Magharebia

Essaouira will host a festival on the music and culture of Andalusia from November 1st-3rd. Evoking the memory of a time marked by peaceful co-existence between Jewish and Muslim peoples, festival organisers hope to spread a message of peace through cultural exchange.

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem has declared he will not resign as prime minister or as head of the FLN, despite two months of criticism from both his party and opposition politicians.

Club Africain and Esperance stumbled through the eighth round of Tunisia's Premier League on October 27th and 28th, boosting USM into second place.

The anniversary of Moroccan activist Mehdi Ben Barka's 1965 disappearance has prompted new efforts to push the Moroccan and French governments to reveal the truth behind the case. A French judge issued warrants for several Moroccan officials believed to possess information relevant to the affair.

Media professional in Tunisia have elected to create a new union to replace the sometimes criticised Association of Tunisian Journalists. The new organisation plans to negotiate salaries and benefits for its members.

An increasing number of young Algerians engaging in violence and illegal immigration has driven the government to develop a new plan to identify and counter the phenomenon's root causes. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika described the new programme on October 23rd, following a workshop on youth issues in the capital.

The Concert for Tolerance, an event gathering artists and fans from across the Mediterranean, was held in the Moroccan coastal city of Agadir for the second time on Saturday (October 27th).

Nearly 18 months on, the Tamounte project to plant and educate Sousse residents about the argan tree continues to show promise. Organisers hope the oil's growing popularity on the international market and better conservation efforts will contribute to the tree's sustainable cultivation.

The withdrawal of the Popular Movement (MP) from Morocco's government majority poses serious consequences for parliamentary debate. Observers feel the new government led by Abbas El Fassi has a difficult road ahead.

Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi presented a statement to Parliament on Wednesday (October 24th) outlining the government's agenda for the coming mandate. Topics included economic growth, security and culture.

Efforts by the Mauritanian government to form a new political party constituting the current ruling coalition have been met with criticism from citizens and opposition leaders, who are worried the new party would represent a backward step for Mauritanian democracy.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrapped up his first state visit to Morocco on Wednesday (October 24th). During his stay, Sarkozy met with members of government and industry to discuss ways to strengthen economic and political relations between the two countries, and in the broader Mediterranean region.

The popularity of Algeria's Islamist parties appears to be in decline in the lead-up to local elections in November.

Some terror experts have expressed scepticism regarding the alliance between the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) and al-Qaeda, raising the subject to an international debate.

During his three-day state visit to Morocco, French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave a speech before the country’s parliament, discussing economic partnership and the fight against terrorism.

ES Sahel scored an important win against Olympique Béja on Saturday (October 20th), widening its lead over Club Africain to five points after the seventh round.

Two leaders of Tunisia's Progressive Democratic Party ended a month-long hunger strike on Saturday (October 20th) when the landlord of their party offices abandoned a lawsuit alleging they had violated their lease agreement.

The US Navy destroyer Donald Cook arrived Saturday (October 20th) in Algiers port for a joint exercise on combating terrorism at sea.

Press freedom advocacy group Reporters without Borders' annual report offers a critical assessment of press freedom in the Maghreb. According to the report, only Mauritania has shown significant progress.

Morocco has introduced several Islamic banking products to provide alternatives to Muslims wary of traditional banking services. Although many Moroccans welcome the alternative products, banks plan to keep them expensive to reduce competition with their traditional financial products.

During a visit to Morocco on October 22-24, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will stop in Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier to discuss economic relations between the two countries. He is also due to make a speech before the Moroccan parliament, a first for Morocco.

The Algerian Football Federation announced on Wednesday (October 17th) that it selected former national coach Saâdane Rabah to replace recently-ousted Jean-Michel Cavalli. In the Algerian club championship, day seven on Thursday saw JSK tie at home, ending their five-game winning streak and keeping them behind USMA in the rankings.

All sides in the Western Sahara dispute maintain their national positions while applauding a new UN draft resolution in support of the negotiations begun in New York.

The Moroccan branch of the organisation Search for Common Ground launched a new project last week to provide mediation services to families embroiled in domestic disputes. The organisation's Country Director Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri speaks to Magharebia about the project's vision.

