Moroccan king ousts Islamists, returns old guard to Cabinet

Moroccan king ousts Islamists, returns old guard to Cabinet

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Morocco’s King Mohammed has restored direct control over his Cabinet, a report said. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy determined that Mohammed removed Islamists and returned his supporters in the new Cabinet. In a report, the institute asserted that the Oct. 10 Cabinet reshuffle represented the king’s intent to […]

Mali’s ‘success story’ threatened by security vacuum, militant Islam

Mali’s ‘success story’ threatened by security vacuum, militant Islam

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — An arc of political and social instability exists on the soft underbelly of the Sahara Desert, as Islamic militants and ethnic separatists chip away at the fragile political geography of five states on the southern fringe of the Sahara desert. The West African country of Mali, wracked by a […]

The geopolitics of African resources: China plotting to tap them in new, ‘de-Americanized world’

The geopolitics of African resources: China plotting to tap them in new, ‘de-Americanized world’

Special to WorldTribune.com GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs People’s Republic of China (PRC) officials are becoming increasingly apprehensive about the rise in the use of the westward corridor to export oil, diamonds, and rare minerals out of South Sudan and the Central African Republic via Cameroon. In other words, this creates a flow to Atlantic sea […]

Influx of African migrants by sea spurs EU to expand maritime security

Influx of African migrants by sea spurs EU to expand maritime security

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The European Union wants to increase maritime security patrols to stop the flow of migrants from the Middle East. The EU has been mulling plans to expand maritime operations that would prevent migrant ships from reaching Europe. Officials said the operations would also respond to the sinking of migrant vessels, […]

Tunisia’s 1,500 Jews report harassment since election of Brotherhood government

Tunisia’s 1,500 Jews report harassment since election of Brotherhood government

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — The tiny Jewish community in Tunisia has come under a police crackdown. Human rights activists said the Jewish community on the Tunisian island of Djerba was being harassed by police. The activists said police fired tear gas and stole property during the Jewish festival last month. The activists said Tunisia’s […]

Meanwhile in Sudan: Fuel riots, a hiring spree of ex-Soviet air mercenaries and preparations for war

Meanwhile in Sudan: Fuel riots, a hiring spree of ex-Soviet air mercenaries and preparations for war

Special to WorldTribune.com By Yossef Bodansky, Senior Editor, Global Information System / Defense & Foreign Affairs The escalating fuel riots in Khartoum, and increasingly in other cities in Sudan, serve as a stark reminder of the inherent fragility and instability of the country. The riots were sparked by the spiraling prices of all fuel products […]

Algeria encouraged by shale gas potential

Algeria encouraged by shale gas potential

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Algeria has been advancing toward shale gas exploration. Officials said the Algerian government reached an advanced stage in a project to explore and develop shale gas. The officials said the Energy Ministry has overseen the exploration of unspecified reservoirs of shale gas. “We are in the advanced stage that would […]

From Somalia to Kenya mall massacre, Al Qaida on the move

From Somalia to Kenya mall massacre, Al Qaida on the move

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Al Qaida has expanded from Somalia to neighboring Kenya. The Al Qaida-aligned Al Shabab has claimed responsibility for an attack on a shopping mall in Kenya in which 85 people, including two foreign diplomats, were killed. Al Shabab said its fighters took hundreds of hostages in Nairobi on Sept. 21. […]

Sudanese Air Force acquires Russian-made Su-24 fighter-jets

Sudanese Air Force acquires Russian-made Su-24 fighter-jets

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Sudan is said to have acquired Russian-origin fighter-jets that could strike targets in Darfour and along the border with South Sudan. A leading U.S. monitoring group said Sudan has received at least three Su-24 combat aircraft from Russia. The Satellite Sentinel Project said the bombers arrived in Sudan earlier this […]

Darfour II? Sudan orders more Russian aircraft after breaking pledge on their use

Darfour II? Sudan orders more Russian aircraft after breaking pledge on their use

Special to WorldTribune.com MOSCOW — Sudan has ordered advanced military aircraft from Russia despite a UN report in March that said Sudan violated a Security Council resolution and written pledges to Belarus and Russia to not use aircraft purchased from them in Darfour by carrying out “aerial bombardments and intimidating flights.” Officials said Sudan has […]