North Africa’s Economy
Tunisia suffers hours-long power outage
A sudden power outage hit Tunisia Wednesday, causing a nationwide blackout for about three hours due to technical problems, the electricity and gas company STEG said. The outage came about 1:00 am (0000 GMT) "due to a sudden breakdown" in the Rades power plant in the...
Morocco: Uncertainty looms in the tourism sector
By Anne-Sophie Labadie: Marrakesh's ancient medina was nearly empty on Sunday after a deadly earthquake that hit Morocco, but it did not stop some tourists who told AFP they chose to stay on. Tourism is the lifeblood of the North African country's economy, and...
Mali, a leading producer of gold, manganese and lithium, shakes up mining sector
Mali has adopted a new mining code allowing the state to take up to 30 percent stakes in new mineral projects and collect more revenues from the vital industry. Junta leader Assimi Goita signed the code into law on Monday, his office announced on social media Tuesday....
Tunisian brand turns sea plastic into green couture
By Francoise Kadri: The two men in bright overalls rooting for plastic on a Tunisian beach do so to make a living, but also in the knowledge that they are helping the environment. What they do not know is that the waste will become part of a synthetic plastic fibre...
Brief: Nigeria cuts electricity to Niger after coup
Nigeria has cut its electricity supply to Niger after West African neighbours imposed sanctions on the junta that ousted the country's elected leader last week, a Niger power company source said on Wednesday. "Since yesterday, Nigeria has disconnected the high-voltage...
Niger: Nuclear industry in France seeks to appease concerns over Niger’s uranium
The military coup in Niger last week raises the question of Europe's dependency on uranium mined in the West African nation for its nuclear power plants. France's nuclear fuel firm Orano, formerly part of Areva, operates a uranium mine in the north of the country,...
Tunisia: Panic in Europe over Tunisia’s potential economic collapse
By Francoise Kadri: Western nations fear an economic collapse in Tunisia could trigger even greater migrant flows to Europe and have offered financial assistance. Yet prospects of Tunisia's sealing the biggest deal of all -- a $1.9-billion bailout from the...
Tunisia: Saudi Arabia offers soft loan and grant to financially-troubled Tunisia
Saudi Arabia on Thursday said it will give Tunisia financial assistance valued at $500 million, including a $100 million grant, as the North African country grapples with crippling inflation and debt. The announcement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency...
Algeria-China agree to strengthen ties
China's President Xi Jinping pledged on Tuesday stronger ties with Algeria in a meeting with the gas-exporting North African nation's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as Beijing looks to diversify its energy supply. Tebboune began a five-day state visit to China on...
Entrepreneurship: Producing cheese in Algeria
By Abdellah Cheballahb: Sporting a white cap and apron, Rachid Ibersiene bustles around vats at his dairy in Algeria's Atlas Mountains where he has brought the tradition of artisanal cheesemaking back from Switzerland. "We started with a butane gas bottle and stove,"...