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Despite economic hardship, defense spending in North Africa & Sahel on the rise
The North Africa Journal | April 27, 2017: Despite severe economic performances affecting the countries’ revenues, North Africa, including the Sahel, witnessed an increase in military expenditure in 2016, growing 2.2% to US$ 21.264 billion versus 2015. The...
Nine Moroccan terror suspects caught in Italy and Spain
The North Africa Journal: April 26, 2017: The Italian Special Operations Group (ROS) arrested a Moroccan national described as “extremely dangerous” who was plotting to carry out terrorist attacks in the country on 24 April. The 29-year old Moroccan was arrested...
Morocco: New Prime Minister likely to reduce PJD Islamist party role in government
The North Africa Journal - March 20, 2017 - After firing Abdelilah Benkirane, King Mohammed VI asked the PJD’s number two, Saadeddine El-Othmani to form a new government. Benkirane failed to do so (or was forced to fail) leaving Morocco without a cabinet for several...
Morocco: King Mohammed VI fires Prime Minister Benkirane
The North Africa Journal - March 15, 2017 - The Moroccan King, Mohamed VI has reportedly sacked Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane and is preparing to appoint a replacement from within Benkirane's party, the moderate Islamist PJD. The firing of Benkirane is the result...
Morocco: Opposition MP assassinated in Casablanca
The opposition party MP Abdellatif Merdas was shot dead on 7 March 2017 outside his home, located in Casablanca's California neighborhood. A suspect who had allegedly threatened the victim after a personal dispute was apprehended by the general directorate of national...
Tunisia and Morocco looking for Africa markets for business and politics
The North Africa Journal: March 7, 2017- Two North African countries, Morocco and Tunisia, have been seeking membership into two regional economic groups in an effort to expand business opportunities and make fresh diplomatic gains. One of them has been accepted, the...
New activity on the Western Sahara conflict, but no one knows where this is headed
The North Africa Journal - March 6, 2017 - The UN envoy to the Western Sahara Christopher Ross has handed over his resignation to the new UN chief Antonio Guterres. The news came days after Moroccan troops made a symbolic retreat from the contested area of...
Morocco top producer of cannabis, becoming transit route for South American cocaine
The North Africa Journal - March 6, 2017 - Morocco produces a lot of cannabis and that’s a huge part of the country’s economy, feeding tens of thousands of farmers in the northern provinces. Although the drug is illicit, it pales in comparison to the deadly impact of...
Morocco: Hostage situation thwarted in Ain Sebaa
According to a security source, a man tried to hold employees of a company based in Casablanca's Ain Sebaa district hostage, and threatened to "blow himself up". The authorities intervened, negotiated with the assailant and eventually arrested him. The suspect is said...
UN, Morocco and the Polisario: a symbolic withdrawal
The North Africa Journal: February 27, 2017: Morocco is to withdraw some troops from Guerguerat, in the contested Western Sahara region. The move is a bid to deescalate tension after Moroccan soldiers breached into the buffer zone established by the UN to keep Morocco...
Labor Unions: Localized and segmented unions in North Africa seek better coordination
The North Africa Journal - Feb 21, 2017: Labor protests have been a major source of the heightened level of social unrest across the region. This past week saw its share of trade union unrest, largely driven by a labor sector that has regulations largely seen as...
Morocco’s King hints at dissolution of Maghreb Union
In light of the return of Morocco in the African Union, the King Mohammed VI has hinted that the Arab Maghreb Union (AUN) is on the verge of dissolution due to a “lack of belief in a common interest.” The King went on to call the Maghreb the world’s “least unified...
Relations: Turkey forces Morocco to close schools allegedly tied to the Gulen movement
Morocco has agreed with Ankara’s demand to close the schools affiliated to the Islamist movement controlled by the opposition figure Fethullah Gulen. For months, Turkey has been increasing pressure on most countries that hosts schools tied to Gulen. Already in the...
Outlook: Yet another cycle of uncertainty for the region
As the armed forces and security services manage to control, to a certain extent, the terror threat, the Greater North Africa region is facing unprecedented political tension, social stress and economic despair. Data for all countries in the North Africa zone,...
Instability in North Africa and Sahel claims over 8,500 deaths in 2016. MEA Risk expects 2017 to be another crisis year
Miami, FL – MEA Risk LLC - The North Africa and Sahel zone witnessed a 16.0% increase in the number of destabilizing critical incidents in 2016 to a total of 11,916, according to MEA Risk LLC. Despite such increase, MEA Risk’s Instability Index, measuring the crisis...
Morocco sustains counter-terror campaign, as Prime Minister struggles to set up new cabinet
January 10, 2017: The North Africa Journal: By Hakim Briki: The CIA has warned a number of countries, including Morocco, of a risk of Berlin-like attacks conducted by Islamic State militants in the next few weeks. Local media says the CIA informed the Moroccan...
Morocco remains a moderate risk country, seeks to contain militant groups
Morocco faces a moderate level of security risk, placing it as an intermediate risk country. Indeed the Kingdom faces several risk sources but it has managed, thus far, to successfully control them. From October 25 to November 24, Morocco’s MEA Risk Index was 1.44,...
Status Quo in Morocco’s Elections: Not too Many Choices for Voters
The Norh Africa Journal- October 8, 2016: With a low 43% turnout, a sign of a malaise and disappointment for most voters, the general elections took place in Morocco yesterday (Oct 7, 2016), maintaining a status-quo that enables the moderate Islamist PJD party to...
Morocco: Islamist PJD Party Favorite to Win Legislative Elections, but Victory is not Guaranteed Yet
The North Africa Journal. October 2, 2016: Morocco’s legislative elections are scheduled to take place on October 7, 2016. Two major groups are vying for the control of the country’s assembly. The moderate Islamist PJD party (Parti Justice et Développement) of Prime...
Insurance firm Zurich exiting the Moroccan market
Swiss insurance firm Zurich Insurance is considering exiting the Moroccan and South African markets amid a deteriorating business environment. The company is reportedly unable to generate profits from these units, and a substantial erosion of its global business...
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