Menas Associates Blog
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Algeria latest news
The events of March — notably the suspension of the Hirak; the onset of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic; the Karim Tabbou affair; and the collapse in the oil price — are likely to have transformational implications for the country. To these might be added the...
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workplace and commercial contracts
The highly experienced and commercially focussed Middle East legal team at Stephenson Harwood has released the following two articles in which they de-mystify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workplace and in commercial contracts. 1. The impact on the...
Libya latest news
Libya currently stands at a critical moment as the country faces the dual risks of both the intensifying conflict and the possible spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 24 March the Tripoli authorities reported the first known case of coronavirus which indicated that...
Niger: Threat of an army coup?
There is an extraordinary parallel between Niger’s current defence ministry corruption scandal and those in Mali which led to the 2012 coup d’état. In Mali the army was quickly put to flight by the Tuareg rebels and Islamists because it was ill equipped and, in...
Nigeria: What a difference a pandemic makes
It has been a month of U-turns for Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele, who combines what is meant to be a regulatory role with more power and influence than any other official in Abuja. This is partly because Emefiele so accurately mirrors...
COVID-19: Morocco fears about the economic impact
Besides concerns about militant Islamist networks making use of the situation, Morocco is also grappling with the effects that the COVID-19 outbreak will have on the economy. The tourism sector, which represented almost 11% of GDP in 2019, will be hugely affected....
Iran’s pharmaceutical sector
One of the themes to emerge from the handling of COVID-19 is that US sanctions have restricted the availability of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has published a list of items that the country desperately needs and cannot...
Will Africa’s economies weather the Coronavirus?
As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread and escalate the potential global economic impact is becoming clearer. China’s extensive industry shutdown over the course of many weeks led to the loss of millions of jobs. In Italy — where we recently wrote about The...
Emir of Kano’s sacking for disloyalty could have political implications
The 9 March dethronement of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II (Sanusi), by the Kano State government could result in a new candidate in the 2023 presidential race. Kano State’s Governor Abdullahi Ganduje ordered the removal of the Emir — the second most powerful...
Libya: No coronavirus cases yet, but the risks are significant
Recent media reports have portrayed Libyans enjoying daily activities such as watching football in cafes, which was in sharp contrast to the current lockdown situation across the Mediterranean in Italy. Because Libya has so few functioning airports and no tourism,...
