Algeria
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Album review: Imarhan's "Aboogi"
Looking beyond the horizon
"Aboogi", on the City Slang label, is the latest release from Imarhan. Hailing from southern Algeria, Imarhan are one of the many bands that have emerged from the Tameshek diaspora. They see their music as a chance to preserve the culture and history of their people. By Richard Marcus
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Climate change in the MENA
Will North Africa's beaches disappear?
The southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea are losing sand faster than almost anywhere else. The ecological and economic damage is immense. The good news is, there are ways to cope. By Cathrin Schaer and Tarak Guizani
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Islamic mysticism
Understanding the Sufis
To understand Islamic mysticism, we must first clear up a number of misconceptions, as Marian Brehmer writes in his essay – part 1 of a new series on Sufism
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The EU's diplomatic dilemma
Morocco and Algeria square off over Western Sahara
Since Spain reversed its position on Western Sahara in favour of Morocco’s autonomy plan, Algeria has suspended its long-standing friendship treaty with Madrid. The diplomatic spat raises questions about the future of Moroccan and Algerian relations with EU member states, writes Mohamed Al-Fawiris
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The Holocaust, colonialism and mutual understanding
Time for a refresher in humanity
It is possible to write about the Holocaust and the crimes of colonial powers without downplaying anything. In her latest book, Charlotte Wiedemann focuses on the numerous blind spots in our culture of commemoration. By Rene Wildangel
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The Middle East's "Axis of Failure"
Arab autocrats – ruining their own states
In "Die Achse des Scheiterns", Rainer Hermann of Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung explains with refreshing clarity what is currently going wrong in the Arab world. Wolfgang Freund read the book
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Algeria at 60
No more lethargy – Algiers’ passive foreign policy is over
For the first time since 1989, Algeria‘s authoritarian regime has sent a military parade marching through Algiers. A formidable show of strength designed to impress rival regional powers, the event also sought to highlight the country’s own stance on Israel and Palestine. By Sofian Philip Naceur
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Algeria‘s gas reserves
Is defending the environment terrorism?
Algeria‘s regime is again cracking down on anti-fracking activists and the unemployed in the country‘s south. Yet EU countries remain keen to scale up their energy cooperation with Algiers, despite the reprisals faced by environmentalists. By Sofian Philip Naceur
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Morocco and Algeria
A rivalry stretching back decades
Algeria's decision to unilaterally sever diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021 – days after the presidency announced in a statement their relations would be reviewed – was all but surprising. The hostility and rivalry between the two neighbouring countries go back years. By Ilham Rachidi
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Western Sahara
Is a gas crisis with Algeria on the horizon for Spain?
Madrid's about-face on the Western Sahara conflict has enraged Algeria. Trade relations have been frozen unilaterally and a cut in gas supplies to Europe could be in the pipeline. By Ralph Schulze
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Western Sahara conflict
"One day we will be free"
Sultana Khaya, 41, has been peacefully resisting the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara for many years. Because of her campaign to assert the self-determination of the Sahrawi people, she was assaulted and raped. She has been under house arrest for over a year. Interview by Elisa Rheinheimer
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Morocco and Spain
What price Madrid and Rabat's "historic" reconciliation?
Since Spain abandoned its traditional neutrality towards the conflict in Western Sahara, Morocco has announced a "new phase" in relations between the two countries. But what is the price of Spain's support for autonomy in the Sahara? Mohamed Taifouri analyses the situation for Qantara