The Cordoba Update 23.02.-09.03.2015

10 March 2015 Newsletter

24 February – 9 March 2015

Cordoba Foundation of Geneva

1) MOROCCO

» 27.02.2015: Mr. Abdel Ouahab Rafiqui denied access to Tunisia

Mr. Abdel Ouahab Rafiqui (Abu Hafs), assistant secretary general of Al-Nahda Wa Al-Fadila Party (AwF) and a former Moroccan Salafi detainee, was denied entry after his arrival to Tunis where he was invited to a seminar organized by the Carnegie Institute on Cross-border Security Threats and Responses. The Tunisian security forces confiscated his passport, and deported him to Morocco. Before travelling to Tunisia, Rafiqui was assured by the Tunisian Embassy in Rabat that there was no restriction for him to enter the country. Later, he was informed that his name is now on the Tunisian terrorist list. Back in Rabat, Rafiqui issued a press release detailing the treatment received at his arrival in Tunisia.

Links for more information:

http://marsadpress.net/?p=5648
http://carnegie-mec.org/2015/02/26/cross-border-security-threats-and-responses/i2n3

2) LIBYA

» 09.03.2015: Libyan Conflict Actors Meet in Morocco and Algeria

A fresh three-day round of political dialogue took place in Skhirat, Morocco last week under the auspices of UNSMIL. The meeting convened four representatives of the Tripoli-GNC and Tobruq-House of Representatives. According to UNSMIL’s press release the discussions focused on the forming of a consensus government and security measures for cease-fire and demilitarization of towns. Although not identified by name in the communique but it is now known that the GNC proposed discussing not only the executive body that would govern the transition period until a constitution is adopted, but also the forming of a new legislative body to support the national unity government. The GNC proposed in Skhirat that a presidential council be formed composed of six members (three for the GNC and as many for the HoR). The presidential council be in charge of sovereignty affairs and oversight of the transition unity government. The latter, according to the GNC proposal, would comprise two chambers: the GNC and the HoR). It is unlikely that the HoR would accept the GNC’s proposal when the two delegations meet again on Wednesday with Bernardino Leon in Morocco.

Meanwhile, Algiers has announced another track of intra-Libyan dialogue in Algiers, on Tuesday 10 March. The Algerian authorities say that their initiative is complementary to UNMSIL’s, but the latter’s press release on Tuesday makes no mention of the Algiers initiative. Algerian media outlets speak of an inclusive dialogue that would convene influential Libyan conflict stakeholders including Mahmoud Jbril, Mohamed Sawan, Abdelhakim Belhaj, Juma Gemmati, and others. Algiers says that its initiative is the result of moths of consultations with around 200 Libyan actors who made public and secret visits to Algiers.
On the ground, clashes continued among Libyan armed groups in different parts of the country. Khalif Hafter, who was appointed by the Tobruq-HoR general commander of the army launched a series of bombing raids on the Maetiga airport in Tripoli, on the eve and during the UNSMIL’s dialogue round in Morocco last week.

Links for more information:

http://www.libyaherald.com/2015/03/09/hafter-sworn-in-as-commander-general-of-libyan-armed-forces/#axzz3TylcEHql
http://elwatan.com/international/dialogue-libyen-alger-mobilise-sa-diplomatie-10-03-2015-289402_112.php
http://www.elkhabar.com/ar/autres/hadath/451833.html
http://unsmil.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3543&ctl=Details&mid=6187&ItemID=2010606&language=en-US

3) EGYPTE

» 07.03.2015 : Première exécution de peine capitale contre un partisan de Morsi

Samedi 7 mars, la peine de mort à laquelle ont été condamnés des centaines de partisans du président destitué Mohammed Morsi a été exécutée pour la première fois à l’encontre de Mahmoud Ramadan. Il était accusé d’avoir poussé deux jeunes du haut d’un immeuble à Alexandrie lors d’affrontements entre pro et anti-Morsi le 5 juillet 2013, ce qui avait entraîné la mort d’un des jeunes. La Cour de cassation avait confirmé le 5 février l’arrêt de la Cour pénale d’Alexandrie du 19 mai 2014. Amnesty et d’autres organisations des droits de l’homme ont condamné l’application de la peine, soulignant les irrégularités du procès et le refus de l’accusation de fournir des témoignages sur l’implication de l’inculpé dans le meurtre lui-même.