[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

Les avocats du barreau d’Alger en grève pour « une justice indépendante » Lawyers across the country go on strike for a week, demanding an independent justice.

Algeria to hold referendum on constitution on Nov. 1 Algeria sets the symbolic date of 1 November as a date for a popular referendum on President Tebboune's draft revision of the constitution. 

Le chef du Pentagone cette semaine à Alger, une première depuis 2006 US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper visits Algeria to talk about regional security in a tour that also includes Tunis and Rabat. The last time a Pentagon leader came to Algiers was in 2006.

Le président Tebboune ordonne l’ouverture progressive d’El Manchar After a suspension of more than three months for fear of repression, as many Algerians were arrested for activity on social networks, El Manchar, the country's renowned satirical news website, is back. The announcement comes with a first article titled “President Tebboune orders gradual opening of El Manchar.”

Les inondations en Algérie suscitent colère et derision A number of cities are flooded by rainwater, and as authorities fail to curb the recurrence of such incidents Algerians on social media react with both indignation and derision.

Adrar’s problems exposed as Sahara Desert heats up The last dispatch of a three-part series on the impact of climate change in Algeria focuses on the Saharan province of Adrar (southwestern Algeria) and the problems it faces during high temperatures.

Khaled Drareni condamné à deux ans de prison ferme An appeal court in Algiers sentences the journalist Khaled Drareni to two years in prison over his coverage of the Hirak protest movement. Earlier in August, a court of first instance initially sentenced Drareni to three years in prison.

ALGÉRIE: UNE CATASTROPHE ENVIRONNEMENTALE SUITE À LA FUITE DE PÉTROLE DE DEUX OLÉODUCS DE LA SONATRACH Oil leaks from two Sonatrach pipelines cause an ecological disaster in El Oued, in eastern Algeria. Locals fear serious impact after the spilled oil mixed with the waters of Oued Itell.

Libya

Libyan PM Fayez al Sarraj intends to step down by October The head of Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, announces his intention to hand over power by the end of October.

National Day of Tabu Culture Libyans celebrate national day for Tabu culture.

Protests flare in Libya's Benghazi over power cuts, living conditions Numbers of Libyans in the eastern city Benghazi, the base of Khalifa Haftar and the LNA, take to the streets to protest worsening living conditions.

Libya’s eastern-based government resigns amid protests The eastern-based interim government (allied to Khalifa Haftar) announces resignation after the protests.

Tunisia appoints first ambassador to Libya since 2014 For the first time since 2014, Tunisia appoints an ambassador to Libya. Appointed by President Saied Kais, al-Asad al-Ajili will be based in Tripoli.

Amnesty: Migrants face ‘vicious cycle of cruelty’ in Libya Amnesty International denounces the forcible detentions and disappearances of thousands of migrants who were intercepted on the Libyan shores this year.

Turkish Energy Minister: Turkish companies are installing power station in Tripoli Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmaz announces that several Turkish investors reached agreements with the GNA to install power stations in Tripoli.

Mauritania

This African nation could be the next to normalise ties with Israel Considering factors related to the Emirates’ policies in the Maghreb and Sahel, TRT World anticipates that Mauritania could be next to normalize ties with Israel.

En Mauritanie, un maraîcher transforme le désert en jardin Le Monde reports on how, in the suburbs of the capital Nouakchott, a gardener transformed a small desert area into a green garden.

Can Mauritania Protect Its Political Stability? Intissar Fakir analyses the challenges of the current Mauritanian presidency to ensure an efficient political transition while fending off the former president's attempts to return to power.

Mauritanian delegation in Mali to meet coup leaders Mauritanian officials visit Mali to meet with the leaders of the military coup that toppled the government of the former president, Ibrahim Boubacar Kita, on 18 August.

IMF raises the worth of its ECF deal Mauritania will receive fifty-two million dollars in financing from the International Monetary Fund, after an increase in the amount of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) agreement concluded earlier in 2017.

Arrests made after funds embezzled from Mauritania Central Bank The Public Prosecution of the Nouakchott Court arrests several individuals suspected of involvement in the embezzlement of two million dollars of foreign exchange reserves from the Mauritania Central Bank.

Mauritania’s Fading Promise and Uncertain Future The Arab Digest analyzes Mauritania’s situation in a context of economic difficulties and political (both external and internal) pressure.

Morocco

A Marrakech vidé de ses touristes, « c’est comme si la carte postale était déchirée » Since Morocco’s closure of borders in March, Marrakesh grapples with an ailing economy due to a lack of tourism. Locals regret the abrupt inertia, as many businesses were closed and a number of jobs lost, yet they hope to see a revival of local economy and tourism by the end of the year.

In Pictures: Morocco village riffs on Jimi Hendrix legends, myths A coastal village in Morocco reminisces about a visit of Jimi Hendrix half a century ago as locals tell stories about seeing and meeting the legendary musician. His mythicized 1969 journey embodies one of the village’s landmarks.   

