Day: January 9, 2024

The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) said that the number of protests decreased in the fourth quarter of 2023 to reach 600 protests (86.5% of them are organized protests) compared to 680 protests during the third quarter of the same year, 894 protests during the second quarter, and 1,262 protests during the first quarter of 2023. Despite the continued decline in the number of protests, the governorate of Gafsa ranks first nationally during the third and fourth quarters of last year by attracting the largest number of protests. It recorded 107 protests in October, November and December 2023, while the governorate of Tunis ranks second with 105 protests during the same months. Schools occupied the first place in the ranking of protest sites by hosting 140 demonstrations during the last quarter of 2023, followed by the media sector with 93 demonstrations, and the Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa (CPG) which experienced a slight decline compared to recent months. In its monthly report on social protests, the Forum indicated that 209 protests were recorded in various regions in Tunisia last December. Most of these protests took place in the governorate of Tunis (49), followed by the governorate of Gafsa (39) then in the governorates of Nabeul, Médenine and Tataouine, according to the same report. These protests focused on financial demands, workers' rights, and the regularization of the professional situation of substitute teachers and other employees. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Several citizens who were poisoned by the homemade alcohol in the delegation of Sidi Makhlouf (Governorate of Medenine), left the hospital after their health improved, Local Health Director Samir Marzouk said on Tuesday. The number of people who were poisoned has reached 45, he told TAP, adding that five of them died. 16 citizens are still receiving treatment in hospitals in Medenine, Tataouine, Sousse and Tunis, the same source said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

At least 6,618 migrants died or disappeared in 2023 while trying to reach Spain, or 18 per day on average, the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras said on Tuesday. This figure, which has practically tripled (+177%) compared to that of 2022, is 'the highest' recorded by the NGO since the start of its censuses, its coordinator, Helena Maleno, denounced to the press. speaking out against 'the lack of resources' of rescuers at sea. For comparison, an NGO report published last year identified 11,200 migrants who died or disappeared while trying to reach Spain between 2018 and 2022, or six per day on average. This jump in migratory tragedies comes as the number of migrants arriving illegally in Spain has almost doubled in 2023, to 56,852 people, due to an unprecedented influx into the Canary archipelago, according to figures from the Spanish government. Caminando Fronteras, which relies on distress calls from migrants at sea or their families to prepare its reports, identified 363 women and 384 children among the victims recorded last year. The vast majority of disappearances of migrants trying to reach Spain (6,007 out of the total) occurred on the extremely dangerous migratory route between the coasts of northwest Africa and the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries, in Atlantic Ocean. Migrants make this crossing of several hundred kilometers and several days or weeks on crowded makeshift boats. According to the NGO, the migrants who disappeared while trying to reach Spain first left the coast of Senegal (3,176). The NGO also recorded 611 deaths or disappearances last year on the migratory route linking Morocco and Algeria to the southern coasts of Spain. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which relies on indirect testimonies and press articles, counted last year 914 missing on the migratory route to the Canaries and 333 between Morocco or the Algeria and Spain. The IOM emphasizes, however, that its figures are "probably" a "considerable" underestimate of reality given the difficulty in document ing these shipwrecks and the fact that the majority of bodies are not found. Source: Burkina Information Agency The new programme "Ambition Partagée" (Shared Ambition) is an initiative aimed at encouraging cultural and creativity actors to explore opportunities between art and technology. Under this initiative, the Tunis International Centre for Digital Cultural Economy (French: TICDCE) launched a call for collaboration for the management and ldevelopment of innovative activities and creative projects. Start-ups, artists, experts, organisations and companies in the cultural field are called to take an active part in the creation of value within the "MAKAN" centre (La Marsa). This programme is designed to provide an opportunity to help shape the future of cultural innovation in a dynamic and inspiring environment by means of exploring new borders where art and technology meet, TICDCE pointed out. The deadline for participation is set for February 5. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

