Morocco expects foreign investment to rise Morocco expects foreign direct investment to increase by as much as 40 percent in 2011 as the global economy recovers from its worst recession since World War II, a government minister said. The North African country may attract up to $3.5 billion next year, compared with an estimated $2.5 billion in 2010, Economy and Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar told reporters today at the World Economic Forum in Marrakesh. The investments will probably be in “energy, financial services and telecommunications,” he said. Algeria: South Sudan Secession Could Have Serious Impact on African Continent Algeria Foreign Affairs Minister, Murad Madlasi cautioned against the possibility of Sudan partitioning following the upcoming South Sudan self-determination referendum. He expressed his country's concern in respect of the referendum risks that might lead to partitioning of the Sudan into two parts, a factor that will aggravate instability in the region for a long period Madlasi in statement aired by the Algerian Radio Broadcast added, “This partitioning will have fatal repercussions on the African Continent.” The Minister stressed his country's solidarity with the Sudan and its keenness to see the Sudanese government has the capacity to hold the referendum in the best possible circumstances. Tunisia buys durum wheat and barley Tunisia's state grains agency purchased 25,000 tonnes of durum wheat and 25,000 tonnes of barley in a tender which closed on Friday, European traders said on Monday. The durum was bought at $325 a tonne c&f from Eurograni and the barley was bought at $286.77 a tonne c&f from Bunge, traders said. Shipment for the durum was between January 1-10, 2011, and for the barley between December 10-20, 2010. Libyan Phone Networks Stock Market Listing Early 2011 Libya's two state-owned mobile networks, al Madar and Libyana will each list 30 percent stakes on the local stock exchange early next year, the chairman of the stock exchange has told Reuters, without elaborating on the details. The move is a change from earlier expectations that an initial 5% stake would be offered, which would then be later raised to 40 percent. USS Cole families press legal claims against Sudan Relatives of the 17 sailors killed in the 2000 bombing of the Navy destroyer USS Cole are asking for the right to seek emotional-distress claims against the Republic of Sudan, which they say provided financial support and safe harbor for al-Qaida terrorists. An attorney representing 59 relatives on Tuesday asked a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court's ruling that barred the families from seeking punitive damages under state law. Andrew Hall also asked that the panel order the judge to reconsider the case in light of a federal terrorism-victims' compensation law that passed in 2008, allowing for such awards. BM
