North Africa Research Articles

Navigating Carbon Peaking and Neutrality in MENA: The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment and Trade Openness Using Panel PCSE and FGLS Techniques

ABSTRACTIn response to the global challenge of climate change and the drive towards carbon neutrality, this study investigates the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade openness (TO) on carbon emissions (CEM) within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The research spans 18 countries from 1990 to 2022, focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 13. Utilizing Porter's hypothesis and the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory, the study applies quantitative methods including panel corrected standard errors (PCSE) and feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) to ensure robustness. To address potential endogeneity, two‐stage least squares and lagged effect estimations are employed. The findings reveal that both FDI and TO are associated with reduced CEM, indicating positive environmental impacts. Also, the pairwise causality tests show bidirectional causality between FDI, TO, and CEM, while a unidirectional causality is found from industrialization (IND) and energy consumption (EC) to CEM. These results underscore the importance of integrating FDI and TO into strategies for achieving carbon neutrality and advancing sustainable development goals, offering actionable insights for policymakers.

Salmonella: Role in Internal and External Environments and Potential as a Therapeutic Tool

Salmonella has had a long and intimate relationship with humans and continues to raise concerns for human health, but this close bond also provides opportunities for new therapeutics and treatments. Although Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is the principal organism that comes to mind in terms of death and morbidity, it is the non-typhoidal Salmonellae that have the most health and economic implications. The developed world has had a challenging relationship with Salmonella, particularly in the UK and the EC/EU, experiencing significant Salmonella outbreaks in the 1980s and 1990s. As a consequence, the research focus was on understanding the nature of infection in food animals and on developing ways and means of controlling zoonotic infections. This led to the development of numerous model systems for the study of Salmonella both in vitro and in vivo. The introduction of vaccination has all but eliminated Salmonella in eggs and reduced perceived risk held by the general public. At the same time as Salmonella in eggs was being brought under control in the UK and EU, the danger posed by antibiotic resistance was beginning to emerge. In the past, with the efficacy of antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria being unchallenged, there was limited focus on the threat posed by antibiotic resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonella. However, the identification of Salmonella as the first ‘multidrug-resistant’ organism, the presence of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella in North Africa and the emergence of monophasic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium across Europe, Asia and the Americas have prompted renewed interest in Salmonella research, particularly in the context of non-infectious disease, biofilm studies and antibiotic resistance. At the same time, research has continued to develop ways of taking advantage of what Salmonella offers in the way of pathogenic factors and the therapeutic and treatment applications in areas such as vaccine development, cancer therapeutics and drug delivery and the role of Salmonella in non-infectious diseases supported by developments in molecular and genomic methods.

An updated aerosol simulation in the Community Earth System Model (v2.1.3): dust and marine aerosol emissions and secondary organic aerosol formation

Abstract. Aerosols constitute important substance components of the Earth's atmosphere and have a profound influence on climate dynamics, radiative properties, and biogeochemical processes. Here we introduce updated emission schemes for dust, sea-salt, and marine primary organic aerosols (MPOA), as well as augmented secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation pathways within the Community Earth System Model (CESM; version 2.1.3). The modified dust emission scheme shifts the original hotspot-like dust emission to a more continuous distribution, improving the dust aerosol optical depth (DAOD) simulations at stations in north Africa and central Asia. This update also reduces dust residence time from 4.1 to 1.6 d, enhancing concentration simulations downwind of dust source regions. For sea-salt emissions, we incorporate an updated sea surface temperature (SST) modulation and introduce a relative-humidity-dependent correction factor for sea-salt particle size, with SST having a significantly larger impact on sea-salt emissions (16.1 %) compared to the minor effect of humidity (−0.3 %). We then extend our modelling to incorporate emissions of marine primary organic aerosols (MPOA) as mixed externally with sea-salt aerosols, coupled offline with the ocean component Parallel Ocean Program (POP2). The results underscore the substantial influence of phytoplankton diversity on MPOA emissions, with 148 % variability simulated among different phytoplankton types, highlighting the role of biological variability in aerosol modelling. Furthermore, we refine the model's chemical mechanisms by including the irreversible aqueous uptake of dicarbonyl compounds as a new pathway for SOA formation, contributing an additional 37 % to surface SOA concentrations. These improvements enrich the ability of the CESM to use intricate linkages between different components of the Earth system, thereby enabling a more comprehensive description of natural aerosol emissions, chemical processes, and their impacts.

