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ANALYSIS
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Note
From
the Editor
Like
every other region in the world, North Africa is bracing
for a difficult period with an unclear time table as to
when the global economic recovery will take place. In this
issue we report that for the three central Maghreb nations,
GDP expanded between a low of 4.9% and a high of 6.2% in
2008, and expectations for 2009 look for reduced economic
growth in general.
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| 213th.
issue - February 2009
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The
Rise of North African Ports: Preparing for 21st Century
Commerce
 European
ports are beginning to see the emergence of serious competition
from the south. Ports in the Maghreb are emerging as solid
alternatives to more expensive sites in the north. Morocco
has taken the lead with Tanger-Med at the northernmost region
of the country already challenging the Spanish port of Algeciras.
Active since 2007, Tanger Med will continue to generate
attention as the surrounding industrial zone could attract
European businesses seeking more efficient relocations of
their manufacturing sites. But as its aggressive stance
is source of worries up north, Tanger Med is worryingly
looking at its eastern neighbors of Algeria and Tunisia,
which have their own plans to build ports. Cap Djinet near
Algiers is of a particular concern given its mega size and
scope. Yet, all and all, notwithstanding the regional competition
within North Africa and despite a gloomy global economic
outlook, the region is set to become a magnet for global
shipping.
Renault-Nissan
Project in Morocco Facing Massive Hurdles
The
establishment of an auto assembly plant in Tanger, Morocco,
is facing so many obstacles that it is unlikely to happen
in the short term. But if it does, we expect a major scaling
back in the scope and goals initially put forward by its
promoters. Although a company official on the Nissan side
denied the news of a withdrawal published by the French
news agency AFP and the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the economics
of the project in a very difficult global context make it
virtually impossible for it to happen in current circumstances.
Kaddafi
the African
The
house of Africa has always been in trouble and Libya's take
over the leadership of the African Union (AU) is not likely
to change anything. For one full year, Muamar Kaddafi will
lead the AU, probably to an uncertain future. Not that the
organization was already on the right path, but it is unclear
how Kaddafi will proceed. And yet, so many voices in Africa,
including Franklin Cudjoe, a contributor to this issue,
are in favor of allowing the Libyan leader to take a more
leadership role and see where it all goes. But equally impressive
is the amount of skepticism surrounding the new Libyan leadership
role as many African governments voiced their displeasure.
Among the chief opponents of the Libyan move is South Africa
and most of its allies, who see in Kaddafi's idea of a unified
confederation of states as a challenge to their own sovereignty
and influence.
Attijariwafa
Bank in a Three-Horse Race to Control African Banking
Three
African banks have been racing to expand their presence
in the continent. Among them is Morocco's Attijariwafa Bank,
which has been facing the formidable resources and capabilities
of Togo-based Pan-African bank Ecobank and Nigeria's United
Bank of Africa (UBA). While these are the three top banks
of 2008 and this year, two other banks, Morocco's BMCE Bank
and Kenya's Commercial Bank are also looking for ways to
compete continent-wide, though the expansion strategies
does not appear to be fully formed or matured.
Harassment
of Ethnic Berbers on the Rise in North Africa
North
Africa is home of the Amazigh people, also known as Berbers.
Although widespread in the Maghreb region, the Berbers continue
to suffer from a minority status everywhere in the region,
with government often ignoring their basic ethnic rights
demands at best, or even actively contributing to blocking
any progress toward cultural and economic improvement. Despite
some tiny steps made here and there, from a questionable
constitutional recognition to the launch of an embryonic
linguistic program, the Berbers continue to suffer from
harassment. If not always sanctioned by central governments,
such harassments occur under the watchful but passive eye
of the authorities. Two events in particular that have occurred
recently point to the fragile state of Berber rights. The
first occurred in the Algerian province of Ghardaia, the
second in the Libyan town of Yefren.
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IN
THIS ISSUE
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