Morocco's new parliament commenced operations on October 12th amid the government and the public's hope for success. The new legislature begins with a full schedule, including drafting the new government's programme and considering draft laws carried over from the previous assembly.

A group of twelve independent trade unions has lodged a formal complaint against Algeria's new national wage structure which was prepared jointly with the General Union of Algerian Workers. The independent unions have promised a general strike if the government does not consider their demands.

Some see the appointments of seven female ministers as a form of compensation for the overall decrease in women's representation in parliament following the September 7th elections.

Eid celebrations across Tunis and its surrounding areas were interrupted Saturday (October 13th) when torrential rains swept across the city, flooding streets and leaving at least 13 dead and three missing.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco led a nomination ceremony Monday afternoon (October 15th) in Rabat for the new government Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi formed through a series of consultations.

ES Sahel topped the rankings in Tunisia's Premier League after a 2-0 win against CS Sfaxien in the sixth round of the championship. Three matches were abandoned due to heavy rain.

Algeria's new communications minister has promised to take new steps in adopting a new law regulating the profession of journalism in the country. Successive governments have postponed the adoption of such a bill since the press sector was deregulated in 1991.

A recent seminar in Tunisia examined the growing phenomenon of takfir and ways to combat the trend. Several participants said state policies in mosques and schools have contributed to the rise in intolerance.

During Eid al-Fitr, many Moroccans carry on traditions inherited over generations from their ancestors. The purchase of new clothes for children is an essential part of this feast day, even if it strains parents' budgets.

Algerian political parties and independents have been busy putting the finishing touches on their candidate lists for the November 29th local elections. The possibility of greater flexibility in governing at the local level has sparked more interest in the elections.

A Tunisian court has overturned a decision by the Ministry of Education to suspend a public school teacher for wearing a veil at work. Some consider the legal decision an indication of the independence of the country's judiciary.

The holy month of Ramadan has been marked in Algeria by a string of terrorist attacks and army counter-terrorist operations, resulting in a number of deaths on both sides. In a victory for the army over the weekend, top al-Qaeda aide Zuheir Harek was confirmed dead following a raid in the town of Boughni.

In Tunisia, Sufi music thrives during the month of Ramadan, when large mixed audiences attend a variety of festivals.

A new film by director Mohamed Ismail discusses the relationship of two Moroccan families – one Jewish, the other Muslim – during a time of social upheaval in the 1960s. As with any film covering the delicate subject, studio Maya Film is braced for negative reactions from the public.

Citing examples from throughout the Maghreb and the Middle East, an editorial by a Tunisian newspaper raises the question whether Islamist parties should be permitted to participate in the country's political life.

Moroccan parties involved in the formation of the country's new government continue to discuss proposed structuring and the allocation of ministerial portfolios.

Algerian Interior Minister Nourredine Yazid Zerhouni said former GSPC leader Hassan Hattab was now regarded as a repentant terrorist. Hattab reportedly hopes to benefit from the government's amnesty programme.

Algerian civil society groups have roundly criticised a recent report about Algeria issued by US-based NGO Freedom House. Many Algerians feel the observations expressed in the report contradict the real situation in the country.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made his first official visit to Algeria on Wednesday (October 3rd), where he met with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Moroccan families are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of pre-school education as a route to later academic success. Opportunities remain scarce, however, for poor families and those in rural areas.

Morocco improved its ranking by seven places in Transparency International's 2007 study on corruption, but the fight against the phenomenon is far from over.

A recent study revealed the most accurate figures to date on begging in Morocco. Officials hope to use the data to better adapt a programme launched last March to combat the social problem.

A Tunis district court ordered the termination of a lease agreement between the opposition Progressive Democratic Party and the manager of a building the party has rented for years.

On September 29th, 2005, a near-majority of the Algerian people approved President Bouteflika's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation in hopes of ending a decade of chaos in the country. Security has improved, but al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb is preventing the country from realizing total peace.

Many Moroccans unemployed throughout the rest of the year take the opportunity for informal commerce during Ramadan, selling food and other goods on the country's streets.

A number of influential Moroccan politicians were not re-elected to Parliament on September 7th. The resulting shift in the power structure of the legislature has raised questions about the body's ability to perform its duties effectively under a new mandate.