Association between genetic clades and cancer prevalence suggested by French-wide study of oncogenic small ruminant β-retrovirus diversity

IntroductionENTV (Enzootic Nasal Tumor Virus) and JSRV (Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus) are β-retroviruses responsible for respiratory cancers in sheep and goats. In this study, we analyzed the genetic features of the sheep and goat β-Retroviruses (29 JSRV and 24 ENTV strains) circulating in France to identify molecular signatures associated with disease severity in flocks.MethodsWe developed a highly specific PCR to amplify and sequence exogenous targeted regions or near full length proviruses based on limited discriminating motifs along their genomes.ResultsThe phylogenetic reconstructions based on the Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) and env regions suggest that one major strain is circulating on the French territory for ENTV-1 and ENTV-2 while not clustering with already published Spanish, Canadian or Chinese strains. JSRV strains circulating in French sheep flocks were distributed in 2 distinct genetic clades clustering with sequences originating from North America, Africa and United-Kingdom. JSRV clade I was found to be associated with a higher incidence of cancer in French flocks. Specific motifs spanning the entire JSRV genome particularly in the LTRs and in the intracytoplasmic domain of the envelope were detected between the two genetic subtypes.DiscussionThis work represents the first nationwide study describing the circulation of the three closely related β-oncogenic retroviruses JSRV, ENTV-1 and ENTV-2 in French sheep and goat flocks. Better characterization of strain genetics is a critical step in monitoring circulating - retroviruses, especially those associated with higher cancer incidence in small ruminants.

The Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 Extends Its Southbound Invasion Along the Atlantic Coast of North Africa: First Occurrence in the Atlantic Sahara Shores of Morocco

The Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 Extends Its Southbound Invasion Along the Atlantic Coast of North Africa: First Occurrence in the Atlantic Sahara Shores of Morocco

The Cotton Road

Abstract Cotton is one of the most culturally significant crops in Central Asia today, and it has a complex history, long predating the collective-labour and intensive-irrigation systems of the Soviet period. In this paper, we explore the ancient history of cotton cultivation in Central Asia. We aim to understand when cotton cultivation switched from low-investment to intensive large-scale agriculture and to theorise about the dispersal routes, type of cotton cultivated, and processing systems that existed before the introduction of hybrid forms of cotton from the Americas in the nineteenth century. We incorporate new archaeobotanical data, historical-linguistic evidence and archaeological materials into our discussion. Furthermore, we provide an overview of archaeobotanical evidence from across Europe, Asia and North Africa, aiming to assess common trends in the spread of cotton.

Deciphering Fire Blight: From Erwinia amylovora Ecology to Genomics and Sustainable Control

Fire blight is a highly destructive plant disease that affects the pome fruit value chain, with high economic impacts. Its etiological agent is the Gram-negative bacterium Erwinia amylovora. The origin of fire blight goes back to the late 1700s in North America, and the disease since then has spread to New Zealand, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Due to its worldwide dissemination, advances have been made to identify and characterize E. amylovora strains from different regions and understand their evolutionary adaptation. Additionally, many efforts have been made in recent decades to stop the occurrence and impacts of fire blight, but in many countries, only preventive measures have been applied, as the application of antibiotics and copper-based compounds has become more restricted. Thus, new sustainable methods to control the pathogen are constantly required. This article presents a comprehensive review of the pathogen, from the phenotypic and molecular characterization methods applied to advances in comparative genomics and the development of new compounds for sustainable control of E. amylovora.