At least 6,618 migrants died or disappeared in 2023 while trying to reach Spain, or 18 per day on average, the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras said on Tuesday. This figure, which has practically tripled (+177%) compared to that of 2022, is 'the highest' recorded by the NGO since the start of its censuses, its coordinator, Helena Maleno, denounced to the press. speaking out against 'the lack of resources' of rescuers at sea. For comparison, an NGO report published last year identified 11,200 migrants who died or disappeared while trying to reach Spain between 2018 and 2022, or six per day on average. This jump in migratory tragedies comes as the number of migrants arriving illegally in Spain has almost doubled in 2023, to 56,852 people, due to an unprecedented influx into the Canary archipelago, according to figures from the Spanish government. Caminando Fronteras, which relies on distress calls from migrants at sea or their families to prepare its reports, identified 363 women and 384 children among the victims recorded last year. The vast majority of disappearances of migrants trying to reach Spain (6,007 out of the total) occurred on the extremely dangerous migratory route between the coasts of northwest Africa and the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries, in Atlantic Ocean. Migrants make this crossing of several hundred kilometers and several days or weeks on crowded makeshift boats. According to the NGO, the migrants who disappeared while trying to reach Spain first left the coast of Senegal (3,176). The NGO also recorded 611 deaths or disappearances last year on the migratory route linking Morocco and Algeria to the southern coasts of Spain. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which relies on indirect testimonies and press articles, counted last year 914 missing on the migratory route to the Canaries and 333 between Morocco or the Algeria and Spain. The IOM emphasizes, however, that its figures are "probably" a "considerable" underestimate of reality given the difficulty in document ing these shipwrecks and the fact that the majority of bodies are not found. Source: Burkina Information Agency

On Wednesday January 3, 2024, the official installation of the provincial coordination of Ioba of the federation of Islamic associations of Burkina (FAIB) took place in Dano, under the patronage of the high commissioner of the province, Bernadette Adenyo née Sermé. The provincial coordination of Ioba of the federation of Islamic associations of Burkina (FAIB) was set up by the seven existing Islamic associations in the province. This umbrella organization has as members representatives of each of the Islamic associations of Ioba. The provincial coordination office of the FAIB of Ioba is therefore composed of seven (07) members. From now on, the provincial coordination is the direct respondent of the FAIB in Ioba. The provincial coordination office then becomes the contact for the provincial authorities on questions concerning all Muslims in the province. It was the president of the southwest regional coordination of the FAIB, Drissa Ouattara who read the decision to appoint the members of the Ioba office. High Commissioner Bernadette Adenyo / Sermé, the prefect, president of the special municipal delegation (PDS) of Dano, Denis Zanré and the regional president of the FAIB of the southwest, Drissa Ouattara together installed the members of the coordination of the FAIB of Ioba. With a renewable five-year mandate, this office is coordinated by Bachirou Soré. The vice-president is El Adj Siaka Fofana. The newly installed coordinator expressed his gratitude to the members of the regional coordination of the FAIB in the southwest, to the PDS of the commune of Dano and to the first manager of the province of Ioba for their advice and support. Bachirou Soré reassured that the members of the office remain at the disposal of the structures which mandated them. In addition, he wishes to create a unitary working framework to meet the challenges of living together and find solutions to the difficulties of the Muslim community in the province. The PDS of Dano, Denis Zanré encouraged and congratulated the members of the pro vincial coordination of the FAIB of Ioba. The imam of the great mosque of Dano, El Adj Sabdina Cissé lavished blessings on the members of the office. He invited all Muslims in Ioba to remain united and support the representatives of the different Islamic associations designated as members of the provincial coordination of the FAIB. The head of Dano canton, Naonfa 2, wished every success to the members of the FAIB Ioba office. The president of the regional coordination of the FAIB in the southwest, Drissa Ouattara, said he was satisfied to have accomplished a noble mission by the grace of God. Indeed, the establishment of provincial coordination is a prerogative of the regional office. This will help increase the representativeness of Islam in Ioba. The High Commissioner of Ioba, Bernadette Adenyo noted that this installation ceremony is the culmination of a long consensual process with the involvement of all the actors of the Islamic associations of the province. For her, the new FAIB office will strengthen c ollaboration between the Muslim community and the central administration. 'There is still this religious freedom in Burkina Faso and we must ensure that different religious faiths continue to coexist and act with respect for others,' she insisted. Ms. Adenyo invited members of the provincial coordination of the FAIB of Ioba to work to further strengthen the union so that the different associations feel considered and honored within 'this great Muslim family' of the province of Ioba. Source: Burkina Information Agency