the Tagant province protest to demand access to clean drinking water amid ongoing delays of the construction of a new water network.
EU boosts G5 Sahel counter-terrorism force The European Union doubled its contribution to the G5 Sahel anti-terrorism joint military force (Including Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad) from 50 to 100 million Euros.
Mauritania: Govt Issues Birth Certificates for Malian Refugee Children The Mauritanian government is issuing thousands of birth certificates to Malian refugee children born in the Mbera camp in order to provide them with legal protections.
Mauritanie – Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz : « Je soutiendrai un candidat en 2019 » Jeune Afrique conducts an interview with Mauritanian president, Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz
Tunisia
Violence against women: New Tunisian law in effect, will it be effective? Analysis of a new law that is going in to effect in Tunisia designed to end violence against women by lengthening potential prison sentences, raising the age of consent, and penalizing spousal and ex-spousal domestic violence.
Seven years after the 'Arab Spring,' Tunisia is leading another revolution -- on women's rights Update on Tunisia’s progress in granting equal rights to women, including the removal of a ban on interfaith marriage, and the controversy that has come with these reforms.
Commentary: Tunisia revolts again January included a number of riots and protests in Tunis and towns in the Center West based on a perception that changes expected after the 2011 regime turnover have not occurred.
فوسفات تونس.. الاحتجاج مستمر والإنتاج معطل Dozens of employees of the Tunisian Gafsa Phosphate Company protest in Tunis over the company’s halted production, despite the government's continued efforts to mediate a solution with the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT).
Médina de Tunis : les artisans désemparés face au « made in China » A look at how traditional Tunisian craftsmen are struggling to compete and survive amid the rise of imported products from Asia.
Nabeul : Récit d’un transgenre violé et torturé par deux hommes A transgender woman recounts being raped by two men in Nabeul, but fears that because of article 230 of the penal code that criminalizes “sodomy,” that she will be arrested if she files a complaint.
Youssef Chahed rencontre Nourredine Taboubi Tunisia’s prime minister Youssef Chahed meets with the secretary general of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) to discuss the country’s current socioeconomic situation.
Western Sahara
المجموعة المشتركة للصحراء الغربية بالبرلمان الاوروبي تعرب عن قلقها من انعدام الشفافية في تعامل المفوضية الاوروبية مع حكم محكمة العدل الاوروبية Concern continues over the European Commission’s lack transparency in its handling of the European Court of Justice’s ruling over the European Union-Morocco fisheries trade agreement.
European Court Rules Against Morocco Again, Barring Western Sahara's Waters From EU Fisheries Deal The top court of the European Union ruled that waters of the coast of Western Sahara are not included in a fisheries agreement between Morocco and the European Union.
Western Sahara: AARASD's GA in France is Committed to Continue Its Support to the Saharawi People and Promote Initiatives for the Respect of HHRR in Western Sahara The General Assembly of the Association of Friends of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (AARSD) in France announced the intention to begin new initiatives to promote human rights and cooperate with Sahrawi refugee camps in Western Sahara.
Maroc : les nouveaux seigneurs du Sahara occidental A glimpse into the major families that have established their dominance in the Western Sahara with the support of the Moroccan state.
Recent on Jadaliyya
Jeffry R. Halverson and Nathaniel Greenberg, Islamists of the Maghreb (New Texts Out Now) Jeffry R. Halverson and Nathaniel Greenberg speak to Jadaliyya about the release of their latest book, Islamists of the Maghreb.
James McDougall, A History of Algeria (New Texts Out Now) Interview with historian James McDougall on his latest book entitled A History of Algeria.
Tunisia and the International Community since 2011: Rentierism, Patronage and Moral Hazard Despite perceptions of a democratic Tunisia, the incoming flow of loans has upheld a undemocratic practices of patronage, failing to address protesters’ dominant socioeconomic grievances.
Morocco's Hirak Movement: The People Versus the Makhzen Morocco’s growing Hirak protests against the regime, now spreading throughout the country, receive a historical and political analysis.
The Battleground for the Morocco-Algeria Rivalry The regional rivalry between Morocco and Algeria expands beyond conflict over Western Sahara to competition throughout Africa in light of Morocco’s foreign policy turn towards the continent.
حراك الريف: النظام يراهن على الحسم الامني Following months of protests in Morocco’s northern Rif region, the regime’s security forces assert their dominance in managing the ongoing crisis through widespread arrests and repressi