The professional logics of accounting education in MENA countries: evidence from Egypt and KSA

PurposeThis study investigates the influence of the surrounding institutional context, with a particular focus on the professional perspective, on accounting education in two leading developing countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), by focusing on public universities’ undergraduate level in the two countries.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an interpretative approach, this study uses data collected mainly through interviews with the members of the key accounting professional and regulatory bodies, accounting professors and accounting graduates in Egypt and KSA. Theoretically, this study uses insights from the institutional theory to understand the institutional context shaping accounting education in the two examined settings.FindingsDespite sharing several cultural aspects, we noticed differences in accounting education in the two MENA countries. We explained how the dominant institutional perspective in these contexts (i.e. the professional perspective) affects accounting education, resulting in various implications for accounting graduates and the accounting profession. In Egypt, we noticed a retreatment of the professional perspective due to the dominance of an economic perspective informed by the worse economic conditions in the country, negatively affecting accounting education. In contrast, accounting education in KSA is primarily driven by the professional context aided by the availability of facilities and resources as well as the centrality of the role played by professionals and regulators in accounting education, which has directed accounting educators towards incorporating professional knowledge into accounting curricula.Practical implicationsBy highlighting the influence of the professional context on accounting education in a particular developing country, the findings of this study can guide regulators and policymakers in other developing countries concerning developing their accounting education programmes. Furthermore, professionals should allow accounting academics to contribute to developing the accounting profession and employers should support accounting students’ training and development.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by examining the situation of accounting education beyond Western developed contexts, presenting an extensive theoretical explanation of the salient institutional perspectives shaping that situation.

The Army of Pasteurians: Militarisation of Hygiene and Hybrid Disease Control Measures in Fernand Visbecq’s 1919 Typhus Mission in French Algeria

Summary During mass demobilisation following the armistice of 11 November 1918, colonial troops gradually returned to their cantonments. Algeria hosted a military penal colony under French army rules to which convicts continued to converge. As a result, soldiers and convicts became the disseminators of the typhus epidemic that swept through the armies still stationed on the Western Front, before spreading to North Africa. Based on a study of the Visbecq mission against typhus in the spring and summer of 1919 in Algeria, this article examines how Visbecq’s assignment was part of a wider process of militarisation of hygiene in France as in the Empire. It promoted hybrid measures combining the implementation of new technical processes with conventional isolation measures. In fine, Visbecq’s actions were part of a set of current technopolitics which contributed to pasteurisation of the French colonial empire.

Outcomes of peripartum cardiomyopathy in North Africa: insights from a single-center observational study in Tunisia

BackgroundPeripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Due to the scarcity of epidemiological data in North Africa, we conducted this study to assess the outcomes of PPCM in our region.Materials and methodsThis monocentric retrospective cohort study involving all patients diagnosed with PPCM was conducted between January 2010 and December 2022.ResultsTwenty-seven PPCM patients, with a median age of 33 years (Interquartile range (IQR) = 9), were included. 52% of patients were diagnosed during the postpartum period. Dyspnea New York Heart Association III/IV(NYHA III/IV) was the most common functional symptom (85%). The median left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) was 30% (IQR = 11%). Atrial fibrillation occurred in 11.1% of patients, thromboembolic complications occurred in 18.5%, Pulmonary edema occurred in 85% of patients and cardiogenic shock occurred in 14.8% of patients, with two patients requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support. The predominant mode of delivery was a cesarean Sect. (82% of patients), and the indication for a cesarean delivery was obstetrical in 59% of patients. Prematurity occurred in 36% of newborns, and intrauterine fetal death occurred in one pregnancy. The median follow-up was 24 months [6–144 months]. LVEF recovery was noted in 67% of patients. Bromocriptine was administered to six patients (22%), and none of these patients died and out of them, five patients recovered their LVEF (83%). The overall mortality rate during the follow-up period was 15%, comprising three in-hospital cardiac deaths and one occurring two years later due to refractory advanced heart failure. No significant differences were observed between LVEF recovery and LVEF non-recovery groups. Factors significantly associated with mortality were multiparity, poor antenatal care (ANC) attendance, thromboembolic events, cardiogenic shock, and Pulmonary edema. Five patients with LV recovery subsequently became pregnant, none experienced a relapse of PPCM. However, one of the descendants of a patient was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy.ConclusionThis study revealed that the diagnosis of PPCM in our hospital is often delayed until symptoms become more advanced, resulting in high morbi-mortality.

