North Africa’s Economy
North Africa confronting tough climate change
Skoura, Morocco, Feb 14, 2020 (By Ismail Bellaouali) - Dead palm trees lie on dry, yellowish earth near an abandoned adobe house in Morocco's arid southeast, as drought threatens ancient oases. "I grew up in this oasis and I have seen it shrink," says 53-year-old...
Algeria faces economic turmoil and nothing that Tebboune is doing will fix anything
By Arezki Daoud - (13 February 2020): The Algerian government appears clueless when it comes to fixing the economy, or anything else as a matter of fact. The Tebboune presidency has no vision or clear understanding of economic matters and instead of producing a well...
Demographic milestone: Egypt’s population exceeds 100 million
Cairo, Feb 11, 2020 - Egypt's population has passed 100 million, its statistics agency said Tuesday, highlighting the threat of overpopulation in a poverty-stricken country where many live in crowded megacities. The North African country retains its position as the...
Business: Coronavirus likely to force more oil production cuts
Algiers, Feb 8, 2020 - A committee appointed by the OPEC club of oil-producing countries and its allies to study the effects of coronavirus recommended additional output cuts on Saturday, Algeria's energy minister said. "The coronavirus epidemic has had a negative...
Algeria: Sonatrach CEO Kamel Chikhi dismissed, company fails to stabilize
On 5 February 2020, Sonatrach CEO Kamel Eddine Chikhi was dismissed from his position by a government decree. He was replaced by insider Tewfik Hakkar, who was Vice President for Business Development and Marketing at Sonatrach. Chikhi was appointed in November 2019,...
Mauritania: UAE targets Mauritania, sets foothold there with investment commitment
Abu Dhabi, Feb 2, 2020 - The United Arab Emirates will pump $2 billion into investment and development projects in Mauritania, state media said Sunday during a visit by the country's new leader renowned for his anti-jihadist stand. "The UAE announced on Sunday the...
Egypt: Islamic State claims attack on pipeline in Sinai
Cairo, Feb 3, 2020 - The Islamic State group said on Monday it blew up a gas pipeline in Egypt's restive Sinai Peninsula, claiming it was connected to Israel. Security sources earlier said the pipeline hit was a domestic one that connects to a power station in...
Libya: Crude production collapses as warlord Haftar maintains blockade of oil sites
Tripoli, Jan 25, 2020 - Libya's oil production has plunged by around three-quarters since forces loyal to military strongman Khalifa Haftar launched a blockade a week ago, the National Oil Company announced Saturday. The fall, from 1.2 million barrels a day to just...
Political crisis took center-stage in Algeria’s 2019 security profile, says MEA Risk LLC
In a note addressed to its clients, advisory firm MEA Risk LLC said the apparent easing in political tension in Algeria is not evidence of a return to normal and the end of the anti-regime protest movement. The appointment of Tebboune as president after a massively...
Africa: Corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector
Lagos, Jan 21, 2020 - Nigeria's anti-graft agency said Tuesday it had filed corruption charges against a former justice minister over a $1.3 billion dollar oil scandal involving international majors Shell and Eni. Mohammed Adoke was arrested last month on arrival from...