Morocco: Ongoing Consultations for Government Formation
The appointed Prime Minister of Morocco, Fatima Zahra Mansouri, is actively continuing her discussions with party leaders to form a new government. She has met with representatives from various political parties in preparation for creating a governing coalition, with the Party of Authenticity and Modernity, which emerged victorious in the elections, expected to play a central role in this alliance.
Key political parties have responded positively to Mansouri's call for consultations regarding the composition of the upcoming government. However, the Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party, Abdelilah Benkirane, has declined to hold discussions with Mansouri at her party's headquarters.
Algeria: Expansion of Death Penalty to Include Arsonists and Child Kidnappers
The Algerian National People's Assembly has approved a bill to amend the penal code, extending the death penalty to encompass crimes such as forest arson and child kidnapping. Following this approval, the bill will move to the Senate, the upper house of parliament, for further discussion and voting, before being signed into law by the President of the Republic and published in the official gazette for implementation.
Human Rights Organization Amnesty International has urged Algeria to "immediately abandon any plans to expand the scope of the death penalty" or to resume executions after a moratorium of over thirty years.
Tunisia: Easing of Penalties for Misinformation Law Amid Criticism
Tunisian President Kais Saied has signed a modification to Decree 54, which addresses misinformation, easing the penalties associated with it by eliminating the five-year prison sentence and replacing it with fines, while maintaining imprisonment for repeat offenses. This partial easing has been welcomed by press freedom organizations, although they argue that this amendment does not address the broader concerns related to the legislation.
The President of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists, Ziad Debar, stated that amending just one article and removing certain prison sentences "does not signify the end of trials for opinions in Tunisia". He emphasized that journalists continue to face legal actions under other laws, including the Communications Code and the Anti-Terrorism Law.
Mauritania: Calls for Legislation Against Sexual Assaults on Minors
In light of a series of sexual assaults that have sparked widespread outrage in Mauritania, civil society organizations are demanding the establishment of a law to penalize acts of gender-based violence. Recent cases of rape, particularly those involving two young girls aged seven and four, have reignited the debate regarding the necessity of criminalizing sexual offenses in Mauritania, where no specific law currently addresses such assaults.
Libya: Delayed School Year Amid Teacher Strikes
The start of the academic year in Libya has been postponed, with schools remaining closed due to a strike by teachers across the divided country, who are advocating for better wages. The school year was originally scheduled to commence on September 6, but authorities postponed it to September 13, citing the need for maintenance work in some schools.
Subsequently, public school teachers announced a nationwide protest movement, supported by the Teachers' Syndicate, despite the country's division into two factions. As a result of these protests, approximately 1.6 million students across primary and secondary levels have been denied access to education. However, private school teachers have not participated in this movement, as they are not directly affected by the demands of their public sector counterparts.
This movement previously attracted thousands to a demonstration on September 24 in front of the Tripoli municipality, followed by the announcement of a "general strike" starting on September 27.
As reported by france24.com.