China’s ‘Stadium Diplomacy’ in West Asia and North Africa: Soft-power Tool for Political and Economic Influence

China’s ‘Stadium Diplomacy’ in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) is a soft power strategy used to increase its regional political and economic influence. This strategy is part of a broader trend in which China increasingly uses soft power tools to project its global influence. Chinese companies are involved in building and funding large-scale sports facilities and stadiums used as venues for major international sports events. By investing in sports infrastructure, China can project an image of economic and technological prowess and gain access to raw materials, mineral resources, and markets while fostering closer diplomatic ties with countries in the region. Nevertheless, there are also concerns that China’s soft power efforts are being used to mask more strategic and geopolitical goals. While stadium diplomacy can be an effective soft power tool for building economic relationships and increasing influence, it must also be scrutinised and understood in the context of China’s broader strategic goals and interests.

The urbanization of conflict? Patterns of armed conflict and protest in Africa

Abstract Is the geography of armed conflict in Africa becoming more urban? To answer this question, I link georeferenced data on the timing and location of armed conflict and protest events to continent-wide geospatial data on human settlement patterns. Comparing rates of conflict and contention in rural versus urban areas over time, I argue that, contrary to conventional wisdom, claims surrounding the ‘urbanization of conflict’ in Africa are premature. I find that the urbanization of conflict hypothesis only holds in North Africa, where armed conflict and protest are both increasingly urban phenomenon. In contrast, while the frequency of urban protest in sub-Saharan Africa has also increased substantially, conventional armed conflicts in rural areas have also risen over the same period. My study provides a quantitative summary of key patterns and trends in protest and conflict in Africa contributing to ongoing debates surrounding the frequency and character of violent and non-violent political contests on the continent.

Nutrition and diet in children with orofacial clefts in Africa: a scoping review

Background and aimThe burden of orofacial clefts (OFCs) has declined globally except in sub-Saharan Africa, with a great disease burden in North Africa. Children with OFCs have a high risk of malnutrition, and African countries have some of the highest malnutrition rates. This scoping review assessed the status of research on OFCs and nutrition and feeding among children living in African countries.MethodsWe followed the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for conducting scoping reviews. We searched eleven databases for articles on malnutrition and feeding among children with OFCs living in African countries. No restriction was done by type of study or publication date. Books, book chapters, and reviews were excluded. Only publications in English language were included. We extracted information about the publication year, study design, setting, location, participants’ age, data collection methods, international collaboration, and funding. We classified articles into studies assessing (1) the impact of nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy on OFCs, (2) the impact of OFCs on malnutrition, (3) feeding problems in children with OFCs, and (4) the impact of nutritional status on OFCs repair outcomes. We calculated frequencies and used bar charts and a map.ResultsOut of 208 search results, 36 were duplicates, and 25 eventually fit the inclusion criteria, with 52% retrieved from Google Scholar. About 80% of the studies were from four countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Uganda; 72% were hospital-based and 52% were cross-sectional. The most frequent data collection method was clinical examination and questionnaires. Most studies focused on feeding problems in children with OFCs (44%) and the impact of OFCs on malnutrition (32%). International collaboration was observed in six studies, with one study showing South-South collaboration. Only two studies were funded.ConclusionsThere is a predominance of under-funded descriptive research not indexed by international databases. Minimal research has been directed to population-level OFC preventive programs in primary healthcare settings and assessing interventions supporting children with OFCs. A research agenda is needed to prioritize research needs and secure funds to support South-South collaboration to address the nutrition and feeding-related problems associated with OFCs.

