CIVIL - MILITARY FUSION CEN TRE Mediterranean Review Comprehensive Information on Complex Crises 15 November 2011 INSIDE THIS ISSUE This document provides an overview of developments in the Mediterranean Basin and other regions of interest from 08 — 14 November 2011, with hyperlinks to source material highlighted and under- Economic Development Governance & Rule of Law lined in the text. For more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to the region, please Humanitarian Affairs contact the members of the Med Basin Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org. Security Socio-cultural Development Economic Development Angelia Sanders ► [email protected] Banking exploration efforts, though there is reluctance ABOUT THE CFC ccording to Reuters, financial among international oil companies to buy into regulator Swiss Financial Market Algerian oil permits. According to The Civil-Military Fusion Centre (CFC) is an information and A Supervisory Authority (FINMA) is Magharebia, Sonatrach will launch operations knowledge management auditing the banking sector in Switzerland in in the Taoudeni basin in northern Mali by mid organisation focused on improving response to calls to freeze the assets of ousted -2012. Sonatrach has had agreements to civil-military interaction, facilitating former North African leaders. As of May explore for oil in the region since 2007 but information sharing and enhancing 2011, banks have frozen USD 925 million in insecurity prevented much progress. situational awareness through the Egyptian, Libyan and Tunisian assets. The CimicWeb portal and our weekly investigation shows assets reached Egypt and monthly publications. Switzerland directly from Tunisia, Egypt and The common practice of burning of about 4 CFC products are based upon and Libya and indirectly via France, Britain, the million tonnes of rice straw each season by link to open-source information United States and Italy. Britain is awaiting a Egyptian farmers clearing land produces a from a wide variety of organisations, court ruling regarding the return of USD 65 “black cloud” of thick smog that covers Cairo research centres and media sources. million in frozen assets to Egypt, reports and the Nile Valley, reports Reuters. There are However, the CFC does not endorse Bikyamasr. now projects in Egypt underway to convert the and cannot necessarily guarantee rice straw into materials that can be sold the accuracy or objectivity of these Tourism internationally, such as pulp and fertiliser. sources. Countries in North Africa and the Middle East Daily News Egypt reports that the European CFC publications are are working to revive the tourism industry, Commission approved a EUR 22 million independently produced by reports BBC. The conflicts in the region program to support the development of Knowledge Managers and do earlier this year and the continuation of agricultural small and medium enterprises not reflect NATO policies or government protests in some countries caused (SMEs) in an effort to improve living positions of any other tourism numbers to decrease in 2011. conditions of those living in rural Egyptian organisation. However at the World Travel Market districts. exhibition held in London, heads of tourism The CFC is part of NATO Allied from the region “are confident” that tourism Libya Command Operations. will return to normal in 2012. In Tunisia, The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) tourism accounts for USD 2.5 billion of the released detailed figures on its investments in country’s GDP. Media Line reports that efforts to be transparent, reports Reuters. tourism accounts for 15% of Egypt’s GDP. Libya’s sovereign wealth fund, managed by The Egyptian government expects tourism the LIA, was created in 2006 to manage revenue to fall from USD 12.5 billion to USD Libya’s oil revenues and there is speculation CONTACT THE CFC 10 billion in 2011. that the fund will sell off its assets in parts of Africa to help finance Libya’s reconstruction. For further information, contact: Algeria The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated Algerian state energy firm Sonatrach reported that Libyan oil production is progressing faster Med Basin Team Lead Linda Lavender that reserves of oil and natural gas were than anticipated but it was unlikely to reach [email protected] discovered at an exploratory well in the pre-conflict output levels before 2013. This is Rhourde Yacoub field, reports Reuters. Until in contrast to official Libyan estimates which The Mediterranean Team now, Algeria had announced no major oil and suggest oil output levels could be fully [email protected] gas finds in 2011. In response to the news, restored by June 2012. According to Jordan energy officials plan on accelerating News Agency Petra, Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby will hold talks with the National young people who were unable to finish school. Transitional Council (NTC) on how the Arab League can help Tunisia in Libya’s reconstruction efforts. Director General of CETTEX Samir Haouat emphasized in an interview with African Manager that the promotion of Mauritania Tunisia’s textile and clothing sector relies on the establishment Mauritania has received a EUR 1 million grant from France for of social stability. Clothing and fabrics are one of Tunisia’s improving economic and financial governance, reports the Pan main exports and the textile industry is one of the first African News Agency (PANA). Magharebia reports that the industries in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and job Mauritanian government launched a project aimed at reducing creation. Tunisia’s National Statistics Institute (INS) youth unemployment. The programme, funded by the announced on 09 November that Tunisia’s unemployment rate European Union (EU), will provide apprenticeships to 600 rose to 18.3% with job losses concentrated mostly in the Governance & Rule of Law Melodee M. Baines ► [email protected] he Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) participated in the first post-Arab Spring Egypt T inter-ministerial meeting for the Union for the Protesters calling for the release of blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah Mediterranean (UfM) from 09 to 10 November, according to are also demanding the release of all detainees tried by military ENPI Info Centre. The agenda included creation of an Urban courts based on claims that civilians should be tried in civilian Development Agency for the Mediterranean. venues, according to al Masry al Youm. Activists are calling the judicial system of Egypt’s ruling military authority, the Government ministers from Sahel countries including Algeria, Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), “harsh and Mauritania, Mali and Niger convened in Washington, DC to unjust”, according to Press TV. discuss Sahel security, reports Magharebia. Security affairs expert Lies Boukraa stated that countries of the Sahel are able Employees of the Library of Alexandria are conducting an to work collectively to combat terrorism and organised crime, open-ended sit-in requesting permanent contracts for according to the article. In addition to global security concerns, temporary workers and the dismissal of Director Ismail the Sahel region faces other obstacles, including extreme Serageldin, who is accused of corruption, according to al poverty and a growing youth population vulnerable to Masry al Youm. recruitment by criminal or terrorist organisations. In addition, Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré visited Algeria and The first phase of Egyptian parliamentary elections is declared that Algeria, Mauritania, Niger and Mali are ready to scheduled for 28 November, reports al Masry al Youm. On 10 confront terrorism through regional co-operation, according to November, Egyptians residing abroad began registering to vote a separate Magharebia article. The four countries co-operate online at the High Election Judicial Commission (HEC) through membership in the joint military command in website, according to a separate article by al Masry al Youm. Tamanrasset, Algeria. In the past, the European Union (EU) The CFC Mediterranean Basin team released a report this also assisted Sahel countries with security and development month on Egypt’s parliamentary elections, titled “Egypt’s strategy. Parliamentary Elections”. Algeria Islamists are planning a demonstration on 18 November in Fatah Rabiai, head of the Algerian branch of the Islamic response to the draft constitutional principles document, Ennahda Movement, criticised President Abdelaziz according to al Masry al Youm. Islamists were excluded from Bouteflika’s promised reforms, stating that the approach was drafting the document, which lays out certain principles to be incorrect, according to Asharq al Awsat. Rabiai said the first included in new constitution of Egypt (see CFC step should be reforms to the constitution followed by Mediterranean Review 08 November 2011). amendments to legislation regarding the democratic process instead of the reverse. The Islamic Ennahda Movement is one Libya of the primary opposition movements in Algeria, up against Head of the National Transitional Council (NTC) Mustafa the presidential alliance of the National Liberation Front, Abdel Jalil is working to encourage reconciliation among the National Democratic Rally and Islamic Movement for Peace. various factions controlling Tripoli, according to the Washington Post. The official process of disarming militias There is a perception among Libyans that Algeria sided with will not begin until