Political Risk

In August, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that a referendum on his much-vaunted amnesty project would be held on September 29. The president's plan, which would offer pardons... 2005-09-01

Despite boasting the freest press in North Africa, Morocco is once again coming in for criticism on the freedom of expression front. This latest affair centres around a newspaper... 2005-08-01

Algerian Islamist terrorist group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), has claimed responsibility for a raid in Mauritania in June, in what could be a worrying indication... 2005-07-12

Encouraging signs of Spanish diplomatic engagement with the long-running Western Sahara conflict emerged in June. Tensions in the disputed territory itself rose in May and June, when... 2005-07-06

On the face of it, Tunisia appears the model of an old-style one party state. President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali's ability to stockpile votes is undiminished and his ruling Rassemblement... 2005-07-05

Some of the US' longest-standing regional allies have recently felt the ill wind of shifting US foreign policy trends. On a visit to the region in mid-June, Secretary of State Condoleezza... 2005-07-05

Some of the US' longest-standing regional allies have recently felt the ill wind of shifting US foreign policy trends. On a visit to the region in mid-June, Secretary of State Condoleezza... 2005-07-05

A number of journalists have been given jail terms and fines in a series of defamation cases.

A summit of North African leaders was postponed in May after a renewal of diplomatic tensions between Morocco and Algeria over Western Sahara. BMI View: Further regional integration... 2005-06-10

A prominent critic of the government, journalist Ali Lmrabet, was banned from journalism for 10 years and fined for comments made about Western Sahara. BMI View: The government's... 2005-05-10