Long-Term Spatiotemporal Trends in Precipitation, Temperature, and Evapotranspiration Across Arid Asia and Africa

This study examines trends in precipitation (PRE), maximum temperature (TMAX), minimum temperature (TMIN), and potential evapotranspiration (PET) using the Modified Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator between 1901 and 2022 in the arid lands of Central Asia, West Asia and North Africa. The results reveal complex spatial and temporal climate change patterns across the study area. Annual PRE shows a slight negative trend (Z = −0.881, p = 0.378), with significant decreases from 1951–2000 (Z = −3.329, p = 0.001). The temperatures exhibit strong warming trends (TMIN: Z = 9.591, p < 0.001; TMAX: Z = 8.405, p < 0.001). PET increased significantly (Z = 6.041, p < 0.001), with acceleration in recent decades. Spatially, precipitation decreased by 10% in maximum annual values, while PET increased by 10–15% in many areas. Temperature increases of 2–3 °C were observed, with TMAX rising from 36–39 °C to 39–42 °C in some MENA regions. Seasonal analysis shows winter precipitation decreasing significantly in recent years (Z = −1.974, p = 0.048), while summer PET shows the strongest increasing trend (Z = 5.647, p < 0.001). Spatial analysis revealed clear latitudinal gradients in temperature and PET, with higher values in southern regions. PRE patterns were more complex, with coastal and mountainous areas receiving more precipitation. The combination of rising temperatures, increasing PET, and variable PRE trends suggest an overall intensification of aridity in many parts of the region. This analysis provides crucial insights into the climate variability of these water-scarce areas, emphasizing the need for targeted adaptation strategies in water resource management, agriculture, and ecosystem conservation.

The Cycle 46 Configuration of the HARMONIE-AROME Forecast Model

The aim of this technical note is to describe the Cycle 46 reference configuration of the HARMONIE-AROME convection-permitting numerical weather prediction model. HARMONIE-AROME is one of the canonical system configurations that is developed, maintained, and validated in the ACCORD consortium, a collaboration of 26 countries in Europe and northern Africa on short-range mesoscale numerical weather prediction. This technical note describes updates to the physical parametrizations, both upper-air and surface, configuration choices such as lateral boundary conditions, model levels, horizontal resolution, model time step, and databases associated with the model, such as for physiography and aerosols. Much of the physics developments are related to improving the representation of clouds in the model, including developments in the turbulence, shallow convection, and statistical cloud scheme, as well as changes in radiation and cloud microphysics concerning cloud droplet number concentration and longwave cloud liquid optical properties. Near real-time aerosols and the ICE-T microphysics scheme, which improves the representation of supercooled liquid, and a wind farm parametrization have been added as options. Surface-wise, one of the main advances is the implementation of the lake model FLake. An outlook on upcoming developments is also included.

A Comprehensive Analysis of AOD and its Species from Reanalysis Data over the Middle East and North Africa Regions: Evaluation of Model Performance Using Machine Learning Techniques

A Comprehensive Analysis of AOD and its Species from Reanalysis Data over the Middle East and North Africa Regions: Evaluation of Model Performance Using Machine Learning Techniques

Polycaprolactone-zinc oxide biocomposite membranes for wastewater treatment by ultrafiltration process: Synthesis, characterization and removal of inorganic pollutants

