Maghreb states' Africa ties turn on security, trade

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Sufficient Reason ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Union ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
Turn On ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Economic Engagement

Subject Maghreb-SSA relations. Significance Links between countries in the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have been growing steadily over the past decade. In different ways, Morocco and Algeria have both established themselves as essential partners for West Africa. Impacts The rivalry between Algeria and Morocco will play out in African political and economic engagement, notably over Western Sahara. However, sub-Saharan governments will remain uninterested in taking sides and will seek to maintain good relations with both Maghreb powers. Morocco might like to rejoin the African Union (AU), but does not regard this as sufficient reason to climb down on Western Sahara. Trans-Saharan drugs and people trafficking will remain a major concern.

Moroccan phosphates sector may see virus silver lining

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
The Past ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Silver Lining

Subject Outlook for Moroccan phosphates exports. Significance Phosphate rock prices have slumped over the past year and have since stabilised at 72.50 dollars per tonne, down almost 30% since early 2019. Morocco, the second-largest producer of phosphates after China and home to the vast majority of global reserves, has felt the resulting squeeze. The national phosphates company Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP) Group has managed to offset some of this by accelerating its shift to downstream production of acid and fertilisers, but margins have likely been hit and the company may lack the scope to continue scaling up value-added production without further investment. Impacts OCP's ongoing work to consolidate its position in sub-Saharan Africa will also help support Moroccan export revenues. At current extraction rates, Morocco may be the only major producing country with phosphate reserves to last beyond 50 years. Rabat's drive to increase revenue from mining other minerals and metals is likely to yield only modest results. A diplomatic shift over the status of Western Sahara (and thus key OCP mining locations) is unlikely.

Turning on the township: financial inclusion in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-446
Author(s):  
Louise Whittaker ◽  
Graunt Kruger
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Subject Position ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Actions ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Economic Engagement

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore practitioner and academic conceptualisations about what drives individuals (who are the target of financial inclusion efforts) to adopt and use financial services. It compares this with individual’s personal subjectivities to understand how the similarities and differences might contribute to problems in financial inclusion efforts. Design/methodology/approach To uncover such conceptualisations, a Foucauldian discourse analysis of three texts is conducted. Findings The analysis uncovers the ways in which financial subjects are produced. Important points of discontinuity are evident between texts, pointing to potential failures within financial inclusion constructs. Distilling aspects of continuity between texts shows up three kinds of subjects produced predicated on the site of economic engagement as owners of bodies, tangible property and intangible property. These subjects are shown to all share concerns with income and expense management. The analysis shows that subject positions and strategic actions (including the use of financial service providers) are mutually reinforcing, and that therefore financial subjects will engage only to the extent that the product or service enacts their subject position. With the financial subject as the starting point, it is possible to understand the use or rejection of particular financial products and services. Research limitations/implications Asset building is proposed as a field of activity not currently considered part of mainstream financial inclusion, questioning the terms on which individuals are to be financially “included”. Originality/value Approximately 2 billion people globally, and 66 per cent of adults in sub-Saharan Africa, are excluded from the formal financial system. While financial inclusion is considered beneficial, many projects face significant challenges. This suggests insufficient understanding of what drives individuals to adopt and use financial services. This paper makes a contribution by exploring the gap between academics, practitioners and individuals using a method that has not previously been applied in this field, and uncovering differences in understanding that have not previously been explored. The insights into financial inclusion in provided in this paper are original in the literature.

Morocco's AU bid will reopen Western Sahara issue

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
The Past

Significance Morocco has been seeking re-admittance to the AU and has spent the past two years courting its African neighbours. King Mohammed VI toured West Africa in 2014 and concluded 2016 with a tour of East Africa and a crucial visit to one of the continent's powerhouses -- Nigeria. Impacts Morocco will aim for more economic cooperation with Nigeria regardless of the AU summit outcome. Tension with Algeria, the SADR's main backer, will intensify. If Morocco wins re-entry into the AU, this will help ensure greater diplomatic coverage with other international bodies such as the UN.