كيف سينعكس اتفاق البيت الأبيض على دول المغرب؟ Al-Quds Al-Arabi suggests a prospective aftermath of the White House agreement between the Emirates, Bahrain and Israel, in Morocco (and the Maghreb), while pointing out the different settings pertaining to the region in contrast to those of the Gulf as regards normalization.

Moroccans protest Arab nations normalizing ties with Israel In Rabat, demonstrators take to the streets to denounce the normalization of ties with Israel following the Emirates’ and Bahrain’s diplomatic pacts with Israel. Morocco was said to be considering a similar move, but officials objected to the idea.

US signs 10-year military cooperation deal with Morocco US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper signs a ten-year military deal with Morocco during his visit in Rabat. Esper signed a similar deal with Tunisia days earlier during his visit to Tunis.

Espionage Case Against Outspoken Journalist Omar Radi, a Moroccan investigative journalist jailed since July, is probed on charges of undermining state security, receiving foreign funding and an alleged rape. If convicted, Omar Radi could receive up to ten years in prison.

Tunisia

En Tunisie, les forces de l’ordre visées par une attaque ; un mort, trois assaillants tués Sousse is yet again the scene of a terrorist attack later claimed by ISIS.

Tunisian Parliament gives green light to Hichem Mechichi's government The Tunisian parliament approves Hichem Mechichi’s government with 134 votes out of 217. Mechichi is the third head of government to be elected in less than a year.

Le premier revers pour Kaïs Saïed depuis son élection Tunisia’sLe Temps argues that Mechichi’s election as head of government is President Saied’s first setback since his coming into office.

التطبيع في تونس خيانة أم قرار سيادي؟ The New Arab analyses President Kais Saied’s reticence and shift in tone, before and after his election, on the issue of normalization of ties with Israel.

Tunisia signs 10-year military deal with US During his visit to Tunis, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper signs a ten-year military deal with Tunisia.

Tunisia’s tourism industry hit hard by coronavirus pandemic Tourism, one of Tunisia’s major industries and second biggest employer, is hit hard by the pandemic and knows the worst activity and revenues in years.

Presidential statement in favour of death penalty is shocking Amnesty International decries President Saied’s statement in favor of death penalty and calls on Tunisia to safeguard the country’s decades-long human rights record and the ban of executions.

Western Sahara

UN High Commissioner for Human rights reported Moroccan harassment against Saharawi human rights defenders The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, informs the UN Human Rights Council about harassment and reprisal of Saharawi human rights defenders by Moroccan authorities.

Sahrawi people's right to self-determination: Polisario wants concrete actions from UN The Polisario Front demands concrete actions from the United Nations to hold a long-awaited referendum on self-determination in occupied Western Sahara.

Bachelet wants to dispatch new mission to Western Sahara The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet discusses dispatching a new mission to Western Sahara.

Il y a 50 ans, le front pro-Sahara contre le colonisateur espagnol DW revisits the history of Mauritania during its struggle against Spanish colonialism as well as afterwards, in a regional context including Algeria and Morocco.

منظمة العفو الدولية تطالب المغرب بإسقاط “تهم ملفقة” بحق الإعلامي الصحراوي ابراهيم إمريكلي Amnesty International calls for the release of Ibrahim Amrikli, a Sahrawi journalist who was arrested by Moroccan authorities on the pretext of violating a state of emergency and insulting public officials.

الاتحاد الأوروبي يفند ادعاءات الاحتلال المغربي بخصوص المساعدات الموجهة للاجئين الصحراويين The European Union reaffirms that the humanitarians aid it sends to the Sahrawi refugees were rigorously monitored, after allegations from Morocco that those aids were misappropriated once in Western Sahara.

Geneva Conference on Western Sahara voices full support to self-determination A Geneva videoconference themed “sixtieth anniversary of UN Resolution 1514: Its implementation in Western Sahara” and held by the Support Group to Western Sahara urges the United Nations to accelerate the holding of a self-determination referendum on occupied Western Sahara.

In Jadaliyya

Ben Salah and the Fate of Destourian Socialism in Tunisia in the 1960s Idriss Jebari revisits the neglected political career of Ben Salah and his crucial role in Destourian socialism.

Colonial Algeria: The Silence of our Fathers Dorothée Kellou writes about her historical explorations, both within her family and on the Algerian past in general, despite the silence she faced during her inquiry. She also mentions her film, In Mansourah you separated us, in which she travels to Mansourah with her father and documents his memory.

“This is the Voice of Algeria:” Radio Corona International Carries the Torch of the Hirak Muriam Haleh Davis on how, amid a crackdown on journalists and free speech, the Hirak still found a voice in Radio Corona International, one among the ways in which the Hirak shifted online during the pandemic.

The Algerian Healthcare System in the Time of COVID-19 Thomas Serres analyzes the challenges of the Algerian healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Algerian state’s shortcomings despite promises amid popular discontent.