Musings From Abroad

Syria, Tunisia reestablish diplomatic relations after 12 years

Published

1 year ago

April 18, 2023

Syria’s recent push to mend diplomatic ties across the Arab region has started yielding fruits as the country has restored relations with Tunisia.

A statement by Tunisia’s foreign ministry revealed that a recent visit by Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mikdad where he and his counterpart Nabil Ammar birthed the resolution, sealed discussions which had been on for weeks.

The Syrian foreign minister had also visited Algeria and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks where an agreement to reopen their embassies and resume flights for the first time in more than a decade was reached.

Tunisia has long been among Assad’s fiercest detractors, and served as the birthplace of the pro-democracy Arab Spring demonstrations that expanded to Syria in 2011. Yet today’s Tunisian officials are turning back toward authoritarianism and re-aligning with Assad’s Syria.

Recall that earlier this month, Tunisian President, Kais Saied ordered the appointment of an ambassador to the Syrian capital, Damascus after the Syrian government reopened its embassy in Tunis and appointed an ambassador.

Arab states largely avoided Syria after Mr. Assad’s bloody crackdown on protestors in 2011. As a result of the deterioration in the relationship, Syria was expelled from the Arab League.

In an effort to lessen his international isolation, Syrian President Assad pushed for foreign aid to be delivered through his country, taking advantage of the recent earthquake that affected both Syria and Turkey.

Midway through March 2011, protests demanding the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad erupted in southern Syria and quickly expanded throughout the nation. The Assad regime’s ruthless crackdown on the protestors was denounced by world leaders and human rights organizations.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Hailiang, Shinzoom to establish vehicle battery installations in Morocco

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Hailiang and Shinzoom, Chinese car battery makers, will establish two separate operations in Morocco as the country strives to adapt its burgeoning automotive sector to rising demand for electric vehicles, Moroccan officials announced on Tuesday.

Tanger Tech, the Moroccan northern industrial zone’s development authority, said Hailiang intends to establish a $450 million copper facility on a 30-hectare plot of land. Shinzoom, a subsidiary of Hunan Zhongke, plans to invest $460 million in an anode plant spanning 20 hectares, according to a statement.

In April, the Moroccan government approved Chinese electric battery company BTR New Material Group (835185.BJE)’s plans to build a factory in Tangier to manufacture crucial component cathodes.

Another Chinese firm, CNGR Advanced Material (300919.SZ), plans to develop a cathode plant in Jorf Lasfar, 100 miles south of Casablanca, where the government has set aside 283 hectares for electric battery sectors.

Last year, the Moroccan government and China’s Gotion agreed to examine establishing an electric vehicle battery plant in the country, with a potential investment of up to $6.3 billion. Last month, Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour told Reuters that the Gotion project was moving forward, with conversations over its footprint and location.

Morocco’s strategic location on the Strait of Gibraltar, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and existing automotive sector cluster all attract Chinese enterprises.

In 2023, the automotive sector topped Morocco’s industrial exports with $14 billion, a 27% increase. Morocco is home to Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and Renault (RENA.PA) production factories with an annual combined capacity of 700,000 automobiles, as well as a network of local suppliers.

Musings From Abroad

Prince Harry, Meghan treated to street-style dances in Nigeria as their trip winds down

Published

5 days ago

May 13, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

On Sunday, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were treated to street-style dances in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, where they announced a partnership between their Archewell Foundation and the non-profit Giants of Africa, which utilizes sports to empower young people.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are making their first visit to Nigeria, where they were welcomed by the country’s chief of defence staff. The couple watched basketball practice at Ilupeju Senior Grammar School on Lagos Mainland, where Harry participated in ball-bouncing drills and shot a hoop.

“What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing,” he said. “The power of sport can change lives. It brings people together and creates community and there are no barriers, which is the most important thing.”

The couple watched basketball practice at Ilupeju Senior Grammar School on Lagos Mainland, and Harry stepped on the court for some ball-bouncing drills and to shoot a hoop.

Former Toronto Raptors star Masai Ujiri, president of Giants of Africa, wished Meghan a happy Mother’s Day and said his organization was uniting communities and uplifting young people through sport, especially. Archewell Foundation and Giants of Africa will construct a basketball court in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

“Talk about full circle again – never did I think we would be able to be here all those years later supporting the expansion of this incredible organization,” she said.
Harry and Meghan were set to round off their Lagos trip by attending a reception for a local charity. The couple live in the United States with their two children after Harry gave up working as a member of the royal family in 2020.