R&D scope and quality in Africa mars economic goals

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Pharmaceutical Products ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Private Sector Investment ◽  
Return Home ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Support Research

Subject R&D in sub-Saharan Africa. Significance Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) research output has more than doubled over the past decade. The capacity to support research and development (R&D) that is commercially relevant is critical for developing secondary and tertiary industries. However, skills deficits, quality problems and reliance on foreign support loom large -- undermining more resilient African economic growth. Impacts Opaque intellectual property protections in many African states discourage firms from committing large sums to local R&D. Local indigenous knowledge remains vulnerable to appropriation by non-SSA firms such as for pharmaceutical products. Where non-health research capacity improves, it will focus on areas aligned with the greatest private sector investment. New scholarships to Chinese universities may boost future SSA research capacity, but only if recipients return home.

African states hope the Gulf crisis will end soon

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Union ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gulf Countries ◽  
Political Effects ◽  
Gulf Crisis ◽  
Sub Saharan

Significance The split between Qatar and its neighbours has pushed a few small African countries to side with Saudi Arabia, but leaves the continent’s leading powers and several conflict-afflicted nations eager to stay neutral -- for now. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) -- where Gulf countries have strong diplomatic ties and major economic investments -- the crisis has had significant political effects. Impacts The withdrawal of Qatari peacekeepers from the Djibouti-Eritrea border will become a pressing concern for the African Union. Ongoing expulsions of African migrants from Saudi Arabia will complicate Saudi and Emirati efforts to find African partners against Qatar. Countries such as South Africa and Nigeria may begin to act more assertively in calling for neutrality.

Grey relational evaluation of impact and control of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tawiah Kwatekwei Quartey-Papafio ◽  
Sifeng Liu ◽  
Sara Javed
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Malaria Incidence ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent States ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Control ◽  
Grey Relational ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The rise in malaria deaths discloses a decline of global malaria eradication that shows that control measures and fund distribution have missed its right of way. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to study and evaluate the impact and control of malaria on the independent states of the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) region over the time period of 2010–2017 using Deng’s Grey incidence analysis, absolute degree GIA and second synthetic degree GIA model. Design/methodology/approach The purposive data sampling is a secondary data from World Developmental Indicators indicating the incidence of new malaria cases (per 1,000 population at risk) for 45 independent states in SSA. GIA models were applied on array sequences into a single relational grade for ranking to be obtained and analyzed to evaluate trend over a predicted period. Findings Grey relational analysis classifies West Africa as the highly infectious region of malaria incidence having Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin, Liberia and Gambia suffering severely. Also, results indicate Southern Africa to be the least of all affected in the African belt that includes Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique. But, predictions revealed that the infection rate is expected to fall in West Africa, whereas the least vulnerable countries will experience a rise in malaria incidence through to the next ten years. Therefore, this study draws the attention of all stakeholders and interest groups to adopt effective policies to fight malaria. Originality/value The study is a pioneer to unravel the most vulnerable countries in the SSA region as far as the incidence of new malaria cases is a concern through the use of second synthetic GIA model. The outcome of the study is substantial to direct research funds to control and eliminate malaria.

Morocco and Sub-Saharan Africa: In the Shadow of the Western Sahara Dispute

2021 ◽  
pp. 234779892110175
Author(s):  
Michael B. Bishku
Keyword(s):  
Arab World ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
The Past ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Middle Powers