The severe droughts impacting North Africa have intensified the pressure on potable water supplies and agricultural irrigation, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management solutions. This study explores the potential of poly(ε-caprolactone)/zinc oxide (PCL/ZnO) biocomposites as ultrafiltration membranes for treating urban wastewater, with the goal of enabling water reuse in agriculture. PCL/ZnO membranes, fabricated using the solvent-casting method, were thoroughly characterized using FTIR, XRD, EDAX, SEM, AFM, DSC, TGA, and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. Key findings revealed that increasing ZnO content (1–4 wt%) significantly enhanced membrane thickness, crystallinity, mechanical robustness, and surface roughness, while lowering WCA values to improve hydrophilicity. These enhanced properties are critical for ultrafiltration, as they contribute to higher contaminant rejection and improved water permeability. Performance tests demonstrated ion retention rates of 32–61 % post-filtration, including for toxic metals, effectively reducing pollutant levels. Notably, the treated water met the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) standards for irrigation quality, indicating its suitability for agricultural applications. This work highlights the efficacy of PCL/ZnO membranes in facilitating sustainable wastewater recycling under drought conditions, presenting a promising, adaptable solution for water reclamation in water-scarce regions. The results underscore the potential of these biocomposite membranes to advance sustainable water treatment practices, supporting both environmental resilience and agricultural productivity.

Does Current Account Balance Affect Economic Growth? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

This study aimed to provide an econometric analysis of the impact of current account balances on economic growth in various subregions of Africa. It utilized the cross-sectional autoregressive distributive lags (CS-ARDL) technique and analyzed data from 1994 to 2022. The result showed that inflation has had an adverse effect on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in three specific regions. While the short-run influence of inflation on GDP may not be statistically significant, its long-term impact is notably negative. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has a negative effect on GDP in the short run; however, this effect is not statistically significant across the different economies. Over time, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has a negligible effect on the GDP in North Africa, but it has a negative and statistically significant influence in Central Africa. These findings emphasize the different regional dynamics in Africa and illustrate the intricate interplay between current account balances and economic growth. In conclusion this study affirmed the necessity for targeted economic strategies to combat inflation and utilize FDI for long-term growth.

Corporate sustainability commitment in the Middle East and North Africa region: Impact on innovation and firm performance

AbstractThis study examines the effects of corporate sustainability factors (CSFs)—specifically gender diversity, energy practices, and environmental practices—on innovation and their subsequent impact on firm performance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. By integrating Absorptive Capacity Theory, we explore how these CSFs drive innovation, contributing to broader sustainable development goals. We analyze the impact of innovation on firm performance using the resource‐based view (RBV). Utilizing secondary data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES), we employ a two‐stage instrumental variable regression (IV‐2SLS) to address endogeneity and establish causal relationships. Our findings reveal that stakeholder engagement through gender diversity, energy practices, and environmental practices significantly enhances innovation, which, in turn, drives firm performance. Diverse leadership fosters creativity and innovation, while energy‐efficient and environmentally sustainable practices reduce costs, improve brand reputation, and align with sustainable development goals. These insights underscore essential policy implications for promoting environmental policy, clean production, and sustainable innovation ecosystems. Encouraging MENA firms to engage stakeholders and adopt sustainable practices can drive economic prosperity and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Audit Matters Between Auditors and Auditees in Middle East and North Africa

This study investigates the impact of auditor- and auditee-specific features on key audit matter disclosures in auditors’ reports. It focuses on client factors, including debt, profitability, financial distress, and audit factors, including auditor size, rotation, and opinion. A direct extraction of audit reports from different markets in Middle East and North Africa covering three years from 2020 to 2022 was carried out. A content analysis of the annual reports regarding key audit matters, client-specific characteristics, and auditor characteristics was performed in this research. The results of this study show that key audit matters are not correlated to profitability and financial distress, while the debt ratio is significantly related to the number of key audit matters. The results also indicate that audit rotation and opinion have a significant explanatory effect on key audit matters as the coefficients of both independent variables are positive and statistically significant while the size of the audit firm is not related to the number of key audit matters.