A new law in Algeria aims to ensure the revocation of the citizenship of nationals deemed to be sponsoring, participating in and encouraging terrorism by their country’s government.

In a meeting on a new nationality law and terms chaired by Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad, amendments were discussed, with the new regulations expected to affect individuals and groups who hobnob with nations dubbed enemies of Algeria.

The Prime Minister’s office disclosed on Wednesday that the rule will withdraw the nationality of citizens who threaten the peace and national unity of the country.

The new regulation is not expected to contravene any international convention, but there will be right to appeal for those it affects.

Another meeting will be held in the coming days, led by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. It is expected to produce a conclusion on the new law.

Libyan coastguards have rescued about 100 mostly African migrants off Libya’s west coast on Sunday as they made failed attempts to reach Italy, while about 20 remain missing.

The survivors included six women and two children, while two people in critical condition were transported to a hospital in the Libyan capital. An IOM representative said the migrants include some from Cameroon, Mali, and Sudan.  

Twenty persons were still missing, according to the coastguard. Two weeks ago, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported the rescue of more than 90 illegal migrants off the Libyan coast. Last year, over 1200 migrants and asylum-seekers died while crossing the Mediterranean.

Read also: https://newscentral.africa/iom-over-100-migrants-missing-libya-coast/

German charity Sea-Watch said on Saturday that it rescued nearly 150 migrants off the Libyan coast in two operations.

International agencies have continued to condemn the return to Libya of migrants intercepted at sea, due to the poor conditions in detention centres.

Due to a general state of insecurity and disorder in the North African nation following the fall of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, thousands of migrants, mostly Africans attempt reaching Europe by crossing the Mediterranean through Libya.

This year alone, at least 3,700 men, women, and children have been returned to detention camps in Libya.

Africa’s largest university hospital, Tanger University Hospital – a 71,000 sqm healthcare facility with 865 beds capacity is now open in Morocco’s coastal city, Tangier.

The hospital, built by Morocco’s Health Ministry – Ministere de la Sante’ (MDS) at a cost of $130 million will help ease pressure on the northern regions’ hospitals.

Tangier is Morocco’s second-largest industrial hub, strategic port, and trade centre with a burgeoning population due to large-scale investments in industry, services, and transport.

The edifice shows two prominent semi-circular volumes linked by glazed pedestrian links and surrounded by planted green courts. Its facade features angled sun-shading fins and peculiar aesthetics that make the building respond to its climatic context.

The port is the largest on the Mediterranean and in Africa by capacity. connecting over 170 ports in 77 countries.

This is outstanding especially for Tangier, which has been one of the worst-hit Moroccan cities by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The 865-bed university hospital covers 4 floors, and comprises 15 surgical rooms and a unit for victims of fire accidents.