During much of the past several decades, Moroccan actions in Western Sahara have impacted on that country’s bilateral and multilateral ties, especially with other countries in Africa, though to a lesser degree in the Arab world. In recent years, Morocco has gained the upper hand in its conflict in Western Sahara and has been increasing its political and economic footprint on the continent of Africa, an area of interest since independence. At the same time, Morocco has regarded itself as a “gateway” to Africa for the USA and Europe, while the USA, France (and the Gulf states) have provided military and financial assistance as well as diplomatic support for Morocco as that country’s policies have served Western interests. While attention is given by academics in recent years to the involvement in Africa of other middle powers from the Middle East such as Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia and, in the past, of Nasser’s Egypt and Qaddafi’s Libya, as well as Israel, Morocco has not stirred the same sort of interest. This article seeks to address that issue by examining all political and economic factors that have influenced Moroccan policy toward Sub-Saharan Africa, those both connected and unconnected with the issue of the Western Sahara dispute.

scholarly journals The Informal Sector In Sub-Saharan Africa: Out Of The Shadows To Foster Sustainable Employment And Equity?

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L Sparks ◽  
Stephen T. Barnett
Keyword(s):  
Informal Sector ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Union ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
National Databases ◽  
Property Title

Over the past twenty years or so, there has been a debate that basically asks “…whether the informal sector should really be seen as a marginalized, ‘survival’ sector, which mops up excess or entrenched workers, or as a vibrant, entrepreneurial part of the economy which can stimulate economic growth and job creation.” (African Union 2008). This paper argues the latter. Further, this paper argues that employment in the informal sector is no longer a journey, but has become the destination of many. If the aim is to create jobs and reduce poverty, the informal sector must be included in the debate. Indeed, this paper recommends that the debate about the advantages of formal sector vs. the informal sector needs to end.  Governments need to unequivocally recognize and admit the importance of the informal sector and finds ways to encourage its growth. They also need, at the same time, to decide how to strengthen the formal sector and extend benefits to those in the informal sector, while removing barriers to the formal sector to allow more to participate.  Specifically, there are at least five major areas where changes need to be made:  1) Establish an enabling environment and supportive regulatory framework, 2) Provide access to appropriate training, 3) Improve basic facilities and amenities and infrastructure, 4) Increase ability to obtain property title and access to credit, and 5) Improve national databases and establish uniform standards.

The Periplus of Hanno in the History and Historiography of Black Africa

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 43-66
Author(s):  
P.E.H. Hair
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
The Past ◽  
Black Africa ◽  
Western Africa ◽  
Historical Authenticity ◽  
First Millennium ◽  
Sub Saharan

The Periplus of Hanno describes a purported Carthaginian voyage down the coast of western Africa—a voyage to as far as Guinea in the opinion of some scholars. The brief text is of doubtful and at best partial historical authenticity; and in any case its account of the later part of the voyage concentrates on a few episodes of high drama and exotic observation, at the expense of those other detailed particulars which might have made the Periplus, if historical, an informative as well as unique documentary source on black Africa in the first millennium B.C.. At least as far as black Africa is concerned, it must be questioned whether the Periplus is worth a fraction of the intensive scholarly effort that has been spent on it during the past four hundred years.Current debate among ancient historians and classical philologists turns on the nature of the Periplus: is it wholly fiction? or, if fact, is it fact fictitiously extended and embellished? or, a third possibility, is it fact dramatically and perhaps intentionally summarized and slanted? But from the point of view of the historian seeking to obtain information about early sub-Saharan Africa in general and west Africa in particular, this debate can be by-passed (hence the present paper does not need or attempt to comprehend, pursue, or augment the detailed scholarly arguments and evidence available in the literature). For whether based on fact or not, the Periplus is patently a piece of literature of a kind which does not afford precise historical information.

Popular expectations are high after Burkina Faso poll

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sub Saharan

Significance The emergence of a clear victor will go a long way towards restoring political stability in a country marked by turbulence since a popular uprising ousted the autocratic government of Blaise Compaore more than a year earlier. However, the new government now faces popular expectations that are strikingly different from the past. Impacts The government's electoral mandate will help the country regain its formerly constructive role in regional affairs. Growing regional security threats from neighbouring Mali and Niger will be high priorities for the new administration. The visibly democratic and transparent nature of the election may inspire pro-democracy activists elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.

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