AU Warns of "Real War" Risk in Libya; - bic-rhr
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Weekly Insights
(Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images, 2019)
AU Warns of “Real War” Risk in Libya;
Ghazouani the Frontrunner in Mauritania
31/05/2019-06/06/2019
Fighting continues in Libya, as forces loyal to the Tripoli government reportedly make gains on Haftar,
despite continuing humanitarian suffering in the country. In Egypt, a terror attack in North Sinai kills 8.
Four opposition candidates in Mauritania have again warned of a “hold-up” to ensure the accession of
Ghazouani, the preferred choice of President Aziz. Meanwhile, there have been further delays to the
timetable for presidential elections in Algeria.
On the occasion of Eid, King Mohammed VI pardoned nearly 600 detainees, and in Tunisia there are
apparently new terror threats according to British Intelligence services.
BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND HUMAN RIGHTS2
Algeria
Any upcoming presidential elections in Algeria will be “impossible” to organise for 4 July 2019, and
further delays to the timetable are expected (FRANCE 24)1. This comes as the terror group Al Qaeda
in the Maghreb claims to support the ongoing protestors, in a statement which they also threatened
former colonial power France (ObservAlgerie)2.
In the ongoing cases against former regime members, prosecution officials have asked for 18
months in prison for Ali Haddad, an ally of the former President, on charges of “forgery and fraud”
(Le Monde)3. Former Prime Minister Sifi has called upon the current Prime Minister Bedoui and his
Ministers to resign (Algérie Patriotique)4. And there are reports that representatives of the Algerian
government have signed a new economic agreement with Russia (ObservAlgerie)5.
Egypt
In the ongoing instability in North Sinai, ISIS affiliated militants attacked a police checkpoint killing 8
individuals (Washington Post)6. However, there has also been another death in custody in Wadi
Natroun prison near to Cairo, raising the issues of rights of detainees (Middle East Monitor)7.
Due to current regional tensions, Egypt has sought to further boost its ties with allies in the Gulf (Al-
Monitor)8.
In other news, the first inaugural Global Coptic Day was held on 1 June to promote greater
recognition of the Coptic community internationally (Egyptian Streets)9.
Libya
New reports suggest that forces loyal to the Tripoli government have made progress in areas
previously controlled by Haftar (Africanews)10. This comes as the African Union publicly warns that
there is risk of a “real war” in Libya (Libya Observer)11.
1
https://www.france24.com/fr/20190602-algerie-election-presidentielle-impossible-organisation-juillet-conseil-
constitutionnel
2
https://www.observalgerie.com/international/france/al-qaida-aqmi-algerie-menace-france/
3
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/06/04/en-algerie-dix-huit-mois-requis-pour-faux-et-usage-de-faux-contre-
l-ancien-patron-des-patrons_5471146_3212.html
4
https://www.algeriepatriotique.com/2019/06/05/mokdad-sifi-appelle-bedoui-et-ses-ministres-a-demissionner-
individuellement/
5
https://www.observalgerie.com/actualite-algerie/algerie-russie-signent-nouvel-accord-economique-paris/
6
https://wapo.st/2WGKoXN
7
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190606-im-dying-of-torture-egypt-prisoner-tells-mother-two-days-before-his-
death/
8
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/05/egypt-ties-gulf-tensions-iran-threats-red-sea-suez-canal.html
9
https://egyptianstreets.com/2019/06/01/first-ever-global-coptic-day-celebrated-on-1-june-2019/
10
https://www.africanews.com/2019/06/02/libya-government-forces-gain-on-haftar-s-fighters/
11
https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/african-union-warns-libya-heading-towards-real-war
BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND HUMAN RIGHTS3
Regarding the humanitarian situation, the UN has said that another migrant vessel has capsized off
the coast of Libya (Fox News)12. However, UNHCR also said that it has secured the release of 96
detainees from a detention center in Zintan (UNHCR)13, which comes after new calls to evacuate
over 6,000 migrants from detention centers across Libya to Europe (Asharq Al-Awsat)14.
Mauritania
Four of the five opposition candidates for the presidential elections have repeated the warnings of
the risk of an electoral “hold-up” to impose the government and current President Aziz’s preferred
candidate, General Ghazouani, casting doubt regarding the fairness of the process (MondAfrique)15.
Meanwhile, opposition figure Ould Boulkheir has endorsed Ghazouani as his choice (RFI Afrique)16.
Meanwhile authorities have released two bloggers who were accused of defaming the President
(FRANCE 24)17. And Amnesty International has called upon all candidates in the elections to commit
to human rights (Le Monde)18.
In other news, nearly a hundred doctors staged a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Health to
denounce the deterioration of their living and working conditions (RFI Afrique)19.
Morocco
576 detainees, including 100 imprisoned during social movements in the Rif and Jerada regions,
were pardoned by King Mohammed VI on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, according to a press release of
the Department of Justice (Jeune Afrique)20. There have, however, been reports that three people
have been arrested under suspicion of forming a “terrorist cell” associated with ISIS, that was
planning attacks in the Kingdom (Le Figaro)21.
12
https://www.foxnews.com/world/un-says-migrant-boat-capsized-off-libyas-coast
13
https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2019/6/5cf61e4e4/unhcr-secures-release-96-detainees-libyas-zintan-detention-
centre.html
14
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1754456/calls-evacuation-6000-migrants-libya-centers-europe
15
https://mondafrique.com/presidentielles-mauritanie-le-spectre-de-la-fraude-encore-et-toujours/
16
http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20190603-election-mauritanie-opposant-ould-boulkheir-rallie-general-ghazouani
17
https://www.france24.com/ar/20190604-
%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AC-
%D8%B9%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%85%D8%A7-
%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%B1-
%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3
18
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/06/03/presidentielle-en-mauritanie-amnesty-demande-aux-candidats-de-
s-engager-pour-les-droits-humains_5470709_3212.html
19
http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20190531-mauritanie-une-centaine-medecins-sit-in-devant-le-ministere-sante
20
https://www.jeuneafrique.com/784597/societe/maroc-le-roi-mohammed-vi-gracie-une-centaine-de-detenus-du-hirak-
du-rif-et-de-jerada/
21
http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/maroc-demantelement-d-une-cellule-preparant-des-attentats-selon-la-police-
20190603
BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND HUMAN RIGHTS4
Nearby Spain has also reportedly arrested a Moroccan suspected of involvement with terrorism
(Morocco World News)22. The Spanish Civil Guard additionally dismantled a network of human
traffickers that were moving migrant children from Morocco to Spain (France Info)23.
Tunisia
A migrant ship with 75 individuals that departed from Libya has been refused to berth in Tunisia,
despite four being in critical health conditions and a lack of food on board (Le Monde)24.
Youssef Chahed, the current head of government, was elected head of Tahya Tounes, a party he
created, despite still being a member of Nidaa Tounes (Jeune Afrique)25. He also has not officially
announced he intends to run for office.
British Intelligence, MI5, have suggested that serious terrorist threats are present in the
Mediterranean and North African region, specifically mentioning Tunisia amongst other countries
(Huffpost Maghreb)26.
There was also a scandal as the African Confederation of Football (CAF) decided that the final of the
African Champions League must take place again following a VAR controversy during the original
match between Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Wydad Athletic of Casablanca, a decision that the
Tunisian Prime Minister decried as a joke (Le Parisien)27.
About:
This is a weekly, non-exhaustive snapshot of regional, and international
news regarding the politics of the North African region. Selections
demonstrate varying perspectives and opinions from French, Arabic and
English media sources. Taking such an approach enables regional trends to
be observed and documented so they may be used and applied in our
detailed research projects.
22
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/06/275164/spain-arrests-moroccan-suspected-of-alleged-involvement-in-
terror-group/
23
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/afrique/maroc/maroc-la-garde-civile-espagnole-demantele-un-reseau-de-trafic-
denfants-migrants-vers-lespagne_3472935.html
24
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/06/05/un-navire-avec-75-migrants-demande-a-la-tunisie-de-le-laisser-
accoster_5471803_3212.htm
25
https://www.jeuneafrique.com/783348/politique/tunisie-le-premier-ministre-youssef-chahed-prend-la-tete-de-tahya-
tounes/
26
https://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/entry/tunisie-le-royaume-uni-met-en-garde-contre-une-menace-terroriste-
accrue_mg_5cf51314e4b0e346ce818c46
27
http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/la-finale-de-la-ligue-des-champions-africaine-devra-etre-rejouee-la-tunisie-s-
indigne-06-06-2019-8087469.php
BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND HUMAN RIGHTS5
BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND HUMAN RIGHTS
The BIC-RHR is a research organization We base our activities in three spheres
based in the capital of Europe that works of work: Social Outreach, Insights and
to produce valuable insights into policy Democratic Development. Combined,
debates and political actions taking they provide a global perspective with
place in the MENA region and its effects actions focused on influencing the
on individuals. individual.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The North Africa Team
Ben Lowings
May Barth
Yasmine Akrimi
/BICBrussels @bicrh @bicrhr
Avenue Louise, 89 - 1050 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: + 32 02 725 84 66
www.bic-rhr.com
info@bic-rhr.com
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